Community Corner
Grayslake Resident: 'There is Good News, There is Hope' in Education System
A letter to the editor praising the students of Grayslake Central High School.
It seems that education rarely makes the news unless something has gone awry. The pension debacle in Illinois has legislators, educators and taxpayers up in arms. Illinois report cards have, once again, shined a spotlight on the inequities of the system, while districts struggle with much maligned referendums. Stories of under aged drinking, increased drug use, and bullying do not improve an often unflattering stereotype of high school students. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, in light of the joyous holiday season and looming New Year, I offer good news: there is hope.
A group of Grayslake Central High School students and their teachers recently provided more than a glimpse of hope for the future of education and our community. The group took a field trip to the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center in Skokie in conjunction with a unit on The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak. This may not appear to be an earth shattering act of promise, yet there are so many aspects of this event that invite optimism.
The young educators who created the unit were empowered to teach far beyond a test, layering connections and piquing the interest of a generation that is often dismissed as unable to focus beyond the 140 characters of a tweet or the Snap chat that vanished within seconds. The magnitude of the work and the field trip was evidenced in the students’ behavior at the museum.
Find out what's happening in Grayslakefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Principals rarely receive feedback the day after a field trip unless it is in the form of a complaint. John Bolger was pleasantly surprised by the missive sent by the Education Coordinator of the museum, Matthew Sackel. He said that this was the first email “like this” he had ever sent but, “good things deserve recognition.” He was impressed by the organization and guidance provided by the teachers and the respect, attitude, and engagement of the students. Mr. Sackel stated that out of the over 2000 student groups he has seen in four years, the Grayslake students were “the nicest bunch of kids ever.”
Nice doesn’t automatically equal high test scores. Relatable book units and field trips don’t always guarantee great teaching. But this seemingly small kudos from an objective source outside of the Grayslake community speaks volumes. This recognition is louder than the negativity that often surrounds education. It says, loudly and clearly, that this school is dedicated to the academic and character development of the student body; that the students are learning, growing, and behaving in a way that should leave us feeling grateful. As we enter the season of giving and look toward the New Year, I am optimistic because of the gifts already being offered by the teachers and students at Grayslake Central. In spite of what we often read, there is good news; there is hope.—Submitted by Nora Bowers, Grayslake resident.
Find out what's happening in Grayslakefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
