Commentary; Posted: 6/5/02

Saluting our high school graduates

This is the time when communities celebrate scholarship. It is a time to salute the students who studied and worked hard to become the top members of their class.

Up to now weíve heaped acclaim on student athletes, debaters, thespians, musicians, artists, journalists, and those who have achieved in vocational subjects. Many of these award-winners are outstanding scholars.

Still there are others whose main claims to fame are high marks in difficult subjects; they are not always the most popular in a society where scholarship is not on a high pedestal.

We rejoice with those students whose hard work and intelligence has resulted in scholarships to the colleges and universities of their choice.

We applaud their dedicated teachers and administrators for teaching students, administering their programs and providing well-rounded programs.

Graduation also is the time to applaud parents who make many sacrifices to provide a solid education for their youngsters.

And it is a time to thank school boards, those volunteer members who have struggled with decisions on cutting budgets at a time when theyíd like to have more programs for students. Superintendents who administer these programs and deal with the political winds also deserve gratitude.

This also is the time for those who believe in strong communities to savor some of the satisfaction that comes from building and maintaining strong school systems. Building school systems and educating students is what smaller and suburban communities do best. Unlike urban school systems, suburban communities have had to build school systems at a much faster pace to keep up with development.

Suburban voters, some strapped financially, still have voted to sell bonds to build new schools for their students.

For all kinds of reasons school systems in the suburbs are among the best in the state by all measures. They graduate more and students test well in the stateís basic tests.

At the same time, it is good to reflect if the graduates of today are equipped with enough knowledge and skills to compete in todayís world, with threats of terrorism and with life becoming more technical and complex.

In light of the Sept. 11 tragedy, we need to ask if these students are tough enough mentally, emotionally and spiritually to counter terrorist action?

We need to ask if we as citizens have rejected bond issues and levy referendums that have denied students up-to-date textbooks, small class sizes and opportunities to compete in co-curricular activities without fees?

By having large class sizes, have we allowed some students to slip unnoticed between the cracks? This is the most vulnerable group and we need to fill the cracks.

We need to reexamine the kinds of school systems we provide and to resolve to fund them adequately.

This week and next week, student speakers and teachers will talk about the good times and will challenge their fellow graduates to make their marks in society.

We wish them good luck and good fortune and challenge them to continue learning and to contribute to their communities in a way that weíve contributed our time, talent and money for them. ó DON HEINZMAN

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