Finally An Intelligent Article About Consolidation

[aphrodite4ever]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: TheBeast</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: NotSoSilentBob</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Big surprise, someone from St Paul is opposed to consolidation. </div></div>

And supported by someone from Pound.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The small community is a concept of the future. </div></div>

Where are all the population number increases to support this claim.
</div></div> Does something have to be big to be considered better? Just because we dont have a giant population boom doesnt mean that a bigger community is better than what we've already got. As for the sarcastic high school football comment, no its not all about football and sports, but if schools were consolidated the teams might play better but not everyone would have the chance to play like they do now. The average player in football, softball whatever would be looked over because they have a larger variety of atheletes to chose from. Just because a child isnt excellent at something doesnt mean they shouldnt have the chance to try, there is always room for improvement in everyone. Consolidated or not there are only so many spots on the field for everyone and if you have a gigantic team then you might get to play 2-3 times a season if that because everyone would be trying to get thier turn on the field.

[imported_MoonlightGraham]

shouldnt we be more worried about education?

[TheBeast]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Does something have to be big to be considered better? Just because we dont have a giant population boom doesnt mean that a bigger community is better than what we've already got.</div></div>

Not necessarily, I myself preffer small towns and communities like we have.
But in reality it all boils down to economics.

[CoeburnCane]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: DaneCook</div><div class="ubbcode-body">shouldnt we be more worried about education?</div></div>

Co-sign. If nothing else (and I know this is going to sound cold), it takes those kids who simply aren't talented enough to make the top 15 or so and get in a basketball roster and allows them to do something else. More kids breeds more competition to succeed in anything, from forensics to football.

Who knows--that kid who is clinging on for dear life to be in the playing rotation on the court or field may be better suited for either another sport, or another competitive organization like PACE, forensics, or FBLA. There could be one of those kids that could be an all-PACE band sax player, but he's obsessed (or in most cases, his parents are vicariously obsessed) with breaking past the 7 or 8 deep rotation on his basketball team.

And guess what--that all-PACE band sax player is 1000% more likely to get a scholarship for that to go to college than the 8th man on the bball team is for playing bball, and that's ultimately what HS is all about--preparing the kids for college and hopefully getting them enough of a scholarship so they or their parents won't have to pay nearly as much money, especially in an area that's economically challenged overall as our area is in comparison to larger metro areas.

Instead of letting kids chase false athletic superstar hopes only to turn around and find what they're actually good at by their 3rd year in college and have to play catch-up, why not equip them with the knowledge of their strengths and weaknesses and allow them to take that and turn those into great success on the college level?

[TheBeast]

Come on Cane you know that you are talking to someone from Pound and they have more D1 talent than any place on the planet. Just ask anyone in their youth programs, which would be a better situation for them since the youth and middle school programs wouldn't be affected by consolidation and they would get more exposure with the bigger schools.

[NotSoSilentBob]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: aphrodite4evermore</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Just because a child isnt excellent at something doesnt mean they shouldnt have the chance to try, </div></div>

Yes, it does.

[CoeburnCane]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: NotSoSilentBob</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: aphrodite4evermore</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Just because a child isnt excellent at something doesnt mean they shouldnt have the chance to try, </div></div>

Yes, it does.

</div></div>

...and by that token it also means that if they're simply not excellent at something, maybe educators, coaches, administrators, and most of all--the parents should be trying to help the child find what they ARE excellent at and give them the tools to succeed in the future.

[plantsman]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: DaneCook</div><div class="ubbcode-body">shouldnt we be more worried about education? </div></div>

IMO, absolutely. It doesn't matter if we build schools of great comfort, equipped with NASA's best technology - the real problems still haven't been addressed. A heck of alot of learning has taken place in this country by kids gathered around a pot-bellied stove in a one-room school. Our educational model has major flaws, as does society as a whole. Just a few of the more serious flaws:

1. Teachers teaching the SOLs. Consequently, little true learning is occurring in the classroom.

2. Current funding protocol - I'll probably get blasted for this one, but not everyone deserves an education; they all have the right to pursue an education. Currently, many kids are being kept in school solely for the purpose of maintaining a constant flow of fed and state dollars. These kids may be discipline problems, have no desire to learn, etc. I'm of the firm belief that such kids should be given the boot. Their presence is a distraction and frequently hinders both teacher and students.

3. A major re-vamping of the special ed programs. From my experience, I truly believe that 80+ percent of kids labeled as special ed should not be. But doing so means more monies for the schools, more social services, and an easy out for the parents.

4. Loss of local control or our schools. In reality, local school boards have little control over most of the programs. They merely make sure the federal and state guidelines are being followed, which always come with purse strings attached.

In a nutshell and IMO, the American public school model is no longer working. We need visionaries with the backbone to call for wholesale change. Public schools will only become better when faced with a viable competitor - a monopoly always produces mediocrity. Parents must shoulder the responsibility for their child's education, whether by choice or force. Parents need to be told what is offered, what is expected from them and the child, and that it must be adhered to if you want to participate in this school. Tenure for teachers needs to be abolished, etc., etc.

I don't have all the answers; in fact, I have very few. But it's time for serious dialogue among educators, parents, and other interested folks. Personally, I don't think the system can be overhauled - it needs to be reinvented.

[aphrodite4ever]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: NotSoSilentBob</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: aphrodite4evermore</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Just because a child isnt excellent at something doesnt mean they shouldnt have the chance to try, </div></div>

Yes, it does.

</div></div>

Okay so just because a kid sucks at math does that mean they get to skip the class? No they have to take it. They have to try. And as for getting kids into something they are good at although they want something else I have a problem with that. If the math/science nerd has a dream of being a pro baseball or bball or football player they should at least be able to try instead of being told no your not good at that, you need to do this. What's the point of even having a dream if everyone tells you that you're not good and its pointless to try? Yes education is very important and comes first but I was just using the sports to show another bad point of consolidation. And to boney you are right about it not mattering what kind of school we have wheter its in a mansion or in a cave. Students still learn. New walls & desks do not make kids smarter. The teacher does that. As for them teaching just the SOL, they do not hardly have time to teach anything other than the SOL material. My brother is a student at JJK and he says everyday his teachers are talking about the SOL's and what they have to get covered by when so they will all be prepared for it. He says his teachers are always saying things like they are afraid they wont get all the material covered in time & etc.

[imported_Counts]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> I was just using the sports to show another bad point of consolidation. </div></div>

How do you explan that Lecher Co states that they have more partisapation in sports than before with most sports haveing an 8th grade, JV and "B" Team as well as a Varcity squad. PLUS more sports/extracurreculey activitys to choose from.

In any case to each there own