February 11th, 2009
WV State Scholars – I’m In
West Virginia, it seems, has had some fairly low academic standards set for high school graduates in the past. However, there is an initiative here now that aims to get kids to take more rigorous coursework in highschool than they might typically. It is the State Scholars Initiative. There are many parts to the initiative and I am involved in one of them – speaking to 8/9th graders as a successful person and trying to explain to them why they should take harder classes. It should prove interesting.
I often bemoan, at least to myself, the contempt we American’s seem to have towards being well educated. It’s a long tradition of mockery back when kids were called “Brains” or “Spaz” upto our more modern “Nerds” and “Geeks”. It has never been particularly cool to be smart; or at least for others to know you are. It is as if ,at a young age, we just embrace ignorance as a positive personality trait. I don’t think I’ll ever fully understand it but, in my opinion, it is one of the greatest threats facing our country.
Thus, when presented with the chance to talk to some kids and try to convince them that it is OK, no, its better than OK, it’s good to take harder classes I didn’t hesitate. I don’t know if I’ll be a very good ambassador for the project but if I can convince just one kid to take the “professional” track in high school I figure my effort won’t be wasted.
I have the option of speaking at pretty much any school in Cabell county but I am going to pick Enslow Middle School because it is in my neighborhood and I’ve always heard such bad things about the atmosphere there. I can’t believe it is as bad as it has been described and I have to think there are at least a few kids there who are hiding their intelligence and willingly holding themselves back for fear of social ostracization. You don’t have to be a smart ass to be smart and thus other kids don’t have to know that you are doing better than them in school. Instead a kid can just quietly excel and set themselves up for far greater success later in life. If they are lucky maybe they’ll drag a friend along for the ride and two kids will find a better future.
I realize I’m making a small contribution that may have little to no effect on any kid in the classes I speak to. But at least it is something and I’m not just sitting around bemoaning the poor academics of the state or the country. My kids are lucky to have parents who understand the importance of a good education; all I’m hoping to do is let another kid in on the secret. It isn’t as if the courses in high school are all that hard – it’s that many don’t see why it is important to take them and convince themselves it doesn’t matter because “they couldn’t do it anyway.” Which, of course, is bullshit. Unless you have a real learning disability that prevents you from comprehending the material you can do it; sure it might take more effort for some, but no class in high school is so hard a normal kid couldn’t pass them.
I’m also excited about this initiative because it is something being done at the state level. Initially the program was a federal one but they had even lower expectations than the states version has. I’m pretty happy to be able to support a more local “grass-roots” program that aims to improve the capabilities of the future adults in West Virginia.
Comments
Just in case the students who haven’t started the honors classes are reading your blog…
Main Entry: os·tra·cize
Pronunciation: \-ˌsīz\
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form(s): os·tra·cized; os·tra·ciz·ing
Etymology: Greek ostrakizein to banish by voting with potsherds, from ostrakon shell, potsherd — more at oyster
Date: 1649
1 : to exile by ostracism
2 : to exclude from a group by common consent
Ryan
February 11th, 2009
Thanks Ryan, very helpful of you!
Bill
February 12th, 2009
I am so glad to hear you are finally getting involved in the local educational system!!!! I remember when your girls were very young you said you were going to send them to private schools because the local schools were lousy. I had suggested at that time that you and Lisa get involved and try to raise the standards of the local educational system but you had said you didn’t think it could be done! I’m glad to see you have changed your mind. The more parents get involved in making a good education important, both in the home, in schools and local government, the better the schools will become…and education will become more important to children.
As for kids not wanting to learn, sure there are lots of kids that give into peer pressure and that is to be expected. There are also lots of kids that think a good basic education won’t do them any good because nobody cares (in their families) and they won’t ever go to college or anything like that. So when you are talking with the kids, don’t forget about the ones that are more concerned about what they are going to face when they go home than what they do in school.
love
mom
Mom
February 12th, 2009
I still don’t think I could have “fixed” what is wrong with the elementary school near me based on my understanding of it’s problems. Could we, by the time Emily graduates from High School, have an impact on the overall quality of Education at that school? Perhaps; but I doubt it.
I don’t think I’m going to change an entire education system by my efforts.. my hope is far more modest than that. I hope that I can convince a single kid to take their education more seriously than they do now. Of course, I’ll probably never know if I succeed but I can hope.
A lot needs to be done to modify the entire cultural view of education here. I am happy to try to help change that culture but I am not willing to risk my own kids educational opportunities while working for that change. By sending them to the school they go to I was able to immediately improve their situation (though, to be honest, it is very hard to pay for, and I obviously have other issues with parts of their education). I just figure financial strain and catholic influence are tolerate for a better chance at a decent education.
I think my approach is pretty fair really. I’m doing what I think is the best for my own children while trying to incrementally help any other kid/family that will receive it.
Bill
February 12th, 2009
Bill – I am not condemming you, I simply disagree. As for having an actual constructive idea, how’s this: As for improving the level of public education in your State, or even your town, get involved. Be active in educational organizations, become a part of the school board or at least attend school board meetings, write to your governor and legislators about the why and how your schools need to be improved. Get other people involved that truely care about the kids and their futures…
Mom
February 13th, 2009
Mom,
These are some good ideas.
I honestly never considered joining the School Board; I have never really considered any kind of elected position (it is an elected thing here; I’m not sure if it is everywhere).
I actually have some hope for our schools and some of the public schools in the state seem very good (In fact, it is our intent to send both girls to the public high school). I listened to the Governor’s State of the State address the other night and he really seems to want Education to be a priority. It wouldn’t surprise me if that is how this program I am involved in came about.
I’ll have to look and find out when the school board meetings are held – I would imagine they are open to the public I just never really thought about them. I wonder if just anyone can talk at one? It seems doubtful else they would probably never get anything done.
Bill
February 13th, 2009
I deleted a few comments between my mother and I that I think were too personal for even my personal blog. I often talk about personal experiences on here but I rarely deal with the same level of details as these comments touched upon and I don’t feel comfortable having them on the blog for the public’s perusal.
Bill
February 13th, 2009