On March 8 I read about the continuing saga of education in Marysville. As a resident of the Marysville area, one of its taxpayers, a parent of students who attended its schools, and a former teacher in the district, I have been following events with interest.
I was surprised by Superintendent Whitehead’s comment, and I quote, “We’re lagging behind, and it will take everyone from administrators and teachers to school bus drivers and cafeteria workers to turn things around.” Nowhere did she include two of the key figures in raising students’ test scores – namely the students themselves and their parents. The best schools, teachers, programs, and administrators can not raise scores if children are not sent to school on a regular basis with the expectation that they are there to learn!
As a nation we have turned away from accepting personal responsibility. We’ve expected our schools to develop curriculum in areas that include education in the dangers of alcohol use, smoking, drug abuse, gun control, and safe sex. The time required to inform about these has obviously taken away from the time needed to teach the hard-core basics: reading, mathematics, grammar, history and science. Things will not turn around until everyone involved is again expected to accept their own responsibility in the process and make the necessary efforts to bring about the change.
Marysville
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
