This should be fun to watch - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

elchivito · #1 05-29-2014, 11:10 AM

NOLA completely dumps it's public schools in favor of charters. Racial bias in admission standards already rearing it's head.

In New Orleans, traditional public schools close for good - The Washington Post

davidmash · #2 05-29-2014, 11:33 AM

Profit in education with minimal supervision. What could possibly go wrong.

Botnst · #3 05-29-2014, 11:41 AM

Is that the message you got from the article?

How about the fact that NOLA schools were abysmal, the management system corrupt, and no reform has worked since public schools first opened to children in NOLA?

The vast majority of students are African-American and poor by any standard. The city had never given a damn about them.

Katrina allowed the state to hose the school system and start over. It could fail. Hell, it probably will fail as most poor, inner city schools across America fail.

But at least they're trying something new and risky. As compared to continuing a proven failure.

Interestingly, trying something new and risky is a 'progressive" plan and sticking with the known and historical is the conservative position.

Check your ID cards, please.

elchivito · #4 05-29-2014, 11:51 AM

Note that I took no position. I really do think it'll be interesting to watch. The admissions issues mentioned are troubling if true.

Jim B. · #5 05-29-2014, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elchivito

NOLA completely dumps it's public schools in favor of charters. Racial bias in admission standards already rearing it's head.

In New Orleans, traditional public schools close for good - The Washington Post

The Apostrophe Posse says:

"Pull over, man".

Jim B. · #6 05-29-2014, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Botnst

Is that the message you got from the article?

How about the fact that NOLA schools were abysmal, the management system corrupt, and no reform has worked since public schools first opened to children in NOLA?

The vast majority of students are African-American and poor by any standard. The city had never given a damn about them.

Katrina allowed the state to hose the school system and start over. It could fail. Hell, it probably will fail as most poor, inner city schools across America fail.

But at least they're trying something new and risky. As compared to continuing a proven failure.

Interestingly, trying something new and risky is a 'progressive" plan and sticking with the known and historical is the conservative position.

Check your ID cards, please.

"What fo'? What fo'? What fo', I gots to read "A Tale of Two Cities"? What fo'?"

TheDon · #7 05-29-2014, 12:08 PM

If those that do not want a free education continue to fail then let them go. Instead of wasting money on students that continue to perform poorly by choice, use it towards the students that are doing above and beyond and generally overlooked because teachers have to focus on the boat anchors.

davidmash · #8 05-29-2014, 12:10 PM

Seems from what I have read most school problems are administrative. I do not see a reason to toss the baby with the bath water. Turning it over to a for profit entity seems like a recipe for disaster.

May be we can do that with the military and see how it works? Some how I doubt the people who advocate charters would advocate private defense for the US. I know, we can contract Halburton to defend the US.

Jim B. · #9 05-29-2014, 12:13 PM

Underachievers in school:

Taking away your lunch money since 1776.

davidmash · #10 05-29-2014, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDon

If those that do not want a free education continue to fail then let them go. Instead of wasting money on students that continue to perform poorly by choice, use it towards the students that are doing above and beyond and generally overlooked because teachers have to focus on the boat anchors.

I think the numbers who 'do not want to be educated' are truly small. One size does not fit all in education. Some kids need different incentives for learning.

Then there is the cost associated with a person growing up in America with out an education. Cheaper to find a way to educate that works.

Idle · #11 05-29-2014, 12:26 PM

I am supposed to know something about education. Where people get that impression I will never know, but some people think I understand it.

Anyway, when Katrina hit several families were relocated to Oklahoma and I got involved in helping them to settle in. They ran the scale from professionals to hard core drug users. It was a disaster and God was no respecter of position.

The children involved were in junior high. There were only a few of them and all of them were coming from the NOLA school system to an Oklahoma school system which, while good, is still in Oklahoma so not truly out there in terms of excellence. But it was obvious from the start the NO kids, even though they were in junior high, could barely function at a second grade level.

But one of them pointed out there was no need to learn to read and he would prove it to me. We went to a coffee shop and when he ordered he just pointed at the pictures on the menu and said he would like to order it. The Waitress then asked a lot of questions and left. He then noted that he had just ordered, was going to get what he wanted, and could not read a word in any language.

He had learned this from adults who could not read and after viewing their fine example he said that most of the kids in NO figured if the adults they knew could make it without reading then so could they.

None of the kids lasted more than a month or two and soon moved in with relatives in other states. As NO recovered the adults all moved back except for one couple who never fail to express their thanks for the kindness they were shown when they lost everything. But this couple are the type of people that will do well wherever they are.

It does make me wonder how bad is NO if rural Oklahoma is a big step up?

elchivito · #12 05-29-2014, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim B.

The Apostrophe Posse says:

"Pull over, man".

Guilty as charged. I like to think of myself as not apostrophically challenged, but the little finger "it's" twitch is hard to control.

INSIDIOUS · #13 05-29-2014, 01:23 PM

'Tis the crux of the biscuit.

BobK · #14 05-29-2014, 02:00 PM

KY also has low literacy rates and the attitude of parents in some parts of the state is really depressing. I was speaking with a high school teacher from Eastern KY a while back. She said most of the students did not plan to attend any college and the parents did not see any value in it. That region of KY has >50% working age literacy at level I or II (reading at 5th grade level, or above but unable to apply it to work and life).
The teachers in these schools run the full range. Some are skilled and work very hard to make a difference. Others may have the skill but not the will to teach or may have the will but not the skill. Of course some don't know or care. Keep in mind that in some counties the co. school board may be the biggest or practically the only employer.
The kids are born a blank slate but family life quickly shapes their attitudes. No discipline or harsh discipline can set them up to have behavior troubles in school. A family that places little value on education will be less inclined to push the kids to study, work hard or do homework. Add in the fact that the parents may not have the education themselves to help with homework even if they are so inclined makes it tough for the kids.
Somebody mentioned school administration as a factor and that sure seems to be correct. One bad principal can really foul up a school. The young , good teachers will run from that school as fast as they can. The old good teachers are probably stuck there and will do what they can. The bad ones will just stay put and collect their check. Now throw in a disfunctional school district central office and the problems just move the decimal place. When the superintendent won't fix a school leader it gets really bad.
The kids wind up the big losers in these cases (until they are 18-then it's everyones problem).
Maybe a little market competition will improve the situation. What we have been doing sure doesn't seem to work. Will that help everyone? NO. Some kids will still fail, but if 100 kids are on a sinking ship and you only have time to save 50, do you grab the first 50 you can? Or do you let them all drown because you can't save them all?
During my limited time in NOLA, I found the people to be good, hard working folks that wanted better for their kids. I hope this experiment becomes a roaring sucess and their kids do get a good education.
Boy am I long winded today, sorry.

kerry · #15 05-29-2014, 02:37 PM

I've seen something similar happen here. The public school system closed down a 'failing school' and handed it over to it's savior, a private for-profit charter system. About two years later, the public school system shut down the failing private for-profit charter school. Not sure what exactly is going on with it right now. The system also has an alternative policy of firing all the teachers and principals at failing schools and replacing them with a new set. I think they'd be better off firing all the parents and replacing them with a new set.