Choosing Marshall over RTR
To the Editor:
This letter is a response to the last three sentences in a story in the Tyler Tribute Vol. 38 No. 35: "RTR School board discusses possible cuts from the state." The last three sentences of this article read: "Houck presented a letter he drafted to be sent out to families who have students open enrolled into other districts. The letters would inquire about why they decided to open enroll outside of the RTR district. School board member Bill Clark volunteered to call each of the families in addition to the letter."
My name is Doug Gladis and I am currently a junior at Marshall Public Schools and I would like to publicly inform everyone why I have open enrolled out of RTR Public Schools and into Marshall Public Schools. Marshall offers a greater amount of everything.
The first reason why I chose Marshall over RTR is that they have an enormous, brand new high school. The school has a better atmosphere with the larger hallways, the music that is played between classes, the new auditorium, better air quality, and they don't have any useless condemned parts of their school that they are too stubborn to demolish. The school smells just so clean and it is refreshing when you walk through the front doors. I have for the first time actually started looking forward to going to school. Also Marshall has a much larger student body, so every individual can find a place to fit in.
All of the Marshall teachers actually enjoy teaching and they are very direct about displaying their passion for teaching. They try their hardest to keep you on track for graduation and your future. Their prominent goal is getting to know their students, rather than assuming that you have the exact same personality and ability as your older siblings. They have a school security officer to ensure the safest possible environment. The administration respects the students' individuality and, therefore, the students regard their authority.
Marshall in addition has an endless list of classes to perfect your education. They also offer a greater amount of advanced classes for advanced students. Marshall has the most extra curricular activities for a school in the area. They support their fine arts program more equally with their sports program, rather than pumping all their money into sports and terminating academic programs.
A couple of my final reasons for transferring to Marshall are that they have a healthier selection of food at lunch. They also focus more on educating their students rather than solely teaching them what's going to be on the state tests. Finally one of the biggest advantages Marshall has over RTR is the block scheduling. Block scheduling has four classes a day for longer time periods instead of having seven short classes. Students can get more work accomplished during class resulting in less homework. Having four classes a day, a student is able to learn in depth about a subject rather than skimming the surface. This is a more efficient way of schooling because in a given school year a student can earn up to eight credits instead of seven.
In conclusion, this is my rationalistic reason for departure from RTR Schools.
Sincerely,
Douglas R. Gladis
Russell
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generallee
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02-25-10 8:35 PM
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Thank you anonymous commenter for your inputs on RTR High School. If only I knew who you were.
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KPSnare
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02-25-10 11:00 AM
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I personally am apart of RTR School as a student and canon the some of the teachers here are good yes, but some we only have for a year and then let them go. And these teachers are just out of teachers college. In the three years i've been here there have been three different math teachers for one class and three different guidance councelors. What does that tell people? That RTR doesn't have the money at all to have teachers for more than a year. Also look at our sports. Every year we pretty much get new jerseys. Now look at our academics extra curriculars. They are getting cut here and there. Now that shows where our money is going.
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URWURW
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02-22-10 5:05 PM
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Knight4Life, you are an embarrassment to high school kids. I think it's incredibly sad that your public school system has failed you so bad. Also your opinions ARE getting repetitive and old, thanks for giving us the OK to ignore you.
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generallee
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02-22-10 11:14 AM
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Knight4Life and your childish comments.
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Knight4Life
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02-21-10 3:10 AM
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You can talk about the RTR superintendent all you want. Have you ever met with him or had a sit down meeting discussing his job? I didn't think so. Maybe if you are so good at accessing how to be a superintendent and know what it takes.....DO THE JOB YOURSELF!!! And if my opinions are getting old for, don't pay any attention to them.
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farmkid
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02-20-10 2:10 AM
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Actually, if you could understand a different point of view, Knight4Life, you would know that we did not agree with the districts that hire a part-time superintendent. It's good for short term goals, but what good is that? Does the obvious have to be pointed out to you all the time? Were you born breech too? The only arguement I have ever heard FOR that individual, is that he is a good grant writer. Sorry, but a superintendent should be so much more than that. Also, it is known that grant money is often spent to create or enhance programs. Then what happens? If the money is not renewed (THINK about the current economy), either that program has to be reduced (or cut), or the money has to come out of the general fund. Grant money is not free money when one THINKS about it. This is getting old, so I am going to try to compromise with you Knight4Life. I can agree with you on the first four words of your second sentence. That's about it.
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Knight4Life
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02-19-10 11:47 PM
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Although I agree with you that it makes sense financially for schools to hire a superintedent part-time. I still don't think that they would be willing to sacrifice the quality of the person they are hiring for the job just for that reason. The man has really brought in a lot of grants too. He does a nice job.
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littleguy56289
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02-18-10 11:31 PM
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Farmkid, I'm with you on that other point, it's a shame that every school is so crunched for $$ that they'd forgo spending the extra $30 or $40K to get a full-time superintendent tending to business 52 weeks of the year. Schools generally spend $5 or $6 million a year (or more) so that little bit of $$ spent on a FT superintendent is chump change. Good leadership cost $$$$
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farmkid
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02-18-10 7:46 PM
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Cannon, don't you find that a little condescending? If people are being misled, then you must have no faith that they can have an opinion of their own? Worse yet, you supply your own thoughts to help put them on the right path! What makes your opinion any more valid than mine or the other posters here? Simply because yours is all daisies and buttercups? I did supply my own opinion, but never tried to impose my ideas over any others. Southwestern Minnesota is not all that big, people can read, and do remember news articles.
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URWURW
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02-18-10 7:30 PM
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Knight4Life, you are oblivious.
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URWURW
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02-18-10 7:30 PM
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Yes, Schwan's company is terrible for putting so much money into Marshall. We don't need that fancy school, the YMCA, the new downtown, or any of the parks and recreational areas!
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Stopspending
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02-18-10 3:17 PM
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Marshall would not have a new school or the "latest" of everything if it weren't for Schwans - who has subsidized the entire town of Marshall to try and attract employees to Marshall. RTR and other schools may not have "all of the latest things," but at least each of those small towns has taken a commitment and responsibility for their own.
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cannon
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02-18-10 1:25 PM
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I think you are all are being misled. I know of NO people who have moved on or any incompetant people he has recommended to run the buildings. The staff at the RTR schools are top notch!
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farmkid
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02-18-10 10:59 AM
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To answer your post more directly Knight4Life, the superintendent has been contracted out to so many districts because they are all in a financial crunch. It's very affordable to hire a part time superintendent to oversee a school, rather than a full time one. Why don't you ask Lake Benton as to the reasons why they decided not to renew a contract with him? :) What kind of "advantages" are there in hiring a part time superintendent rather than paying for a full time one (other than short term financial)? One who could spend some time building a future for a school rather than just running it on part time pay? There are only 24 hours in a day. How can one person be fully committed to all those schools?
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farmkid
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02-18-10 10:50 AM
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It's scary littleguy, but I am with you on child raising word for word. I love it when the kids share their thoughts with mom and dad, all the while knowing that we have the final say. Knight4Life, doesn't your own statement answer your question? If you hear how bad he is all the time, then you must hear the reasons why too, unless it's just kids griping. I would bet that the majority of the adults in the area will tell you about their disdain for that man. I'm not in their system, but even I know about the idiocy involved with fighting the lawsuit, the good people who have moved on rather than trying to work in a hostile environment, and the incompetant people he has recommended to run (ruin) the buildings. Another point would be the individual boards and their stupidity with monies prior to the consolidation. Not a chance in*****would I subject our kids to an environment like that. At least not without some major changes that nobody there seem ready to make.
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Knight4Life
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02-17-10 10:22 PM
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I hear complaining over RTR's superintendent all the time. If he is so terrible I'm wondering why so many districts have him employed. I don't know the guy but this is just an observation I have made.
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littleguy56289
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02-17-10 8:57 PM
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Farmkid, glad we have common ground. I figure, if you've never made your kid cry, you're not raising them correctly. (No, I don't condone physical or verbal abuse, either) But children have to know that they are never in charge! They can have input but in the end, a parent's decision is what goes. Finally, I do say - people have to eventually learn how to get along with those who they do not like, with bosses who they don't like, co-workers, etc.. Eight unemployed for every 1 job opening. The real world is cruel and rarely fair.
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farmkid
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02-17-10 6:15 PM
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Lynd is not consolidated with RTR. They're not even paired. They do share the cost of the superintendent, although when one adds up the costs of the grievances and lawsuits filed over the years, he isn't saving anyone much money at all. I do believe he may still be acting principal at an elementary school somewhere (Hendricks maybe). The only thing positive I hear, is that he's contracted out to so many districts, nobody has to put up with him much over the course of a week. It really doesn't pertain much to this conversation, but one should look at all the teachers and principals that have left these districts because of him.
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URWURW
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02-17-10 5:35 PM
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It makes me sleep at night knowing that your generation screwed up our generations future. It's not our fault we're just "children".
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Russell
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02-17-10 12:05 PM
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had while I was there. Also, the comments regarding the open enrollments numbers are correct, but remember that Lynd is now consolidated with RTR rather than Marshall. RTR has gained enrollment by this, although it would not be reflected in the open enrollment numbers. I commend Marshall for building their new High School and building a "future foundation" for education. I only hope that RTR can someday find the resources to do the same.
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Russell
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02-17-10 12:00 PM
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I attended Marshall High School for some time, then later open enrolled to RTR, so I certainly can give my opinion from experience. I will not bash Marshall Schools, although I did not enjoy my experience there. I found RTR High School to be an extremely positive experience. The teachers were very experienced, many of them employees of the school district for most of their lives. I found their sports teams to be very cohesive without the "politics" which I experienced at Marshall. I understand RTR probably has its political issues too, I didn't see any. I attribute a vast majority of my personal success in life to the Teachers, Coaches and other Staff at RTR, and to this day are still in contact with several of them regularly and grateful to them. I like the City of Marshall, I live here and pay taxes here (yes they are high) but it is my choice to live here, BUT I still send my kids to RTR School. Nothing against Marshall, just want my children to have the same experience I
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MyView
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02-17-10 9:40 AM
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It sounds like there's more than one kid open enrolling out of RTR, That alone should be telling RTR that something is wrong with there School or staff and they need to fix it.
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CoffeeAndPaper
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02-16-10 1:55 PM
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I makes me sleep well knowing our future will be in the hands of these kids. /s. God help us. As a former student and current parent of children in the Marshall school system I can say that Marshall teachers genuinely care for these kids and do the best to teach them well. I am certain this goes for RTR as well. To the teachers reading this, please know that some of us do appreciate your hard work. Don’t let these children, and yes, they are children, discourage you. Life will be a surprise to them.
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farmkid
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02-16-10 9:49 AM
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I agree with you littleguy, but we don't have to go back 100 years. Back in the 70's and before, many parents had it right, except that it was patriarchal. I think parenting in general really went downhill in the 80's and on. Much of today's technology is making things worse. Many parents have a casual relationship with their children because it is so easy to stay in touch. Some parents think they can be a friend and a parent. Ever try to discipline your friend? However, I'm wondering what does this have to do with open enrollment? The idea that one should just*****it up and learn to live with bullying, drugs, incompetance, etc. in one's school is just stupid, when there is a law that says we all have the right to the best education possible. I'm speaking in general here, not referring to Doug's case.
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littleguy56289
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02-15-10 10:19 PM
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Farmkid, the world would be a much better place if we taught our kids how to*****IT UP and keep the whining to a bare minimum. I wish we could raise our children like we did 100 years ago. They'd know what it means to respect authority, more than just lip service.
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