Wednesday, May 6, 2009

In light of recent events

My school district is undergoing some serious budget cuts and is about to make one of the worst mistakes they could possibly make.

I typed this in response to a comment on an article about the magnet schools being gutted (and reduced--that's a bit harsh of a word--to being a regular public school). The article suggested that we were to cut down faculty to an ungodly low number (absolutely impossible to achieve) and many of the responses were, to say the least, a bit brutal. Many attacked the new principal (who, in all my years as a student, has been the most involved, caring, and dedicated principal I've ever met), attacked the new cluster head (which was a bunch of baloney) for Theatre, and even the students. Many generalized to the point of excessive simplicity, stating we were all "pampered," "middle class" and "straight out of Plano and Highland Park" suggesting we all have money to burn, and thus are being treated much too well compared to other schools. Though I could get into a tangent about how these statements are so far from true it hurts, I thought I'd share my comment posted on the blog.
(This opening is a response to a commenter who felt that out-of-district kids were 'taking DISD's money' and that their attending on a tuition-free basis was unfair to in-district students)

"As an out-of-district student, I do not feel it is unfair to in-district students for us to attend a school where we can have access to the highest education available. On average, the out-of-district student is rejected in favor of an in-district student. (example: I was placed on the waiting list for BTW the summer before my freshman year to make way for in-district kids.)
Please do not assume that schools like BTW deny out-of-district kids to get more money...in fact the state money for the student is sent to their home school no matter how you view it, so how is BTW gaining anything from either 'type' of student?

I also regret that so many people are misinformed of BTW's faculty quality (which surpasses supreme) and the absolute blessing the new principal has been. It's a shame that many do not view arts as a career-oriented school but as an ego-blower (which, I daresay it is not). The environment of the school does nothing but motivate students to do their best and achieve their dreams. I, for one, will be (willingly) balancing 6AP courses with my cluster classes (which are both intillectually stimulating and character building, as well as educational) my SENIOR year! How often do you find a motivated senior at ANY high school (be it Magnet or Otherwise) thanks to the nurturing environment provided at their school?

Perhaps it takes 4 years of "not fitting in" and 5 years of teasing and being pelted by pizza to fully appreciate the community BTW and the growing Arts district have built. I, for one, have never felt so motivated, encouraged and accepted as I have in my 3 years of attending BTW."

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