Devon Haynie's article in the JG on FWEA members reaction to Gov. Daniels speech illustrates why the public education establishment can't change itself. Steve Brace's reaction to the Governor's proposal to let high school students graduate early, for example, was a bad idea because that would mean less money (fewer teacher jobs) for school districts. Any benefits for the student and taxpayer don't matter. By preventing change from within, public schools will finally get change from without. In the meanwhile thousands of kids have been going out the doors of districts like FWCS with high school diplomas that weren't worth the paper they're written on.
That doesn't seem to bother anyone in the system enough to do anything different, certainly not enough to speak out about it. Image matters more than substance. When Wendy claims to be thrilled about the "progress" report on the LEAD schools, nobody on the board asks her why she didn't try that eight years ago. When the Cambridge group or the IDE comes to SSHS for their status review, she tries to impress them with $100,000 of new carpeting.
Maybe if Thomas Smith had recarpeted Wayne, he would still have his job.
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10 comments:
South side did not carpet they tore the old carpet out and put down tile a long with painting the entire upstairs hallways
I stand corrected. Thanks.
Karen Frisco chimed in on Daniels proposals today. Naturally she opposes all of them, which means they must have some merit.
Can you tell me: Are the LEAD schools, NSHS specifically, still on track for administrative take-over?
Have you seen this creative 12-minute video, it outlines the need for educational reform and the direction it should take, I think it's on point:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDZFcDGpL4U&feature=player_embedded
I believe it's up to the IDE and depends on how the next round of ECA's go at NSHS and SSHS. I think they have to improve their scores by 3% to get off the hook for another year. But whether the state would actually take over if they don't is not certain.
What if the state took over a school...and no one enrolled?
That's unlikely but theoretically possible. But with FWCS down to five high schools for example, where else would they go? And I doubt if a state takeover would really make much difference, one way or another, especially in a high school. The die is cast by then.
That's what I find problematic about actually taking over individual failing schools. The problems are probably endemic to the whole district and the worst schools are the tip of the iceberg.
It does seem, based on recent events at FWCS, that the threat of a takeover is an effective means to force change, and maybe that's all that's needed. But I doubt it. So at some point the state is going to have to prove they're not bluffing. They just might do better to take over the entire district.
The entire district (and not just the FWCS district) needs to be taken over so extensive change can take place ASAP. The only innocent victims in this completely outrageous stinking mess are the students, and they are the only ones that are going to suffer the consequences... lifelong consequences!
As pointed out in the video referenced by Anon above, our "factory schools" were geared to a factory economy, which has all but diappeared. They still work reasonably well in the suburbs, where the culture supports learning, but don't work in any urban district. I don't know how the state would fix that, and they probably don't either. Judging by Mitch's education agenda, they're going to put outside pressure on the government run schools to reform themselves, since there is no internal will to do so. The voucher system being formulated, especially, would force them to adapt or perish.
A few points:
1.) Mitch's education system is all about test, test, test. There IS nothing innovative in his box. Indiana will be the next China (Read "Made Broken in China".).
2.) Students in the suburbs have teachers that lousy, as well. The problem is those teachers usually don't last too long because of hyper parenting.
3.) There are not enough private schools in Fort Wayne to provide an effective education to all. Canterbury, Blackhawk Christian, Horizon Christian Academy, Peace Montessori, Concordia Lutheran, Bishop Luers and Bishop Dwenger have limited high school settings. Granted St. Alyousis, St. John the Baptist, Unity Lutheran and a few other south side private schools would love to have the extra students.
4.) We need a good set of practical skills, including with English and Geometry. Welders are the most sought after professionals in Northeast Indiana; only a handful of high schools (Carroll, Norwell and Churubusco teach it).
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