From The Times newspaper: Rowe to take OTHS building trades controversy national Posted: Thursday, March 27, 2014 8:57 pm | Updated: 9:25 am, Fri Mar 28, 2014. Steve Stout, steves@mywebtimes, 815-431-4082 Television personality Mike Rowe would like to advance the ongoing controversy over the Ottawa Township High School Boards elimination of the building trades program to a national audience. In a telephone interview with The Times on Thursday, Rowe praised the many students who left school in protest March 18 — the day after the OTHS board cut the building trades classes and terminated instructor Dave Keely for the next school year. The decision was a cost-saving measure as the school district faces a $3.5 million deficit, according to officials. I found out about the (OTHS building trades) cuts and the protest by the kids through Facebook, explained Rowe. I was very excited to see that the kids took a stand, so I commented back on it on social media. Rowe, who gained national fame with his TV show Dirty Jobs, and as a one-time Ford truck pitchman, said, Following my video post that I put up Wednesday (on Facebook), I now understand that several national media outlets, ABC and Fox, have run stories on it and the protests in Ottawa. He plans to continue speaking out on the cutting of such industrial arts programs on the national and local levels to draw attention to the growing problem. I consider this situation both a micro and macro issue, said Rowe. It is big (on the national level) where cuts in such alternative classes are being made across the country and small when it affects smaller communities like Ottawa. Situations like this cannot be scripted. I plan to help attract more attention to the Ottawa protests so more people can learn about it. I will do as much press as I can. Yes, it is a sloppy mix to use social media, local press and national news for the cause, but if enough people stand up for these kind of classes, it can make a difference. Big changes can happen from small places like Ottawa. I am happy to bring attention and PR for manufacturing and making things again in America and teaching kids to learn new skills. Rowe said, School boards should not take away classes that lead to making things and potential job skills. Apparently a good teacher — Dave Keely — was blindsided by the board along with a program cut that shouldnt have been made. Rowe also was unhappy about students being suspended over their protest. The kids need to be rewarded for their actions, Rowe said. I am proud to support and stand with those kids and their cause. He concluded, It is just so cool that the kids took it upon themselves to stand up over something that matters to the whole community. As for the demonstration itself, protesting students voluntarily shut it down March 22 and have not returned to the area across from OTHS this week because of school being closed for spring break. We realized that we got our point across to both the community and the board, said senior and building trades student Tanner Boaz. Theres really not much for us to do until the next board meeting on (Monday,) April 28. As a group, we decided to take a more professional approach directly to the board. He explained it was his understanding all the student protestors would return to classes Monday, March 31. Boaz, 17, said, Were fighting for our education, so not going back to classes would be wrong and hypocritical. Im personally fighting for students who want to take vocational classes in the future. Junior Sean Daugherty, one of more than 120 students suspended last week for participating in the protest, confirmed he and his fellow classmates would be back in school Monday. We are proud of ourselves for standing up on this issue and we are grateful for the communitys overwhelming support, Daugherty said. We students would still like a special meeting with the entire board to discuss this matter with the members, but if that doesnt happen, we plan to attend the regular meeting near the end of next month. It (the building trade issue) is worth fighting for.
Posted on: Fri, 28 Mar 2014 15:58:20 +0000
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