Letter: Clarendon school is the best around

This is in response to the Editor’s Commentary a couple of weeks ago in The Clarendon Enterprise regarding school days and how they have changed. I would like to acknowledge that the editor is right and things have changed, some for the better, some for the worse. Our world is not the same. Our school and the newspaper is not the same as they were in 70s either, and I doubt either one wants to go back to the “old ways” of business.

In my opinion, when we talk about our school or school in general as parents, grandparents, and educators, it’s our duty to accentuate the positive. I think it’s safe to say that our kids’ opinions about school, teachers, rules, the AR program, homework, etc., are formed from hearing our opinions verbalized. Just because we as adults might not agree with every detail at the school doesn’t mean we should discuss it in a manner where the kids could take it as, “Hey, my parents are upset with the school,” when it’s usually just what I call “innocent griping,” which we all do. And I’m not implying in any way that you, Roger, would ever mention that the AR program at school was “stupid” in front of your kids. I’m just saying that even when we don’t happen to verbalize that we have a problem with something, our kids pick up on our tone, body language, etc. And if anyone reading this is going to be a parent of a first grader this school year, take note: it is “not required” for your child to take a book home at night for AR. Their reading and testing are done during the school day.

No, our school is not perfect. No school is. But the positive far outweighs the negative at Clarendon CISD. I believe we have a wonderful school system, and there are great things going on at every level. I just happen to know more about what all they do in my granddaughter’s class. There is a lot of paperwork going, but the students do still have to learn to add, subtract, write, and spell, etc. And as in the 70s, I believe that the best way, still today, is by repetition and on paper. But there were so many wonderful experiences for our children last year. They put on a puppet show, cooked Green Eggs and Ham, hatched baby chicks, cared for a baby tarantula, observed various spiders in their classrooms, and made apple pies and popcorn balls all in conjunction with a classroom lesson on various subjects. The kids also presented a great Veterans Day program. Plus so much more.

Another positive at our school is technology. I think Clarendon CISD is doing a great job preparing our kids in this area. Anyone who would like to take a closer look at what our school has to offer in this area I’m sure they’d love to show it off. I think the teachers, administrators, and support staff our school has are, hands down, better than any school around and the quality of education is top notch. So before anyone complains about buying school supplies or not being provided free pre-Kindergarten, neither of which the school is required to do, go check out what kind of programs, teachers, and facilities your children do have here, and then feel free to tell anyone that will listen how good we’ve got it!

Now, if you had some great teachers at Clarendon CISD, like I did, please feel free to tell them you appreciated them, such as Sam Lowry, Jean Stavenhagen, Helen Land, Coach Jack Hall, Johnny Leathers, Bob Howell, Carrie Howell, Jeff Walker, Kay Hayes, Bobbie Thornberry, and many more.

Reneé Mott, Clarendon