Great changes are occurring in Gentry schools

Editor and Gentry Residents,

On Tuesday evening I attended a meeting at Gentry High School where a conversion charter school was discussed. The school board passed the resolution to submit the application for the conversion charter school.

After reading last week's Westside Eagle Observer, I realize the public is lacking a bit in the goings-on in our school districts but am sure that will be corrected. One of the two discrepancies in the Gentry School District in its evaluation and certification was a lack of communication within the community. For the 99 percent of parents with students in the Gentry School District who really aren't interested in their child's education, you need to get involved.

The state is making it possible to incorporate some great innovations into the system with the charter school. Our new assistant superintendent, Judy Winslett, has really gotten the ball rolling to get our students out of the mediocre doldrums. The programs being implemented immediately will give students an opportunity never before offered in the old system.

The old adage, "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink," applies to students also. "If you can't get them interested in learning with a curriculum they like, you can't teach them much."

Ms. Winslett and Mr. Harper, the high school principal, are working diligently to cooperate with other schools on the west side to provide more options. I hope the teachers get excited about the opportunities and don't see this as jeopardizing their jobs. I have always liked the philosophy of "lead, follow, or get out of the way."

I think teachers will find they have less discipline problems if their students like what they are studying, and it will be more fun for teachers. Teachers are just like the rest of us. They like to teach interested students and don't appreciate those that are belligerent.

It looks like we are entering a new phase in education in Gentry, and I think that is a great turn of events.

I want to also thank the superintendents from Decatur, Gravette and Bentonville for giving us a hand.

Al Lemke

Gentry

Editorial on 09/09/2015