Hi guys,
Tell Bridget congratulations on her GPA and keep up the good work. She should have lots of college scholarships if she keeps this up.
Since I have been working as secretary and sub at the High/Middle school here I have learned a-lot about their school system. The teachers are well paid up here (up to $70,000 a year) but they have to find their own housing which can be scarce sometimes. The school is well equipped, there is a band with better instruments then at Grace King, a beautiful computer lab, Library with computers, science lab, a wood work shop and a metal work shop, good SPED classes, and a great gym with weight room. Next year they are starting ROTC. The wrestling team is one of the best in the state as well as the Girls basketball. The students here have to fly out to participate in all of the state events and are constantly on the go. For the students who want the education, the opportunities are great.
The student population is about 300 6th-8th and 250 9th-12th. The graduating class was only 25 students. So if you put the numbers together you can see that the drop out rate is very high. The biggest problem is getting the students to come to class. There is little support from the parents or police to get the kids here. An absenteeism rate of about 20 to 30 percent is not uncommon on any day. Plus the mental problems among the students is very high, a lot of teen suicide and FAS (fetal alcohol syndrome). The discipline problems are enormous and had been handled with suspension (just what the student wants, more time off), but next year the school is going to an in school suspension system. I hope this works for them. The first questions we ask any student who is a disruption problem are: What time did you go to bed? When was the last time you ate?. What Jimmy was asking was right, with all the daylight the students will be out playing at all hours and never get to bed. The second question if a reflection on how bad these kids home lives are. Many of them we are never sure who they are living with: parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, or the children's home. Many are shuffled between houses and villages like they are pets. Sometimes the shuffling between the village schools is done by the student in hopes that they will become lost in the system. Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of good families and students here. The hard part is trying to make sure they do not get pulled down with the problems.
They held the school prom last week. This is sponsored by the Junior class but is open to all grades 9-12. They have to plan way ahead, all the boys tuxes were ordered last month and had to be flown up. The girls had their gowns ordered long ago. A lady that does hair came up and worked out of the hotel. The flowers had to be ordered a week in advance so they could all be flown up. The cost to the students for all of this is extremely high (tuxes $120, tickets $60, etc.), but this seems to be a highlight of the year for them. Tell Bridget to not complain about how tough it is down there to get ready, it could always be worse.
Tell everyone Hi for us,
Patty
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Last updated:
08/29/05