Article Response
Dear Editor: I am writing regarding the article in the paper Feb. 15 discussing math preparedness of Sitka High and Mt. Edgecumbe graduates. I cannot speak to the program at Mt. Edgcumbe, but I have experience with Sitka High. I was not alarmed or at all surprised that our Sitka graduates were not performing well in college math classes. That certainly was our experience when our oldest child graduated and started school at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. I have heard other parents of Sitka graduates jokingly use the saying, “I graduated from Sitka High, I can solve for X but I don’t know Y.”
What was disturbing for me was the response of the local superintendents. It was defensive and dismissive, and consisted of immediately picking apart the study. I get that educators work long, poorly paid, and underappreciated hours. I was the child of a teacher and an administrator. I remember that I often didn’t see my mother until late at night, and she worked most weekends as well. However, I also know that there are all kinds of anecdotal evidence that support the findings of that study. You can’t solve a problem until you are able to recognize and accept that there is one.
The other thing that I found incredibly disturbing and insulting was that statement, “that our best students don’t attend the University of Alaska.” How elitist and snobby. My son is an incredibly bright, and kind human being. He was on the Sitka High honor roll, he had a paper route all through middle school and he worked at the golf course in the summer. He put himself through his undergraduate work and he graduated from Fairbanks with honors, his intent is to put himself through a graduate program as well. I resent that his effort and who he is as a person is so easily brushed aside. The goal of our high school should be to provide a quality education for all our students, not just for “our best ones.”
Tamara Mutchler-Walsh, Sitka
KGH Activity Funding
Dear Editor: I would like to take the time to recognize the amazing organizations in our community who have donated funds to help local Keet Gooshi Heen students participate in activities outside of the school day.
The Hames Corporation, Elks Lodge, Moose Lodge, Sitka Rotary Club, Sitka Fine Arts Camp and the White Elephant Shop have all provided funds this 2016-2017 school year to help offer KGH students the opportunity to participate in enriching activities.
Local organizations like the above make it possible for students, who may not have had the opportunity, to experience programs like the Sitka Fine Arts Camp, Little League, Tsunami wrestling, flag football, Cirque Silks, gymnastics, mixed martial arts classes, Sitka Sound Science Camp and many other programs.
Many studies have found that student participation in positive activities outside of the school day and year improved student’s problem-solving skills, social skills and academic performance. So, once again, I’d like to say thank you to the Hames Corporation, Sitka Elks Lodge, Sitka Moose Lodge, Sitka Rotary Club, Sitka Fine Arts Camp and the White Elephant Shop for investing in our students and their future success.
Keet Gooshi Heen
staff and students
