AJC.com > Blogs > Get Schooled > Archives > 2005 > December > 19 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USMy Predictions
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
So the ajc’s queen ‘o blogs wants me to post five predictions on my beat for next year. Here goes…
Heated public policy debate over illegal immigrants, focusing on their impact on schools.
Credibility problems for Georgia’s curriculum test - the CRCT. Rosy results seem out of sync with other tests, including NAEP and the SAT.
Declining relevance of NCLB. More flexibility for subgroups such as special education students. More schools making adequate progress but still posting relatively low test scores. More schools missing testing goals year after year and not changing one bit. More reasons for parents to disregard this federal law.
Superintendent Kathy Cox cruises to re-election, the evolution fiasco a distant memory. (Any challengers out there?)
Get Schooled readers stop jumping on each other for every typo and misspelled word, declaring it proof that Georgia is without question LAST IN EDUCATION. (Hey, a girl can dream!)
Get Schooled readers what are your predictions for education in 2006?
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By OldSchool
December 19, 2005 02:28 PM | Link to this
My predictions:
Parents will continue to avoid constructive involvement in their children’s education claiming their children will hate them. They will be wrong but so what.
Parents will continue to blindly support their children while completely ignoring pertinent facts like “the kid was caught redhanded.”
Football will reign supreme because that is where the money is and nobody really cares if a kid can read. Coaches will be treated like gods so as to not interrupt the flow of school improvement.
80% of the jobs will still require technical training but the focus and funding will still be aimed at the 20% in college prep and special needs.
Education will take a backseat to sports because all high school athletes will be given lucrative professional contracts and won’t need the ability to read them because there will always be someone around do handle that responsibility for them. This, however, will NOT be the case for talented female athletes. They will still need a good education or find a rich husband.
High school vocational shops in South Georgia will be completely updated because it will be discovered that some football players are enrolled in those classes and afterall, they deserve the finest equipment.
By OldSchool
December 19, 2005 02:30 PM | Link to this
Okay! I saw my typo…let the sniping begin!
By Amazed (Independent Woman)
December 19, 2005 02:30 PM | Link to this
I predict that your 2006 predictions will carry over into 2007.
My Predictions:
(1.) Nothing substantial will occurr, to increase the value of education in our state. (2.) Gwinnett will fire/resign a few more teachers. (3.) Cobb will still be discussing Evolution. (4.) The biggest change will occurr within the University System of Georgia. (5.) NCLB will become even “less” important.
By Amazed (Independent Woman)
December 19, 2005 02:33 PM | Link to this
(Extra) Teachers will continue to complain and blame parents, and the same for parents about teachers.
Thanks Old School - for providing me with that last extra prediction.
By Dan
December 19, 2005 02:44 PM | Link to this
Sounds like Old School was the last one picked when teams were chosen in Gym class. The fact is while football does in fact bring in money, every player could fail and it wouldn’t be statistically significant, not to mention there are plenty of players who are A students Please retire, that kind of attitude (particularly when it is factually challenged) certainly doesn’t help the system And of course the NCLB comments are probably true and a great indication of what is wrong wiht our schools. You try and hold an institution accountable, (even using their own locally created measures which is what NCLB does) and since they can’t get it done, it is ignored. Pitiful
By Clint
December 19, 2005 02:50 PM | Link to this
Jeffrey Selman should run for Kathy Cox’s job.
By teach
December 19, 2005 03:02 PM | Link to this
I predict that Georgia will have even MORE of a shortage of special education teachers in light of the NCLB standards that Georgia informed us now means that sped teachers have to be certified in special education and every subject we teach - despite not teaching at that level. Even the moderate, severe, and profound teachers have to become certified in on-level instruction, despite their student’s abilities. Georgia’s department of education only notified us back in September of the upcoming change in the rules and told us our options were to take another praxis exam or two (or more), or we could take 15 hours of college course work in each subject by July (all at our own expense). When exactly did they want us to take these courses since we work fulltime and often have to work late at school? The districts I know of provided NO support to their teachers for taking praxis exams in subjects they don’t really teach, nor did they provide any support with continuing education course work to meet our 15 hours. So my prediction is that we’ll have very few special education teachers after July (our last chance to become “fully” certified).
By JW
December 19, 2005 03:04 PM | Link to this
Predictions for education? Easy! Politicians (state and federal) will continue to parade around as if they are education specialists resulting in even more bureaucracy. This will continue to focus more of the teachers’ time on administrative work (paperwork) and less time on educating students. That was what is truly “pitiful.”
P.S. When exactly was No Child Left Behind ever “relevant”? I must have slept in that day.
By JG
December 19, 2005 03:11 PM | Link to this
Been at it for 30 years things don’t change, just the names to protect the guilty-INCOMPETENCE.
By Leia
December 19, 2005 03:25 PM | Link to this
1) Our principal will be moved up to the county office because that’s where all incompetent administrators go to die;
2) Our school will continue to decline in every positive aspect, as more thugs and hoodlums move into the area;
3) Someone will get seriously hurt at my school, because the “special-ed” students aren’t under any real supervision because those teachers are horrible;
4) The morale at my school will also continue to decline, as the administrators believe that their job is to “ride” the teachers;
5) I will be completing transfer papers the very same day they become available!
By wwww
December 19, 2005 03:35 PM | Link to this
By wwww
December 19, 2005 03:40 PM | Link to this
Forgot some!
Micromanaging everything in the classroom will continue from school administration, county office, and the state. Eventually, all teaching will be done completely through technology. Who needs people anyway?
The trend of entertaining versus teaching will continue and become even more of a joke than it already is.
Students will be expected to take even less responsibility for their behavior and learning. It’s not the parents that the problem here.
By cp
December 19, 2005 03:47 PM | Link to this
Companies with high paying jobs will decide not to locate in Ga because of our reputation for poor public education.
This reputation will continue to be supported by our SAT scores, which, even though imperfect, is the ONLY readily available data by which to compare school systems.
Cathy Cox will run for Governor on an improve education platform, but will lose in the primary because her name sounds like someone else’s. Now that’s a pity….
By Ernest
December 19, 2005 04:12 PM | Link to this
I predict several education issues will center on funding:
• There will be additional discussion of alternate/supplemental funding for education, i.e. a sales tax to complement/reduce property taxes. • Large school systems will ask for reconsideration of ‘Fair Share’ cuts they’ve experienced due to QBE. • Small school systems will push forward with their lawsuit on funding inequities. If they win, it will get interesting. • Some school systems will ‘rationalize’ it is better for all schools not to make AYP to eliminate NCLB transfers throughout the district, thus saving on transportation costs. Let’s find out how many schools miss AYP based on attendance next year. • Taxpayers/citizens will hear the term ‘Unfunded Mandates’ throughout the session as it relates to education, in general. • Teachers will advocate for pay increases from the budget surpluses while some taxpayers ask for reduction in taxes. • Everyone will to continue to find creative ways to do more with less.
By Terry
December 19, 2005 04:18 PM | Link to this
Old school got it pretty right except for a few glaring omits.
A home schooler will win the state spellng bee.
A home schooler will win the state geography bee.
3 home schoolers will score a perfect 2100 (or whatever it is now) on their SAT.
Grade inflation will continue, except at a “modestly acceptable rate” of .5.
School buses will continue to run with an average of only 3 students per trip. However, there will be few trips per year to save fuel.
Science will become an “elective” in Cobb County.
Marist will win every state athletic championship, which will require new legislation to multiply private school enrollment by pi for GHSA classification purposes.
The UGA basketball test under Coach Herrick will become the math portion of the Georgia HS Graduation Test.
Coca-Cola will not be served in school lunchrooms, however, catsup will be reclassified as a vegetable, tweekies will be included in the “yellow” food group with corn and squash, and going to lunch will qualify students for one semester credit.
Linda Schrenko will be acquitted. Her defense will convince an Augusta jury that her face lift and out of state travel was “executive staff development” and the federal funds were put to a better use on her face and travel than wasting them on NCLB programs.
2006 will clearly be a banner year for education!
By 2teach
December 19, 2005 04:20 PM | Link to this
Will it be:
Door 1: The passing percentage for the CRCT will drop from the pathetic current 40% (which by the way, determines whether a child receives EIP services) to even lower in order to make the schools & administration look good. (Nevermind national test scores)
Door 2: The stock for anti-depressant drugs will go through the roof due to pressure on the local schools to perform at all costs.
By Terry
December 19, 2005 04:20 PM | Link to this
You forgot.
By Tony
December 19, 2005 04:30 PM | Link to this
My predictions: 1. Another year of debate about school starting dates from the tourism folks. 2. Squabbling in the legislature about how school systems already get too much money and should do what businesses do by tightening their belts. (I think businesses also create strategies to raise capital through investment and implement strategies to increase revenue through sales. These two strategies are not available to public schools.) 3. More and more schools will perform better but will not get any credit because of the overwhelming propaganda that perpetuates the myth of how bad our schools are. 4. Blogs will continue to examine issues faced by schools, but the participants remain entrenched in their own views and never fully examine solutions. 5. I will promise to never Blog here again only to violate that promise repeatedly.
Dan: Like it or not, OldSchool’s point about athletics has some foundation. The point of a program within a school should not be whether it “brings in money”, but rather its effectiveness for student learning. Athletics brings many positive traits to the forefront for students, but it should not be the centerpiece for any school.
By luvs2teach
December 19, 2005 04:46 PM | Link to this
Great stuff…
Mine: one of my former pain-in-the-you-know-what kids will surprise the heck out of me by coming to see me; s/he’ll be mature, grown and respectful and say something nice about our year together!
It happens every year! It’s the oe thing that keeps me going with the challenging ones.
By Taxpayer
December 19, 2005 04:46 PM | Link to this
I predict there will be mass “sick-outs” in some schools when any NCLB-related testing occurs. As I understand it, if enough kids in a given school don’t take the tests, then there is no way that the school can be a receiver for transfers from “failing” schools — and experience the joys of overcrowding and understaffing.
By Terry
December 19, 2005 05:02 PM | Link to this
My comments were “tounge in cheek”.
However, the big story in 2006 will be, without a doubt, the court ruling on education finance.
NCLB, snow days, discipline, etc. will take a back seat if the courts rule that the State must fund education “equitably” between all systems and do away with local effort.
Well performing schools could be threatened by having funding reduced. Poor performing schools could have no incentive to improve. PTA’s could find their financial assistance restricted or even eliminated. And the potential changes can go on and on.
SAT scores get regional and some limited national coverage. If the courts throw out our funding mechanism and either take over school funding or direct the state to do so, that will be major national headlines and major changes in store for all educators and administrators in Georgia.
By Karen Armsby
December 20, 2005 08:08 AM | Link to this
Terry, How could PTA’s, which are voluntary associations raising volunteer funds, be restricted in how they give their gifts to their own schools?
By Robert Saunders
December 20, 2005 08:18 AM | Link to this
I predict that the Colleges will blame the High Schools for poor educated students, the high schools will blame the middle schools, the middle schools will blame the elementary schools, the elementary schools will blame the parents, and the mother will blame the daddy’s side of the family.
By Robert
December 20, 2005 08:20 AM | Link to this
The stories in Georgia SHOULD be….
Teacher shortage - What is being done to resolve this big issue, particularly in critical areas? Why is it that our classroom sizes are so very large? Doesn’t the general public realize that part of the reason why our standardized tests scores are so very low is because our teachers are trying to teach in over crowded classrooms?
Teacher pay - Teacher pay is connected with item 1. As long as teacher pay lags behind, Georgia will NEVER be able to attract enough qualified people to teach. Sure, Georgia can find warm bodies to stand in a classroom to baby sit. However, as republican “supply and demand” type folks will agree, as long as there is low pay for teachers, Georgia will always be in trouble.
Georgia Revenue - The State of Georgia continues to collect record revenues. Each quarter, revenue collection exceeds expectations. Where is this money going? If it is not going to education (see item 2) then who is getting all of this money?
By Dan
December 20, 2005 09:02 AM | Link to this
Tony I am quite sure that there are many football players who learn far more about life, teamwork, dedication and leadership from their football coach than they do from bitter teachers, I am not condoning special treatment, but even if it occurs the fact still remains that it doesn’t effect enough students to matter
By lynn d
December 20, 2005 09:09 AM | Link to this
Great Blog, Patti!
My predictions—-
The Georgia School Finance case will be the big issue this next year. However, it is unlikely if it will be decided in one court. Whichever sides loses will most certainly appeal.
If the court rules that educational spending has to be equal across the state and the state government doesn’t step up to the plate to increase state funding to the poorer districts but instead takes revenue from the richer districts — you will see a huge wave of flight from public school. Parents who choose certain schools and districts have a level of expectations of what will be available for their children. Watch for an explosion of new private schools, should “richer” districts be expected to spend less.
The legislature will not require small systems like those found throughout Georgia to merge thus increasing their efficiency and revenues, but instead will allow the court to decide the future of education in Georgia. Some systems in Georgia have a bureacracy to run one elementarty, one middle school and perhaps a high school. The county next door might have 5 elementary schools, 1 middle school and 1 high school. Both are paying at a minimun for a superintendent and some support for him or her.
Parents like me, strong public school propenents, will continue to grow more frustrated with the system and begin to (horrors of horrors) believe that competition (such as vouchers or real charter schools) are the only answer. Once people like me support vouchers, it is only a matter of time until vouchers become viable.
By Ernest
December 20, 2005 09:38 AM | Link to this
I heard one of my predictions partially come true yesterday when Sonny cut sales tax for natural gas, thus allowing citizens to keep a few more dollars in our pockets. Though a nominal cut, it will have some impact on the budget surplus.
Robert, per your #2, given the recent reports the GA. teachers rank 18th in the county with regards to salary, some might question whether their pay ‘lags behind’. I understand your point regarding teachers ‘purchasing power’ being reduced with increases in insurance and other necessities over the past few years but as we know, some folks simply look at rankings and make decisions simply on that. For the record, I do support teachers getting increases this year.
By Monica
December 20, 2005 09:51 AM | Link to this
My preditions: 1. I will call my child’s school and someone will answer and be able to assist me. 2. I will try to make an appointment with my child’s teacher and get one. 3. I will try to contact Georgia Virtual School and someone will answer. That person will actually be able to help me. 4. I will start home schooling my child.
Well, of course, I know only prediction 4 will come true.
By Lee
December 20, 2005 10:18 AM | Link to this
How’s this:
1) The GBI will find evidence of collusion between the State Superintendents Office and the mobile home industry.
2) Schools will begin to pay Science teachers more than the football coach.
3) Illegal immigration will become so bad, a school will go from majority white to 90% hispanic. Oh wait, that has already happended in Dalton.
4) The makers of Ritalyn will confess that there is no such thing as ADD / ADHD. It was all a ruse to sell more drugs.
5) Somewhere, an administrator will stand up and say “Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to put non-English speaking kids in a regular classroom. The same goes for inclusion. All this does is redirect the teacher’s attention away from actually teaching.”
And finally: 6) As more and more parents pull their kids out of the failing school systems and put them in private school, the legislature will finally take notice and approve vouchers.
By Robert
December 20, 2005 10:26 AM | Link to this
Ernest,
My point with teacher salary was not really to compare with other states, but rather to realize the fact that in order to attract more competent teachers, we have to pay more.
And, in order to increase standardized test scores, our class room size must be reduced. In order to do this, we must hire more teachers.
Right now in Georgia there is a teacher shortage in critical areas such as high school math and science. All standardized tests include math and science. Yes, there is a relationship going on here!
By mommy
December 20, 2005 11:21 AM | Link to this
My wish list: That The AJC will include Bartow County in its coverage of the school blog. If some of what goes on here ever came to light our kids might have a chance at a better education.
By native atlantan
December 20, 2005 12:22 PM | Link to this
I think OldSchool hit it right on the head. Mommy in Bartow: please elaborate. You have piqued my curiosity to know exactly what is happening in your county.
By Laura
December 20, 2005 12:25 PM | Link to this
1) NCLB will become MORE relavent and it’ll be a problem.
2) Fundraisers selling stuff - will be banned bec so many parents will refuse to sell.
3) Folks will realize boys are getting left behind in school because their learning style isn’t accommodated.
4) Folks will realize their isn’t really a teacher shortage. There’s a GOOD teacher shortage.
5) The economy will get so bad and inflation will be an issue and schools will have to eliminate costs. There will be beginning talks of, Can we afford sports?
By Hardendorf
December 20, 2005 12:26 PM | Link to this
Milton and Jones Creek will become municipalities. Along with Roswell, Sandy Springs and the other twons in north Fulton they will start the Consolidated North Fulton School System. This will be the richest school system in the state. The remaining Fulton schools will then propose to merge with APS.
By scuse me
December 20, 2005 12:39 PM | Link to this
What 2006 may hold?
With 2 BOE members running for re-election 10% of registered voters will turn out at the polls.
Gwinnetts BOE will continue to violate state sunshine laws and the Americans with disabilities act without any efforts by state and federal authorities to force them to comply.
GCPS system will continue to indebt taxpayers without a constitutionally mandated referendum, even after the SPLOST renewal defeat
Brookwood will loose——-(again).
Georgia will slip to 58th nationally in education.
Gwinnett County schools will adopt a uniform policy that ironically resembles uniforms worn by the Hitler Youth.
Gwinnett’s teacher of the year will be fired for not bowing low enough to Alvin.
Alvin will be given another huge raise while teachers take it on the chin for health benefits
In other words, not much change.
By Tony
December 20, 2005 02:33 PM | Link to this
Karen, I’m answering for Terry about how PTA and other giving could be restricted. There is already precedent set in California where a district has to share revenue from fundraising efforts in wealthy schools with schools who are not so fortunate. This is a very scary proposition! Second, Georgia added school level accounts to the “bottom line” for school systems during the last two years. This means that per pupil spending in a district may now include funds generated by donations to schools from PTAs, booster clubs, private donations, business partnerships, special grants to teachers, and any other funding that comes to the local school. It is theoretical that these funds could be called “disproportionate” by a judge somewhere in the state and a ruling made that school level funds must also be shared equitably. That is one way restrictions could be placed on organizations’ giving to schools. A third way is through board policy. Currently, most boards of education have policies regarding donations to schools. These policies vary throughout the state, but system level policies may kick in at specific dollar amounts or for other reasons. Meaning, the board of education has the final say on money in any school level account. They also have the final say on what can and can not happen within any school under their authority. This is a long answer to what appeared to be a simple question.
By EDUCATION
December 20, 2005 03:46 PM | Link to this
I totally agree with Robert. You look at the pay for teachers in Penn. After 15 years of service they jump from $40,000 to $80,000 or more a year. Teachers in Georgia will never reach that! Also, those of you out there that don’t teach, try teaching 30 kids, all of different abilities. Lets see how long you would make it.
Also, some of you that have posted on here I have a question for you: have you ever been in a classroom before?? Some of you need to get a grip and try teaching for 1 week. You wouldn’t make it. If some of you would stop worring about test scores and start worring about your children, education in Georgia would increase tremendously. But no, your to busy worring about living the “American Dream” to make time for your children!
Happy Holidays
By lynn d
December 20, 2005 03:58 PM | Link to this
Ok here are my wishes for 2006 related to education.
The AJC will cover education more seriously as it should since it is the most prominent daily newspaper in the largest city in the South.
The AJC will add to its webpage a link for education so all education articles are in one place (ie the NY Times, the Boston Globe, the Dallas Morning News, etc, etc, etc) so that those of us in one system can easily learn about what other systems are doing.
The Powers that Be that run the AJC will realize, with each passing year, that the City of Atlanta school system is shrinking while the surrounding systems are growing some at frighteningly fast rates. The overwhelming majority of children in Metro Atlanta are educated in systems other than Atlanta. DeKalb and Clayton both educate more poor African American children than the city in terms of raw numbers.
The AJC will cover education more substanially — not just looking at test scores. The AJC will investigate how all school systems spend their money not just Atlanta.
Those are my wishes - not my predictions.
By MMM
December 20, 2005 04:15 PM | Link to this
Lynn d.
What do you mean “real charter schools”?
I predict.
All the regular blogers will continue to vent and then TRY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
Our children will benefit from our example of caring—even if we don’t see the change we seek.
We will agree on the most important things, but won’t blog about them because we agree so there is no need to blog.
We will suggest many solutions to our problems—but won’t be able to implement them because we can’t get others to cooperate.
“It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate tireless minority keen to set brushfires in people’s minds.”—Samuel Adams.
(He lit a pretty big brushfire!)
By Emily
December 20, 2005 04:56 PM | Link to this
I’m not sure that I have any predictions, but I would like to comment on a few of the comments.
Oldschool- I definately agree that parents will continue to “avoid constructive involvement”. I will say that I glad to know that you read my post about extra assignments. It’s a shame you didn’t read the whole thing! I said that children would hate their parents for extra schoolwork. I didn’t say that children would hate their parents for exercising their brain with lessons built into everyday life. Please read carefully before you start telling people they are wrong for how they decide to raise their children! I will say that I do like your comment about the sports. That is very true!
Teach- you gotta love that NCLB. I’m a special education teacher too. I have a few Praxis Exams to take myself!
By OldSchool
December 21, 2005 08:29 AM | Link to this
Emily dear, I did not read your parent assignment entry until just now and I am a bit confused by your remarks. My prediction about parental involvement was actually in reference to remarks made to me by parents at an earlier open house hosted by my school. They scoffed at the idea of volunteering in my lab or at school because they didn’t want to embarrass their students. Throughout my 32 years, I have had civil and mechanical engineers come in to work with my students. Contractors give them valuable input on their house plans as they prepare them for their community clients. My seniors get valuable real-world information and experience from these folks who willingly donate their time and expertise to my classes. Many of these visiting experts are the parents, uncles, aunts, even brothers and sisters of some of my students and NOBODY is embarrassed…NOBODY hates anyone for being there.
I was simply predicting that there are those parents who evidently excuse away their lack of schoolday participation with the easiest excuse ever.
Now, would you please let me know where and when I told anyone they were wrong in the way they are raising their children? I sincerely hope those words or any similar ones were never typed by these humble fingertips! If indeed they were, I offer my apologies.
By s.s teacher
December 21, 2005 09:12 AM | Link to this
My prediction for next year: That everybody in the community will stop trying to blame each other and work together to improve the students’ education.
“A house divided cannot stand”
By Lee
December 21, 2005 11:39 AM | Link to this
Old School; I’ve read your posts before where you describe how you bring in subject matter experts to your classes to provide “real world” experience to your students. You sound a lot like my old Industrial Arts teacher, who used to line up special projects with local municipalities and businesses. We would do everything from design to actual construction. I’ve often jokingly said that I have used the three W’s (welding, wiring, and woodshop) more than the three R’s. I think this is an approach that teachers in other disciplines could use as well.
EDUCATION: Whenever someone tells me (a non-teacher) how hard teaching is and that I wouldn’t make it a week in the classroom, I usually respond with “how hard could it be… you’re a teacher.” I realize how hard teaching is. I have a wife and daughter who are both teachers. I know how hard they work and believe me, I hear all the complaints. For the truly great teachers, I think teaching is a calling rather than a career. However, there are some regular posters to this blog who I would say need to reconsider their career choice. They sound like some of the teachers we know … you know, it’s a footrace every afternoon to see who can get to their cars first - the teacher or the students….
By Terry
December 21, 2005 11:46 AM | Link to this
Thanks Tony for giving some examples of how PTA’s can be restricted. Karen, let me give you one other example which I have been involved with.
In an elementary school in North DeKalb, every teacher has been certified as gifted, with their tuition paid for by the PTA.
There were 20 parents trained in the “Junior Great Books Foundation” program from this school alone. Trainees came from throughout the SE and were typically one designee for a school system. The PTA paid for all 20 to attend.
The annual PTA budget for this single elementary school was over $100,000 annually.
This same school’s PTA paid for an artist to vist each class periodically to teach art and art appreciation, something the county would not fund.
That is why if the courts require actual equalization, many well-to-do schools will face significant changes in their cirriculum, supplies, staffing and morale.
Be afraid, very afraid.
By jim dumond
December 21, 2005 11:46 AM | Link to this
Not a prediction but a wish.
Schools everywhere will stop manipulating numbers and start making the necessary changes to truly provide an education to the children.
One can dream!
By lynn d
December 21, 2005 12:04 PM | Link to this
Several years ago, Creative Loafing did a story about the school Terry is referring to and contrasting it with one of the poorest schools in DeKalb County. The spending discrepcies (ie the PTA budget) wasn’t what the article focused on, but rather the dearth of parent resources that the poor school had and the overwhelming bounty of parent resources that the other school had.
In smaller systems, where parents are much more aware of the interconnectivity of all the schools in a system, parents at schools with more often help out at schools with less. In DeKalb, and probably other large systems, there has been a total disconnect. Most parents know little to nothing about the state of anything but their own school(s).
I bet that if one was to survey parents in school districts not involved in the lawsuit, an extremely low percentage would even know that there is a lawsuit, let alone understand what might happen if the systems win.
By Karen Armsby
December 21, 2005 12:19 PM | Link to this
Tony, Thanks for the explanation about school level accounts, which apprear to me to be another rob from the accomplished to pay for more government handouts socialist plan. Here’s another question, if all property owners must pay property taxes in a school district, and then some of those same taxpayers voluntarily raise more money for their children’s schools, then isn’t it stealing to reduce the share of tax revenues to their children’s school? The parents who work hard volunteering are essentially being taxed twice, and therefore punished for trying to improve their own school.
School level accounts are counterintuitive to the American spirit of volunteerism. Would the government deny aid to Katrina victims based on the amount they received from the Red Cross or other vountary relief agencies?
School level accunts will not encourage voluntary fundraising, they will kill it.
By OldSchool
December 21, 2005 12:32 PM | Link to this
Lee, it is so nice to hear from a happy former Industrial Arts student (though likely not one of mine.) I taught Industrial Arts before going fulltime into Engineering Drawing (but not because I am female…the drafting enrollment kept growing.)
I agree that the 3 Ws have served me well in my long life. Practical education prepares one for life in a way pure academics cannot.
My most wishful prediction would have to be: The State of Georgia wakes up to realize that reviving Industrial Arts would cause a decrease in the dropout rate, an increase in student achievement, and would be a boon to the overall economy as skilled craftsmen would be entering the job market. Contractors and manufacturers would realize an increase in the number of employable high school graduates and honey-do lists everywhere would become shorter and shorter as confident young men and women tackle the jobs themselves.
I miss my old shop.
By Ernest
December 21, 2005 01:10 PM | Link to this
OldSchool, count me as another former shop student that happily knows the difference between a philips and flathead screwdriver :). Some may laugh but it’s amazing there are many folks that don’t know the difference, when asked.
Let me take your wishful prediction a step further by saying I wish there were more comprehensive schools that offered training in trades. A majority of HS graduates are NOT going to college so having many of them to come out ‘employable’ would benefit everyone.
By A Watchful Eye
December 21, 2005 01:52 PM | Link to this
Public education, especially in the more urban areas, will continue its downward spiral. Test scores will continue to be manipulated. Teachers will be expected to teach the tests (in a “wink-wink” fashion). Defiant and disruptive “students” will continue to bully fellow students and even teachers. They will run the school (so to speak). Irate and irresponsible parents will continue not to work cooperatively with teachers so that the children will be better served. Angry and abusive administrators will continue to wreak havoc at “their” schools. These are the real problems in the public schools of Georgia — especially in the more urban areas. None of the politicians, policy-makers, or educrats want to admit this. They all bury their heads in the sand and act as though these conditions do not exist. All keep pushing for more funds, better curriculum, and greater teaching. As the old saying goes, “You can lead a horse to the water but you cannot make the horse drink.” The key to learning is motivation. If a student simply refuses to exert any effort to learn, I can assure you that this student will not learn. A teacher can teach a student, but a teacher cannot learn a student. That’s even bad grammar. Perhaps if these sorry conditions did not exist in the public schools in Georgia, then the teachers would not find it necessary to join unions like MACE. If I were a public school teacher in Georgia, I am sure that I would join MACE also. I would want an aggressive teachers union to have my back (so to speak).