Folks, I realize that there was much discussion recently about HS dropouts. I ran across this from Webbie as the JCS tad and wanted to share my thoughts. Here's the 1st paragraph from JCS tab. Strategies in Place to Retain Students JCS Graduate Rate Surpasses State's SMITHFIELD-- Johnston County Schools' four-year graduation rate is 74.5 percent, 6.7 points higher than the state rate, thanks to programming put in place to prevent students from dropping out. This achievement lends credence to the importance and success of the dropout prevention programs that have been developed to keep students in school and insure their success in high school. Additionally, the cohort graduation rate for economically disadvantaged students is 7.5 percent greater than the state's rate. Students with disabilities in this cohort graduated at a rate that is 9.9 percent greater than the state's rate for students in the same category. My question is why weren't those resources used for the average students to lift their education. Seems like schools measure by the LCD (not liquid crystal display) and not the vast majority of the student population. We tend to measure things in our life as having value comparing positives to negatives. Packers went 8-8, so they are a mediocre team. Heels are winners, based on their win-loss record, So why does the school system look at the dropout rate (negative indicator) versus why not concentrating on getting those kids who choose to stay in school to reach even loftier achievements? As much as I defend the work the schools do, I see there is a drastic need for a new paradigm shift. Your thoughts?
Given the Trends Over the Last Decades Pour money at the problem and we will see results. Don't dare question anything related to the educational process as "it's for the children". Unfortunately the kids that want to be in school and aspire to loftier achievements are rarely encouraged or motivated. They have to rely on peer pressure, parents, or the rare teacher.
i am sad to say this is true -- and the NCLB initiative does even less to inspire those aspiring to achieve greater things --
Do you think No Child Left Behind would be effective it it were fully funded? Or is it time to toss out the whole program and start over?
The NCLB Act is not the problem The fundamental problems with our educational system were present before the No Child Left Behind Act and will remain as long as we continue to do the same thing. More Money, Bigger Schools, Smaller Class Size, and Higher Paid Teachers should not be the standard answer.
Pirate, I agree that changes must be made. Interestingly, the Oakland Public School System hired a non school executive to be the superintendent. His name was General Stanford, under whom I had served in the Army Transportation Corps. General Stanford was a top notch leader, gifted with the ability to rapidly see the difference between the bare facts and the BS. He is one of those leaders who inspires a person to do their best, and encourage those around to do so as well. I believe that at some point, one has to objectively quantify and find the ROI for the "direct investment" (taxes and bonds) that we pay into the school. Who knows, given "X" dollars, we can't show an acceptable ROI for having three assistant principals at school "insert name here". I think that in order to get a fresh perspective, and to insure new "DNA" in the leadership pool, that we need to get someone who has done more business and resource management, than someone who has followed a single track from teacher to board staff member to assistant principal to principal to senior..you get my drift. Lord knows that we who have been inside the schools, before, during, and after the students are there, can see areas of waste and areas that deserve compliments. It's on our watch. To allow it to falter is now OUR responsibility, not our parent's.
The preceeding announcement was paid for by the Committee to Elect Hat6 N.C. State Superintdendent of Schools.
Government-run education, where we lump everyone together and teach them the same things, is the whole problem. It is a perfect model of communism and government inefficiency. The notion that all children have a right to an equal education is flawed on so many levels. Kids who disrupt class, distract others from learning, or make straight D's do not have the same rights to an education as other kids who really want to learn. They should be side tracked, taught the basic survival skills of adulthood, and booted out the door.
Then why is it that parents who have children with special needs keep them in public schools? Well, I'll tell you why. Public schools are required to have educational programs which meet the needs of every child, whereas private schools are not, and guess what, they don't. I'm not going to pretend that public schools do it perfectly, but they do offer special programs, IEP's, and even alternative schools for children with special needs. These kids aren't going to get that anywhere else. As for "No Child Left Behind," the mentality of this program is that if you test something, you fix it. Wrong! It's also a punishment-based program rather than one that rewards innovation and excellence. As a parent of school-aged children, I have received letters from schools advizing me of the qualifications of the teachers who are teaching my children. This was part of the NCLB program. How much money did they waste sending out those letters to parents? How much good did that do, when at any time, I can find out what qualifications a teacher has just by asking? The program is a collossal waste of money. It causes a lot of anxiety among teachers and students, and does nothing at all to improve education. But what do you expect from a president who has nothing but disdain for public education? Snuff
Hat6---Now you are just Scaring People Unfortunately too many people will view this negatively. The concept that a military person can be an educator and leader in public education is not supported by many. I personally think it is a wonderful thing. Wonder if we will see well disciplined children and leaders come from the Oakland School System? Any time we can put "fresh DNA" into a monopoly can be a positive thing. Unfortunately I am not sure that this county, state, or country is ready to make the hard sacrifices necessary to change education and many other things. I wonder if it will take a depression like this country experienced in the 1930's to wake it up.
i know leadership can make or break a school, a school sytem, etc., however i think the problems are not limited to the leadership, nor are they limited to the fact that money is often wasted, or programs and intiatives are only half way implemented all too often solutions in public education are like plugging the dike with a finger or two -- no one seems to be looking at the structure of the dike itself http://www.newsobserver.com/580/story/549036.html this was a interesting letter to the editor in yesterday's n&o that addresses restructuring of degress --
Pirate, I wonder the same..and at what point we have our own version of the 1776 Revolution, where then we fought to breake the yoke of the King of England, and we now must throw off the yoke of poor government. The economy is built on a house of cards. Those in the upper echelons of wealth will have no fear of losing what they have. Those at the other end of the scale have little vision of what they can not obtain. We in the middle have so much to lose, and its so difficult to get ahead of the game. The stock market is roaring....and it's mostly "paper" profits. Eventually, without product or service, the "paper" profits need paying, and when the till is empty, the depression begins. As to those who were kidn enough to consider my name for anything, thanks, but, public office was never in my plan. And as much as I think I could do, I am unwilling to subject my family to the "win at all costs" sacrifices. H6
The Challenges the Republic faces This becomes the fundamental problem we face. How do we engage the people that can make a difference in education, public service, or whatever. I do not believe our founding fathers ever envisioned the amount of money that would be used to control all facets of life. From national issues all the way down to the county level enormous sums of money is spent to buy and influence both politicians and public opinion. Very few people want their family to endure the costs of public office or advocate. Exactly.....Much more eloquently stated than I could. We have become a nation of debtors. How many people could withstand a month without a paycheck? We live in a land with the greatest prosperity known to man, but yet more people become indentured servants on a daily basis.
