Elect John Cruz

Statistics show that the student to teacher ratio is somewhere around 18:1 (the numbers vary with each new report). While this looks great and is an accurate figure, in too many cases it is simply smoke and mirrors.

There are still too many classrooms where there are 30+ children, especially in core high school classes such as English. Obviously, this is a great hindrance to the education process. We need to establish a maximum classroom size of 20 students for most classes (band and physical education would be examples of courses that would be exempt).

Teachers tell me there have been instances where a member of the faculty has left the district and simply has not been replaced leaving the students to be distributed among the others available class times. This kind of action is unacceptable. Not only do we need to work to replace teachers who leave, we need to make sure we have enough faculty on hand to handle this 20 student per teacher ratio.

The current resolution passed by the board in a special session on Feb 11th 2009 will cause more problems than it will solve. This is certain to increase class sizes all across the board, all in the name of an alleged 40 student waiting list for the lincoln center. This is grossly unacceptable and measures need to be taken against things like this from occuring in the future.

As of right now, we have a serious drop in enrollment in Mount Clemens. With neighboring districts such as Chippewa Valley and Lance Creuse now open as schools of choice, students are finding options are better elsewhere.

The problems run deep within the district on all levels, and as a result the student population in Mount Clemens Schools is floating just under 2,000 pupils. While board President Earl Rickman has been quoted as saying that we usually bounce back from such drops, we need to address this issue at the core: too many students and parents feel that they are being short changed by Mount Clemens Schools.

Trustee Larry Humphrey is right when he expressed dissatisfaction with sixth graders being issued fourth grade reading material. We need to be raising the expectations of our students, not lowering them. We need an environment that teaches and challenges students and that means a lot of cleaning house.

To get Mount Clemens back on track and increase student enrollment, here is what we need to do

• Re-evaluate the faculty and administration. Members of the MCCS Family that are not up to par in terms of relevance, communication, or overall success should be open to reassignment. Fresh new faces and fresh ideas can be brought in without much trouble. I would also consider a buy-out option for educators instead of reassignment, such as those done by the big three automakers. If students are feeling that they are unable to relate to their teachers, than the student-teacher gap is wider than it needs to be.  We need to be open to all options on this.
• Make sure new hires are innovative, “think outside the box” kind of people.
• Make drastic changes at the secondary level, especially with the high school, in order to provide new and unique opportunities to attract students.
• Partner with other academic institutions such as Macomb Community College and state Universities.
• Re-build the image of the school district by focusing on an honest, no-nonsense approach. We need to be in the press because of high standards and innovative thinking, not for controversially destroying buildings or being unable to pay for building upkeep.
• Focus on programs like The Promise program that is currently being talked about to pay for college for students, but it needs to be taken even further.

Students are taught American History, as they should be, however without a deeper understanding of what makes America “America”, they are left learning facts and dates.

The freedoms that we enjoy are unique, yet many students don’t know what they are. They know we have the freedom of speech and the freedom of religion, that we can criticize our government, but not much else. Many students will struggle to tell you even a basic rundown of how government works.

How can we expect these kids to understand what it means to be an American if we don’t bring that to light? Some students will graduate and proudly serve in the military, and while we wish them the best I have to wonder if  they know what they are truly fighting for without an understanding of the Constitution.

What made this country what it is today is outlined in the Constitution. We need to alter the social studies curriculum at all levels to incorporate a greater understanding of constitutional principals, the limited powers of government, the separation of powers, and the Bill of Rights. The whole idea behind this is that as citizens, we are part of the checks an balances that are supposed to keep the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches of government in line.

When you have an uneducated populus who will not challenge these bodies to abide by the law, they will hold it in no regard. As a result, people will continue to vote for, and support candidates that will violate the documents that give us our freedoms. To keep America being “America”, we need to ensure that our students know what America really is.

Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent. ~Victor Hugo

Numerous studies over the years have shown that art and music are just as important for childhood development as are math and science. Not only will support for these areas help for development, but it will also greatly enhance the student’s experience at school. Many students find the arts as a way to have their own voice, a creative outlet in a world where everything is so structured and controlled by adults.

We also need to promote these programs with the parents, to show them that these programs are beneficial and do matter. As a student, I saw numerous occasions over the years where students would act up in these kinds of courses only to give the excuse “My parents don’t care how I do in this class because it’s only art and it doesn’t matter”. We need to increase parental involvement on all levels, and at the very least get them to support the programs in the school systems.