Funny how people base their views strictly on their expeience with the schools they attended. Does it matter that I attended excellent public schools in one of the wealthiest areas of the country back east? How does that relate to a failing school in Ogden? How does your super-duper experience in Draper, Moab, the Bedrock School District, etc., relate to the quality of schools in another area? They aren't all the same. I figured most here would have learned long ago that everything isn't black and white. Guess I figured wrong.
My daughter attends a middle school in Ogden that's so bad I've considered shelling out the $$$ to send her to private school. I know of an excellent private school. Does that mean all private schools are great? No, of course not. Similarly, not all public schools are great. Good teachers are more apt to seek out employment in a district or state that pays more and has higher standards. Where does that leave most intercity schools?
I am very involved with my daughter's education....have been from day 1. Her elementary school was great. Fantastic teachers who cared and went the extra mile. The middle school is a totally different animal. Hardly enough funding, many more teachers who don't care, and a system that will advance students to the next grade whether they're ready or not. For those who dont' know, a lot of emphasis put on appearances. Whatever can be done to make a school or district look good is pretty much acceptable. That's how public schools can fail. It isn't so much the quality of teachers (though that can be an issue) as it is the administrators who are responsible for this chit.
Certainly, student and parent accountability are important; however, teacher accountability is important as well. When teachers won't provide meaningful feedback to the student, ignore parent's request for information concerning their child's progress, or they're not willing to discuss strategies, it's a problem. When little to nothing is done to counter the 12-14 year-old thugs who bully other kids, it's a problem. If anyone doesn't think that bullying doesn't have an affect on a child's learning, then you're sadly mistaken. Yes, bullying usually indicates a problem within the home, but if it's tolerated at school it indicates a problem with the school. It's clearly evident the teachers and administrators are barely keeping their heads above water.
I know every public school is not like this, but Ogden seems to have an inordinate number of "failing" schools. It's my perspective based on what my child is experiencing here and now. It's not based on, "well, when I was a kid my school didnt' fail me..." or some other line that has no bearing on the problems we see today. What are our choices if we don't consider private schooling? I can switch my daughter to another middle school. Besides the transportation issue, it's likely that school will not be any better. Moving has become a very real option because my child's education and safety are important enough to me. That's a sad proposition.
Public education definitely needs repair. It has become too political with too much focus put on the control of money by the education associations and state offices of education.
My daughter attends a middle school in Ogden that's so bad I've considered shelling out the $$$ to send her to private school. I know of an excellent private school. Does that mean all private schools are great? No, of course not. Similarly, not all public schools are great. Good teachers are more apt to seek out employment in a district or state that pays more and has higher standards. Where does that leave most intercity schools?
I am very involved with my daughter's education....have been from day 1. Her elementary school was great. Fantastic teachers who cared and went the extra mile. The middle school is a totally different animal. Hardly enough funding, many more teachers who don't care, and a system that will advance students to the next grade whether they're ready or not. For those who dont' know, a lot of emphasis put on appearances. Whatever can be done to make a school or district look good is pretty much acceptable. That's how public schools can fail. It isn't so much the quality of teachers (though that can be an issue) as it is the administrators who are responsible for this chit.
Certainly, student and parent accountability are important; however, teacher accountability is important as well. When teachers won't provide meaningful feedback to the student, ignore parent's request for information concerning their child's progress, or they're not willing to discuss strategies, it's a problem. When little to nothing is done to counter the 12-14 year-old thugs who bully other kids, it's a problem. If anyone doesn't think that bullying doesn't have an affect on a child's learning, then you're sadly mistaken. Yes, bullying usually indicates a problem within the home, but if it's tolerated at school it indicates a problem with the school. It's clearly evident the teachers and administrators are barely keeping their heads above water.
I know every public school is not like this, but Ogden seems to have an inordinate number of "failing" schools. It's my perspective based on what my child is experiencing here and now. It's not based on, "well, when I was a kid my school didnt' fail me..." or some other line that has no bearing on the problems we see today. What are our choices if we don't consider private schooling? I can switch my daughter to another middle school. Besides the transportation issue, it's likely that school will not be any better. Moving has become a very real option because my child's education and safety are important enough to me. That's a sad proposition.
Public education definitely needs repair. It has become too political with too much focus put on the control of money by the education associations and state offices of education.