Curmudgeon's Corner

Village Buzz - June 3rd

Posted by Al Campbell on June 3, 2010

Education, Germantown, Quality of Life, School Board, Village Buzz

Our new Germantown Schools Superintendent, Dr. Susan Borden, has asked for your opinions as to four questions.  The survey form is found on the Germantown Schools website.  The questions are:

1. In one or two sentences, what is Germantown Public Schools greatest current strength?

2. In one or two sentences, what is Germantown Public Schools greatest current area for improvement?

3. What specific accomplishments after one year would indicate to you that I was off to a great start in this new role as superintendent of schools?

4. Five years from now, what would you like the Germantown Schools to be known for?

Dr. Borden has requested that all who desire to complete the survey do so by June 14^th.  The completed surveys are to be returned to the District Offices on Donges Bay Road.

* * * * * * * * 

Some thoughts…

Dr. Borden has really put herself “out there” with the third question.  She is willing to have you tell her what it is she must’ve accomplished during her first year in order to be viewed as “off to a great start”.

How refreshing.  I don’t ever recall that kind of public outreach in the 40+ years I have lived in Germantown.  The idea that a Superintendent is willing to be judged by the very public he or she serves is “getting off to a great start” in my view.  Most have been almost anonymous to those other than the ardent school observers and/or parents who have children about whom they're concerned.

Education is part of the bedrock that enables our kids to become their very best.  It is during these formative years that most of us develop the skills by which we’ll make our way the rest of our lives.  True, advanced education further develops the skill sets, but those basics, such as reading, have to be present in order for that further development.

Our schools are no longer as protected from modern ills as they once seemed.  We have school resource officers because they are needed.  We have educational programs to enable parents to see emerging problems because those are necessary.  We have drug issues at lower and lower levels and those issues require different approaches in our schools than were ever necessary several decades ago.  Unfortunately, we have, as parents, too often abrogated our responsibilities for the upbringing of our kids to the schools.

Our school board races seem to demonstrate that most of us are willing to leave this “drudgery” to others since few races are contested.  Then, of course, we tend to lament the decisions made by those who were willing to expose themselves by becoming board members.

Dr. Borden is about to assume a most important role in our community and, more importantly, in the lives of our children and our grandchildren.  If you are able and willing to give her the input she seeks, please make it a point to do so.

I am already struggling with my responses since these are not easy questions she has assigned to us, brief though they may be.