LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE TWIN TIERS...IN A RECENT COMMENTARY I CRITICIZED THE CAMPBELL-SAVONA SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR ALLOWING STUDENTS TO GET OUT OF A FIVE HOUR COMMUNITY SERVICE REQUIREMENT IN A CLASS ON HEALTH WHEN THEIR AVERAGE IS 95 OR ABOVE.
I OPINED THAT THIS POLICY CHEAPENS AND DEGRADES COMMUNITY SERVICE, MAKES IT A REWARD TO AVOID THIS IMPORTANT WORK, AND SENDS THE WRONG MESSAGE TO THE KIDS. WELL, A VIEWER NAMED ELIZABETH WROTE IN TO SAY THAT I WAS 100% CORRECT.
SHE SAYS AND I QUOTE: "TREAT ALL STUDENTS THE SAME. YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THEIR HOME LIFE IS OR WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES ARE PREVENTING THEM FROM GETTING 95 OR ABOVE." (UNQUOTE) ELIZABETH WENT ON TO SAY THAT "I NEVER HAD GRADES THAT HIGH, BUT I ALSO WORKED, WAS THE CHILD OF A SINGLE PARENT, AND HAD RESPONSIBILITIES AROUND THE HOUSE...BUT I NEVER FAILED A CLASS."
I WANT TO THANK ELIZABETH FOR HER E-MAIL. IN MY VIEW, COMMUNITY SERVICE SHOULD BE REQUIRED OF ALL STUDENTS AND NOT EVER USED AS A BARGAINING CHIP TO REWARD STUDENTS FOR HIGHER GRADES.
WITH COMMENTARY...I'M DR. STEPHEN COLEMAN...WITH A VIEWER OPINION...MY OPINION...AND...MOST IMPORTANTLY...WHAT'S YOUR OPINION?
