Re: WHHS Shutting Down May 28th.
Thanks for noticing the mistaken call letters in the article. I'm the station manager for WHSS and our demise has more than just one cause. Yes, radio isn't as magical as it was when I was a kid because of changes in technology that enable instant gratification. With an MP3 player kids never have to wait for a song they like because their greatest hits are instantly at their finger tips. Kids hear new music via the internet not waiting for their local deejay to tell them what the next hot group, album or single is going to be.
For the past 35 years WHSS has been operated by a full time staff of none. Even as the station manager I spend more time keeping things going than anyone and yet I'm pulled in multiple directions preparing for and teaching six different classes each day, managing a cable video production facility along with the daily extracurricular responsibilities and activities every teacher is expected to do. Each one deserves to have my full time focus but there just aren't enough hours in a day. There are things that just don't get done. When I began teaching maybe 10 percent of my students were working. Today more than 75 percent have jobs after school not to mention those participating in other extracurricular activities such as sports, ROTC, band, drama, and clubs. The kids days are full and for whatever reason radio seems to be the only activity that doesn't require them to pledge every day participation. I try to be reasonable and ask for one or two hours a week. Because of that when something has to be cut it's usually radio since it's asking the least of them. These are not excuses but realities. I take my hat off to every school station adviser who is able to keep their station on the air with at least some programming updated on a weekly basis. That's an accomplishment.
Thanks to those who have expressed sadness at the closing of this door of opportunity. Our district will find another way to challenge the next generation of kids. We can look back with some satisfaction at the students who gained valuable skills, confidence and experience programming for our listeners. Everyone of those students are going to tell their kids about being a deejay on the New Rock Alternative 89.5 WHSS Hamilton-Cincinnati.
Thanks for noticing the mistaken call letters in the article. I'm the station manager for WHSS and our demise has more than just one cause. Yes, radio isn't as magical as it was when I was a kid because of changes in technology that enable instant gratification. With an MP3 player kids never have to wait for a song they like because their greatest hits are instantly at their finger tips. Kids hear new music via the internet not waiting for their local deejay to tell them what the next hot group, album or single is going to be.
For the past 35 years WHSS has been operated by a full time staff of none. Even as the station manager I spend more time keeping things going than anyone and yet I'm pulled in multiple directions preparing for and teaching six different classes each day, managing a cable video production facility along with the daily extracurricular responsibilities and activities every teacher is expected to do. Each one deserves to have my full time focus but there just aren't enough hours in a day. There are things that just don't get done. When I began teaching maybe 10 percent of my students were working. Today more than 75 percent have jobs after school not to mention those participating in other extracurricular activities such as sports, ROTC, band, drama, and clubs. The kids days are full and for whatever reason radio seems to be the only activity that doesn't require them to pledge every day participation. I try to be reasonable and ask for one or two hours a week. Because of that when something has to be cut it's usually radio since it's asking the least of them. These are not excuses but realities. I take my hat off to every school station adviser who is able to keep their station on the air with at least some programming updated on a weekly basis. That's an accomplishment.
Thanks to those who have expressed sadness at the closing of this door of opportunity. Our district will find another way to challenge the next generation of kids. We can look back with some satisfaction at the students who gained valuable skills, confidence and experience programming for our listeners. Everyone of those students are going to tell their kids about being a deejay on the New Rock Alternative 89.5 WHSS Hamilton-Cincinnati.