Scrap school boards? this is an interesting article about education reform

[Teresa]

This is a huge issue, especially for children on the spectrum because the sooner a child gets the services they need like speech and socialization skills, they will require less services later. This is one of the reasons I like Obama's 0-5 program and he realizes the support services needed by parents of children with autism. (he uses the word autism, but some use Spectrum now) It shouldn't take a year for a child at 2+ to be evaluated or a parent to fight for what they think is best for their child. This is a nationwide problem, not limited to Sowal. Parents shouldn't have to leave their jobs to fill out mountains of paperwork and pay for evaluations with child psychologists.


Zero to Five Plan: Obama's comprehensive "Zero to Five" plan will provide critical support to young children and their parents. Unlike other early childhood education plans, Obama's plan places key emphasis at early care and education for infants, which is essential for children to be ready to enter kindergarten. Obama will create Early Learning Challenge Grants to promote state "zero to five" efforts and help states move toward voluntary, universal pre-school.

Then I've seen the advanced students suffer as well with boredom, even some enrichment programs are not enough to keep some kids stimulated and skipping grades isn't always the solution.

yes, I like everything in obama's position on education, including the early education - we have all known the value of early educatoin for many many years - nothing at all new.

I know children in kindergarten and first grade here whose parents cannot get the services they know are needed for their children. don't know why there is such a problem there. the school is pretty small. I've heard from a few people directly, and from a friend who works as a consultant on behalf of parents of mostly younger students, to push through the crap and get evaluations and services needed. I think the teachers are taking their time getting to know these kids and not rushing to any evaluations or placements, which is probably a good thing in some cases. I don't think there is any neglect here. but, many of these kids have obvious learning problems.

 

[Teresa]

I think everyone should have to be educated by the public school system. There is absolutely no reason why there cannot be variety and all of the available services for every need.

We all already pay for the public school system and as long as people can "opt out" and send their kids somewhere else it will not be a priority to provide a decent education for everyone.

you are speaking in terms of a completely overhauled education system, or an ideal one, I am hoping.

pleae do not tell me that I have to put my son in a public school. I would gladly do so here, but elsewhere would be another story entirely.

 

[peapod1980]

What I meant is that every child should have the same set of options available to them. The education should be flexible enough to help each child make the most of their god-given abilities, whatever they might be.

I agree with this 100%, and it's what I understood you to say. I may be misunderstanding SJ, but it sounds like he believes that a public school education is a specific type of education and is one that can't cater to the individual needs of students. That's a pretty broad brush with which to paint. (Though I do enjoy your artwork, SJ. ;-))

 

[Teresa]

I agree with this 100%, and it's what I understood you to say. I may be misunderstanding SJ, but it sounds like he believes that a public school education is a specific type of education and is one that can't cater to the individual needs of students. That's a pretty broad brush with which to paint. (Though I do enjoy your artwork, SJ. ;-))

I agree with punzy, but I also think it is a statement about an "ideal" public school system. I wish we could offer every child the same options in education, right now. today.

and

I agree with SJ - and I'll take it further by saying that I believe each child and each family has its set of learning/education/philosophy needs. and its nice to have some choice in education based on those needs. in fact, it is absolutely essential. if only every family were fortunate enough to choose between this school or that school, between this philosophy and that one, between language immersion and a charter school, between public school class down the street and montessori class down the other street.

as I mentioned earlier, some of our families use all of the above at the same time, or skip around to learn about each one, or have one kid in montessori and one kid at Butler... I say good for them.

 

[scooterbug44]

please do not tell me that I have to put my son in a public school. I would gladly do so here, but elsewhere would be another story entirely.

And that sentiment right there is why everyone should have to go to public school. It just upped the stakes!

I completely understand though - my cousins and I lived 10-15 minutes away from each other and we all went to public schools. Their school had metal detectors etc. even though they lived in a much nicer neighborhood - because they went to school w/ city kids and I went to school w/ farm kids.

Noone went to the private school for a good education - that's where they sent the kids who got kicked out of public school!

 

[supermom262]

I could probably address all the points made by everyone. Many things have been said that are valid points.

My daughter attended a public elementary school in Ann Arbor (along with Paula's daughters) before we decided to move down here.

Most of the parents worked full-time but there were several who did not. I worked full-time and volunteered when I could. There were key parents who didn't work full-time that did most of the organizing but on the whole, parents were involved in the school in some aspect.

Since moving here, I have had my kids educated in public, Montessori, a public charter school and have home-schooled as well. My kids have different needs, so I have utilized what seemed best for them at the time.

Regardless of the school or setting, I have been amazed (to use Tootsie's words!) at the parental involvement in South Walton. I'll write more later; have to go pick up the kids!

 

[Teresa]

I could probably address all the points made by everyone. Many things have been said that are valid points.

My daughter attended a public elementary school in Ann Arbor (along with Paula's daughters) before we decided to move down here.

Most of the parents worked full-time but there were several who did not. I worked full-time and volunteered when I could. There were key parents who didn't work full-time that did most of the organizing but on the whole, parents were involved in the school in some aspect.

Since moving here, I have had my kids educated in public, Montessori, a public charter school and have home-schooled as well. My kids have different needs, so I have utilized what seemed best for them at the time.

Regardless of the school or setting, I have been amazed (to use Tootsie's words!) at the parental involvement in South Walton. I'll write more later; have to go pick up the kids!

supermom, I was hoping you would chime in. I was thinking of you and a few other families who have experienced a range of education settings in sowal.. excellent that you have these choices. many of our children just do not fit into one classroom environment or the other. it makes me happy to know that we have choices at all here. finding the right fit for your child (and your family) takes work! its not easy.

 

[Teresa]

And that sentiment right there is why everyone should have to go to public school. It just upped the stakes!

I completely understand though - my cousins and I lived 10-15 minutes away from each other and we all went to public schools. Their school had metal detectors etc. even though they lived in a much nicer neighborhood - because they went to school w/ city kids and I went to school w/ farm kids.

Noone went to the private school for a good education - that's where they sent the kids who got kicked out of public school!

scooter - you are funny.

I should clarify - I would gladly send my kid to any school in Walton County. my point is, we've got fine public schools here. not so in lots of places, as you know. I will not be sending my child to any school where it is lacking in highly qualified teachers, security/safety, adequate facility and funding, materials/books/supplies, etc. it is just not going to happen. I will homeschool first - and that is certainly not something I ever want to have to do. I believe my child deserves an education in a setting with children around his age level, with a broad array of social and other experiences.

at this point we don't know if public school will be the way to go for us. I'm pretty sure we'll get to the point to where it is our only option, around middle school. maybe before. so, we'll join the system at some point for sure. and when we do - it will be an exciting adventure and we will expect wonderful learning opportunities, and lend our support to teachers and staff! just as we have and will with any other school.

btw, can't wait for obama to become our president! this discussion could become very interesting in real life. free and appropriate education for every child... world class education through college... etc. there are lots of ways to accomplish these goals. and in reality, an overhauled education system will be required, and that system will not look anything like it does today

 

[Smiling JOe]

...
My point was that charter schools limit the scope of the community that the involved minority impacts. You end up eventually with two (if not five or six) community standards of education. Which, in my lib-nut world view, is wrong. I get that most people feel very differently about the role of schools in our community.
...

What I am really trying to say is that while I think that everyone should be given an equal opportunity to learn, I don't think that each child will learn equally. Saying that all schools should be the same doesn't fit nicely into the way that people use the given tools.

I'm lost--was that said somewhere in this thread? I'm not being a smart aleck, I'm sincerely asking, because I don't remember reading it.

I may have said it. What I meant is that every child should have the same set of options available to them. The education should be flexible enough to help each child make the most of their god-given abilities, whatever they might be. Sometimes, very intelligent children are born to very dumb or lazy or ill or addicted people. Sometimes, they are born to children. They need boot straps they can use to pull themselves up.

If you give ten people the same set of tools and materials and say, build a treehouse, you're going to get ten different treehouses -- some great, some not so great. If you give two people a deluxe set of tools and materials, and 8 people some scrap lumber, nails, and a hammer, you may get two decent treehouses, but you may have given the budding architectural genius the scraps and lost out on the most fabulous treehouse imaginable. The kid loses, but so does the community.

I love the League of Women Voters idea. I'm up for it.

I agree with this 100%, and it's what I understood you to say. I may be misunderstanding SJ, but it sounds like he believes that a public school education is a specific type of education and is one that can't cater to the individual needs of students. That's a pretty broad brush with which to paint. (Though I do enjoy your artwork, SJ. ;-))

Sorry to stir confusion. Wasn't trying to do so. Yes, I was responding to Punzy's comment quoted above.

I disagree with the bold paragraph, above. Kids will learn either way, using scraps or new supplies. In both examples, kids will show their creativity given whatever tools they are given. To say that the community loses is just not an accurate statement, in my opinion. That is like saying that a person who drives a new Ferrari to the office is better equipped to get to work than one who drives a used Honda, which had been crashed and rebuilt using used parts.

I don't think that playing with wooden blocks as a child makes one too different than playing with actual model buildings and model cars. If anything, I'd put my money on the kid who had just the blocks, because their imagination has to work harder.

 

[scooterbug44]

I disagree with the bold paragraph, above. Kids will learn either way, using scraps or new supplies. In both examples, kids will show their creativity given whatever tools they are given. To say that the community loses is just not an accurate statement, in my opinion. That is like saying that a person who drives a new Ferrari to the office is better equipped to get to work than one who drives a used Honda, which had been crashed and rebuilt using used parts.

I don't think that playing with wooden blocks as a child makes one too different than playing with actual model buildings and model cars. If anything, I'd put my money on the kid who had just the blocks, because their imagination has to work harder.

The problem w/ those examples is that it isn't a choice between a Ferrari and a used Honda - it's a choice between a Ferrari and a car w/ flat tires and no gas.

And it isn't a choice between models or blocks - realistically one kid gets blocks and the other one gets dead cockroaches.

Differing learning styles and ideal environments for creativity are important, but have to come into play after the kid has food in its stomach and basic reading, math, and communication skills.