To the Editor:
Spotted: A very bright object sighted in Oak Ridge.
I am referring to the Oak Ridge school district. All four elementary schools, both middle schools, the high school, the preschool, and the alternative school. I am referring to every teacher, parent, student, and community member that works to make this school system an astounding success. I am referring to the number of high school graduates that go on to successful careers. I am referring to the very bright future ahead for students that attend the Oak Ridge school district.
It is easy to throw stones and try to tear something down. It is easy to blame a “system” for failure, to point fingers at mistakes, to shout obscenely out loud, and cause a fuss in a community. It is easy to cry “wolf” to the crowd. It is not easy to constructively work for change, toward goals of improvement, to help make something great even better.
Oak Ridge Schools are among the best in the nation. US News and World Report rates Oak Ridge High School No. 6 in the state of Tennessee this year only behind private and magnet schools and one high school in Nashville. That accolade does not come easily.
We are proud of the Oak Ridge school district, and you should be, too!
Barbara Phelps
Former Oak Ridge Board of Education member
Charlie Jernigan says
Thank you for reminding us of the value our schools play in our community and in the lives of our children.
Andrew Howe says
You’re correct. ORS kick some seriously strong butt when placed in the ring. I’m extremely proud of all the well educated, strong, self-empowered, mature kids I’ve met come from our school system. All-in-all our kids ans schools are truly impressive.
And you’re correct in paragraph two as well. The relatively recent past and the present situation has indeed made all those things fairly easy to do. Hopefully things won’t be so easy after all this.
I don’t find it too difficult to work for constructive change myself. But step one is recognizing a need for change and that changing isn’t really such a scary concept. It helps lessen the knee jerk defenses, but that too isn’t easy.