Small Schools...

So I've been thinking a lot lately about how Mr. Mitch Daniels wants small schools to consolidate. Personally, I really, really don't think schools should consolidate. In the time I spent at Southern Wells, I loved it. Yes, I thought it would be nice to have more classes to broaden my learning experience but I loved Southern Wells. I felt that SW had plenty of opportunities to excel in classes. The student/teacher ratio was so good that all of the students knew every teacher and more than likely, had talked to everyone one of them at least once in their high school career. Yes, some of the school's beliefs were close-minded, just like some of the teachers. But I didn't mind that. I felt that even if a teacher disliked you that they didn't hold it against you. Here at BSU, I've heard plenty things about professors that hold grudges all semester, and they're PROFESSORS. I think SW was a humble, great place to learn and I think it's awful that Mitch Daniels wants to get rid of other small schools like mine. I believe that an abnormal amount of students would be lost in the school system and therefore, be left behind to fend for themselves. In a big school system, students don't have as many opportunities to play sports, or be in band and choir. They may have the opportunity to try-out, but with a huge group of kids trying-out, only a limited number will get through. Yes, I myself would get upset when my coaches would keep kids that weren't very good in a sport because in the real world, if you aren't good enough you get kicked out or dismissed. But as I look back, I'm glad they did because it gave that student a chance to better themselves and work hard for something. I honestly believe sports, choir, show choir, and band gives students more discipline than if they weren't in anything like that. I know a lot of my discipline came from playing basketball. If you weren't on time, the team ran, if you didn't hustle, the team ran, if you forgot something, the team ran. This all relates to real-life scenarios, if you have a huge presentation and you forget the presentation materials, it's your fault and your team suffers the consequences. If a student doesn't have a chance to play in a sport or be in band or choir, where will they learn discipline? There parents? Maybe, but we all know that not ALL parents do such things. Maybe the student could get a job, yes that entails responsibility and discipline. But until that kid is 15 or 16, they can't get a job. I don't know about you, but I want my kids to be responsible and well-disciplined when they are younger than 15 or 16. Personally, I think small schools are the way to go. I liked my small, humble school and I would never trade my experience @ SW to go to another, bigger school. I knew everyone, the teachers were great, and I received a good education. I'm not saying big schools wouldn't provide that, but I think small schools are more likely to provide those things to more students. Education should be Indiana's prime concern because they teach our future leaders. So let's not lose more kids in the system because we want big schools instead of small ones.

Sorry if this is a little long, but I had to get it off of my chest. I'm a lil upset that they let 5 teachers go and that Daniels wants to consolidate small schools.