Spy Op-Ed: Delay School Plans by Tom McHugh
Posted by Dave Wheelan on February 2, 2010 · 1 Comment
The Rock Hall meeting to hear the proposals for Kent County school closings was another example of the spirit and commitment of the Rock Hall community to our local schools.
As a retired educator, trainer of teachers, and Professor of Educational Studies, I would argue strongly for a delay in any attempt to reorganize our county school system. The proposals from the school administration reek of bad planning and a headlong rush to what could be a terrible decision. At the very least, Proposition #5 should be the choice, at least for now.
Even a cursory exploration on the web of “best school practices” regarding school closures shows you that the first recommendation is the formation of a task force of community leaders, to include:
- business people
- community workers
- parents
- teachers
- religious leaders
- civic organizations
- land owners/ and brokers
This task force would take on the role of gathering facts. Often this process is a year long sequence…not a few weeks. Working with such a group, the county school leaders might work toward consensus and avoid antagonistic confrontation. Transparency would be assured.
I have worked with public schools in several states over my 40 year career. In every case drastic moves like school closures are motivated by the real pressures of finances and state mandates. Both pressures are present in this current situation. But we must firmly emphasize to our leaders that Rock Hall has a system which works. Parents whose kids have gone through our schools know that our two schools emphasize the real qualities of a good eduation: caring teachers and administrators, amazingly strong parental involvement, broad community support and academic achievement by the students. Words like “family” and “fun” and “neighborhood” and “helping” are expressive of what we do here. Good writing, reading, and math/technology skills flow from those characteristics…not from ipods,or twitters, or technology “integrators”.
Let me close with a quote from the California Department of Education…” The decision to close a school is anguishing. It profoundly affects parents, neighborhoods, communities, district personnel, and, of course, students. It affects relationships, routines, and cherished territorialities. In short, it alters not only district operations but also lives.”
The Kent County school administration and the Kent County school board owe us a period of time…for study and for careful thought. They should not ignore Rock Hall’s call for a stop to their actions. The meeting at Rock Hall Middle School last night would be the envy of most public school systems in this country…we had retired people, teachers, kids, politicians, watermen, parents…all there for one reason: to fight to maintain schools that work.
Thomas F. McHugh,Ph.D
Professor Emeritus, Education
Vassar College
I would heartily agree that community schools can be the lifeblood of a small town. How about proposal #6…have the residents of Rock Hall (and Galena, Chestertown, Millington…) pay a surcharge for the relative efficiency/inefficiency of their local school. If the inhabitants of Rock Hall have such a strong enough desire to maintain their underutilized school properties, let them pay for the lack of efficient space utilization. Determine the cost per pupil compared to the average of the remaining schools and institute a user-fee (the most fair use of taxation) so that they may continue to have the school they desire and those who do not benefit wouldn’t be required to pay any more than what they receive from their local school. If crowding and economy of scale bring the average costs below the county average, provide those residents a refund from the general tax collected by the county. In this manner, we could see just how endeared local residents are to their beloved school. It’s easy to demand something until you’re faced with the reality of paying for it out of your own pocket.