Valley Board Recognizes Retiring Members
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Kathy [email protected]
Likening schools to a chapter in Deuteronomy which spoke of Moses teaching the Ten Commandments, he said, “Everyone here is a teacher. Sometimes what we teach is good, sometimes bad, and we need to be aware of this. Children are always learning. When we come in contact with them, wherever they are, we can teach them.”
Later, a few high school students and a member of the community spoke out against a history book used at Tippecanoe Valley High School, called “World History.”
Presenting a petition to look into the matter, freshman Dawson Honeycutt told board members that his history book presents information on Islam in an unequal proportion to information on other religions. At the heart of the matter is the chapter that presents not only historical data on Islam, but two passages from the Koran and the Five Pillars of Islam, he said. When asked if other religions are mentioned, he acknowledged that they are referenced in other areas of the textbook, but not as much as Islam. He said that some people in Florida, whose schools used the same book, were very angry about this.
When asked if he had discussed his concern with his principal, he answered yes, but he wanted the board to be aware of the issue. “It should be all religions or no religion,” he said.
Patron Lance Bailey said that he was aware of the matter and had discussed it with some church pastors. “They would like to be involved with textbook selection,” he said.
The corporation will soon be researching and choosing new textbooks, trustees said. The board was agreeable to this.
Trustee Rod Eaton asked about the context in which the information was presented. “How is it brought up,” he asked, adding that he wants students to be aware of other cultures.
There are also state standards which must be met, added Wise, but Bailey asked, “Where do we draw the line? If we as a community, if we don’t agree with standards, should we put our foot down?”
Freshman Jerry Hendrix told the board that the problem is with more than just the textbook. He said assignments go farther than the books. Students are instructed to research material on other religions, but “Christianity is a one-page thing,” he said.
Middle school principal Scott Backus explained that seventh grade history includes the teaching of major world religions, and students will be tested on it in state assessments. “It’s been in the books the 17 years I’ve been here,” he said, adding that the material is not trying to influence. It’s an overall survey of world cultures. “I’m just telling you what the standards are,” he said.
The board agreed to look into the matter.
Good news came in the form of recognition to students and teachers on awards and grants. Senior Raymond Jarvis has been nominated as a U.S. Presidential Scholar, the board learned. Jarvis, who is first in his class, works half days in the high school’s technology department in computer maintenance. He also works part time at Menards.
He said he’ll find out in a few months if he makes the final cut. Award winners receive a trip to Washington, D.C.
High school students Katie Gunter and Austin Nickerson and teacher Scott Smith presented information on their West Point/Indianapolis Leadership Conference experiences. Gunter said four West Point Cadets led the students in exercises that examined values in their community and at school, and means to implement those values. Austin said he enjoyed being able to ask the program leaders questions students might not ask teachers.
The board also heard a report by Work One representative Sandy Rivers and the career center’s Stephanie Anglin on a joint program at the high school.
The meeting concluded with the presentation of plaques of appreciation to retiring board members Wise and Eaton. Both said they have enjoyed their years serving the school community, Eaton saying, “Without my wife, I wouldn’t have been able to do these things.”
Wise concluded, “It’s been a pleasure.”
In other business, the board:
• Awarded Nikki Rutherford, head cook at Mentone Elementary, the TVSC Pillar Award for Outstanding Support Staff.
• Approved vacating unimproved public way, and the hiring of an appraiser to determine the value of the vacated property for sale.
• Set 7 p.m. Jan. 13 at Akron Elementary and 7 p.m. Jan. 15 at Mentone as the dates for meetings about the proposed Akron building project.
• Approved overnight trips for the high school wrestling team.
• Approved adoption of archery and hunter educations programs at the high school.
• Approved adoption of a rainy day fund.
• Approved the hiring of Kristy Koch as instructional assistant, Akron Elementary; Gloria Baca, cook at AE; and Nikkole Greer, instructional assistant, Little Vikings Preschool.
• Accepted the resignation of Shelby Clevenger, instructional assistant, AE; Tori Quillen, instructional assistant, Little Vikings; Gloria Werner, special education teacher, TVHS; Miranda Figert, fifth grade girls basketball coach, AE; and Jennifer Ousley, cook at TVHS.
• Approved extension of maternity leave of absence for Rachel Haney, kindergarten teacher, Mentone Elementary; and maternity leave for Hayley Whitaker, reading interventionist, AE.
• Approved the assistant superintendent’s contract addendum.
• Approved the reappointment of Jill Gross and Honey Kuhn to the Bell Memorial Public Library Board.[[In-content Ad]]
Likening schools to a chapter in Deuteronomy which spoke of Moses teaching the Ten Commandments, he said, “Everyone here is a teacher. Sometimes what we teach is good, sometimes bad, and we need to be aware of this. Children are always learning. When we come in contact with them, wherever they are, we can teach them.”
Later, a few high school students and a member of the community spoke out against a history book used at Tippecanoe Valley High School, called “World History.”
Presenting a petition to look into the matter, freshman Dawson Honeycutt told board members that his history book presents information on Islam in an unequal proportion to information on other religions. At the heart of the matter is the chapter that presents not only historical data on Islam, but two passages from the Koran and the Five Pillars of Islam, he said. When asked if other religions are mentioned, he acknowledged that they are referenced in other areas of the textbook, but not as much as Islam. He said that some people in Florida, whose schools used the same book, were very angry about this.
When asked if he had discussed his concern with his principal, he answered yes, but he wanted the board to be aware of the issue. “It should be all religions or no religion,” he said.
Patron Lance Bailey said that he was aware of the matter and had discussed it with some church pastors. “They would like to be involved with textbook selection,” he said.
The corporation will soon be researching and choosing new textbooks, trustees said. The board was agreeable to this.
Trustee Rod Eaton asked about the context in which the information was presented. “How is it brought up,” he asked, adding that he wants students to be aware of other cultures.
There are also state standards which must be met, added Wise, but Bailey asked, “Where do we draw the line? If we as a community, if we don’t agree with standards, should we put our foot down?”
Freshman Jerry Hendrix told the board that the problem is with more than just the textbook. He said assignments go farther than the books. Students are instructed to research material on other religions, but “Christianity is a one-page thing,” he said.
Middle school principal Scott Backus explained that seventh grade history includes the teaching of major world religions, and students will be tested on it in state assessments. “It’s been in the books the 17 years I’ve been here,” he said, adding that the material is not trying to influence. It’s an overall survey of world cultures. “I’m just telling you what the standards are,” he said.
The board agreed to look into the matter.
Good news came in the form of recognition to students and teachers on awards and grants. Senior Raymond Jarvis has been nominated as a U.S. Presidential Scholar, the board learned. Jarvis, who is first in his class, works half days in the high school’s technology department in computer maintenance. He also works part time at Menards.
He said he’ll find out in a few months if he makes the final cut. Award winners receive a trip to Washington, D.C.
High school students Katie Gunter and Austin Nickerson and teacher Scott Smith presented information on their West Point/Indianapolis Leadership Conference experiences. Gunter said four West Point Cadets led the students in exercises that examined values in their community and at school, and means to implement those values. Austin said he enjoyed being able to ask the program leaders questions students might not ask teachers.
The board also heard a report by Work One representative Sandy Rivers and the career center’s Stephanie Anglin on a joint program at the high school.
The meeting concluded with the presentation of plaques of appreciation to retiring board members Wise and Eaton. Both said they have enjoyed their years serving the school community, Eaton saying, “Without my wife, I wouldn’t have been able to do these things.”
Wise concluded, “It’s been a pleasure.”
In other business, the board:
• Awarded Nikki Rutherford, head cook at Mentone Elementary, the TVSC Pillar Award for Outstanding Support Staff.
• Approved vacating unimproved public way, and the hiring of an appraiser to determine the value of the vacated property for sale.
• Set 7 p.m. Jan. 13 at Akron Elementary and 7 p.m. Jan. 15 at Mentone as the dates for meetings about the proposed Akron building project.
• Approved overnight trips for the high school wrestling team.
• Approved adoption of archery and hunter educations programs at the high school.
• Approved adoption of a rainy day fund.
• Approved the hiring of Kristy Koch as instructional assistant, Akron Elementary; Gloria Baca, cook at AE; and Nikkole Greer, instructional assistant, Little Vikings Preschool.
• Accepted the resignation of Shelby Clevenger, instructional assistant, AE; Tori Quillen, instructional assistant, Little Vikings; Gloria Werner, special education teacher, TVHS; Miranda Figert, fifth grade girls basketball coach, AE; and Jennifer Ousley, cook at TVHS.
• Approved extension of maternity leave of absence for Rachel Haney, kindergarten teacher, Mentone Elementary; and maternity leave for Hayley Whitaker, reading interventionist, AE.
• Approved the assistant superintendent’s contract addendum.
• Approved the reappointment of Jill Gross and Honey Kuhn to the Bell Memorial Public Library Board.[[In-content Ad]]
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