Addressing a Patch Reader's Concerns

On , reader  had a few concerns about my "article."

He wrote:

Dan buddy, I don't think you can base the Milford education system on the qualities of it's after school activities or the facilities. I know that you think that we might have a good education system because Joe B has a great program for music kids. When they say our education system is bad they might be talking about some of the course selection, curriculum, the rules, some of the teachers. A good story would be to investigate the school's Advanced Placement program. I hear you that the school has all those great things that you mention in your article, but I think you should take your assessment a step further. Just because our school has a really good program, does not make it a good school. Why don't you investigate some of the students claims, ask them what they don't like, and then maybe investigate that, besides negating your schoolmates claims that the school is bad because you think it's cool. So i'd say if you want to make a better article, why don't you make stories about other people, and not just your interests. I think that you'll find out that their opinions could lead you to a larger truth.

Well, Michael,

I specifically did not address education issues. I know for a fact that Milford has top-notch educational programs, from AP to special ed, but students themselves, at least the majority of them, will never care about how good the education programs are. What most care about, or at least come into contact with more often, are the extracurriculars.

However, to address your concerns:

• Milford has one of, if not the most diverse programs of study in the area. I counted 16, yes 16, Advanced Placement (AP) courses being offered in the 2011-2012 school year.
• As far as the core curriculum goes, it is dictated by the Massachusetts Department of Education.
• I can assure you that the rules are nothing that you wouldn't find at any other high school in the area. Although, we are allowed to chew gum during the day, and we are allowed to wear hats, albeit only in the hallways between classes.
• Teachers at Milford High School are among the best in the field. Throughout my 3 years thus far, I have had nothing but good teachers, and I'm usually the critical one. From social studies to health and technology, every teacher I have had was eager to help their students learn and achieve.

Going back, I incorporated—barely, I have to say—the Joe B. Band into my post because playing at the Relay for Life, they have a good way of giving back to the community, in the form of music. Please note that the Joe B. Band is not limited to "music kids," and that 4 out of the 8 students in it are not part of the Music Department. Furthermore, Joe B. is not a music teacher, but a history teacher.

Lastly, this is not an article, it is a blog. This is a designated place for me to post whatever I want, kind of like an op-ed piece.

Oh, and "it's" is a contraction for "it is," and therefore not possesive. I learned that at Milford High.