I’ve just about had it with the Post-Tribune and the lack of coverage Gary Community Schools receive that would help showcase the exceptionally bright students attending our schools. What’s wrong “Northwest Indiana’s (so-called) Watch Dog?” You missed an opportunity to cover at least two out of the three commencement exercises. And please - spare your readership lackluster excuses and make journalism do what it’s supposed to do. Had there been a problem at one of the graduation ceremonies, no one would have had to call. Northwest Indiana’s (so-called) “watch dog” would’ve sent a reporter and photographer to the scene. I can almost guarantee that the story with pictures would have been posted to the website the same day, and furthermore, the story would have been published in the newspaper the next day. Here’s what you missed if you care - the West Side Leadership Academy’s valedictorian Denzel Casson graduates at the top of his class but what makes Denzel a stand-out is the fact that he has just as much scholastic ability as he does athletic ability. He is the epitome of an outstanding athlete who has game on and off the court but what does he get – a picture. And Christopher Williams, the West Side Leadership Academy’s salutatorian story has awarding winning stamped all over it. Christopher started out in special education and he has autism. But that didn’t quench his thirst for knowledge. As a matter of fact, Christopher speaks five languages fluently which includes – Brazilian Portuguese, Spanish, Japanese, Italian, and Korean. He was also recognized by the Superintendent of Public Instruction for having the highest score on the ISTEP in mathematics, and given another award for receiving a perfect score on the End of the Course Assessment in Algebra. Wirt-Emerson Visual and Performing Arts High Ability Academy preaches (not speaks) for itself. Their guest speaker was Chester Gregory who shared an inspiring speech about how he almost didn’t get to attend Wirt-Emerson. It took three auditions and then after all that, he said he graduated No. 44 out of 56 students but today he is on Broadway. What’s wrong with your news judgment “Watch Dog?” What about the Lew Wallace STEM Academy? Their commencement exercises didn’t conflict with any of the other Gary Community School graduations. Since you didn’t think it was important enough to cover, let me share a bit about Lew Wallace. Sharna Harris-Rush, the valedictorian, will study biology and pre-med at Georgia State University in Atlanta. Sharna wants to become an obstetrician/gynecologist. Denisha Golston, who happens to be the salutatorian, comes from a line of pharmacists so guess what she’s studying at Manchester University? You guessed right - pharmacology. Denisha is also athletic – she ran the 400 meter dash, the 4 x 4 and 4x 1 relays as part of the school’s track and field team. She earned a purple belt in karate AND she models. So now, do you subscribe to the Journalism Creed? It sure doesn’t sound like it but just in case you do, please keep these sections in the forefront of your mind from this day forward - “I believe that the public journal is a public trust; that all connected with it are, to the full measure of their responsibility, trustees for the public; that acceptance of a lesser service than the public service is betrayal of this trust.” “I believe that clear thinking and clear statement, accuracy and fairness are fundamental to good journalism. And finally, I believe that suppression of the news, for any consideration other than the welfare of society, is indefensible. Charmella Greer, Communications Specialist Gary Community School Corporation
Posted on: Wed, 12 Jun 2013 02:49:23 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015