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Smith: Recent Freedom graduate casts a vote for SWAT

Dorothy Smith

Published: November 1, 2009

Morganton, NC - I think it's safe to say that, as a student and young adult, I have never felt respected by the current school board majority: Tracy Norman, Rob Hairfield, Karen Sain and Tim Buff.
I was a senior from Freedom High School last November at the school board meeting where Hairfield muttered his notorious "shoot to kill, if necessary" comment. It left me wondering about the amount of respect and care that the current majority has for students. I feel it obvious that most of them respect the opinions of students very little, if at all.
Norman, Hairfield, Sain and Buff have been such poor role models for my peers and myself. However, I can thank them for one thing: for making me realize how important it is to stay involved as a student, community member and now as a voter!
As a freshman in college in Massachusetts, I'm trying my best to stay up-to-date with school issues. My younger siblings are still in high school — one at Freedom and one at Patton. I have friends in the high schools and some of the most inspiring teachers are employed there. I would hate to see any students miss out on the opportunities that I had, be it going to college from an accredited high school, learning from brilliant teachers or going to a school with enough money in its budget to purchase art supplies or new textbooks.
I voted for SWAT because they will do the best job in keeping opportunities open for all students.