In a recent editorial the Tribune Editorial Board weighed the decision to adopt a balanced calendar for the school district. Their ultimate vote to not support the decision was based on skills that cannot be taught in school. Though I understand their rationale, I have to respectfully disagree with several of the statements in the editorial.

The first: “Holding down a job is not taught at school. Building a good rapport with a supervisor is vital to success in life, regardless of good grades … Changing the calendar will limit summer job opportunities.”

Local employers are struggling to find a skilled workforce and much of this has to do with what is learned in school — adequate math and effective communication skills are essential for many jobs in our community. Computer skills are also essential for many jobs. There are a large number of community members who do not have regular access to computers and instead utilize the library, which is a wonderful resource. Computers are a part of much of the school curriculum — this was intentional to ensure our students are prepared for the future. According to MNCompass.org, currently about 53 percent of our third-graders are meeting or exceeding standards in third-grade reading and 44 percent are meeting or exceeding standards in eighth-grade math. This is something we need to address. (2013 data)

The balanced calendar approach would only cause students to lose one or two weeks of summer work experience. I would argue that a greater impact would be experienced if they didn’t have the transferrable skills that are taught in school. The district has done a good job of working with local employers and offering post-secondary education options so our students will be prepared for the jobs that are available. They are also focusing more on early childhood education, which is essential for children to be prepared for school and for life.

I agree completely with a child’s innate need to explore nature and his/her surroundings — this is something families can actively take a role in throughout the year. Winter does not discourage activity — for children I would argue it encourages that sense of wonder in nature. I recall many hours spent tunneling through the snow in my backyard. The stars are even more brilliant in winter months. There are different lessons for each season.

Another comment I would like to expand on is the mention of poverty in our community — it is true that our percentage of people in poverty is lower than the communities to the west and east of us. However, what we need to note as a community is that our poverty rate has increased from 8 to 11 percent since 2008. The most recent data from 2012 is found on MNCompass. Our children are experiencing a poverty rate of 17 percent. This is something we need to address. It may not be a huge problem now, but problems tend to grow over time if we don’t address them directly and as a community. I believe any child who goes to bed hungry should not be ignored. This is not about percentages — it’s about lives impacted.

We are all grateful the school board is considering the community’s perspectives and the hearings are helpful. I would suggest we take a look at the trends and consider the future if we don’t try to do something. This is not an “us” and “them” conversation. This about supporting our youth and growing our local economy into the future.

 

Ann Austin

Albert Lea