I couldn’t disagree more. I was a Kingston kid “bussed” to Poulsbo and graduated as a Viking. However, times are a changing. Believe me — your education is not being jeopardized by lack of funding.
As I look at my kindergarten class photo, we have felons, dropouts and some people are no longer alive. We also have the head of Milwaukee’s emergency room, certified public accountants, attorneys, an airline pilot and at least three millionaires. They all went through the same system and it was half of what you are provided today. It’s not what you are given — it’s how bad you want it and how much your family and community support a positive learning environment. A Poulsbo Middle School teacher just won Best Teacher on Evening Magazine!
I went to UW on an NK education and found I was well prepared in English, math, foreign language and music, and less prepared for science, computer science and business. But you know what? You adapt and work harder. The Japanese foreign students struggled in English, marketing and communication, but aced the math and science. They adapted as well. There were at least 15 of us from NK High just from my class that did fine at the next level. I will also tell you that BALANCE is key to an overall education and the things you learn from music, the arts and sports, as well as the social scene and interaction with others around a school are critically important to a successful life.
I know many “book smart” people who were on the Dean’s list that struggle in corporate and social environments. KHS isn’t asking for the moon — the money is already there for capital projects, they don’t even have even representation at the scheduling table for the “District fields” in Poulsbo, much less have equal access, colors or logos (or at least neutral) like you see at Memorial Stadium at Seattle Center or the equivalent in Bremerton.
Not to mention the turf fields were built with PFD money and are supposed to set aside huge chunks of time for community recreation unrelated to any school program (like rec soccer, lacrosse and even flag football).
Show some love for the kids in Kingston — they’re not trying to take anything away, just trying to get on the field to practice and play like every other kid in high school. If they can do that, get a quality education and participate socially in music, sports and the arts (graphic, fine art and performing arts), they have a shot in this crazy world. You will realize 20 years from now that all you have from high school is a few great memories, and not one of mine was from some “special moment” in a classroom.
It was Friday night lights, road trips, championships, concerts, scoring goals . . . and many of those were under the lights. There seems to be a misunderstanding that Kingston needs lights or equal access to District fields —the truth is they need both and its an injustice that they don’t have either at this point. Kingston taxes to fund schools are the same as Poulsbo taxes to fund schools — it’s not like we’re getting a 75 percent discount like our homeboys and girls are getting in field use.
If I had it my way, I’d pull the existing lights off the baseball fields at NK High and install them on the turf field in Kingston — the wiring is already in place and the need for lights for baseball in the spring twilight pales in comparison for the need for lights in Kingston over the dark fall and winter months when it is the only dry and usuable field for all sports. We have electricians, boom trucks and volunteers who would jump on board and move them for free … if you haven’t noticed, Kingston is a tight community and we work as one.
Best wishes to you and NK High (my alma mater) and study hard!
Ed Waterman
President/CEO
Entertainment Northwest
