Sara is right: a lower birth rate and the resulting increasing percentage of “Empty Nesters” and retired households in town are the biggest factor in declining school enrollment - there are simply far fewer kids here than there used to be. …This trend has been obvious for decades.
The number of students leaving for private schools may be a factor, but I would argue is insignificant in light of the general shrinking of the available school-aged population. ( I will agree, though, that the town’s increasing average income and home values suggests that more families can afford private schools nowadays.) -Allen Vander Meulen Sent from my iPhone > On Mar 24, 2022, at 16:45, Sara Mattes <[email protected]> wrote: > > Mr. Dwyer, > As someone who advocates the use of good data before we jump to conclusions > and answers, that we diagnose accurately before we prescribe, what data have > you used to imply large numbers of students are leaving for private schools? > What have the numbers been over the years, decades? > Perhaps there are historical trends that might inform this discussion. > > Regards, > Sara Mattes > ------ > Sara Mattes > > > > >> On Mar 23, 2022, at 9:11 AM, JAY DWYER <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> Hi Fuat, >> >> “There are lies ,damn lies and statistics”. >> >> I agree that we have to take more than one matrix when evaluating >> performance. In addition to the numerical scores I was also shocked by the >> number of students leaving to go to private schools. That fact car leaded >> what did decline in Lincoln school enrollment over the last 10 years as the >> population has grown. >> >> Something is amiss ! >> >> People vote with their feet in their pocketbooks when they’re not pleased >> with the product. >> >> If you agree with my perspective please vote for Joseph Dwyer for school >> committee on March 28. >> >> Thank you, >> >> Jay Dwyer >> 603.560.1787 c >> >> >> >>> On Mar 22, 2022, at 4:51 PM, Fuat Koro <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>> >>> Bryce, >>> >>> My observation is when residents question the "goodness" of our education, >>> discussions typically get stuck in much the same way you highlighted: >>> >>> "Typical assessment approaches like test scores and rankings by various >>> publications are not good indicators of our education quality. In the >>> absence of a yardstick, here are a few personal anecdotes why I think our >>> education is good (or bad). " >>> >>> Perhaps this already exists, but as part of their stated role, the School >>> Committee should be able to help us understand what our data-driven >>> evaluation criteria are. >>> >>> Regards, >>> Fuat Koro >>> >>> On Tue, Mar 22, 2022 at 1:59 PM Bryce Wells via Lincoln >>> <[email protected]> wrote: >>>> Jay, >>>> >>>> I find it concerning that you are prescribing a solution to a (perceived) >>>> problem without any background or experience as an educator. I find it >>>> galling that you are using Niche.com as your primary source for the >>>> problem, but that's another issue for another time. My recommendation is >>>> that you at least start with the state-mandate proficiency exams and the >>>> school's performance therein... btw, I have no idea where LPS ranks. >>>> >>>> More homework? Oh brother. Have you vetted or discussed this >>>> multi-pronged plan with Becky McFall or Sharon Hobbs? You might want to >>>> start there and see WHAT shortfalls they think there MIGHT be and how THEY >>>> think they should be solved. That sort of approach will surely get my >>>> attention... and vote. >>>> >>>> Without getting into personal specifics (because as Lincoln Talk's eristic >>>> pundit Dennis Liu would remind me, the plural of anecdote is NOT data), >>>> both my boys went through LPS and are thriving at LS. They were well >>>> prepared for high school. Many of their friends are thriving. Is there >>>> room for improvement? Always. >>>> >>>> Also, personally speaking, they had many friends who went to Fenn or other >>>> private schools. The parents I spoke to about that decision (a deeply >>>> personal one) communicated that they wanted their child in a same-sex >>>> learning environment or they valued the private education experience or >>>> they wanted to provide more avenues for their child outside of LS. >>>> >>>> Thanks for listening. >>>> >>>> Bryce >>>> >>>> >>>> On Tue, Mar 22, 2022 at 1:34 PM JAY DWYER <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>> Why ? >>>>> >>>>> Here are the numbers for K-8 Lincoln Schools from : niche.com >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> 59% proficient in math >>>>> 61% proficient in english >>>>> >>>>> What grade do you get with 61% on a report card? >>>>> >>>>> You get an F for failure. >>>>> >>>>> We spent $13 million a year for our schools and this is what we get. >>>>> >>>>> People with the ability to pay $40,000 a year take their kids out of >>>>> Lincoln schools and put them in private schools like Fenn. >>>>> You know many families that have done this. >>>>> >>>>> We are not traditionally rigorous in teaching. One pair and told me she >>>>> “liked that her son was not pushed too hard in school” >>>>> >>>>> This is a poor foundation which is a recipe for failure in future grades >>>>> and in life. >>>>> >>>>> I have a solution they will not cost any money. >>>>> >>>>> 1) Written homework every night that is graded and handed back the next >>>>> morning with a traditional % grade. >>>>> >>>>> 2) The final exam every week on what you learned that week. >>>>> >>>>> 3) A report card every Monday morning with average scores of Homeworks >>>>> and grade on the final exam with a rank in class. >>>>> >>>>> I experience this program for three years in 6/7 and eighth grade. I went >>>>> through Central Catholic high school in Lawrence it was easy. I graduated >>>>> with a degree in economics from Georgetown university and felt 100% >>>>> confident that I could learn anything. >>>>> >>>>> If these ideas makes sense to you I ask for your vote on March 28 for >>>>> Lincoln school committee. >>>>> >>>>> Thank you, >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Joseph Dwyer >>>>> >>>>> Lincoln School Board Candidate >>>>> 6 Emerson Rd >>>>> Lincoln, Ma 01773 >>>>> [email protected] >>>>> 603.560.1787 c >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >>>>> To post, send mail to [email protected]. >>>>> Search the archives at http://lincoln.2330058.n4.nabble.com/. >>>>> Browse the archives at >>>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >>>>> Change your subscription settings at >>>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >>>>> >>>> -- >>>> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >>>> To post, send mail to [email protected]. >>>> Search the archives at http://lincoln.2330058.n4.nabble.com/. >>>> Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >>>> Change your subscription settings at >>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >>>> >> -- >> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >> To post, send mail to [email protected]. >> Search the archives at http://lincoln.2330058.n4.nabble.com/. >> Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >> Change your subscription settings at >> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >> > > -- > The LincolnTalk mailing list. > To post, send mail to [email protected]. > Search the archives at http://lincoln.2330058.n4.nabble.com/. > Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. > Change your subscription settings at > https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >
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