Tuesday, March 6, 2007
Media
Karen Brownlee of the Regina Leader Post is covering the story of school closures. She would be interested in hearing from anyone who has something to say on this issue. Please call her at: 306-781-5247. If she is away from her desk, please leave your name, phone number and school division and she will call you.
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Hello, my name is Jenna Grey. I am a grade 11 student in a PVSD school that is currently undergoing review. I think that this blog spot is great! I put an article in the R-Town news (The Dispatch)every week. This is one article I wrote on topic of rural school under review.
Spartan's Speak
There has recently been an announcement that there are eleven schools in the Prairie Valley School Divison that are under review for possible closure or grade discontinuance. I am sure that this news has travelled fast in the communities that may be affected, as news tends to, in small towns. However, facts can sometimes get left out or information distorted as news travels around. The key phrase to keep in mind is "under review", which means just that, information is being reviewed or examined. This announcement does not mean that the schools under review will be automatically closed. Those decisions will not be made until the spring and the closures and/or grade discontinuance, if any, would take place after June 30th, but before the start of the next school year.
Any readers who would like to become familiar with the policy that will be followed to make these decisions should visit the Prairie Valley School Division web site at www.pvsd.ca From the choices at the left hand side of the screen, click on "Community", then on the following screen click on "Viable Schools Policy". There will be detailed information on the criteria for review and the review process. Make sure you have the facts!
I would just like to say that this next paragraph is based on my personal opinion only and does not reflect the opinions of anyone else at Sedley High School or anyone else who resides in Sedley.
As a grade eleven student and Sedley community member, receiving the news of a possible school closure or grade discontinuance at our school was understandably, not news that I wanted to hear. In just seven short months, I will be promoted to Grade 12. Students in Grade eleven and twelve begin to think about graduation as a reality, even visualizing themselves, on the graduation stage. I have always pictured my graduation ceremony at Sedley High school, with our class of 15 or so, staring out at a gymnasium so full of people, that there is barely standing room. The most wonderful part of all is personally knowing most of the people in that picture. They are present because they are my neighbours, family friends, seniors or service providers in my community. They are all there because they genuinely care about the young people up on the stage.
I understand that schools may have to be closed, if they do not meet certain criteria laid out in the Viable Schools Policy. I also understand that the policy is in place so that services and resources are not duplicated. Operating eleven schools that all have populations under 103 students can become financially burdensome. Of course when schools with populations around 10 students are being kept open, there are bound to be questions about the costs of running busses, heating the school and the quality of education that the students are getting. A school with only 10 students in it, does seem extreme. Is it extreme to have schools open that have student populations of 50 -100 students? I don't think that the answer can be found in a number. Many students thrive in small school environments - they are happy and are receiving a good education. Will they be happy in a large school, in a school where they will not know everyone's name, in a school where competition may be more important than belonging? There are so many unknowns, but those unknowns are important. I understand that the review is an attempt to draw the line and create a system of "equality" across the school division. However, while these standards are great for drawing a line, that is about all they do. There is a saying that goes "Treating everyone equal doesn't mean treating everyone the same".
Each small community is unique and the students in each building are unique.
The Viable Schools Policy points out the problem of size and operating costs of schools. When it comes to the problem of size and operating costs, I believe that the criteria is a very good way of evaluating schools. However, I also believe that there is much more to the process then simply looking at student numbers and dollar signs. If the decision to close a school is made the results of that decision need to be looked at. Is the decision in the best interest of the students? The impact on individuals is more important than numbers on a spread sheet. The youth of today are the leaders of tommorrow. A good education is crucial for the students of Prairie Valley School Division. It is the quality of the programming and not the quantity of students that determines a good education.
There will be many opinions on this difficult matter but we all must keep in mind that the decision is not about keeping a building open or closing it - it is about the people. After all, the education system exists only for the sole responsibility of educating students. The children of today are the future, they are a priceless resource. How can we put a price on their education? Is the education they are recieving in small rural schools making them pay a price?
The way I see it, any school with students who are receiving a quality education and who do not want to receive their education elsewhere, should be allowed to stay open. Money should not be the biggest factor in a decision such as this. The province of Saskatchewan is constantly losing its young people to provinces that have a better economy and more job opportunities. Maybe if the best interests of the youth of Saskatchewan were put first, they would be more inclined to stay.
Jenna Grey
SHS Gr.11 student
Sedley community member
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