POTTSTOWN PA – What might be described as a philosophical fight between demonstrators’ rights to free speech and students’ need for higher learning was waged Thursday (March 10, 2011) at Pottsgrove High School, with Principal Christopher Shaffer and Assistant Principal Yolanda Williams serving as referees.
High School Principal Chris Shaffer
Both protestation and education seem to have won.
Shaffer has distributed an e-mail to high school parents, describing the desire of a group of students to organize and stage a walk-out Friday afternoon (March 11) to show their opposition to 2011-2012 state budget cuts proposed this week by Gov. Tom Corbett. Among Corbett’s recommended spending changes are significant reductions in funding for school districts and colleges.
The walk-out, had it occurred, probably would have been dramatic. It also would have been problematic, Shaffer explained.
“We announced to the students that we would not advocate, support, or allow any type of walkout because every minute of instruction is vital to their overall academic growth,” he wrote. “Additionally, we indicated leaving class without permission will result in a consequence.”
Score one for education.
The discussion apparently didn’t end there, though. In addition to talking about what actions students shouldn’t take, Shaffer and Williams suggested “alternative ways” group members could “voice their concerns.”
As a result, “the students are now organizing an event to educate their peers about the impact of the Governor’s proposed budget,” according to Shaffer. What’s being planned is a March 25 (Friday) student assembly in the gym at the high school, Kauffman Road, Pottstown PA, that will involve many classes – not just individuals – and maybe a politician or two as guest speakers.
By then, it might even be time to circulate a petition to state the obvious: such cuts don’t sit well with the constituents most affected by them.
Score one, too, for protestation.
The students seem satisfied, Shaffer wrote. Administrators are pleased too. And somewhere in the mix, everyone likely learned something about the value of compromise in a democracy. “The group has established a more effective avenue for sharing their concerns with the student body and community,” Shaffer noted, and “we are happy (they) elected to voice their concerns in a more constructive manner.”
Related (to the Pottsgrove School District 2011-2012 budget):
- Pottsgrove High Protesters Exercise Art Of Compromise
- Pottsgrove’s Landis Distributes State Fund Comparison
- Pottsgrove Budget Deficit Balloons With Gov’s Proposal
- MCIU Budgets On Pottsgrove Schools Agenda Tonight
- PA House OKs ‘Cut And Replace’ On Education Funding
- Idea: Other Local Schools Consider Extracurricular Fees
- Idea: Pottsgrove Might Prosper With Own Charter School
- Pooling Resources Could Save Pottsgrove On Special Ed
- Like Pottsgrove Task Force, Outsiders Weigh Cost Vs. Value
- Task Force Crowd Packs Into Pottsgrove For First Session
- School Budget Task Force Kicks Off Its Work Tonight
- Does Western PA School Tax Uprising Foretell Mood Here?
- Pottsgrove Schools Budget Short Another $400,000
- Pottsgrove, As Expected, Adopts Budget First Draft
- Pottsgrove Tentative Budget Adoption Expected
- Weather Postpones Pottsgrove Budget Meeting
- Still Time In Pottsgrove For Budget Volunteers To Enlist
- Challenge To Pottsgrove Budget Advisers: 10 Percent
- Best Guesses, Deficit Launch Pottsgrove Budget Season
- Senate Education Chair Preps For Voucher, Choice Battle
- School Board Questions Pottsgrove Recreation Costs
- Pension Reform Vote Could Benefit Pottsgrove, Others
- Notebook Worthy: News Reporters Made News Tuesday
- Pottsgrove Isn’t Waiting In Search For Budget Volunteers
- If You’ve Got A Budget Idea, Pottsgrove Says It’ll Listen
- Pottsgrove Seeks More Public Input On District Budget
This Nation ranks lower and lower in comparison to many others in regards to the eduction of our youth.
Our Governor chooses to reduce education expenditures and lower our ability to improve our Nation’s status and competitiveness with respect to the rest of the world. Our Governor and legislature has chosen not to tax oil and gas companies who will reap enormous profits by stealing the natural resources of our state thereby denying the citizens of the commonwealth benefit from this exploitation.
Students stay in school and learn. Tell your parents to vote and complain and communicate with their representatives about this issue and this nonsensical path being chosen.