Superintendent Pflueger talks with students about safety

Students of Bonners Ferry High School, I wanted a few minutes today to visit with you. Thank you for your time and attention.

We, the community, school district, and staff, are here for one reason and that is to help you succeed. Our job and goal is to make your high school experience positive and applicable toward your success in the future. We want this experience to be safe, civil and productive.

I first used these three words to frame in Valley View, so to the freshman and sophomores this may sound familiar, but these are far from elementary school targets. Imagine if our country and the world lived under these simple measures. Things would be much better for all of us. Maybe, we in Badger Nation can set the tone. It is all about making good choices.Safety is a basic human right. It has two forks—physical and emotional. It is just a matter of making the right choices.

Physical safety is the elimination of violence. There is no reason to start a fight at school. Words have so much more power. This is not to say you shouldn’t defend yourselves. You have the right and responsibility to protect yourself or others. Just don’t be the one to start it.

Safety is also a mental game. Emotional safety is determined by what people say and do to each other. This is commonly and far too often referred to as “bullying.”

This is one of the most over used words in schools. Conflict will happen — we are humans. Not all conflict is bullying. You are not being bullied when you don’t get your way. True bullying does happen and it is a powerful and hateful thing. Bullying takes conflict to an illegal level. If you find yourself in a bullying or harassment situation simply say “please stop,” then turn and walk away. Don’t get involved in the banter, it changes the situation. Find help and push back in a legal manner.

Civil behavior is what runs a relaxed society. The common theme of all religions is the “Golden Rule….treat others as you want to be treated”. Simply said, it is having manners: saying please and thank you often, and helping others when you can. Showing empathy, tolerance, compassion and respect are all civil behaviors. These must be exercised by all of us or our community will fail.

Intelligence is shown through civil acts. Hopefully these were just reminders of stuff you already know. How we can help you become more productive is mostly what I am heading for. We are all different. We cannot be expected to have the same skills. I love this quote from a pretty smart guy (Albert Einstein), “Everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid”.

You have many avenues to be productive; you choose what direction you want to go. The basic high school diploma is still available, but we have much more at BFHS. Advanced opportunities and college credits are available to you. If college is not what you want, the Career Technical Education (CTE) programs are willing to help: welding, FFA, cabinet making, technology skills, auto shop and drafting are available. I am working to expand these programs. We have sports, dance, drama, and robotics that can all lead to greater options. These are what we offer but the choice is up to you. Just getting by is not going to be good enough.

The teaching profession is another thing I would like some of you to consider. There currently is a huge decline of people entering the teaching profession. More than five years ago, Idaho could draw upon 1 and a half newly certified teachers for every one that left the classroom. Now the state is losing teachers twice as fast as it is replacing them. Here are a few stats I was given early this year:

During the 2009-2010 school year, 1380 teachers left while 2,001 new teachers were certified.

By the 2011-2012 school year, 2,401 teachers quit, retired or left the state while only 1,883 replacements had been certified. In 2013-2014, Idaho lost 1,979 teachers and gained only 934. The flow of people into Idaho’s teacher training programs dropped from 8,393 in 2009 to 5,397 in 2013.

Think about the best teacher you ever had—you can be the next best or favorite teacher. Think of the worst teacher you have ever had—can you do better? One of the most influential principals I ever worked with was not very good. I learned quickly and clearly what not to do. Working for the district is not just classroom teaching. For example, Darrell Chapman in maintenance at the HS is one of the best.

Do you like to cook or coach or mentor? Robotics, band, theatre, physical education, or early childhood all offer career opportunities in schools. Even driving a school bus and working in the middle school is available — if you’re tough enough!

Think about your options in the field of education. I am forming a partnership with the U of I. I hope this partnership will affect your tuition if you go into the profession of education. It is a great profession; it pays well, it opens up job opportunities almost anywhere. It took me to three beautiful locations in Idaho and to the San Juan Islands. It took your principal to Dubai. AND you get most of the summer off. Believe me, after a whole school year you will need it. The job is not an easy one! Your success and happiness in life is up to only one person — that is you and you alone. We are here to help. If you don’t want our help, please let us know in a civil manner.

Public school is not for everybody, I understand that. We will help you find another option that fits you better. I want to end with thanking all the students who go above and beyond. To the athletes, musicians, actors, and dancers — I thank you.

To the leadership classes and robotics club, I thank you. To all out there who does more than you need to, I wish you the best.