Radio, it's a sound salvation

Late in September, Baton Rouge Magnet High School's two student-run radio stations earned some well-merited attention from Louisiana Public Broadcasting. Here's the story. (Note: Large download; QuickTime needed for playback.)

It was cool to watch the kids having so much fun committing radio. I know the feeling, having been in their shoes at WBRH almost three decades ago.

I well remember what one girl described -- the joy of discovering that what you previously had derided as "old people's music" was pretty good after all. For her, it was her parents' music.

For me, it was my parents' music, and I learned to appreciate it while doing the late-afternoon big-band shift at 'BRH. The only difference is her parents' music . . . would . . . be . . . my . . . music.

Rock, soul, R&B. Old people's music. Old . . . people.

NOW WHEN THE HELL DID THAT HAPPEN!?!?

Seeing those kids, in those studios where I spent so much time back when it was just WBRH-FM, 20 blazing watts at 90.1 on your FM dial -- and when KBRH-AM was still WAIL, a commercial station spinning the rock 'n' roll hits at 1260 AM -- well, it just made me feel good.

And it made me so proud of them that they've achieved what they have at an old school that's been so neglected and is, in places, crumbling around them. Achievement in such a physical environment is no small feat. There really is such a thing as an environment conducive to learning (which Baton Rouge High no longer is), as evidenced by this excerpt from a five-part study released by the Baton Rouge Area Chamber of Commerce in August:

Another aspect of school climate—and a frequently cited determinant of student achievement—is the state of physical facilities. Research shows that higher achievement is associated with newer buildings and overall facility conditions, as is improved health and attendance. In particular, studies show a 5 to 17 percentile point difference between achievement of students in poor buildings and those students in “standard” buildings, even when the socioeconomic status of students is controlled. Quality of facilities has also been linked with improved student behavior, fewer discipline problems, and more positive attitudes and relationships among teachers and students in general. In fact, research has linked the quality of facilities to the ability to retain teachers; in one study, this factor was even more important than teacher compen-sation to their decision to remain in a given school or district.

Of the seven in-school factors reviewed in our research, the quality of physical facilities was the only one where the Baton Rouge area apparently trails its peer regions by a substantial degree. Low investment in facilities appears to be a statewide trend. In fact, the Baton Rouge area fares relatively well when compared to the Louisiana average. For facility maintenance and repair, Louisiana schools spent approximately $133 per student per year, while districts in the Baton Rouge area spent an average of nearly $350. The average in our area is bolstered by high expenditures for facility repairs and maintenance in EBR ($578 per student), compared to only $160 in Livingston and $93 in Ascension. Nevertheless, the average age of facilities in EBR is greater than 40 years, and many lack adequate electrical systems, roofing, HVAC systems, and learning equipment/materials. Even after the most critical facility needs are addressed by ongoing capital improvement programs, approximately $600 million in additional identified needs in EBR must be addressed for facilities to meet official specifications.

The cost of maintenance, repair, and construction for schools throughout the country is rising annually due to higher enrollment, increased technology demands, and aging facilities. Construction and repair is primarily a local responsibility, which can lead to wide variations in funding and costs across school districts. Experts note that districts with low property wealth, numerous competing needs, and debt limitations face particular constraints in raising the necessary resources for improving school facilities.

You can read the whole thing here.

Now, as I've said before, if only WBRH/KBRH would put up a decent website and streaming audio so I could listen . . . .