Salisbury High School (North Carolina) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Staci Morgan, Salisbury, N.C.
♦Once upon a time the public schools in Salisbury used to be decent–maybe 10 years ago. Today, putting it nicely, they are very poor performing as the state education benchmark READY report attests. Read the poor composite scores for the Salisbury public schools: http://www.rss.k12.nc.us/rssys/News/2011-12/12-13READYAccReportSummary.pdf
What accounts for the bad showing by Salisbury schools K-12? What is happening in our schools that was not happening 10 years ago?
• Many people, who were affluent or middle class and well-educated, moved out of Salisbury over the last 10 years. They left behind less educated and often impoverished families–many who are single parents. This is one of the main reasons for lower test scores on performance exams.
• Many children from impoverished homes do not have the benefit of books and reading materials in their homes. Many lack computers. This accounts for so many youngsters slipping through grade by grade with the inability to read and write or keep up with their peers.
• The drug culture has grown in the schools with children showing up high with some even “nodding” in their seats. Drugs like meth, crack, heroin, pills, and pot are said to be readily available and are often peddled by gangs and dealers in and near the schools. Sometimes drugs are stolen from drug addicted parents. Sadly, drug dogs, capable of sniffing out drugs, were abandoned several years ago because they were finding too many drugs. Perish the thought if word got out. Children can not learn when they are high. Drugged up children are often disruptive.
The school system needs to find answers for what is happening in the Salisbury Schools. They need to find answers for drugs and illiteracy. But the school system is not a miracle worker because they can’t stem urban flight. Years of the school system sticking their head in the sand and glossing over their difficulties won’t work anymore. People are slowly becoming aware.
The schools need to clean up their act.
