Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Letters

Dear Editor,

Recently, it has come to my attention that I have been the subject of some misinformation regarding my role in the changes in the exemption policy at Gurdon High School last year. I have chosen this forum to explain exactly my role in these changes.

One year ago this week, I proposed a change in the exemption policy that would have made it easier for many students to be exempt. (More about this proposal can be found at The Gurdon Times web page: www.pcfa.org/times/1998

/19980527.html) The basic idea behind my plan was to stop counting students absent when they went to school-related activities, such as Close-Up or band competitions. I have always believed, and always will believe, that students should not be punished for participating in extra-curricular activities.

Instead, the school board chose to make nearly everyone take semester exams. Again, I did not propose this plan of no exemptions. I can sum up in one sentence my role regarding the change in policy: "I sought to improve it, but the board chose to remove it."

The intent of this letter is not to argue the pros and cons of any policy, but rather to let people know that the current policy in no way resembles the policy I proposed. I ask all students to understand that on that Tuesday night last May, I was trying to fight for you, not against you.

Thanks,

Andy Taylor