Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Educational Ranting

I'm feeling pretty stewy these days when it comes to K-12 education. Our local school district is a mess and I'm close enough to it -- knowing a couple of board members, being on a school committee, attending as many PTO meetings as I can stomach, and watching my kids go through it -- that there is something every week that sends me into a fit. On the state level the funding system that was supposed to equalizes districts (but has not) and more threatened cuts makes the picture for the majority of school districts in the state pretty bleak.

I'm a pretty firm believer in public education and I put my kids where my mouth is. The problem is, as I said, the current crunch that can only get worse before it gets better is going to fuck things up for my kids. While the system is dissolving into crisis (where something like 60% of the districts in the state are in serious debt), my kids are in 3rd and 7th grade. Even if we fix the funding system and rework districts, pedagogies, and institutions within 5 years, we've screwed the kids who are currently in the system. Consequently, I think it is totally acceptable to run up huge amounts of debt to improve things in the short term while we work on those longer term solutions. The governor does not agree. He (a multi-millionaire) is taking a $1 annual salary from the state, which he seems to think justifies a budget that reduces K-12 funding approximately $800/student. That's his idea of sharing the burdens of our poor economy. I have my anger as a 'community member' pretty well sorted out, even if I have not yet found the right channel into which I can direct that anger.

My other role, however, is as 'parent' and that has me rolling around with much less direction. Our school system needs to do more to hang on to the bright kids. I am deeply concerned about what happens to the culture of the school when the motivated kids with motivated parents pull out because the short term prognosis is so grim. But, having just received more reports about E's stunningly good scores on the big standardized tests and looked at the unimaginative curriculum and overstuffed classrooms of her school, I have to wonder if I'm sacrificing her opportunities in the interest of my larger political beliefs. This is somewhat more pressing with this kid because she is rather Lisa Simpson-like. She likes to excel within the structure of school. She figures out exactly what she needs to do (no more) and does it and then basks in the good grades. Getting her to do extra "just to learn" or "for her own good" doesn't hold much appeal for her. She'd rather read fantasy novels.

So...tomorrow I'm meeting with her principal and the academic counselor at her middle school to hear what they have to say about all this. I'm going to ask them to give us -- and the others like us -- a reason to stay. Frankly, I'm not expecting much. The elementary schools are pretty good, but once kids hit puberty, the schools become obsessed with behavior (which is often times what is being graded) and all energy seems to shift to those who are academically or behaviorally at the bottom. When it comes to kids 12 and over, the district has been in a race to the bottom.

7 comments:

Stella said...

I don't want to cause a stink on your blog, but you know what I do, and where I teach. If you want to talk about options for E, just give me a call or send me an email. I am happy to talk.

Anonymous said...

Paul and I are both products of public school systems and as believers and supporters of a public school system, want nothing more than to send Lilah to public schools. But Paul couldn't get a job in a public school here because even with a teacher shortage, the state cut funding and there were hiring freezes and layoffs. He teaches at a private school. And if we are still here (in the land of horrible public schools) when Lilah is school age and she doesn't get into the baccalaureate program at our public elementary school which is by lottery, we will have to do whatever we need to get her into a good school whether it's a charter or magnet school, move, or against all principles (and finances) send her to a private school. Just our thinking in this time of ever more cuts in K-12 education.

Zoe the Wonder Dog said...

The IB program got approved and the high school will open in a building one mile from my house in the fall. So really, I'm just trying to figure out what to do with her for next year/8th grade.

Last night's lightbulb was this: what about having her do "9th grade" twice rather than do 8th and then 9th? It might look funky on her transcript, admittedly, but I'm thinking the IB school has enough flexibility in its curriculum to make it work -- they seem much more in tune to where a student is on subjects and much less concerned about what grade they technically are...and that is just what I think we need. And they just added French, which E is dying to take. And she has 8th grade Algebra this year, which she needs to get in to the IB program. Now I just have to sell the administration on the idea...

Zoe the Wonder Dog said...

And Stella, cause all the stink you want! I do want to hear your perspective and even though I know what you do and where you teach, I don't know what you will tell me. Maybe you will tell me to grab my girl and run for the hills. Then again, you might tell me that 8th grade is pretty much a wash everywhere and I might as well stick it out where I am with the promise of the IB school there to rescue us in a year! Okay, these are actually just a few of the many thoughts I've had. What say you?

Stella said...

(Here's a part of my original comment, you know, for the official record!)

In my own life and with my own child, I have crossed some kind of Rubicon. I simply do not believe that any year (k-13+) should be a wasted year. I have high expectations, and I am not going to apologize for them.


I'll save my major arguments about the value of an independent school education for another post and/or a blog entry of my own. In short, I think there are many. Our children are our greatest resource, and their education should be our first priority. I am saddened every single day that our country, our states, our communities don't place the funding of small schools, small classrooms and the employment of exceptionally high-quality teachers at the tops of their agendae. I went to public schools and I worked for 5 years in the public schools. I believe in their potential, but I also believe that the way in which they are constructed and funded is deeply flawed. I wish that independent schooling (and/or independent-school-quality- schooling) were accessible for all, and that is what I will continue to work toward in my career life --both in my current position as an independent school teacher, in the work I will do in the coming summers as I pursue a degree in Educational Leadership, and, I hope, in the public domain as well as a volunteer and perhaps again one day, as a school leader.

Zoe the Wonder Dog said...

Tell me what "independent schooling" means???

Stella said...

An independent school is one that is independent in its finances and governance. You can check out the national organization at http://www.nais.org

(Some folks use the terms private school & independent school synonymously, but private schools may not be financially or academically indpendent from churches, government organizations, etc. In addition, independent schools are 501(c)(3) organizations which sets them apart from for-profit institutions.)