Showing posts with label Bethesda-Chevy Chase Cluster. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bethesda-Chevy Chase Cluster. Show all posts
Sunday, October 6, 2019
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Putting the emphasis on the wrong syllable
Today's Washington Post reminded me of an old saying from my high school journalism teacher and faculty advisor at the Francis Lewis High School Patriot. I had him for three semesters. Lucky me.
He remarked frequently about folks putting the accent on the wrong syl-la-ble, emphasizing the "la". it was his way of saying you failed to capture what is important.
In this morning's Washington Post, Paul Farhi wrote about an incident at Bethesda Chevy Chase High School, where the school newspaper was pulled because of concern over an article about a reporter who did a story on drinking among high school kids. You can find the article here. Story from the Post? The reporter on the original series about underage drinking at the school raised a concern about a story in the school newspaper, and the principal pulled the student paper. Takeaway from the Post? A reporter's concern about a story triggered an act of censorship by the principal.
Hate to say it, Mr. Farhi, but you got the story wrong.
Responsibility for the action lies squarely with the principal, Karen Lockard, and not the reporter.
Why the principal?
The time to set the standards and review the print edition of the paper is prior to publication. Once a story is in print or online, calling it back is like putting a cloud in a box. Can't be done.
And, the story misses the point completely. The real issue and message that needs to be sent to the students concerns drinking and other illegal behaviors.
The meat of the story is underage drinking. It's wrong, and dangerous.
Pointing fingers at the reporter and the side story of her concern about the content of the student newspaper is tangential to the issue of student behaviors at BCC. Its blaming the messenger for delivering the message.
And what about the drinking and other undesirable behaviors at BCC? The problems remain.
Or, to quote Mr. Fredericks, faculty advisor to the Francis Lewis HS Patriot, you're putting the accent on the wrong syl-la-ble.
He remarked frequently about folks putting the accent on the wrong syl-la-ble, emphasizing the "la". it was his way of saying you failed to capture what is important.
In this morning's Washington Post, Paul Farhi wrote about an incident at Bethesda Chevy Chase High School, where the school newspaper was pulled because of concern over an article about a reporter who did a story on drinking among high school kids. You can find the article here. Story from the Post? The reporter on the original series about underage drinking at the school raised a concern about a story in the school newspaper, and the principal pulled the student paper. Takeaway from the Post? A reporter's concern about a story triggered an act of censorship by the principal.
Hate to say it, Mr. Farhi, but you got the story wrong.
Responsibility for the action lies squarely with the principal, Karen Lockard, and not the reporter.
Why the principal?
The time to set the standards and review the print edition of the paper is prior to publication. Once a story is in print or online, calling it back is like putting a cloud in a box. Can't be done.
And, the story misses the point completely. The real issue and message that needs to be sent to the students concerns drinking and other illegal behaviors.
The meat of the story is underage drinking. It's wrong, and dangerous.
Pointing fingers at the reporter and the side story of her concern about the content of the student newspaper is tangential to the issue of student behaviors at BCC. Its blaming the messenger for delivering the message.
And what about the drinking and other undesirable behaviors at BCC? The problems remain.
Or, to quote Mr. Fredericks, faculty advisor to the Francis Lewis HS Patriot, you're putting the accent on the wrong syl-la-ble.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Drink Wine. Benefit Bethesda-Chevy Chase HS Students
I was surprised to see the following advertisement in the Gazette Newspaper, page C-3, last week:
Sixth Annual Community Fundraiser Wine Tasting on March 8th!
The "College Tracks" program is described on the BCC Educational Foundation website as follows:
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I don't think it is right for a group using the name of a High School to have a Wine Tasting, and I question whether this is permissible under MCPS policy. If it is, maybe it is time for the policy to be reviewed.
Sixth Annual Community Fundraiser Wine Tasting on March 8th!
Sixth Annual Community Fundraiser for the Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School Educational Foundation honoring:
CollegeTracks, a B-CC HS Educational Foundation Signature Program, and its founders Cathie Goltz, Nancy Leopold and Nancy Zeller
“Wine Tasting: An International Sampling” with “heavy” hors d’oeuvres
Thursday, March 8, 2012, 7–9 pm Woman’s Club of Chevy Chase
7931 Connecticut Avenue, Chevy Chase, Maryland
RSVP by Sunday, March 4th Tickets: $50 per person (estimated ticket value $30)
The "College Tracks" program is described on the BCC Educational Foundation website as follows:
CollegeTracks helps B-CC students overcome the hurdles standing between them and college. A significant number of our students don’t know how to apply to college or get financial aid.
**********************
I don't think it is right for a group using the name of a High School to have a Wine Tasting, and I question whether this is permissible under MCPS policy. If it is, maybe it is time for the policy to be reviewed.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Guest Commentary on new middle school for BCC Cluster
Yesterday the board of education voted to create a new middle school in the Bethesda-Chevy Chase cluster--ostensibly to relieve overcrowding at Westland Middle School and to make those poor kids at North Chevy Chase Elementary School get the same level of education.
However, during the process the one school that was left out of the process was Rock Creek Forest Elementary (RCFES)--their concerns as voiced by Amanda Waugh (RCFES parent representative) at a recent Board meeting were not addressed. The board voted last night to create the new middle school without meeting with RCFES at all.
The real story seems not to be overcrowding, but that many Westland Middle School parents do not want the socioeconomic and racial diversity that RCFES brings with it.
Rock Creek Forest
African American: 18.2
Hispanic: 23.2
White: 52.9
North Chevy Chase
African American 12.9
Hispanic 9.6
White71.1
Somerset
African American: 5.8
Hispanic: 6.5
White: 74.0
Elizabeth Colson
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