Rochelle Park News

Letters to the Editor

Ostendorp...
Dear Editor -
During the recent Rochelle Park Board of Education elections, the issue of removing RP from the Hackensack High School (HHS) sending district arose once again. It rose once again for all the wrong reasons. Supporters of pulling RP from HHS began an attack on my high school. The ideas presented in support of a removal from HHS are a grave injustice to the school and the many Rockelle Park students who have incredible success there.

During the campaign for elections, the Hackensack school system was continually criticized, with critics citing a "lack of quality education" and claiming that RP students are in need of a school that will provide a "safe environment and the best education we can provide." I am disturbed by these unfounded rumors that are still being spread about my high school. Many critics argue that HHS does not score as high as other schools in the area on standardized tests such as HSPT and SAT, but fail to recognize the size and diverse makeup of the school. Hackensack is a large school, educating approximately 1600 students. The laws of proportion and common sense reveal that the larger the school the wider the range of academic ability.

These critics also fail to talk about what RP students accomplish at the high school. RP students have been and continue to be extremely successful. Six students achieved the honor of being included in this year's "Top Twenty." Last year's valedictorian, Nicole Follmer, was an RP product and is now attending Princeton University.

The quality of HHS cannot be judged by test scores alone. HHS students are continually accepted by the most respected colleges in the nation, including Princeton, Harvard, Cornell, Brown, NYU and MIT. Academically based competitions are also part of the success and pride of the high school. Four Midland School alumni, including myself, are proud members of the five-time Group IV regional Champion Academic Decathlon team, ranked 6th out of participating high schools in the state. The Odyssey of the Mind and Quiz Bowl teams have also been a hugh success at the high school, with both teams touting RP students. HHS is well-rounded, with one of the best athletic programs in the state, boasting county and state titles in football, basketball, soccer, and baseball.

One of the most important educational lessons gained by attending HHS is that of life. Most RP students enter HHS shielded from the real world. At HHS, one is introduced to a diverse environment where he/she learns to interact with peers of another culture. This is a vital skill in surviving in the outside world. This is also an important way of breaking stereotypes students may have upon entering the high school. Midland School alumni find that their group of friends is a mix of students from several cultures.

Hackensack should be considered the "best education we can provide" as one critic says RP students deserve. The school is what you make of it. If an RP student seeks success, he/she will find it in a large array of courses, honors programs and activities. If the student does not dedicate himself/herself to success, he/she may not find it. However, this should not be blamed upon the school, but upon the student who just didn't want success enough.

As for the attack on the safety of the high school, it is unwarranted. A critic of HHS stated that he wanted to send his children to a school where "kids don't get beaten or stabbed." Unfortunately for those who are not familiar with the school, an isolated incident has been turned into a commonplace event because of the fear this episode generated. Also left unrecognized is the fact that this incident occurred during a community sponsored event that was merely using the school's facilities. It was not a HHS activity.

In the four years I have attended HHS, I cannot once recall a violent incident involving an RP student. While these claims of violence by critics of HHS are backed up only by their own fear, I can support my refutal with the truth. As a member of Peer Mediation, a group that is designed to allow students to mediate the disputes of their peers, the necessity for this practice was minimized, with a total of two mediations in the last school year. This is testimony to the safe environment of the high school.

Unfortunately, the rumors generated by the provincial critics are being preached to a public that is often unaware of the true environment at HHS. Therefore, critics are able to build on a community's fear with ignorant accounts of danger. Some critics of HHS have never stepped foot in the high school. How then can this critic support his claims of danger? The only possible way to do this is with a student's perspective, such as that of myself and my peers. As my peers and I will tell you, Hackensack is a comfortable, friendly environment, where our safety is never in question.

One unsuccessful candidate for the Board of Education stated HHS is "a threat to the future education of the children of the community." However, the true tragedy and threat is the removal of Rochelle Park students from HHS.

Unfortunately for HHS, Midland School alumni who have attended Hackensack and the future graduates of Midland School, this is a recurring issue that is often fueled by a select few who are able to gain support through claims that may initially sound impressive but when carefully considered are clearly baseless. As a community, RP must recognize the benefits of attending a diverse, quality institution such as HHS. It is time to put an end to this conflict. RP residents must unite and give a vote of confidence for a high school that has put so many of RP's own students on a road to incredible success.

Consider this issue seriously, for it will surely arise again. And when it does, be sure to remember the facts I have presented about HHS. Do not be swayed by a barrage of impressive, verbose argument that only turn out to be one person's opinion, often a person that has never seen or experienced HHS.

The issue at hand concerns the students of Rochelle Park. The residents of Rochelle Park now have a true student's perspective. My view is backed by many successful alumni of Midland School and proud Hackensack High School students, and is further supported by those administrators and educators who witness the success of these students daily. (54 students and faculty members signed a letter supporting HHS that was distributed throughout Rochelle Park.)

Sincerely,
Thomas A. Ostendorp
Hackensack High School
Class of '99