Gloria Larson: Shiny things can't teach students

 y neighbor went to the meeting at the high school regarding the Winona Area Public School referendum April 11. She had a conversation with the superintendent.

The school board is envisioning sliding glasshttps://anshlivevk.blogspot.com

doors to replace walls which would be used to partitionhttps://anshlivevk.blogspot.com classrooms into smaller areas and furniture with wheels for reconfiguring work spaces. This is to meet the individual needs of students. Rather than the entire class being taught the same way, students will engage in the learning mode that bhttps://anshlivevk.blogspot.comest suits them. The glass affords the teacher the ability to see all the students.

In theory, this sounds like a wonderful idea. In practice, however, I’m not sure it will produce the desired effects unless the district hires educational assistants to work in each partitioned area. There are no plans to hire any educational assistahttps://anshlivevk.blogspot.comnts as part of this referendum. And on any given day, how would anyone know how many educational assistants would be needed?

People are also reading…

• One killed, another severely injured and 1-year-old is unhurt in head-on crash Friday near Galesville
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• Cash bail set for 2 of 3 men accused of yelling death threats and foul language at La Crosse elementary students on a playground
• La Crosse man charged with exposing jailer to dangerous drug, requiring use of Narcan

Although one could argue that students working without an adult present would learn responsibility, again, I think that may be wishful thinking. There is also the noise issue. Students today have a difficult enough time staying focused. Our students do have the right to modern, attractive schools, but I don’t think that’s the most important thing. It’s probably not going to cause a student to read at grade level.

Bright, shiny new things can never take the place of human interaction and connection. AmeriCorps hires people to be math and reading tutors for the elementary schools. What about creating a volunteer program, possibly for retired persons, to tutor in all the schools? I would certainly volunteer.

Gloria Larson