LETTER TO THE EDITOR, Starley Craig, Liberal
Everyone needs to be careful with our wonderful English language since it can be used to obscure information and yet leave the listeners or readers with the impression he/she is hearing truth.
After the forum for the candidates for Board of Education, the superintendent was featured in the Leader & Times speaking on his aims for USD 480.
But I’m confused, primarily because important words/phrases were never explained, although a casual reader would probably think he knew what was being told.
Quoting: “We really dig into what needs to be done, and that’s to change the overall culture.”
Ok. What is exactly is “culture” he wishes to change? I don’t know. I’ve always thought “culture” was the commonality of language, religion, folkways, legal outlooks, marriage customs, child rearing ideas, music, art and government. Do we live in a town whose culture is “American?” Do we want to change that? If so, to what?
Or does he mean the culture of USD 480? How can a school have its own culture? Does he mean a more Latino culture? How does one change a whole culture in a school and why, as the things taught in school are the survival skills in this culture?
Maybe a different word than culture could be used instead. Perhaps great, shining goals! Wouldn’t it be great if people came here because we had such an outstanding school system?
In order to have it, we would have to dump our feel-good philosophy, emotional-centered curriculum and slavish adherence to Kansas standards as though they were the words of God.
Make our own.
Probably meant "work culture". Means the shared values, attitudes, behaviors, and practices that characterize how people work together in an organization. Nothing to do with race, or ethnicity.