Wants D15 to bag idea of student farm
“Nutritious, sustainable and locally grown food has long been a passion of ... Dist. 15 Superintendent Scott Thompson.” Mr. Thompson may be an avid gardener, but he’s clearly embarking on another educational boondoggle, and unfortunately, with the concurrence of the school board.
At a time of economic distress throughout the entire country and constantly reported failing school achievement why is it OK to waste precious educational resources in this way? Mr. Thompson’s best efforts should be directed toward implementing the best instructional programs and teaching techniques in the “basics” and preparing the elementary students for the impending rigors of international competition.
Educate the students effectively for their secondary education, and we can forego programs as recently set up, at the usual taxpayer expense, at Harper to “better prepare students to go to college.”
For many years our farmers through proper schooling and family self-teaching have very adequately fed our country without any public school involvement. Many families in the district plant small gardens with their children’s involvement and quite quickly learn that all food “doesn’t originate from the shelves at Jewel.”
Planting a pumpkin or a gourd is not nearly as effective as teaching good nutrition in the health courses and having more organized recesses where physical exercise
helps to prevent the early childhood obesity problem.
Two other points: First, the district cant afford such a program so they’ll ask for public and private donations. Great if a private person or company wants to participate, but not so great if District 211 or Harper fund it as this just means they have extra, unneeded taxpayer monies that simply shifts from one line of the tax bill to another.
Second, some of the food would support the Harper culinary program, which in my opinion, is another waste of resources aimed a just a few students rather than
benefiting the larger student population.
Finally, if enrollment growth doesn’t justify the need for the 40 acres then, at least, sell it and put the funds back into the current operating budget, which might have a positive impact on the district’s next tax levy.
Tom Snyder
Inverness