Last month, Dr. Monroe Richman of Koloa tossed out this challenge to high school graduates: Prove him wrong. Tell him you still read books and newspapers. Show him you think critically. Let him know he’s not smarter than you. One
Last month, Dr. Monroe Richman of Koloa tossed out this challenge to high school graduates: Prove him wrong. Tell him you still read books and newspapers. Show him you think critically. Let him know he’s not smarter than you.
One rose up and said, “Dr. Richman, you’re wrong.” Well, not exactly in those words, but the point was, “Hey, students still read books and newspapers” (we here at TGI are betting they’re still reading newspapers).
Let’s back up for a moment.
TGI published an editorial in May offering congratulations, and advice, to graduates. The editorial was aimed at grads, written expressly toward them, assuming they would read it.
Dr. Richman responded, suggesting our target audience probably never read our words.
“Your editorial to the recent graduates is both timely and meaningful,” he wrote. “However, I am troubled as to whether you reach the audience you presupposed reads your paper.
“It is my belief that very few recent graduates read your paper or any paper and rarely any books.
“Graduates, take a moment and refute my comments with your letters to the editor. Restore my faith in the educational system on the island of Kauai. Show me the abilities that you have learned to think critically. Tell me the values expressed in the editorial and I would be pleased to say I was wrong.”
One did.
Christine Nishimoto of Kalaheo disputed Richman’s claims in a letter to TGI:
“I am a recent graduate of Kauai High School (class of 2013) and I am mildly insulted by your letter to the editor. I do occasionally read the TGI and I also read books. My latest favorite book is “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
“Sure, my 12 years in Hawaii’s public school system has been ‘rough.’ There are many teachers who, point blank, don’t do their jobs; however, there are other teachers, good teachers, that actually teach their students! (What a concept).
Honestly I don’t feel like high school prepared me for college but I’d like to thank all my teachers (especially my AP English teachers) who actually taught me something to help me in my future endeavors.
“When it comes down to it, learning is up to the student and if the student wants to learn, they’ll do whatever they can to reach their full potential.
“I read your letter. I responded and thought critically.”
We were glad to see a response to Dr. Richman. But one response out of some 500 grads from three local high schools isn’t exactly overwhelming. We admit it, we hoped for more. We wanted to see a flood of letters telling Mr. Monroe Richman he was way out in left field on this one. It didn’t happen. It appears he was almost exactly right on in his observation.
So what’s the point of bringing this up and rehashing those letters?
Just this: As Christine notes, it’s really up to the students to learn and reach their potential. But good teachers, certainly, can help them on their path. But an even greater role falls to responsible adults, which includes parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts, neighbors and pretty much all of us. Do what you can to take an interest in your child’s education. Find out what’s going on in their schools. Volunteer. Get involved. Be active. Show them you care.
Kids, whether they’ll admit it or not, appreciate it when mom and dad take time from hobbies and show concern about how they’re doing at school and what they’re learning in the classroom.
While Monroe Richman challenged grads to prove him wrong, he was also tossing out a dare to parents and other adults too: Take an interest in your child’s education, and you can bet, they’ll rise to any challenge that comes their way.
P.S. Please read the commentary below by Randi Lee Oxentine.
