But the public school systems do it constantly. Close a building, put a grade level into a school they don't belong in, redistrict, etc., etc., etc. Remember a couple of years ago, we had a number of students changing schools each year, not by choice, but by administrative decisions. Ah what we do to our children and yet wonder later what happen to them!
A number of years ago, the town's parental community actually stood together and basically demanded that our 6th graders be taken out of the middle schools. Educationally sound. Fortunately for our era we prevailed and grade 6 was put back in the elementary school. We have since gone now to talking about grade 5 into the middle schools. I know other towns do now, and have in the past, had grade 5 in middle school and it has worked, but they are extremely different communities. But in Framingham - that's absurd because of the our nature - and only creates a factory day care. Thank goodness for the old adage "they will learn in spite of us" may be able to take hold - at least - for some. The others will be those lost in the big cracks created by the BIG SCHOOL FACILITIES philosophy. As an example, I am amazed at what goes on at Framingham High School - students constantly coming and going past my house at all times of the day. And when the school is called to report their students roaming they suggest that the police be called!! They don't even know who is coming and going from the building. Yes, many at FHS receive a great education, but those are the students that would anywhere they are placed. We have many students that go to school afraid on a daily basis. They know who and where to stay away from within the building. They are relieved to make it through another day. Regardless, we, the adult community, are responsible for the educational system, whether you have children in it or not. We should insist on the best and not be continuously bullied by administrative decisions. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Rene s Mandel" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Paul Willitts" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Cc: "Rich Shapiro" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; "Town Meeting Members" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; "Framingham Neighbors" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, February 07, 2003 1:46 PM Subject: Re: Question about plowing the churches. > Yet to abandon education for lack of money? Tell that to the girls at > Monseignor Ryan HS! > > Or at Aquinas College, where I worked until it closed its doors in 1999. > > When the church runs out of money for education, it shuts the schoolhouse > doors. Trys to find seats at other schools in its system, but if that > doesn't work, tough luck. Towns and cities can't do this. For that matter, > their public schools _must_ absorb any children left stranded by the > closing of private, religious, or charter schools. > > Rene Mandel > Pct. 3
