Vicky Powers is understandably happy to be the art teacher at Wiley Elementary School in Raleigh.
As noted in today's Midtown Raleigh News article, Powers loves the fact that the magnet program at Wiley allows the school to offer up to 30 different art electives. It's a big reason why Powers, who was named the N.C. Art Education Association's 2008-09 Elementary Educator of the Year, has no plans to leave Wiley.
It also helps highlights the advantages that magnet schools have over non-magnet schools.
Click here and here for the different electives offered at Wiley. Unique art electives at Wiley include basic painting, clay sculpturing and papermaking.
Powers said it's possible for students to take an art elective all throughout the school year.
Art isn't even the main reason that students apply to Wiley's International Studies magnet program. The school offers five different foreign languages, including ones not found at most elementary schools such as Chinese, German and Japanese.
Located on St. Mary's Street near St. Mary's School, Wiley's enrollment this year is 48 percent magnet, 30 percent base, 16 percent other and 5 percent transfer students.
Comments
Write to the BOE! Let them
Wed, 10/22/2008 - 13:07 — raleighreaderWrite to the BOE! Let them know that it isn't right to have magnet schools located in higher income areas (or non low income areas) or to have magnet schools with an F&R lower than the county average. In last year's assignment plan, Growth Management noted that Wiley's F&R is lower than desired for a magnet school but they couldn't identify a base change to raise it. If they can't figure out a way to raise the F&R, then it shouldn't be a magnet.
Speak up and let them know that this is not acceptable. Of course the base families will never call that to their attention (I don't blame them) and WCPSS is perfectly happy to not deal with it. It will only be after enough of the rest of us say something that anything might change.
I am troubled by the extensive arts electives since Wiley is supposed to be an International Studies magnet, not an arts magnet.
or....
Wed, 10/22/2008 - 16:07 — AngelaWbetter yet, the State, anyone remember the waivers that WCPSS got slapped for? The State got inundated with "cards and letters" and earlier in the year I spoke to DCPI and was told that "Wake is already on their radar", now that was mostly in regards to class sizes, but it can't hurt to let them know ALL the problems.......
You would probably have a
Wed, 10/22/2008 - 14:05 — gwaihirYou would probably have a better chance of your letter being read, and any action being taken, if it were addressed to the CCs rather than the BOE.
BoE read parent feedback?
Wed, 10/22/2008 - 15:42 — Dadof3Santa Claus will sooner read parent's letters than the BoE(eR)
How about...
Wed, 10/22/2008 - 13:20 — Bob_SconceHow about letting them know that it isn't right to deliberately ration the best educatiion to those able to navigate successfully through the district's byzantine magnet admissions process? I don't give a rat's ptuty about the F&R ratio. It's wrong to create a system of haves and have-nots.
I have no problem with having a special magnet school if it offers something unique that doesn't make sense to put everywhere -- the museum magnets, for example. I do have a problem when students at one elementary school can choose between 5 foreign languages, while students at others don't learn any at all.
I did write to the board -
Wed, 10/22/2008 - 14:27 — JSB (not verified)I did write to the board - not sure if I will hear anything back but I did share my unhappiness with what is going on here with Wiley specifically. It's just not right.
Bitter? Perhaps.
Wed, 10/22/2008 - 12:42 — SideburnsIn 07-08, my elementary school had a higher F&R percentage than Wiley. And I would bet it's much higher this school year. We don't have special electives - just troubled students getting suspended every other week. Meantime, our tax dollars are being spent on electives such as papermaking?
Nice job WCPSS.
I second that. Also some of
Wed, 10/22/2008 - 13:32 — NWRaleighMomI second that. Also some of the bussed in F&R kids live closer to Wiley than to our school.
Save the money on bussing
Wed, 10/22/2008 - 10:40 — fiestamomThink of how much money would be saved by shelving the race based bussing and the unnecessary reassignments every year. The money that is saved could be spent on art and foreign language at all the schools.
What is the 16% "other" if
Wed, 10/22/2008 - 10:09 — Anonymous (not verified)What is the 16% "other" if it's not magnet, base or transfer?
Connections
Wed, 10/22/2008 - 10:07 — NWRaleighMomI know of at least one prominent member of Wake Democratic Party who sends his child to Wyley(base student). He proudly mentiones his support of public school at his website. He is against at-large elections, of course.
Thats why I am voting
Thu, 10/23/2008 - 08:20 — vsheehanThats why I am voting republican for in state political positions. You can vote for Obama and still kick this NC Dem party in the A$$. The Dem party in NC feels to safe to listen to anyone. This feeling of safty will only go away if more people vote for republicans for state political positions while still voting Dem on Federal seats. Nothing will wake the powers that be in NC up like watching the Republicans garner more votes for state positions while Federal seats go Dem. Even if the Dems keep their seats they will be more willing to do something about Wake out of fear of losing those seats in the next election.
Yes, all parents need to
Thu, 10/23/2008 - 11:41 — NWRaleighMomYes, all parents need to vote for republicans for in state and county positions...
Republican in all
Fri, 10/24/2008 - 07:44 — NO-bama (not verified)Republican in all elections, thank you.
I shudder to think of the situation we might be in next year if NO-bama comes into office.
Total Crap
Wed, 10/22/2008 - 09:53 — JSB (not verified)This is so not right. It's beyond comprehension. And look at the F&R numbers... there are a heck of a lot of other schools that are far more needy... for just REGULAR enhancements to cirriculum. What a crock.
Equitable?
Wed, 10/22/2008 - 06:59 — SideburnsChinese, floor gymnastics, Shakespearean stories? We don't even get Spanish anymore. It's nice to see Wake County's equitable school system in action.
For elementary school?
Wed, 10/22/2008 - 09:43 — Bob_SconceDitto.
I generally support public schools, but this sort of thing makes me want to reach out and slap somebody. I'm not aware that my kid's elementary school has ANY foreign language classes, and they're teaching JAPANESE in this school??
I'm sick of this system of haves and have-nots.
All wake schools were given
Thu, 10/23/2008 - 08:31 — vsheehanAll Wake schools were given the money this year to have all elementary kids have one day a week , 45minutes Spanish instruction. Principals do have discrestion how that instruction money is used. Ask your principal about it.
The Wiley situation sucks as our base elementary school has a higher F&R numbers and is overcroweded as it is a Traditional school. Our base MS has over 40 kids to a class while the YR MS has barely 10 kids to an elective. Oh ya most of the people from our neighberhood of working class/lower middle class families were turned down for seats at the YR ; while the kids from the upper middle class neighberhood got in. The F&R base for tthe MYR MS opted out of the MYR and now our base MS is bursting from the seems. The kids behave well and are doing well in such an overcrowed situation. They deserve national reconition for doing so well in such a crappy academic situation.
Our principal chose to use
Thu, 10/23/2008 - 11:38 — NWRaleighMomOur principal chose to use this money for the Literacy Specialist. I can't blame him - with high F&R and LEP% he does not have much choice.