Response to Tony Splendora

To the editor: Your flair for uncovering and divulging the so-called deficiencies of the Delaware Valley School District seems to be something you take immense pride in. However, as a student of this district, I also take pride in something- my ability to show you how utterly wrong you are, as usual. In your most recent letter, (Jan. 26) you addressed the fact that last year, Delaware Valley High School produced 27 AP scholars, a year- high record. Not only did you demoralize that accomplishment (I didn’t expect much better from you), but you attempted to compare DV’s scholars to Anne Arundel County’s, of Maryland, which has a grand total of 12 public school systems, 23,000 high school students, and 600 AP scholars. To inform you, that county is “orders of magnitude larger” than ours; some of their high schools have over 500 students in each class, while DV has about 450 students per grade. With larger student bodies, one would assume a larger count of AP students would correspond. Yet maybe a simple Google search proves handier than common sense in situations like these? Since you always appear so interested in Delaware Valley’s statistics, and given your great concern with our lack of Advanced Placement students, here are some numbers of my own. Delaware Valley High School currently offers 18 Advanced Placement classes, with over 200 students enrolled. 70 percent of those students scored a 3 or better on their college course test, as opposed to the nation average of 59 percent. At any rate, it is a very inaccurate statement to say that the number of AP scholars is an indicator of a school’s success or failure, or the capability of its superintendents. If you’d like a comparison of standardized test results in relation to the rest of Pennsylvania, take a look at PSSA scores. Last year, Delaware Valley attained results higher than all averages in the state, with writing scores 97 percent proficient or better, the state average at 86 percent; reading scores 76 percent proficient or better, the state average at 65 percent; and math scores 58 percent proficient or better, the state average at 52 percent. If that doesn’t prove we are academically out-performing PA schools, perchance I should send results in a missive to you for you to believe it. To continue upon another subject you are constantly whining about, Delaware Valley School District does invest in areas other than athletics. Hard to believe, I know. The student activities portion of the school budget, which not only includes sports, but countless clubs, concerts, salaries, bands, and our school newspaper and yearbook among many more, only receives 2.4 percent, or 1.5 million dollars, of school funds. Evidently, becoming baseball state champions did not result from spending loads of money. On the contrary, the majority of DV’s budget is spent on “regular education,” which received a little over 26 million this year, out of a 63 million dollar budget. Speaking of the current school year, I can almost see how it’s possible for you to overlook the countless academic achievements of my fellow students. In just these past months, the Future Business Leaders of America, Mock Trial, and Odyssey of the Mind teams all advanced to higher competitions, 35 student delegates attended the Model United Nations Conference, and a junior was honored with the Rensselaer Medal for her math and science skills, just to name a few. Lastly, do no try to hold Mrs. Dr. Finan accountable for students’ reading habits. Student performance is directly due to their and their teachers’ actions, not the Finans’. I’ll excuse your rudeness as a mere lack of knowledge in the teaching realm of education. While you are incessantly focused on the “shortcomings” of Delaware Valley, the majority of the community is supporting and praising our schools. If you do not wish to be attacked as the “messenger,” you might try ceasing your efforts to discredit this district. Yet by all means, don’t let facts that are put right in front of you stop your attempts: I’m sure whatever you come upon by the next Courier issue can be easily contradicted, once again. Editorial riposte, anyone? If you are still wary of where school funds are going, I have written an article on the matter in our school paper, the Del.Aware. You’re welcome. Kathryn Braisted Shohola