Re: Re: Re: I can only speak for Floriduh...
 

Is all that really necessary? I never had any parent help with homework or stuff, nor any structure involving school and I aced everything.

And I had maxxed standardized test scores.

It wasn't hard at all.

Re: Re: Re: Re: I can only speak for Floriduh...
 

But were you encouraged to do well by your folks? What about the kids in your class?

What crime? I thought everyone in jail was innocent. Who is committing the crimes?


If the people living in those neighborhoods would start taking responsibility for themselves there woudn't be so many problems.

What I meant by whiny (maybe I should have been more specific) is people who complain and then expect other people to solve their problems for them.

It's really just whining anytime anyone complains without intending to do something about it.

I can tell you though, some schools are definitely beyond repair. They need completely new administrations, teaching staffs and in some cases parents and kids in order to allow their students a shot at succeeding. This isn't just in minority communities, but for socioeconomic reasons, it's occuring more often in minority communities. Rural white schools often have similar problems though.

If a school is failing -- and let's face it, just throwing more money at a problem is not going to fix it, the kids deserve to have an opportunity to go elsewhere IMMEDIATELY. Not wait for some government folks to come in there and start programs, etc. to try and make things better within 3 or 4 years. These kids need immediate help when they get forced into these situations. Nothing else is even remotely fair.

Without vouchers, we're basically going to doom kids to socioeconomic segregation (not necessarily racial). The kids whose parents are able to pay their tuition will have a shot at going to college while the kids in intercity public schools will often find themselves with few opportunities besides drugs and violence.

Co-sign. I think that was well-said. A lot of articles I read today on the state of education is the problem of socioeconomic segregation. Children need access to a "non-poor" environment. If a voucher allows them to do that and have immediate access to a better school, then by all means, let it happen. Of course, transportation and equitable access need to be addressed, but it can be done effectively.

Exactly. If the parents don't give enough of a rat's ass to make sure the kids are showing up to school to begin with, are they really going to care enough to investigate a voucher program?

If there are horrible students in your child's school, ruining the environment for the students who do want to succeed, encourage the school to start cracking down and expel those who need expelled. Now that everyone is entitled to an education, it seems like it's of little or no value to many people.

Do they still give out free TTC tickets.? I know they used to do that at Swansea P.S (my elementary school) which also happens to be the closest public school to Ontario housing. However, the Ontario housing complex is a 5 minute walk to schoo. Yet everyday I see little kids get on the bus to get off 2 stops away.
I know they stopped giving these kids free tickets because it was not necessary as they were in walking distance to the school.

The kids in the program are in high school, and get rewarded with TTC tickets for attending school and the Pathways program. Not sure what program the kids you're talking about are in though. Hmmmm...

School of choice within the public schools does allow kids to go to other public schools, which can get them out of a "poor" area and get them into a better district, although the way things are set up in Michigan, you still have to provide transportation (for which I see no other reasonable options, you can't have school buses travelling all over the metro Detroit area to pick up kids for school, it's too time intensive and costly). However, voucher systems use tax dollars to pay for private schools and I am totally against that. I am absolutely opposed to tax dollars paying for religious schools. And, as I said before, the amount of money allotted in a voucher still leaves a $5000-$10,000 bill for tuition. Few "poor" parents (few middle class parents even!) can afford that. They benefit only the rich who were going to send their kids to private school anyway. There are also charter schools out there, but again, transportation can be an issue. They often have a "theme" to them, a health care career orientation, auto-mechanic orientation, etc. I have no problem with this either. Charter schools and schools of choice are better options than a voucher system.

Dee

Re: Re: Re: Re: I can only speak for Floriduh...
 

did your parents feed and clothe you well or did you have to worry about your next meal and whether your clothes were gotten from the salvation army?

did your parents make sure you got to bed on time and got up early each morning with a good breakfast? or were you completely on your own at the age of 7?

did your parents check your report card and tests when they came home? or did they not care and turn their backs if you came home with an F or 41 on a test?

if you were having a hard time with anything socially or academically did your parents step in to help? or were you left to fend for yourself against a bully, etc... at the age of 8?

i find it very hard to believe that you were as on your own as you seem to believe you were during your early years. some kids with less than ideal home lives are able to break the cycle completely on their own. it is DEFINITELY possible. but unfortunately, most kids can't raise themselves, especially in non-ideal circumstances. kids need positive role models, and most importantly--support--from others in order to thrive.