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Trip is meant for top performing students


Thursday, March 6, 2008 6:44 AM PST

Comments (16 comment(s))

A couple of weeks ago you ran an article by Robert Closson regarding the Catalina Island trip for the top performing school kids.

It was so flawed and filled with half truths that I could not make a response fit to print. Mr. Hallmark's response, which you printed on Feb. 21, was both eloquent and subjective. It was much better at showing the flaws in Closson's position than I could. In your paper, on Feb. 23, Dr. Robert Closson, M.B.A., Ed.D., had his summarized arguments reprinted. I would like to respond.

Dr. Closson's basic argument is that since everybody cannot go to Catalina, nobody should be able to go. Nonsense! He also takes exception to the fact that Catalina is 500 miles away and the trip costs $700. The students with the highest GPA only get the chance to go on the trip. They are not required to make the long trip if they don't want to. I bet the amount of empty seats is insignificant. I also feel sad for any who cannot make the trip for lack of $700, although I cannot see why that should preclude the others from going. Life isn't fair; it only presents different opportunities at different times. Dr. Closson hoped that this "dialogue will continue in a different forum."

I bet he does, but this is the forum he chose and it is the one that is putting the light of scrutiny on his views.

Terry Piazza
Lodi

Reader Feedback

nylodian wrote on Mar 7, 2008 12:50 PM:

" wtf: You are very right; several music and art majors I knew (including me) had minors or second majors to fall back on to get jobs out of college because the arts is one of the first things to get slashed in districts.

"

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wtf wrote on Mar 7, 2008 9:35 AM:

" Imagine the areas of opportunity and the wonder that would be instilled if the kids were exposed to science, and yes, I agree, Science Camp should be brought back. "

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wtf wrote on Mar 7, 2008 9:33 AM:

" Great posts, nylodian! Have you ever noticed that it's the arts, music, history (busy re-writing it, maybe?) and science that get cut when the powers that be "adjust" the budget?

Ye gads! **These** are the areas that make America great! American know-how, ingenuity and creativity.

Instead of "No Child Left Behind" maybe we should leave Bushbaby behind and bring back the arts and sciences.

I noticed we had quite a few science winners on the main pages of the paper today; but a lot of these kids had to do this on their own time. "

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Lodian wrote on Mar 6, 2008 8:09 PM:

"
nylodian 6:25 PM: Excellent!

nylodian 6:28 PM: Night hikes were the best!

"

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nylodian wrote on Mar 6, 2008 6:28 PM:

" Lodian: I totally agree that they should bring back Science Camp. (Even if they can't kiss the banana slugs anymore like we did back in the day, LOL) I still remember how to make a little lean-to shelter. My favorite part was the night hike -that was awesome. "

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nylodian wrote on Mar 6, 2008 6:25 PM:

" cents: at the middle school I taught at in So Cal, EVERY year we had a trip to Europe for our students during spring break. (I think the grades had to be no D's or F's and no detentions or suspensions). It was possible for the kids to go through scholarships and fundraisers. One of my friends is a band director and she has taken her band (middle schoolers) to Washington DC. Again, possible through scholarships, grants, fundraisers. These are awesome opportunities for these kids. "

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Lodian wrote on Mar 6, 2008 2:22 PM:

" The sticking point for me keeps coming back to the Science Camp issue. This trip is just like a Science Camp. The district does not let all the kids go to Science Camp anymore. I guess they need to pay more administration fees/salaries or something and funds are too low to offer camp anymore. Priorities? Science Camp was too much of a valuable experience to "cut". I say, fine, let there be a reward trip (maybe a day trip?) if all agree that’s the way to go, but make Science Camp available to all students once again! "

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Lodian wrote on Mar 6, 2008 2:13 PM:

" nylodian w11:09 AM: That's what I was thinking. Thanks.

"

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wtf wrote on Mar 6, 2008 11:21 AM:

" Great posts, nylodian. I also liked this part of Terry's letter:

"Life isn't fair; it only presents different opportunities at different times."

I think the key word in this sentence is *opportunities* In my life, when I was much younger and I missed opportunities, I thought my life would end (the drama of youth ;)

As I've gotten older and look back, I see those "lost" opportunities were for a reason. I've seen that if A didn't happen, then B wouldn't have occurred which presented a different, and to me, more valuable opportunity C. "

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cents ($) vs common sense wrote on Mar 6, 2008 11:16 AM:

" Please keep in mind that "subjectivity" is the hallmark of stupidity. Closson's comments were objective and seemed to make a great deal of sense. Catalina is too far to send eighth-graders and the trip costs too much ($700). This isn't a trip for students in an elite boarding school this is a publicly funded school where all children should have equal access to all school activities. This is not only common sense it is the law. "

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nylodian wrote on Mar 6, 2008 11:13 AM:

" I doubt very seriously such a minor infraction such as "talking in class" is the sole criteria for a child not going on this trip. And from my experience, such a citation is not likely handed out without several previous warnings. "

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nylodian wrote on Mar 6, 2008 11:09 AM:

" Lodian: in the case of Millswood, it means when a child chooses to break the school rules outlined in their student handbook. "

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Lodian wrote on Mar 6, 2008 9:27 AM:

" I would like to know what the "staying out of trouble" means in the respect to whom will go on this trip. Maybe this will shed light on this for others as well, as many may be wondering the same thing. I have heard everything from a kid can't go on the trip if they have received a "talking in class" citation to serious breaking of school rules. Where I think we can all agree that a student that is blatantly breaking school rules should not be allowed to attend, I wonder what about the others that didn't do anything "bad". Anyone want to shed some light? What are the “behavior” criteria? Is it a case by case basis or ??? "

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sam wrote on Mar 6, 2008 8:11 AM:

" nylodian, if the parent does not know what "staying out of trouble" means, how is the child ever going to know. Nice blog. "

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Lodian wrote on Mar 6, 2008 7:56 AM:

" All students should go to Science Camp. It's an educational experience not to be missed. Shame on this district for taking Science Camp away from "all" the students. "

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nylodian wrote on Mar 6, 2008 7:26 AM:

" I still remember Closson's statement, "or if they [the students] stay out of trouble (whatever that means)"

All those degrees and you can't figure out what staying out of trouble means?

Rewarding good work and good behavior, what a concept! "

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