This is something I sent out today, just wanted to share it with you guys.Hi Tom,
I would like to express my concern for the West Fargo High School newspaper publication 'The Packer.'
I am a 2006 graduate of West Fargo High School and spent four years on the the staff while in attendance. Upon graduation I have moved on to work at my collegiate newspaper 'The Dakota Student' at the University of North Dakota as the Editor in Chief, News Editor and Sports Editor. I also have been offered a job at my college website FightingSioux.com and I work at Leighton Broadcasting as an on-air radio DJ.
Currently, I am in Washington DC working as a press intern in what has been thus far my most rewarding experience.
During my short time since graduation I feel that I have been able to establish some semblance of a future career in the media and/or the communication field and that without my experience at WFHS 'The Packer' I would not of been able to feel as confident or determined to follow my dream job in the journalism field.
Almost daily I am reminded that journalism, especially print journalism, is a dying field and that I will be lucky to find a job in this field. It is almost draining how often I am told that I should switch careers or move into something else.
However, I have been able to remain somewhat optimistic because the world of journalism is evolving and, as a young professional journalist, I am passionate about what is next. I feel that this generation of students and this genre of writers will discover and develop the next stage of journalism and that stifling them at any level is what will kill the industry and the hearts of young writers.
I was able to go through four years at WFHS writing for 'The Packer,' during that time our staff was able to win state and I was and am still very proud of that accomplishment. I will however note that at times our writing was questioned, a particular story during my time made state wide news and we were also censored at various times, so controversy between 'The Packer' and the administration is not new. However, the administration worked with that particular advisor and at times we were forced to remove a story, but the advisor was not removed.
I am wondering what has occured in the past three years where this relationship of working together and finding compromises diminished and was instead replaced with a decision that would hurt the students and newspaper more than aid them.
It seems that right now the relationship is not one of communication and that there has been some sort of breakdown. Superintendent Dana D. Wallace, Principal Gary Clark, and Assistant Principal Karen Olson have taken a stance that they will not budge and will not give legitmate reasoining as to why they made the finite decision to remove Newspaper Advisor Jeremy Murphy. Understandably they have made their decision and will not change it, but the quote I read in the July 2, 2009 Forum article 'West Fargo teacher, students back student newspaper advisor' deeply concerns me.
“As board members, we don’t get involved with the daily grind and politics of what happens in each particular school, so we have to respect and support those (administrative) decisions,” Gentzkow said. “Administration and principals are hired to make tough decisions, and this is one of them.”
I understand that you have spent a considerable amount of time on the board and that you understand the intricacies of working on a school board, but I will note that if it is not your job to be interested in concerns being raised and complaints from students being uttered whose job is it?
Also, what is the point of the board if not to investigate what students and fellow teachers are considering an important issue in a particular school even if it is considered "the daily grind and politics in each particular school."
I respect this board and have been pleased with the actions and decisions that have been made in the past, but I will make plea to NOT undermine the opportunities that West Fargo has given to previous graduates like myself.
I know that without the unbiased and informative education that I received at West Fargo, along with the support I would not be still pursuing this career, nor would I be as passionate about the opportunities and innovation of the industry in front of me.
I appreciate your time and urge you to consider the students and teachers opinions at the July 13 meeting instead of simply following the administration and principals that are hired to make the tough decisions.
Sincerely,
Alison Kelly
West Fargo High School '06
