The most important quality for service on the school board is passion for education - the belief in education to affect the future for the individual, for the community and for the country. Good School Boards have students as their focus. Not just lip service but a true commitment to serving the needs of the future. Individual agendas that do nor meet the criteria of serving all students are inappropriate for any person serving on any public board. Art is as important a part of the Fine Arts as music. Please don't use it to pass judgement on Ms Hosies' concern for music. Be patient I'm sure you will be pleased. Mary Tucker
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In the 1960's, I was taught sex education in Junior High School (What it should be called now, but that's another argument). Back then the subject was a huge controversy. My parents were very conservative religious people, and had deep reservations about allowing the schools to teach this subject. They consented and were open for discussion of the things we learned at school. But you know what? The classes were handled with care, boys and girls were separated, and after many nervous giggles concerning human sexuality, I learned the basic facts of life and the consequences of "free" sex. Knowledge is power, and I used that knowledge to stay out of trouble. It must have worked. We have to be honest here. We have the most media savvy, well informed, most technology proficient students the world has ever seen, but...THEY ARE STILL KIDS AND NEED TO BE SUPERVISED AND GUIDED CONSTANTLY! Parents need to SUPERVISE and COMMUNICATE with their kids because: They are inundated with sex from almost ALL media. The social norms have changed....from "you better not" to "If it feels good Do It" It is not Rocket Science. If kids know you're always watching, there is less of a chance of something stupid happening. Believe me, with all the information out there, getting pregnant as a teenager is S-T-U-P-I-D. We know they are going to experiment...We know there are going to be extreme moments of temptation. I do not condone those types of action. But the alternative is unacceptable. Leaving the issue in the "Hands of God" is ludicrous. God gave us (most of us) common sense. He gave us a brain and free will to use. USE IT. The schools can dispassionately dispense sex ed as part of the health or science curriculum. That in concert with parent guidance is the key. Whoops....there's a Problem: How many of the students we deal with live with both their parents? Just one more justification for the schools to teach students what they need to know. Are the schools perfect? Right....but who is going to help correct this huge pregnancy problem? Opponents of sex ed in the schools are right in a way. In a perfect world, the PARENT should be the FIRST line of communication. There are many good parents out there that do a good job, but they are becoming fewer and fewer. It's a sad comment on our society that the majority of what SHOULD be taught at home is dumped on the schools. You know...things like manners, honesty, respect, a work ethic, that and education is important...etc. Unfortunately, the responsibility has fallen upon the schools to communicate with kids on a multitude of subjects. How many times have you administrators heard..."YOU do something with him/her...I can't?" In my opinion, there are "cultures" in this community that have failed miserably in this area. They need to step up to the plate and deal with changing the "culture" of segments of the community to one of enlightenment instead of ignoring common sense and sticking their heads in the sand.
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At last, people are taking notice about Safe and Drug Free Schools. The new Napoleon spends most of his time investigating his employees and issuing letters of reprimand in order to cover his own stupidity and memory lapses. From what I have been hearing, the last of the Mohicans, Mr. Peace, may be leaving the district soon. We can not afford to lose him. The kids will dearly miss him and so will the teachers who look forward to his classroom seminars. Voice your opinions, maybe someone will pay attention and send Napoleon back into exile.
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I see Sonia wore her new Russian hat...does it help her seem more intelligent?