Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Seniors disagree with Huckabee's education plan

Gurdon High School students were asked, "In your own words tell your feelings about Governor Mike Huckabee's new educational plan and how you feel it will affect Gurdon's schools?"

Here are a few replies:

Tamarea Henry, senior- "The way I feel about the whole thing is that there will be a lot of fights, and other things going on that will work. he should keep the schools the way they are now. If he don'ts keep them the way they are, a lot of problems will erupts."

Lacy Jester, senior- "I think for some schools it would help and it would have positive effects. But for others, I don't think it is a very good idea. I don't think they should treat all the schools the same. They should look at them individually and see what would be best for them."

Justin Mallett, senior- "I don't like Governor Huckabee's plan for our schools. I think that video linked (not audio) classes, could be used to make all of the classes available to the students. I do not think the plan will go as far as closing or consolidating our schools. Huckabee may want to consolidate, but I don't think the majority of Arkansans will accept it."

Maegan James, senior- "I think that Governor Huckabee's educational plan for consolidation is not a good idea. I do not see how it will benefit our schools in any way. The plan to join school districts may seem like a good one to the Governor and other officials, but I think that the opinion of the students should be taken into consideration. Not only will students be stressed because of a bigger student population, but the consolidation will also create more conflict. There is a known rivalry between Gurdon Schools and Prescott Schools. I believe that if the two were forced to attend the same school, there would be nothing but chaos."

John Watson, senior- "I think that Governor Mike Huckabee's educational plan will not suceed. If this plan passed Gurdon Schools would join with other smaller schools. Being a student in a small school, I think the smaller schools have a better student to teacher ratio. The rivalry between Gurdon and Prescott school districts has been going on for many years. Bringing these two school districts together would end a tradition and create conflict in the school."

Bonnie Ferguson- "I believe that Mike Huckabee's educational plan will only hurt Gurdon's schools, along with many other schools that will be affected. Combining schools will only require more money and make confusion. The school should be left alone."

Jenise Jackson- "I think it would be a good idea to consolidate the schools because it would academically Huckabee said that they pay for the debt of each school system. They would also not save money because of all the schools they would have to build."

Kelly Runyan, senior- "I think Governor Mike Huckabee's plan for new educational plan is not a well thought out plan. Governor Huckabee said he had more questions than answers. If you have more questions than answers, why are we putting the plan to action. I think we need to relook at the plan before we take action."

Joshua Jordon, junior- "My thought on the plan that Mike Huckabee came up with is that when they fire the superintendent's that they no longer want they will just be causing more unemployment which the government said they were gonna help. This plan will make an increase in violence by consolidating rivals which means that we would have to spend more money on security."

Luke Leamons, junior- "Personally, I think it's a load of crap. See if we consolidated, it would be a thing of our towns pride and tradition. For how many years have Gurdon residents supported Go-Devil Football and the kids in any sports or activity of the school? If we consolidated, it would break all those years of tradition and pride of being a Gurdon Go-Devil and it sucks."