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MyspaceI urge voters not to elect Dean Nevins to the Santa Barbara School Board. For two years I observed Nevins in action at Goleta Union School District (GUSD) while I was implementing a program to provide swimming lessons for every third grader in GUSD.
Dean Nevins made it his mission to destroy 3rd Grade Swim. Working with a malcontent teacher/union representative at Kellogg school he maintained that the lessons, held at UCSB’s Campus Pool and Recreation Center, were unsafe. When informed that over half of GUSDs students are Latino and that the majority cannot swim his response was “why don’t they take lessons in the summer like everyone else?” Nevins continued to attack the program even after two separate surveys of parents, teachers, and students showed near unanimous support for 3rd Grade Swim.
Dean Nevins tenure at GUSD shows a disturbingly small-minded approach to education that completely ignores the less privileged members of our community. What kind of educator overlooks the fact that drowning is a leading cause of accidental death amongst children 14 and under? What kind of educator denies children a life skill that can prevent childhood diabetes? What kind of educator denies swimming lessons to children who live in a community bordering the ocean?
Electing Mr. Nevins to the Santa Barbara School Board is a recipe for disaster. As a community volunteer and parent with children in both GUSD and SBSD, I urge the community to vote NO on Nevins.
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Comments
I'm voting "yes" on Nevins. Thanks for letting us know that there is still someone in public service with some common sense!
Really....do we truly expect our school districts to teach swimming???? There must be some huge budget surplus sitting around that I am unaware of.
mom2two (anonymous profile)
October 29, 2010 at 1:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm also voting for Dean Nevins, he's a loose cannon that's not afraid to speak his mind and he's willing stand up to the local power machine. As far as swimming, he's right. I learned to swim at the Y summer program, along with all my friends. Goleta Union shouldn't have to pay for this, use the money for something better.
CManSB (anonymous profile)
October 29, 2010 at 5:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Physical Ed including swimming is a traditional part of the curriculum, at least until selfish, hateful people started screwing with the educational system.
EZK (anonymous profile)
October 30, 2010 at 2:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The 3rd Grade Swimming lessons were entirely free. We provided lessons, a suit, towel and transportation. GUSD did not pay a dime. In fact, Dean Nevins & Co. over billed us by 1/3rd for transportation. Anyone who denies free swimming lessons to children who otherwise will never learn to swim does not belong on the Santa Barbara School Board. Peter Neushul
neushul (anonymous profile)
October 30, 2010 at 2:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
But children also need instructional time in class. Why weren't the free 3rd grade swim classes offered in the summer before school started? That would make a lot more sense.
Pimms (anonymous profile)
November 2, 2010 at 7:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The lessons took place during time already allocated for PE. We don't limit running or countless other PE activities to summer. Limit swimming lessons to the summer and working Latino parents will be unable to have their children participate. Try putting yourself in the shoes of someone who cannot afford lessons. Test scores improved during the period when third grade swimming lessons were held. Healthy bodies equal healthy minds. We are talking about a life skill that can also help prevent a child from drowning. Nevins is unsuited to serve a 50% Latino student body. Peter Neushul
neushul (anonymous profile)
November 2, 2010 at 10:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)