By Mary Sanchez, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist
One observer who would rather remain undercover made this astute observation about efforts to redistrict the KC School Board's election boundaries post slicing seven schools off for the Independence School District: "There seems to be more interest in the lines than people who ran for the seats."
Sadly, true. Hearings on the maps under consideration have drawn much interest from the public.
But recall the pathetic school board race with uncontested seats up for the taking.
Hopefully, the renewed interest will continue and the next go 'round will include a plethora of school board candidates.
To view the maps go to www.kceb.org
A decision is expected Thursday.
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Nice way to say protecting special interest
These people who fight for lines are simply acting in self interest to protect turf. The same old characters like Clinton Adams and his sister Gwen Grant can't afford to lose control or they won't be able to direct money and jobs to their friends anymore. Political clubs fight for the boundry lines so they remain in control of who gets elected.That hasn't worked for our children to date. Anyone who turns a blind eye is equally responsible.
Every time I see some article quoting the crooks who feed off the school district and portray them as community leaders, I include you in the blind who refuse to see.
Flexibility a must
Some youngster's take a while to find their calling and others simply develop later. One of my kids always failed to pass the gifted test by a few points yet always scored in the top 2% nationally on standardized tests including the ACT. He wasn't the only kid I knew of who couldn't get in the program and always achieved at a high level academically. Likewise, I know of kids who spent their entire school career in gifted and dropped out of college or never attended. How do you select who goes where? Parental pressure to get in? Obviously test scores used to determine gifted aren't always accurate or they aren't the right path for the individual. We worried needlessly that not getting in the gifted program would harm our student and hold him back. We even considered private school. In the end, it had no impact on his ability to maintain high grades and get into one of the best Universities in the country.
I do agree that once basics are taught there should be an opportunity to take more challenging coursework. Secondary schools should offer a path to careers if for no other reason than to allow students an opportunity to explore potential career paths. How many college students change direction multiple times and add to the cost as they find their way through expensive classes?
School Districts currently report to the State but when they fail the State has been reluctant to do anything about it because politicians get involved and protect their home turf. If a change is made it should be to make the State Board of Education independent of political control.
Eliminate school boundaries
Local school control is an anachronism, a relic of the distant past, when children were educated by and for their local community. The children of today will compete in a global economy and their education should not be restricted by artificial political boundaries. It is time to eliminate distict supervision, with all its attendent overhead, as well as school boards. School principals should report directly to the State Superintendent for Education.
Children should attend any schools they choose, as long as space and transportation is available. Gifted youngsters will choose to attend those schools which are the most scholastically demanding, while others will find schools which better fit their needs. Every child is not a scholar and would be better served attending trade schools. There will always be a demand for those who can actually do something constructive.