Hendrickson was a ‘good fit’
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
1 of 3 free articles.
Editor,
A high school is always full of questions. What is the square root of 59? Who served as the 13th president of the United States? Who’s she dating now? Suddenly, these questions have been overshadowed by the new “Why did Mr. Hendrickson get dismissed?"
Two main theories have been floating around the school. First, he was fired because the school board did not believe he was a “good fit” for our school. A good fit? Mr. Hendrickson went above and beyond the required job description of vice principal. Not only did he act as the disciplinarian of our school, but he found time to participate on a Polson IBA team (an after-school basketball program for Polson High School students) attend practically every sporting event, and assist our student body government in making our high school a better place. The new student lounge? The $3,000 grant for fund raising? How is that not a good fit?? Questions, questions. Since the official answer only raises more questions, there are rumors. Someone said there were too many complaints from parents about his disciplinary actions. Such complaints, if they are real, must be taken with a grain of salt. I know students who have complained a little about his discipline in the hallways, but they’re the ones that do the crime then get bent out of shape when they have to do the time. From personal experience, Mr. Hendrickson goes by the rules spelled out in our student handbook, given to every student at the beginning of the year. It is common knowledge that the disciplinarian is never going to get the most popularity votes because, really, who likes to get detention? It’s tough to be the “bad guy,” but someone has to do it, and he’s done it in a fair and consistent way. I would only hope that’s the same way the school board is run.
We find ourselves with more questions. What sort of place is PHS? Is it the sort of place that can be trusted to treat people right? What are students to learn from the way our leaders have acted?
Mr. Hendrickson left his job in Idaho to come to Polson High School at our school’s request. He’s served two years as our assistant principal, has just had time to settle down in a new home and have a baby, and now he is being asked to leave. Is there a good reason that a good school would ask someone in that position to leave, without being able to say what it was? Mr. Hendrickson has done a good job, and we want him to stay. So, school board, why are you taking him away?
Molly Ricketts
Senior
Polson High School
