Here's some background on Rita Rakestraw, who filed paperwork this week to run for the District 1 school board seat being vacated by Lori Millberg.
In an Eastern Wake News article on her candidacy, Rakestraw stresses her support for diversity. That helps explain the support she's getting from County Commissioner Stan Norwalk.
“I want a school system rich in diversity that strives for achievement in all students — working to the benefit of students at all academic levels,” Rakestraw said in the article.
Here's part of an e-mail message from Norwalk that urges friends and colleagues to help Rakestraw.
“I suggest you write and thank her for running. You may want to suggest opportunities to meet her and discuss how you would be willing to help in her campaign,” Norwalk wrote. “Note that even a single vote for maintaining the Board of Education’s policy regarding diversity can determine the outcome of what will be a hotly contested issue on the next board.”
UPDATE
It turns out that I quoted most of Norwalk's letter in the post already. I'll put the whole thing in for your viewing convenience.
"I have known Rita for about a year. She was a major source of support and energy in Eastern Wake during my campaign. More recently, we have discussed the challenges of running for the BOE, i.e. Lori Millberg's seat in District 1 (NE Wake).
At this point Rita has not filed or set up her campaign team and other necessary campaign infrastructure. I suggest you write and thank her for running. You may want to suggest opportunities to meet her and discuss how you would be willing to help in her campaign. Note that even a single vote for maintaining the BOE's policy regarding diversity can determine the outcome of what will be a hotly contested issue issue on the next board.
She will need volunteers, a treasurer, financial support, a web site, help in crafting her message, support with polls, perhaps baby sitters, etc. I will send a check for $500 to her campaign to help her get started.
Thank you for your past and future support for quality public education in Wake County."
Also in that message is a Word document from Rakestraw giving her reasons for running. Click here to view the document.
Comments
Not to be Trusted!
Tue, 07/07/2009 - 14:44 — wakemotherI don't trust her.
What if...
Sat, 04/18/2009 - 09:54 — designmanI’d like to hear some views of what people would like the Wake County schools system to look like if we were able to dismantle everything that exits now and everyone was color blind. Imagine all the same socioeconomic factors existed.
I am pretty sure we would NOT come up with the same convoluted system we have now, diversity would not be the entire focus of every single discussion on Wake County education policy, and I am certain Chuck Dulaney would be elsewhere devising his crazed and complex routing schemes.
We are #1
Sat, 04/04/2009 - 06:27 — user1234For people in denial that this area is growing and who blame F&Rs for all the reassignments, who wonder why the WCBOE has so much trouble managing it's affairs under extreme growth, and who where the constant movements and reassignments are comming from ....
Top 5 Cities Where Americans Are Relocating
1. Raleigh, N.C.
(Raleigh-Cary metro area)
2008 Population: 1,088,765
2007-2008 Change: 4.29%
No denial
Sat, 04/18/2009 - 10:18 — designmanI don't hear anyone saying Wake County is not growing. It is, but growth is not the reason students are bused past 5 schools they could be attending to one 20+ plus miles and three towns away ...as my son is.
As for the 4% growth you mention. First, that is a temporary uptick and is not something that will be sustained over time. In a high school of 2000 students, that equates to 80 students. That does not seem to represent "extreme growth, or require an overwhelming effort to accommodate. Also, as you know, additional schools are being contructed.
People by and large recognize that some reassigment is needed over time, but when their sons and daughters are being forced to get on a bus before 6am and face an hour long bus ride to school, it becomes too much of a sacrifice. Familes are somtimes even making the choice to sell their homes and move to resist the reassignments and to serve the best interest of their children. Public policy that induces those kinds of decisions are irresponsible.
Those numbers may be off
Sat, 04/04/2009 - 08:59 — Voice_of_Reason_It takes a while for census projections to stabilize in a recession. The fact that WCPSS was way off in their growth projection is more concrete. In addition, the real estate market slump here is also a indication that that kind of growth is not happening.
Given that we've fallen off
Sat, 04/04/2009 - 07:05 — SouthEastWakeMomGiven that we've fallen off a cliff economically since the 4th quarter of 2008 - I find these stats to be irrelevant. Growth for the next 3-5 years (maybe 10 depending on long it takes to recover from this mess - ask Japan about the Lost Decade) will be no where near what it was over the last 10 years.
And, FWIW, our high school reassignment in the last round of reassignments was purely to balance the test scores between West Lake and Garner - it had nothing to do with growth (relative numbers of students between the two schools stayed the same) or F&R (relative percentages between the two schools barely shifted).
All these areas' increases
Sat, 04/04/2009 - 06:54 — AngelaWAll these areas' increases were smaller in 2008 than they were in 2007, (Raleigh increased by 4.7% in 2007, Austin by 4.29% and Charlotte by 4.2%), but a slight slowdown is not necessarily a bad thing, according to William Frey, Ph.D., a demographer at the Brookings Institute, an independent research and policy group based in Washington, D.C. "Part of the story here is the rapid rise in growth in the middle of decade," says Frey. "That growth was unnatural."
The top three areas according to the data are Raleigh, N.C., ranking first, which jumped 4.29% to nearly 1.9 million; Austin, Texas, which came in second, with a 3.77% increase to almost 1.7 million; and Charlotte, N.C., which moved up 3.36% to 1.7 million.
3. Charlotte, N.C.
(Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord, N.C.-S.C., metro area)
2008 Population: 1,701,799
2007-2008 Change: 3.36%
http://realestate.yahoo.com/promo/ten-cities-where-americans-are-relocating.html;_ylc=X3oDMTFzYjBtN2JpBF9TAzI3MTYxNDkEX3MDOTc2MjA0NjUEc2VjA2ZwLXRvZGF5BHNsawNhbWVyaWNhbnMtcmVsb2NhdGluZw--
how ironic that Charlotte
Sat, 04/04/2009 - 07:12 — AngelaWhow ironic that Charlotte with its "re-segregated" non busing for diversity schools is not all that far behind Raleigh.
Surely she wouldn't be dumb
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 19:48 — BadSnortSurely she wouldn't be dumb enough to cut and paste and not even change the font. Is she color blind? How could she not notice that it's BLUE?
Surely she wouldn't just take someone else's ideas and parrot them mindlessly!
Maybe she just wrote it in the blue type and size of e-mails for emphasis.
I'd like to ask them. And then ask to take a peek at Norwalk's 'sent items'.
wakemother--I would be
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 14:22 — jenmanwakemother--I would be interested to know what she has done in Knightdale.
I thought that her letter was short on substance. She said something to the effect of 'ample funds spent sensibly'. What's sensible? Where are the ample funds going to come from? I'm hoping to see more substance and actual ideas from her as the election gets closer. But the fact that Stan has already donated $500 to her makes me leery.
Not to be trusted
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 14:07 — wakemotherI have met Ms. Rakestraw and I know about some of the things she has done in Knightdale. I don't trust her.
If you...
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 14:14 — supportwcpssare going to disparage someone please back up with details and documentation.
Otherwise you are just a rumor mill saying evil things about people. We have enough of those on this board.
talk about your hypocrite
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 17:47 — AngelaWpot=kettle, back up your "lie" accusation and your "I won't give a ...." both of which directed at me....
I can tell you.
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 15:06 — BadSnortHere's details. The last Town Council race in Knightdale, she sent out postcards disparaging the candidates her Knightdale C.A.R.Es group opposed, using the names of the two candidates her group supported without their knowledge or consent. It was sort of ugly, and a lot of people didn't appreciate them- she essentially lost the election for one of the candidates she supported b/c those postcards made people so mad.
Candidate received over 50 angry phone calls about postcards she knew nothing about. This woman deserved the seat, should have won, and didn't b/c of Rita's shenanigans.
She also failed to register Knightdale C.A.R.E.s as a political action committee in violation of state election law.
She also told people that donations to Knightdale C.A.R.Es were tax deductible, but never applied for tax exempt status with the IRS. By the time she did apply, the group had been too involved with political stuff and it was denied- so those folks thinking their thousands of dollars were tax deductible got an awesome surprise.
Want to hear more?
Here's some links about her
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 15:52 — Voice_of_Reason_C.A.R.E.
http://blogsarchive.newsobserver.com/backyardbuzz/index.php?title=c_a_r_e_off_the_web&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1
Rakestraw et al sues Knightdale
http://www.aoc.state.nc.us/www/public/coa/opinions/2008/070866-1.htm
This article talks about her familily political ties
http://www.indyweek.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A41145
ROFL !!
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 21:09 — CaryCurmudgeonROFL !!
Inept and lacking in ethics
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 15:36 — FalcSomeone who appears to be inept and lacking in ethics wants to be an elected official in NC. Gee - we've never had one of those before.
wtf??
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 13:57 — BadSnortIn her letter, she can't even make the formatting match. The whole bottom part is blue, as if she copied it out of an e-mail.
...
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 18:59 — SideburnsI noticed that too. Funny thing -- Stan's email (that the document was attached to) is written in the same blue font. And that blue sentence in her word document is part of her statement in the Eastern Wake News. I think Stan must have writtten it for her.
http://www.easternwakenews.com/front/story/3882.html
....
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 19:40 — AngelaW....
user1234--Having a diversity
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 06:30 — jenmanuser1234--Having a diversity policy is not the problem. It is how they implement the policy that is the issue. Removing low income kids out of an already healthy school and busing them 18 miles in order to raise another school's F&R is flat out wrong.
If I remember correctly, your kids are at Athens and you are not happy with how high the F&R is. How is this current diversity policy working for YOU? Not too well. WCPSS continually ignores schools that have high F&R and instead focuses on raising the F&R of far flung suburban schools. I would much rather work on helping the high F&R schools than worry about raising the F&R of Green Hope or Pleasant Union if it means busing poor kids 15 or more miles to do it.
Think about who is really being helped by this diversity policy. Do you really think that WCPSS would EVER let Martin, Daniels, or Broughton get to the F&R level of Athens, West Millbrook, Dillard Drive, etc.? No, because 1) they would lose the support of all of the middle to upper income ITB families and 2) those schools are more 'visible' and it is important for business interests to keep those schools as healthy as possible. That is what drives this whole thing. Not what is good for the children or for the rest of us.
“How is this current
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 07:06 — user1234“How is this current diversity policy working for YOU?”
It is helping me only in it is not allowing the school to turn 80% F&R.
“I would much rather work on helping the high F&R schools than worry about raising the F&R of Green Hope or Pleasant Union if it means busing poor kids 15 or more miles to do it.”
I agree but I would like to see the action first. Personally, I am guessing once the powerful get what they want the funding and urgency will disappear. As long as F&R’s are not warehouse in some other school, these people have to deal with them.
Also, 15 miles is an extreme. Most kids live within 6 miles of their school. But within that 6 miles by including or excluding apartments and housing projects, you can swing the %’s one way or another. Personally, I don’t get the feeling that the folk on this blog have a passion for fixing the F&R problem and increasing their performance. I think many ascribe to “survival of the fittest” and you will often hear “I worked hard to save the money to buy into a “good” school” and deserve better“. The BOE on the other hand has to take care of ALL kids from the dumbest to the brightest, the poorest to the riches, etc. They have no mandate to customize education to help each kid reach their full potential which I think is really the parent’s responsibility.
We are Athens base
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 09:32 — FalcIt is the most geographically convenient HS for us and I'd consider it our "neighborhood" HS. Can you help me understand how absent the "diversity" policy it would be 80% F&R?
Looking at the base node map for Athens, it appears most of the nodes are contiguous, which in my book is what a community based school would look like. This year some LI contiguous nodes were removed lowering the LI, but there are still noncontiguous nodes from South Raleigh assigned to Athens which increase Athens LI. So from an LI % perspective wouldn't removing the noncontiguous LI nodes and keeping the contingous LI nodes have been a wash to some degree? What am I missing?
Looking at the node maps and living in the area Athens, DDMS and the schools that feed DDMS would be "diverse" as community based schools. Please look at their base node maps, which nodes were removed, which stayed and the LI% of those. On the DDMS map what is the story with node 635.0 - why move this little donut hole node in when the plan says there are zero students in the node? If you can make sense of why they remove contiguous LI nodes but leave noncontingous LI nodes, please share. It just does not make sense to me.
One kid at a time
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 14:17 — user1234“It is the most geographically convenient HS for us and I'd consider it our "neighborhood" HS. Can you help me understand how absent the "diversity" policy it would be 80% F&R?”
Think long term not just next week … school slowly moves toward 40% F&R … non-F&R slowly decrease and age out … fewer advanced classes are offered becasue of less interest??… someone mentions on a newcomer blog that they can not get some advanced math or language for their kid but there are three sections of it at Green Hope … so people slowly start to avoid the school ... don't move into the node … people start moving across the street in the annual “node migration” hoping to get a desk in a trailer in the parking lot. The school slowly loses it’s PTA / Booster club as lower income / non-English parents become the majority … the political and media contacts dry up … you don’t have an organization, a web site, Mr. Hui ear, a PAC … you don’t have the resources to fight reassignments, buy media time (e.g. MacGregory Downs had four TV spot for 25 kids affected) … and you get dumped on … everything all the “politically connected” nodes don’t want – trailer parks, Section 8 housing, apartments you get … that is how you get to 80% F&R … one kid at a time …
Now I'm confused
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 14:33 — FalcThe magic percent in the policy is <40% F&R, but if a school slowly moves toward 40% F&R, in the long-term it will become an 80% school?
Then can you explain why as AHS' LI percent was increasing, the only new homes they were building in my area were $500K+ homes? One of these neighborhoods even backs up to a trailer park (since you mentioned them). All the base schools for that neighborhood are between 33-40% ED, including AHS.
"You get dumped on" -- those on the rim have gotten dumped on plenty thanks to the magnet program and diversity policies to benefit the "politically connected" ITB.
It's interesting you mention Green Hope, my neighbor who graduated from AHS told me they were glad they did not go to GH. Not everyone thinks the same way that you want to assume they do. Some people like wine and cheese, but others prefer beer and brats even if they can afford dom perignon and cavair. That's the thing that seems to get lost here -- everyone is different, everyone is an individual. Here -- if you don't think the diversity policy is the greatest thing on earth or there may be a better way, you must be uncaring and a racist; if a school is more than 40% F&R, it will be unhealthy (and now apparently will eventually become an 80% school); if you don't want your kids reassigned to a new school, it must only be because you don't want your kids to go to school with those kids; etc.
Think I'll grab a PBR to go with my brat, it's the weekend.
I think the 40% F&R gives
Sat, 04/04/2009 - 18:54 — user1234I think the 40% F&R gives some stability to areas that are at the limit now.. So, even if you don’t have the political organization of Leesville, a PAC like Lacy or the media connection of Macgregor Downs, there is a limit which the BOE is trying to maintain. In this 30% F&R county having most the schools between 20% and 45% with 40% being the upper goal is a good policy. In theory, the mix should not change much year to year since poor people are not migrating node to node. Only the opening of new schools throws everything up in the air.
I know Green Hope is know locally for it’s drugs (“Green Dope”) probably due to wealthier students but US News recognized it for some national aware and didn’t a reality TV show pick it so that kind of press makes some people want to move into a GH nodes and pay a premium for a house.
“Here -- if you don't think the diversity policy is the greatest thing on earth or there may be a better way, you must be uncaring and a racist; if a school is more than 40% F&R, it will be unhealthy (and now apparently will eventually become an 80% school);”
I don’t think you have that right. I don’t think people here shun higher F&R% because they are racist but because they are realist. The higher the F&R% the fewer advanced classes get offered and theoretically the lower your chances of getting in to a top tier college. Also, the higher F&R% the harder parents have to work to raise money for sports, band and performing arts. Finally, the higher the F&R, the more time teachers and administrators spend on remedial work, discipline, IEPs, and writing referrals, etc. Realist realize that spending more time on education and less helping disadvantaged students will help their child. They realize by cornering a “good” school it will increase their individual property values. This is just smart self interest not racism. If we could increase their home value by say 10% and offer the best teachers and classes for the school with the highest F&R%, people would be bussing them in left and right to get the benefit.
You may have misunderstood
Sun, 04/05/2009 - 14:59 — FalcI wasn't saying they were racist, I was commenting that those who support the current "diversity" policy seem to make that assumption or at least try to use that label. It seems a lot of assumptions keep flying around when it comes to the education system here. IEPs, remedial work, discipline, and referrals are not isolated to F&R kids. I know a number of kids with these who are not F&R. I guess that's part of what gets me. It seems here so much is about assumptions, labels, groups and stereotypes, instead of open dialogue, individuals and actual truth.
BTW - while the person did make a comment about the dope at AHS being less serious stuff, the main reason that NED honor student didn't want to go to GH was they did not want to go to school with a bunch of cliquey rich kids - gasp. They are not the first person I've met who desire to limit their exposure to rich people - double gasp. Again, not everyone thinks the same way.
To which school a particular area is assigned is only one factor in whether or not people choose to live there. As you've pointed out most people do not have kids in school.
I agree with you that there
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 07:53 — Eric_BI agree with you that there is a problem with the way low income students are educated and treated in regards to student assignment in WCPSS.
We disagree on the best way to push for a solution.
You seem to think that continuing to inflict pain on middle class parents through constant reassignments for diversity is the way to get this to change. (Not even talking about the other problems like MYR and discriminatory magnet lottery selection.)
I happen to think that if low income students are no longer shuffled among schools through reassignment, the magnitude of the problem will become apparent and the board will be forced to act to address it. After all, if Athens really was an 80% F&R "unhealthy" school, how could the board ignore that if shuffling students was not an option? They might actually be forced to deal with the problem of how to better serve low income students. If a school like this really is failing, parents have the right to school choice under NCLB to send their kids elsewhere with transportation provided by WCPSS.
It comes down to, who do you really think has the power to address the "F&R problem" as you put it above? Parents who keep getting the shaft from WCPSS or the Board of Education?
And...
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 10:06 — supportwcpssI think you cannot possibly fathom or have any concept of what it might take to 'fix' an 80% school.
How about this for an option. You get your neighborhood school with all your like minded individuals who will then (and I guarantee) ignore those high F&R schools. The BOE then decided to help those F&R schools as much as needed and pulls ENORMOUS amounts of money out of the other schools (because it will cost enormous amount of time, resources, and money) to help these schools.
So you get your schools but you also get:
Because all that money will be pored into the F&R schools. Be careful what you ask for.
so?
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 10:12 — AngelaWSo you get your schools but you also get:
we have that now (check out the ABC waivers, MYR's with no specials/electives, losing staff due to under-enrollment and now budget cuts, and there will be plenty more because of the economic hurricane, so what's your point?
You know my point
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 14:12 — supportwcpssBut deviate the conversation. Class waivers are a very low %, my schools have electives and specials, and the economic downturn was pertinent to my point.
The fact is if we went to neighborhood schools you wouldn't give a sh1t about high F&R schools, that is until they started taking ALL the money from your schools.
I realize these requests
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 16:13 — KeungHui (author)I realize these requests usually don't have much of an impact. But can we please try to make the conversation more civil, at least avoid inserting backhanded obscenities into your comments.
Thanks
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 16:22 — AngelaWfor trying Mr. Hui.
jeez, Mr. Hui--how about some moderation?
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 15:05 — AngelaWSideburns got slapped a while back for a "leash" comment, and you let THIS one get away with telling me "I won't give a ....?"
Class waivers are NOT low and WCPSS is on watch by DPI
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 17:48 — AngelaWfor having so many requests in the past few years, contact DPI yourself and find out...it's quite simple. YOUR schools have electives and specials and that is all YOU appear to care about. YOU are the one constantly worried about the F&R% being raised at YOUR school, YOU are JUST what you accuse others of being.
you have NO point since we already have schools such as this throughout WCPSS.--do some research, it's not hard.
and with the lie accusation, don't you DARE to presume what I would or would not care about or what schools I do or do not help now as it is....as much as *I* put my name out there unlike YOU, you don't know a thing about me other than what I've shared about my kids and our WCPSS experience.
You appear to be a horribly mean spirited, accusatory WCPSS supporter who will NEVER see another way, I will not waste another ounce of energy on someone like you .., you appear to be JUST the kind of person you say most of us who blog are making you appear to be the worst thing of all...a hypocrite and in time you will get yours. that kind always does.
supportwcpss - The point is
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 14:28 — Eric_Bsupportwcpss - The point is that the Board of Education would be forced to take action if a high F&R school was "unhealthy."
The board would no longer receive all of these national accolades for a program that does no better than alternatives and would be forced to take real action to help low income students and not just schools. In addition, the federal Title I funds can be directed to the schools and areas of the county that really need them rather than diluted because of student assignment spreading low income students all over.
Neighborhood schools would prevent WCPSS from fraudulently claiming school improvement and AYP under NCLB simply by shuffling students around.
You know that non-magent schools (there are no magnet schools in the suburbs!) are already forbidden from offering extras. We have a choice of 4 electives in our middle school while a school like Ligon has an unimaginable amount to choose from. I still don't understand your speculation about what would be lost. That's all it really is, just speculation on your part.
We have "no frills" or
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 11:12 — DrActualFactualWe have "no frills" or extras to our education now. Our Algebra 1 class was so overenrolled they asked for parents to change to tracks 2 or 3 for less crowded classes. Perhaps SUPPORT'S school is the one getting the money and programs and he/she doesn't want to part with it. They can't take what you don't have; but they can rearrange it all and muck up what used to work. Then the entire school gets a diminished educational experience--who wouldn't vote to keep up this board's status quo (what a disaster MYR). IMHO the current board doesn't address the needs of the poor at whatever school they find seats for them to sit in. Even Kahlberg conceded that "some groups" (ED) aren't doing as well as Char-Meck (higher poverty rate). Status quo has gotta go.
Spot on!
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 10:19 — g88ky07Way to whack a mole!
LOL
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 11:08 — AngelaWone of our favorite games in my house!
Blast From The Past
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 10:58 — Lisa_BHey g88ky07:
Thanks for the blast from the past. Whack-a-mole and toad-in-the-hole seem like eons ago....
Whatever happened to Rich, Pam, and some of the old "gang"? My guess is, they were so tired of FACTS not making a difference that they just threw in the towel. Some of us are just too darn stubborn to quit when the undeniable facts are just SO OBVIOUS. We just end up shaking our heads and believing that GOOD JUDGEMENT and COMMON SENSE will finally prevail...so we provide MORE FACTS...and they just get ignored...and we provide MORE FACTS...and they just get ignored...and the SPIN comes out...and no one in a decision making capacity even questions the lies...so we provide more facts...UGH.
This crazy roller-coaster ride sure is frustrating, but when the RIGHT DECISIONS are finally made, this time will be well-spent.
I sure needed a good chuckle today, and with just 5 words you provided it!
I could use a bowl of chuckle soup
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 20:56 — g88ky07especially after YET another blow for us in the cogwheel of inequality !
We told those in charge at our school that we would be tracked out when the decision was made to notify parents, today, of TRACK CHANGES. I KNEW we would get the shaft because of it. SURE ENOUGH tracks 1,2 & 3 got their new track REASSIGNMENTS today, but track 4's MAYBE went out in the mail today. How's that for treating your school equally!
So we wait and wonder if we will be like some of our neighbors who walked past us coming home with kids crying because they are being moved from their friends and the parents enraged that they are being treated this way!
So while I sit here stewing in my inequality bath #422, got any chuckles for me ole friend?
:c )
Personally, I think the 40%
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 08:22 — user1234Personally, I think the 40% F&R is a good target. It does not have to be hard and fast. But it does keep things from getting too unbalanced. Second, I think diversity has been a scapegoat for all the unhappiness over the BOE poor planning and execution which is a shame. F&Rs don’t have a PAC, a website, don’t have the leisure to blog all day long, or have a spouse at the TV station to plead their case. They are invisible until they get in the way or become inconvenient. We know that only 1/3 of the student movement is due to diversity and 2/3 is due to uneven, unmanaged, hyper growth but diversity gets much of the blame. Note, from one viewpoint, the BOE has been able to provide similar educational outcome (average scores) as the rest of the state / CMS at a much lower cost per student which could be considered a benefit to taxpayers. While people may want more for their bright AG kids, taxpayers just want an adequate education at a low tax burden. My prediction is that if people can warehouse the F&Rs in a few schools with little political clout they can be forgotten about. The vocal people won’t put their energy into pushing for change once they get their kids out of harms way and we’ll write these schools and kids off.
What makes you say this?
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 08:42 — Voice_of_Reason_Most taxpayers I've met want a good education for the children to help them achieve to their full potential, and yes at the lowest cost. Most of the bloggers here, I believe agree with me on this. The problem is the money we have given in this county is not being used efficiently to achieve that goal; either in the short or long term. Maybe you've been talking to too many non-taxpayers user1234.
BTW- The AG parents issue is a side issue but is still valid because AG students, like ED students have special needs. It is more than just them being smart and easily making the grade. The school system can actually harm some of them severely if they don't challenge them. Most of these parents want at least the state policies refering to AG enforced and provided.
(Class, economic, academic) Envy is a vice, not at virtue User1234.
(Class, economic, academic)
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 12:24 — user1234(Class, economic, academic) Envy is a vice, not at virtue User1234.
VOR … you still don’t get it .… it is not envy it is fairness … (think for yourself and take a break from Rush) …. You have nothing I want …. Why should I pay the same taxes as you and get less? Why should my daughter not be offered Latin or French 4 because there are not enough interest from non-F&R non-college bound kids? Why do I have to live in an over priced neighborhood going to a “good” school to get the same classes for my kids that I pay the same amount toward? When you go to a high F&R school, your kid’s opportunity for challenging classes is limited compared to non-F&R schools because there is “no interest”. That is not fair to warehouse all the F&R’s in a few schools and migrate the advanced classes to the non-F&R schools.
Response
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 12:46 — Voice_of_Reason_Sorry, I didn't know Rush taught that, I got that info from Church a long, long time ago.
I doubt you do
Personally I think these type of classes should be "a la carte" pay as you go classes and not part of free public education albeit it could be subsidized. I thought you were for mediocrity, these are "luxury" courses not necessary to succeed.
You don't, you can live where you want. I never said schools should have a homogeneous family income level. If the school system would have a core curriculum, it would be equal. If we had vo-tech high schools and merit based magnets, that would be easier to do.
In the current system that's what you have. Again if magnet schools were merit based, this argument would disappear. Also, if the school did not meet Title I AYPs, you would have a choice to be bused to a better school by law.
Life isn't fair, but most have choices where they live. If city planners did it right, the pockets of poverty could be distributed around. I agree it isn't fair to only offer advanced courses at non-F&R schools, but I believe that it isn't fair to have Magnet Schools with admission heavily weighed on where you live vs. a merit based system.
I think you flatter
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 14:08 — user1234I think you flatter yourself too much if you think people envy you.
“I thought you were for mediocrity, these are "luxury" courses not necessary to succeed. “
I am not for mediocrity but I don’t believe “Government Issue” is capable to being much more since they have such a wide range of customers to be served. Yes they should be better and Yes they are theoretically capable of being better but I don’t put faith in them to be better than average.
VOR … you use a lot of “ifs” … I think you are living in a dream world if you think these things will happen ….
"If the school system would have a core curriculum, it would be equal. If we had vo-tech high schools and merit based magnets, that would be easier to do. Again if magnet schools were merit based, this argument would disappear. Also, if the school did not meet Title I AYPs, you would have a choice to be bused to a better school by law. If city planners did it right, the pockets of poverty could be distributed around. "
You sure like to twist things
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 15:26 — Voice_of_Reason_I don't know how people can envy me (they don't know me) or really do I even care if they do or don't. If you re-read what I said, I was talking in a macro sense an not about me at all.
Yes, I used a lot of ifs. So what! What is the status quo doing for us?...nothing, no results and your complaints about schools are still there. You never answered my question about why should public education even offer "luxury" courses except as electives that allow a more rounded education. I personally would prefer more History and Civics courses instead. I would agree that "average" is enough to pass a student. But is that what we want for all students? Why don't we just lower the bar and pass everone then, is that fair to those that want to go to college? Public school should give those students that wish to succeed enough education to be accepted into college with a reasonable chance for success. Your idea of average education would not do this.
“You never answered my
Sat, 04/04/2009 - 18:51 — user1234“You never answered my question about why should public education even offer "luxury" courses except as electives that allow a more rounded education. I personally would prefer more History and Civics courses instead.” .
We agree .… since the goal is to get into college these “luxury course” can be important. I think much of our problem comes from not deciding on our goal: High across the board average, raise F&R to average, send more kids to selective colleges, compete withKorea
“I would agree that "average" is enough to pass a student. But is that what we want for all students? Why don't we just lower the bar and pass everone then, is that fair to those that want to go to college?”
I think we missed each other on the term “average”. I think of “average” as worldwide average - a student who could function in theUS , Korea , Germany India US
“Public school should give those students that wish to succeed enough education to be accepted into college with a reasonable chance for success. Your idea of average education would not do this.”
I probably disagree given that only 20%?? of people go on to graduate from college. It seems a waste to focus on college for 100% while so few will continue on. It seems more productive if we segmented out students to 40% college track so half would feel special but eventually drop out and 60% vocational (plumbing, electrician, auto mechanic, HVAC). Anyone not going to college could be GEDed after the 10th grade and go on to vocational school or junior college for an associate degree in business or some medical field. Putting so much emphasis on college while so few continue on is what messes up the system from meeting student’s real needs and ambitions.
Code Words And Euphemisms
Thu, 04/02/2009 - 19:46 — chaboardLots of em.
er, this was supposed to be a response to user1234's question below
Bye Bye Rita!
Thu, 04/02/2009 - 20:20 — g88ky07If you're going to run on continuing to support Chuck's "diversity utopia" you will LOSE!
P E R I O D!!!!
I didn't think the filing period was until July, how is it Rita can file now, or was that more mis-information provided to us?