Has our school board's fixation with new schools turned their attention away from a real problem? While we have never heard about student's "increase in alcohol consumption" and "provocative behavior" from the Board, it has apparently advanced to a point where at least some administrators finally see the need to act.
To learn the real story, we had to turn to the student's themselves. To read Provocative behavior prompts dance reform in The Merionite click here.
The responsibility we have to educate our children goes beyond providing high-tech toys in extravagant new buildings. We should be instilling in them the type of moral values and self-respect that cause them to be part of a safe school environment. Why is it that with all the programs that the District currently provides, student alcohol consumption is on the rise? Is there a connection between these behaviors and the we-want-it-all-now attitude that our own Board exhibits?
If we truly want our children to "Enter to Learn, Go Forth to Serve," we must set the right example at the top. The example being set by this Board is that the desires of only one segment of our community matter, regardless of the hardships this may cause others. The lesson our students could take from the example being set by our school board may lead them to put their own definition of "fun" ahead of the safety and well being of other students and of the community at large.
With Board President Lawrence Rosenwald, Vice President Marcia Taylor, and board members Jonathan (Joss) Gelfand, Lisa Fair Pliskin, and Diane DiBonaventuro all coming up for re-election in the spring primary election and the Board Election in November, the time has come to vote in a new school board that will focus on what matters. Student Learning Matters!
Don't pull the party lever in 2007. Become informed. Come to the Board meetings to see for yourself. Make your concerns known. Take a stand for the future of our township and our children.
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