State gets failing grade
Dear editor:
What this article (July 14) fails to identify is that the preponderance of students come from areas where there are no vocational training centers within a reasonable distance from their homes.
ACTI provided these students with not only a residential facility that provided housing, but medical, dental and vision care. Some of these students were provided the very first true three-course meals that did not come in a microwavable container. They were provided with counseling services to help them deal with their particular disabilities. For the first time in their lives, these students were not outside the norm. They were surrounded by peers who were considered "different" in their home community. For once in their lives, they were part of groups that could get together, laugh and enjoy the same things. They were, for once in their lives, "normal;" they were popular. They were part of a community that did not look down on them. For once in their lives, they were "cool."
They were not sequestered, they were free to come and go into the community. However, the community failed them. It was outside of the school where once again they were considered, "different."
Were there students who were sent back because of behavior issues? Yes! But only after many, many, many opportunities were provided to correct behavior problems. Only those whose behavior was found to be a threat to others were sent back.
This article is a disservice to all those who were charged with the care and education of these students. It is also a disservice to all those students who are now going to be deprived of an opportunity to seek vocational training.
I wonder how the state plans on busing those students to and from any available vocational training centers in the state. Where they are going to be able to provide an opportunity for these students to receive an opportunity to acquire social skills where they are accepted?
The state of Arkansas and the administration of ACTI have failed those with disabilities with the closing of ACTI. Instead of closing, they should have provided better state leadership, more programs.
Some of these students competed in national and international programs like HOSA, SKILLS USA. They won awards competing against other students from more "conventional" institutions and schools. One of my students placed second in HOSA international competition. Something this article demeans.
I am interested in knowing how the state is going to provide programs like culinary arts, auto collision repair, pharmacy tech, to those areas of the state that are not close to vocational training centers.
Congratulations Arkansas, once again you have proven that the needs of the few are inconsequential to the needs of the political.
Darrell Dunn
Hot Springs
Much ado about nothing
Dear editor:
I guess a little PR doesn't hurt when you are embroiled in controversy.
It's too bad that the administration of the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts had to ruin the credibility of the school to do so.
In Monday's paper (July 8), you ran a press release from ASMSA Director Corey Alderdice claiming that ASMSA was being "recognized" for the distinction of being an "elite school." While actually ASMSA and other specialty-type public schools were actually omitted from the rankings because it was unfair to compare them to regular neighborhood schools.
"The Challenge Index list is designed to recognize schools that challenge average students. The top-performing public charter and magnet schools ... were excluded from the Challenge Index because, despite their exceptional quality, their standardized test scores indicate they have few or no average students," said creator of the index Jay Mathews on his website.
We all know that ASMSA draws the better-performing students in the state of Arkansas and so does Mr. Mathews. That is the reason why he believed it was not fair to include ASMSA with other schools in the state of Arkansas.
Since ASMSA is not ranked by The Challenge Index it is difficult to tell if ASMSA is a better performing school than Lakeside or Fountain Lake high schools which do have a ranking in The Challenge Index.
ASMSA administration has received its fair share of criticism lately. It's too bad that the ASMSA administration has had to resort to spinning a newspaper to try to gain credibility rather than just providing a high-quality, safe and fair public school.
In my opinion, the article was about nothing.
Reggie Cowan
Hot Springs
Editorial on 07/17/2019