Feb. 29 letters to the editor: Roseville resident soured by WHS hoops fans' behavior, more ...

One Royally rowdy game

I attended the Woodbury High School basketball game vs. Roseville Feb. 23 at Woodbury. It was the epitome of a great high school game. Two great basketball teams with great athletes, competing to try and secure a conference championship – a great atmosphere. Lights were dimmed for introductions of the home team, the gym was full, college scouts in attendance … it was great, seemed first class.

I then witnessed the worst sportsmanship from the Woodbury students. It started with a cheer toward the Roseville section that said, “sit down, shut up” over and over again. OK, fine, emotions were running high. Later, the whole Woodbury student section began booing the Roseville cheerleading squad so loudly every time they began a cheer it would completely cover their cheer. This went on for the entire rest of the game. These are kids, guests in Woodbury’s gym doing what they do: cheer.

The most disturbing part was the fact that the multiple administrators from Woodbury just sat there in the front row of the student section as the inappropriate behavior continued, including the athletic director.

It is unacceptable for the AD and the other staff to just sit there and allow that behavior to continue. Shame on you, Woodbury adults and staff. You failed your students. What did they learn from all of you at the game that night?

In retaliation, the Roseville students attempted the booing of Woodbury’s cheerleaders, the behavior was immediately corrected by the three Roseville administrators that were in the gym. Corrected once, and it never happened again.

Ellen Brown - Roseville

Earlier start times could hinder students’ alertness

An article in the Woodbury Bulletin on Feb. 15 reported that the District 833 School Board is discussing changing the start time at the district's four middle schools to 7:35 a.m. This would force thousands of middle school students to wake up before 6 a.m. to make buses that would pick them up before 7 a.m.

Managing busing costs is a challenge, but we are writing to encourage the board to explore other options. The Bulletin article reminded us that "High school start times were moved from 7:30 to 8:35 a.m. because education research suggesting that early morning classes hinder learning for high school students." That is correct and the district was right to make that change. Information about the negative impact of early school start times can be found at the National Sleep Foundation website which states "A modest delay in school start time of only 30 minutes could significantly improve adolescent alertness."

Given the proven research on this issue and the district's previous actions, how can we consider the exact opposite step for our middle school students? There must be other alternatives that would not negatively impact thousands of students at such a critical learning stage. Please find another solution.

Todd and Mindy Beukelman - Woodbury

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