A local amusement park is facing heavy criticism following a comment on social media.
While guests at Knights Action Park at 1700 Knights Recreation Drive are used to the fountains and water guns surrounding the wading pools, there was a different kind of splash in a Facebook post from the company on Sunday morning after the company commented that teachers in schools weren’t doing enough.
“Basically, I did it on my phone, didn’t check it, said the word teachers and I should have said schools and school starts,” Knight said. “That’s where it all got out of hand. … I just want the hate to stop, that’s all I want.”
More: New study shows majority of tested lakes and rivers in Illinois too polluted for swimming
In response to a question about class schedules, water park co-owner Doug Knight posted on the company’s Facebook page that teachers were given paid time off on various holidays and that students received less quality instruction due to the longer class hours.
“I figure as long as teachers have two weeks of vacation at Christmas and one at Easter, they can work four days every other week,” Knight wrote. “Our kids are leaving high school with a sixth-grade diploma. It’s worth it. They could add 15 minutes a day to the schedule. At 180 days, that would give students two extra weeks of instruction and could save our summer. I’m assuming the school board can do the math, though.”
The answer came quickly.
“Just in case anyone missed this comment from Knights Action Park – a place that is STRONGLY supported by the education community,” wrote Hannah Wilson of Springfield. “I come from a family of educators, as does (my husband). The running narrative that our job is ‘lazy and easy’ is constantly refuted by the ongoing lack of teacher retention and abundance of vacancies across the country.”
Several commenters on the social media site called the statements about teachers being lazy completely false and a reason not to buy season tickets – which cost between $145 and $150.
In response to the posts, Knight posted an apology on the company’s Facebook page:
“I have great respect for teachers and their commitment to their students. My own children have had the privilege of being taught by incredible educators who have gone above and beyond to support their learning and personal development. I am committed to supporting initiatives that promote education and celebrate the achievements of teachers and students in our community. I apologize again for any harm my words may have caused.”
Since Sunday, over 1,000 comments have been received on the post. Most were not very impressed by the apology and demanded that the park show more consideration for the work of teachers in this area and their long working hours.
“As a teacher who worked there last summer, I am shocked. Blaming the teachers for this is ridiculous,” District 186 teacher Amanda Kother wrote online. “We teachers don’t make the calendar and I know many of your summer guests are teachers. I’m not sure that excuse works.”
More: “Back home”: After battling the flesh-eating streptococcus virus, KJ Reid returns to teaching
Other members of the Springfield education system defended the park, citing its past collaboration with the district.
“I don’t know what sparked all this or what your comment was, and honestly, I don’t need to know. I know you have supported students at my school and others for the past SEVERAL years with the incentive of free tickets,” wrote Springfield resident Mary Beth Kruzan. “I know we ALL sometimes say things we wish we hadn’t said, things get taken out of context and blown out of proportion.”
The free pass program comes from the third grade reading program with Knights Action Park, where third graders can read 10 different books to receive a free one-day pass to the park.
Knight has opposed starting school before Labor Day since 2007. He believes the tourism industry suffers from earlier school start dates, and points out that the tourism industry is more successful in states like Michigan, where schools start again after Labor Day.
“This has been going on for decades, taking away the summer from the tourism industry,” Knight said. “And there are only 400,000 people in this industry in this state. That just makes it harder for tourism in the state.”
Claire Grant writes about business, growth and development and other news topics for The State Journal-Register. Reach her at [email protected]; and on X (formerly known as Twitter): @Claire_Granted
