The Falling of Nixyaawii Featured in CUJ

An article about Nixyaawii is to be featured in the Confederated Umatilla Journal, that is to be released in a couple days. Instead, of focusing on something to be proud of, or something exciting, or recognition, it is about how Nixyaawii is finding "millions of reasons why this school should fail." There are a couple things that are true, but I yet disagree with.

The fact that the year is ending with commonly less than 50% of students in class, has something to do with poor student accountability and behavior. Also a lack of parental and community involvement, drug and alcohol abuse, and students' apathy toward the cultural aspects of the school's unique curriculum. This I cannot disagree with, students are simply have a lack of motivation, to keep them coming, and participating in school.

There is one thing major, that has nothing to do with the fact of students attitudes. This is what the paragraph says:

The death of a student, Priscilla Craig, in an alcohol-related car crash in January, and the subsequent grieving among her fellow classmates, also has been a factor in moral and behavior, teachers said.

The way it is written, makes it sound like we're blaming her death for students coming to school high, or drinking. To whom this point of view came from, is completely wrong. Her choices, have nothing to do with the choices of our students today. If anything, we should be paying respect to her, and not put our decisions based upon our 'grieving'.

This article is going to be featured in the May CUJ, and these are just a couple of my opinions.