Why Not Caring Will Cost Us Everything
Today I ventured back to the hallowed halls that were the place of my teens. As I looked back on the changes that were made, I see many changes to the building. Former locker spots are now large trophy cases. The cafeteria resembles a cafe. A large glass case houses a photo of special Vassar soldiers where the walls werre once bare. The face of one of my class mates looks back at me with pride through the glass case. I take a moment to thank him in my heart, and wish him well in heaven. While I reminisce about the dances I went to, parades I marched in, and times I waited in lunch lines for Vi's best homemade lunches, I also can tell by the atmosphere in the cafeteria, that only somethings are going well for the teachers being spoke to inside a meeting of sorts. A short applause has followed some one's closing remarks, but the chatter sounds afterwards is just not really what you would expect for a rally meeting to start a school year. It is too quiet, and very reserved. In a minute, I will know that those things I mentioned above that tug our hearts about school, may not be there for my children.
As the teachers are dismissed, my children and I are stepping in to look at the lunch room set up. We bump into my son's 4th grade teacher. I can see he is in distress. I asked him if the meeting was a pep talk of sorts. He smiled, but told me it is just more bad news about the cuts and changes Vassar faces. He doesn't have to tell me how bad it is, I can see how upset and lost he is feeling. This year Vassar students are moving around because the funds and students are just not in the districts anymore. 6th grade is moving to the High school, and some T&N kids are moving over to Central. In a discussion with a teacher last year, I was told that the district numbers were down a total of over 800 students since I attended in the late eighties and mid nineties. While I understand that less students will mean less funding over all, when the funds are too little to even cover basic per student expenses we have to do something! This is not because of the school's poor management, the state is dropping funding everywhere. (Why thank you, Mr. Snyder). I know that my district has been cutting across the board to accommodate these cuts for along time. Teachers are making concessions and bus runs have been eliminated. Central has no PE teacher, regular Ed teachers take care of it, rather than have that time for planning. Is this what we want, stressed out run down teachers who feel hopeless?
Where the cuts are really beginning to hurt, are in the class room. Some teachers have a student load of nearly 35 students in some grades. While this may not seem like a large number, I know first hand from leading church school that a class of 25 can be overwhelming when some people need one on one time to be a sucessful learner. I also want to mention the many state mandates and tests that bench mark student performances such as NWEA, Dibbles and STAR all have differnt critera that have to be met. Vassar teachers take these tests seriously, and are worried about teaching all they can, without simply "cramming information" to make bench marks. I have listened to many teachers try to explain that they want things to be memorable, and not just remembered. I can't imagine being able to teach like that ,with so many "elephants in the room". Those elephants are, people, cuts, and money. Apathetic people lead that herd, apathy from people that expect teachers to perform, but refuse to give them to tools to teach. Money is a highly necessary tool. The amazing thing is that teachers pay for their masters degrees, and get told they have nickles and dimes to prep future generations for their diploma.
Let me ask a question, if we want our kids to have a good education, why are we not in support of our teachers who are flat out hurting? I spoke to a building Principal last year at the end of the school year, and asked how many parents are attending meetings regarding district changes, he said. "Not many, sometimes almost none." Instantly I felt terrible that my kid's teachers and staff that are on the battlefield alone. I am a parent who is a child of a life long school employee. I know that these people get involved with our kids, and impact them directly. Some students will change them forever, some of those teachers will change a student forever. I also know that in my own busy life, I am making mistakes by not going to the meetings that the school board has, as well as public planning meetings. It is time to begin making plans to make time for our teachers, and educational partners. Even if I can't physically be present at a meeting, I need to meet with other like minded parents who are willing to go and be present.
The teachers at Vassar need my help, and yours. Not standing with them is costing them all of the things that we cherished as students. All over the USA, band, art, choir, gym, home ec and enrichment programs are disappearing. Learning programs are not far behind. Vassar's story is not unique! I implore you to call our Vulcan Staff (or your home school), thank them for what they do, then ask them, "What can I do for you?.
Yours in Community, Josie, Vassar Parent.
