POLL: Are you pro public school? - Page 6

[mamajama]

Originally Posted by boongirl

Get behind the charter school movement. Support a local board member. Go to school board meetings. Be a thorn in the school's side. Find a way to write and get grants. Call other schools where kids and families are successful and happy and ask them for advice.

Well I am a low-income single parent and my kid go to a good public school. Rather than being a thorn in their side, I'm an enthusiastic supporter.

Seek out scholarships at private schools.

Why? How is this a solution? Why would I want my child to go to a private school even though the school he's in probably isn't up to their calabre, there is a certain social structure outside of actual classes, that we just wouldn't fit in with.

Get together with a group of kids and families in your neighborhood and start a homeschool or an afterschool enrichment program.

I don't think this is realistic when talking about the circumstances of low-income single parent families. I have no idea when the heck I'd have the time for that. And I know the other moms in my project are equally as busy and working to maintain balance with what they have without adding more stuff to organise. It's just not realistic.

The irony in my school district is that poor kids' schools get more money than middle class kids' schools.

Why is this ironic? It makes sense to me.

The district uses what they call a "weighted student" financial plan. Students of color, poverty, special ed kids, they all are "heavier" and get more funds to their school. Also, in the poorest end of the district, there has been the most corporate donations to very interesting programs.

This is really good as well in my opinion.

My neighborhood is in between and the schools closest to my house have nothing going for them, sad to say.

This is not so good. I think it works differently where I live though. The schools in the rich neighbourhoods definitely have it best. See I could put my kids in one of those schools but there are a few good reasons why that just wouldn't work. First of all, they're out of the way geographically and would ad way too much travel time. Also, we wouldn't feel comfortable hanging out in thos neighbourhoods and my guess is I wouldn't have much in common with the other parents. Also those schools are way more homogenised as far as culture and economic status.

[boongirl]

Originally Posted by mamajama

Well I am a low-income single parent and my kid go to a good public school. Rather than being a thorn in their side, I'm an enthusiastic supporter.

Why? How is this a solution?
Why is this ironic? It makes sense to me.

This is really good as well in my opinion.

This is not so good.

mamajama, you are taking my comments personally. My answer to your first question was to list ways in which I thought parents who are low income or single AND did not like their public schools could try to induce change. It most certainly was not intended to be a list that everyone could do nor a list that anyone should do. You asked what low income and single parents COULD do and I listed some ideas.

[mamajama]

Originally Posted by boongirl

mamajama, you are taking my comments personally. My answer to your first question was to list ways in which I thought parents who are low income or single AND did not like their public schools could try to induce change. It most certainly was not intended to be a list that everyone could do nor a list that anyone should do. You asked what low income and single parents COULD do and I listed some ideas.

Not really taking them personally, but rather using myself as an example. I don't think my situation is too far removed from the norm as far as low-income single parent families go.

I do happen to have a good public school and I know that many do not. And I understand that really the only thing to do about it would be to take proactive measures. But doesn't that go without saying to a certain extent? Rather than being 'against public schools' I believe that parents should take a collective responsibility to see to it that the public school system in your communities is up to standard--whether or not your kids attend. A lot of people here are saying they are against public schools and therefore their kids are home-schooled or attending private institutions. I think that most people who have to settle due to financial and other constraints would choose that option as well. But we can't. So then what? I can tell you from experience that it is next to impossible for single parents to be hugely involved in their kids' schools. I haven't even been to one PTA meeting. I'd like to be able to, but it just hasn't been humanly possible for me.

[Flor]

I honestly don't find it very powerful to be hugely involved in the schools as a parent. Sure, I've been a classroom helper, and a field trip chaperone, but? ?? The PTA? Ok, they plan the 8th grade party or pay for guest speaker, but I can't say that belonging and being active has really changed anything at my kid's school in the last 5 years and now he is leaving and moving on to junior high. He will only be there for 3 years so can being involved make a better school for him? No. I am involved, but it's a very long term goal and as a parent concerned about MY child, being invovled in the school, even being a "thorn in the side" or an "ethustiastic supporter" doesn't really change the things that concern me at my kid's school. The PTA just isn't that powerful here.

I personally look for all alternatives for my kids. We have no charter school or movement, and I am not starting one, though I could support one. Private schools are here. Sure, we aren't rich, but I can't immediatly say my kids won't fit in. I don't know that. I was one of the scholarship kids and I have to say that private school was a HUGE inspiration to me as a kid. I got to travel, to meet people from different countries, people with different goals and experiences. I never thought about college for example until I was a private school and met people who knew about it, who planned to go, and knew how to get there.

I think we just have to do what we think is best for our kids. If we have oppurtunities, take them if we want. I think we should think beyond the school were handed, UNLESS we love it.

[boongirl]

Originally Posted by mamajama

A lot of people here are saying they are against public schools and therefore their kids are home-schooled or attending private institutions. I think that most people who have to settle due to financial and other constraints would choose that option as well. But we can't. So then what?

I would never say that I dislike the institution of public schools. Maybe others are saying that. I dislike the public schools in my city. The school board has allowed some seriously incapable people to make huge decisions, involving millions of dollars, which have negatively affected the school experience for many children. There are exceptions, of course, but many schools in my city are struggling and the situation is going to get worse in coming years as budget cuts are made to make up for the millions of dollars they are in the red. Perhaps because I, as a former employee of this district, have an insiders view and also because I have taught in really great public school districts, I feel very strongly that this district is a mess. But, realistically, there are children in this city who are having good experiences in the public schools. If public school was my only option and my child was not having a good experience in school and there was absolutely nothing I could do about it, I suppose I would move.

But, the reality is there are a lot of families in this country who are just settling with their children's education. It really baffles me why there is not more uproar. I do not understand complacency of Americans in general.

On the other hand, when I was teaching before my daughter was born, I was working in a school where almost every child was living below the poverty line, where many of them lived with a single parent, where many of them did not speak English as a first language. The PTA president at the time had three children, two in our elementary school and one in private high school on scholarship. She worked full time as a nurse and went to school part-time to become a PA. She got no support from her husband who had remained in African when she immigrated here. Her children were loved and treated well and she still found time, busy as she was, to be PTA president. The PTA did not do much, since the population was so poor, but they did have anough money to offest the cost of 5th grade environmental education camp and pay for 5th grade graduation. She made the point to parents often that everyone can make a difference in their child's education, no matter how poor or how busy. At least she was trying.

[Ellien C]

Originally Posted by mamajama

Well I am a low-income single parent and my kid go to a good public school. Rather than being a thorn in their side, I'm an enthusiastic supporter.


Why? How is this a solution? Why would I want my child to go to a private school even though the school he's in probably isn't up to their calabre, there is a certain social structure outside of actual classes, that we just wouldn't fit in with.


I don't think this is realistic when talking about the circumstances of low-income single parent families. I have no idea when the heck I'd have the time for that. And I know the other moms in my project are equally as busy and working to maintain balance with what they have without adding more stuff to organise. It's just not realistic.

Why is this ironic? It makes sense to me.

This is really good as well in my opinion.


This is not so good. I think it works differently where I live though. The schools in the rich neighbourhoods definitely have it best. See I could put my kids in one of those schools but there are a few good reasons why that just wouldn't work. First of all, they're out of the way geographically and would ad way too much travel time. Also, we wouldn't feel comfortable hanging out in thos neighbourhoods and my guess is I wouldn't have much in common with the other parents. Also those schools are way more homogenised as far as culture and economic status.

go MJ! ITA

[EFmom]

The urban public schools in my area are struggling also, and their struggles have been made far worse by the so-called "school choice" movement. School gutting movement is more like it. Far too much money has been syphoned off from the public school system to create charter schools (and no, I don't buy that they are public schools, too.) Don't get me started on vouchers. The charter schools that have been created at the expense of the public schools have performed at less than stellar levels.

[LindaCl]

Originally Posted by EFmom

Far too much money has been syphoned off from the public school system to create charter schools (and no, I don't buy that they are public schools, too.)

Why aren't they?

Don't get me started on vouchers. The charter schools that have been created at the expense of the public schools have performed at less than stellar levels.

In my state they're generally performing better, with a higher proportion of non-white, lower income students, lesser experienced teachers, and on smaller budgets. But you often don't see the gains immediately. The more settled schools that have been ongoing for a number of years can statistically demonstrate the more solid gains.

Charters are also more likely to be shut down if they aren't doing the job, another plus in my book.

I think it would be a terrible mistake to pull the plug on these promising school experiments in CA in order to funnel more public resources to the sickest and most intractably problematic public schools. But I understand that there is a lot of disparity between any two Charters, as well as between Charters state-to-state which have each implemented them very differently.

[GotKids?]

Yes, totally! I attended public school from K-12 grade. I learned; I was always top in the class. I now teach in a public school & I know how hard the teachers work to get the kids where they are.

[elmh23]

Yes I am pro public school.

While my children won't public school until high school (they'll attend Catholic school until then and our local Catholic High is incredibly un-Catholic!) I believe it should be made available for those who can't homeschool (or refuse) and those who can't afford private schooling. I attended public school and had an awesome education until high school (I was sick and the administration sucked!)

[witchymama2b]

I went to ps all my life and now I am a ps teacher. I love my job and I don't know of ANY teacher who doesn't have the best interests of his or her students in mind. I love how so many posts on this thread blame the teachers and the school system for drugs, gangs and violence in our schools. Take a second and look around at society for a minute. You cannot expect children to act any different from the adults in their lives! Teachers have to fight against the conditioning that kids recieve from so many negative influences in today's world.

[BusyMommy]

We are blessed to be 1/2 mile from an outstanding neighborhood school and 5 miles from a fabulous K-12 charter school. But...I teach at a very low income struggling school.

So...tough question as there are SOOOO many variables to consider!

[OrangeGirl]

I teach in public schools, as does my husband, and our children will attend them.

[mamaGjr]

Originally Posted by witchymama2b

I went to ps all my life and now I am a ps teacher. I love my job and I don't know of ANY teacher who doesn't have the best interests of his or her students in mind. I love how so many posts on this thread blame the teachers and the school system for drugs, gangs and violence in our schools. Take a second and look around at society for a minute. You cannot expect children to act any different from the adults in their lives! Teachers have to fight against the conditioning that kids recieve from so many negative influences in today's world.

[Dwmama]

Maybe it is because both of my parents are public school teachers but I am very pro-public school. Not that I am 100% against private, but I haven't really seen many private schools I have liked. Although I haven't looked too hard because my son is so young.

I know homeschooling is not what I want for my children. I see a lot of benefits to public school and I want my children to get them. There are bad schools, there are good schools, there are okay schools.