[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > Friends, I weigh in on this one reluctantly, but feel I must share a thought or two >gained from experience: > > When the "8th Grade Test" results first came in documenting how poorly many Mpls. >kids were doeing against these basic reading and math measures, the BOE soon >instituted very focused summer school programs to provide the help these students >needed to succeed. The programs were in dozens of schools in dozens of neighborhoods, >transportation was provided, as was breakfast and lunch. The hours were convenient. >At least four messages went out to the families of the children who evidently needed >serious help. And ya know what? (As BOE member Ross Taylor remarked) They stayed away >in droves. Not just the first year, but the second, the third...I don't think they >ever reached 50% attendance! > > During my BOE years, I never shyed away from criticizing bad teaching practices, but >folks, children and their families are at least half of the solution to improving >public education. > > I think it is pretty sad when a kindergarten or first grade teacher is held more >accountable for the success of a child than the parent or guardian of that child.
I think that it's really sad when we need to blame parents for the failure of the public schools. Have I been deluded, or is education the function of the public schools? How many parents are knowledgeable in methods of reading and phonics instruction? And why should they be? Teachers go to college for five years to learn how to teach. We should no sooner expect parents to teach their own children as to fix their own electronic equipment. If you took your TV in to be fixed, would you expect it to come back with a note that said that it was 50% repaired and you could finish the other half? Sure parental support is important, but that doesn't let the public schools off the hook for lousy management. As to summer school programs, why would I want to send my children back to an institution that had already failed them? The have schools repeatedly failed to support effective instructional methods; which is one reason they need remedial summer programs. Secondly, they promote students who don't have the skills necessary to succeed at the next level. Third, they don't have the wisdom or the guts to make students repeat courses they don't master during the school year. There is no need for summer programs if you administer the schools effectively. The fact that these rationalizations are voiced by a former school board member illustrates why we have failing schools and failing students. Michael Atherton Prospect Park _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
