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published in The Grand Lake Visitor in March of 1996.
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It is no secret that the Grove School System is a little less that could be desired.
The School Board has publicly shown a visible split between it's members, no one has ever got to see the famous missing diploma that in Grove is as much a mystery as the bloody glove in the O.J. Simpson trial.
What about the convenient snow day the day of Jerry Crossley's day in court, that the teachers had threatened to call in sick to be there in his support?
How can the public respect this system?
It has even been told that our teachers (that are supposed to be pillars of the community, and teaching our child by good example) have had secret meetings among themselves, selecting out families in the School District that stand up for their beliefs concerning the School, and tose families have been selected by our teachers to not do business with the businesses that they own. Now isn't that a good example to be teaching our children... If someone disagrees with how something is being done, when they stand up for what they feel is wrong... Boycott that families' business!
How can the business community respect this type of terrorist tactics used toward business?
But Daddy, is that the Christian way? Is that the mature way to handle things? Is that the way we should act when we grow up?
Well, I will let YOU answer that question.
It is a shame that there are certain clicks when it come to a child's education. You have just the right pucker, and continue that pucker throughout your child's learning years when it comes to education in the Grove School District.
You say, If it's that bad why not complain to the local Administration!
Well my good friend that IS the problem, our current Administration! When a Principle and Assistant Principle would even think that quitting school and taking a GED class is a possibilityfor a student, let alone mentioning it to students. Not only mentioning it as a possibility, but telling some that this is a choice you should take. Grove coaching staff being promoted to Administration... Maybe that's a great deal of our problems here!
Do you think these two have any respect, or that they deserve any type of respect? This is not the ball field, or the locker room!
That's just one example of what minds are controlling our children's future. What about teachers and administration staff harassing students, singling out students, publicly humiliating students. Just because they do not want to mess with that student, or they maybe don't like the student's parents, oy maybe that parent won't learn the pucker I spoke of earlier, and what about teachers MORALS?
You have heard over the years the pettiness of some of the teaching staff and administators, you've seen how they have publicly ridiculed a coaching staff member, do you think this same group of teaching professionals have any more respect for our children than they do for their own peers? Guess again. What about Teachers MORALS?
The Administration does not even show respect for they're own, do you think they respect our children?
The public opinion and pride toward the Grove School System in general is at an all time low, many a parent have pulled their children out of the Grove system and taken them to other schools, they are home learning some, and others have just cowed down to the harassment by the learned principles that feel a GED is good enough for the child.
Heaven forbid that a parent complain, or disagree with something that has gone on, if so that student has often times been punished by the tactics of some of the teaching staff. As long as that child attends this system, he or she will be blackballed by that same group of teachers and administrators, and guess what? If you have another child coming up in the ranks of the System, you got it... They ar treated equally as cruel and as rude as the prior child. Again, what about Teachers MORALS?
Do you think a parent that has experienced this has any respect for the system?
Folks there IS a problem here, and it goes beyond that of a Board Member that does not meet qualifications, beyond a coach that was tared and feathered, beyond a ridiculous executive session midnight marathon concerning no, not education but sports. A meeting in excess of eight hours for what, reading, writing, arithmetic... No, SPORTS! Where else is the coaching staff promoted into Administration? Now you tell me, what do you think the most important thing at this School System is? Why not take the Grove Public School signage down and install one that reads grove Sports Institute, this has been shown to all that Sports is most important in our school system. When did a meeting ever go even a forth this long concerning everyday EDUCATION or SCHOOL POLICY?
Just ask around town about how much respect this topic has received.
As a second though, if the Grove School has such a good sports department. Why is a large majority of good player's parents removing them from the Grove School System and taking them to other neighboring towns for their education and to further their sports career?
Why is a coach singled out and publicly embarrassed and then fired, because of bad language? NO, that was as good as cover-up as Whitewater. The real reason, as we all know, is our good teaching staff that naturally fell that they and they're children are better than others were not allowed to play or to be played first.
When I was in school, if you were on the playground and got mad and told another student that is my ball, do it my way or I'll take it back and leave", our teacher would make us apologize and then we'd be punished. But here in this school system, it's the teaching staff that "takes the ball and goes home, when you don't play the game the way they want it played!"
That's why a good coach was axed by YOUR teaching staff, YOUR administration.
It's time these were reminded that they are PUBLIC SERVANTS, They Work For Us! They do not make their own rules as they go, least wise they shouldn't be.
We haven't heard much about the boy that took liquor on a school sponsored trip, liquored-up his fellow students on school transportation. The state law says Drugs, liquor or firearms you are out of school the duration of that year. Not here at Grove (that is you are the son of a influential businessman) No, he was back in school the next day, even though state law says, and Grove student handbook says different.
What about the System being in excess of $96,000.00 over budget? What about the big screen TV, stereo equipment for the student center? What ever happened to the property that was purchased to build a new school building on? Who allowed this, who wrote those checks, who approved these warrants to be written, and most recently who had no concern of a budget not be to gone over? Need I say more, are we on the road to another Grand Jury trial for over spending and misuse of monies, the abuse of funds, the non-usage of bidding process, the neglect of fiduciary duties. Just give some of the fine folks that live in the Oaks School District a call, they can sure mess up some of your good night sleeps!
How can the public respect those that don't respect us?
Now that we've mentioned the bidding process, did you know that over $10,000.00 was miss-spent for cameras for our school busses. Did you know that they purchased low grade equipment that does not even operate properly, nor is more than one system is working occasionally. Now that's what I call good Administration practices, and I hear now that our Good Ole' Boy Administrator has the check book and is attempting to more funds from one line to another to try to get things straightened out. Again, I think some Oaks PAST Administration, and perhaps their Accountant, and bank negotiator a local CPA, could tell you if that's a good idea or not!
How can these expect respect?
Once again, how can students and parents have any respect for a system that thrives on this Double-Standard Selective Teaching Policy that the Grove School System practices today, and has for years.
Where else in the country can a teachers slap a student, be charged, go to court... Then be teaching again today with not as mush as hands slapped?
How can students be expected to respect his system?
Something needs to be done folks, our school is going right down the toilet, and the ones that sit there waiving their hands saying there is no problem, what problem? Are exactly what is wrong, you might say they can't see the forest for the trees.
Open your eyes!
To the teachers that are here teaching a class that have good intentions, and that don't approve of the practices that run rampant in the system, I apologize that you have to work in this surroundings. You know who you are, many of you have spoken quite candidly to me, and I know what you are up against.
"Children are always the only future the human race has; teach them well."
But it's time for the parents to unite, we've all heard the horror stories, let's get together and visit, let's compare what our families have experienced, let's stick together and stand up for our children's rights. Let's make sure that does not only the teaching and administrative staff EARN their paychecks, let's make sure that they RESPECT our children, our families and correct teaching practices that should be reinstated.
If it is so important for most of the teaching staff to have other jobs that affect the way they teacher their classes. I say why not let them work full time at that grocery store, department store, convenience store and restaurant. Allowing a teacher that wants to spend quality time with the students to do so, without being to tired to mess with the students after working the secondary jobs. Which by the way, teachers, is 4:00 PM not 30 minutes to an hour before!
And for you teachers that do not approve of the traditional way that the School System has and is being ran, please continue to call me, inform me and most important , keep your good values and keep your chin up. I appreciate your concerns and your wanting to do the right thing, and most importantly your apologies for the improper methods used that we are all so very aware of today. Thank you and God bless you!
A "scanned" version of this editorial is Available Here