tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097158142844550473.post4509268420811712708..comments2023-10-01T06:53:05.812-04:00Comments on The Washington Teacher: The Black and White of School Closures Candi Petersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12266880795971626269noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097158142844550473.post-50525291767089096282015-07-11T16:07:33.850-04:002015-07-11T16:07:33.850-04:00The article states that “the rush to close schools...The article states that “the rush to close schools has not resulted in any measurable improvement in standardized test scores.”<br />Comment: I don’t know what the intended goals were for the school closures but I hope that the improvement of test scores was not one of them. This would mean that the decision makers do not understand the cause of the achievement gap. <br /><br />I understand why many teachers are upset over the closings and “the replacement of neighborhood schools by privatized charters.” However, my suspicion is that this replacement would not have happened if the neighborhood schools had met the needs of the students.<br /><br />Article: “Chicago is the most segregated city in the country, and our students of color are routinely deemed as second-class by a system that does nothing but present one failed policy after the next.”<br />Comments: <br />1. A segregated city or school is not necessarily bad for the students. Some would even say that such a belief is racist. The implication is that blacks and other minorities cannot achieve on their own and need to associate with whites – a very disturbing idea. <br />2. Some would argue that segregation is bad because minorities do not get the benefits that are so common among whites. However, as we see from the famous case of the Kansas City schools, money will not fix those problems that are due to non-environmental causes. http://www.cato.org/pubs/pas/pa-298.html <br />3. Interestingly enough and contrary to popular belief, the cost per student is fairly consistent for all races/ethnic groups. But, as we see from Table 1 of this link, the expenditure per black student is consistently higher than that for whites. http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2011/04/the-myth-of-racial-disparities-in-public-school-funding <br />4. However, I do agree that Chicago and much of the United States have had “one failed [education] policy after the next.” The reason that these policies have failed is that they are not based on reality. These policies fail because they assume that the achievement gap as well as a multitude of other social problems can be fixed by fixing the environment. But, in reality, the major contributor to these problems is often non-environmental.<br /> <br />The article lists a whole bunch of issues that are due to the “policy of neighborhood closings and charter openings….”<br />Comments:<br />1. Yes – many of the problems that the public schools are having are due to the opening of charter schools. The next question is, “Why do parents want to send their children to charter schools?” Answer: It is because parents believe that the charter schools will be more beneficial (and less harmful) to their children. <br />2. The states could make charter schools illegal but this will be a very temporary fix to the problems of the public schools. And, of course, the very wealthy would either send their children to private schools or they would be homeschooled. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097158142844550473.post-42716548178283438142013-01-10T21:05:35.714-05:002013-01-10T21:05:35.714-05:00Candi
You are like Alicia Keys new song, On Fire! ...Candi<br />You are like Alicia Keys new song, On Fire! Love it.Margienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097158142844550473.post-25321026512662362902013-01-09T07:09:38.570-05:002013-01-09T07:09:38.570-05:00Interesting articleInteresting articleAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097158142844550473.post-48376145687579727642013-01-04T20:30:19.313-05:002013-01-04T20:30:19.313-05:00As long as there's a DC teachers' union pr...As long as there's a DC teachers' union president not looking out for the students, teachers, and the communities, closures in low-income, minority neighborhoods will continue.<br /><br />What is the Union President Saunder doing for his people and the children that he must protect from any further shame?zulmanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097158142844550473.post-29326364663223992322013-01-04T13:47:15.933-05:002013-01-04T13:47:15.933-05:00Chicago Teachers Union has serious leadership in K...Chicago Teachers Union has serious leadership in Karen Lewis. I'm impressed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com