A lot has been going on at my High School Alma Mater, St. Joan Antida High School, over the past few weeks. In response to the Alan Borsuk article called “A Drastic Teacher overhaul at St. Joan Antida High School” (http://www.jsonline.com/news/education/96734419.html). Alumni and parents have taken to the Internet in response to the article. Also tonight I just got finished listening to and was on hold to speak on the AM620 radio show that was dedicated to talking about the issue. Though I didn’t get to speak on the radio about it, due to time constraints, I am still fired up and passionate about the issues at hand so have decided to dust off my blog in order to do so! This will be the first of a few postings dedicated to different aspects of the issue.
There were many things that I would have wanted to say in regard to this issue. I have posted various opinions since the article broke but I want to put it altogether here…
The theme of the AM620 show had to do with change. I want to go on record as saying that I AM NOT anti-change and I think that many of my fellow alumni who have come forth about this issue feel the same way. But in order for change to work, change needs to be done properly.
The article presented a very one-sided view of this change. It was suggested in the article that anyone who attended SJA has been given a sub-par education. Sub-par… really? I know that I was given a good foundation that paved my way to college and later grad school. I also know that my sister, along with all my friends have all had similar experiences and successes along the way. All of us are products of the SJA system of education, which was a combination of the Multiple Intelligences (recognized that we all have our own strengths that we bring to the table) and a family like atmosphere. So how has SJA gotten to this point where they have merited an overhaul?
An item that I found particularly interesting was that it said that the administration had to choose between offering an education that prepares young women for college or one that gets them through their teen years. I guess I don’t understand why they need to choose. These same educators who have been left by the wayside are the same ones that were the ones who found a way to offer all the young women at SJA an education that prepared us for college as well as helping us through our formative teenage years.
I guess at this juncture I don’t really understand what had happened since I graduated in 2003 that merited such a giant overhaul… I am not naïve so I know in my mind what the common link could be but I think I leave it to everyone to form that opinion. Please discuss if you would like if not I will still continue to post!
Up next time thoughts on cut programs and what actually is needed to prepare one for college.
One last note… Thanks for all the Alumni, parents, former teachers, current teachers and friends of SJA for taking to the internet on this issue! Also a special shout out to the Thorn sisters (specifically Chiara and Sofia!) and my own sister Elysabeth for taking initiative on this issue!
June 28, 2010 at 1:59 am
YES — you’re so right, Cece. Why should ANYONE have to choose between social/emotional development and a quality education?
AND … on the radio and in the article, it says that they hope to have “more dances”. What the hell? Try supporting your STUDENTS and your TEACHERS.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts — I look forward to hearing MORE, though I’m confident that our opinions overlap 🙂 (sister moment).
June 28, 2010 at 2:01 am
Very well said! It was a shame you did not get on the air.
June 28, 2010 at 4:11 am
Cece!
I was excited to hear everyone tonight and your thoughts as well. I’m glad people are getting into this.
I actually just had a lengthy conversation with my dad about this once the radio show was over. I have to admit, one thing I most appreciated about SJA was that teachers WERE there for students both on an academic level and an emotional level. I don’t know what high school would have been like had I not had teachers to go to.
June 28, 2010 at 10:53 am
Thank you for your comment Kelly! Very true! Glad you stopped by to share!
June 28, 2010 at 4:03 pm
Hey Cece! Thanks for posting this, and thanks for trying to get on the air! I just wanted to say thanks to everyone who went on the air and gave their feedback and showed support for the school. I am very happy to see that those who were able to get on the air were able to remain positive and provide mature, rational feedback. Complaining isn’t going to do anything except for make us look like idiots. Any thoughts on what we can do next?
June 28, 2010 at 4:53 pm
You are right Ellie, complaining doesn’t help. It is important that everyone takes the time to understand the issues and what is going on in order to form informed opinions. I don’t like to come across as a ranter so I felt that this would be a good forum to have those discussions! Thanks for your input!
July 2, 2010 at 2:34 am
The change at SJA should be the ousting of self-righteous Cindy Marino. Maybe if she came down off her high horse and visiting the real world once in a while and stopped patting herself on the back for all she thinks she does, she would realize that the only person who wants the spotlight on her is HER! When did the focus leave the students and get put on this self-aggrandizing woman. SHAME ON HER. Didn’t Jesus point out the hypocrisy in the leaders of the temple. Perhaps she should brush up on her religion…