Letter to the Editor

Shadowing thanks

Tuesday, February 28, 2006

Dear Editor,

Recently, I read with interest an editorial in the February 20, 2006 edition of the Omaha World Herald titled "An Academic Doozy". The "doozy" described is the ninth grade year of high school where 14- and 15-year olds "grapple with increased responsibility, in new settings, all the while navigating the oddities of puberty and the pressures of a superficial social hierarchy."

The editorial reports a recent Washington Post article which highlights the importance of the first year of high school to the remainder of the ninth graders' secondary education.

"In other words, students with dreams of going to college need to strive for academic success from the get-go. Even those not destined for post secondary education can benefit by taking high school seriously and choosing course work wisely." Walter Haney told the Post: "Ninth grade in America's public schools has become an increasingly severe hurdle to student progress."

Thanks to the community of McCook and the surrounding area, this hurdle is not nearly so daunting. Certainly parents, teacher and guardians need to be involved in students' lives by helping them establish boundaries, providing guidance, setting goals and planning for their educational future. As a school system we emphasize the importance of work ethic, involvement in school clubs and activities, and the critical steps for career planning starting in ninth grade.

I write to publicly thank our community members as they assist our school in making ninth grade a solid basis for success. As I hope you read in the Feb. 17, 2006 edition of the Gazette, Connie Jo Discoe expertly covered the career panels who spoke to our students on Thursday morning, then she documented as the students job shadowed through Southwest Nebraska in the afternoon. Year after year, private and public individuals from the area take time out of their busy schedules to come and share their experiences, anecdotal stories and expertise with our students. In the afternoon, they allow our kids to see what they do on a daily basis. This year we were lucky enough to have several returning McCook graduates share their career journey with the students.

Ninth grade is the foundation for the rest of the high school career. The career project has been in place in McCook for over 30 years. Thanks to our businesses, the educational community like MCC plus military personnel from the area, we believe our students have a solid start toward academic and career planning success. Hats off to those individuals who return year after year or for the first time and who so generously give of their time to our future leaders!

Respectfully,

Pam Wolford

McCook

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