This is in response to the comment made in a recent letter by a person from Jersey Shore regarding various issues now brewing in that school district. The comment was that "if we didn't care about the success of our children...we would live in Williamsport." I take umbrage with this comment, and what seems to be a prevailing sentiment in Lycoming County.
I am a graduate of Williamsport schools, my sons are and my daughter will be. I taught in the district. The district does care so much about the students, and the parents who live in Williamsport care about their children and their success. Annually, Williamsport can boast of numerous National Merit Scholars. Annually, Williamsport can boast of numerous students receiving thousands of dollars in academic scholarships. Annually, Williamsport can boast of students who are accepted to the top universities and colleges. Annually, Williamsport can boast of its Career and Technical Education graduate successes. Daily, Williamsport can boast of what it does for students for whom learning is difficult.
My oldest son is a first year medical student at Northwestern University, and my second son is a sophomore at the University of Illinois. Many students they come into contact with have attended private schools, or schools in high tax based areas that afford the best of everything and whose students are mainly from middle class to upper middle class homes. Yet, both have told me many times that what they learned as students from the Williamsport schools is immeasurable, and they would not trade their education there in any way.
We, too, love our schools, and our wonderful teachers. We love our children also, and want them to succeed academically, emotionally, and socially. We also want them to learn that the world is big, and that we should embrace the plethora of differences there are in people, and to always know we can learn something everyday from these differences. And that is something that our Williamsport students are so lucky to have.
Angela Lovecchio
Williamsport
Submitted by Virtual Newsroom
