4 (news)
The Reporter • October 2011
Students, teachers feel the pinch
classroom cuts In the past few years one teacher has been cut from:
• Business and technology • Culinary arts • English • Fine arts • Science • Social science Other recent cuts to student support:
Photo by Rosalyn Lucas
Seniors work until the end of their first class, College Prep English on Sept. 30. One fewer College Prep English course has been offered the past few years because a Greg Cartwright’s position was not filled when he retired, increasing class sizes in all English classes.
Larger classes taken in stride by some, more cuts doubtful, Hines says shelby mcdaniel reporter Since six teachers have been cut in the past few years at the high school, classes are bigger, which could mean problems for staff and students. Jeff Hines, vice principal, said he encourages everyone, from students to the school board, to rally together.
He said more budget cuts were not on the agenda for this school year because the state legislature had cut more money from the budget than needed the previous year and now they have a surplus. “The only way we will face cutbacks is if the economy deteriorates further or if the federal government cuts more money from the budget,” Hines said “We’ve made cuts…but the worst has passed us by.” Susan Blankenship, art teacher, has been at the high school for 32 years. She said there have been drastic changes because of budget cuts, but she said she feels her job is secure. “I’m only a little worried about more cut-
• Administrator • Counselor • Media-center specialist • Student-resource officer
backs,” she said. “I’m more worried about the governor cutting back on arts education more.” When students are in closer quarters, they tend to cause more behavioral problems and it is harder to keep track of paperwork that must be graded, Hines said. Some students say they aren’t affected negatively by larger classes. Jake Funk, junior, said larger classes helped him learn, because bigger classes mean more friends to help with homework. “Take lots and lots of notes, though,” he said. After a cut in the science department a
couple of years ago, science teachers have more students in each class, which makes it harder to do one on one help, said Rachel Dougherty, chemistry teacher. “It could possibly mean that some classes will have to be cut in the future as well,” Dougherty said. “If the enrollment in lower level classes goes up, then upper level classes would have to be cut.” For Kayla Salyers, sophomore, her study strategies include sitting towards the front and not falling asleep. “I like it because bigger classes mean more people. I like to associate with people,” she said.