[Vision2020] 1912 Levy Issues

[Timothy Rigsby]

Donovan:

Let me clarify a little more about the unit that involves camping, fly fishing, 
and orienteering.  

As of right now, the students get bussed to UI and work on their camping, fly 
fishing, and orienteering skills in front of the PEB.  The reason they get bussed 
to UI for these events is because there is not adequate outdoor green space at MHS 
for these activities to take place.  With the new school, I assume that there will 
be more green space for the students to throw out a line.  Even if the new campus 
is covered in asphalt, the close proximity of the Junior High, McDonald, and the 
Eagan Youth Center field will provide enough room for every student to throw out 
a line.  

Just because the students do not pitch a tent on an official campsite, does not 
mean that they cannot learn how to properly select a campsite, set up a tent, 
and learn about other aspects of camping.  This information can easily be presented 
in any space that has vegetation or even in the classroom.

No there is not a stream running through the new gym, nor will there ever be, 
we hope.  However, as a treat to the students in Outdoor Ed at MHS, they finish 
the Camping, Fly Fishing, and Orienteering unit with an all day field trip to 
Spring Valley.  Spring Valley provides students with an opportunity to throw out 
that fly and attempt to catch a bass, provides students with real trails with predetermined course markings, and provides adequate campsites so students can set 
up tents and such.  Again, this all day field trip is supervised by MHS and also by 
PE students from UI.  This event allows for a continued bridge of the gap that 
could be present between UI and the students of Moscow.

Things have changed drastically at MHS since you last attended Donovan.  
Education needs to evolve on a continuing basis as to adapt and change to fit 
the needs of the students and of society.  Karla Harman has done a lot of work to 
make the Outdoor Ed program at MHS an excellent learning experience for 
every student.  She has worked tirelessly to apply for numerous grants to 
allow students the opportunity to learn how to fly fish when most would otherwise 
not get that opportunity.  Last spring for example, MHS was awarded a grant from 
a national fishing organization that allowed MHS to purchase enough fly 
fishing equipment for about 30 students.  Without this grant, students would not 
get the instruction that they have received this year.  

It is obvious that teachers are doing their part to facilitate the learning of 
every student, yet some people in this town claim otherwise.  Supporting this levy 
will only increase the opportunities that students have to learn in a safe 
and positive environment that is up to date and loaded with all the amenities 
that students deserve in 2005 and beyond.

This new building may not benefit every aspect of Physical Education and 
some activities will still have to take place off campus, but the new building 
will sure make the jobs easier and increase the instruction time for both students 
and teachers in Physical Education.  Physical Education is just one example of 
why this levy needs to be passed.

Tim

----- Original Message -----
From: Donovan Arnold <donovanarnold at hotmail.com>
Date: Sunday, April 3, 2005 11:40 am
Subject: RE: [Vision2020] 1912 Levy Issues

> Timothy,
> 
> You write, "The Physical Education Department, for whom I have 
> worked 
> extensively with this
> >school year, is lacking proper and safe facilities as well.  Ms. 
> Karla 
> >Harman
> >busses her students to the University of Idaho Tuesday-Friday to 
> >participate
> >in Outdoor Education classes.  Ms. Harman’s students receive 
> instruction on
> >Wall Climbing, Fly Fishing, Inline Hockey, Biking, Camping, and 
> Racquet 
> >Sports to
> >name a few activities.  "
> 
> How exactly does building a brand new high school improve 
> instruction for 
> students on camping and fly fishing? Are we thinking that there is 
> going to 
> be a camp ground and fishing stream going through the new high 
> school gym? I 
> am lost, somebody help me out here.
> 
> 
> Take Care,
> 
> Donovan J Arnold
> 
> >From: Timothy Rigsby <timo5277 at uidaho.edu>
> >To: vision2020 at moscow.com
> >Subject: [Vision2020] 1912 Levy Issues
> >Date: Sat, 02 Apr 2005 16:06:49 -0800
> >
> >Phil:
> >
> >I don't know about the downfalls of the science lab, but I do 
> know that if 
> >the
> >science lab is not up to par, it is not the only facility at MHS 
> that would 
> >fall
> >into this category.
> >
> >The Physical Education Department, for whom I have worked 
> extensively with 
> >this
> >school year, is lacking proper and safe facilities as well.  Ms. 
> Karla 
> >Harman
> >busses her students to the University of Idaho Tuesday-Friday to 
> >participate
> >in Outdoor Education classes.  Ms. Harman’s students receive 
> instruction on
> >Wall Climbing, Fly Fishing, Inline Hockey, Biking, Camping, and 
> Racquet 
> >Sports to
> >name a few activities.  I doubt very seriously that even with a 
> remodel of 
> >the
> >1912 center, that these activities could take place in the 
> remodeled space. 
> >  Would
> >you be willing to let students play inline hockey at CJ’s instead 
> of 
> >building a
> >new building?
> >
> >Not only is Ms. Harman taking her students off campus, but Mr. 
> Amos and Ms. 
> >Barnes
> >are as well.  Bussing students off campus takes away from the 
> student’s>activity time.  According to the governing authority of 
> Physical Education,
> >NASPE, students should receive a minimum of 150 minutes per week 
> in 
> >vigorous
> >physical activity.  By bussing students, we are cutting their 
> classroom 
> >time to
> >about 35 or 40 minutes per day.  Once you figure instruction or 
> >demonstration
> >and introduction of new skills, the students may only get about 
> 20 to 25 
> >minutes
> >of vigorous activity time.  100 minutes per week is nowhere near 
> the NASPE 
> >standard
> >of 150 minutes.
> >
> >Considering that Unleaded gas is running $2.19 today per gallon 
> and diesel 
> >is
> >sitting right around $2.70, so I hear, I think that building this 
> new 
> >school
> >would help cut down considerably on the fuel cost to bus these 
> students to 
> >far
> >off playing fields and gymnasiums.
> >
> >If this bond passes, and I hope to hell it will, the students 
> will more 
> >than
> >likely not have to be bussed daily off campus to participate in 
> activity>classes.  Granted, in order for wall climbing to take 
> place, they will 
> >still
> >get bussed to UI, but this unit is typically only three weeks 
> with the 
> >students
> >bussed a maximum of 15 times.  When you were in school Phil, were 
> you 
> >climbing up
> >a premier climbing wall, learning to fly fish, or playing games 
> such as 
> >Omnikin
> >Ball or Pickleball?  You probably don’t even know what Pickleball 
> or Kin 
> >ball are
> >do you?  Students at MHS have one heck of a physical education 
> program and
> >are extremely fortunate to have what little facilities they have 
> as is.  
> >Giving
> >these students a new school that is light years ahead of where 
> they are now 
> >will
> >not only help the morale of the students but also will help 
> further the
> >educational opportunities these students are missing out on.
> >
> >Tim Rigsby
> >Student, University of Idaho
> >College of Education
> >Physical Education, School & Community Health Education, and 
> Sport Science
> >
> >
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