> Michael Atherton:
> 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? <snip> > > As to summer school programs, why would I want to send my > children back to an institution that had already failed them? [TB] The concept is rather simple, education does not operate in a vacuum. Just as a plant will flourish if its environment includes water, light, maybe some fertilizer and my dog will flourish if I feed him good meals, provide water, good care, etc., a child's education will flourish if those around him/her give a damn about his/her educational process. Education is a multi-legged stool and if you break off the leg of parental support it becomes much less stable and may fall. We know that even in Minneapolis, a student who attends class does much better than one that doesn't, a student who stays in the same school does much better than one who is constantly changing schools. Like parents that don't understand that they need to support their children's education, come students learn more slowly than others and require additional help. The summer programs provide them an opportunity to catch up. The public schools aren't going to go away, our state constitution makes sure of that. Attempts to destroy them are a disservice to a civilized society. Terrell Brown Loring 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
