"Speak Out" is an expression of opinion from the Editorial Board of WBTV, and is presented by General Manager, Nick Simonette.
"Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools."
How many times have you heard that phrase in the last year?
Probably much more than you care to.
That's because our school system is broken.
News-wise, a story about struggles in the district pops up almost every day.
C-M-S has lots of ideas on how to fix various things.
Changing boundary lines…
Paying teachers for performance and not experience
Possibly closing and consolidating certain schools to make ends meet and boost academic achievement.
The list goes on and on.
Now here's what we think:
One -- C-M-S is trying.
Two -- we're not sure its efforts are working.
There is now so much division in the community
We compare the district to a broken vehicle.
Sometimes it's not just enough to replace a worn-out muffler, repair a failing engine or get a new paint job.
Sometimes you just need to buy a whole new car.
Rather than fixing-this-here and looking-at-that-there... maybe it's time for a whole new school system.
Now that's easier said than done?
Of course.
Biting the bullet and starting from scratch is not a simple process.
And please understand, this editorial isn't intended to blame the school board OR Superintendent.
We're just saying... perspective needs to change.
Someone needs to recognize our kids are traveling towards their future in a car that just doesn't work.
Tell us what YOU think. SpeakOut@wbtv.com.
