We Must Expect More Than Intaking Oxygen and Giving Off Carbon Dioxide: Mr. Rich's Address

by Mr. Leonard Rich, Director of the Lawrence County CTC

(To view a video of this speech, please scroll to the end.)

Mr. Milanovich: Do you have a dollar I could have? Thanks. We will get back to that later.

It is my honor to accept this class and share a few words.

As we inch closer to the end of a pandemic and hope for a return to normal, our graduates will be expected to compete in the real world. With the end of the pandemic, so will end the numerous supports that perhaps have taught students the wrong lesson. With the best of intentions, I have heard colleagues looking to lower the bar for students.

I understand compassion, empathy, and understanding. Certainly, this year has been like no other. I argue we must maintain our expectations. We must give students multiple ways, including second or third chances, to meet those expectations. We do a disservice to the students if we lower the bar while they are in school. Their post-secondary lives will demand they reach the same standard as their predecessors.

A large number of students struggled all year despite the numerous documented adaptations, accommodations, and contacts with the families. Indeed, we have some students that have failed to log on numerous times. A portion of the students have failed to meet the lowest of standards; attendance. Moreover, despite alternate assignments, extended time, etc. many students have failed to show any effort. We cannot in good conscience give a student a satisfactory grade for intaking oxygen and giving off carbon dioxide. They have the ability to do better.

Those who have expected less of the students have done them a disservice. Passing a student along does not show love or affection, but instead contempt. If one truly cares about another, then that person does right by the other. Just as a parent expects their child to do their best, so does a teacher who loves that child like their own. It is harder to expect more. It is easier to make excuses and expect less. I hope the teachers were hard on their students and expected attendance, effort, and proficient completion.

It is an injustice to pass a student who has not made any progress at all. We cannot send the message that a student can do nothing and mythically pass academic standards.

We believe that:

Every student can meet minimal attendance requirements and well as minimal effort requirements. They will be expected to do as much in the world of work. Pretending that a student need not attend school or complete assignments does no justice to their post-secondary lives.
Students need to fulfill their potential and push academic limits. It has been our experience that students will meet goals and expectations when we agitate their comfort zone. We do not want them to have goals that they need to bend down to reach.
The pandemic makes it more essential not less essential that we equip our students with the skills they need to succeed. By rewarding students with a passing grade while they have demonstrated no skills, does not bode well for them in a post-pandemic world.
It is an issue of integrity, both on the part of the students and the educational community. While we take no pleasure in seeing a child perform below expectations, we also have seen other students respond to our instructional efforts. The students who are not progressing satisfactorily are not entitled to the same grade as those who made progress.

Now back to that “free dollar.” I asked for a dollar and received that dollar from Mr. Milanovich. If I rely on him, then I only receive money when he is ready, able, and willing to do so. If I need him for money, am I not subservient to him? Do I not owe him.

Let’s replace Mr. Milanovich with the name of my least favorite relative, Uncle Sam. This uncle of mine continues to take and I’m not sure what I get in return. Therefore, I do not rely on Uncle Sam for my well-being. I will not be limited by him. The problem with Uncle Sam is that if I work too hard, he wants to give me less.

But if I earn, my dollars are only limited by my knowledge, skills, talents, creativity, and ingenuity. Case in point, Curtis James Jackson III. Curtis was in the supermarket one day and watched in amazement as people bought bottled water and spring water. So Curtis decided to sell his product, Vitamin Water. He did well with his original product and then sold it to Coca-Cola for $4.1 Billion. Curtis walked away with a cool $100 Million. I know many of you know who Curtis is, but maybe you know him by his nickname; 50 Cent. Don’t be mad at 50. Don’t envy 50. Try and do better than 50.

The graduates before you understand perseverance. They took advantage of opportunity and responded to changing circumstances. The graduates here before you believed in themselves and in us. We believed in them. Our collective perseverance with the support of the families led to this commencement. This graduation has been earned not given. Their future accomplishments and contributions to society have no limits. Free has no value. Integrity, honesty, knowledge, work-ethic and perseverance are priceless. So remember; the one who endures to the end will be saved. You have endured. You are saved. They call you a graduate. Congratulations Class of 2021!!!