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ObamaCare Battles from Chamberlain High School. The Administrators speak about their students.

Posted Sep 22, 2009 by Al Mccray

Updated Sep 22, 2009 at 03:46 PM

The Chamberlain High School students spoke loud and clear. They let it be known that they have something important to say about the issues, especially about health care. These students are a reflection of this generation. They are engaged in what’s going on in our city, state, nation and the world. It’s no longer just MTV and cartoons on the TV sets that captured their interests. It’s also CNN, YouTube, C-Spann and the ever present internet.

Their principal and school board member are very proud of them. Here is what they say about the students.

(L-R) Susan Valdes, school board member, and Jeff Boldt, Chamberlain High School principal.

Susan Valdes, says, “Although looking at our kids, they aren’t any different today than when I was their age.  Well, with a couple of exceptions!  One of them being children weren’t allowed in adult conversations nor did adults speak in front of children any sensitive topic.  The other exception is technology wasn’t available for me then as it is available today.  Our students are engaged in the current event topics because the topics are relevant to them in their journey to adulthood. 

Our teachers also encourage the students to participate and become an active member of society by understanding what is happening in their community, state and on a national level.  Our children are more informed because of the resources available to them.  I speak to many middle and high school students and have chats with them regarding items that are important to them.  They talk to me about many subjects including the economy, health care, the war just to name a few.  We shouldn’t underestimate our kids because they’re kids, we should listen more to what they have to say we may learn something. 

Our children amaze me more and more each day! “
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Jeff Boldt says, “As Principal of Chamberlain High School, it has always been my belief that we adults in society greatly underestimate our youth of today. The current topic of health care reform in our country has certainly brought about strong opinions amongst adults.  For the many that believe our young people selfishly care only of their current lives, texting friends, “hanging out” with their peers, weekend plans etc,  and not about their futures and national current events, I say you have far underestimated our young people.

They indeed have opinions and are much more aware of the current issues than, sadly to say, their own parents in many cases.

This is certainly the case with health care reform. They discuss these issues in their schools as part of the broadbased education we educators provide our students on a daily basis. The students receive information from teachers and process that information with the background knowledge and information they obtain from media sources and family in some cases and form their opinions.

Do not underestimate the interest our young people have about current affairs, the research they have done to be educated on the subjects, and the powerful opinions they form and are more than willing to share.”

Jeff Boldt, Principal at Chamberlain High School has served the students of the School District of Hillsborough County since December 1974 in the positions of teacher, coach, Assistant Principal for Student Affairs, Assistant Principal for Curriculum and since February 2006 as Principal. Mr. Boldt is a graduate of the University of Tampa earning both a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics in 1974 and then a Masters of Education degree in Administration and Supervision in 1978.

He began his teaching career teaching mathematics at Sligh Junior High School in 1974. He subsequently taught mathematics at Coleman Junior High, Leto High School and H.B. Plant High School before becoming mathematics department at East Bay High School in 1984.

In 1987 he was appointed Assistant Principal for Student Affairs when Bloomingdale Senior High School opened its doors for the first time. During his tenure at Bloomingdale, Mr. Boldt served as Chairperson of the APSA Council for the school district and completed the Preparing New Principal’s program. In 1993 he became the Assistant Principal for Curriculum at Chamberlain. During the initial Chamberlain years he also served as Chairperson of the APC Council and was the AP representative on the Hillsborough Association of Secondary Administrators (HASA) board. From 2001-2006, he served as the Assistant Principal for Curriculum at Riverview High School while the school was the largest high school in the Hillsborough district. Mr. Boldt’s professional goal was reached when he was appointed Principal of Chamberlain High School in February 2006.

Mr. Boldt was recognized as “High School Administrator of the Year” by the Hillsborough Counselors Association in 2008-2009.

The same year he was selected as “High School Principal of the Year” by the Hillsborough County Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA).

His wife Barbara, also an educator, teaches mathematics at Horace Mann Middle School in Brandon. The couple resides in Valrico.
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There you have it, these teenagers are not part of any lost generation. I was very impressed by these students, their teachers and the school’s administrators as I was preparing this story.

Write comments below.  almccray @aol.com