Our school system deserves recognition
It’s all too easy for parents to find problems and openly complain about our public school system. Whether it’s a long wait to pick up children from West Elementary or a bus mishap at Bobby Ray, we are all quick to holler when the slightest thing goes wrong.
But very seldom do we stop and praise our school system employees for the top-notch job they perform each and every day. From teachers, to principals, to support personnel, the educators in Warren County do a commendable job.
And since a new school year is in its beginning stages, now is an appropriate time to stop for a moment and thank our school system employees for all their hours of dedicated service.
Warren County’s school system faces a monumental challenge each and every day with some 6,100 students attending classes. School officials are responsible for all those children for almost eight hours a day – and much longer for the students participating in sports and other extracurricular activities.
For some parents, their child’s teacher spends more time with their child than they do. That’s a by-product of our on-the-go society.
It’s the teachers who so often instill solid values, point out right from wrong, and administer discipline. Those tasks are difficult enough in families where there might be two or three children running around. Now imagine it in a classroom with 20 or 25 students.
Yet we expect our schools, our teachers and our principals to be perfect every time, every day.
A great example of this is the after-school delays taking place at West Elementary. Because of the volume of cars entering school grounds to pick up students, there have been a couple lengthy delays. As a result, a number of parents have called the Standard to voice their displeasure. And we’ve listened to exactly what some parents think about a new system that requires a West faculty member to escort students to their cars.
What parents fail to see is this new system is designed with the safety of their child in mind. And in 2003, safety cannot be stressed too much because there are people just waiting to pounce on an unattended child.
Being an educator carries with it constant responsibility. And it often seems we are so quick to criticize the moment something goes wrong, but so seldom heap praise for all the positive things which happen each and every day.
For all the Warren County School System employees who are working hard to make our children brighter and make this community better, we thank you for your efforts.