Q&A with Crystal Booker of 107.3
Crystal Booker, Film Critic Magic 107.3
NEW DIRECTION OF KC SCHOOLS HAS EVERYBODY ON EDGE, MassAppealNews.com
KANSAS CITY – The landscape of education within the Kansas City Metropolitan Area is experiencing a major shakeup as Superintendent John Covington and school board members have elected to close an unprecedented 29 out of 61 schools. It should be noted; the closings are a byproduct of a nasty budget shortfall – somewhere in the excess of $50 million. Nevertheless, the closings figure to create unpopular mergers, much larger classroom sizes, less teachers and increased responsibility for those educators fortunate enough to keep their jobs.
Recently, Crystal “CB” Booker of Magic 107.3 took time to chat with Mass Appeal Editor Wayne Hodges about her concerns regarding the new, and perhaps precarious, direction of the Kansas City School District. Crystal, mother of 2 children, made a recent television appearance on KCTV 5 to express her displeasure with the Hickman Mills merger. To watch the video, please click here. Crystal’s Q&A interview with Hodges went as follows.
HODGES: Crystal, I must begin by commending you for a job well done during your recent television interview with KCTV 5. I enjoyed the way you spoke out for education and the young people in particular. Can you describe for the readers your purpose for appearing on the network?
CB: My purpose for appearing on KCTV5 was to make it known that, as a concerned parent in the Hickman Mills School District, I am not happy with the changes that have been made. The merging of rival schools is not a wise move. The safety of the kids is at stake. These kids are out of control. They have no regard for human life. The new principal of Smith Hale Middle School is trying to “sugarcoat” things like it is all sunshine and roses. I wanted people to know what it really is. And that I do not agree with the changes. They basically ignored our concerns and did what they wanted to do.
HODGES: Obviously, the school closings in Kansas City, Mo has everybody on edge. In addition to that, what other issues do you find pertinent within the school district? It seems like there’s always something jumping off.
CB: I think the educators must find a way to teach these kids. I think a restructure of the curriculum, and a restructure of the faculty, are both greatly needed.
Superintendent John Covington addresses parents and teachers
HODGES: As mentioned before, Superintendent John Covington and school board members have elected to shut down an unprecedented 29 out of 61 schools. In your opinion, is this the solution to providing better education? Or, should administrators consider alternative methods to slice the budget deficit?
CB: I feel that if the buildings aren’t sound, they do need to go. I also believe that recruiting better, more compassionate, teachers will help solve the problem. Our educators should take a hard look at other successful school districts and study their techniques.
HODGES: Crystal, so much is made of how poorly our teachers are performing in the classroom. Is that fair? As a community, should we hold more parents accountable for the educational shortcomings of our students? It seems everybody is placing the lion’s share of blame on the doorstep of our teachers and educators?
CB: That’s a tough question because I believe the time has come to stop placing blame. Instead, we must learn to work together to solve these problems. Our kids are counting on us. I do fault the teachers for failing to teach because that’s what they’re paid to do. If they don’t do their jobs then the children will suffer and that’s not fair. A child can’t learn if he or she is not being taught. I agree, parents should be held accountable. But times are much different now. Today, parents are much younger and most of them have no clue how to raise children. This is why the schools need to be more involved with their students.
HODGES: And finally, as parents, what can we do to help weather this storm during the transitional phase? As I said, these closings are totally unprecedented.
CB: As parents we must lead by example and show our children we are the adults. We must prove to them that they are our focus and never let them give up on themselves, because we will not give up on them. We must preserve our future and our children are the future.
*** To view this story on KCTV 5, please click here ***
Crystal Booker, a distinguished member of the Kansas City Film Critic’s Circle, is the movie critic of Kansas City’s Magic 107.3 FM. She is also a contributing writer to I Love Black Movies.com. To view her movie reviews, click here. For the latest reports, check out “Crystal on the Scene.” She welcomes both your questions and comments at crystalb@crystalsbonusandreviews.com
For more on school budget cuts, please click the play arrow.
May 26th, 2010 at 8:03 am
It is really a damn shame what they are doing to education. These “BIG SHOT” school administrators are paid big bucks to educate our kids and they are doing the exact opposite. Is there a logical mind out there somewhere????
May 26th, 2010 at 9:09 am
the answer to your question Barkley is “hell no.” logic and common sense is lacking at the board of education. they can close all the schools they want but until these parents are held accountable for screwing up our kids lives nothing is going to change. Crystal makes a good point in her TV interview about merging rival schools. who is the genius responsible for this? i guess the school board wont be happy until the students beat each others brains out. or until somebody sues the pants off their asses.
May 26th, 2010 at 3:12 pm
I am a little concerned too about mixing the students together. This could be very dangerous. They need to do something about that.
May 28th, 2010 at 3:50 pm
way to touch up on the topic of education. i still think its f***ed up what they doin in the school district. these kids have it hard enough. now they bout to shut down every school in KC – damn whats next
June 24th, 2010 at 5:56 am
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great advice and discussing,I will get this fantastic for me .thank you!…