Why our local leaders and adults have failed our children

**pvfan** · December 1st, 2009, 02:44 PM

I'm sick, sick of the bickering, sick of the fighting, and most of all sick of what our elected leaders and adults are doing to the children of Wise County. Upon reading a recent article in the Coalfield Progress that outlines new possibilities for school consolidation, I sit in awe. I'm very thankful and proud of the fact that God allowed me to be raised in Wise County, but this has grown into one huge black eye on our communities. I graduated from Powell Valley High School and I understand the problems faced with our current schools. To be frank, they do a poor job in preparing our students for college, and by college I mean four year universities. Research is at minimum, or no non-existent in classes. Upper level classes are taught in closets, where students are squeezed in like sardines. Thus, making it virtually impossible for the student not to cheat. It happens, and all of us who took a class in a situation like this or have taught in a school know it. A teacher doesn't even look over the students, it's a library assistant (and I in no way fault these people, they like the students are a victim of a poor system).

Now, they are proposing to build two schools or two schools on one site (does that even make sense). Athletics has been at the heart of this whole thing, and as someone who really could care less if the kids from my hometown wear a PV jersey or west Wise County some things need to be addressed on this new proposal. A 1,200 student school is AA and would only expand upon the academic problems we currently have. That school would be borderline Division 4, with the closest district being Roanoke. Most logical thinking would eliminate a proposal like this but with our current leadership I really question that. Those who are in support of consolidation are determined to push something through will ill regard to our kids. Those on the other side are just as bad determined to keep Appalachia, St. Paul, and Pound high school stand why their kids go to a school that is inadequate and falling down. Raise taxes, if we can not invest in the future of our children we invest in nothing. Take the money build three new schools at neutral sites, pick new names, new mascots, and lets teach some courses that might actually benefit some of these young men and women.

**Counts** · December 1st, 2009, 02:51 PM

Originally Posted by pvfan

I'm sick, sick of the bickering, sick of the fighting, and most of all sick of what our elected leaders and adults are doing to the children of Wise County. Upon reading a recent article in the Coalfield Progress that outlines new possibilities for school consolidation, I sit in awe. I'm very thankful and proud of the fact that God allowed me to be raised in Wise County, but this has grown into one huge black eye on our communities. I graduated from Powell Valley High School and I understand the problems faced with our current schools. To be frank, they do a poor job in preparing our students for college, and by college I mean four year universities. Research is at minimum, or no non-existent in classes. Upper level classes are taught in closets, where students are squeezed in like sardines. Thus, making it virtually impossible for the student not to cheat. It happens, and all of us who took a class in a situation like this or have taught in a school know it. A teacher doesn't even look over the students, it's a library assistant (and I in no way fault these people, they like the students are a victim of a poor system).

Now, they are proposing to build two schools or two schools on one site (does that even make sense). Athletics has been at the heart of this whole thing, and as someone who really could care less if the kids from my hometown wear a PV jersey or west Wise County some things need to be addressed on this new proposal. A 1,200 student school is AA and would only expand upon the academic problems we currently have. That school would be borderline Division 4, with the closest district being Roanoke. Most logical thinking would eliminate a proposal like this but with our current leadership I really question that. Those who are in support of consolidation are determined to push something through will ill regard to our kids. Those on the other side are just as bad determined to keep Appalachia, St. Paul, and Pound high school stand why their kids go to a school that is inadequate and falling down. Raise taxes, if we can not invest in the future of our children we invest in nothing. Take the money build three new schools at neutral sites, pick new names, new mascots, and lets teach some courses that might actually benefit some of these young men and women.

Honistly this has become a game between the 2 sides the SB come up with a plan (3 schools) the BOS underfund it to force the SB to come up with a new plan the SB then comes up with a plan that is not as appealing(2 schools) in hopes that the BOS is bluffing and will up the money needed to fund building 3 schools next move is the BOS who will eather up the money of call the SB bluff

**R13** · December 1st, 2009, 03:00 PM

Proves there's a lot of ignorant people around here, that includes ones that complain about the taxes too. They're necessary, it will help your kids for Christ sake.

**imported_elp6n** · December 1st, 2009, 03:48 PM

The BOS has to decide if the SB is bluffing.
Underfunding could also mean simply closing three and moving the kids to the three existing (technically they are large enough to hold them, since they all had larger student populations decades ago).

**Counts** · December 1st, 2009, 03:54 PM

Originally Posted by imported_elp6n

The BOS has to decide if the SB is bluffing.
Underfunding could also mean simply closing three and moving the kids to the three existing (technically they are large enough to hold them, since they all had larger student populations decades ago).

The return of the Bashem plan LOL could be he had the right idea all alone

**sup-rbeast** · December 1st, 2009, 04:11 PM

I graduated from PV and did fine in college, and I did my student teaching at PV and didn't see anything wrong with the school then either... I don't think anything outside of the teacher, ability of the student, and the effort of the student dictates how prepared a student is for college after graduation... People on both sides are gonna harp and whine about it, but really from my experience both in HS and after, I don't see what the fuss is either way.

**NotSoSilentBob** · December 1st, 2009, 04:56 PM

Originally Posted by Counts

The return of the Bashem plan LOL could be he had the right idea all alone

I have a feeling that this is what will end up happening.

**starbuck** · December 1st, 2009, 05:03 PM

from a money stand point it is the best. But they will have to rename the schools and change colors, that would be the right thing to do.

**Counts** · December 1st, 2009, 05:04 PM

Originally Posted by NotSoSilentBob

I have a feeling that this is what will end up happening.

If this is what they end up going with I think the SB that fired Basham should apologise to him (How much money has been wasted on studys and his severance since then.....not to mention the cost of renovating the schools (7 years ago?) would have been MUCH less than today

**Counts** · December 1st, 2009, 05:07 PM

Originally Posted by starbuck

from a money stand point it is the best. But they will have to rename the schools and change colors, that would be the right thing to do.

The right thing to do would have been for the "anti-consoladation at any cost" to have worked with rather than against the SB.......Part of me would like to see the Appy kids forced to go to PV just to see some of the haters go into fits LOL