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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels September 18, 2004 Counter points on efficacy of local education By Paul Fisher Ashland In a recent letter (Sept. 7), Dr. Michael Hayes states that even though Ashland High School scored well on recent statewide evaluations, the school continues to offer poor curriculum and employ instructors that have little regard for either literature or their craft. It is difficult to argue with the inappropriateness of the No Child Left Behind testing system; however the remainder of Hayes diatribe lacks substance, is inflammatory, and sometimes is simply untrue. At one point Dr. Hayes tells us that the curriculum satisfies students and instructors, but does not serve society or the subject. Dr. Hayes neglects to tell us what his definition of society is, or how we can serve a subject. This sounds backwards to me. Literacy is the ability to use language to communicate and learn. It is a lifelong learning skill. It can be learned using classical literature, but it can also be learned using alternatives. It is very popular to believe the myth of a "dumbed-down" curriculum. It was always more difficult when we were children. (Remember I walked to school seven miles in the driving snow?) The truth is that there are a great many differences between my education and the educational needs of today. Perhaps not all of the changes are for the better, but the object of literacy is give students the ability to continue reading and studying after leaving high school. With a solid foundation future enjoyment of the classics may happen. A great deal of contemporary literature explores the same issues as the classics. Changing the setting or characters does not negate the importance of the literature. Dr. Hayes is losing the message in the medium. I support the alternative approaches to literature that Ashland High School has tried. I think these alternatives are based on solid educational research, demonstrate a remarkable understanding of the micro-culture of teens, and are generally successful. More troubling is Dr. Hayes willingness to over-generalize in his statements about teachers. Perhaps he has had a different experience, but the instructors that have taught my three children have been very generous in assignments. Each week there are a number of written assignments that are turned in and returned graded. These graded papers always contain grammatical corrections. I think Dr. Hayes is disingenuous when he implies there are low levels of professionalism in our teachers. Dr. Hayes indicates that he feels that Ashland teachers lack certain skill sets. Without delineating the skills he thinks are important, he uses unfair descriptions and imprecise examples to shore his reasoning. I think the teachers at AHS have a high level of passion for their subjects; are professional in the job; and show exemplary compassion for all of the children of Ashland. These teachers are able to balance test requirements, simultaneously keeping students interested and engaged in their education while losing public support. I think they do a remarkable job and we are darn fortunate to have them. Assuming Dr. Hayes did not purchase his Ph.D., he should know that in a persuasive writing piece, the author should propose some solution to a perceived issue. It is very difficult to understand what Dr. Hayes would see as a solution. Perhaps his writing is not to solve an issue or to persuade us, but to divide us. By Christina Lacy Ashland It is a verified fact that Ashland's state test and SAT scores surpass Oregon's benchmark, and our extra-curricular successes are prominent through-out the state. As a student, I can confidently say that I have been fully prepared for college, vocational pursuits, and the reality that arises after high school. It is a presumptuous move to criticize the English instruction at Ashland High school, and a move that is ignorant in its arguments. It is essential to grasp an appreciation for classic literature, for it is an influential precursor to contemporary writing. The last two years I've been immersed in Twain, Hemingway, and Wilde, and I've gained an understanding of the attitudes and sentiment of the eras reflected in these books. Grammar and vocabulary have been an emphasized priority in the English curriculum. Although Hays mentioned a few reputed, trivial� English electives, others courses such as "Philosophy and Literature," "Twentieth Century American Novels," and "Shakespearean Literature," have been omitted from this list. Over the years, Ashland High School has been barraged with calumny and has been neglected attention for any advantageous endeavor. At first, all the deprecation used to offend me; now it only irritates me. We might just have a top-notch educational system on our hands. Hundreds of students have achieved honor roll, copious scholarships have been attained for exceptional (opposed to mediocre) universities and, on a more personal level, I'm already swamped in homework. To all the critics out there, at least I know I'm getting a good education. For once, I'm actually excited about school this year, despite all my rigorous classes, so please: quit ruining my fun. Leslie Levy Ashland Wow, Mr. Hayes. What a diatribe. And where would you place the University of Michigan on the mediocrity scale? I've known people who have gained innumerable intellectual riches from a class at SOU and people who have learned nothing at all from Harvard. Have you taught, volunteered, or been a student at Ashland High School? Have you sat in one of Joel Cicerrella's classics classes or heard one of Butch McBaine's grammar lessons? I am mentioning only two of my children's excellent teachers. There are many more in English, History, Math, Science and other disciplines. I, myself, attended a fancy New England prep school and a disciplined graduate school in Boston. I am so glad that kids have more choices than we did then. And I am also thankful for the teachers, K-12, who actually listened to my children. If parents watched less TV, read more, and got involved in their kids classes, educators would be truly thankful. Community members could do the same. Sorry in advance, Mr. Hayes, if I made some grammatical errors. I didn't have Butch for an English teacher. 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