Assessing Garner's support for schools

All this bussing doens't make sense b/c, unlike what the BoE claims, its not about the F&R kids. Its all about the NCLB, no "failing" schools, etc. Of course its not better fot the individual kids, F&R or not F&R, but the (the BoE(eR)) can't say that. They have to keep selling it as a benefit to the F&R population when its all just a scam to dilute out low test scores. The BoE is either too stupid or just unwilling to attack the real issues and needs of various F&R populations.

If you believe that an F&R kid cannot learn or perform as well as any other kid, then you are a BIGOT. Sure some can and some can't, just like any other "labeled" population. If you believe bussing them anywhere will “help” them, then you are a FOOL.
You don’t “bus” kids out to get “help”, you take the “help” to the kids. By spreading the issues of certain populations around the county, you effective eliminate any possible ability to focus the real services they need to where they are.
If a population is “sick” with the same “illness”, you don’t spread them all around the county! You contain them in one place, bring the “medicine” directly to them and treat them all at the same time. The problem with labels, like F&R, is that it causes them to be treated the same everywhere when the truth is, every F&R kid or F&R population is not the same. They don’t all have the same needs. It is incredibly inefficient to take a 100 kids all with similar needs (similar family, neighbor background etc.), spread them to 5 different schools and try to address that need along with a 100 other kids with “needs” that aren’t the same as the other 100. BIGOTS, FOOLS and IDIOTS = LIBERALS.

Diana Bader is part of the problem, not the solution.

She has served in multiple "parent advisory" roles over the years --- the Super Secret Assignment Committee, Board Advisory Council, etc. WCPSS loves her, because she will be vitriolic and fight and castigate other parents who are getting the short end of the stick and speak out for their children. In the meantime, her neighborhood has maintained nice, nearby assignments into good schools.

WCPSS repeats this over and over. When they set up parent advisories, they like to go to their "go-to" people that they know they can depend upon to parrot the party line, rather than going after diverse, independent voices. Look at the makeup of the "Healthy Schools" advisory committee a few years ago. There were lots of people actively working to get on this committee a few years ago, but there were a number of Board Advisory Council members placed on it. Not exactly a means of seeking new input, as the Board already gets input from the BAC's.

And, in the end, WCPSS can say "See? Our parent advisory people think we're on the right track, and must stay the course."

Sounds like Bader has been drinking too much kool aid.

Raleighreader thanks for reoporting on your perspective of the meeting.

On the walk to school day that you all were talking about further up - is that a WCPSS thing? National thing? Or specific school thing? I ask becasue folders came home today and I didn't see anything mentioned about it... we don't have sidewalks out in these parts though and Brassfield is a busy road so I am not sure how well that will work out here.

Thanks for any info...

I was at that meeting yesterday and I've got to hand it to Garner. I don't know how they've put up with what they have for so long.

The question that I have is why is it unacceptable for low income, mostly black children to go to a high F&R school in their own neighborhood but it is ok for them to go to a school that is 65% F&R in Garner? Basically, WCPSS is just picking up an entire 'neighborhood' population and moving them from SE Raleigh to Garner. What is changing for them? They are still at an 'unhealthy' (VERY unhealthy, by WCPSS standards) school, so why not at least build the school in their own neighborhood?

What I didn't realize until yesterday's meeting was that large areas of Garner are bused OUT of Garner. Including higher income areas. They are bused out and then kids are bused in from SE Raleigh. It just doesn't make any sense, especially since Garner schools can't afford to lose higher income families.

What Keung didn't report was Bader's comment about how even if they don't have kids in Garner schools, they should still volunteer at them because they're "your schools". How can they be 'their schools' when some people in their own community aren't even able to go to them and they are filled with kids from outside the community?

Here's a question... Garner wants these F&R kids out of their schools to "balance"...where are they going to be sent? This means a massive "reshuffle" so that there can be seats opened for these kids... are they going to force these kids into MYR? Because if they are looking to Apex, Holly Springs area... they only really have MYR schools.

Where is the population from Garner going?

Diana Bader doesn't speak. She yells and intimidates.

Hui.....Can you list the names of the other members from the Student Assignment Advisory Committee?

I am so sad that you missed when WCPSS iwas suggesting these foolish bus routes that I was here on the blog protesting the busing of these children from your side of the world to Cary, Leesville and Garner???

Repeatedly I reported data, distances and alternatives to the schools that these children were being sent to on this blog till I think the folks here were sick....

I have repeatedly written the BOE to keep these children close to home and not bus them far away to keep these children in magnet programs--and these aren't even my kids. I feel that the at-risk population benefits more from the magnet programs inside Raleigh than the rich children from the affluent neighborhoods but the BOE is catering to latter. WCPSS is willing to bus the poor children to Cary but not bus the Cary kids in....

Please raise cane with WCPSS that your child is NOT attending one of the ITB magnet schools and is instead in a school far away and spending hours on the bus every day???

I do not lie. I can't, I have tried. Once I almost pulled it over when my daughter asked me if I drank a beer underage. Nope could not pull it over. I am boringly transparent.

I just stated my feelings and I feel strongly that children in the county and I honestly think in your ITB node also are being abused by WCPSS...and perhaps I need to rethink things that things are not as rosy in ITB as I thought they were --and for that I thank you for pointing out to me!!!

"Stop complaining about your schools," Bader said. "You need to support your schools."

Parents are complaining about the SCHOOL SYSTEM not their schools and these Garner parents do support their schools. What an insult to assume they don't.

When you live in ITB Raleigh or the homogenous Cary that Ms. Bader hails from, you can't seem to imagine life outside of that utopia.

Take a moment Ms. Bader and put on your empathy, compassion and understanding hat and look around the county, it is like the diversity model our children are learning. "Look we are all different. Put yourself in someone else's shoes and try to understand what he is feeling"

Garner is not alone darling. Add Holly Springs, Apex, North Raleigh, and the other areas plagued with no magnets, MYR schools and forced busing. (these areas lie outside of Cary and ITB) and you will find discontent.