Let Them Eat Cake

I’m so confused. I can’t figure out if this board wants to parent our children or not. I’m told time and time again that it’s not our job to raise other peoples children. Yet we have now made the decision to go above and beyond state GPA standards for participation on extra curricular activities. It didn’t matter that our administrators ALL recommended against it. It didn’t matter that will affect 17 athletes and about 56 kids involved in other extra curriculars.

But let’s get to some facts:

14 of the 17 districts we compete against in the Northeast Ohio Conference have GPA requirements of 1.5 or below.

All studies by major universities, regardless of biases or reasons for the study came to the same conclusion; Participation in any extra curricular activity, regardless of GPA, made for better college students and successful citizens after graduation. And considering only about 35% of our students as well as students nationwide actually graduate from college, it’s something we really need to think about. Is it really worth alienating 73 students from activities that lead to better people in the long run?

Children involved in extra curricular activities have lower instances of teen pregnancy, drug use, criminal behaviors and is directly correlated with lower drop out rates.

My favorite fact is this: 95% of Fortune 500 company executives participated in extra curricular activities yet only 47% of the same group were National Honor Society members.

I guess I have to be the realist in this situation. I have never been one to mince words. I was questioned whether or not I believed that all children should be capable of maintaining a C average. No I don’t. I can be selfish and say to myself, yes my children are capable of maintaining a C average therefore everyones child should be! But I know that the 4 kids that lived in the meth house over on 14th street probably had difficulties maintaining a C average. I saw on a list with my own eyes a girl that I know is a vibrant productive member of society, that lost her mom a few years ago and having a hard time maintaining a D average. I also know that there are kids that will excel in areas that do not involve academics, yet still become successful, productive members of society. This policy doesn’t appear to help anyone and it seems to hinder those who might need after school activities the most. I guess since life is so good in the village they must need a reminder of what life is like for many kids over here.

Speaking of the list, I was given the list of affected students at the start of the meeting I was expected to vote on it. Once again a board majority with an agenda railroaded an idea in, despite recommendations against it from district administrators, parents, and every national statistician I could find. I also heard some complaints from teachers that were miffed that a union leader read letters in support of this issue at the meeting but other members opposing views weren’t heard. But the worst part of the meeting was at the moment I offered a counter proposal. It was so outrageous I received four phone calls about it today. I offered a counter proposal of leaving the GPA requirement at 1.5 but requiring two consecutive semesters rather than the only the prior one, and a no F’s requirement. While I was trying to state the proposal, another member giggled, laughed and pointed. I found her conduct to be rude, childish and unprofessional. I put a lot of time and research into this issue and did not appreciate the disrespectful display. I am truly perplexed by these odd behaviors lately.

In closing I just want to say that three weeks ago I was all for raising the GPA requirement. After much research I have come to the conclusion that we need to focus on the children that aren’t participating at all. These are the kids that end up being the statistics we hate to read about.