The Electric Buzz

Paradigm Reaches the Promised Land

Monday, November 21, 2011 By Ashley Cox

Six years ago thirty teenage students walked back to school because their bus broke down. Now these students, six years later, travel less than 20 feet to get to get to their class, seminary. Seminary is an LDS church program where students learn about their church, and the Paradigm high school seminary students are ecstatic. They were allowed to move into a building, specifically built for seminary. They have fought every step of the way. Six years ago the students were bused to seminary at a nearby public high school. However the bus was old and faulty, on several occasions the bus would break down and the students would have to walk down the streets back to their school. On one such an occasion as the students traveled, a school bus drove by full of students. “It wanted to mock us,” said the teacher Marshall McDonald, in good humor. “Our school bus didn’t work so of course a working school bus would have to drive past.” The days of walking seminary weren’t permanent. Paradigm high school relocated to West Jordan, Utah, and the seminary students were to meet in a portable. However when school started, the portable wasn't ready. “We met outside in a tent,” recalls Stanford Sorensen. “It was awesome.” The students and teachers jokingly called it their "Tabernacle in the Wilderness" just like the Israelites called there camp as they waited for the Promised Land. Paradigm only had to wait a month for the Promised Land though. A small portable house was soon delivered, and though everyone was grateful to meet indoors, the building was too small. There were just too many seminary students and only one classroom. After three years in the portable, permission was given by the LDS church, to buy and build a real seminary building. Paradigm had proved the student attendance was enough to justify a building. Construction was feverish but not fast enough for most of the seminary students. Students lined up to inspect the building and the teachers conducted tours for every class. After five months the building was complete. The teacher Brother Miller said. “To our knowledge this is the only seminary building built by the church for a charter school anywhere in the world. Please treat this building with respect.” And of course, the students do. *This was written from first hand experience by a Paradigm Seminary Student who was personally involved with the experience.