I have been saying from the beginning that all these small schools and MOST of the charter schools are failures.
Proven right again.
You probably have NO idea how poorly run a vast majority of schools are run in atleast one part of the city.
It doesn't matter what fancy name you put on it, still run by people with low standards and student's willing to play the limbo with that bar.
Saturday, March 07, 2009
MPS targets charter schools
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We need to free American education from governmental control. The teacher unions are just another special interest group out for themselves.
Of course, most citizens are pleased with the status quo, with government education serving as a "free" daycare center more than anything else.
Agreed, the teacher unions, a defacto arm of the Democrat party, are not for the students, and neither is the Obama Administration.
http://rightfromtheright.blogspot.com/
jason, isn't this post about charter schools in particular, not public or private schools in general?
the number of students actually enrolled in charter schools is quite negligible, against the public school population
i don't know about the midwest, but, here in the northeast, the results have generally proven to be dismal, and the vast majority have closed
homeschooling is VERY unusual, stigmatized, and generally frowned upon...
most of the slack is taken up by catholic or other faith-based schools, although the catholic schools are consolidating or closing down altogether, due to budget challenges and/or demographic shifts
so, what other realistic option for solid, fundamental education is feasible?
when the charter schools fold, those kids either get reabsorbed into the public system, or move to other districts or states anyway...
Game, I'd be interested in hearing more from you on our education system. Whats wrong(not whos at fault) and might be done to fix it. I'm not very knowledgeable about this and would certainly enjoy some input from someone in the center of it. If you could compose a post on it it might help guys like me. I'm not interested in the blame game though. We are all capable of infering that for ourselves. Just problems and solutions.
I think I have made significant comments from time to time...when I have time I will do some more
Here is my $0.02. I have a BA in BIO and PE. Certified 7-12 science and K-12 PE.
1. You can't generalize anything about education, and I mean anything. And yet what does centralized government do? Generalize everything about education.
2. One teacher can't possibly give 30 individuals all the attention they need, much less deserve.
3. A school shouldn't be some social experiment. Diversity shouldn't be a class or a topic in class.
4. Everyone has a civil right to an education. Education includes two steps. Presentation, which should be the responsibility of the school (more precicely local parents through a capable school board). And Learning, which is the responsibility of the student (aided by the parent). Educators who refuse to present must be removed. Learners who refuse to learn must be removed. The kid sitting next to an "unlearner" often has less rights because he or she must tolerate the "diversity" of his or her classroom.
(I personally think they should be sentenced to "work that American's won't do". Yes, the world needs ditch diggers too.)
Sorry this is so short. I would add more if you so desire.
If you do not mind I would love to comment after each of your points:
1. You can't generalize anything about education, and I mean anything. And yet what does centralized government do? Generalize everything about education.
The sad thing is you have to generalize, especially in a huge school system. I also agree that even though there is no "one size fits all" I think you need to keep the size selection to a minimum. If a school district has 12 different programs about bullying, I'm going to guess the message gets muddled and really becomes ineffective.
2. One teacher can't possibly give 30 individuals all the attention they need, much less deserve.
When teachers were meant to teach and not be the parent and social worker, and best friend, and advocate and everything else the person's family doesn't give a crap enough to do themselves, teacher's jobs became too much.
3. A school shouldn't be some social experiment. Diversity shouldn't be a class or a topic in class.
In the inner city, diversity mean learning more about the ethnicity you already are...in the burbs it means learning about black people.
4. Everyone has a civil right to an education. Education includes two steps. Presentation, which should be the responsibility of the school (more precicely local parents through a capable school board). And Learning, which is the responsibility of the student (aided by the parent). Educators who refuse to present must be removed. Learners who refuse to learn must be removed. The kid sitting next to an "unlearner" often has less rights because he or she must tolerate the "diversity" of his or her classroom.
(I personally think they should be sentenced to "work that American's won't do". Yes, the world needs ditch diggers too.)
I have said it many, many times...if you got rid of 20% of the kids in the inner city and put them in military boarding schools the other 80% would be okay. The number might be closer to 30%, but that is not the point right now. Also, until society in general decides people are responsible for their lives again, we are going to continue to have kids who do not think they are required to do ANYTHING...and looking at our President and govt, the era of personal responsiblity is gone..and might never come back
Sorry this is so short. I would add more if you so desire.
I am not clear on the generalization thought. Generalize what? Game makes a knowable point that one size doesn't fit all. Are we talking instruction, curriculum or what? I know kids learn in different ways and at different rates. My own children are proof of that. So how do we make that adjustment?
I agree that teachers bear way too much responsibility. Parents should handle the bulk of it. I'm not sure how one makes that happen with some though.The plus in teaching is one has a chance to have a lasting impact and purpose in life.
I must admit that my profession has none of that. It's mostly just dribble to pass the time.I tried to make it something more in my last job and am now unemployed.
I'm don't accept understanding diversity is a social experiment. I would say it is a necessity to individuals and societies that want to be free. How that is taught and what is taught in that vein would seem to be the key to me.
My elementary schools had 2 groups of students in each grade. The brighter or the faster learners and the rest. I was in the second class by the way. The fact is I don't learn fast but learn well. I also have discovered that I learn more by doing than by book learning.
Now there are certainly those that don't care. I would say that would include the vast majority of students. Most kids don't like school and are not that excited about going. I think they don't understand the purpose of what is happening nor do they have any idea of how they will apply it. I'm not sure how one fixes that problem but I think that may be the crux of it.
For those who are incorrigibles I like your idea Game. Those that are worried about spending money may not like it because it would certainly be more costly. I wouldn't be one of those. I'm with you but that and whiney parents who think their kids shouldn't be there or ones that don't want that kind of separation might be your challenges there.
What things should kids be learning in school to be successful and productive members of society? Do you think the 3 rs are enough or beyond that what is necessary to have an understanding and exposure of to be a capable person in todays society?
I have my thoughts on this but I would be interested to hear what you guys think. Do we educate to fit the corporate model and needs of business or ...something else?
Generalize what? everything is generalized because it has to be.
What things should kids be learning in school to be successful and productive members of society? math would be nice. most kids can't do math. What is 10% of 100 Johnny? Hold on, let me get my calculator, it is in my "diversity" back pack.
Do you think the 3 rs are enough or beyond that what is necessary to have an understanding and exposure of to be a capable person in todays society? It would be a start, like, you know, education and stuff, of, like, us U.S. Americans, to at least know the 3, like, r's.
Did your high school education prepare you for the corporate world? Of course it didn't. It can't. It shouldn't. On the job training will do that. But only if you can communicate properly, and know what 10% of a TARP bailout check is.
school has meant so many things throughout its history..
sometimes to make patriots, sometimes to simply hold kids out of jobs adults wanted.
Right now school is the parent, the teacher, the cook, social worker, ect...atleast in the inner city.
Now I'm sorry Ron, but education is run by liberals..i have a different job now and I am way way up the ladder...so understand how I must be able to work with them.
And none of them think they are pushing a liberal adjenda, just what they think.
But when EVERYONE in the room thinks one thing, what can I do?
NCLB makes us teach the 2 R's, but I think that will change soon, then it will be back to 10000 different programs, no focus.
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