As a teacher and a parent, we feel it is necessary to have our say about the possible closing of Wales Central School.
Thirty-two years ago, when we were looking for our first home, we asked questions about the school in Wales. How far away? Two miles. How many grades? Kindergarten through eighth grade. How many students per room? Fewer than 15. Yes, a real neighborhood school existed.
As a teacher, I know that young people can have anxiety about school, teachers, busing and large classes. Middle-grade students have the added challenges of their changing bodies and emerging feelings about sexuality. Changing schools every two or three years adds unnecessary transitions to what could be a seamless learning environment.
These facts can and do affect learning. With the stability of a neighborhood school, teachers, students and their families develop strong, positive relationships. This enables students to feel secure in their school while they enter puberty and confident about who they are before they enter high school.
Because our children are now successful adults, thanks to their successful start at Wales Central School, we will be affected by the school staying open or closing. We do feel that the children of Wales deserve the best education possible in the formative years.
The families of Wales would be making a sound investment in their children's futures by voting to keep Wales Central School open.
Mike and Grace Trainor, Wales
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Class Size
I have taught classes as small as 14 and as large as 31 over the last 14 years. Although my passion for teaching and enthusiasm for helping students learn has not wavered regardless of how many students are in my classroom, I can honestly say that I was a more effective teacher when I had smaller class sizes. It all boils down to time. When there are 30 students rather than 20, the teacher is just not able to spend as much time with each individual student. Raising class sizes also brings along a concern of having enough materials and space for everyone. Like I had said in a previous post, it isn’t that students can’t learn in larger class sizes, it just that it isn’t the best learning environment. Don’t we want what is best for our children? I believe that the community members, especially the parents of these children, have the right and responsibility to fight for their children….even if it is a losing battle.
I realize that class sizes of 15 are not reasonable especially in the economic state our country is in, but my worry with closing schools is what will that bring the class sizes up to? 20 would be acceptable, 25 would be pushing it and 30, especially in grades k-2, is unacceptable.
I currently teach in a state where there are no class size caps and the thought of having my own child in a class with 30 other kids worries me. All children deserve the best education we can provide them.
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Unfortunate
That school systems have to consider closing schools but reality says that the student teacher ratios are out of wack and something needs to be done. It is the same everywhere. A classroom should have more than 15 students in them. I remmeber when there were 30 plus in a class room. The teachers then, taught, and we learned. They didn't say their classes were to large. They taught because they wanted to. It was their calling to want to contribute to kids learning ,at all levels ,and making a life for themselves after high school. The kids you want to learn and who have a support system at home will learn and be successful. To many mandates on class size and teachers whining they can teach more if class sizes were small. Number of students does not dictate learning. It comes from the enthusiasm of the teacher who is committed and innovated to entise children to learn that breeds success. Again , throw in home support and it will work. Learning that is. Restructuring was thrown at this state in mandates for the sole purpose of the state not being able to fund education with it fair share. Therefore accept what is taking place and except that schools with low numbers should be closed and classes brought to a level where a teacher is earning his/her pay. And remember this there was no such thing as Ed techs. The real teachers did it all.
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Unfortunate
That school systems have to consider closing schools but reality says that the student teacher ratios are out of wack and something needs to be done. It is the same everywhere. A classroom should have more than 15 students in them. I remmeber when there were 30 plus in a class room. The teachers then, taught, and we learned. They didn't say their classes were to large. They taught because they wanted to. It was their calling to want to contribute to kids learning ,at all levels ,and making a life for themselves after high school. The kids you want to learn and who have a support system at home will learn and be successful. To many mandates on class size and teachers whining they can teach more if class sizes were small. Number of students does not dictate learning. It comes from the enthusiasm of the teacher who is committed and innovated to entise children to learn that breeds success. Again , throw in home support and it will work. Learning that is. Restructuring was thrown at this state in mandates for the sole purpose of the state not being able to fund education with it fair share. Therefore accept what is taking place and except that schools with low numbers should be closed and classes brought to a level where a teacher is earning his/her pay. And remember this there was no such thing as Ed techs. The real teachers did it all.
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.What is the value of quality education?
People who are fighting for this school to stay open are not fighting for a frivolous want but rather for the crucial education that the children of the community deserve. Going to a different school or having a larger class size will not destroy their education, but it definitely will not be the quality education they deserve from their neighborhood school.
I am sure, Buckeye, that many teachers are not at first year teacher pay and have many years of teaching experience. The district’s pay scale tops out at $58,160 and that is with 22 years of experience and a Master’s degree. Again, there are not many professions where a master’s degree and that many years of experience will pay you less than $60,000. I know that it was their choice to go into that profession and they obviously don’t do it for the pay or the lack of appreciation for their hard work by the community. To say that most people don’t make what teachers make is off the mark. Teachers are facing layoffs and doing more with lessm, just as everyone else is. The ones most affected are the ones making less than $30,000, plus are paying off student loans. Again, you are right – that was their choice, but where would we be without those teachers?
All I know, is that at some point we need to make education a priority again or our future is bleak.
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Wales tax rate
If you lived in Wales last year your tax rate was over 30 mills per thousand ! If you check most of the teachers at Wales Central school have been there for many years, so they make much more Mngirl stated. As for being underpaid, no one forced teachers to make that career choice. They can join the real world and face being laid off, & not getting yearly raises like most people. If the school is so special, then You should have no problem paying tution to send your child there. Going to Litchfield is NO big deal, plus the children get to meet new children, & have more programs to learn. Isn't it nice when someone else has to pay for what you want.
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If you lived in Wales last year your tax rate was over 30 mills per thousand ! If you check most of the teachers at Wales Central school have been there for many years, so they make much more Mngirl stated. As for being underpaid, no one forced teachers to make that career choice. They can join the real world and face being laid off, & not getting yearly raises like most people. If the school is so special, then You should have no problem paying tution to send your child there. Going to Litchfield is NO big deal, plus the children get to meet new children, & have more programs to learn. Isn't it nice when someone else has to pay for what you want.
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Definitely a sound investment
I completely and wholeheartedly agree with the Trainors. Neighborhood schools where families and schools build working relationships is critical to building successful community members and a strong community as well.
As for Buckeye, you really need to get your facts straight before posting. First year teachers in the RSU 40 district start at $29, 775. How many professions start out, after a bachelor's degree, below $30,000? Not many. Documentation: http://www.maine.nea.org/assets/document/ME/2010-11_Teacher_Salary_Sched...
Also, as for Wales having one of the highest tax rates in the state, with minimal searching I found that the tax rate for Wales in 2008 was 12.63 - the county average was 15.51 and the state average was 11.70. From these facts, I do not think that Wales is one of the highest; it looks right around average for the state of Maine. Documentation: http://maine.gov/revenue/propertytax/municipalservices/fullvaluerates.htm
I am wondering where you are getting your information. It sounds, Buckeye, that you would have benefited from a strong neighborhood school to teach you some research, grammar and reasoning skills during your education.
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Definitely a sound investment
I completely and wholeheartedly agree with the Trainors. Neighborhood schools where families and schools build working relationships is critical to building successful community members and a strong community as well.
As for Buckeye, you really need to get your facts straight before posting. First year teachers in the RSU 40 district start at $29, 775. How many professions start out, after a bachelor's degree, below $30,000? Not many. Documentation: http://www.maine.nea.org/assets/document/ME/2010-11_Teacher_Salary_Sched...
Also, as for Wales having one of the highest tax rates in the state, with minimal searching I found that the tax rate for Wales in 2008 was 12.63 - the county average was 15.51 and the state average was 11.70. From these facts, I do not think that Wales is one of the highest; it looks right around average for the state of Maine. Documentation: http://maine.gov/revenue/propertytax/municipalservices/fullvaluerates.htm
I am wondering where you are getting your information. It sounds, Buckeye, that you would have benefited from a strong neighborhood school to teach you some research, grammar and reasoning skills during your education.
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Stop another tax hike in Wales
Wales all ready has one of the highest taxes in the state, most people do not earn what teachers make. If the small number of people who benefit from the school want to keep it open, then they should pay a tutiion fee to keep it open. It's bad enough that the rest of us have to pay to feed other people's children breakfest every school day. I can see why the teachers don't want to drive further to work, but the tax payer just can't afford another tax hike. Wales wants to build a new town hall cause Sabattus has one, we have to say NO at some point.
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Well...
There are lots of stuff I would like to have, but can't afford. It seems like you have the same problem.
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Well said!
Our children too are grown and also went to Wales Central. The school and faculty are what the children of Wales need. Please vote to keep Wales Central School open.
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