Fifteen former Wake County school board members have signed a joint letter that supports the diversity policy and urges voters to pick school board candidates Lois Nixon, Rita Rakestraw, Karen Simon and Horace Tart.
In the letter, it argues that Wake has no "bad" schools and that the "opposite of diverse schools is unequal schools." It says that '"community schools' means that 'you' can't come into 'my' community.'"
The signers include recent former members such as Rosa Gill and Beverley Clark. But you also've got names such as Tom Oxholm, Carol Parker, Susan Parry, Wray Stephens and Judy Hoffman.Here's the letter to the editor:
Dear Editor:
One of the longstanding core values of our community is that there are no “bad” schools in Wake County. The school a student attends should not define if she is rich or poor. Can our community have any goal other than every school being an attractive place to teach and learn? That core value is under attack. The so called ‘community school’ means that “you” can’t come into “my” community.
It is time to pull back the curtain. The opposite of diverse schools is unequal schools. Inequality creates isolation and barriers to success.
Diversity alone does not make schools strong. Teachers and principals make schools strong; however, teachers know that there are more challenges and less parental involvement in high poverty schools--proximity to a school does not overcome those challenges.
If education is, as we believe, one of the most compelling obligations of a democracy, then how can candidates for a board of education be opposed to the best opportunity for all students? There are candidates who expect you to believe that creating high poverty schools will improve student achievement. Wrong. There is a vast data from across our country showing that high poverty schools are costly--in financial and human terms.
As former members of the Board of Education, we urge voters to see through the false rhetoric. We commend the N and O’s endorsement of Lois Nixon, Rita Rakestraw, Karen Simon, and Horace Tart.
We strongly agree that there are continued improvements to be made in Wake County. We look to these fresh faces to make the Wake County schools better. But we trust that the changes will be positive and that those elected to the Board of Education will be advocates for all students, not only their neighbors!
Sincerely,
Roxie Cash, Beverley Clark, John Gilbert, Rosa Gill, Judy Hoffman, Casper and Mary Holroyd, Linda Johnson,, Charlotte Martin, Tom Oxholm, Carol Parker, Susan Parry, Jean Schilawski, Wray Stephens, Roy Tilley, Jeff York
Comments
Protecting the dirty little
Sat, 10/03/2009 - 22:37 — changewcpssProtecting the dirty little secrets they all helped to craft. Why wouldn't they want to keep the lies going? Is there anyone who can not see through this garbage? Puh lease!
Sad Misrepresentation of our Position
Sat, 10/03/2009 - 07:59 — JTedescoMe thinks thou dost protest too much.
Wow - negative commercials, ads, and dusting off all the old guard to help sure up the ranks? What have we uncovered by tapping on this issue?
They create this false idea that it is either the Charlotte way of the Wake way. While the truth is they both stink at serving underprivileged children; we are just better at hiding it.
And what is this red herring - -- In the letter, it argues that Wake has no "bad" schools and that the "opposite of diverse schools is unequal schools." It says that '"community schools' means that 'you' can't come into 'my' community.'"
These crazy liberals are not only out of touch with our community, modern family dynamics, and the way children grow up in the new millennium (clue: this is not 1960), but they also are out of line with their own party's agenda. Our nation's first African American President has made it a cornerstone of his educational policy to shift America to "Community Schools". Is he too aligned with us to re-segregate our schools? Is he too saying, “not in my community”? NO – we are recognizing that society has changed fundamentally.
The civil rights war for our generation is not segregation, but poverty. We can not win a war on poverty with the battle plans to end segregation.
“When schools truly become the center of communities great things happen” – US Sec. of Education, Arnie Duncan. He continues, “Studies have shown that the community school concept helps decrease mobility rates, improve student attendance, decrease truancy rates and increase test scores.”
http://www.communityschools.org/
Videos from community schools around the country and a presentation from Arne Duncan. http://www.youtube.com/user/communityschools
Our communities today are already more diverse than ever. The US Census (link below) notes Wake County is already naturally more diverse than the state and national average. In Wake County approximately 8% of the population is below poverty standards.
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/37/37183.html
The letter also notes, “The opposite of diverse schools is unequal schools. Inequality creates isolation and barriers to success.” Is this to say our HBCUs (historic black colleges and universities) like Shaw and St. Augs, along with our female colleges like Meredith and Peace are failures?
Several of the comments in recent N&O editorials and WCPSS press releases tout the diversity policy by noting it as one of the last places in the country still using these kinds of policies. There is a reason for that. It has proven to fail cities as they experience growth and condemn greater numbers of children into poverty while driving out a more affluent base. So these cities had to change their policies to fix the kind of mess we are heading into with our rapid growth. Why not put the brakes on now before we drive into the 20 car pile up?
Why not think differently? Why do we have to be the last community to actually get it? I just do not understand the strong opposition. Is there something in it for them to abandon thousands of children to a failed system, to control the lives of every family in Wake County or are they just that short sighted and outdated?
We can do better. But first we must free ourselves from the chains of these out-dated policies.
John Tedesco
Sad Misrepresentation of our Position
Sat, 10/03/2009 - 07:59 — JTedescoMe thinks thou dost protest too much.
Wow - negative commercials, ads, and dusting off all the old guard to help sure up the ranks? What have we uncovered by tapping on this issue?
They create this false idea that it is either the Charlotte way of the Wake way. While the truth is they both stink at serving underprivileged children; we are just better at hiding it.
And what is this red herring - -- In the letter, it argues that Wake has no "bad" schools and that the "opposite of diverse schools is unequal schools." It says that '"community schools' means that 'you' can't come into 'my' community.'"
These crazy liberals are not only out of touch with our community, modern family dynamics, and the way children grow up in the new millennium (clue: this is not 1960), but they also are out of line with their own party's agenda. Our nation's first African American President has made it a cornerstone of his educational policy to shift America to "Community Schools". Is he too aligned with us to re-segregate our schools? Is he too saying, “not in my community”? NO – we are recognizing that society has changed fundamentally.
The civil rights war for our generation is not segregation, but poverty. We can not win a war on poverty with the battle plans to end segregation.
“When schools truly become the center of communities great things happen” – US Sec. of Education, Arnie Duncan. He continues, “Studies have shown that the community school concept helps decrease mobility rates, improve student attendance, decrease truancy rates and increase test scores.”
http://www.communityschools.org/
Videos from community schools around the country and a presentation from Arne Duncan. http://www.youtube.com/user/communityschools
Our communities today are already more diverse than ever. The US Census (link below) notes Wake County is already naturally more diverse than the state and national average. In Wake County approximately 8% of the population is below poverty standards.
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/37/37183.html
The letter also notes, “The opposite of diverse schools is unequal schools. Inequality creates isolation and barriers to success.” Is this to say our HBCUs (historic black colleges and universities) like Shaw and St. Augs, along with our female colleges like Meredith and Peace are failures?
Several of the comments in recent N&O editorials and WCPSS press releases tout the diversity policy by noting it as one of the last places in the country still using these kinds of policies. There is a reason for that. It has proven to fail cities as they experience growth and condemn greater numbers of children into poverty while driving out a more affluent base. So these cities had to change their policies to fix the kind of mess we are heading into with our rapid growth. Why not put the brakes on now before we drive into the 20 car pile up?
Why not think differently? Why do we have to be the last community to actually get it? I just do not understand the strong opposition. Is there something in it for them to abandon thousands of children to a failed system, to control the lives of every family in Wake County or are they just that short sighted and outdated?
We can do better. But first we must free ourselves from the chains of these out-dated policies.
John Tedesco
Bill Randall: Diversity & Goldman 4 School Board
Sat, 10/03/2009 - 05:40 — AngelaWhttp://www.youtube.com/profile?user=walshworkz#play/uploads/0/3CNiIj-EzeQ
Change necessary
Sat, 10/03/2009 - 01:07 — Ewol_SmithIt does not benefit the "at risk" students to blend them with prepared, disciplined students. The place to fix the problem is in the "at risk" home, stopping the negligence and the predation that results in childbearing by children.
When ill-prepared, neglected and abused children have FIXED psychological problems, school is not designed to fix them. Prevention is the key. It is not a racial issue, but a preparation issue for these children; God bless them.
Continuing to erode educational competence in an effort to assuage racial concerns does not work, and it's time to change it.
and the plan to help these
Sat, 10/03/2009 - 19:03 — jeannie84and the plan to help these at-risk children is.....?
All the current efforts
Sat, 10/03/2009 - 20:26 — woodstockAll the current efforts related to busing for economic diversity are to hide the truth that only 54.6% of economically disadvantaged (ED) students graduate in Wake County. It sounds sinister and, believe it or not, it is. They do this so that the powers that be can claim "no bad schools" (their words, not mine.) Busing is the extent of what they do to assist at-risk students.
How do we help these students? If we are really serious about it, it includes community-level efforts such as parental outreach, afterschool programs, Saturday Academies, mentors, business/school partnerships, church/school partnetships, etc. Doesn't it makes sense that these kinds of efforts would have a greater impact than magic bus rides across the county?
When the focus is on academics, the challenges of at-risk can be overcome. When the focus is on other things, the at-risk kids get lost in the shuffle of other priorities.
I am a neighbor and a taxpayer!
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 22:41 — PaulTerrellI sense a little arrogance in that letter that they are all knowing and we neighbors are imbeciles. I pay taxes so I have the right to ask for change. Excluding parents from the process and shipping their children across the county is wrong. The parents have as much at stake as anyone here. With the horrible graduation rates the parents have had to pick up the slack from HUGE and encumbered education district. These same people accused us Republicans of being status quo while they voted for what they thought was change. I turn it around and say that these people want to continue the failure of our children and are fighting positive real change with everything in their arsenals. Hypocrites maybe but status quo for sure.
May I add a question for Rosa Gill?
I would like to ask Rep. Rosa Gill-Democrat one question, “If you were doing such a great job as Wake County School Board Chairperson, and really cared for the children, why did you quit to take Dan Blue’s seat in the NC Legislature?"
Spinning the Spot Nodes
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 22:09 — tigger516Maybe that's the name of the game played by those embracing the status quo bussing.
Why not ask for endorsements of REAL parents that live in the spot nodes in SE Raleigh that keep getting reassigned for diversity?
Why not ask them if they enjoy getting their child to the bus stop at 5:45 AM to attend their 8th grade year in a year-round school in Apex rather than the former magnet school WITH an afterschool program that their child attended for 2 years located closer to their home in the same city in which they live (Raleigh)?
Why not ADMIT that some families have NO CARS and CANNOT provide their own transportation to school, therefore applying for a TRANSFER to remain at the previous school IS NOT an option.
Applying to other magnet schools IS NOT an option since there is no transportation to get to the designated EXPRESS bus stop.
In other words, we DO have mandatory assignments in WCPSS. When you assign poor children to attend far away schools, the only option for their child is the school bus that picks up at 5:45 AM for a school that starts at 7:30 AM.
Why would a parent in the spot node choose to send their child to a year round school farther away that doesn't even offer Spanish classes rather than stay at the magnet school that offers 3 foreign languages and numerous electives and an Afterschool Program?
The problem for WCPSS is that the year-round middle school in Apex needs more diversity and all the outlying schools need more diversity to look "healthy" so the spot nodes from SE Raleigh keep spinning from school to school to school.
School stability is dismissed by those @ WCPSS in charge of the spinning wheel. Remember, it's not about healthy students, just healthy schools. And the mantra goes, "There are no bad schools in Wake County".
It doesn't matter that these kids were already getting a lot of academic support closer to home where their parents could actually ride the city bus to attend a teacher conference (and they rode the bus).
It doesn't matter that the younger siblings are mandated to attend school in Garner. Yes, families in this spot node get to send the younger children to Garner while the older ones get shipped to Apex!
Aren't the magnet schools supposed to be diverse too? Why was this diverse spot node forced out of the magnet school located in the same town? Oh yeah, I forgot, the game is called, "Spin the spot nodes" so that we get "NO bad schools in WCPSS".
Unfortunately, this game is not working and the pitiful graduation rates are an indicator that the current system needs to change.
Let's start by insuring there is PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION to ALL schools in WCPSS.
Kids have been getting bussed from S.E. Raleigh to the Leesville campus for over 10 years and there is STILL no CAT bus stop on Leesville Road and this road is located within the city limits!
Neighborhood schools is not segregation. Neighborhood schools means parents have access to their child's school due to close proximity.
Why not ask the spot node parents what neighborhood schools mean to them? Their endorsements will mean more than those from old school board members.
By the way, you can find them on Evers Drive in Raleigh between the dawn hours of 5:45 AM and 6 AM.
HA!
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 19:31 — Bob_SconceWell, that endorsement clarifies the line pretty well -- it really is status quo v. change. And the status quo is scared.
Interesting that Bill Fletcher isn't on the list.
There are no status-quo
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 21:04 — RevHiDThere are no status-quo candidates in this race. All have proposed changes. They just say that neighborhood schools will NOT be economically diverse, and will create inequities that we won't be able to spend our way out of.
One trick pony mindset
Sat, 10/03/2009 - 23:04 — SDR256Well, again, I know its hard since we've been in such a one-dimensional world with WCPSS for so long - but the idea is not to replace 'diverse' with 'neighborhood'. The idea is to have neighborhood schools as a component in a community model. So, community schools with diversity AND neighborhood schools + magnets + other services as needed, like community outreach,like community partnerships, etc.
Whatever is needed to keep education and academic performance as top priority.
There are plenty of places in Wake County where neighborhood schools WOULD be economically diverse. It has yet to be seen if any neighborhood schools that are not diverse would be in the majority or minority.
excellent point, RevHiD!
Sat, 10/03/2009 - 19:05 — jeannie84excellent point, RevHiD!
This is nothing but
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 21:49 — woodstockThis is nothing but gibberish and fearmongering.
Data please.
The lone incumbent SAID he is status quo!
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 21:33 — g88ky07Horace Tart has no problem being called and infact IS as status quo as they come. You missed one!
So Enlighten Me!
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 21:16 — MamaLynnWhat are their ideas...please enlighten me?
How do they propose reducing the achievement gap?
How do they propose helping our AG students?
How do they propose re-engaging the high number of families that have left the school system because they are fed up?
How do they propose limiting the bus rides for kids that are being bused way to far?
How do they propose helping these failing schools they continue to create with this policy?
I've heard nothing from them, but diversity good...the other candidates are bad!
Don't forget the other things we've heard
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 21:31 — TrailerParkGirlSchools are economic development tools (silly us thinking they were for education)
Goose laid golden eggs
Vernon Malone once said... Colin Powell once said...
Impact fees (forget BOE has no authority in this area)
You can attend any school you want and nothing's mandatory (still shaking my head on those pieces of misinformation)
We don't get our fair share of spending compared to other districts (but that is largely due to other districts having a higher percentage of special needs students)
================================
All I really want is someone who understands the facts, will tell it like it is and quit sugar coating reality for business PR, and focus on improving student (not school) achievement for ALL students.
It is very entertaining to
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 18:16 — woodstockIt is very entertaining to read the comments from the new posters here who obviously have no background of the issues and are trying to turn this into a class and race issue.
Amatuers. Let's see your data.
Explain 54.6% graduation rates for ED students after 10 years of efforts to address their challenges.
You may support this kind of academic genocide, but I personally find it appaling.
Personal Stories
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 17:55 — ncnana01There is a lot of angry rhetoric surrounding the upcoming school board election. However, what I don't see are the personal stories about how WCPSS failed someone's child, which leads me to question if these writers even have children in the system. I suspect not, I suspect they simply enjoy being a negative force in our soceity. Rather than work toward a more perfect union, they would prefer to sow the seeds of division.
Are you kidding?
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 21:56 — SDR256Don't embarrass yourself by showing how much of a Johnny-come-lately you are. There have been heart wrenchingly personal stories shared here. Just not maybe - conveniently for your reading pleasure - in the last 15 minutes.
....
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 19:16 — SideburnsOh, we got plenty of personal stories. But you don't really want to hear them, do you? You don't really care what is happening to our children or to our friends' children or to our childrens' friends & classmates....just as long as it's not your children, right?
if you hadn't just shown up
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 18:25 — AngelaWif you hadn't just shown up today, you would have seen MANY personal stories before now...
try this for positive: (what are YOU doing towards working for a more perfect union??)
Increase the tolerance for risk.
Most people have a low tolerance for change and are inclined to adopt and maintain a practice only if it fits comfortably with what they already do. If the fit is too close, however, the change isn’t actually a change. And if the fit is too distant, it won’t even be considered. The challenge, then, is finding the “sweet spot” of change, where the new practice or program doesn’t challenge risk tolerance too much, yet is sufficiently different from current practice to move the change trajectory in a positive direction. Reforms need to make us feel uncomfortable if we are going to bring about changes that will last. Discomfort means we are truly doing something different.
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2009/09/30/05century.h29.html?tkn=SPWF2b3tQQks2ubtwnlB514jSL%2FynxnuM%2Bui
Increase your tolerance for
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 21:13 — RevHiDIncrease your tolerance for change... is that what you're going to tell long term residents when you move them from the existing school that is now the closest neighborhood school to a new luxury golf course community? Or are you going to raise taxes to fit them all into traditional calendar schools?
Rev - there you go again
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 22:05 — SDR256You are only offering two doors. What about door #3?
Think outside the bus
How about choice for all - agree with this?
How about academic achievement for ALL kids - agree with this?
How about stability - agree that this is a good thing?
How about encouraging parent envolvement, understanding that can't happen everywhere all the time - Sound good?
How about good teachers, and enough teachers, funded for learning - Ok with you?
How about not too much travelling for kids - agree with this as a general rule?
How about a system that will work with, and not dictate to, parents? - wouldn't you want that characteristic?
Well, that's what we're working toward, not replacing the 'busing' one-trick-pony with the 'neighborhood schools' one-trick-pony.
The pony we want for Christmas is a pony that can do multiple tricks, all at the same time! That pony is behind DOOR NUMBER THREEEEEEE.
and how do we go about
Sat, 10/03/2009 - 19:10 — jeannie84and how do we go about getting what's behind Door #3 -- and how to you fund it?
www.communityschools.org
Sun, 10/04/2009 - 00:24 — TrailerParkGirlwww.communityschools.org
Has many answers to your questions.
See additional links in John Tedesco's post on this thread.
The link with the video of Arne Duncan is a good introduction.
(John Tedesco is a VP with Big Brothers Big Sisters. He has experience working with at-risk kids and forming public-private partnerships.)
Good job on calling a duck a duck...
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 17:53 — fearorloveWhat's the fear folks? ...That precious little shelterd Johnny will have to sit next to some child from a different socioeconomic class or race and that they may get some poverty rubbed off on them. It's amazing that all poor kids cannot learn. We need to tell some of today's self-made millionaires this so they can stop being successful. The parents in Wake County need to simply get over their fear and the fear that they are creating in the children...the world and the U.S. has already changed. There is more to people that what comes across the t.v. Come on get to know others unlike yourself - you can do it!!
Fear
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 22:16 — SDR256The fear is that folks like you will continue to use at-risk children as pawns in your political game. We are Moms and Dads who have held these children on our laps and hugged them and worked with them. Who the hell are you, some political junky who came in lately to push your lightening rod words around? No one is buying it here.
We know what matters, and your toxic words simply vapor.
All our children - and especially at-risk children - are being bused too much and understood too little. These poor little flower buds. All of them - SHAME ON YOU for using them for your own ends.
Try this one on for size
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 21:10 — TrailerParkGirlI FEAR WHAT IS HAPPENING TO LOW INCOME STUDENTS DUE TO THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP AND THAT IF THE PEOPLE YOU SUPPORT WIN, IT WILL CONTINUE.
Low-income students here used to score above state average, now they score below. All the status quo supporters will talk about is schools. Ever wonder why they never tout their student scores by demographic group?
People are fighting for change because WCPSS has been hiding the achievement gap between precious little sheltered Johnny and low-income kids (like I used to be) behind their healthy schools (gets called diversity) policy, which BOE Chair Hill himself said was not about students. I'm fighting because I'm tired of the attitude that Johnny is destined to achieve more than low-income Larry and Larry must sit by Johnny in hopes something will rub off. Larry needs for the world to believe in his own abilities, not passing Johnny in the hall. Where I grew up they believe in Larry and Larry has a good school in his community. You know what, the achievement gap is far less than here, more Larrys are in the honor classes with Johnny when they get to the same HS, and Larry goes on to college.
Here, they bus the low-income kids from school to school. If the school they are in fails to met NCLB, rather than raise up the achievement of the students, they can simply bus them to another school that can better absorb their low scores, until eventually 46% drop out. The classes in the "diverse" middle and high schools are segregated because precious Johnny is in the honors classes and Larry is in the remedial class with the other low-income kids.
Now they've started bussing the Larry's who live in diverse (not high poverty) areas too. Why when he was already in a diverse school in his own community.
Bussing hasn't helped the gap. What's the fear of trying to close the gap?
Schools cannot meet their
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 21:21 — RevHiDSchools cannot meet their adequate yearly progress goals unless children in all categories score well. Moving one category to another school will not hide their scores.
Show me concrete data that shows a clear explanation of our our dropout rate, and it's causes. Increased dropout rates have been connected with economic forces (dropping out to support the family) and with zero-tolerance policies that suspend students for non-violent infractions. Nothing creates a disconnect more than removing a child from school and then expecting them to get back in the groove. Ending diversity will not solve those problems.
Not meeting AYP
Sun, 10/04/2009 - 00:48 — TrailerParkGirlMy understanding is that if a school does not meet AYP, they reassign the lowest performing nodes out. Next year the school scores go up because they lowest scorers are not at that school to take the test that year. Viola the school has improved. The students on the other hand are likely posting the same low scores just in an another school.
Why else does part of the "diversity" policy (policy 6200) state that the Superintendent shall seek to use the assignment policy to address whenever more than 25% of students averaged across a two-year period score below grade level? Why is WCPSS using an assignment policy to address this situation? Shouldn't the policy be for the Superintendent to seek ways to raise student achievement of the students scoring below grade level at the school?
No one is ending diversity. We are trying to start putting the focus on student achievement instead of school appearance. I've asked many times of many posters to please share where outside of WCPSS the defination of diversity is no school shall have >40% F&R. I'm STILL waiting for a single answer.
On your comment about causes of higher drop-out rates. I don't work in E&R. Have they done an analysis? How about one on why ED EOG scores for Wake are trending down compared to state average under the current policy? Oh, that's right the BOE refused to do a study of whether or not policy 6200 was improving STUDENT achievement.
Continuing the course WCPSS has been on will not solve the problems. Why would you expect to do the same thing and get a different result?
Getting the endorsement of
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 17:41 — CaryCurmudgeonGetting the endorsement of these former board members is like getting the endorsement of George Bush .... the kiss of death.
You Know Joe, You Already Owe Me
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 20:17 — chaboarda box of Rice-A-Roni for your inability to predict school issues. Care to go double or nothing on what happens Tuesday? ;)
Not making any predictions,
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 20:26 — CaryCurmudgeonNot making any predictions, just working hard and doing everything I can to support these candidates. Come Tuesday night I will be able to look back and say I did everything in my power to help.
That looks like the list on the post office wall!
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 16:15 — g88ky07Most of this list, this good ole gang, is part of the reason we are in this mess. Because of THEIR stupid decisions, votes and input we are where we are now!
Why don't you folks just all get together and turn yourselves in, I think the authorities are looking for you for ruining what was a good school system!
Diversity alone does not make schools strong
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 15:29 — AntiIllegalAlien"Diversity alone does not make schools strong. Teachers and principals make schools strong; however, teachers know that there are more challenges and less parental involvement in high poverty schools--proximity to a school does not overcome those challenges."
So, generally speaking, the parents who raise their children to behave and support their children's education at school and at home are supported by the school board by busing their children to a school of children who's parents don't? If it is the parents that basically determine the community aspect of the school what justifies robbing their children of this benefit they created?
I'm gald to see somebody called them out
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 14:43 — cbrose"community school" = I dont want your poor kids in my school. I attended these schoosl growing up in the 80's. And they where great. I find it curious that we had a sudden influx of people from other states. And the most vociferous critics of this policy are the people who came here to escape New York, Miami, etc. They didn't even grow up here. They came from places where persistant poverty in concentrated areas created problems. Then want to recreate the problem here. But because the COL is so much better here, suddenly they are not underclass and now they would benefit from excluding and isolating others.
Troll
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 22:20 — SDR256Oh, that is a troll post if I ever saw one. Whose made-up id do you think this one is?
No, community schools means this
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 15:39 — TrailerParkGirlNo, community schools does not mean go back to your 60s or 80s (my 80s experience was different than yours).
Community schools means this:
http://www.communityschools.org/
The poverty problems are here - they are just shuffled. If a school here does not met adequate progress under NCLB, simple just reassign the lowest performing nodes in the name of diversity and viola the school looks better. The students are failing just as much, now just in a different school.
Community schools means finding ways to address the underlying causes of the achievement gap instead of diluting things behind a bus ride. It's about closing the achievement gap, because education is the ticket to economic equality. We can have all the "healthy", diverse schools on the planet, but if the lower income students are segregated into lower level courses because we have a HUGE achievement gap and eventually 46% dropout, then the diverse school is just an empty facade. These children deserve better than a bus ride to an empty promise.
In my personal case, I live in a diverse area, not concentrated poverty. WCPSS plans to bus some lower income kids out of a 40% F&R school near their home to a low poverty area to diversify a school there. Why? How does that make sense for the children? They are not living in concentrated poverty nor is their current school high poverty.
I want the underlying issues and attitudes addressed, and to stop having lower income kids treated like hot potatoes. You know what happens when the focus becomes student achievement? They have a better chance to end up like me, out of the trailer park and on to college, grad school and economic equality.
I'm not from any where near NY or Miami btw.
Interesting. What a very
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 20:48 — woodstockInteresting. What a very odd and uninformed perspective.
What do you have against students from low-income families? They are failing at an increasing rate in Wake County with a graduation rate of 54.6%, yet you want to continue policies that have allowed that to happen. Doesn't it make more sense to provide the resources these students need, where they are needed, which is in the communities in which they live. Research shows that resources such as after-school programs, mentors, and Saturday Academies, make a dramatic difference in academic performance. Also, you must know that there are pockets of low income areas all over Wake County, so the exclusion and isolation you mention is ficticious. Economic diversity will still exist, only in not the contrived and unnecessary manner is it now.
Do you have data to support your curious position, or do you just go on gut instinct?
Bizarre!
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 14:39 — woodstock"No bad schools." Wow, that is one hell of an endoresment for a school system.
Boy, do I ever want to be part of that! I guess with a graduation rate of 54.6% for the very students you spent 10 years trying to help, your options for inspirational jargon are limited.
Maybe Ford or Toyota should change their tag line to "No Bad Cars." I am sure that would inspire a lot of folks to rush right out and buy one.
The best line is, "We look to these fresh faces to make the Wake County schools better." This is in reference to Tart, Nixon, Rakestraw and Simon. "Fresh?"
What is most telling, is that they were unable to cite even one bit of data that demonstrates the status quo deserves another minute of our support.
best opportunity for whom?
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 14:22 — red_balloonIf you are busing in students from families that don't care much for education, what kind of "best opportunity" is this for students from families who realize the value of education and put in the effort to gain one? The effect of this policy is to lower the bar at the expense of those students who can fare better if given a responsible and responsive system.
You are assuming that
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 21:09 — RevHiDYou are assuming that low-income families don't discipline or value education.
That's interesting coming from you
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 21:12 — TrailerParkGirlI got the impression you feel that way too.
Absolutely NOT! If we end
Sat, 10/03/2009 - 02:06 — RevHiDAbsolutely NOT!
If we end bussing and don't spend more, we will end up with failing schools. That won't be much of a choice either.
I thought
Sat, 10/03/2009 - 02:27 — TrailerParkGirlyou were admonishing the person for assuming low-income did not discipline or value education. So then, if you believe they do value education then why will we end up with failing schools?
Why aren't the >50% F&R schools where I grew up failing? They all met AYP. Why was my 70% F&R community ES wonderful (and yes, those kids had challenges - single parents, parents did drugs, dads in jail, neglected, even had one whose parents were Satanists)?
And the race card has been played....
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 14:10 — fiestamomDealing the race card from the bottom of the deck. " The so called ‘community school’ means that “you” can’t come into “my” community."
surprise surprise
Sorry
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 21:52 — SDR256I'm really sorry to see you post that. You must have been really scarred by something. Community is usually a constanly evolving thing. I have had wonderful, unexpected connections come into my community that I never would have expected. One is a Mom who survived the war in Liberia and spoke to our children's class about it. BTW - this is a very savvy, stylish up-to-the-minute-with-technology Mom who I am learning from about AG. She has spearheaded a foundation on her own for at-risk girls. This is an unexpected and delightful surprise to have this learning opportunity in our community! Neighbors from oppressive governments in Eastern Europe - Poland, Bulgaria, Russia and also neighbors from India and Vietnam - who have pulled themselves up from nothing like anything we can imagine here. Shipped themselves out of their own country in a box - basically. These brave people are in my community. Did I say "oh, no you can't come here". Who am I? I just bought a house. I LOVE that these are part of my children's community. My children will learn about the world - AND - most importantly - they will learn about bravery and fighting for freedom - fighting for an individual's self worth- from these people the most.
And from these friends I have learned how much they know about oppressive systems. And to a soul about the school system they say "This is worse than what I left"......what does that tell you?
Not making that up.
Who is keeping you out? What are you talking about?
It was a quote from THEIR letter
Sat, 10/03/2009 - 06:16 — fiestamomI copied and pasted that quote from their letter.
It says that '"community schools' means that 'you' can't come into 'my' community.'
I'm getting tired of the race card being played. Just because I don't want constant reassignment, these clowns accuse me of being a racist.
Umm...
Sat, 10/03/2009 - 15:35 — supportwcpssNo where in that statement does it use the word race or list a specific race.