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Student prefers education system in Fairview

Published on Tuesday, June 24, 2008 3:14 PM MDT

I must say to Dexter Thiel who spoke of the (Sidney) school board recently that I am very shocked at what he said. For a while I thought I was the only one who thought that.

It always seemed like a popularity contest over there with the teachers to the students. Trying to be the coolest teacher and not facing the facts that teaching is what they are paid to do.

I don’t mean to sound harsh or anything like that, and I hate to criticize. And if they would teach better with a higher salary then I would also spent the money from the oil revenue on that.

But I felt personally like I’ve learned a lot more over at Fairview Schools in one semester than I would in Sidney for two years. But thank you Dexter for finally saying what so many have probably only thought.

Ryan Mocko

Fairview

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Comments

The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of the Sidney Herald.

Teacher in MT wrote on Jul 9, 2008 9:17 AM:

" Excuse me hmmmm, but not all teachers are in education for the money!! I am a teacher in the wonderful state of MT and often think about the attractions of else where, but stay HOME IN MT because this is the land I love and where I want to raise my family! A better paycheck would be nice but that is not all it is about!
I do not teach in Fairview nor Sidney, but did attend and graduate from Sidney schools. Therefore, I do know the quality education that I was offered in Sidney. OFFERED because you cannot make a person learn, or want to learn. This my friend should come from somewhere else, HOME!
Parents really need to take responsiblity for their children, and therefore the actions of their children. Educators are with children for a large portion of the day, but parents still have a huge impact on YOUR child's life! As for a saying, which I think you will like, I think of "There is no such thing as a bad child....just bad parents!"
If something so terrible is going on at the schools in either town, I am sure the door is open for you to come in observe, and THEN speak about it! "

hmmm wrote on Jul 8, 2008 11:33 PM:

" I suppose that the "quality" that we receive in education derives from rural teachers' paltry salaries. There isn't anything to attract quality graduates to an area with low pay along with limited access to other areas/attractions/etc. The cliche "you get what you pay for" comes to mind as well. "

eagle alumni wrote on Jul 7, 2008 4:56 PM:

" Sidney is very lucky to have the teachers that is has, especially considering the pay scale in MT. As far as Fairview having a better school than Sidney, I think you should take a look at test scores and history before you say that. Fairview has students in the 4th grade that don't know how to use rulers and can't spell simple words; let me just say my Husband is a Fairview school alumni and we had the choice of buying a house in Fairview and buying a house in Sidney, and my husband said that his kids will not go to school in Fairview, so we bought the house in Sidney. He also said he didn't really want his kids growing up in Fairview. I am sure people can say the same things about Sidney, but for the most part; I think people who respected rules and teachers, loved going to Sidney schools.
Kids today have no respect for teachers or for school rules, they think that they should be allowed to wear what they want, talk on their phones when they want and speak however they want. I had a young man serve me at Taco Johns last fall and he dropped the f-bomb three times in front of me...all kids in Sidney and Fairview need to learn respect! "

just a guy with a thought wrote on Jul 5, 2008 12:45 AM:

" you know i live in fairview but seems to me we have pretty good schools in Fairview and Sidney and surrounding areas and yes every teacher out there should have better wages since they are the lowest paid teachers in all the states / But i dont know about the rest of you i pretty happy that I dont have to worry if my kids will be shot in school you should all be happy for our community schools in our area "

knows better wrote on Jul 4, 2008 1:52 AM:

" wow... you people seem to pick apart the pieces dont you? Now let me straighten it out for you... the moral of the story is that teachers can get away with breaking the rules which give students a very wrong message. That is what the point was. the teacher was walking his dog with his wife around the track. Breaking a rule just like the teacher. It was after school. Around 6 or 7ish if you need a specific time. Anyways, this is just what I expected really. Overlooking the teachers fault with the students... the student told the teacher to take his dog off the track the same time the student left. The man kept walking his dog as if nothing was said. Do you get any of this?? at all?? If not than wow, you probably shouldn't have kids, because the message I got from you would be a horrible thing to teach to your children. "

Think wrote on Jul 2, 2008 12:32 PM:

" Thank you to " To Knows Better" and "James Monroe" you said it wonderfully! It is about time that the parents are called about to take action for their children! It is called respecting your elders, respecting your teachers, and following the rules. If I found out my child had disrespecting a teacher like that I would hope there would be repercusions to their actions! I would also take care of it on my end with a follow through! How are educators suppose to do their job with out the suppose from home?
Besides, parents and community members alike such not spend so much time with negative thoughts like this and be proud of the fine education that their students are getting in the Sidney schools! If parents really cared so much about their students this is what would matter to them.
Was anyone hurt by the skateboarding sitution? Was the kid not able to learn because of it? Oh, poor little boy, how horrible his life must be because he did not follow the rules and had to face the facts! (please hear my sarcasim with that statement!) Schools are for learning!
Sounds to me like an issue with one certain teacher and therefore all teachers are getting grouped into your mess of rudeness. "

Wondering wrote on Jul 2, 2008 12:21 PM:

" Wow is all I have to say to "Wonder no longer" I asked a simple question that did not need a rude answer. Have you ever heard the saying "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all!" "

Ken wrote on Jul 2, 2008 11:46 AM:

" once again this puts the school system in the spot light....It really seems as though they need to figure something out, since aparently Sullivan isnt getting enough money as is to be an administrator, and is always looking for more, while the teachers sit basically capped out at what they get, personally it is a load of crap "

To Knows Better wrote on Jul 2, 2008 8:48 AM:

" Perhaps if the kid would have followed the rules in the first place the altercation would have never happened. The teacher my have been walking his dog by the field when he saw the kid and approached him then. Sounds to me like the kid was trying to push the teachers buttons by going on the track with his skate board and looking for the confrontation. That's the problem with kids these days! Their parents don't teach them to respect anyone! "

James Monroe wrote on Jul 2, 2008 8:15 AM:

" People do need to be more accountable for thier actions. They are far to fast to point a finger. Knows better does not know better. Two wrongs don't make it right. Will you be an idiot because your nieghbor choose to become an idiot or will you help them do what's right. Do you even know what is right? That incident with skateboarder on the bleachers is BS. Children need to be respectfull to the rules and thier elders. Children can not make judgement calls like that. If that had been my child his skateboarding days would be done with for a very long time. "

knows better wrote on Jul 1, 2008 8:52 PM:

" Yeah sure the teachers are just wonderful (no name). I have witnesses first hand teachers in Sidney act like "5 year olds" Once upon a time, back when the new bleachers were built. A young man was skateboarding on those bleachers. Sure they are not meant for skateboarding on but he wasnt hurting anything. Ateacher approached him and told him that anything with wheels was not allowed in that area. Understanding the problem, the student left. Walking down the sidewalk he noticed a sign that said the rules of the track and football field which did include the no wheels rule, along with a rule stating no pets. That seemed a little odd, since the teacher had a pet with him. So the boy felt that if a teacher could break the rules, he could too. So he went back onto the track and began skating again. Not even a minute later the teacher walked so close to him that he couldnt even take a step forward and started yelling at the boy to follow the rules and leave the track. The boy replied with an agreement saying that he would leave as soon as his dog would. There wasn't a chance the teacher would make that agreement and so the boy finally got fed up and left. The next morning the student was called into the principal's office and there also sat the teacher. The principal had made the boy appologize to the teacher for his rude actions and for not following the rules. But as soon as the boy began to speak at his defense, the teacher denied ever having a dog on the track. So please tell me how the teachers in Sidney can be so 'wonderful' when they pull these childish stunts. "

Sid Resident wrote on Jun 29, 2008 9:14 AM:

" I have yet to see any evidence that support the complaints that I have read about the Sidney school system. From what I can gather it's just people complaining for the sake of complaining. My own experiences in the school system and the experiences of my own children in the Sidney school system bare no reflection of peoples complaints in any way shape or form. One thing that I have observed is that people are getting away from being self reliant, accountable and acting in a mature manner in other words "just like a five year old". "

Wonder No Longer wrote on Jun 26, 2008 10:20 PM:

" Yea, its called "read the paper". Back page, first section! "

wrote on Jun 26, 2008 9:02 AM:

" I think it is best to say that you need to stay in Fairview because it is so much better "way over there". I know for a fact that the teachers in Sidney are wonderful and if you can see that it is a good thing you left! "

Mel wrote on Jun 26, 2008 7:55 AM:

" Wondering~It was in a previous article about a school board meeting about a week ago. "

Fairview Mom wrote on Jun 26, 2008 12:14 AM:

" Well said, Ryan Mocko.
Having had to deal with the Sidney school system with my kids, I have to agree with you. At least in Fairview the kids don't have to worry about being beat up as they leave the school and the school board and teachers at least seem to really care about the kids and their needs.
As for Mr. Thiel, his comments were in the paper about a week ago, I think.
But Mr. Theil needs to realize that music never has been and never will be as important in the school as sports. I have yet to figure out why! If given the choise of where to spend money, music comes in a distant last everytime. "

Wondering wrote on Jun 25, 2008 10:45 AM:

" I am not sure to what Mr. Theil said to have these comments made. Is there a way to find this out? "

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