My High School's Mission Statement (Vanity)

self

[Buck W.]

My eldest son has just graduated from high school here in Texas and is on his way to college. Trying to recall that time of my own life, I visited the website of my high school: Sachem High School (now called Sachem North) in Lake Ronkonkoma, NY. I was feeling rather nostalgic until I came upon the school's "mission statement", below:

"The mission of the entire Sachem North Community is to develop students' self- awareness, social consciousness, and motivation leading to the establishment of short and long-range goals. These goals will be achieved by applying the skills necessary to become productive, knowledgeable, and responsible members of society. Our mission will be promoted by a creative enthusiastic, dedicated, and student-centered staff who is implementing a challenging and thought-provoking curriculum in a learning environment that is safe, nurturing, and stimulating."

The statement contains no reference to teaching or learning, except in the context of a "learning environment" (silly me, I thought that's what a school WAS). Needless to say, I'm disappointed in what my school considers important enough to include in a mission statement. I'm even more disappointed in the references to academic excellence that have been omitted.

Submitted for your review, response, and comiseration.

[Jeff Head]

How about teaching them to read, to write, the truth about American history, and to understand basic math??!!!

That will do more to prepare them for their future than all of that other gobbeldygook.

[Happygal]

If only all schools could produce productive, knowledgeable, and responsible members of society.

Sounds like the schools aim is to produce decent, well-adjusted, hard-working graduates. Not a bad objective, IMO.

[HungarianGypsy]

I keep hearing school is for socialization now-a-days. I remember my dad saying, "I didn't send you to school to socialize."

[derheimwill]

These goals will be achieved by applying the skills necessary...

Herein lies the difficulty. This school assumes that the "skills necessary" are inherent and do not need to be taught. Whenever one sees such things, one may asume that students are to be taught to act in such a way as to simulate the existence of such skills. The corresponding lessons give the students a false sense of acchievement - one which they inherently understand to be incumbent upon adherance to the prevailing "speak." In brainwashing terms, this is an advanced form of "language limiting." Be careful which professors he chooses! He may have already been compromised.

[jocon307]

Aren't you glad you got out of New York? Long Island is particularly loopy. I know, I got relative there. They are normal, but as for the rest of them, oy vey!

And have you seen the big $$$ scandals with some of the local school boards out there? Tremendous thievery and violation of the public trust. Methinks some folks will be doing time for that stuff.

[Buck W.]

I agree; however, that objective could also be at the core of a church's mission statement. The fundamental job of the school is education. It is by educating that the school produces productive, knowledgable, responsible members of society.

The statement addresses the ends, without consideration of the means. That leaves the means open to interpretation.

[JLS]

Everyone having a mission statement is lefitst intruding into college of business on college campuses and what is taught there defusing across society.

A mission statement per se is not a terrible idea, but often times they are silly exercises in stating the obvious.

Other examples of the leftist infecting business schools include:

1. Discussion of stakeholders rather than stockholders.

2. Any thought of corporations being good or bad citizens which is really another way to say point 1.

[Buck W.]

Very glad. I also went to college on LI (SUNY-SB), & haven't been back since.

[Buck W.]

Yes--see my response #7.

[derheimwill]

I once substituted in an elementary reading class where the students were obviously below standard. An AP broke into the class and began a lesson wherein the students repeated everything the AP prompted and were praised for their "creativity" for doing so. No students were asked to elaborate. ETC. I was then admonished for not adhering to "the latest developments." After holding back a viscious VOMIT, I left.

[LibFreeOrDie]

Schools see their mission nowadays as being focused on group therapy. Many schools all over the country have similar mission statements.

The same goes for businesses - mission statements are full of buzzwords and feel-good lingo.

[Cagey]

"The mission of the entire Sachem North Community is to develop students' self- awareness, social consciousness, and motivation leading to the establishment of short and long-range goals. These goals will be achieved by applying the skills necessary to become productive, knowledgeable, and responsible members of society. Our mission will be promoted by a creative enthusiastic, dedicated, and student-centered staff who is implementing a challenging and thought-provoking curriculum in a learning environment that is safe, nurturing, and stimulating."