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Show WASATCH GOUNTY COURIER Parental Involvement Equals Choice > DAN STEPHENS PUBLISHER Letter to the Editor published A. the May 2 edition from Doris Rock of Heber City brings up cation. Over the past two weeks I’ve given this a lot of thought. First, | must admit of the guiltiest parents terms of ‘school not in the valley going to “back courages mercy of the system, a large, bloated to experience was disagreeable enough that I made excuses, however feeble, tion is, the less the chance that any while offering a more intimate school setting. They would also have the autonomy to develop their own cur- one be riculum and format, unchained from so as not to have to repeat the experi- effectively addressed. They just “lose you in the system.” And there is no detached bureaucratic oversight. _ Some would chose parochial schools. Freedom of religion is a constitutional right and many parents justifiably feel you can’t separate religion from education. And that is a legitimate discussion between — ence. about the sub- other reasons that parents don’t get involved in their children’s education is that frankly, their concerns don’t mean squat. For instance, if your child is having problems with one teacher you may be able to have them moved to another class. That other class may be better, or it may _ be worse. If your child is having prob- The bigger individual’s an institu- concerns will bigger bureaucracy in the county than the School District, which. is. double the size of the rest of county government. The more I thought about it, the more I keep equating parental involvement with parental choice. If parents _have a real voice, they will be involved. How much bigger a voice can a parent have than in the choice of where their children go to school. If parents had so impressed as I was when I spent a TALK ABOUT ENDING ON A SOUR NOTE! years convenient School. After much my: fads this to be an or the public seems to me that the education of a child isn’t ide- First, the experience at Wasatch was completely different than at Davis. In Davis County, you made an appointment with the individual teacher and met with them in their office, in private. In Wasatch County, all the par- nario ally suited to the one-size-fits-all sce- ents are herded into the gym and line up behind other parents in front of the © teacher waiting your turn. This is a great social gathering, since you get to talk to a lot of neighbors you don’t normally see. But while you are stand- lems with a particular schedule you ple’s kids I really didn’t want to know. Further, when it came my turn to be graduating, and you are particularly may be able to change that around. child. I heard stuff about other peo- — Or if your child-is in danger of not there were matters i Ua ASD ES NO STRINGS ATTACHED.” | *We'lleveniend youa Pacquetif you don’t haveone. To get you in the game, we're offering free group tennis lessons. Just bring your sneakers. All ages welcome. Call today to sign up. Who knows? A little fun could lead toa passion for the game! I our Public School is best for one child ferent needs and different personalities. When Doris Rock got me think- the on-going discussion between parent and teacher about that parent’s box,” is could be completely unworkable for another. Different children have difing about parental involvement it just: evolved into parental choice. I can’t help thinking that the ‘single’ most motivational factor in ‘getting parents involved in their children’s education - ing in line you overhear details from the that System. What WHEE CovNTYN up i HL LL AL elt ene Pn ho CLUE UII | MeL A. Ld numerous least, the option of Charter Schools. excuses to beg off going. “in SAE | found again.) The LDS Church has some of . the finest institutions of higher education on the planet. Pll bet they could crank out some pretty good elementary and high schools. Last, but not day with the Sundance that, I realized just how had missed. Look, I don’t mean indictment of teachers school system. It just _ school night” when we moved here ago, parents’ right (parental involvement These small publicly financed schools can be incredible. I have never been after my first experience of “back to 10 substan- than they currently do bureaucracy. frank night.” ‘My wife goes, but from. Davis County some and I think they could foe tially more parent and teacher. And in my case the ject, it occurred to me that one of the involvement in their children’s’ edu- one that’s about it as far as what influence you have as a parent. You are at the In thinking more the legitimate question of parental | was/am would have preferred not be revealed to the world at large. This format dis- lucky, you might get them into the -excellent Alternative School. But PARK CITY RAQUET CLUB 1200 Little Kate Road| SATURDAY, MAY 12 9:00-10:30 a.m. 10:30-12:00 _ the responsibility to shop around for their child’s schooling I feel they would inevitably become more © tion out of my mind. Of course, I’ve involved, especially if that choice only been thinking about this for a included smaller schools where a par-. few weeks. There are many in this ent could really make a difference. Of course, choice opens up the Pandora’s Box of school vouchers, the third rail of local politics. In Wasatch County we spend just over $4,300 per year on each child in the School District. Give the parents that money to use to pick a school for their child and I think you will see parental involvement. Now, I’m not advocating getting rid of the public schools. What.I am advocating is that the education system should look like the rest of America. In all other aspects of American life we TUESDAY MAY 15 6:00-7:30 p.m. THURSDAY MAY 17. 6:00-7:30 p.m. Call 435-615-5426 HEBER CITY WASATCH H.S. -TUESDAY MAY 22 6:00-7:30 p.m. 435-654-2700 is to let them make the important decisions about their children’s schooling. I just can’t get the “involvement equals choice” equa- have choice and competition. YOU decide where to shop for groceries, where to buy your car, where to buy your clothes. Only in the field of primary education are you offered no choice (or if you opt for private school community who have thought about this subject their entire lives. I could be totally off track. Wouldn’t be the first time. If so, please write and _ straighten me out. Talbot Retirement Updates’ To my public employee friends who asked me to check into it, the School District actually contributes ‘more to retirement than the 9 percent the _County employees. get. The School employees have been getting 13.68 percent in retirement and an additional 1.5 percent contribution to a 401k plan, for a total of 15.18 percent of district employees’ pay con- tributed towards _ retirement. However this year that amount is Competition doesn’t mean closing the shrinking and will be 11.4 percent plus the 1.5 percent for the 401k, fora total of 12.9 percent district contribu- public schools, but it does mean mak- tion towards employee retirement. - you get to pay twice, taxes and tuition.) ing them compete. Competition, if the history of America is any indication, means a better oo at: a lower price. Imagine a system where you still have the large Public School System, because some parents would undoubtedly prefer a larger system that could, by its very size, offer more ment” when he is “rehired” full time — after his six-month hiatus, he will have the 11.4 percent that the district would normally pay into his retirement account paid into his 401k account, for a total of 12.9 percent towards his 401k (including the normal 1.5 percent.) That is an additional $12,287.90 and over and above his salary of $95,255 because of its public status, a secular setting. Some would opt for smaller ‘per year paid into his 401k. Medical insurance isn’t included in the retirement program, so he will continue to be covered by the District insurance like any other full time employee. diversity, schools. more I can social activity see groups of 3-10 teachers banding together to open ‘private schools. I’ve done the math, _ Since Dr. Talbot will be on “retire- |