Kearny High School (New Jersey)

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Kearny High School
Location
336 Devon Street
Kearny, NJ 07032
Information
School district Kearny School District
Principal Alfred Somma
Enrollment

1,737 (as of 2005-06)[1]
Faculty 135.8 (on FTE basis)[1]
Student:teacher ratio 12.8[1]
Type Public high school
Grades 9 - 12
Athletics conference Watchung Conference
Nickname Kardinals
Established 1923
Information 201-955-5048
Homepage School website

Kearny High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school located in Kearny, New Jersey, as part of the Kearny School District.

Construction began on the present school facility began in 1921. Kearny High School opened for the fall semester in September 1923. The school's stadium was completed in 1925. In 1940, an addition costing $400,000 was added. In 1974, another addition was added that cost $5 million dollars, providing a new Music and Art Department, three gymnasiums, locker rooms, classrooms and parking. The school is divided into two different buildings that are connected to each other.

As of the 2005-06 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,737 students and 135.8 classroom teachers (on a FTE basis, for a student-teacher ratio of 12.8.[1]

Contents

[edit] Extracurricular activities

[edit] Athletics

The Kearny High School Kardinals compete in the Watchung Conference, which is made up of public high schools in Essex County, Hudson County and Union County in North Jersey, operating under the jurisdiction of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA).

In 2002, the boys soccer team earned the North I, Group IV sectional title, edging Clifton High School 3-2 in the tournament final.[2]

The baseball team won the North I, Group IV state sectional championship in 2003 with a 5-3 win vs. Ridgewood High School in the tournament final.[3]

In 2007, the girls soccer team, seeded #2, won the North I, Group III state sectional championship with a 3-0 win over fourth-seeded Montclair High School in the tournament final, the team's second consecutive title.[4][5]

The Kardinals wrestling team has won three consecutive conference championships from 2001-2004 again in 2006, and then again in 2008 in the Watchung Conference. The high school also honors their lone state champion at 130 lbs, Dave Cordoba who now coaches a local Catholic high school in Jersey City, NJ.

[edit] Marching band

The Kearny High School Marching Unit has enjoyed several years of great success in the past. Most notably, they were Tournament Of Band Class III Atlantic Coast champions in 1985, and their percussion section won High Percussion honors for three years straight, from '83 to '85. In addition the Kearny High School Marching Unit was group 3A USSBA Champions two years in a row in 1999 and 2000. In 2003, the field was under construction. This was devastating to the marching band, and the winning streak was lost. The Kearny High School Marching Unit is currently a Group 4A marching band as of the fall of 2007.

[edit] Incidents and controversy

[edit] Religion in classroom controversy

In the autumn of 2006, David Paszkiewicz, a history teacher at Kearny High with 14 years of experience at the school, generated heated controversy when it was revealed that the teacher preached Christian religious doctrine to his students during an American history class. When confronted by Kearny High School junior Matthew LaClair in a meeting with Paskiewicz and the administration, Paszkiewicz denied ever preaching Christianity in class. After this, LaClair produced recorded tapes in which Paszkiewicz was recorded saying that God :

“...did everything in his power to make sure that you could go to heaven, so much so that he took your sins on his own body, suffered your pains for you, and he’s saying, ‘Please, accept me, believe.’ If you reject that, you belong in hell.”

The teacher is said to have also taught that there were dinosaurs aboard Noah’s Ark and that there is no scientific basis for evolution or the Big Bang theory of the origin of the universe.

The incident has received considerable coverage, with LaClair being interviewed on CNN's Anderson Cooper 360° and in The New York Times.

This controversy has raised interesting questions over the legal right of students to record what teachers tell them during class. With some believing it is important in order to keep teacher's accountable, while others argue it infringes on the teacher's personal liberty.[6]

The student's supporters have further reported that "he has been the target of harassment and a death threat from fellow students and 'retaliation' by school officials who have treated him, not the teacher, as the problem. The retaliation, they say, includes the district’s policy banning students from recording what is said in class without a teacher’s permission and officials’ refusal to punish students who have harassed Matthew."[7]

Deborah Jacobs, New Jersey executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) said Kearny High School had “violated the spirit and the letter of freedom of religion and the First Amendment,” and that the A.C.L.U. would support the LaClairs if they were to file suit. The People for the American Way Foundation has expressed similar support.

[edit] Textbook content

On April 9, 2008, senior LaClair challenged the way certain subjects are presented in his Advanced Placement government text American Government. Among other issues regarding content, the 2005 edition of the textbook being used states, “Science doesn’t know if we are experiencing a dangerous level of global warming or how bad the greenhouse effect is if it exists at all.”[8] LaClair brought it to the attention of the Center for Inquiry. As a result, the textbook company “will be working with the authors in detail the criticisms of the Center for Inquiry.” Many doubtful passages have been eliminated from newer editions, though some of the mentioned errors continue to be ignored, such as a passage that declares that the Supreme Court has ruled that children are not allowed to pray in public schools.

[edit] Inappropriate interaction with students

During the 2006-07 school year Celeste Adamski, a 27-year-old English teacher who had taught for three years at the school, was suspended with pay on suspicion of sexual activity with one or more of her students. Based on allegations passed on to the principal of Kearny High School, Mrs. Adamski was then suspended with pay for the summer of 2007 until October while the investigation went on. In mid-October she pleaded guilty to an allegation with one male student. She later agreed to never teach again and had to give up her teaching certificate and will not be allowed to hold a public job. Her husband, John Adamski, a History teacher at KHS, will continue to teach.[9]

[edit] Notable alumni

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d Kearny High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed November 1, 2007.
  2. ^ 2002 Boys Soccer - North I, Group IV, NJSIAA. Accessed July 16, 2007.
  3. ^ 2003 Baseball Tournament - North I, Group IV, NJSIAA. Accessed July 16, 2007.
  4. ^ 2007 Girls Soccer - North I, Group IV, NJSIAA. Accessed November 15, 2007.
  5. ^ Bernstein, Jason. "Back-2-back: straight sectional title", Jersey Journal, November 9, 2007. Accessed November 15, 2007. "In her final game on Kearny's home field, Pace tallied two goals and an assist in the Kardinals' 3-0 victory over Montclair in the final of the NJSIAA North I, Group IV girls soccer tournament. With the victory, Kearny High (19-3-1) repeated as sectional champion."
  6. ^ "Talk in Class Turns to God, Setting Off Public Debate on Rights", The New York Times, December 18, 2006.
  7. ^ "Student, 16, Finds Allies in His Fight Over Religion" The New York Times, February 19, 2007.
  8. ^ Civics textbook disputed | The Journal Gazette
  9. ^ Conte, Michaelangelo. "KHS teacher barred from classrooms forever", Jersey Journal, October 18, 2007.
  10. ^ Sam Dente, The Bseball Cube. Accessed December 30, 2007.
  11. ^ Ed Halicki profile, The Baseball Cube. Accessed June 18, 2007.
  12. ^ Yannis, Alex. "Cosmos Spirit Infuses 2 At Tournament Debut", The New York Times, June 2, 1989. Accessed December 17, 2007. "Harkes, who went to Kearny High School, has been the most industrious player for the Americans in their three World Cup qualifying games (1-1-1) thus far."
  13. ^ a b c Walker, Ian. "Football: Town that built US soccer from immigrant legacy", The Independent, July 31, 2003. Accessed May 20, 2007. "Many of these immigrants, particularly the Scots, settled in the New Jersey town of Kearny. Starting with the Glaswegian immigrant Archie Stark, who is the highest-scoring player in the history of American soccer, through to John Harkes, Tab Ramos and Tony Meola, key players in the national team of the Nineties, this small town (population 35,000) has been home to many of the America's best players. It was also, until recently, home to Tim Howard, United's new keeper."
  14. ^ Bob Stanley player profile, The Baseball Cube. Accessed May 20, 2007.
  15. ^ Alex Webster profile, databaseFootball.com. Accessed July 12, 2007.

[edit] External links