Tag Archives: Letter to the Editor

June 12, 2020 · 11:37 am

Former Students Ask District to Act Against Racial Injustice

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

To leaders and members of the West Bend community:

This is a list of initiatives we would like to see implemented in the West Bend School District.

Right now, the whole world is finally listening to the call for action against racial injustice. We want meaningful change to create a community that works for ALL people. We know that the West Bend School District did not adequately prepare us for an increasingly diverse and inclusive society. We also know that the demographics of West Bend are changing. If we are truly preparing all students for excellence, we must also educate students to become culturally competent and aware of their roles and platforms to dismantle white supremacy in our national culture. Continue reading →

Leave a comment

Filed under Viewpoint

Tagged as , , , , ,

April 30, 2020 · 7:23 pm

The Music You Speak

VIEWPOINT

The music you speak with every breath
Every gasp of air a dying wish
Words you think but rhymes you say
Every letter used for a phrase Continue reading →

1 Comment

Filed under Viewpoint

Tagged as , , ,

November 19, 2018 · 3:35 pm

A Path for Political Discussions in the Classroom at West Bend

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

According to definitions in “The Political Classroom,” West Bend is a politically diverse community [1] (Hess, Mcavoy, 2014). What that means is there are different points of view of sufficient magnitude from the community and parents to detect political bias in schools and the political power to stop it. As you can imagine, “Like minded schools” had no trouble implementing politics in the classroom as only one point of view was allowed, and parents who do see bias do not have the political power to allow different points of view. So, the nice thing with being in a politically diverse community is multiple points of view are available, the challenging part is dealing with political bias. Continue reading →

2 Comments

Filed under Community, School News and Features, Viewpoint

Tagged as , ,

March 31, 2018 · 10:57 am

‘Our Thoughts Are Our Own’: Walkout Organizers Respond to School Board Candidate’s Criticisms

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

On Wednesday, March 14th, hundreds of students poured onto the West Bend High School’s football field to honor the seventeen lives that were taken on the Valentine’s Day Parkland shooting. In light of the recent discussion on school safety, we would like to respond to Mary Weigand’s blog post directed at “the protesting students and supportive administration” regarding the walkout. Mrs. Weigand is currently running for school board. We would also like to clarify and enlighten our community members on the events of the day. The following response does not reflect the views of the high school administration. Continue reading →

1 Comment

Filed under Community, School News and Features, Viewpoint

Tagged as , , , , , , ,

May 23, 2017 · 7:03 am

The “Connected” People

POEM TO THE EDITOR

It’s the buzz in our pocket that instantly has our attention.
It’s the snap streak that has to be saved at all costs.
It’s the latest Kardashian update that spreads from phone to phone.
Why have all these things become so important?
Is it that crucial that we send a picture of our face to someone
Instead of having a conversation with the person sitting next to us?
When did staring at a rectangular screen become the social norm? Continue reading →

1 Comment

Filed under Viewpoint

Tagged as , ,

February 11, 2016 · 8:01 pm

We Care Too Much

POEM TO THE EDITOR

We care too much, about the things that don’t matter
We care more about materialistic objects than about another person
We fear commitment, sacrifice, compromise
When did we become THAT generation? Continue reading →

1 Comment

Filed under Viewpoint

Tagged as ,

February 13, 2015 · 1:43 pm

Why I Don’t Take the Gains Tests Seriously

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

The Gains tests are a series of ACT-style assessments given in every class at WBHS. According to the district, these tests are used by teachers to adapt instruction to address gaps in student learning.

I don’t take the Gains Test seriously for a number of reasons. There are a multitude of standardized assessments that students are required to endure, semester after semester, on some occasions taking the same one for multiple classes. These tests, designed to measure academic growth of the student body, are not only irritating but a blatant waste of perfectly good time, filling class periods that could (and should) be spent doing anything of a more productive nature. One could argue that taking one or two days out of an entire semester to take a test for the good of the school does little or no harm, and that’s perfectly valid. The time spent isn’t excessive, and the tests are little more of a nuisance to most. What I’m most concerned with, however, is not the actual tests but what they stand for. Continue reading →

2 Comments

Filed under School News and Features, Viewpoint

Tagged as , , ,

February 9, 2015 · 6:04 pm

School Newspaper Should Ask Questions

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

If it doesn’t go against school code, I would like to make a plea for more questions. Particularly those in regards to all of the testing given in our high school as well as throughout our entire district. Students deserve to know why they are being required to do all of this testing, who initiated it, and why neither the students nor teachers have a say in any of it. I strongly encourage topics like these to be published in the West Bend Current as it’s the media’s gift to bridge the informative gap between the administration and the student body. Continue reading →

3 Comments

Filed under Viewpoint

Tagged as , , ,

November 21, 2014 · 7:19 pm

Stop Standing on the Sidelines

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

DSC00005I’ve spent all of my educational career teaching a subject that stresses actions have consequences. That you should always consider the costs and the benefits before making decisions in your life. The incident at school reminded me that we don’t always act rationally. One of my college professors gave me a piece of advice that I will always remember. It went something like… you should never get in a fight with a pig because everyone comes out covered in mud. Many students are learning that lesson. Their reputations have been muddied, many look foolish, and now they are left trying to wipe the mud off their faces. Continue reading →

5 Comments

Filed under Community, School News and Features, Viewpoint

Tagged as , , ,

November 21, 2014 · 5:10 pm

Disaster Professional Weighs In

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Michael Faragher received his B.A. in Disaster and Emergency Management from the American Military University in 2012. He graduated from West High in 2001.

There’s been a lot of discussion about the incident in the West Bend High Schools in the past 24 hours. Having not been a student there for nearly 14 years, I heard about it indirectly, but I did get to see my fellow alumni voice their opinions, and immediately forget they did worse when they were in the same position. In 1999 or 2000, we attempted to organize a walk-out in solidarity with the teachers against the administration. I was hauled into the vice-principal’s office, and when I told him I hadn’t distributed the fliers I’d made yet, he visibly relaxed and said they were very well done. Apparently, if that happened yesterday I may have been arrested. But I’m not here to discuss the ways I think the school might be mishandling some things, I’m only discussing how they’re mishandling one thing: this situation. Continue reading →

5 Comments

Filed under School News and Features, Viewpoint

Tagged as , ,