Comments on: Why only Sumner Academy?

By: Barry Jackson

Barry Jackson — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 17:41:28 +0000

Wayne,
When spoke out 2 weeks ago about the closing of half the KCMSD schools being a political decision,what I was referring to was that I have reason to believe that what the KCMSD is experiencing is more than just an economic decision,I think this is an effort on the part of conservatives to shove “School Choice” done the throat of inner city districts around the country.
These legislators from rural districts are tired of seeing the money figures that go to districts like Kansas City and St.Louis,and since they don’t want to educate Black and Latino children,they just use the ol’ George Bush tactic;de-fund or underfund the programs and systems they don’t like and say there’s not enough money,then find ways to give those education dollars to schools run by churches and their political friends. That way they can also get around any regulations enforced by the U.S. Department of Education and eventually justify dismantling that federal agency.
It’s up to us to scutinize the actions of these Klansmen in three-piece suits,since they spent more time bad-mouthing the KCMSD and no time at all coming up with constructive ways to improve the education for our children.
Barry Jackson

By: Ronald

Ronald — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 16:00:43 +0000

My sister is a graduate of Sumner ’87. I’ve somewhat lost touch with my school Washington (’83), but I can say that Washington “used” to be an outstanding high school. The numbers from my graduating class would compete with any across the nation and the collegiate degrees and professional careers that followed would rival any in KCK. Just a perspective. I wish the best for USD #500. It was a great public school system once upon a time.

By: K. Barkley

K. Barkley — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 15:40:51 +0000

“why sumner” because the district is only interested in making blacks a permanent underclass. there is your answer.

By: Teri

Teri — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 19:31:19 +0000

Wayne,
I taught in the K.C.K. school district from 67 to 80, and part of that time, I was assigned to the same school as Gloria Willis in Argentine.

I think for kids to succeed, parents are the number one support. If they don’t have that, there will not be success. For kids to attend Sumner, they must take a test. They have to be willing to leave their friends to go to another school. They have to be willing to try hard. So many kids do not have parents who are even interested in getting them to the test site. They don’t talk up the importance of getting good grades or going to an accelerated school. The parents have to put themselves out as much as the kids do if they want something better for their kids.

Seems like everyone wants to blame the teachers, but teachers can do only so much. Parents are first teachers and are most accountable. at least in my opinion.

Teri

By: Teri

Teri — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 15:05:58 +0000

Your question is, why can’t the other Wy. Co. high schools do as well as Sumner. I believe it is because Sumner only takes the best and brightest students. They also pull from the Catholic grade schools. I would think class sizes would be smaller than other high schools, and I would think, there is probably lots of parental involvement at Sumner.

By: PRIME MINISTER

PRIME MINISTER — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 19:22:50 +0000

hodges great article and i agree with the question “why only sumner academy?” when will the parents get off they ass and start making the school board responsible for creating fair and equal education???? sumner is located in the ghetto and the students are still the best in the state. what does this say for the other schools????? it tells me people are using low test scores as cop-outs. sumner is #1 and the rest of the schools are horrible. somethin aint right in KCK

By: Ms. S

Ms. S — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 19:06:36 +0000

That’s awesome! Still can’t live in The Dot but that is quite impressive nonetheless!

By: Marlow

Marlow — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 19:01:10 +0000

I went to Sumner Academy!!! Go Sabres! Discipline and focus-that’s how we learn.

By: JD

JD — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 19:00:11 +0000

Honestly, I’ve never been the smartest person in the books, but I know that I could’ve done well at Sumner. Basically they have a group of kids that want to be there and don’t want drama at school. They are not the smartest, and they are not without issues, but these are kids that decided I want to graduate high school and I’m going to work in class to do it. My son got a 3.07 this year (at Sumner) and he didn’t work hard till the last semester of school. I rarely seen him study, and when he did it was no longer than 10-20 mins once a week.

The high rankings come from the IB (or International Business) program that they make Jr’s and Sr’s do. They have to have taken and passed at least 2 IB courses in order to graduate. But some students decide to go full IB, that means every class is a college prep style class. The class work is hard, gruesome, and literally drive some kids crazy. But they do very well in those classes and that’s what the school ranking is on.

But if you actually go in the school the kids are pretty much mild manored, half the time they don’t even lock their lockers because it’s rare anyone steals out of a locker. It’s pretty cool. The other schools can do it, but it takes work, so why try?