Every parent hopes to ensure their child thrives in his educational setting.
Since the second grade, when his national scores were shown not in numbers, but in asterisks, I began a journey to discover how to properly educate a child with an IQ more than 3 standard deviations above the norm. Instead of thriving, the query evolved into how does such a child survive in a school setting designed for the norm and the special education students.
The answers are unfortunate but his success is not due to public education. When a community demotes academics to the lesser of the extracurricular programming provided by schools, waving the extracurricular banners as more important, several things occur: the national scholars are lost, the country becomes less competitive globally, our best colleges are overrun by the more motivated, more competitive international students.
Of course extracurricular activities are important, but most important, before any discussion, is whether the school's foundation, its student's core subjects, and its difficulty level is sound. Is there business math, social science exploration, investment curriculum, honor roll & perfect attendance recognition, peer guidance, peer tutoring, advanced foreign language, AP offerings, BOCES counseling and requirements beyond what the minimum laws require to push students academically?
Not every kid will lead the class in academics, but it is unforgivable in America when a school's design lets slip this generation's Einsteins through the cracks into mediocre oblivion. These children, if left to their own devices are doomed to be bored out of their minds in unmotivated classrooms, will never be celebrated as the next American inventors or heroes, simply because the student-athlete's budget concerns dominated the community discussion boards and pushed votes towards obliterating the dominance of American excellence in academic achievement.
Less than 1 percent of any graduating class will make it to a professional sport level. We ask our schools to make our student body 100 percent employable, not after college, but upon high school graduation.
What is the sense, really beyond happier childhoods, to devote most of the discretionary budgets to sports? The goals of education are not to field as many teams as possible, but to educate and make our children employable in a global economy. For purposes of debate, if you advocate for more teams do you realize you are advocating for less skilled, less competitive future employees?
Boards of education must stay true to the goals of the promise of educating all students of all abilities, and honor the celebrations of not just the fastest students, but also the smartest students.
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Constance F. Roland
Wantagh resident in Seaford School District
Sports teach kids to never give up...it is competitive just like life when you are competing for a job. Do you want to be that kid in rightfield for the last 3 innings of the game or do you want to be a starter...do you want to be an assistant or the boss in a specific job? Sports teach us how to communicate. You learn how to be a teamate thru communication and leadership. A child needs to learn how to interact with all types of personalities and sports can help. TO BE CONT'D
Some of the more successful people I know were not so-called successful in the classroom as students...they learned valuable traits that helped them succeed from other ways...and some from athletics. The big issue here is obviously the money and how much of it goes to our school taxes...but do not be so narrow minded.
My son attends there now, and they are all big shots and go "The City". LOL. I agree that the majority of the teachers my children had going through the Seaford schools were all dedicated, excellent teachers. HOWEVER we are in really tough times now, and this is a middle to lower middle class town that can not afford to be socked with a enormous school tax increase. If it continues more and more people will abandon the public school system. Their union, as well as our school board need to take direct action to restore confidence. Sadly I do not believe either will occur.
Educated man? I don't think so. I know many people who have sent their sons to chaminade. It's a good school. However, if you're fortunate to have a smart, motivated child, they will do very well at Seaford. The school provides a safe place to learn, and those who want to learn, will do well. The cream always rises to the top, regardless of the school. As a counterpoint to the uneducated man, I know many kids that after attending private school for a year, have come back to Seaford ( and done very well). To Kate, although I believe candidates night is interesting, the questions are reviewed before being asked to the candidates. The really interesting ones, that have even a hint of controversy, are shelved. Still, in can be an illuminating night. Do you think they'll allow a question to Ms. Phillips questioning her motives for running for the board ( she's a teacher in Farmingdale and a building rep! )
Dont let organized bargaining units continue to run rough shod over the community, drain our resources and suck the life out of education for our kids and our pocketbooks. You have a choice: continue the insanity or VOTE to let EVERYONE know that We have had enough, we Cant afford to be apathtic any longer. GO VOTE! Remember its a bad hair day for all of us well except perhaps my husband who is folically challenged , but irregardless a little water shouldnt prevent ANYONE from getting out to VOTE! Strap those kids in those car seats, babysit for a neighbor if you have to CARPOOL if neccessary but get out there and VOTE!
We hope you pull through and come to realize Seaford is a great place to work and an even better place to raise children. Don’t play dumb either and pretend you didn’t read this. If there is a teacher reading this make sure Lori gets this message TODAY!! Everyone, please chime in and support this request by replying to this comment. Help support our children’s education and pressure Lori and the UTS board just like they pressured Ms Phillips to run. Lori Fritsch, don’t throw our children under the bus just like you threw Phillips under the bus. Take the FREEZE. Lori we demand an answer now. Help or don’t help. It’s your choice. How Seaford reacts will be based on your decision.