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kpcnews.com
THE NEWS SUN
The
Star
THE HERALD REPUBLICAN
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2013
Our View •
School grades raise many questions Friday’s release of quality grades for Indiana schools shines even more light on the disarray in Indiana’s education system. A large share of local school superintendents don’t trust the grades. That’s especially true this year, when computer problems disrupted testing for many students locally and statewide. But even without the computer foul-ups, education leaders lack confidence in the accuracy of school grades. A glance at some local grades makes it easy to see why. “The wide fluctuation from one year to the next makes it very difficult for us to put a whole lot of value into those particular grades,” said Randy Zimmerly, superintendent of Westview schools. Garrett Middle School provides this year’s prime example of fluctuation. Its grades spell “D-A-D” over the past three years. It’s hard to understand how the quality of a school could change so much from one year to the next. “It is interesting to note that the formula’s design enables a few students to impact a school’s letter grade dramatically,” said Tonya Weaver, an administrator at Garrett-Keyser-Butler schools. Although their grades swing just as sharply, we want to believe that a school can improve from D to A in only one year — which happened at Waterloo and Prairie Heights elementary schools. Even though some administrators brush off school grades, their accuracy matters immensely. We suspect some area principals have been fired in the past due to low grades. Parents may decide where to buy a home or transfer their children because of the grades. State education officials say they’re hard at work revising the grading system, which sounds like an admission that this year’s grades come from a flawed process. For what it’s worth, we spotted some trends in this year’s grades that deserve a closer look. Out of 30 public elementary schools in the four counties of northeast Indiana, exactly half — 15 — received grades of A. Of the 12 public high schools in our four counties, one-third earned A’s. But what happened to the middle schools? Only eight of our school districts have middle schools. Five of them received D’s, with not a single A. How do our middle schools perform so poorly with all those students from A-rated elementary schools? How do those students from D-rated middle schools bounce back to earn A’s for their high schools? We suspect something is wrong with the ratings for middle schools. Private, church-based schools in our counties continue to perform well, with three A’s and one B this year. We have no charter schools in our area, but this year’s grades cast doubt on the wisdom of state leaders’ infatuation with the charter school movement. As we read the report, 70 charter schools across the state received grades this year. The results show 24 F’s, 17 D’s and only 15 A’s. State leaders should be asking some hard questions about what charter schools are doing with our tax dollars. How should parents react to the grades for their children’s schools? We like the advice of Westview’s Zimmerly: “If you really want to know what’s going on in your child’s school, get in there, find out, see what’s going on,” he said. “Don’t allow this external measure to sway your opinion nearly as much as your own personal knowledge and experience with your kid’s school.” OUR VIEW is written on a rotating basis by Grace Housholder, Dave Kurtz, Michael Marturello and Matt Getts. Publisher Terry Housholder is also a member of the editorial board. We welcome readers’ comments.
Online Poll • Our new poll at kpcnews.com asks: What your favorite Christmas and New Year’s foods? Our previous poll asked: What type of K-12 calendar do you prefer? The replies were as follows: Start after Labor Day — 69.3 percent “Traditional” start in mid to late August — 17.5 percent Start in early August (like East Noble will in August 2014) — 3 percent School for 45 days, then 15 days (3 weeks) off — 6.6 percent School for 60 days, then 20 days off — 3.6 percent Online polls are not scientific but they provide an interesting snapshot of public opinion.
Letters to The Editor • Give to the one having the birthday To the editor: The exact date of Christ’s birth is unknown. Some scholars believe that it was in the spring when shepherds would be in the fields, but in that ancient time, official dates of birth were not recorded. Early Christians wishing to celebrate this remarkable birth chose a pagan holiday, when others were celebrating, so as to not give notice of their celebration and be objects of persecution. The ancient Romans loved to celebrate. On December 25, they celebrated “Natalis Solis Invicti,” the birthday of the invincible sun god. It was a lavish celebration with parades and parties. It even became a national holiday. It was not until 337 when Constantine was baptized that Christians could safely celebrate the birth of Christ. They just retained December 25 as that date. It is only a fair question to ask: “What does our modern culture really celebrate at Christmas?” Probably we do not worship or celebrate the birthday of a sun god, but the gods of affluence and commerce are very real. Even when we make a token celebration of Christ’s birth, we exchange presents among ourselves instead of gifts to the birthday boy. That in itself is bad manners. Have we resorted back to the worship of gods of luxury and wealth and forgotten the God of love, peace and salvation? Our modern culture might laugh at an invincible sun god, but Santa Claus, flying
reindeer and elves are just as real. Bright lights, a spirit of sharing and tradition can add to a celebration, but this celebration should be more than lights and shopping. If we give gifts, some of those gifts should be to the one having the birthday. Gifts of love, obedience, worship and praise do not require a credit card or cash, but would be most appreciated at this celebration. Anything else is pagan worship.
paid for our meals and then left. He wanted to do so anonymously. I was so moved that someone would do this for a military family I could barely speak. We were all deeply touched by this man’s kind-hearted actions. To hope that he reads this heartfelt thank you in the paper seems so inadequate. After all, he could have been just passing through Auburn. Yet, I couldn’t Charles Cole think of any other way to Auburn attempt to thank him. My husband and I will remember this and look Anonymous diner pays forward to paying it forward for military family’s meal when given the opportunity. With both of our sons in the To the editor: military, we have learned The purpose of this letter is the value of those who to thank some very kind and take a moment to thank our thoughtful person who chose members of the military and to remain anonymous. our veterans. Recently our family had Again, thank you to this cause to celebrate the graduavery thoughtful, caring and tion of our youngest son from his “A School” class at Great generous man. Cher Fetters Lakes Naval Base in Chicago. St. Joe He and his wife called us on their way home and asked us if we would like to meet Calvary Cemetery them for supper somewhere. We met at Paradise Buffet in needs to be plowed To the editor: Auburn. When we arrived, What is the city of Garrett I think my heart skipped a coming to? You can’t couple of beats seeing our afford to plow the Calvary son for the first time in his Cemetery, so family members dress blue uniform. You see, can get back to put Christmas our son chose to serve his wreaths on family plots? country at the age of 32. We For the past six years, my were cherishing our time with them, because his orders were mother and my aunt have taking them to San Diego in a complained to the City of Garrett about the gates to few days. the Calvary Cemetery being During our meal, our locked and the drive not waitress came to our table being plowed, so that they to tell us someone had paid can put Christmas items on for our meal — all six of us. their parents’ cemetery plots. We asked who, because we wanted to thank this generous My mother, who is 69, and my aunt, who is 79, have to person. She told us that he
Letter Policy • We welcome letters to the editor. All letters must be submitted with the author’s signature, address and daytime telephone number. We reserve the right to reject or edit letters on the basis of libel, poor taste or repetition. Mail letters to: The News Sun 102 N. Main St. P.O. Box 39 Kendallville, IN 46755 Email: dkurtz@kpcmedia.com The Star 118 W. Ninth St. Auburn, IN 46706 Email: dkurtz@kpcmedia.com The Herald Republican 45 S. Public Square Angola, IN 46703 Email: mmarturello@kpcmedia.com
climb the fence and walk in snow up to their hips, in order to put items on their parents’ grave. Nobody seems to care, but I wonder if someone would care if my mother or my aunt fell and broke a hip, leg, arm, or whatever trying to get back there. Hum …? Would a lawsuit be cheaper? This is one daughter who wouldn’t hesitate in a minute. What does it take to get the job done? I’m hoping, in the near future, that the person in charge of making sure the Calvary Cemetery is plowed has the same experience trying to give their loved ones, who are deceased, some Christmas cheer. Let’s hope the odds are in your favor. Melissa Komrska Fort Wayne
Christmas focus: Gratitude for daily blessings Look around and there are folks who • Our clergy who are always on call make our lives easier each day and 24/7 and have the biggest boss of all. without them we would never • Funeral directors handle the make it. most difficult service when the They are there doing their inevitable happens to us or our jobs, often without gratitude loved ones. that’s long deserved. • Teachers essentially teach Consider and thank the us how to acquire knowledge following: and tools to be resourceful for a • Firefighters brave the lifetime. elements in all types of weather. • Farmers grow and raise our The other day there were seven food making sure it gets to the JENNIFER fire departments battling a rural grocery store to buy and fill our Angola fire in 5 degree weather. DECKER bellies. Talk about pain from cold and • Librarians see to it that we ice. But they’re there keeping have books and all the other good us safe. media — all free to borrow. • Postal carriers bring us our bills, • Plumbers, VERY unappreciated parcels and Christmas cards — even workers, make it possible to run water or when 8 inches of snow packs us in. flush away waste. • Nurses handle and see a little bit of • Law enforcement personnel keep us everything unmentionable when we are safe. sick or in pain. • Newspaper carriers are the most • Snowplow drivers keep our roads important part of a publication’s and streets clear working around the operations. Without them, stories, clock like the Angola Street Department coupons, the blotter, sports, comics and did earlier this month. obituaries, to name a few features, would
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never reach readers. • Mechanics keep our car’s duct taped together and running. • Volunteers are the heart of any endeavor. • Veterinarians care for and heal our four-legged fur people friends. • Our secretaries and administrative assistants usually are the real people who know what’s going on within an organization. • Rubbish removers take away what we no longer have use for and sometimes it is pretty disgusting to handle. • You, dear reader, for always looking at what is in this newspaper. You may not always like it and some of you send kudos when you feel it’s deserved. It’s my honor daily to be a journalist and report what you may need to know and words to think by. May you all have a blessed Christmas and majestic New Year. JENNIFER DECKER is a reporter at The Herald Republican in Angola. She can be reached at jdecker@kpcmedia.com.