The Shadow
Dear Editor,
I am writing in response to the article titled “Alleghany County School Board Updated on Merger; Hybrid Board” published in the Virginian Review on Nov. 19, 2019.
As I was reading through the article, I was depicting the pros and cons of merging the two schools. I did a little research regarding the two high schools in particular and here is what I found.
When merging the two schools, based on the 2019-20 school year, there would roughly be 1,054 students (give or take) all combined into one school.
Is there room at either of the two schools for a student body of this size? Will students be crammed into a space not allowing them room to breathe?
Currently, at AHS there is a 15:1 student to teacher ratio. When adding roughly 300 students what will that ratio drop to? Will the 31 teachers from CHS also be transferred to the new school? How will an increase of students effect the ratio of students to teachers? Will students still be provided with that high amount of one on one interaction?
Both high schools have roughly an average of 50 percent math proficiency, which is 20 percent less than the state average which is 72 percent. How will margining the two school improve this score? Or will it just continue to drop lower?
Then there is the teachers. How would you feel knowing that you could come to work one day and get the news that you’re no longer going to have a job because schools are merging and there just isn’t room for you, sorry. How is it determined which teachers are going to be cut? Will it be based on seniority? Test scores? Or their actual ability to teach the children to where they will actually retain the information? If Covington teachers get paid more than county teachers, what happens to pay? Will it be based on city pay? Or based off county pay?
I think that authorities are focused on an issue that isn’t causing a problem now. Why Is there a need to merge schools? There have been two schools for this long why change it now? There is no need. Merging of the two school will be detrimental to the learning abilities of the students.
Instead we need to focus on raising the children’s interest in school. We need to teach kids to learn the material, not teach them to pass a standabilities test.
Students are a sponge absorbing information, just for teacher to wring them out to dry when it comes time for SOLs. Make school enjoyable. Build a foundation for students to grow in life and be prepared for college, technical school, or to go straight into the work force.
I can tell you from experience, high school did not prepare me for college, because I was a sponge that was wrung out. Change the education system within the two schools, don’t make the problem bigger.
I am writing to you on behalf of an assignment for one of my college courses.
Sincerely,
Katelyn Via
Health Sciences James Madison University
Class of 2020, Harrisonburg
