tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1107550755163115303.post2138349493713754998..comments2024-03-27T11:28:13.401-06:00Comments on Education Matters: How to Save Duval's SchoolsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1107550755163115303.post-56595860445952026632011-02-21T15:53:34.492-07:002011-02-21T15:53:34.492-07:00Don't worry, Chris. Whatever ad wizard gets t...Don't worry, Chris. Whatever ad wizard gets the sweet contract to oversee the final turn-around of these schools will try some, if not all, of these old-school reforms. However, these McSchool operators will be hailed as saviors by the right-wing "reform" movement as they (finally) triple the per-pupil spending at these schools for a couple of years of progress before announcing their job is (half)done and it's time to move on to greener pastures. Regardless, it will be the public schools left holding the bag and getting the blame. Where is the novel approach of making sure that elementary schools that feed into these schools have a sound curriculum based on a proven understanding of childhood development? Where is the outside of the box thinking of taking these schools off-line to try some radical and innovative learning strategies? If the purpose of the FCAT is to identify schools with problems, then I say mission accomplished. We know these schools have problems. Let's set to fixing them without the continued stigma of failing to meet the same old standards every year. I'm not suggesting we abdicate responsibility for these schools or forget to make new choices based on data, but is the data telling us anything new each time? We know the kids don't read as well as we would like them to. We know how to teach kids how to read. We know people that know how to teach reading. Let's forget about trying to get some of these kids a traditional high school diploma and focus on creating an environment that champions the development of learning skills that will see them complete an equivalency program. It's ridiculous to identify the fact that many of these students are several grade levels behind and continue to act as though a single magic bullet will offer salvation. Set realistic, multi-year goals and continue to fill in from the bottom up. It's so disheartening to contine to bash students and teachers at the high school level when the "solutions" keep preaching more testing and more finger pointing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com