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558 N. Main St.,
Prineville, OR 97754
Phone: 541.447.6205 |
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| Recognition of local students lacking ... |
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Devin Lee, a senior at Crook County High School, offers an interesting but controversial viewpoint about the recognition of student achievement. We encourage your comments.
Bill Schaffer
Publisher |
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 | | Editorial cartoon by Ron Raasch | | |
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I sit in the gymnasium at Crook County High School disenchanted with the pep assembly. My peers stand up and scream at the top of their lungs excited that several of our fellow students are going to compete at the state-wrestling tournament. About this time I am wishing I could have my appendix removed through my nostrils without any anesthetic. I am tired of the one sided recognition in our school. It is acceptable to praise those who excel, but excellence in student achievement needs to be emphasized beyond the sports playing field. If students are not involved in wrestling, football, or NJROTC then nobody pays any attention to them.
Consider the thespian societies presentation of Camelot two years ago. They put on an impressive performance; it was flawless as far as high school drama is concerned. This group of young men and women put forth a massive amount of effort, earning a berth in the coveted state Drama Competition. The only recognition for all of the time they put into that play was a brief announcement the day they went to their competition.
That very same year the women's tennis team sent three young ladies to the state tournament, not a feat easily accomplished in the IMC. These young ladies went in as underdogs and beat the odds defeating some extremely fierce competitors. Once again they were denied the spotlight, which their achievements warranted. Instead they had a flashlight shined in their eyes for a split second yet again with an announcement. I am paraphrasing but the announcement basically went as follows. "Good luck at state girls. If you were involved in something worthwhile perhaps we would have thrown an assembly in your honor."
Other extracurricular activities are also deprived of recognition. When the Key Club sets out on a quest to collect food for the hungry how often are they recognized. When both the middle school and high school honor societies volunteer their time and effort at Santa's Workshop how often are they recognized? When two young people bring a national tobacco awareness day to Prineville, hoping to make people aware of the toxins they are introducing into their bodies, does anybody give them the time of day? Does anyone in the community care if a young lady wins a weightlifting championship? Do they care if a young man finally realizes his dream of seeing his name in print? The answer to all of these questions is a great big "hell no!" The community does not want to hear about the success of young people. They want to see as many stories on the failing football team and mediocre wrestling squad as they can.
The truth is that this community has no depth. They want to see two sports, period. I believe that if a young person from this community were to win a Nobel Prize, or some other prestigious award, it would go unnoticed unless it dealt with the laws of physics affecting the flight of a football as it strikes the wide receiver directly in the back of the head.
This town needs to open its eyes before it kills the creativity of its young, for that would be far more tragic than a zero and ten football season. |
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