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A parent's view of magnet schools

By LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published February 11, 2007

Re: Magnet schools draw attention Feb. 4 story

I read the article about magnet schools and two Hernando County School Board members wanting to allow neighborhood children in the schools. I think the schools already in place need to be left alone.

My family moved to Brooksville three years ago, and, unfortunately, my son was zoned to go to Parrott Middle. He was an honor student when he started in that school and quickly became a struggling student with D's and F's. I went to the school and observed all day. I was absolutely appalled and disgusted by what I saw. The kids were out of control. They didn't respect the teachers or allow classes to be taught. No wonder my child's grades slipped. Not only were the classes out of control, but also my child had to attend that school feeling unsafe, and almost weekly he came home with some sort of bump or bruise on him.

Now that my child is in a magnet school, he is once again an honor roll student and is being challenged because the bar is set high. I certainly am thankful for that. He also hasn't had one incident of coming home with a bump or a bruise.

I ask the question: Why can't Hernando County have a few schools that set the standard of education higher?

I think it is total hogwash that African-Americans and low-income people think magnet schools aren't intended for them. Is it because the parents aren't willing to go to the orientation or fill out the paperwork? The reason magnet schools work is that the parents want a better education for their children and attend the orientation meetings and go through the daunting process of filling out the portfolio papers and lottery forms.

Let's also look at the demographics here. Some of the schools that have higher numbers of students who get free and reduced-price lunches and higher percentages of black students are a direct reflection of where the school is located in relation to the people zoned for the school. Some families might not be able to get their children to Challenger K-8 or Chocachatti Elementary because they don't have a vehicle, not because the schools aren't intended for those families.

I find it interesting that people are so quick to point out the low percentage of black enrollment at magnet schools but say nothing about the fact that some of the schools have a low percentage of Hispanic students but a higher percentage of black students. Why aren't Hispanics complaining about the percentage difference?

Finally, I would like to ask the question of how the lottery drawing would recognize the difference of people's races? This tells me the people being chosen for these magnet schools are the ones who are taking the time to go to the orientation and fill out the paperwork to be accepted into these schools, as well as being willing to do the volunteer hours.

Kristen Schram, Brooksville

Turn sprinklers off in rainy season 

Re: Lawn watering

During our annual rainy season, if everyone turned his automatic sprinklers off, we would save a tremendous amount of water (and money). If it doesn't rain for a week or so, then turn them on again (on your designated day and time).

After my husband and I moved here 14 years ago, we quickly realized that, with the summer storm patterns, Mother Nature took care of watering our lawn on many days. Keeping your sprinklers on during the summer months not only wastes water but also inflates your water bill unnecessarily. Now, even during the winter season, we leave the sprinklers off and turn them on only if we go 10 to 14 days without rain. Our lawn stays green, we've reduced our water bill significantly, and we also don't have to worry about the sprinklers going on while it's raining, which is a waste.

Loretta Pizzo, Spring Hill

[Last modified February 10, 2007, 23:46:56]