[Vision2020] Moscow Students Take a Stand

[Tom Hansen]

The "alternative plan", Mr. Schwaller, is simply to leave things as they are.

A vast majority of Idaho state senators and representatives have stated
that Idaho is ranked 49th in education expenditures, yet Idaho public
schools rank in the top portion for academic standards and achievements.

If it works, DON'T FIX IT!

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho



On Fri, March 4, 2011 12:15 pm, Glenn Schwaller wrote:
> Appears to me as if the students, ANY students, are doing no better
> than anyone else at proposing other avenues of education reform.  If
> you don't have an alternative proposal don't be complainin'.  Well I
> guess you can always role out the "cut the funding from some other
> programs" - unless of course it turns out to be one in your
> "entitlement backyard".
>
> I do find it amusing what with all the bad-mouthing of "online
> courses" from parents and students alike that the students "were
> encouraged to bring . . . laptops for the event" and that "students
> have been utilizing social networking sites like Facebook to
> communicate with other students . . ."  Apparently computers in the
> classroom are fine for useless things but certainly not for education.
>
> GS
>
> On Fri, Mar 4, 2011 at 4:33 AM, Tom Hansen <thansen at moscow.com> wrote:
>> Courtesy of today's (March 4, 2011) Moscow-Pullman Daily News.
>>
>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> Taking a stand by sitting in: Moscow High students stay in school
>> overnight to protest Idaho education reforms
>>
>> By Christina Lords, Daily News Staff Writer
>>
>> While a group of Moscow High School students have serious concerns about
>> Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna's education reform
>> pending before the state Legislature, they knew they didn't want to send
>> the wrong message.
>>
>> "We know other students have been leaving schools in walk-outs, but we
>> wanted to stay in school to show how much we love our teachers," said
>> Celeste Hufford, a MHS senior and one organizer of Thursday night's Save
>> Our Schools, Stay in School sit-in.
>>
>> The idea for the sit-in was implemented by a handful of concerned
>> students
>> Tuesday after students around the state walked out of classrooms on
>> Monday
>> in protest of the proposed legislation.
>>
>> Students spent the night camped out in the high school's commons giving
>> educational sessions, speeches, writing legislators and creating protest
>> signs.
>>
>> Students were required to have signed parental permission to stay the
>> night in the school and were encouraged to bring art supplies,
>> instruments, food and laptops for the event, Hufford said.
>>
>> Ames Fowler, a MHS senior, said the students have been utilizing social
>> networking sites like Facebook to communicate with other students across
>> the state to develop forums for discussions on the education reform and
>> organize future rallies.
>>
>> Fowler started a Facebook group titled "Idaho citizens for real,
>> comprehensive education reform" and has been using it and other groups
>> to
>> organize events statewide.
>>
>> About 15 to 20 MHS students plan to attend the statewide student rally
>> from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Capitol Building, pending available
>> transportation to and from Boise. They plan to spend the night in the
>> Idaho Education Association's basement, Hufford said.
>>
>> He said students have a role to fill in the reform and deserve a voice
>> in
>> the debates.
>>
>> The students divided the sit-in into five stages.
>>
>> The first stage featured an informational session about the legislation
>> to
>> educate students on the reform. Hufford said student organizers of the
>> event spent ample time discussing the legislation with Penni Cyr, a
>> member
>> of Moscow Education Association and Idaho's director of the National
>> Education Association, as well as several other teachers within the
>> school.
>>
>> "One of the criticisms we've seen is that students are rising up to
>> protest but don't know what they're talking about," Hufford said.
>>
>> But students are able to make insightful, informed comments about the
>> reform if given the right tools, she said. They should be a part of the
>> discussion because they're the ones directly affected by the changes,
>> Hufford said.
>>
>> The event featured student speakers, including Hufford, David Steury and
>> slam poetry about the reforms by Kadin McGreevy.
>>
>> Hufford said she hoped by the end of the informational session and
>> student
>> speeches that students would be encouraged to write their state
>> legislators.
>>
>> After coordinating with other students around the state, MHS students
>> are
>> in charge of the sign making for the statewide protest, Hufford said.
>>
>> Students will protest against the legislation on Third Street from 7:45
>> a.m. until school starts today.
>>
>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> Seeya round town, Moscow.
>>
>> Tom Hansen
>> Moscow, Idaho
>>
>> "The Pessimist complains about the wind, the Optimist expects it to
>> change
>> and the Realist adjusts his sails."
>>
>> - Unknown
>>
>>
>> =======================================================
>>  List services made available by First Step Internet,
>>  serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
>>               http://www.fsr.net
>>          mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
>> =======================================================
>>
>
> =======================================================
>  List services made available by First Step Internet,
>  serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
>                http://www.fsr.net
>           mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
> =======================================================
>


"The Pessimist complains about the wind, the Optimist expects it to change
and the Realist adjusts his sails."

- Unknown