Valley students will have a new media platform

This morning, President Obama is scheduled to give a speech to America’s school children. Kids get a lot of that. Somebody’s always speaking to them about a variety issues.

The Frontiersman is giving local students a chance to speak for themselves.

This Friday — it is hoped every Friday during the school year — a student page will be published.

There will be an essay section where a student can reflect on the world around them in their own words.

A feature story will be written to highlight people, events and activities. We hope there will be photography or graphics to help illustrate the words.

A teacher’s column will return to give readers insight into what goes on in the classrooms.

This is all an effort not just to let the students hone their writing skills, but to help readers gain a little more information about the children’s academic world.

The current fear among educators is that students might not be eager to participate given the heavy load of homework they already have to deal with every day.

We think that’s going to be the opposite.

When students see their colleagues writing, reporting and making photographs, they might jump in on the fun. The page is going to start with high school students, but younger students will eventually join in.

We have a teacher who is helping coordinate the coverage, but she will fade out of the scene fairly soon. At that point it will be good if teachers spot a student who might like to do some writing, design graphics or stick their toe in the world of photography. Maybe a composition assignment would be great reading. Home-schooled children should also participate. Readers will note among the first students’ work will come from Glacier View. So we’re not just looking for students in the core area, we want work from all the schools.

Through it all, we hope you readers will encourage these students with a pat on the back or some kind words. We don’t want this to divide the Valley the way the president’s speech has. The Frontiersman believes this effort will be something President Obama and everyone would endorse.