Get Schooled

By Ernest

October 4, 2005 08:25 AM | Link to this

I’m extremely curious what the criticisms were about. True, a young lady did make a comment to that effect during the meeting. There were several parents who also openly questioned that.

Let me be clear, I believe DCSS has done a trmemendous job over the past decade addressing the lingering perceptions of inequities in the school system. How this situation was handled did not help with eliminating those perceptions. I understand students have been WITHOUT a media center since last school year. They do NOT have access to a science lab for experiments. Everyone understands there will be inconveniences when a renovation project is going on and students are still in school. Everyone ‘assumed’ that education resources necessary for learning would be provided, in some form or fashion.

It was CLEAR that Dr. Lewis was not aware of some of the problems and was visibly disappointed. It should not have taken going to the media to have these problems addressed.

By RF

October 4, 2005 08:33 AM | Link to this

Having survived a major renovation of schools in Clayton county, I can tell you that it is often more than a year long process. Depending on how it is handled, student services can and should be offered until renovations are complete. Housing a library or makeshift labs can be difficult, but it can be and should be done. Every district that has ever undertaken such a project knows that it needs to plan for these things. Shame on Dekalb for not providing these services. I suspect they thought that parents in that area wouldn’t complain. They should know better by now! Those services should have been included in the renovation plan. Clayton did it for the most part and it wasn’t as big an inconvenience as would be expected. Once again, big district and big politics get in the way of serving the kids in a community.

By Ernest

October 4, 2005 08:43 AM | Link to this

I should also do ‘full disclosure’. I am a parent at SWD and also attended the meeting last week. Parents felt going to the media was necessary because they ‘perceived’ requests were being ignored. How many times can you listen to “We’ll get on that right away” only to be told later that the request did not go through proper channels?

By Lee

October 4, 2005 08:55 AM | Link to this

One thing I have learned over the years is to never underestimate the incompetence of a government bureaucracy.

The real shame is that the instructional time lost can never be regained.

By Karen Armsby

October 4, 2005 08:58 AM | Link to this

I am not a teacher and from my point of view it appears there are two main issues that face a school system; one is educating the students, and the other is providing the facilities where they can obtain the education. It appears that the Dekalb County school administrators and board have failed on both counts. If you have administrators and a board that cannot manage or blatantly mismanage, then it looks like it’s time for a change of management and management style. Instead of promoting teachers into administrative or management positions, hire some business savvy managers who will know how to wisely handle the money. Leave the educating under the control of the local school principals and teachers.

If I were in charge I would cut out the middle management (i.e. high salaried administrators), put experienced business managers (not educators) in place who could get the job done more efficiently, with fewer errors and greater accountability and at a fraction of the overhead, which would direct more money to provide the facilites, equipment and resources, thus facilitating the education of the students.

By RF

October 4, 2005 09:10 AM | Link to this

Karen—one of the reasons we have these problems is that we bring in people who have no connection to education and thus no idea what schools need. Those people make “fiscally wise” decisions, but have no idea how to run a school. The issue with Dekalb, as also seen lately in Cobb, is that management decisions that seem logical to a business mind make no sense to an educator. I was in Clayton county when we had supers who were originally system teachers/administrators. They ran the system with kids’ needs in mind and made practical decisions. The system went downhill in a hurry when supers were brought in with business savvy. Unless those in charge have experience in education, problems like SWD occur. Accountability in a system will happen when parents get involved and demand it from the board.

By Ernest

October 4, 2005 09:16 AM | Link to this

Karen, if your posting doesn’t get a lot of comments, I don’t know what will :). What is the career ladder for someone who has distinguished themself in the classroom or as an administrator? Without question, they should be involved in the curriculum/instructional side of the house as coordinators and mentors. It is reasonable to question qualifications they might have in HR, Finance, and MIS, to name a few. I’m sure if you look at many central offices, you will find administrators who have done well in those positions.

Is the insight they bring from the classroom valuable in those positions? Sure. Could they be successful if they hired a qualified business manager with expertise in that functional area as a #2? Sure. This is when you get the overlap that many taxpayers complain about with bloated central office staffs.

By Karen Armsby

October 4, 2005 09:35 AM | Link to this

Yeah, I know I am going to get blasted : ) but Patti asked for discussion, so I am opening up the can of worms …. RF and Ernest, I am NOT saying that a business manager should make the education decisions, only that when it comes to managing the money, building schools and providing resources perhaps someone with more business acumen would or could manage the adminstration of funds, oversee completion of projects and do it within or close to budget.

Supposedly you have the opportunity to have business expertise elected to the school board whcih should make wise money decisions in cooperation with the school administration. Where was the breakdown in Dekalb? At the superintendent level? At the board level? At some facilities director level? I certainly don’t know.

Maybe large school systems need two supers, one to build and provide resources, and one to direct education.

Just my non-educator opinion looking in from the outside : )

By Robert

October 4, 2005 09:37 AM | Link to this

It is a horrible thing whenever a construction company does not fulfill its contract. DeKalb County should immediately sue that company and recover money.

However, I do not see this as a racist issue. Most all of DeKalbs leaders are African American.

By Karen Armsby

October 4, 2005 09:48 AM | Link to this

Ernest, I want to address your question of “What is the career ladder for someone who has distinguished themself in the classroom or as an administrator?”

I had 3 kids go K-12 through Gwinnett Co. public schools and what I saw was many great teachers, who were forced to leave classroom teaching in order to advance their careers, and make more money. What a backwards system. Here you want the best teachers teaching the students, but you don’t reward them with higher salaries to keep them in the classroom. I think the present adminstrative track for advancement takes the best teachers who want to make a better income away from the classroom where they are needed the most.

We should reward the best and most experienced teachers with better salaries, and keep them teaching the students and mentor and develop other good teachers in their departments. In my opinion, management at a distance from the front office is not as effective as down at the local classroom level. The wealth of knowledge accumulated in our experienced teachers is going to waste as they leave the classroom to enter administration.

By Lisa

October 4, 2005 10:00 AM | Link to this

I will like to say that Southwest Dekalb is not the only school that have or had that problem, in the past i fought hard to get the Atlanta Board Education school to pay attention to Carver High in 2001-2003 it was HELL!!! I never in all my days witness with my own two eyes how the board put a deaf ear to parents concern until i went to Carver!!! the kids was in a old dilapidated building which had raw sewage crunning out the toilet, no library no updated teachers no structure.The board continue to tell parents give it time and wait on the new building things will be better so basically put the students being properly educated on hold until a new building is up and running. so as you see some of the most educated elected people don’t care about the student especially when parents don’t hold fire to them.

By RF

October 4, 2005 10:12 AM | Link to this

Ahh, Karen, I see where you were going with your ideas. I think obviously the best board and super will have a combination of business and education expertise. What happened in Dekalb, as in Cobb, is “too many cooks spoiling the stew”. There are too many people controlling and overlapping each other, and no real balance of power to keep any of them in check. The result is SWD without proper resources for the kids. I watched it happen in Clayton county when so many were “promoted” to county level positions for political payback. All they were concerned about was image, pay, and power. Nothing else mattered, least of all the kids. Hopefully what’s happening in Dekalb will make all parents more watchful of what goes on in their school systems.

By Karen Armsby

October 4, 2005 10:21 AM | Link to this

RF, That is Exactly what I meant, to cut out most of the self-important middle management admins and run a leaner more cost efficient school system. Cutting out the admins won’t leave an educational void because you can allow principals to make their education decisions at the local school level and give the classroom teachers back their authority to practice their profession of teaching in the classroom, without all the administrative hassle they have now.

By RF

October 4, 2005 10:34 AM | Link to this

Yep- sooooo right. But the problem is, with appointed superintendents “cozying up” to boards and politics in education, there exists very little accountability. If the super wants it and the board approves, then it’s done. Nobody offers any real accounting for those decisions. They’re published, but little if any community or school input is requested. And the bigger the school sytem, the worse it is. I moved to a smaller system for that reason. I’m glad I did. My school system actually asked for my input on a reading program for my school and didn’t purchase it until I, along with another teacher and county folks, were convinced it would help. We weren’t told “from on high” what was going to happen. Definitely a nicer way to live.

By Karen Armsby

October 4, 2005 10:37 AM | Link to this

RF, Yes, sadly it is all about money and power, not about education.

By RF

October 4, 2005 10:42 AM | Link to this

Karen- is it as bad in Gwinnett? I don’t hear the horror stories up there that I hear in Dekalb and others. Is there more parent/community involvement? Clayton lost a lot of that as it grew and thus fell like Rome of ancient history.

By Ernest

October 4, 2005 11:06 AM | Link to this

“Being a good X does not mean you will be a good manager”! X equals any entry position. In fairness, this is true for most professions.

RF asks a good question about the ‘scrutiny’ given to DeKalb. I believe ALL school systems have their issues. How they handle them determines the perception the public will have of that system.

By Vicki

October 4, 2005 11:09 AM | Link to this

School can be tough enough under the best of circumstances. Why would DeKalb BOE allow this to be acceptable. This not only affects the students but the teachers, too. It blows me away that these leaders of the community would let the children down time after time. I use to live in DeKalb and when my oldest son turned three we moved out of the crime/gang ridden area. What does the BOE get paid to do?

Is this a racial issue? I don’t think so, it’s a county BOE issue.

The BOE needs to earn it keep.

By RF

October 4, 2005 11:11 AM | Link to this

Ernest— most of the time the school systems gloss over bad decisions or send someone in to smile, nod, and say “we’ll take care of it”. We’ve allowed our school systems to distance themselves from us. How many people in a school system would know their board member if he/she walked up to them? The political fools have taken over because we have let them. I’m glad SWD is crying out. Make it public and suddenly the scurrying rats at the board get something done!

By Taxpayer

October 4, 2005 11:23 AM | Link to this

I agree that the situation at SWD is deplorable, but I don’t believe the troubles are racially motivated, i.e, no one is “dumping” on that school because of its location, student body, or parents. This is a result of bad management, and there is plenty of blame to go around: the BOE, the administration, and yes, let’s not forget the construction company. Schools in the north end of the county have problems, too. Example: an elementary school library at a predominantly white school in north DeKalb flooded. Books mildewed and had to be thrown away. The carpet stank. This went on for MONTHS. The library became completely unusable. After begging, pleading, and cajoling the BOE and administration to do something and receiving NO help, a parent finally threatened to sue. That was the only thing that got attention and help. Keep making noise SWD parents and students. You deserve a good school with complete facilities — as do all kids and parents in this or any county. We need to keep asking why we so often have to fight for what should be a given.

By Ernest

October 4, 2005 11:48 AM | Link to this

Taxpayer, Vicki, and etc., this is NOT an issue of race. IMO, it is an issue of incompetence more than anything else. Is is unfortunate race was brought into the discussion but as indicated earlier, there are lingering perceptions from the past. Unfortunately, it takes strong advocacy efforts to ensure the right things are done.

From where I sit, I plead as a parent to address these concerns but then I find myself putting on my taxpayer hat. Can this be done in a ‘fiscally responsible’ manner? Can a wireless infrastructure be added and perhaps be reused at another location in the future? The same goes for the media center. Lastly, will we take a ‘lessons learned’ approach from this an apply it to future renovation projects? While this is an issue today, will it be an issue in 2-3 years?

By Vicki

October 4, 2005 12:32 PM | Link to this

Like I stated, I don’t feel this is a race issue, it is an issue of the DeKalb BOE incompetence. I totally agree with you, Ernest.

To the question of will this be an issue in 2-3 years, at this rate, it could be. We’ll see if the school is finished by then. In the mean time, do the students suffer until then?

The school my children attend was built in the 1960’s and it not a “wi-fi” network, we actually have to “plug in”. It works and information is accessable.

The bells and whistles are an unnecessary expense. The Media Center and Science Labs are necessary. Sometimes less is more, IMHO.

By k

October 4, 2005 12:44 PM | Link to this

If the school were located in a different area like North County, the school would have everything that it needs. It is a race issue. Our students have been getting the short end of the stick for years and still is.

By notateacher

October 4, 2005 12:49 PM | Link to this

One of the best ways that you can get the board of ed to listen to you is through the vote. Yes, I know that it won’t do any good right now, but it could helpn send a message to the board. Organize the parents and the community. Again, I know that is is easier said than done.

By me

October 4, 2005 12:51 PM | Link to this

Where is North County? I’ve lived in Georgia for 45 years and I’m not familiar with that county.

By k

October 4, 2005 01:05 PM | Link to this

North County would be any county other than Atlanta Public School, Dekalb County School, Fulton County School that is located in an area other than whites. We all know that white schools get all the essentials, books, etc. that they need. Lets not be ignorant.

By Pamela

October 4, 2005 01:09 PM | Link to this

I too agree that the situation at SWD is deplorable, but I also don’t believe the troubles are racially motivated. Dekalb County has done a tremendous and outstanding job of building 3 new high schools in the black community near SWD - Lithonia has 3 new state of the art High Schools, which includes Lithonia High, MLK Jr. High, Miller Grove High and renovations of Lithonia Middle School - old Lithonia High building and several additions and upgrades to elementary schools in our area (30038 & 30058). But Dekalb County is responsible for allowing SWD condition to fall through the cracks and needs to rectify it actions immediately.

By RF

October 4, 2005 01:17 PM | Link to this

k—let’s not be RACIST, either. Back that up with facts, not inuendos. That’s a big part of the problem here. Too many people want to make it a race issue, which it is not. Stop trying to stir up trouble, and focus on getting Dekalb to fix the problem.

By RF

October 4, 2005 01:19 PM | Link to this

k—can you name ONE school that is 100% “white”? Then you’d have an argument. I haven’t seen one in this state!

By me, too

October 4, 2005 01:21 PM | Link to this

k- “Lets not be ignorant.” You obvoiusly haven’t read the post on this blog. Your post is the only one that seems to fall into that catagory.

By Dan

October 4, 2005 01:29 PM | Link to this

K do the math the schools you mention get far more aid and spend far more $ per student than suburban schools. All to no avail

By Vicki

October 4, 2005 01:31 PM | Link to this

I live in Fulton County and our school is always in need. That’s when the PTA steps into action and assist where we can. Our school does, however, have a functioning Media Center and Science Lab.

I feel for the kids and their parents at SWD. The PTA would have a hard time helping in the SWD situation.

By yesiamworried

October 4, 2005 01:58 PM | Link to this

DeKalb does a generally poor job with even the most basic construction projects. I have personally sat at board meetings where a board member has objected to the hiring of one contractor or another (because of problems with that company in past projects) and the majority of the board still votes to hire that company!

This, though, is not a north vs south issue — as DeKalb parents, taxpayers, and voters we must replace our entire school board. They do a crummy job.

By jazmine j

October 4, 2005 02:22 PM | Link to this

k: guess you got the short end of the stick in grammer class, huh?

Hey, if a white kid in a predominantly black school raises racism as a reason for anything, s/he’ll probably be beaten silly.

Let’s stop using racism as an excuse for everything. It’s an intellectually dishonest cheap trick.

By PosterChild

October 4, 2005 02:22 PM | Link to this

me: “North County” refers to the northern end of DeKalb in this discussion… pretty much anything north of Memorial Drive is “North County”, and anything south is, well, you get the point. I think the same terminology is applicable for Fulton, also.

By Lisa

October 4, 2005 02:34 PM | Link to this

Basically your local Board are under the table politician who are finance by business to not help with social issue first and education, issue only business and contracts first.It’s so obivious that the Board don’t care about the students getting the best education because in implementing local school business known of the Board members or in the school and they don’t have kids in public school.we need effective people who have knowledge and is aware of school policy, instead beware!!! the board already sold out to Bush with this no child left behind act!! which is nothing but a tracker for the draft!!

By Taxpayer

October 4, 2005 02:55 PM | Link to this

As I stated in my earlier post, the problems at SWD are NOT racially motivated. The BOE, administration, and construction company are to blame. SINCE THE BOE IS ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE, WHY DON’T WE ALL PUT OUR CONCERNS INTO ACTION AND WRITE, CALL, OR EMAIL THE DEKALB BOARD MEMBERS TO TELL THEM TO DO SOMETHING TO FIX SWD NOW! Contact info is on the DCSS website. It doesn’t matter where you live or if you have a kid at SWD. ALL kids need and deserve adequate facilities and a great education.

By Taxpayer

October 4, 2005 02:57 PM | Link to this

Lisa, dear, there hasn’t been a draft in this country since the seventies.

By me

October 4, 2005 02:59 PM | Link to this

Thank you PosterChild. I’ve lived here in Atlanta all my life and I’ve never heard the phrase. I guess k didn’t explain it very well.

By PosterChild

October 4, 2005 03:02 PM | Link to this

me: The belief is that the North portions of Fulton and DeKalb get better services and facilities since they have more white families. I work in a south end school, however, and it has been completely renovated. The north school I used to work in was still stuck in the 50’s.

By lynn

October 4, 2005 03:15 PM | Link to this

I am curious if the young lady who made the statement in the first place (about south vs north) knows/understands that there are hardly any all white (or even close to all) schools in DeKalb. That the vast majority of white students in DeKalb attend integrated schools. There is maybe only one majority white high school (and that is Lakeside and it is maybe 50 percent white). The rest of the “North” DeKalb high schools are either majority Black or majority minority.

This is not a racial issue, it is not a geographic issue (although few N. DeKalb schools have been renovated) it is a competence issue. Plain and simple.

By Lisa

October 4, 2005 03:38 PM | Link to this

Poster Child:What you fell to realize is that a buliding does not make a school it take quality teaching and structure enviroment put Atlanta Public School they want a RIGOROUS enviroment.That word need to be taken out due to the fact you will never have kids to perform under harsh strict condition,and Taxpayer you know what’s going on and the BOE is getting paid to do nothing put get contracts SWD is basically going thru the same thing Carver went thru in Atlanta the parents will have to come out strong and fight for this matter, Now that Carvr is a new school gues what they don’t have the kids to fill up the new 7million state of the art building.IT’S NOT THE QUANITY IT’S THE QUALITY and until people such as parent get into the real issues and stop focusing on image, with these school especially in the Black community it’s horrible how we get play by black elected board memebers who can give a GD about these inner city kids, there kids don’t go to these school and they can careless because they never go in with the INTENTION TO DO SERVICE FOR THE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS.WAKE UP PEOPLE!!!

By me

October 4, 2005 03:49 PM | Link to this

PosterChild - The school my children (7 & 9) attend is a very diverse institution in the north portion of Fulton County two exits outside of I-285. Our school building is old, but clean, and in need of some repairs, but I feel the school itself is the people and not the building. We take pride in our school. We work on the grounds, help with painting when needed, and other small maintenence jobs. I enjoy doing these projects because I feel it helps the entire community. The PTA supplements alot of what the county doesn’t provide.

I’m very happy the south end of the counties have an opportunity to have new buildings and renovation of existing school structures. What I don’t feel is right is to have SWD or any other school, especially a high school, without a Media Center or Science Labs. The children from the south and north deserve the resources they need to excel. They only have one chance at an education and the DeKalb BOE has really let the parents and students of SWD down.

Thanks and there are schools all over Georgia still stuck in the 50/60’s. I had to go pick up on testing equipment from one of them a fews weeks ago for one of our speech therapist. I was waiting for Beaver Cleaver to walk around the corner.;)

By Ernest

October 4, 2005 03:58 PM | Link to this

Lynn, please don’t hold anything against the student. Her statement was a matter of perception not based on facts. Her actual statement was how she felt SWD was not getting ‘respect’.

The young lady was extremely emotional and passionate when she spoke. She is a very smart (made a 5 on the AP US History exam) who feels her education is being compromised by the current situation.

By Mom

October 4, 2005 04:06 PM | Link to this

I am the proud parent of the 17 year old young lady who had the courage to stand up for her convictions. You need to hear what these students suffer each day…eg being drenched in perspiration just to walk from one class to another; being drenched in rain if the weather is bad; eating different and less substantial meals from every one else in the county because they have to eat meals in the GYM!! There is no cafeteria. And guess what! My daughters attended elementary school in North Dekalb, so she was not just spouting off at the mouth because of ignorance! What else can we think when we have been treated as we have? Yes there is incompetence and a colossal lack of accountability in this project, and we were desperate. No child should ever have to learn in this environment; no teacher should ever have to teach under these conditions. All we want are humane conditions for everyone who has to attend SWD each day. We do what we do because we LOVE our school.

By lynn

October 4, 2005 04:16 PM | Link to this

I don’t hold it against this young lady at all. In fact, if anything, I am disappointed that the situation has gone on this long of a time without the public at large (via the media) being aware of it. I am sure that she is frustrated and concerned.

In fact, the biggest difference between N. DeKalb and S. Dekalb schools, at least in some cases, is that parents at many N. DeKalb schools wouldn’t have allowed this situation to go on a week without raising holy cain. There seems to be far less trust in the “system” among many N. DeKalb parents than S. DeKalb parents.

That said, one of the biggest challenges that DeKalb faces is the perception that N. DeKalb schools are better because they get more resources. If anything, because of Title 1 dollars, the opposite is true. (although parental involvement is priceless) However, as long as community leaders, including board members, perpetuate this myth, it gives schools yet another reason to not improve.

By lynn

October 4, 2005 04:19 PM | Link to this

Another thing, I get just as angry when N. Dekalb parents complain about trailers, pointing out to them the number of trailers at various S. DeKalb schools and how long those schools have had those trailers.

Until we view ourselves as “one” school system, we won’t ever be a “premier” school system anyway.

By Ernest

October 5, 2005 08:36 AM | Link to this

You are right Lynn regarding how the citizens should view the school system. What is happening to the students at SWD should concern not only the residents in DeKalb but for all taxpayers. We expect those in leadership positions to ‘do the right thing’, especially when it comes to educating our students. I personally would be as concerned if it affected students ANYWHERE. I sincerely hope the entire community shares our frustration and asks questions. It is clear the leadership failed these students.

Hopefully this incident will spur much needed activism throughout the community.

By T Kalvelage

October 5, 2005 09:37 AM | Link to this

It should be renamed “Most Children Left Behind”. Public school hasn’t changed since I was in elementary school from 1966-72 in Atlanta, GA. Even though they were aware that I had to take remedial courses there wasn’t anything offered in the way of determining why I had learning disabilities. 30 years later my child attended public schools in Atlanta from Pre-K through 3rd grade and aside from some extra help, however during classes she should not have missed and was not allowed to make-up. And nothing was done to determine her learning disabilities. After everyone said “she’s just not trying hard enough” I finally had her tested at age 10 and found she has mild dyslexia which demonstrates symptoms of ADD causing anxiety. Of course now she’s in private school and privately tutored and in just three months she’s gone from 3rd grade to 5th grade reading level and made her first 100 on a spelling test! She’s been made aware of her talents and abilities in certain areas; her self-esteem boosted and thus has the confidence now to work on the areas she isn’t strong in. Amazing what a little positive reinforcement will do! No prescription meds for ADD/ADHD either, just some natural Omega-3 added to her daily diet, and myself as a matter of fact, I have 18 of 20 ADD symptoms!

Simple awareness of what the underlying problem is, some extra attention to those issues, some confidence boosting pointing out one’s strengths and daily Omega-3’s and any child/person can overcome these labels the medical and pharmaceutical community so freely administers meds to as a band-aid dealing only with the symptoms, not the cause! People just want quick fixes, lets stop being lazy and be parents again!

Thanks for this opportunity. Perhaps some will read this and turn their child’s life around for good and naturally!

By kps

October 5, 2005 10:57 AM | Link to this

Kalvelage, where did you have your daughter tested?

By Michelle

October 5, 2005 12:42 PM | Link to this

I am a SWD parent. I grew up in South Dekalb County. I graduated from Towers High School. Although Dekalb County is renovating and building schools all over Dekalb, there is an obvious difference in the quality of the buildings in North Dekalb versus South Dekalb, just as there is an obvious difference in the quality of the education provided in North Dekalb versus South Dekalb. Look at Tucker Middle school, and compare it to the middle schools built in South Dekalb. Let us see what the new Peachtree Middle school is going to look like and how long it will take to complete. We have not complained enough in the past. That will and must change.

By concerneddekalbparent

October 5, 2005 12:49 PM | Link to this

Michelle

DeKalb may be doing some building all over, but the vast majority has been in the south end of the county. As a former South DeKalb parent, who is now a north DeKalb parent, I can tell you that the one thing that really sets the ends of the county aside is parental input/involvemenet. However, even that only goes so far. The school system has already announced at least a six month delay in the opening of Peachtree.

Tucker Middle looks the way it does in part because of the shape of the land and in part because the community was so involved in the development of it.

I will say that I think things are better at the north end because at many schools there are groups of parents who are so demanding. I look back on my years in S. DeKalb and wonder why I was the only one complaining?

By Nel

October 5, 2005 12:59 PM | Link to this

The major difference I see in North Dekalb is that parents are extremely, extremely tied in to their schools. It makes a major difference all around. The parents at Tucker Middle fought for their school from day one. If all parents, PTAs included, were as committed, the ENTIRE district would excel.

By Iteach

October 5, 2005 04:50 PM | Link to this

Having been involved with edcuation issues, especially school construction, for more than two decades the situation at S. W. Dekalb come as no surprise. Although many did not want to hear the comment that the student made in regards to the reasons that she felt the school was lacking - the yound lady’s insight is correct.

We constantly hear that we are past the days of dual school systems, the fact is that we are not. It is not that the leaders do not care about Southwest Dekalb HS, it is the fact that less attention is paid to details in certain areas. When the system views the community as being important every detail is important - they are checked, double checked, and contingency plans are made for the “what ifs.”

Somewhere there was a person that knew these things before school opened - but that person, or persons, did not deem it a priority. After all, they can make do until we get to it. In another neighborhood the knowledge that school would open without working science labs or a media center would have called for an immediate solution. I do not mean to put this foward as strictly a racial issue - it crosses racial lines - a low income white neighborhood recieves equal inequitable treatment. It is not necessarily which school will create the most noise, but, which group of parents have the economic clout to cause trouble.

By Been There

October 14, 2005 05:06 PM | Link to this

I’ve taught at both SWD and Chamblee In my opinion, I would say that the problem is a parental involvement issue and an economic issue. Not race or geography. Chamblee has a very active PTSA in comparison to SWD. There are many proactive parents at SWD who truly do everything the can for their child. However, don’t be fooled into thinking the north end of the county gets everything. Chamblee currently has a textbook issue, mold problems, etc. Many DeKalb County schools need to be renovated and the county apparently does not have the money to achieve this. I suggest SWD parents get more involved and make some noise to get your school where it needs to be. Instead of complaining, get active in your school and make a positive difference. The children are counting on you!