|
|
Letters to the editor |
|
Former valedictorian expresses disbelief
To the Editor: Not long ago someone informed me that there would be no recognition of this year's valedictorian or salutatorian at Smoky Mountain High School. This decision evokes two emotions from me. First is relief - relief that I am no longer in high school at Smoky Mountain High. While I truly love and respect some of the teachers there, I feel that the administration is lacking. The second is disbelief. I cannot find any reason that someone who has worked so hard should be punished in order to alleviate problems for someone who gave up her chance. She gave up her chance by (allegedly) choosing to participate in an unlawful situation. I am also aware that action has been taken on the matter. So why extend the punishment any further? It is only common sense that when the first is withdrawn from a situation that the second in line moves up. A.J. has also made choices. He has chosen to work for the goal of achieving a high rank in his class; he has chosen to take challenging courses; he has chosen to obey the law. The prospect of punishment being inflicted on him after all of his work is ridiculous. I was last year's valedictorian, and I know that it takes no small amount of work and stress to get to that position. It is a position for which many people compete and attempt to attain. Whether or not A.J. is moved up in rank, he should at the very least be recognized as salutatorian - a position he deserves and is entitled to after four years at Smoky Mountain High School. Being the valedictorian or salutatorian is a title. Perhaps so much emphasis should not be placed on titles and labels. However, the titles mentioned above also are rewards and opportunities, so emphasis is placed on them. These are not titles that are given to two students; these are titles that are earned. For some students, achieving these ranks is a way that they can prove themselves with no interference from things such as popularity and achievement in sports. And even if this is not the case with the students at hand, it does not change the fact that work and good behavior should be awarded at the graduation ceremony. By denying A.J. the honor, the recognition, and the very worthwhile experience of speaking at graduation, the school is taking away much more than a title. They are cheating him of his reward and they are sending a message that it is OK to mess up as long as you have the right connections in town. Everyone knows that the high school years are very impressionable years in the lives of young people. If the leaders of Smoky Mountain High School want to leave the graduating class with this impression, then I feel very sorry for the Class of 2000 at SMHS. Having recently graduated from high school, I know that I would not have wanted to end my high school career on this note. We almost had a bad situation as well last year, and thankfully things were resolved. I hope that the decision-makers in this situation will rethink what they are doing and make the right decision in the end. Sincerely, Kirsten Collings Raleigh Former salutatorian urges board to reconsider To the Editor: Over the past few months I have kept track of the actions of the Jackson County Board of Education regarding the pipe bomb suspects and the recent decision to remove the position of salutatorian and valedictorian from the Class of 2000. At first I was appalled, but then I began to speculate about the board's motives in a naive attempt to redeem it in my own mind. As far as I can tell, there are no legitimate motives in removing these honors from the Class of 2000 graduation ceremony. If the school board can justify itself, Jackson County has a right to hear it. If it is not heard, one can assume there is no justification and the valedictorian and salutatorian need to be recognized. As salutatorian for the Class of 1999 at Smoky Mountain High, I can testify to the hard work that is put into achieving this honor. I can also be thankful for the awards, and more importantly, the scholarships that came along with it. There are numerous scholarships designated only for valedictorian and salutatorian. The school board has taken these from A.J. Rowell. Essentially A.J.'s response to the simple question of class rank in a scholarship or college interview would be, "Well, the would-be valedictorian allegedly placed a pipe bomb in a portable toilet; therefore, I might be salutatorian or even valedictorian. But as of now I am nothing as a result of the actions of the school board." A.J. is going to lose numerous opportunities if the honor of salutatorian is stripped from him. The school board should be creating opportunities for the students of Jackson County, not taking them away. Giving the honor of salutatorian or even valedictorian to A.J. does not take anything away from Jennifer Parker. She lost the honor of valedictorian and its benefits on her own; A.J. had nothing to do with it. No good can come from removing the honors. I urge the school board to reconsider its actions and reinstate A.J. Rowell as the salutatorian or even the valedictorian of the Class of 2000. Sincerely, Jessica Heckert Greensboro 'Yes' to supplements is 'yes' to students To the Editor: We reap what we sow. I learned that lesson at an early age as I spent my small allowance on toys that broke the first time I played with them. I learned early that it was better to save my allowance for several weeks to buy something that was a higher quality than to spend my money every week. I appreciate my parents who allowed me to learn this lesson on my own instead of telling me and expecting me to take their word for it. I have spent 28 years in this school system and have watched as our curriculum and facilities have improved. I am pleased that a major step has been taken to improve several school facilities in our county at this time. I am also impressed that land has been appropriated to provide for future growth and development in this county. I appreciate the commissioners who have the incite to look toward the future and are making this possible. The majority of the educators who are advocating a supplement for teachers, assistants and assistant principals in this county are close to retirement. To put it bluntly, there is not much monetary value in it for me at this point. I have put too much time and energy to walk away at retirement and watch Jackson Countyıs schools go backward. We are facing a national teacher shortage. This is not new information. Every school system will sooner or later face this problem. Good teachers are going to have their pick of places to work. Where would you pick? A school system providing a supplement for educators or one that does not? Jackson County is only one of nine school systems out of 107 in the state that does not supplement its educators! Where do you think our new teachers are going to go? We are helping mold the next generation of citizens. How important is that to the people of Jackson County? Personally, it scares me to death about what might happen. The "new" facilities will be very impressive when complete. We will be able to boast about how we have met the needs of each school district. The only thing missing will be the best teachers available in each of those classrooms. They will have picked the school systems offering a supplement. Wouldnıt you? Recently the teachers at Smoky Mountain High School were asked to fill out a questionnaire. Of the 90 percent who responded, 87 percent said they had jobs after school to supplement their incomes. Is this what we want for the educators in this county? My own children are grown, but every child in this county belongs to all of us when we are talking about education. I want the best teacher possible to replace me in a few years. I want the very best teachers to continue to teach all of our children here. We are going to have to compete for such teachers. We must have a commitment from local government saying that they support what educators are doing and not just verbally. Priorities may have to be considered again to evaluate what we need in this county. What is most important? The answer is simple: Our kids. They must have the best teachers to continue to move forward. We need to look to the future and be ready for this challenging crisis. Penny Graham Teacher Cullowhee Valley School Return water pipe To the Editor: Located on the Nantahala Power Co. property near the entrance to the Thorpe powerhouse all 74 years I have been around this area, there was a pure running drinking water coming from a 1 1/2-inch steel pipe. Thousands of people have obtained their drinking water from this water source, getting up to 20 gallons at a time. This saves them from having to drink polluted water from their own water source at their residences. For 60 years, Nantahala employees have obtained drinking water each morning to take out in the field with them to work. At lunchtime, you could see these employees taking their lunch break at this location. Sometime within the last three weeks, someone, regardless of whom, removed this water pipe so no one can obtain water any longer. In the last 60 years, some of our historic landmarks have been changed or destroyed, such as road names, etc. I am not the only one who is upset, and whether Duke Power or someone else removed this pipe, I would like to see it placed back in its normal position if possible and a small memorial erected at this location in honor of Mr. Charlie Stewart, who was the superintendent of Nantahala Power and Light for many, many years. At no time have I ever known of anyone becoming ill, receiving any injuries, etc., from this water source. I would like to hear comments from other people who have benefited from this water source over the years. Thank you, Lymon A. Powell Tuckasegee |
Back to Archive: 03/02/00. |