VALLEY PATRIOT
EDITORIAL
We suggest "nearly
perfect"
The Massachusetts state Board of
Education is unhappy with the
mean-spirited words being used to
describe government schools that are not
up to snuff. Those who are concerned with
this less-than-ideal performance have
used such adjectives as “failing”
and “under-performing.” Schools
with persisting imperfections are even
bullied with terms like “chronically
under-performing.”
The concern is that educators might be
blamed and students might suffer a loss
of self-esteem. Parents might even take
notice and start complaining to teachers,
administrators and elected
officials.
The board’s suggested remedy is to
banish such terminology and start
describing these schools as “Commonwealth
Priority” and, if the imperfections
persist, to refer to them as “Priority
One” schools.
We believe this initiative should be the
cornerstone of Massachusetts’ new
education philosophy. What could be more
important than the morale of our
educators and our students’ feelings
of self-worth?
But does the suggested remedy go far
enough?
We don’t think so.
We are in a crisis. There are reports of
teachers moping about and students with
that downtrodden look on their faces. It
is time to take desperate measures. Our
children and educators deserve no less.
In an effort to make a positive
contribution to the state’s
education initiative, The Valley Patriot
commissioned a study to improve on the
state board’s recommendation. The
study ended up with two possible
improvements.
The runner-up was “Under Funded”
and, for schools with persistent
problems, “Grossly Under Funded.”
Many of our consultants, parent groups,
and community activists fought hard for
these options. The suggested terminology
clearly places the blame for any
imperfections squarely where it belongs:
on the taxpayer. In addition, it relieves
our legislators, education schools,
school boards, administrators, teachers,
students, and parents from any
culpability.
But in the end the need for effusive
congratulation, indeed celebration,
prevailed. Like our grading system for
students (“A” for perfect and
“B” for practically everyone
else), our team of education experts and
consultants finally settled on “Nearly
Perfect” and, for those that are
Nearly Perfect for several years in a
row, “Consistently Nearly Perfect.”
When the staff and students in these
Nearly Perfect schools hear this, their
feelings of self-esteem will soar,
parents will beam with pride, the
community will celebrate, and the
near-perfect performance of these schools
will continue. Can greater funding be far
behind?
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All pictures and
material are
(C) copyright, Valley Patriot, Inc., 2008
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