Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Editor, Times-Union:
Save our School, our Claypool Elementary School, is the plea of this letter. Just because our school is the “runt” of the Warsaw Community School system does not mean that our children do not deserve to receive their educations near their homes. Southern Kosciusko County is a family worth fighting for.
I am a 22-year educator for both public and private schools. I am a product of Silver Lake Elementary, which means a product of a 45-minute bus ride (which is straight line 15-20 minutes) to Warsaw and I rode morning and afternoon, which made up 1-1/2 hours of my day. Every day. A daunting commute even for an adult, correct?
I am a proud member of Claypool United Methodist Church and Claypool PTO, both of which are highly involved in supporting the Claypool Elementary. My grandchildren attend the school and their learning experiences, teachers, and staff are top notch. Our facility is beautiful, inviting, and ready to welcome future Knights.
Redraw the lines. Redistrict the schools if that is the problem. Work with our community. Warsaw, we are part of YOUR family — we help each other - no family member left behind. Do not bus our children to Warsaw only to overcrowd the schools, then tell our taxpayers you need to build a brand new bigger school. History, if not understood, will repeat itself.
Our kids are thriving. In many studies, smaller schools have greater emotional intelligence (E.I.), which means they have the capacity to be aware of, control, and express one’s emotions, to handle interpersonal relationships … i.e. It is the key to personal and professional success in life.
Remember, “runts” have unique developments and social advantages. If extra care is given to “runts”, they catch up. They thrive. They are loyal. They form strong bonds and are resilient. They may be little, but they are mighty. Everyone has heard of David vs. Goliath, and who usually wins, but maybe this time we can recall that we are all Hoosiers and sometimes the “littles” can triumph.
Don’t kill the “runt” of the litter because it’s convenient for you (not for us). Save our school. We can’t do everything, but we can all do something. Speak up for “the least of these” who have no voice. It is your right and your privilege to make a difference in your corner of the world.
Join us Thursday, November 12, at 7 p.m. for the Silver Lake Town Meeting (voting site). Join us Monday, November 16 at 7 p.m. School Board meeting at the Central Office, Warsaw. Join us Tuesday, November 17 at 7 p.m. for Claypool Town Meeting at the Lion’s Club.
Kari Airgood
Claypool, via email
