End empty rhetoric

In response to the Dec. 30 article about the “priority” schools, I feel that to say the Trenton principal’s response was drivel would be complimenting it.

Isn’t this the same Trenton Elementary School that built a million-dollar gymnasium yet couldn’t afford bookcases for its library, that sent only two musicians to an honors band festival in November and canceled its traditional spring concert last year? The school also combines athletic with academic recognition night and produces only a handful of students that make honor rolls in high school. It allows teachers to not give homework on game nights, because it would be too much for the “athletes,” and allows certain “athletes” to be excused from class so they can practice basketball.

I agree that the term “failing” is not an appropriate choice for the situation. When over 70 percent of the tested students fail academic standards in all subjects for over two years, I think “failing” is too kind an adjective. The principal stated that “we weren’t looking at performance indicators.” That’s the best she can do? At least the other priority schools seemed to have some strategy to improve their performances. If Trenton was as aggressive towards academics as it is towards athletics, maybe it wouldn’t be one of the 19 “priority schools needing improvement.”

Blaine Richards

Trenton