To the Editor: At the close of the Warwick School Committee meeting last month, Gene Nadeau, the vice chairman of the committee, read aloud a letter to the editor that was recently published in the Warwick Beacon. In commenting on the article, the vice
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To the Editor:
At the close of the Warwick School Committee meeting last month, Gene Nadeau, the vice chairman of the committee, read aloud a letter to the editor that was recently published in the Warwick Beacon. In commenting on the article, the vice chair said, “It echoes my comments as well.”
In speaking about this letter, Mr. Vice Chairman highlighted the following sentence: “They have embraced school consolidation and moved on,” referring to the students who were consolidated into the remaining schools. This characterization is troubling on a number of fronts. There is a clear distinction between accepting and embracing. Accepting means “to receive to endure resignedly or patiently; to accept one’s fate.” Embracing, on the other hand, means “to adopt or support willingly or eagerly.” There is a vast difference in meaning.
My personal experience is not that students are “embracing” consolidation. They have accepted it because they do not have a choice in the matter. They are making the best of the situation. To the best of my knowledge, no poll or survey was conducted among the displaced seniors and others asking them to share their experience with this process. Just what is their experience, their truth, with regards to how the consolidation is working for them?
With this in mind, I am asking the Warwick School Committee to put together a survey for those affected, to tell us what they are thinking, feeling, living so far as the consolidation is concerned. What is their reality? What is their truth? Has this impacted them for good or bad? It is only then that an honest and real statement about their experience can be put forth.
It is disheartening that some members of the Warwick School Committee make decisions based on numbers and statistics. Numbers can be presented in such a way so they conform to the presenter’s own notions and beliefs. It is important to remember that students are not numbers, nor are they statistics. They are living, breathing, thoughtful human beings who might just tell us something very different from what “adults” might want to think. Regardless of one’s feelings on secondary consolidation and its implementation this school year. Everyone should have their voice heard without having someone else’s preconceived notions being brought upon them. For everyone’s opinion should be valued, especially those who are living it. With this said, let us consider all voices, for this is the most constructive way to move forward.
Jacob Madore
Rhode Island College Student
2016 Graduate of Warwick Vets H.S.
3 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
Justanidiot
schools is about numbers not edumacation. move em along. keep the conveyer belt moving. any student nervey enough to question anything is dealt with switly and surely.
Thursday, February 2, 2017 Report this
davebarry109
The school committee has to watch the taxpayers money. The teachers will take every penny and not deliver any better education. There might still be a small number who care about the kids, but not many. The average teacher is now paid close to six figures a year for less than 180 days of work per year. Unbelievable.
Saturday, February 4, 2017 Report this
richardcorrente
Dear Davebarry109,
You stated that the School Committee "has to watch the taxpayers money". The School Committee?
Isn't that a lot like having a fox guard the hen house?
They receive over $160,000,000 of taxpayers money and they are not accountable to anyone!
More than half of the taxpayers dollars; more than all other departments PUT TOGETHER, and by charter, they are not accountable to anyone from the moment they receive the taxpayers money. (not the Mayor; not the City Council; not ANYONE). That is why I strongly feel they should be made accountable BEFORE they receive one dime of the taxpayers hard-earned money!
The teachers "MAY" or "MAY NOT" be asking for too much. That hasn't been determined yet. Here's what we do know. Until recently, the teachers were willing to sit and negotiate. The School Committee wasn't. I applaud the recent efforts that improved that situation (including the Mayors recent support) but we're not there yet. Attorney Ragosta, I feel, is the answer, as an impartial, third-party arbitrator, but you and I don't have as much information as the negotiating parties do.
From what I have witnessed EVERY teacher cares about the students. That's why they became teachers, but they also care about their own families as well. If they can make more, they want that, just like you and I would. I don't know what the best solution is but I do know how to get there. Sit down, no matter how many times it takes, and negotiate. Don't posture. Don't sue. Negotiate, damn it. Sit down with the teachers and negotiate.
This growing problem has gone on way too long.
Happy Spring everyone.
Rick Corrente
Representing the 80,000 Warwick taxpayers that are paying the tab.
Friday, February 17, 2017 Report this