Overcrowded Schools

[Pamela Treacy]

I just got this notice:

The Knox County Board of Education has invited
members of the Knox County Commission and Knox
County Mayor Mike Ragsdale to a meeting Thursday,
November 15, at noon, in the Small Assembly Room
of the City-County Building.

The meeting is to discuss future capital
improvement plans for the Knox County School
System.

I want people to know that there are other ways to fund new school construction other than property taxes. The new Y12 buildings in Oak Ridge were financed by private investors who purchased bonds. At the end of the 20 year period the government will own the buildings for a set cost around $100. Until then they are renters. The old buildings used to cost the government approximately $40 psf to run. Through this financing strategy the cost was cut almost in half. (These numbers are just from my memory so please cut me some slack. But they are ballpark.)

Second, we are still chasing growth in Knox County. I have not forgotton the poor decision to put the new high school in Hardin Valley which is only going to make urban sprawl worse and created a bigger problem. Hardin Valley is a large land area that will soon be developed because people move where there are schools. Where is the long term growth and development plans for Knox County? Pretty soon we won't find a farm within the Knox County borders.

Last, do you know the connection between this and our food supply. Land use management is going to be one of our next major problems. Have you noticed how many fresh products we ship from foreign countries? Does that make sense with the cost of transporation?

I am saying all this because we need our leaders to think through all their decisions. It seems like each one is a knee jerk reaction and doesn't have any long term strategy associated with it. Too many of them are making decisions on how it effects their one little area instead of taking all the factors into play.

Show up at the meeting and let them know you want them to stop worrying about being re-elected and instead focus on making good sound long term decisions for our county.

[Ginevra]

...what momto3 said.

And I'd like to add, I have a young relative who conceived a baby with his girlfriend at age 17, dropped out of school, went to work, got a GED...

...And he and his young wife are now the proud father of two lovely young children, and successfully running their own business. He is personable, responsible, and doing a good job of being there for his wife and kids.

Do I wish he had gone to college? No. I am absolutely and totally pleased with what he has done with his life, and he is contributing a lot to our community. (although he may decide later on that he wants to study further, it is the best entertainment, better than sports for many people)

So let's focus on achieving the highest in ACTs, for those who are playing that game....but it's definitely not the only game in town. I want to live with capable, responsible, kindhearted people who do their best at whatever they do.

"College" is great when it's appropriate for the student, but let's not try to force people into preset molds. The best of who you are is what I'm hoping to get (and I'll try to give my best in return also.)

[Vic Spencer]

I agree that these children did well. But Ginevra, how many kids would make it to a McDonalds job instead if they tried the same thing?

The only sure way today for your children to make it is through education/knowledge of some profession or some job that is needed. The ACT, if you think it is a game, it is the one dependable game in the USA that predicts how well you will do. This is not forcing people into their molds. It is expanding children's mind so that they can be successful when they go on their own.

Could I sit down with you and a coke to discuss this? This is probably the most important question of our time, and even one person's belief is important.

Vic

[Ginevra]

Vic, I don't want you to misunderstand me. Let me be clear, I am not discouraging pursuit of high ACT achievement.

But I do note attempts to force students into college whether they are inclined in that direction or not. That does not expand minds; in some cases it may even cripple the spirit and imagination, especially in situations where an aimless, pressured young person begins to believe that in order to be respectable, he or she has to fit into some pre-set mold, i.e. 2-4 years of college.

That route can be a good route, or an inappropriate route, depending on the individuals involved. I can respect the contributions of other people without trying to shoehorn them into limiting caste prejudice categories. Out of McDonald's work experiences, all kinds of opportunities can rise.

Many immigrants have come here and made their way up through convenience markets and gas stations, yet we try to discourage native-born kids from taking their own initiatives and making successful lives out of their individual interests and enterprises? The kind of success that many entrepreneurs have made for themselves does not depend on ACT scores. More likely, success depends on initiative, attitude, persistence, and ability to observe opportunities. Let's do that ourselves, as adults, working with our resources so we make the most of them, instead of looking for excuses... the poor families, the lazy children, the uninvolved parents...if we want as many children in our community to thrive as possible, we'll not try so hard to limit the ways that this can happen.

[Vic Spencer]

Momto3, this was excellent. I agree with you totally. Outstanding points made. Thank you very much my friend!

[momto3]

appreciate the kudos, thanks Vic!