Are education reforms hurting the students who need the most help, poor and minority kids?
In his blog “becoming radical,” Paul Thomas, a Furman University associate professor of education, contends that the education reform movement perpetuates inequity and increases segregation. Thomas draws on the findings of the Civil Rights Project, which has done extensive research on the resegregation of schools.
While the South once led the nation in integrating its schools, it’s now become a leader in the resegregation of America’s classrooms, largely as a result of housing trends.
In 1960, The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Only 7.8 percent of the Negro students in the South are attending integrated schools this year, a hundred years after our emancipation from slavery. At this pace it will take 92 more years to integrate the public schools of the South.”
King would likely revise his prediction dramatically upward if he observed his namesake schools in the Atlanta region, most of which are now attended by all black students. That’s because schools mirror the resegregation of neighborhoods.
Here is an excerpt of Thomas’ blog posting, but please read his full piece before commenting:
Changing standards ignores that children in poverty and children of color tend to experience test-prep courses regardless of the standards, and thus receive a reduced educational experience when compared to middle-class and affluent (and disproportionately white) students.If education reform were committed to equity, public schools would insure that all students, regardless of race or socio-economic status, would receive rich and engaging educations.
Increasing the amount of testing and the stakes associated with that testing (for both students and teachers) ignores that standardized testing remains more closely linked with the child’s home status than with the child’s learning or their teachers’ effectiveness.If education reform were committed to equity, high-stakes standardized testing and using test scores to label and rank students and teachers would be completely eliminated. Test-driven education stratifies students by race and socio-economic status, discourages teachers from seeking opportunities to work with high-needs students, and misrepresents school quality (see the historical failure of relying on the SAT, for example.)
Charter schools are not producing outcomes superior to public (or private) schools, but charter schools (such as KIPP) are stratifying (re-segregating) schools and focusing education for children of color and children from poverty more on authoritarian discipline policies and test-prep than rich experiences being experienced by their more affluent (and white) peers. If education reform were committed to equity, children of color and children from poverty would be provided public education that mirrors the education being experienced by affluent whites; instead, charter schools are segregated and “no excuses” environments designed for “other people’s children.”
Funding and expanding TFA candidates in high-poverty and high-minority schools ignores that the single greatest inequity experienced by children of color and children from poverty is being assigned un-/under-certified and inexperienced teachers. If education reform were committed to equity, education reform would abandon test-based teacher evaluations as well as supporting TFA, and instead would insure equity of teacher assignment for all students while also acknowledging the importance of experience and expertise for teachers.
Focusing on school-only reform (the tenet of “no excuses” school reform) ignores the corrosive power of poverty.
–from Maureen Downey, for the AJC Get Schooled blog
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127 comments Add your comment
Dr. John Trotter
February 26th, 2013
2:14 am
The so-called school reforms have been disastrous for well over a century, as Diane Ravitch pointed out so well in one of her scholarly tomes. If uniformity of curriculum and thought and standardized testing galore are so good as educational practices, then why aren’t the expensive and exclusive private schools whose graduates regularly attend Ivy League schools engaging in the same? It is ridiculous, but so many just mindlessly go along with this stupidity like obedient sheep. Now we have the likes of the non-educators like Bill Gates and Eli Broad exerting inordinate influence over the public schooling practices under the guise of inane slogans like “best practices.” It is similar to Honey Boo Boo running the charm schools.
Google "NEA" and "union"
February 26th, 2013
3:52 am
One might marvel at the creative duplicity of the anti-reform movement—if the stakes weren’t so high for inner-city youths and their parents.
And the results of 50 years of liberal education policy so dismal.
As for integration, if those who voted for Obama in two presidential elections schooled their own children in the racially integrated schools they prescribe for the rest of us … wouldn’t the “re-segregation” the author despairs of be remedied?
Instead, they largely choose to follow the Obamas (and Clintons) in seeking out private schooling for their kids. And the thought of other parents of lesser means exercising choice frightens them.
An education system in which all parents are able to evaluate local schools and choose the one, public or private, which best meets their child’s needs—might very well result in a mass exodus from traditional public schools. Or sweeping reforms which otherwise defenestrate the K-12 public education establishment.
An education establishment their own children are protected from.
Linda
February 26th, 2013
6:02 am
He’s right. I have often thought, “how great that children have the option of a KIPP,” while at the same time thinking, “not that I would never send my children there, that would be cruel to make them stay in school that long, etc.” The best thing about the KIPP type schools is that they get children away from bad influences at the neighborhood school.
Bertis Downs
February 26th, 2013
6:06 am
See also, http://edushyster.com/?p=2072. And from Florida, the way it plays out the further along the Ed Reform train goes: http://bit.ly/WbUsDC. Of course that sort of thing would never happen here, right?!
Meanwhile, here’s Former Texas State Commissioner of Education Robert Scott on education reform: “I had to turn in my reformer card because I looked at it as a flea circus,” he said. “They are selling two ideas and two ideas only: No. 1, your schools are failing, and No. 2, if you give us billions of dollars, we can convince you [of] the first thing we just told you.”
Melissa
February 26th, 2013
6:33 am
There is absolutely no simple answer. The issue at hand in this post seems to be the difference between academic rigor and enrichment. The reality is that wealthier neighborhoods have *both* rigor and enrichment.
How can poorer neighborhoods engage parents to provide something outside of school (perhaps educating everyone to some degree) while working to fill the academic and enrichment gaps. Boys and girls clubs seem like an excellent resource to help provide enriching activities for students. The YMCA is another avenue to consider. Encouraging small pilot programs, with seed based funding, etc. could help gather the necessary data on efficacy. We are plagued in Atlanta, and as we see Dekalb, with mismanagement that borders on criminality. Equity is not well-served in this environment.
But to somehow pretend that equity is not found solidly within rigor is a disastrous delusion for our most vulnerable population.
Private Citizen
February 26th, 2013
6:34 am
Only the small questions here. Hmmm I wonder what Nancy Jester would say.
Starik
February 26th, 2013
6:35 am
Totally wrong when applied to DeKalb County, where resegregation of the schools causes the segregation of neighborhoods,
Melissa
February 26th, 2013
6:39 am
“If uniformity of curriculum and thought and standardized testing galore are so good as educational practices, then why aren’t the expensive and exclusive private schools whose graduates regularly attend Ivy League schools engaging in the same?”
I suggest looking at the academic subjects engaged in by these students and the supplementary means by which parents in these communities prepare their students for College (e.g. number of AP courses, College test prep courses, etc.). Parents in these districts would be the first to remove anything that did not prepare their children for College.
Private Citizen
February 26th, 2013
6:39 am
After reading a smidgen of Frantz Fanon, I’d say forget the race “segregation” talk and replace that with economic caste and I think you’ve got it. In other words there is an economic caste system. For example, when a hedge fund manager makes more income in an hour than a working family makes in 47 years. I told this to someone and they replied, “I don’t know what a hedge fund is.”
Now, Let’s just say your hedge fun managers are active in foundations that direct or even regulate education, in other words, telling people what to do, let’s just say that maybe then there will be a whole lot of people who do not know what hedge funds are. And that’s how we lose the middle class, children, and no one knows any different of better. A happy peasant is a useful peasant. Better build up some self-esteem so that you have happy peasants, sort like free range fed cows and chickens.
bootney farnsworth
February 26th, 2013
6:45 am
yup. in social engineering, we’ve tossed out nearly everything which relates to actually teaching.
so long as its happy talk with stupid buzzwords full of cultural failure reinforcement…who cares about actually educating them
catlady
February 26th, 2013
6:52 am
I don’t know if it has hurt, but I don’t see it helping much. At my school, “at risk” kids (below grade level, failed the CRCT every year) get additional, small group instruction in math and reading by pull out or push in experienced teachers who try to make up for years of parental neglect/inaction/ignorance. The third graders also have available 4 1/2 hours per week of after school instruction. About half the parents agree (they have to provide transportation home.)
The truth of the matter is, few of these kids will pass the CRCT, a minimal test.
Personal story: I intensely worked with 6 second graders last year. I gathered RTI data like a maniac. Of the 6, I felt good about the progress of one, and she is doing at or above grade level work this year. Of the others, one has been admitted into sped, and at least 2 others should be tested.
Of the 8 3rd graders I worked with, none are doing on-level work this year.
Is 1 of 14 very good? No, but it is typical.
And, for our resident race-baiters, none are black, and 4 are Latino. That is 10 white kids, only one of whom has been successfully “helped.” I would think it is just me, but my fellow push ins have the same type of success rate. It is very discouraging.
HS Math Teacher
February 26th, 2013
6:54 am
NOTHING will significantly change for the better in education as long as you have schools that promote kids based on seat time. We wait until the kid gets to high school before we start giving “real grades”. It’s about too late once the bent twig gets to be a tree.
NOTHING will significantly change for the better in education if we focus too much on polical correctness and avoidance of greviences and lawsuits. Tell it like it really is, and do what it takes to fix the problem. Everyone in every aspect of professional life does this, except educators.
NOTHING will significantly change for the better in education with a centrally-planned, top-down, government organization that listens more to eggheads from universities than troops in the field who fight the day-to-day battles.
NOTHING will significantly change for the better if we allow influencial people (politicians & marketeers) who think they know how to teach to make, or guide policy decisions that affect the educational process.
reality check
February 26th, 2013
7:23 am
Public schools are doing a poor job with all students, not just poor ones.
Teachers are forced to spend excessive hours on standardized testing and paperwork, not meaningful instruction.
A child can get a good education if they attend a public school, but it is up to the parents – and the child- to make that happen. Some have more resources – and interest – to make that happen.
Bernie
February 26th, 2013
7:27 am
These so called reform success stories are far and in between. While the success has proven to be modest at best,. Overall the change further reduces available education dollars for the vast majority of the students.
This Rush to these new untested programs is a FOOLS game and is primairly designed to resegregate the public educational system as we know it.
AP Teacher
February 26th, 2013
7:36 am
Teach for America is pathetic.
Private Citizen
February 26th, 2013
7:54 am
AP Teacher, TFA is a feeder system for people who want to work use education for corporate exploit, Goes like this, the TFA’er spends a couple years in the school house to get come “cred” and then moves on to a corporate position doing training / curriculum / themes / testing / publishing, you name it. At least, that’s what the critics of TFA say.
Private Citizen
February 26th, 2013
8:00 am
Melissa, You’re onto something with the magic word curriculum, the actual content of what is taught for mastery. Private academies are actually really together with their curriculum. It is specific and sequential and there are support materials to go with the structure. For example, vocabulary is sequential and taught in groups of content that progressively build. Math is taught where one area is mastered before you proceed to the next. In the government school, there is no organised vocabulary instruction and math has been turned into a salad of mixed concepts, too many different things going on at once and then a mad pacing guide, to go with it, that must be followed in a regimented manner whether or not the kids are getting it. This is the very core of the dysfunction, and the function has been replaced by process and “how to teach” harassment.
indigo
February 26th, 2013
8:07 am
I lived thru all the marches, political turmoil, riots and busing that occured during the days of ending segregation.
Now, it looks like voluntary segregation is the rule.
All that blood, sweat, tears and bitterness over busing for nothing.
Only in America.
FlaTony
February 26th, 2013
8:08 am
“School reform” in America has become a code word for privatization of our schools. Yes, it will lead to a new kind of segregation based more on economics. The movement undermines democratic principles we have cherished for generations.
Atlanta Mom
February 26th, 2013
8:08 am
Catlady,
Are you saying those kids can’t be taught? Second grade is too late? You paint a pretty bleak picture.
BT
February 26th, 2013
8:11 am
The combination of so called school reform from the EXPERTS and the laziness of our society are the real issues. As a current administrator, when we encourage rigor in our classes, most students rebel because it is too much work involved. Dont get me started on the family dynamics, that is another issue unto itself. When education is not important to the parents, guess who else does not care!!!
Truth in Moderation
February 26th, 2013
8:13 am
All of these problems will be taken care of by 2023, when President Obama has promised us NEW BRAINS FOR ALL!
NO SYNAPSE WILL BE LEFT UNMAPPED! We will have the brain power of MILLIONS of students across America…..and the world!
I bet you think I’m crazy….just watch this video. The EU will put it all together for us (I guess Americans are too dumb).
ht tp://www.human brainproject.eu (remove spaces)
Read this:
ht tp://academic com mons.colu mbia.edu/item/ac:147966 (remove spaces)
John Friedricks
February 26th, 2013
8:15 am
HS Math Teacher is absolutely right. We have got to let the teachers have the majority of the input when it comes to teaching methodology. There are too many administrators and politicians that coerce policy. Most of them have either not been in the classroom since the use of the blackboard or have no classroom experience at all. Want to reform education? Get the administrators to support the teachers with what they need. We should also look at using our public schools to develop technical job skills for adults. Adult education in some communities would serve a great purpose.
jarvis
February 26th, 2013
8:18 am
@indigo, busing is alive and well in Chatham County. Has been since 1970.
Oh, but also since 1970, no white children have gone to public school. The end result is black children being bused all over Savannah to attend school with other black children.
It’s also one of the worst performing school systems in the state.
Under Funded
February 26th, 2013
8:19 am
Budget cuts are what is killing my child’s education. She only goes to school 160 days a year…being shorted 20 days a year for 9 years means she will have missed an entire year of school by the time she graduates. Thanks Guvna Sonny and Guvna Deal and your cronies.
catlady
February 26th, 2013
8:19 am
Atl Mom: No, not too late, but you have to remember by second grade they have had prek, k, and first to “catch up” and have not. It is hard to make up for years of deficit learning of the kind that most middle class kids come to school with.
MiltonMan
February 26th, 2013
8:25 am
““School reform” in America has become a code word for privatization of our schools. Yes, it will lead to a new kind of segregation based more on economics. The movement undermines democratic principles we have cherished for generations”
The poster has no clue about the democratic dream of improving your situation and being mobile & therefore the ability to move out of bad areas.
Eddie Hall
February 26th, 2013
8:28 am
The answer is simple. Let LOCAL people ( BOE’s, schools, etc) decide what is best for and the best way to teach children in THEIR community. Why have the lawmakers in Atlanta and DC become consumed with what’s best for YOUR children? As always, money. What works in Cook County may not be what works in Dade County. Local control and less outside interference would be the answer, but money gets in the way.
Aquagirl
February 26th, 2013
8:34 am
Atl Mom: No, not too late, but you have to remember by second grade they have had prek, k, and first to “catch up” and have not.
Out of curiosity Catlady, do you know how many of your at-risk kids attended pre-K or kindergarten?
williebkind
February 26th, 2013
8:36 am
My question to all of you is, “Is there a punishment for a teens who do not meet the standard?” Or would this be cruel and inhumane. Just blame the system and keep throwing money at it…right? I know continue writing elaborate pedant articles of how the system should be changed to accommodate not only the student but the teacher also. Make education voluntary and most of these problems go away.
jarvis
February 26th, 2013
8:38 am
“Make education voluntary and most of these problems go away.”
Voluntary for who? After they’re 16, it is voluntary.
Ronald Reagan Parkway
February 26th, 2013
8:42 am
Thank you for this article. You are on point. I believe that “ALL” kids are capable of learning. If given an opportunity with “adequate resources”, the sky would be the limit!
Truth in Moderation
February 26th, 2013
8:45 am
“Budget cuts are what is killing my child’s education. She only goes to school 160 days a year…being shorted 20 days a year for 9 years means she will have missed an entire year of school by the time she graduates. Thanks Guvna Sonny and Guvna Deal and your cronies.”
YOU HAVE NO EXCUSE! Home schoolers are required to go to school 180 days! (That’s why we are smarter)
Home school. End of discussion.
Dr. Proud Black Man
February 26th, 2013
8:46 am
I totally reject the premise that black students need to sit next to white students to learn. Kenneth Gibson’s experiments were flawed IMHO. Having said that instead of worrying about white flight we need to worry AND solve the problem on why OUR culture is OFTEN non-conducive to education.
skipper
February 26th, 2013
8:46 am
Many are missing the point. There are certain, tough to swallow facts. The inner city schools are what they are. Any attempt to sugar coat the situation with political correctness or glossing over merely exascerbates the situation. Somehow, the culture has to change. Barring a few “crusaders”, folks are not going to send their kids to one of these schools. Many serve more as warehouses than education facilities. Too many parents (not all, of course, but too many) could care less about true education. The home lives of many of these pooir kids suffering has less to do with poverty, and more to do with a culture (not everyone, again, but still too many.) This is not the typical “blame single moms” approach, but instead of stereotyping, lets get real stats on how many of these kids are fatherless, and how many siblings are fathered by different folks. Then, lets try to somehow look at that situation and see what approach to take. People, like it or not white folks are not going to flock to this situation. Yes, the problems mentioned above are factors in all communities. However, instead of dancing around the issues, how about opening up the dialogue and realizie that the inner city schools for the forseeable future are going to remain largely minority and poor. Like it or not, that is a fact none of the folks on this blog can challenge. If they do challenge it, they will be proven wrong when in ten years the demographics remain largely the same. Therefore, a different approach to education is going to have to be developed. The kids are teachable, but discipline and life lessons are needed here. Hard words, but check back in ten years…..
Progressive Humanist
February 26th, 2013
8:47 am
When I was teaching high school about 10 years ago the school where I taught had about a 50/50 White/Black ratio. The other high school in the county was about 60/40. The county was growing rapidly so they built and opened a third high school. When they redrew the lines in the district, my high school went to a 15/85 ratio, nearly all Black, and the other school that had previously been in existence went to about 85/15, nearly all White.
A couple years later the district office was looking at my high school and asking what was wrong and why hadn’t test scores increased. Well, literally overnight they had turned it into a high-poverty, all-minority school. We actually performed quite well considering the socioeconomic conditions and were always at the state average in test scores and graduation rates, something you wouldn’t expect given the demographics. But of course, we were considered the nappy-headed stepchild in the county because the other high school was miraculously performing much better after the forced economic and racial segregation. Go figure.
jarvis
February 26th, 2013
8:47 am
@RR Parkway, what are “adequate resources”?
Households that foster an environment of learning are not available for all.
My kids don’t have to worry about their next meal or if there is going to be heat in the house tonight. Mom isn’t doing meth in the kitchen with her abusive boyfriend either. They can concentrate on learning their spelling words, and we’ll help them discover a method for solving word problems.
It’s a cruel reality, but things aren’t equal in all homes.
olderandwiser49
February 26th, 2013
8:48 am
Once again with the “tests are racially biased” BS? Without testing, it’s almost impossible to measure progress. With the “No Child Left Behind” garbage, we have already seen the dumbing-down of our schools as teachers “teach” based on the lowest student’s ability. As a result, the more-intelligent students (or those who want to be) seek schools that can offer them a better education. I think that better results can be attained by pushing students to learn and achieve rather than by making excuses for their failure, while passing them on to the next grade. If a student knows there are no consequences for failure, where is his incentive to even try?
Ronald Reagan Parkway
February 26th, 2013
8:51 am
Too many parents (not all, of course, but too many) could care less about true education. The home lives of many of these pooir kids suffering has less to do with poverty, and more to do with a culture (not everyone, again, but still too many.) This is not the typical “blame single moms” approach, but instead of stereotyping, lets get real stats on how many of these kids are fatherless, and how many siblings are fathered by different folks.
_____
Would you speak the same of the rural areas where poor Whites somehow have the same problems and the drug of choice is Meth? Let’s look at the entire state of Georgia because we are “one” state.
indigo
February 26th, 2013
8:52 am
Dr. Proud Black Man – 8:46
Exactly what is it you’re proud of?
jarvis
February 26th, 2013
8:54 am
@Truth in Moderation, homeschooling is for Jesus Freaks, racists, scholastic hobbiests and over protective aholes that are scared for their children to see what the world is like.
jarvis
February 26th, 2013
8:56 am
@RR Parkway, I actually had a white family in mind when I typed my comment to you.
Ronald Reagan Parkway
February 26th, 2013
8:58 am
Yes, the problems mentioned above are factors in all communities. However, instead of dancing around the issues, how about opening up the dialogue and realizie that the inner city schools for the forseeable future are going to remain largely minority and poor. Like it or not, that is a fact none of the folks on this blog can challenge.
_____
Sorry, as I continued to read your entire comments, my perception was confused.
Jovan Miles
February 26th, 2013
8:58 am
The focus of education reform should always be on equity rather than equality. I have worked in schools where 4-8 weeks before standardized testing begins regular instruction is literally shut down to focus on test prep. This culture teaches our children that the point of school is The Test.
Truth in Moderation
February 26th, 2013
8:58 am
Hmmm. From all of these comments, it seems that you want the parents and students to have the moral character promoted by Jesus. Interesting.
Dr. Proud Black Man
February 26th, 2013
9:00 am
@indigo
Proud of the fact that a simple online screen name causes trolls like you to have apoplectic fits. Does this answer your question?
Don't Tread
February 26th, 2013
9:03 am
Are education reforms hurting the students who need the most help, poor and minority kids?
No, lack of parenting is.
Pluto
February 26th, 2013
9:09 am
Are students given the opportunity to learn and do they take advantage of that? Let’s face it we have gone overboard and bend over backwards to elevate those identified as at risk (predominantly students of color) to the detriment of the white kids because being white just ain’t politically correct. There is no guarantee of outcome in life and we best quit thwarting the development of the future producers in life.
Fed up
February 26th, 2013
9:12 am
Bottom line. Whether you believe in standardized testing or not, I can tell you that the problem with public education is that no matter how great the school is, there is simply no substitute for bad parenting. Period. Our teachers should not be expected to be parents, babysitters, and police. Schools like drew charter are trying to address this problem, although these days only a little more than half of their students are socioeconomically disadvantaged so im not sure if the model is working as intended.
southern opinion
February 26th, 2013
9:24 am
It was too easy for the lower functioning students to pull down the higher functioning students. “Dumbing down” became a rule rather than a helpful procedure. A sense of entitlement by all students has hurt academic success.
DB
February 26th, 2013
9:28 am
I don’t see schools as being the driving force against poverty and economic hardship. Schools are a mirror to the communities they exist in, which is why schools that are high performing tend to be in areas where high performance is valued, and families who want and embrace that degree of scholastic rigor flock to that school and it’s surrounding neighborhoods, paying a premium to be there. A family teetering on economic disaster (and there have been plenty of those in the last few years) has priorities that do not include field trips and “educational enrichment” — they just want to get shoes on their kids’ feet, and are glad that they serve the kids a free lunch.
“Self-segregation” isn’t a matter of race — it’s a matter of culture, of what each culture values. No matter how many opportunities a school may provide (and in spite of the lack of opportunities), if a child’s parents, regardless of color, aren’t passionate about their education, if a child is growing up in a family with multiple baby daddies, drugs, alcohol and welfare as a right instead of a crutch, where gangs are street life and everyone knows someone in prison, no school is going to be able to overcome a basic don’t-give-a-flip attitude.
Digger
February 26th, 2013
9:33 am
Walk into any ’segregated’ school’s cafeteria. Blacks on one side, whites on the other. People want to be with their own. It’s called Nature.
BellCurve
February 26th, 2013
9:41 am
Two many of the posters seem to believe all students can graduate from an accredited four year university and become a contributing member of the middle class. They cannot. While environmental factors like family life and the quality and focus of education have an impact, the princpal inequity is innate, the inequity of intellectual capability.
Michelle-Middle School
February 26th, 2013
9:41 am
The basic problem with education reform in America is that it refuses to recognize that there are two tracks for individuals. Some deserve and are capable of the college prep route and others never need this level of education. Look at Korea and China as examples. They have designed two tracks that WORK. It is not an insult that someone goes to the individuals who take the non-college prep route.
On the other hand, the system also encourages students to perform in school if they wish to go to college. Everything is based upon test scores. The better you do, the farther you go. Of course there are those in America that say that this is discriminatory, and it is. It discriminates in favor of the hard workers. In fact, the student population in Korea that does the best is “orphans.” Why? Because the orphanages teach the students the value of hard work and, because they actually study, orphans have a better track record at getting to college than most other groups.
All education should be based upon intelligence, not position or social status. Teach the best the college prep route, and teach the lowest whatever is needed to incorporate them in to the workforce with realistic skills and knowledge.
As long as America has it’s present system our system will continue to fail many.
gsmith
February 26th, 2013
9:45 am
some mistakes you never quit paying for
misery loves company ( if our school is failing then your school needs to fail in the name of fairness.) we will just bus our kids into your school until your school is failing and your test scores come down to our level)
you can’t make chicken salad out of chicken ———– !!
these phrases sum up public education over the last 40 years in Georgia
Dr. Proud Black Man
February 26th, 2013
9:46 am
Digger@ 9:33am
“Walk into any ’segregated’ school’s cafeteria. Blacks on one side, whites on the other. People want to be with their own. It’s called Nature.”
Uhh….no its not. If this WAS the case toddlers and baby’s would “want to be with their own.” this is a LEARNED behavior.
Digger
February 26th, 2013
9:50 am
Plural of baby is babies, ‘Doctor’.
Dr. Proud Black Man
February 26th, 2013
9:57 am
@Digger
I didn’t realize that punctuation was the issue being discussed. Nice straw man. Now go; I hear a ditch calling your name…
Follow the Money
February 26th, 2013
9:59 am
I think that everyone can agree that more resources — smaller class sizes, enrichment programs, etc. — could contribute to better educational outcomes. Since the mid-eighties, we have doubled spending per pupil in real dollar terms. The problem, however, is that much of that spending has gone not to the classroom but to central administration — local, state and federal — and to functions that have nothing to do with the core mission of education in skills.
If there is to be any hope for a different outcome than the one we have, administrative forbearance and efficiencies must be widely introduced. As it stands today, efforts to reform the system by adding to the top will make a lot of politicians more powerful, but will do nothing to help the kids.
Digger
February 26th, 2013
10:03 am
It’s not punctuation. It is very basic grammar. Generally a sign of intelligence or lack thereof.
bootney farnsworth
February 26th, 2013
10:11 am
so much of this is 19 kinds of stupid.
-race has no bearing on the ability to learn. this ain’t nazi germany.
-ability to learn comes from two areas: natural ability and culture.
-ability is (or should be) self evident
-culture makes or breaks learning in most cases. if you come from an environment which expects and supports learning, you’re gonna have a much better chance to learn. if you come from an environment which doesn’t expect and support learning….rarely ends well.
-sad observational truth is: when left to their own devices, people WILL gather with the group the feel most comfortable with. if no other factors come into play, people do gather in racial groups.
at GPC, the asian students tended to gather at the libraries. the black students in the student center, and the white kids in the hallway alcoves.
but don’t confuse this incidental activity with anything like a indication of anything other than people naturally seek the comfort of safety in familiar numbers
Dr. Proud Black Man
February 26th, 2013
10:13 am
@Digger
Thank you Ms. net nazi. Still didn’t answer my rebuttal to your pseudo sociology. Generally the sign of a toothless, living in the basement, lack of a life, internet troll.
bootney farnsworth
February 26th, 2013
10:13 am
@ michelle middle
while I’m not crazy about tracking kids, I agree the value and respect of skilled trades has gone way down.
Jono
February 26th, 2013
10:16 am
We measure academic success, in part, by high school graduation rates. Surely no one paying attention to the graduation rates of metro Atlanta can claim that years of expensive, disruptive so-called “reforms” are actually working.
Bureaucrats and administrators keep searching for the magic bullet . . . if only we spent more money, reached out to children earlier, etc.
It’s obvious (to me) that cultural values make a huge difference. Look at the cultures and groups that have very high rates of success — e.g. Asians, Ashkenazi Jews, etc. You’ll find that they are nurtured by cultures that place a premium on education and scholarship. Un-P.C., but operationally valid nonetheless.
We’re looking in the wrong place and at the wrong things. And unfortunately, our culture of political correctness won’t allow us to ask honest questions or give honest answers about why things aren’t working. At the end of the day, it’s (mostly) all about values.
BT
February 26th, 2013
10:17 am
Political Correctness is destroying our society and public education. No one wants to address real issues and how to solve them. We like the victim mentality. As stated before, no one is enrolling in an inner city school if they dont have to…why would you want to? So there will never be equality until cultural issues in the inner city are addressed. You can call it racial all you want to be reality is reality.
BT
February 26th, 2013
10:21 am
I will admit, I have always been impressed with the way the Decatur City Schools operate. So they are doing something right. You always hear of the problems with Dekalb county but rarely do you hear of issues with the city schools.
Private Citizen
February 26th, 2013
10:23 am
Digger, I would appreciate you not challenging my formerly unquestioned title as the King of Typos, crazy grammar, repeatedly reversing their / there, even though I know the difference, and typing “f” in place of “s” to strongly submit such counsel as, “We all know there if a better way,” which will leave you reading, “If a better way?”
____________________
I am taking of millions of men who have been skillfully interjected with fear, inferiority complexes, trepidation, servility, despair, abasement.
-Aimé Fernand David Césaire, Discoure on Colonialism
Private Citizen
February 26th, 2013
10:24 am
correction: “talking,” not “taking”
V for Vendetta
February 26th, 2013
10:26 am
There is a pretty clear lack of respect for education permeating some geo-cultural areas. If anyone wants to admit that, we might have a fighting chance. Until then, little will change.
Maude
February 26th, 2013
10:27 am
Any reform will not help the poor and minority until you get the parents to take an interest in their child’s education. My school had a parent night to give the parents an idea what their child does all day at school. My school has over 700 students and only 5 parents showed up for the entire school. Written notices were sent home several times, calls were made to parents, teachers discussed it for several days ahead of time in class, the class with the highest number of parent come would get a treat. What else could the school have done to let these parents know? We can’t make them come. I wanted to cry! All the teachers were present with great things to share with the parents and no one cared enough to show up. We can talk about reforms but nothing is going to work until get somehow get the parents to value education.
Private Citizen
February 26th, 2013
10:29 am
Maude, However, as professionals, we should control what we are able to control on our side of the fence.
_______________
I just got a political email that says, “Washington, DC is the only place in America where bad ideas… are treated like good ones.”
Spartacus
February 26th, 2013
10:29 am
Schools cannot make up for the deficiencies of an unstable home. If you have an unstable home, you could be enrolled in the best private school and will still perform poorly. Liberals would love to believe that “the village” (paid for by taxpayers) could easily replace the nuclear family model (which liberals detest)…….but it ain’t gonna happen.
If the shool system fails like my DeKalb County School System, I will pull my children out. It was the best decision we’ve ever made. If you say you can’t “afford” it, get a night time job delivering pizzas…..your kids are worth it.
Private Citizen
February 26th, 2013
10:33 am
Ugh… my hard working parents never attended a parent night and would not want to, either. I know what you describe is heart-breaking and all, but in my family, teachers were viewed as professionals who provided a service. We also did not attend dentist’s night, or civil engineer’s night (for the person who designed the road and drainage where we live) or fireman’s night, etc.
As a teacher, I want to go HOME at the end of the work day. As a teacher, I would rather teach the students and have the authority to do so, rather than having to teach both the parent and the student, while not having the authority to effectively teach the student, or else being harassed for it when I do.
catlady
February 26th, 2013
10:42 am
Aqua Girl: Almost 100%. We have plenty of spots.
indigo
February 26th, 2013
10:42 am
Dr. Proud Black Man – 9:00
No.
That is not what I asked you.
Spartacus
February 26th, 2013
10:46 am
@Private Citizen….my unsolicited advice to you? Go work at a private school. Less money….less headaches (not no headaches)….more job satisfaction
The utopian dream of lifting poor, uninterested students and parents into academic achievement is a mirage perpetuated by liberals who want more money for their own personal fiefdoms (see DCSS)
Richard Braswell
February 26th, 2013
10:48 am
“Changing standards ignores that children in poverty and children of color tend to experience test-prep courses regardless of the standards”….and Thomas goes on to call for the same ‘rich education’ environment for all children. I agree. However, at some point in every child’s ‘rich education’ experience there should be an evaluation to determine suitability for next level specific course content. Placement tests. Why are placement tests so difficult to accept? Rich education environments are not practical without placement tests. Every child deserves recognition. People must have recognition and self recognition is the cornerstone of one’s life. Self awareness and the inkling of critical thought are the first recognition steps and come from the home. All homes are different, and so are the children from those homes. Placement tests are not biased.
Private Citizen
February 26th, 2013
10:49 am
Very proper evaluator slips into back of classroom, sits down, opens wirelessly connected mini-laptop, starts typing.
Teacher: All right students, here’s you assignment. We’ve been studying Italy. All of you have your notes. Today’s newspaper headline (written in big letters on the board) is Italy Confronts Vacuum as Leaders Seek to Avoid Election. Jeromique, will you pass out these papers to students and make sure everyone gets a copy? (each paper has an image on it: http://www.happyhavens.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/MieleS7210.1-930×930.jpg ) Work in your small groups to each make a drawing to illustrate the headline. Begin!
A minute later the evaluator slips out the classroom, and with a very concerned look tells the teacher, I’ll talk to you after class.
Meanwhile in one of the small groups, one of the students says, “Oh, I get it!” and the rest start laughing.
Private Citizen
February 26th, 2013
10:57 am
Proud Indigo, Why in the world are you harassing Proud Dr. Black Man and not harassing Spartacus? Why are you… (hint: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/thumbnail_570×321/2012/06/spartacus_a.jpg )
Inernet rule #1: In discussion groups, you can not tell other people what to say. You can tell them what you think about something, etc. (what you have to say).
mathmom
February 26th, 2013
10:57 am
The GADOE and the USDOE have clearly joined forces to ensure the perpetuation of an underclass – too stupid to question what the government does. Although many of these “stupid” people are minorities, my experience has been that the DOEs don’t care what color they are, just that they remain ignorant and incapable of critical thinking. I recently attended training using materials developed under a grant from the Gates foundation. Of the two classroom activities provided for this workshop, one was incorrect and the other explored socio-cultural attitudes instead of the mathematics provided in the problem (there was no correct answer – students were supposed to discuss the fairness of the situration in the problem). I assure you that children in other countries are not worrying about the fairness of the situation in their “word problems.”
catlady
February 26th, 2013
11:00 am
Aqua girl: Sorry; incorrect information. About half of our kids go to preK. Not sure what percent that is of the at-risk kids. I know it is heavily Latino, but strictly first come. There are no state private Preks here. Virtually ever 5 year old goes to kindergarten.
Private Citizen
February 26th, 2013
11:01 am
Indigo, Are you flirting with Proud Dr. Blackman, trying to engage his attention?
living in an outdated ed system
February 26th, 2013
11:01 am
This is the first post in 2013 that I must take serious issue with. You lost me when you chose to promote the ramblings of Paul Thomas, who does not deserve to be promoted anywhere and I refuse to read his drivel. My rationale?
1. Paul Thomas has demonstrated that he is a disillusioned teacher who wants to battle any type of change to a dysfunctional system.
2 If you were to look at this blogs (Radical Scholarship, Daily Kos) you will find that he makes hostile, very personal attacks all the time. Instead of civil discourse, you should review his disrespectful attacks on folks like Bill Gates and Michelle Rhee. Regardless of whether we support their perspectives, Mr. Thomas has time and time again hidden behind his written word and write things that he would never say to someone’s face. I find many of the blogs, especially those in the NEA camp, write this way. We would never allow our children to speak like that, so why is it ok for grownups to act that way?
3. His blogs get picked up by the NEPC, a hack organization for the NEA. There is no journalistic review done here – they simply republish blogs that support the NEA platform (e.g., Bruce Baker, Diane Ravitch, Paul Thomas, etc.)
4. He will promote his writings anywhere, especially on Anthony Cody’s “Living in Dialogue” blog on Education Week.
It is important for the readers on this blog to know more about this man, and while we live in a democracy, we should recognize that folks like this can have an adverse impact on your brand.
I have debated Mr. Thomas ad nausea, and he is factually incorrect on the relationship between poverty and education reform. He has a personal agenda against TFA, for example, as well as successful charter school organizations such as KIPP. Everything in this post is likely on the national platform of the NEA. I could go on and on about examples on the ground with programs that are teaching children character – grit, tenacity, teamwork, commitment, etc., and helping children acquire the non-cognitive skills needed to succeed. And they are breaking the notion that poverty can’t be overcome. As such, I do not read anything that Mr. Thomas says anymore. Take it for what it’s worth.
Comment in Moderation
February 26th, 2013
11:05 am
Rev. Trotter:
Bill Gates actually funds the programs he promotes. Would you care to fund educational programs with the $44/month you collect from your members or is that money just going into your vacation home(s)? What exactly do members of your organization receive for the $44/month deducted from their paycheck. I am sure you must have a greater need for it than they do, right?
Grob Hahn
February 26th, 2013
11:11 am
Forcing people to “get along” should never have come under government mandate. They will manage it as efficiently as their $200 toilet seats and $800 hammers. Does anyone wonder why racial relationships have barely made any progress in the decades since we started using our children as social human shields? If anything our government is guilty of child abuse for this whole farce.
Grobbbbbbb
Private Citizen
February 26th, 2013
11:14 am
Proud Black Man, you mean like this guy? http://postimage.org/image/6nsnedp77/
Mary Elizabeth
February 26th, 2013
11:20 am
“Focusing on school-only reform (the tenet of ‘no excuses’ school reform) ignores the corrosive power of poverty.”
====================================================
The article by Professor Thomas contains much insight. Key words that come to my mind from having read his article are “Poverty,” Re-segregation,” “Educational reform movement hurts minorities,” “Minority education is not enriching,” “Charter schools are not producing superior outcomes but are re-stratifying schools,” “Standardized tests should not be used to label and rank students and teachers.”
Poverty has a causal relationship to poor educational results (see link below), yet a major way out of poverty is through quality education that genuinely improves. It has been said that “Education is the new Civil Rights Movement.” I believe that statement to be true.
I am old enough to remember the 1940s, 950s, 1960s, and 1970s and the dramatic shift from the Jim Crow South and its terrible and injust inequities. During that time our nation was more focused on eliminating poverty than it is today. Consciousness must be raised. That raising of consciousness will be the foundation for improvement in the inequities in society. We must, again, seek to elevate rather than to castigate. Slavery and Jim Crow created over time profound inequities that will take even more time and effort fully to correct. The answer cannot be found through surface thinking or through blaming, but through support and through authentically recognizing the value of every human being. We learn from one another. Everyone has worth that is far beyond results on a standardized test. There are different kinds of intelligences, just as there are different kinds of music which touch our souls in unique and different ways. We must tap into those natural variances in human beings without labeling some humans as superior to others. And, as educators we must continue to respect and value the differences in all students – without labeling students – even as we simultaneously recognize the differences within their achievement levels. Moreover, as educators, we must help the general public to see these truths which will foster racial harmony and insight instead of racial discord.
People are more than stereotypes. We know that as educators. And, as educators, we must, likewise, not think in educational stereotypes nor in simple dichotomies regarding educational approaches. We can embrace standardized testing, as physicians use test results to analyze a medical problem precisely, without thereafter labeling either students or teachers with those ascertained results. Testing must be used for diagnostic purposes only, and not for labeling or for punitive purposes. Furthermore, testing is only the beginning step toward fostering meaningful and enriching education, but we must not reject it altogether for it helps to analyze varied instructional levels correctly. Professor Thomas, however, is on-target when he states that children of impoverished environments must be given enriching, creative instruction which inspires and motivates them to learn, just as their more affluent peers receive. All students are motivated by larger ideas. We can embrace both testing and enrichment if we do not think in dichotomies and if we refuse to label based on those test results.
Poverty can be overcome and education can be improved but we must re-establish a national will to accomplish these goals. The underlying foundation for accomplishing these goals is to understand – deep within our souls and our individual consciousnesses – that all people are inherently equal as human beings. That was the foundational tenet of this nation. We must return to believing it to be true.
————————————————————————
Some readers may be interested in the study by Dahl and Lochner (2005) which verifies causal relationship between poverty and academic achievement. Link below:
http://www.nber.org/papers/w14599.pdf
Private Citizen
February 26th, 2013
11:30 am
Comment in Moderation, Are Mr. Gates doesn’t get any money for his programs and 225,000 sq. ft. fortress home from, say… hmmmm…. seen any Microsoft software in the school house? I know it is rare… rare as hen’s teeth to spot it. Good thing, that, since every machine it’s on requires a license fee to be paid.
Colonel Jack
February 26th, 2013
11:35 am
And this is why I am looking seriously into accepting a position at a private school. The money is much less than what I made as a public school teacher, but you know what? In the private school I will get to TEACH. During my interview, I was told that buzzwords like “best practices” and “data driven” are not used in this particular private school. Hearing that made my day, because this school produces kids who go on to excel in college – and the public system I “retired” from couldn’t even graduate more than 50% of its kids. I blame the “Reformers” for the bulk of that. Oh, for the joy of actually TEACHING, and not worrying about whether the data adds up. As long as my students are learning, I am doing my job…and I don’t have to worry about making some Central Office idiot look good.
Ronin
February 26th, 2013
11:36 am
We are all born the same. We have similar skill sets, some excel in math others in music. However, as we grow, two things affect our assimilation of knowledge: culture and environment.
Unfortunately, regardless of how good a school is, if the culture at home does not value education, students are often simply doing seat time during the day and immersed in an environment after school that gives them little hope of excelling academically.
Students have become political funding pawns to champion causes for the left and the right because most people put their party affiliations ahead of education. Dr. Ben Carson MD gave a very interesting speech recently at the national prayer breakfast. In less than 30 minutes this man was able to tactfully provide solutions for many of our most politically divisive issues. It’s really not that difficult to solve some of the issues that we as a nation face. However, until we rid ourselves of the professional political class with term limits for Congress, expect business as usual. For those who may be interested, a link to Carson Scholars.
Private Citizen
February 26th, 2013
11:37 am
living in an outdated, I could go on and on about examples on the ground with programs that are teaching children character – grit, tenacity, teamwork, commitment, etc., and helping children acquire the non-cognitive skills needed to succeed.
What you are describing is formally called-out and is illegal in Germany. It is specified clearly in legal code that teachers / schools are prohibited from performing “character education” on their student charges. It is said that after the fall of the Berlin Wall, former communist East Germany teachers had a particularly difficult time transitioning to teaching content without “character education” as they had been much indoctrinated in this method and had come to view it as a form of love. Many of them had a difficult time unwinding from indoctrination from the state to use classroom to teach young people to be “good citizens” instead of teaching students content: langauge, math, science, physics, autocad, in the spirit that the mind is free and a person is capable to make their own decisions without state indoctrination. Naturally, after the fiasco with Hitler, the West Germans had a reason for such clarity in purpose.
Ronin
February 26th, 2013
11:37 am
http://carsonscholars.org/dr-ben-carson/general-information
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFb6NU1giRA
Colonel Jack
February 26th, 2013
11:38 am
@Dr. Proud Black Man – You are correct, sir. It is indeed a learned behavior. But please note – it’s learned LONG before a child enters school. (That’s on both sides of the fence, I might add.)
Matt321
February 26th, 2013
11:42 am
Thank you for posting this blog. It is good to see recognition that we don’t have a crisis in our public schools, we have a poverty crisis. Charter schools, teacher merit pay, etc., even if they were worthy ideas on their own, are just shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic unless we are really willing to grapple with poverty.
So, let’s talk brass talks. How do we tackle the poverty in our communities, which by the way in Georgia is not just in southwest Atlanta, but all over Georgia (especially in many rural towns)?
1) End local financing (but not local control) of schools. Instead of paying for schools by a county/city property tax, levy an income tax (more fair than property tax) statewide, and pay out to local school districts. Pay the formula based upon number of students, number of special need students, number of English as a second language students, and the local area poverty rate.
2) End the poor tax that’s the Georgia lottery. Fund universal pre-k for ages 3-5, paid for by a small raise in the state income tax.
3) Raise the state minimum wage. Encourage unions in the state, so workers are empowered to make more money. Mandate state-wide paid sick leave and vacation time, so that parents can do their most important job – PARENT. Increase access to health care, including birth control, so that we can completely eliminate unwed teen mothers.
Or, I guess we could follow Bill Gates advice, and hope that turning everything over to the private sector will magically make things better. Because that worked so well for the natural gas industry here in the state.
Really amazed
February 26th, 2013
11:46 am
I am getting so sick of this minority low income crap! They have more entitlements available to them then the middle class student these days. This is going to start even more separation between societies.
living in an outdated ed system
February 26th, 2013
11:52 am
@Private Citizen, interesting info indeed. It also shows the problems with our outdated education system and how we get students to learn. There are ways to teach non-cognitive skills appropriately. I think we agree on this if I understand your post correctly.
Digger
February 26th, 2013
11:54 am
If we can just get the white kids in a different environment, I truly believe they could play basketball better than Michael Jordan.
Private Citizen
February 26th, 2013
11:57 am
Good thing the Germans do something more than make street legal cars that go 225 mph and 0-60 in 3 seconds. Yes, my whole life has turned around ever since I dusted off the Sauber C11, changed out the oil, adjusted the suspension, and got the headlights working. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fC8mb1XjRhc Too bad about the traffic helicopters.
Please complete
February 26th, 2013
12:11 pm
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1r-h5i5hy2FDiqUBB09q2zaQeLLcA4PoJvPme30DENw0/viewform
living in an outdated ed system
February 26th, 2013
12:16 pm
I guess Mr. Thomas didn’t like my post – he has tweeted it out to the world. I didn’t realize a man of his supposed stature would be rattled by one person’s contrarian POV. The truth hurts….
Private Citizen
February 26th, 2013
12:18 pm
What I don’t get is that who knows what the Gates Foundation in doing, he seems to be focused on vaccinations, then in a recent chat transcript that he typed himself, twice he says that “the Scandinavians do it best” for healthcare and eduction, meaning “Finland / Norway / Sweden.” The thing is, I do not think what the “Gates Foundation” is doing for education in the U. S. is anything like the Scandinavian system, especially if they have anything to do with “Race to the Top.” Does anyone know what this is about, do some ’splaining on how Mr. Gates says on thing and maybe the foundation with his charasmatic name on it is doing something basically opposed to Mr. Gates’ “goodtimes” interview talk? Is this guy Dr. Jeckle / Mr. Hyde?
Private Citizen
February 26th, 2013
12:20 pm
living in an outdated, sounds like you two have a little folie-à deux going.
AtlTeacher
February 26th, 2013
12:31 pm
Atlanta is a perfect example of resegregation. I’m at one of those “namesakes”. Our demographics illustrate Thomas’ findings. (There’s a Charter School down the street. It does as well…) It might take more than 92 years!
living in an outdated ed system
February 26th, 2013
12:54 pm
@Private Citizen, I guess I let the protectors of the status quo get to me from time to time. Get a few tums and then look at his blog posts. Tell me what you think : )
reality check
February 26th, 2013
1:01 pm
michelle middle is right about what they do in other countries. Putting people into programs that are more appropriate for their aptitudes has many advantages. I believe it is one of the main reasons the US has fallen behind in testing averages conpared with other countries. There is very little being done for gifted children in this country compared with other countries. On the other hand, our system requires many to take tests that they are doomed to fail and that doesn’t help. Catlady is fighting the good fight every day and doing the best she can but in the end a 1 out of 14 success rate is not unusual.
My wife is a special education teacher and cares deeply about helping her students. It frustrates her that what she has to teach is not going to help her students in life. But it is what the system says she has to teach and almost all of her students have about as much chance to pass the CRCT as a snowball in Hades.
And discipline problems? Students with learning disabilities are shielded from discipline because their “disability” is supposedly what is causing the problem. Can parents be a problem? Oh yeah! Most definitely. But that doesn’t let administrators off the hook for the poor concepts they have developed.
OriginalProf
February 26th, 2013
1:07 pm
I wish to speak up in defense of Dr. Proud Black Man, whose blog posts I’ve been reading here for at least 6 months. He mentioned in one of them that he’s a teacher in one of the high schools in rural Georgia, not exactly an outpost of liberalism. I’ve noticed that his sharp, often witty posts only seem to come in response to some other blogger who’s posted a racist statement or something insulting black folks. I’ve always figured that “Proud” in his moniker implies that many black men aren’t proud though they should be, as HE is.
Robert D. Skeels
February 26th, 2013
1:16 pm
@living in an outdated ed system: I for one would be more than happy to repeat anything I write about the plutocracy and their hangers on by “say[ing it] to someone’s face.” Perhaps you can help arrange the opportunity for me to speak truth to power, no? As one of Professor Thomas’ writing colleagues at SchoolsMatter, I stand alongside all of the critics of those who are destroying the public commons. I am also somewhat intrigued that an anonymous commenter would accuse someone else of hiding behind anything. Projecting much?
catlady
February 26th, 2013
1:51 pm
I really think a better question is, “Are the reforms HELPING the kids who need the most help?”
Beverly Fraud
February 26th, 2013
2:22 pm
“you should review his disrespectful attacks on folks like Bill Gates and Michelle Rhee”
Which is a shame considering there are so many legitimate attacks one could make about Michelle Rhee without defending the status quo. Start with zero proof she made the “gains” she staked her reputation on, not to mention the extremely questionable test scores coming out of D.C.
Again, you don’t have to be a fan of the NEA to see Rhee for the snake oil saleswoman she is.
Truth in Moderation
February 26th, 2013
2:53 pm
“Bill Gates actually funds the programs he promotes.”
Really? Check out the history of some of his antitrust lawsuits form the good old days. He rolled his profits into the TAX EXEMPT Gates Foundation, and so far, I can’t find a CHARITABLE work they’ve done. BTW, he’s got a nice BIG PHARMA vaccine program going in Africa…WHETHER THEY WANT IT OR NOT!
Here’s his famous “TED Talk” on population control:
ht tp://www.you tube.com/watch?v=6WQtRI7A064
Of course, you think YOU will be one of the ones “worthy to live”. Think again.
Truth in Moderation
February 26th, 2013
3:11 pm
More Gates/Pharma treachery…..against Africans!
ht tp://health impactnews.com/2011/131-african-children-vaccinated-at-gunpoint-do-bill-gates-and-paul-offit-approve/ (remove spaces)
Private Citizen
February 26th, 2013
5:57 pm
living in an oudated, to honor your request,
#1. I’ve never heard of Furman University. I’ve heard of U. of Michigan, and Stanford, and Oxford, and at one school or two well above those (in my opinion) that no one here has heard of. :Let me have a look at this “Furman University.” Okay. They’re a real school, old old old medium size private liberal arts university. The one thing I was concerned about is that maybe that had been purchased by a for-profit hedge fund scheme, or somesuch (it happens). Here is an interesting note from the dreaded Wikipedia: “In recent years, more Furman University graduates have gone on to earn more Ph.D. degrees than those of any other private liberal arts college in the South,”
2. I do not resonate with anything labled “radical action.” This is bait. It is tense. It is sensational. It is trendy. I’d had my fill of radical professors, thank you. I got away from them. The best prof’s I have had might do some radical work, but none would feature themselves with such emotion marketing.
3. What has he got to say? OMG he is yammering about Little Rock Central High School like it is news, when is a well known case. Using the word “Iniquity” in an article title is as repugnant as the “Radical” branding.
Article structure:
1. excellent description of current mode at the Little Rock white success, black sleep with head on desk scenario.
2. statement that new “Common Core Whoo Whoo!” is not going to change this or give students what they need.
3, statement that “standardized testing remains more closely linked with the child’s home status than with the child’s learning or their teachers’ effectiveness.”
4. Charter schools are not producing outcomes superior to public (or private) schools, but charter schools (such as KIPP) are stratifying (re-segregating) schools and focusing education for children of color and children from poverty more on authoritarian discipline policies and test-prep
5. Something about poor kids get the inexperienced TFA teachers.
__________
My cursory analysis: The author does an excellent job describing the scenario. It is good and important that he draws attention to the situation. Good middle ground about increased performance due to formula discipline requirements that likely apply to the few.
What I find missing is a greater sociological perspective. The author would do well to immediately read some Frantz Fanon that describes deeper complex sociology strata and the stubbornness of this sort of thing, the tendency for those who escape to success to them use their position to perpetuate the role-playing and oppression. Social philosophy is complex and relevant are far greater field than this box of marbles the educrats keep pelting us with. The author does well to descirbe the situation, I do not get a strong sense of relevant solutions and maybe that is not his strength. I expect, due to the lack of greater sociological complexity, if he starts blowing his bugle about specific solutions, I expect this is where you get cross-ways with such trumpeting.
Sounds like a good school / environment for undergrads. I wonder, what is their tuition and how much debt do they put on the heads of their undergrads.
Average debt of graduates 2011 $ 26,600
Looks like they keep it at the national norm, which is still a catastrophe. Looks like a pretty good deal compared to the $200k for tuition and costs for a 4 year degree there. It is obviously a very private, very nice, very special place. -Which is probably why the author has so little grit about answers, which may be a specialty for someone else who does not live in a very private, very nice, very special place.
Atlanta Mom
February 26th, 2013
6:00 pm
Truth
Just off hand Gates Millennium Scholarships come to mind
Private Citizen
February 26th, 2013
6:06 pm
The joke is that the gated community upper caste South Carolina system is sure no more nice to the poor people than the Arkansas system. If the author kept is real and kept it local, he might be out of a job. He is doing the distance-do-gooder thing that is common with education academics. You can go to Little Rock of New Orleans and kick-em-in-the-balls, but you best not do the same to within ten or a hundred miles from your own university, and especially not with the state house in your own state. Something tells me that “Furman University” might not be as tough as some of the private reasearch universities where the top administrators sometimes have to tell local power that that the university’s standing and research is more important than the kettle of power from the complaining interest. A state university, for the most part, will not ever do this.
When I get reincarnated with my next 100 lives, I’m going to start a private university where people can do humanities research on their region and tell the power people why they can do with their networks and executive compensation and “You Hurt My FEEeeeeEEELINGS!”
Private Citizen
February 26th, 2013
6:12 pm
Gates is like a hydra or Cerberus with five heads. He says “the Scandinavian system is best” but then his foundation is doing all manner of things not in accord with Gates’ stated view. Underneath it all he is a business networking mastermind, like the steel and railroad magnates of prior era. He is about stabilising revenue stream to himself and his ilk.
Dr. Monica Henson
February 26th, 2013
6:18 pm
Best statement in the blog post: ” If education reform were committed to equity, public schools would insure that all students, regardless of race or socio-economic status, would receive rich and engaging educations.”
The only change I’d make in that statement is remove “education reform” and replace it with “the public school district monopoly.”
Private Citizen
February 26th, 2013
6:25 pm
Furman U.: Proportion of graduates w/debt 2011 43%
So, doe that mean that the 43% of students who have debt have more like $60k+ debt each, and the 57% with no debt have none, since the “average student debt” is rounded to $27k.?
If it was not late in the day, I would telephone them and ask. It is possible that graduates of “Furman University” are as economically stratified as students in Little Rock, Arkansas, with more than half of the Furman graduates being carefree rich kids with no debt, and the other 43% being life long tuition debt slaves leaving with $60k around their neck.
Private Citizen
February 26th, 2013
6:29 pm
I think in the French system every school / district in the country gets the same serving of money per student. This is a huge huge huge difference from the U.S. system, where within one community, district, or state, different public schools are being funded at different funds per student.
Private Citizen
February 26th, 2013
6:34 pm
But the featured author is talking about something completely different, as his featured model / scenario is within one school. Arkansas is definitely a throwback to really fierce tightly held local power, and the difference than with Atlanta or DeKalb is that local power is not black, I am guessing.
It is a different world over there. No state lottery last time I was there. Well, looks like that dominoe has fallen. http://www.myarkansaslottery.com/
Someone should do a paper on the “lottery” culture being a stepping stone out of oppression.
Lee
February 26th, 2013
7:43 pm
Cue the violins, another politically correct, sad sack song blaming everything from testing to textbooks to resegregation on why black students are STILL underperforming their white peers almost SIXTY years since Brown vs Board.
You would think after SIXTY years, the race traitor apologists would run out of excuses. But no, just this past week, we had another politically correct pathogen blaming racist police officers for black school violence.
And in SIXTY years hence, we’ll still be talking about the black/white “achievement gap” and some other way that teachers will have to go through scholastic gyrations to try to close it.
White flight and resegregation is simple, when whites start noticing the quality of life factors such as crime rate and deteriorating schools, they move to greener pastures. Show me one neighborhood that went from majority white to majority black that didn’t see a decline in these quality of life factors and I’ll shut up about it. I’ve been posting that challenge for years and nobody can come up with even one.
The highest performing private schools use the same textbooks and the teachers graduate from the same educational programs as the 90%+ black schools, so what is it?
Maybe a little something called ABILITY??
Lee
February 26th, 2013
7:48 pm
I’m also wondering what Paul Thomas’ excuse is for desegregated schools. The black and white kids are sitting in the same classrooms, using the same textbooks, the same teachers, etc, etc, etc, for their entire school experience. Then, come graduation day, the most segregated area on the field is the one for the HONOR graduates.
But, but, but, but, Lee….
Ronin
February 26th, 2013
10:15 pm
Monica @ 6:18, I agree…
In 200 years, people will look back at digital article news sources for cases such as the APS and Dekalb County debacle and wonder…. how could this happen.
Again, two words: culture and environment.
can't win
February 26th, 2013
10:56 pm
@jarvis, Believe what you want about homeschoolers, but they are out performing public schooled students on the very standardized tests that are so valued by districts. Difference is, homeschooling families do not spend tons of time on test prep. Heck, most homeschoolers I know go in cold to those things and STILL outperform public schooled and test prepped to the Nth degree peers.
@Truth in Moderation… Many parents of public schooled chidlren do not meet the minimum legal requirements to homeschool since they don’t have a high school education or equivalent. Many of the parents of the poorest performing students are barely literate if at all. We have generations of students we have failed in the public schools. Until we address the depth of that literacy problem, education is not going to improve.
Private Citizen
February 27th, 2013
10:28 am
Lee, Generally I’ve got no use for Moonies and followers of “Reverand” Sun Myung Moon, especially since they prohibiit young members of their cult from contacting their parents, but anyway….
a Moonie once tried to recruit me and I ate a few healthy-food meals with them as a guest visitor in their culty house (located EAST OF MORELAND AVENUE, I MIGHT ADD, DR. WALKER), Anyway, I got a look at some of their Moonie literature and in one of their telephone book sized expensively printed color information books, the Korean Sun Myung Moon, world evangelist that he is, said something about different races having different attributes, gifts, and strengths,
In summary, if you make a jazz record, I’d like to hear it. Ever heard of Lionel Hampton? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_rTICMVXQQ
Private Citizen
February 27th, 2013
10:32 am
Maybe a little something called ABILITY??
You play double-bass or reed?
annodenak
March 2nd, 2013
9:17 pm
Sounds like we need boarding schools for those children who are disenfranchised.
Online CBSE Results
March 9th, 2013
4:28 am
May be education reforms hurting the students who need the most help like poor and minority. we should do some thing these kind of kids. we should allow special education for poor and minority kids.