Taking Measure of Our Schools

5/22/2017

By Rep. Dave Hickernell (R-Lancaster/Dauphin) May 22, 2017
Last week, I visited two elementary schools in one of my school districts. This is not new for me. I have visited schools in my district many times in my time as a state legislator.

However, this is the first time I have visited a school with the benefit of having the added perspective of being the House Education Committee chairman. I selected these two schools for a reason - one of these schools has not been renovated for years and is scheduled to be renovated next year, while the other building was recently renovated.

I also took my time and spent the afternoon in these teaching facilities. I was very impressed with what I observed at both schools. The buildings were neat and clean and appeared to provide a safe environment for staff and children.

The rooms were spacious and provided for a good learning space for the first-graders and third-graders I visited. The teachers were clearly dedicated to their students and were committed to their profession. The students in each school appeared to be content, happy and motivated to learn.

I must say I was impressed with what I saw last week in both schools. As a parent, legislator and chairman of House Education Committee, I learned a great deal about what is happening in our elementary school classrooms. It was indeed time well spent and I am appreciative that I was invited to spend an afternoon with some of my youngest constituents.

I ended my day feeling very positive about the quality of education happening here in my community. I also observed that it didn’t seem to matter to the students or the teachers if the building was newly renovated or not.

After all, it is really all about the quality of the teacher in the classroom, not the classroom itself. And I must say we have some fantastic teachers.

Rep. Hickernell was named House Education Committee chairman at the start of the 2017-18 legislative session.