After
enjoying spectacular summer weather students of Bainbridge Island School
District returned to class on Wednesday, September 4th., for the start of the
2013-2014 school year. As many of you are aware there have been e-mails and letters via the Tripp
Wire and other venues describing, discussing and analyzing all that is allegedly wrong with our schools and in most
cases offering solutions. I referred to one such problem on an island
discussion group as being more of a "first world problem" and quickly
drew the wrath of the moderator. Nonetheless, when we read of the Philadelphia
schools not having sufficient funds to open many of their schools, the Chicago
system suffering massive teacher layoffs and school closures and nearby
Snoqualmie teachers almost going out on strike, we should count our blessings.
Of course no system is perfect as we read and hear of some Bainbridge parents
working with district officials seeking what is best for their children. However;
I do believe that Bainbridge Island Schools are indeed excellent as reflected
in the continuous financial support of the community, the professionalism of
its teachers and most importantly the achievements of its students.
Unfortunately
the time for school articles, especially those of the sky is falling slant or
the grass is greener elsewhere persuasion, is no longer confined to coincide
with the opening of school in September. The doom and gloom e-mails and stories
continue year round. As a result, I thought it might be somewhat novel and even
refreshing to focus on the positive, for there is much that is positive and
noteworthy about our community, our
teachers and our students to share and
appreciate.
To
write that Bainbridge Island Schools enjoy community support is an
understatement. For the last three years the Bainbridge Schools Foundation raised and awarded the school district over
one million dollars to reduce class size and support innovative programs. Additionally,
the Parent Teacher Organizations and the various Boosters Clubs contribute well
over half a million dollars each year to deal with needs and requests for
assistance at individual school sites. Finally, there are many more organizations, businesses and individuals, too
numerous to list here, who generously assist the district and our schools to
the eventual benefit of our students. Let's face it, people do not give
money to a school system in which they do not have faith and confidence. The
Bainbridge Island community demonstrates its support year after year through
its generous donations to the school district. Likewise the school district, through
its teachers consistently delivers
excellent educational programs designed to challenge and educate our students.
I firmly believe that the
backbone of any successful school system is its teachers. I sometimes refer to
teachers as the end of the line service providers. When the bell rings and the
classroom door closes it is show time and all those young eyes and ears are
focused on their teachers, ready, willing and quite able to learn. To capture and capitalize on our attentive
students Bainbridge schools have a teaching staff of 224 educators with average
teaching experience of 14 years. There are recently hired teachers who are
teaching for the first time on the island
and the most senior have 40 years of teaching experience. This group of
teachers is also highly educated. Of the 224 teachers 3 have PhD's, 179 hold Master's Degrees and
25 are Nationally Board Certified. A remarkable 81% of the teaching staff hold
advanced degrees. It is quite obvious that the island's students are in good
hands
Many of us know that as a result
of the efforts of the office of the Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, we are
testing our students ad nauseam. Many educators and parents agree that we are spending too much valuable
time and precious funds on testing and in too many instances this preoccupation
with test preparation and actual testing
is at the expense of quality instructional time. I am a firm believer that for
most students the only two tests that carry any real weight and significance
are taken in the high school years and that would be the State Driver's test
and either the SAT or the ACT. But what about the island's students? Being the
recipients of all this support, care and concern how do they stack up?
For those who enjoy and relate to
statistics and factual information, the Bainbridge High School Profile Page is
a gold mine of data stating that 93.6% of its students graduate in four years
and the 5 year Cohort Extended Graduation rate is 97.5% . Last year 89% of BHS
seniors had plans to continue their education with 77% going to a 4 year
college or university and 12% to a 2 year school. Graduating seniors gained
admission to over 200 public and private colleges and universities in the
United States and internationally while being awarded well over one million
dollars in scholarships. After analyzing 21,035 U.S. high schools and then
ranking 4805 schools, USNWR awarded a
gold medal to Bainbridge High School and ranked it 7th in the state of
Washington and 274th in the United States. Eagle Harbor H.S. was awarded a
silver medal and ranked 22nd in the state and 985th. nationally. As I wrote
earlier I believe our schools are excellent; but as other tests in various
grades indicate there is always room for improvement. However; with almost 90%
of our high school's graduating seniors going on to college or junior college
the Bainbridge Island community can stand tall and be proud.
Having been a teacher for almost
40 years before retiring in 2008 I have witnessed and endured my share of
alleged experts with their power point presentations, attended required mind
numbing staff development and in-service days and experienced the absurdity of
No Child Left Behind. Gratefully, I missed Arne Duncan's Race to the Top competition.
Bainbridge like many communities also has a few individuals, although not
actually teaching or involved in education, who nonetheless consider themselves
experts in all matters of education. Unfortunately,
these self-appointed experts have a
penchant for making mountains out of mole hills so that small issues or misunderstandings
become major concerns and dubious solutions are offered for these alleged
problems. Bottom line is that we have to
consider if what we are offering our students is preparing them for life after
high school. It seems obvious that
Bainbridge Island Schools are meeting this challenge. Knowing this, let's appreciate our good
fortune. Recognize and be thankful for the continuous financial support of the
Bainbridge community. Support and work with our teachers and congratulate and
encourage our students as they advance from grade to grade and eventually
graduate.
A Japanese Proverb is spot on correct when it offers: "Better than a thousand days of diligent
study is one day with a great teacher." Our children are fortunate to have
many great teachers here on Bainbridge Island.
