Catherine Shreves wrote:
> Research indicates that we will not close the achievement gap unless we
> put our efforts into ensuring uniformly high teacher quality. This is an
> extremely important issue, and as a parent with kids in the system, I
> truly understand the urgency expressed by Michael. We are focusing our
> efforts on this issue right now, so that we won't bypass entire cohorts
> of students.
>
What research? As I have previously stated, I agree that teacher
quality is important. However, it is one of the most costly and long
term solutions in the reform process. As a parent I can't wait for
all the lousy teachers to retire, I need a quality education for my child now.
So maybe you won't bypass entire cohorts, but all an observer has to
do is look at the basic skills test results to know that you will be
failing to provide a minimal education for huge numbers of students.
I'm particularly frustrated that I propose reasonable short term solutions
with empirical references and I get no response.
> In fact, the Minneapolis school district is completing just this type of
> research on why our high school students drop out, and in a majority of
> cases, it's because the students are in 11th or 12th grade, but have
> credits of a 9th grader, and therefore are not "credit ready" to
> graduate, and they give up. We intend to focus on this issue as part of
> our high school reform plan, so that we can reverse this trend.
>
This doesn't answer the real "why" question. If students really felt
that a diploma was important they would take the time and effort to
finish. One solution to the problem you stated, is to drop the
credit requirement. But of course, just as social promotion didn't help
anyone, neither would dropping the credit requirement. You have to give
the students something of value and for kids who don't plan to go on
to college a diploma has very little value. You need to teach
them marketable job skills. I think that this is the major flaw in
our educational system. It's unbelievable that you dump kids on the
streets with no meaningful skills and lacking the ability to earn a living
wage.
Michael Atherton
Prospect Park
_______________________________________
Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy
Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more:
http://e-democracy.org/mpls
