Upset over summer school policy

To the editor:

Like most people, I don't get around to doing some things I should - like attending a school board meeting. Yes, I have two children in Jay County schools and should make time.

Now the point of this letter is to inform others like me about the upcoming school board meeting Monday at 6 p.m. The reason I am telling you this is simple: I would like to see a lot of parents there. At this meeting I am going to question the school board about a policy I strongly disagree with. The subject is sending your child to summer school for failing the ISTEP test or a portion of the test.

If you do not send your child, they will be failed for the entire year, and have to repeat the same grade.

Don't get me wrong. My son is not a straight-A student but he is not failing any classes either. The problem is he did not pass the math portion of the ISTEP test (by six points). Now we as parents are being asked, no, make that told, to send our kids to summer school or risk them being failed for the entire year. I don't know about the rest of you, but I for one don't agree.

If the Jay School Corporation wants to offer summer school that's fine with me, but to tell me that I am going to send my child to summer school or else is totally outrageous.

I have spoken to Dr. Barwick at the administrative level and had conversations with East Jay principal Mr. Newman. They believe that by giving them our kids for the summer it will improve our children's ISTEP scores? Maybe it will, maybe it won't. Let's not forget that ISTEP scores do not count until our children enter Jay County High School, and only then if they do not pass they will not graduate.

So we are supposed to send our children to summer school after they have already been in school for the last nine months? Summer school ends July 24. That gives our kids about three weeks of summer vacation before they start school again. Does that sound fun to you? It doesn't to me. Failing a child because they cannot pass one test is hurtful and damaging to them and us as parents. That is like telling them your grades don't matter - all you need to do is pass the ISTEP test.

I am still awaiting a copy of this policy from Dr. Barwick, which was voted in by the school board members. I have expressed my concerns to the board members, and I will be addressing them Monday. I would like parents who do not believe this is a fair policy to attend Monday's meeting, and I would encourage people to call the board members and tell them how you feel.

The board members' e-mail addresses can also be found on the Jay Schools web site at www.jayschools.k12.in.us.

The one thing I believe has been forgotten here is the parents' right to choose what is best for their individual child. These are our children and we should be allowed to make these decisions for ourselves with the guidance of Jay Schools.

Thank you for your time, and if you wish to contact me my e-mail address is [email protected].

Crystal Chapman

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