I’d like to preface this by saying what you might inevitably think while reading this: “He’s just a kid, what does he know?” You’re right about that, I am just 16 years old and still a junior at Monument Mountain. I have only an inkling about the financial hardships being an adult brings. But what I do know about is the realities that our world is faced with outside of Berkshire County.
My mother commutes to Springfield, Mass., to teach in a level four school where many students are defiant against education and authority everyday. Level four means that the state could step in at anytime and take matters into its own hands. While I seldom get a chance to visit and volunteer in that school, it makes me realize what a privilege it is to go to a school like Monument and how much it should be treasured.
Everyday I get to go to a place that helps me not only better my mind in a completely extraordinary way, but also to better myself and have the opportunities to help better my world. Whether it be an incredible Science and Math department that goes above and beyond in helping us understand tricky concepts, or an English and Social Studies department that is dedicated to helping us understand the world we’re living in while fostering conversations of deep thought, Monument has it all. While most kids hate school, Monument is a place where I see kids come together to learn in a positive and intelligent way. Most schools don’t have the teachers or programs our high school has.
In its current state, though, Monument is losing its ability to continue on. Some might argue that it’s not a building that makes a school or education great, it’s the teacher, and while that argument holds weight, the teachers need resources that only a building can provide. And in our situation that building has become very ill-equipped for the teachers to continue.
To name a few examples of what’s wrong with the building:
It lacks central heating and is inconsistent (and uncontrollable) when it comes to climate control.
It lacks the ability to sustain and provide a high speed wireless Internet connection.
Tiles are coming up from the ground and has the ability to risk exposure to asbestos.
Science labs are ill-equipped for most modern day experiments.
Constant sewage problems cause backed up pipes which make some labs a disgusting environment.
Power outrages have become a recent issue with lights flickering on and off.
The building also lacks a sprinkler system, a huge safety risk.
And while I can’t speak to this I feel the need to ask:
How equipped is our high school to be environmentally friendly?
These are just a few things that Monument is struggling with. I am imploring everyone to please vote yes on the renovation project. If we are to continue to foster a learning space for the kids of today and the kids of tomorrow, we must adapt. The building cannot sustain itself for much longer. I know the financial realities are tough but this is more than just about numbers. It is about the future of our kids and their education.
Education is one of the most important aspects in life. We get education from other people, parents, and relatives. It is fundamentally one of the greatest things human beings have been endowed with: the ability to expand the mind. What education is not is a trip to Costco to see what the best deal you can get is as some have been searching for throughout this long affair. When you boil it down simply to “we can get x number of students through for x amount of dollars,” you take away everything that makes Monument and education in general so important: the human element. It also asks the question, “Sure we can, but do we want to? What would the quality of their education become?”
As I said in the beginning, I am just a kid so what do I really know? I know that my teachers work hard in an increasingly difficult environment to provide me with the best education possible. I know the importance of education and how Monument is an exemplary learning community. So in closing I ask you not to look at the renovation in terms of numbers alone but as an investment in a space that allows youths to become greater than they are. Monument deserves our support and investment for the future.
