Keep student learning locally focused

Oh how I wish I didn’t think about our little town’s budget, but as a businessman, I can’t help myself. I had to manage a small farm’s budget, and I didn’t get any grants from either the state or the feds, and I had to educate my employees, since they hadn’t been educated by the education system in place. I employed many college grads who had no understanding of economics, even with their four-year degrees.

So, it was with great interest that I read La Conner Schools Superintendent Will Makoyiisaaminaa (Nelson)’s letter of recognition to our school board in January. These “volunteers” offer their expertise, for free, to manage a budget of $13 million annually. This budget allocates more than $25,000/yr/student, which would total approximately $300,000 if they complete 12 years of study.

We are a small, tourist economy. Are our students learning how to educate and entertain the tourists that come here from across the world? How many of our students know anything about the birds that overwinter here; can they point out the difference between snow geese and swans or between an immature eagle and an adult?

Have they learned anything about our ag industry, like how many tons of spinach seed are harvested here annually, or where the seeds go, of cabbage, or spinach? Do any of our students know anything about Brussels sprouts and their benefit to our diets? How many pounds of spuds just froze in the field next to school? Have they any knowledge about how to help rebuild the once great salmon runs of the Swinomish Channel? These are serious questions about not just how we teach, but what we teach, as well.

High tech is all the rage but does it come with the wisdom of a sage? Does it teach a person what to do when the power goes out, and the screen goes blank? I hate to bring up the negative stuff, but my words don’t come from powdery fluff, they come from humus-y duff.

If you don’t know what that is, I’ve proved my point. No, for the money we spend, our kids should be more educated than they are. I hate to point out our shortcomings, but they shamelessly slap me in the face. Yeah, the budget for keeping fit buildings fit, shouldn’t be a million per year, but if it is, that leaves well over $100,000/yr/employee!

Maybe I’m just a meany wearing a beanie, but I think we need to better count our beans and weenies.

Glen Johnson first submitted this citizen’s view in January after Nelson recognized the district’s school board directors during School Board Recognition Month.