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Editorials
Why not a 'world class' school system? : Editorials : Oswego Ledger-Sentinel : Hometown Newspaper for Oswego and Montgomery, IllinoisWhy not a 'world class' school system?
| 1/31/2013
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Why shouldn't the Oswego School District schools be as good or even better than all the other public schools in Illinois?
As we reported last week, Oswego School District Superintendent Dr. Matthew Wendt would like the district to work towards a goal of becoming a "world class" school system.
Addressing volunteer members of the district's newly organized Citizens Advisory Teaching and Learning Committee during their first meeting, Wendt said of the district, "We want to be the best, so let's go find the best."
Responding to a committee member's question, Wendt said, being the best school district means more than just good test scores.
"They can be found by Googling the best high schools in the country. We should start by asking why we're not on the list. Are our kids just not capable? You can go online and look at the criteria. It's nothing we can't accomplish. We won't do it by next year, but I think it could happen by 2020," he said.
Wendt said the committee needs to find out why the district hasn't yet earned national recognitions for its academics like other area districts.
"There are awards and recognitions that are happening within 20 minutes of this building. It's time to ask why not us?" Wendt said.
Given the facilities and resources already available to the district and its more than 17,600 students, there is no reason why the district can't become known locally, regionally and even nationally for the quality of its schools.
The school district has enjoyed a favorable reputation for the past several decades. That positive reputation was likely a key factor in the homebuilding surge that took place in the 65 square mile district from the l990s through 2008 that caused enrollment to boom and the number of district schools to increase from six in 1996 to 21 for the current school year.
But while the district has grown over the past 20 years, from our vantage it seemed like the emphasis gradually shifted away from classroom achievement while administrators and school boards struggled to keep up with all the growth. At times, debates over school boundaries, a third high school and bus routes have seemed more important to all concerned than the district's math, science or history programs. Perhaps that couldn't have been helped. But that's why it's encouraging to see Wendt shifting the focus back to what is going on in the district's classrooms.
Going forward, we would remind all concerned that education begins at home and more parents must become actively involved in their children's education and in the district's schools if Wendt's goal of a 'world class' school system by 2020 is to be achieved.
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