Post #1,100
Steve Tarter’s Sunday Journal Star column focuses exclusively on the local media, so I am quite disappointed that last week’s edition only mentioned in passing that WEEK is taking over WHOI, giving no details that we didn’t already know, and this week’s column doesn’t even mention it. I have never worked as a reporter, but one would think that the column devoted exclusively to the local media would have some information related to what is essentially the discontinuance of HOI news.
Woodruff is not the only High School which is closing; Peoria Central is also – that minor detail seems to slip by some people. What I don’t understand is those who defend this move to consolidate into a mega high school creating larger classrooms and an increased student to teacher ratio. That is not a good thing. In an effort to cut costs, this move may be necessary, and it will likely happen, but this is not a reason to celebrate, and I believe those who are making themselves vocal speak for the majority of Peorians. As our schools go, so does our city. Answer this simple question: Is this the right and best we can do for our children?
The Moss Avenue Frank Lloyd House has some new owners who followed all the rules and jumped through all the hoops required by the city but eventually gave in to the neighbors wishes to not alter their home after a technical snafu in which the new foundation exceeded what was approved halted construction. The owners could have corrected the construction and continued under the original city approved plans, but instead opted to halt all construction. Among what is to happen to the home is said to be extensive interior remodeling, replacement of vinyl windows with more appropriate wood and restoring an original front yard reflective pool. I applaud the Muir family for not only trying to update their home in a design and style of the original architect, but for also understanding the historic significance of their home by backing down on their expansion while continuing to restore it.
January 27th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
You say: “What I don’t understand is those who defend this move to consolidate into a mega high school creating larger classrooms and an increased student to teacher ratio. ”
Did it ever occur to you or anyone that just because they are making one big high school out of 2, that class sizes may not increase? Maybe just maybe some teachers will be retained to teach more of the same type of class. In other words as an example, freshman English may be 2 or 3 classes instead of one. Sure, some teachers will face the axe but why would anyone want the District to waste money running 4 high schools when they are not needed as shown by enrollment? It is automatically assumed that class sizes will increase but the State regulates just how big they can be. When I went to high school, it was packed. We all survived. Why is that EVERY single time this District tries to do something (in this case because of lack of money) people get all geared up and demand they do it their way? These problems have been festering for years all the way back to the early 90s. Where were all these groups then?