tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post216237500110728465..comments2024-03-28T02:21:17.452-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: K-12 FundingMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-6483015086055474312009-04-04T12:40:00.000-07:002009-04-04T12:40:00.000-07:00Sandra Stotsky PhD. said:We may best interpret the...Sandra Stotsky PhD. said:<BR/><BR/>We may best interpret the recent mushrooming of both privately and publicly financed tutorial programs (especially in mathematics), the phenomenal growth of home-schooling in the past two decades, and <B>the ever-increasing number of public and private charter schools as forms of parental reaction to the bloated, distorted, or non-existent textbooks that their children now learn from in a haphazard, watered-down, and distorted curriculum.</B> .....<BR/><BR/>To salvage a failing public school system, we need to <B>remove de facto control of the content of the K-12 curriculum from education schools as soon as possible</B>. We can remove their control over teacher training by transferring control of teacher preparation in core subjects and the content of these subjects to discipline-based experts at non-profit independent centers or institutes with principled intellectual and civic goals. We can also require educational textbook publishers to use these academic experts as senior authors or consultants for all school textbooks.<B> Voices are beginning to call for the dissolution of our public school system—a logical result of the increasingly negative influence of education schools on the quality of the curriculum and instruction in it. That influence will continue until their direct control of educator preparation and indirect control of the content and pedagogy in school textbooks is removed</B>.<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://www.nas.org/polArticles.cfm?doc_id=229#top" REL="nofollow"><BR/>http://www.nas.org/polArticles.cfm?doc_id=229#top </A><BR/><BR/>------------<BR/>In the SPS it looks like the parents desire their children to have an opportunity for collegiate success but the administration's recommendations often remove that possibility.dan dempseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15536720661510933983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-70382602073888805372009-04-04T10:46:00.000-07:002009-04-04T10:46:00.000-07:00Though I would still like to see that broken down ...<I>Though I would still like to see that broken down by how many kids are in private school for *some part* of their K-12 education: if the 25% means the percentage who are in private school at any given time, I suppose it could well be that only 50% have an entirely public-school education.</I><BR/><BR/>This is probably true.<BR/>In my bookgroup of nine women- a somewhat diverse group for Seattle-three of us have kids who attended at least three years in private school, although upper elementary through high school was public.<BR/><BR/>While I have the least education out of the group ( everyone else has at least a BA) and have been bumped from "middle" class by the economy, oldest did attend private school through college graduation- through luck and generosity.<BR/><BR/>While I was fairly happy with the last few years of younger childs education, if I had known the blood sweat and tears that it was going to cost to have her continue in public school, I would have taken out loans to keep her in private.<BR/><BR/>Some things are worth more than money.Jet City momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14804841958585043967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-26445884843131550002009-04-04T09:40:00.000-07:002009-04-04T09:40:00.000-07:00Surely we don't have 50% of kids in private school...Surely we don't have 50% of kids in private school now? The last figure I heard was more like 25%. Though I would still like to see that broken down by how many kids are in private school for *some part* of their K-12 education: if the 25% means the percentage who are in private school at any given time, I suppose it could well be that only 50% have an entirely public-school education. I'm still convinced that the percentage of students who are in private school all the way through is quite small.<BR/><BR/>Helen Schinskehschinskehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10316478950862562594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-83288309135871166552009-04-04T08:16:00.000-07:002009-04-04T08:16:00.000-07:00The economy isn't hurting private schools very muc...The economy isn't hurting private schools very much. Our neighbor, who has an exceptionally bright, Spectrum qualified child, applied to three private schools and was only accepted by one. Of the other two, one put her on a waitlist (number 32), and the other said they had so many applicants that she didn't even make the waitlist.anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03716725891562757052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-43382858243796610012009-04-03T22:21:00.000-07:002009-04-03T22:21:00.000-07:00Colleges seem to have plenty of applicants but if ...Colleges seem to have plenty of applicants but if the economy continues to be difficult, fewer students who are first generation college, will see college as a possibility, with costs rising.<BR/><BR/>What I have observed are many of the very talented Seattle students from both private and public schools, going out of state.<BR/>Once they attend colleges out of state, they often stay out. We are losing talent.<BR/><BR/>www.latimes.com/<BR/>news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-perez3-2009apr03,0,4003619.storyJet City momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14804841958585043967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-12671973529136208902009-04-02T15:56:00.000-07:002009-04-02T15:56:00.000-07:00I do have a question about the sixth period in hig...I do have a question about the sixth period in high school and I-728 funding. When I look at the annual reports for the schools, it seems they are using the money to hire extra teachers. (at the high school level) Many elementaries use it for professional development and help with hiring teachers. This is great. I hate to see this money at risk.<BR/><BR/>But, where does the sixth period money come from, if it is not coming from I-728? Are we in danger of losing sixth period?<BR/><BR/><BR/>I also would perhaps like to see what Seattle would do, if truly forced to endure budget cuts. Would they finally cut the ultra generous transportation to any school, anywhere for free that exists now, and actually put that money in the classroom? I am not trying to inflame anyone, but I have to say, I see a lot of money spent on empty busses, and that is money that is not going to the classroom. Maybe it is time to make a choice.Suehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12875541753709754758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-12476157011412100722009-04-02T10:41:00.000-07:002009-04-02T10:41:00.000-07:00I have seen the figure of 1 in 6 SPS graduates mee...I have seen the figure of 1 in 6 SPS graduates meet the requirements for a 4 year college, and that is startling.<BR/><BR/>I am curious though, why our colleges are so full? They are so very competetive, and won't even look at a student who hasn't taken AP classes? Where are they getting all of their students from?<BR/><BR/>Are the majority out of state students? Out of country?<BR/><BR/>Or are they the 50% of school age children in Seattle that go to private schools? I would imaging almost all of the private school kids meet the requirements for 4 year college?anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03716725891562757052noreply@blogger.com