Your letters for March 28, 2025

SJSD, you don't 'get it'

With all due respect to the SJSD Board and district administrators: You simply don’t understand or “get it.” How many of you have spent a week or two at our local public high schools?

I suspect that none of you have taken this time to evaluate our three high schools. Have you sat in a math class, a social studies class, a chemistry class, a theatre arts class, and or a physical education class, a co-curricular class or activity such as play rehearsals, football, volleyball, basketball practices? (I could go on and on.) These classes and especially the extracurricular activities teach teamwork, social skills, sportsmanship, respect, ect.

One district official stated that you can’t have an advanced class with eight students. Hello? The more individual attention a student receives, the better the results are. You’re putting a new high school or two ahead of academic performance! It sure sounds that way.

I taught speech, dramatics, the International Phonetic Alphabet to freshman at Northwest (for two semesters.) The class was 12 and the results were wonderful.

I spent 18 weeks at our Central High School and directed a one-act play. I spent three hours teaching psychology and (student teaching) three hours teaching drama and advanced English literature. Later, I taught drama, speech, and psychology at Benton High School. I produced 60 major Broadway musicals and plays, and scripted variety talent show. Also, six Shakespearian one-act play festivals. For which I was nominated three times as teacher of the year! Never won, however.

My career spanned over three decades! I’m proud to say. I estimate that I taught and directed over 6,000 students. I was also named or honored to be the Performing and Fine Arts Department Chairman (forensics, painting, sculptures and many arts projects.) I was honored to be great friends with band and orchestra and pep and stage band with dedicated John Reese, who was nominated and then won teacher of the year honors. It was an honor to work with Mr. Reese for many, many years. And three wonderful vocal teachers, two art teachers and three speech and debate coaches and teachers and many other teachers who gave so much time and effort teaching to Benton High students. And terrific choreographers, Mrs. Darcee Pierce Blanchard.

I chaired numerous committees for the North Central Association. The N.C.A team accredits secondary and college schools. (You do not want a negative or “no” evaluation from the N.C.A.”) Benton, Lafayette and Central all were highly praised by educators for the four state Midwest region. I was and am proud of the education our students receive. I visited and evaluated high schools in Iowa, Lincoln, Nebraska, Kansas City, Missouri inner-city schools and suburban high schools and colleges (i.e. William Jewell.)

I was a football assistant to head coach Richard Lehman and later announced (P.A. announcer) for all levels of Benton football (varsity, junior and freshman), and spent many years as the P.A. announcer for the varsity basketball (both genders) and was an advisor to coach Ton Tabor. (My honor.) Tabor had four top notch sons. Chris Tabor has spent many years as an N.F.L. special teams coach!

Another son, Matthew Tabor, is largely responsible for Benton’s state of the art fieldhouse. Matt was an outstanding teacher and a really good head football coach. I had the privilege to teach three of the Tabor sons.

I feel I am very qualified to assess our three public high schools. I hope you agree.

In St. Joseph, many parents and or guardians are middle, lower income families. Some would label them as poor households. But many poor blue-collar families are proud and do not want charity.

Many students in all three public high schools come to high school without breakfast, the most important meal for optimum learning. Thank goodness Benton supplies breakfast for students who are hungry. Free or reduced nutritious lunches are available.

What would these students do if bused to a new far away high school? Extra-curricular activities would be ruled out, as the students would have to take the long bus ride home.

Presently, many students live close to Benton and can walk home after long practices or rehearsals. As a veteran instructor, director and coach, this is a major plus.

Student/teacher ratio is extremely important. The smaller the class, the more individual attention can be given to students. We are fortunate to have this high school. Really fortunate for Lafayette, as well.

Statistics prove that the larger the student population, the more discipline problems. Most of the mass shootings and killing occur in larger high schools, i.e. Columbine.

I do not want to see Lafayette High School close for the same reasons previously stated. Although I do know for a fact that Lafayette and Central are only 2.2 miles apart, I want Lafayette, Central and Benton to remain open and productive.

The following educations, retired and active, agree. For example, Dr. Lawrence, Pilgram, Dr. Jerry Chambers, Mr. Michael Flowers, retired principal and college teacher at Missouri Western, and I could go on and on. I urge voters to vote down this April school bond issue Present board members and those running for the two seats do not understand the consequences of their actions. They have lost sight of what the true goals should be. As Mike Flowers said, “If you have a caring, knowledgeable teacher with standards and communication skills, you could teach in a barn and get great results.

This school district is confused. They do not want our teens to have the advantage of smaller student/teacher ratios. There is something “fishy” going on! Our officials have fallen for false propaganda.

I do not know Richard Sharp. I have never met him. His letter appeared in the News-Press Weekender, March 7, 8 and 9. I will quote Mr. Sharp, “For several years, the school administration has been playing ‘who is on first.’ ... New walls and bussing our our kids around the city to meet some bureaucratic desire for a two-school system.” I might add and Mr. Sharp is spot on.

I will vote no! I will write in my two candidates. I suggest Warren and Jason Ingram, they truly “get it.”

John Hoffman
St. Joseph