Sorry, Mr. Swift, I am not that easily satisfied by your having posted reams of information on the issue. Evidentally, I have never seen it. I have been on the forum since last fall, and I have yet to see a concise and to the point list, ( with no sarcasm) of the things that need to be accomplished. I asked you honestly for your assessment, and I expect you to provide it, if in fact you wish for those of us that appear to be less informed or intelligent, or both in your estimation to be acquainted with your proposals.
I have heard about the statistics, and I am familiar with them. I am on a site council and am given the stats monthly. I have never stated we should not have rigorous testing and benchmarks established, however in your response to me, you would lead others to believe that I am one of those that you have roped a group of hopeless causes, and quite frankly I resent it. You seem to have preconceived notions of those you respond to on the list, and yet, you never seem to take any one person's questions at face value, but always seem to be looking for an interloper or turncoat behind every bush. I am not that person, and I care enough to have you give some straightforward examples of the solutions we should be thinking about as we try to move ahead in the district in a thoughtful, fiscally responsible yet scholastically sound way. Please share. Please do not cut and paste past responses that give little explanation or understanding of where you think improvements can be made. I would appreciate a straight, and candid answer, and please, sarcasm in the response is not part of the deal. And as far as competing with your kid, my children have done just fine. My daughter is on the Dean's List at College of Saint Catherine and my son is thriving at Arlington High School. Pamela Ellison Como Park Saint Paul ----- Original Message ----- From: "Thomas Swift" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "St. Paul Issues Forum" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, May 27, 2004 7:20 AM Subject: [StPaul] SPPS BST trends are as uniform as the denial of what theymean. > ------------------------------------------------- > Please - Take the St. Paul Job Shadow Survey > Just 15 Questions: > http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=70658501784 > ------------------------------------------------- > > > > Pam Ellison challenged me to provide some solutions to > SPPS's problems. Over the years, I've posted reams of > information and suggestions, but no one is interested > in finding a solution to a problem they don't even > admit exists! > > As we have seen, the school board reports are always > written on a background of blue skies and fluffy white > clouds, and as we have seen they have plenty of > support for their intransigence. This response is > absolutely de-rigeour: > > > > We've had some statistics put in front of us and > > told they are facts > > which prove beyond a doubt how terrible our schools > > are. However, all > > statistics need to come with comparisons or > > explanations. Statistics > > in a vacuum mean nothing (generally). > > I pointed out in my last post that the 10th and 11th > grade scores were no better, and they are not with one > exception; grade 10 writing alone reaches a 70%+ > passing average. The % passing the math test has been > steadily declining in all grades and now averages > about 17% between them. > > Want some proof of what this all means? More than half > of the kids who show up at college's need remedial > education. And those are ostensibly the best and > brightest! > > I collected all of the scores and remedial education > data from MnSCU with the intention of posting them > here, but I won't waste my time or yours. > > I honestly don't know what the protecters of the > status quo are so worried about when it comes to > tests; seems no one gives a rip one way or another! > > Hey, they're your kids, have at it! > > Just spare me the sob stories every couple of years > O.K? And don't get too upset when "your" kids have to > compete with "mine" for a seat in the colleges of > their choice or a job afterwards. > > > TJSwift > Cherokee Park Protectorate > > > > > > > > > __________________________________ > Do you Yahoo!? > Friends. Fun. Try the all-new Yahoo! Messenger. > http://messenger.yahoo.com/ > _____________________________________________ > NEW ADDRESS FOR LIST: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: > http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul > > Archive Address: > http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/ > _____________________________________________ NEW ADDRESS FOR LIST: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul Archive Address: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/
