It is a sad commentary on the foresight of our Bristol Va. School Board that it has voted to discontinue the International Baccalaureate program at the high school. The parents of the current IB students and of the upcoming students who would benefit from the program should rise up in protest.
Business leaders should also be very concerned about the elimination of the IB program, because it is a good recruiting tool for future employees, to know that the program is here for their children.
I wonder if the school system has even tried to obtain grants from foundations which often make grants to educational programs, especially in areas like ours that have a low rate of young people enrolling in colleges.
If the parents of the IB students would consider their savings in college fees, because of credit for lower level classes that their students receive, maybe they could, among themselves, raise what the system says it will save in the first year (which is doubtful anyway) and thereby save the program until the economy picks back up. And speaking of the shaky economy – this is the very time when students need more education, to assure themselves of a good job. Even students who may not plan to go to college would benefit from having several IB classes or diploma on their record. A prospective employer would look at that extra effort very favorably.
The school board, and the teachers, should be willing to do whatever it takes to retain this program. If it means not doing some planned painting, holding the line on coaching supplements, cutting back on overtime or doubling up on some non-mandated jobs, that should be done for the good of the future of the students and our community.
Anne Corley
Bristol, Va.
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