September 23, 2009

Shaw: Unified needs to expand options; Supports expanding Walden and REAL School, building two elementary schools


Racine Superintendent James Shaw delivered the annual "State of the District" address on Tuesday night. Here are a few key points of his talk:

* About 75 people attended the address at SC Johnson's Golden Rondelle theater.

* Shaw talked a lot about his "North Star" initiative, which is a goal to have every Unified student college or career-ready by the time they graduate. A key aspect of the "North Star" is measuring student and school performance.

* Shaw noted Racine has more impoverished children than most school districts in the state, but is spending less per student than most school districts in the state. "We are addressing above average needs with below average resources," he said.

* Unified is working on ways to use numbers to evaluate school safety. He said it's a priority to keep children safe in schools.

* Saying he wants to give parents "options," Shaw threw out a few innovative ideas:
  1. It's time for Unified to open a kindergarten through eighth-grade school, he said.
  2. Unified needs one or two new elementary schools to lower class sizes. An audience member asked if the former Caddy Vista Elementary in Caledonia would be an option. Shaw said no sites have been chosen for the proposed schools, but they would be built where kids live, and early analysis suggests the new schools would be needed in the city.
  3. Expand the Walden and REAL School programs to more students.
  4. Expand Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) programs, which offer high-level classes to students.
  5. Open a virtual school that would allow students to attend classes online. Shaw said Unified is one of the few districts in the state not to have a virtual school option, and it's losing some students because of it.
* Shaw made an interesting point about looking to other districts as models. While they may help, he said, Unified has to find "The Racine Way" to improve. Essentially, the Racine area needs to fix its schools and can't look elsewhere for the answers.

* "The community wants a voice in Racine's schools," Shaw said. "They want a say." He added the community has supported Unified for years by passing referendums and working to improve the district.

* Unified's diversity is a strength, Shaw said. "It's a reflection of America," he said.

* Shaw's concluding point was to "never give up" on trying to improve Racine Unified. He told a story about reading an essay written by a high school student. He was moved by the essay and asked for the student to be recognized at a School Board meeting. The teacher said it wasn't possible, because the student was in juvenile detention. Shaw told the teacher he was "deeply disappointed." The teacher responded: "What are you going to do? Give up?" Shaw's response: "We don't ever give up."

* An audience member asked if Unified was working on a way to allow parents to check students' grades online. Shaw said the district is working on such a program. He also noted Unified trails many districts in offering this service, which is now limited to Case High School. "We need to move in that direction," Shaw said.

* Shaw said if his plans aren't working, the School Board should find someone new to lead the district. "If the needle doesn't move, the School Board should find a new superintendent," Shaw said.

He added similar accountability can't be brought down to the teacher level because there are too many factors that go into individual success. It's the administrators who should be held responsible for district-wide improvement.

"When schools don't make progress, central office has a problem," Shaw said.

124 comments:

  1. Eliminate teacher tenure. After three years and barely 9 hours of "observation" it is impossible to fire a teacher. The good teachers hate this. It makes it damn near impossible to get rid of bad teachers and it lowers morale. Why do they need tenure anyways? This is not a University.

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  2. The key sentence in this article is, Shaw said "We are addressing above average needs with below average resources,". No sign of improvement of any kind and the speech seems a precursor to a hefty tax increase, riding on the pretext of a obscure "program"!

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  3. Why was the State of the District address delivered at a privately-owned venue? Many of us suspect that a certain corporate crime family may be responsible for The North Star, which sounds like high-flown ballyhoo favored by an elitist tribe notorious for its astronomical wealth extracted from underpaid temp labor.

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  4. Dear 7:01 A.M., I agree with you 100%.

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  5. Come to think of it, why should any educators--university professors included--enjoy tenure? The worst instructors I had at every level from elementary school through postgraduate school were tenured personnel. One fourth grade teacher was a semi-senile woman who threatened the kiddies with a baseball bat. Another demented babe regaled her public school pupils with lectures about faith healing and shrines dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. A third lunatic made his sixth-graders memorize and recite cheers used by fans of his alma mater's football team. Tenure--and the incompetent instructors which it protects--must go!

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  6. The Real School is a joke. The kids in 6th grade had no math instruction for on entire semester. Kids hanging out in the office and outside all day. It's an acedemic joke. Someone should ask the staff at O Brown (next door) about what goes on at the Real School. I can't believe the district lets this go on. Sick!!!!!

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  7. 75 people atended - hey, where were all you RUSD lovers. What a poor showing of support. Or do you really know there is absolutely nothing that can be done to improve RUSD - send your children to a private school where you will be insured of safety, parent involvemnt and high educational standards.

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  8. With or without The North Star, Unified and its test scores will continue to head south. Until we change our socio-economic system and lift our disadvantaged people up and out of poverty, Unified's performance will remain a tragic farce.

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  9. Did the same people who own and operate the Golden Rondelle dream up the North Star initiative? The name has a corporate ring to it.

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  10. What difference where it was held -the RUSD parents are not interested in their children's education to even show up.

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  11. There's a really nice theater-type facility at Olympia Brown. How about Horlick or Park?

    Probably the "free" (no strings attached) offer from a corporate "stakeholder" vs. paying some Unified janitor overtime to clean up.

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  12. Teacher tenure is an abomination. A few years ago, my nephew had an instructor who reprimanded kids for looking her in the eye. Although her superiors agreed with many complaining parents that the woman was out of line, nobody could do anything about her and her peculiar pedagogical practices. Because the teacher possessed tenure,removing her was well-nigh impossible. (Only when she caught and married a solvent man from her Near Eastern ethnic group did she leave Unified. Otherwise, the bully would have remained in charge of classrooms full of hapless kids for the duration.)

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  13. What is the 75 in attendance ratio to total number of students in RUSD? And many of them in attendance were probably couples which would make the ratio negligible. Great parent involvement - I can see these parents really care about their children's education.

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  14. Dear 8:39 A.M., Unfortunately, location DOES matter. Sad to say, lots of low-income folks are intimidated by yuppie venues and feel ill at ease in posh places. Many working class and lower-middle class parents hesitate to attend events at the Golden Rondelle. I know a lady who works at a discount store who didn't go to the meeting because she didn't have what she called "the right clothes." Corporate types and other elitists who dislike dealing with rank-and-file citizens know about ordinary folks' reluctance to visit ritzy facilities and plan accordingly.

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  15. 8:57 - Oh, now I see - the balance of the 75 in attendance are -low-income folks. What a bunch of B.S.

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  16. 8:57 - are you suggesting holding a night meeting at Julian Thomas or Jefferson Lighthouse, and see how many yuppies show up?

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  17. Dear 9:02 A.M., Perhaps not all of the non-attendees were low-income people. Still, in a town where the bourgeoisie sends its progeny to private schools and avoids the public system whenever possible, you'll see that many parents of Unified students are poor. Also, quite a few lower-middle class folks work multiple jobs to support their families and can't take time off to attend meetings.

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  18. 9:11 - so what are your other excuses for a less than 1% attendance? The bottom line is parents of RUSD students don't care about their children's education, they just like to complain. If this event was a private school event, you'd probably get close to 90% attendance because like their teachers the parents care about their children's education.

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  19. Anon 7:14 - Actually the key sentence in the article is the one where Shaw says the School Board should fire him if his plans don't work. He's giving it his best shot. If it doesn't work, bring in someone else who has a better plan.

    Sidenote: Critics of Racine Unified's spending tend to want it both ways. They want better performance, but they don't want to pay for it. Unified has one of the lowest, if not the lowest, tax rates in southeastern Wisconsin.

    Instead of railing on a district that's trying to make end's meat, those complaints would be better directed at reforming how schools are funded in Wisconsin. (Like, for example, "The Guaranteed Tax Base" plan that would level the playing field for property-poor districts like Unified.)

    Anon 7:38 - "The North Star" is simply a goal to have every student college or job-ready by the time they graduate. Nothing too "high-flown" about that.

    Anon 8:02 - If you look at The Real School's state test scores, its students do quite well - even in math.

    Anon 8:26 - There are immensely successful programs in Unified that sends hundreds of students to colleges and into the workforce every year. There are also many, many hard-working teachers in Unified who dedicate their lives to helping students. But it's habit in Racine to focus on what's lacking, and then complain about anyone who's trying to do something.

    Who knows if Shaw's plans will work. But he's giving it a shot, and seems pretty sincere in his effort. Let's hope his ideas take hold and more students learn.

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  20. Dustin - it makes no differenc how much money you throw at Unified - it will "never" be even close to on par with private schools when the parents are not interested enough to show up for this presentation - what is you excuse for this negligible attendance?

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  21. Dustin....

    Dr. Shaw can talk smart about offerring to be fired if his "plan" doesn't work, because he is ready to retire anyway. He's already getting pension money from the UW system. His comment is just his way of telling the board to get off his back!

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  22. Dustin you said "There are immensely successful programs in Unified that sends hundreds of students to colleges" But you fail to mention better than 50% of the students don't graduate. The rate in the private schools going on to a technical school or University is about 98% with the balance going into the work place - how about responding to a few of the posts directed at you - maybe it's because there is not justifiable response??

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  23. Dear 9:38 A.M., If Shaw is receiving U.W. pension bucks AND a big salary from Unified, we've got trouble. Also, we can forget about dumping tenure while he's here--university professors love it and will defend it to the max.

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  24. Dustin are you there or just a wus?

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  25. Anon 9:11 is dead on. I grew up going to public schools, and think it's tragic that if I want to send my kids to a decent school that I'll either have to move out of Racine, or send them to private schools.

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  26. The Golden Rondelle was a silly place to hold this. They required reservations.

    Shaw needs to attend or have someone attend PTA meetings in each of the schools to see parents where it is convenient.

    One of the High School auditoriums would have been a better choice.

    We don't pay as much as other districts on our taxes. But 80% of what we do pay goes to salaries and benefits. Teachers are paying virtually nothing for health care. That is why you are seeing so much resistance to tax increases. I don't know one person who has that kind of health coverage. Why then should we pay for that and then some?

    Used to be that being a teacher was underpaid and undervalued. That is not the case anymore. Tenure needs to go. These benefits need to reflect what the bulk of the tax payers are also getting. We have overcorrected and we need to bring it back inline and put the money into curriculum, books and other essentials.

    Shaw is correct that we need to hold the Administrators accountable. We also need to give them tools to get the teachers to get the results we expect.

    We seriously need to look at the teachers contracts and make some serious changes. Without changes there will be no support for more money or schools.

    No one gives a rats butt how much lower we are taxing when the teachers are getting high salaries and outrageous benefits. Their spouses even take RUSD insurance over their private corp. insurance because it is better. We are paying for it and so are the children.

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  27. Anon 10:25 - I was working on other stories and just saw your comment. Pretty gutsy to call someone a wus when you post anonymously.

    Anon 9:53 - Private schools are great! But not everyone can afford them. Also, their numbers are inflated because they can select who attends their school. Public schools take everyone, and work to help everyone.

    Anon 9:22 - I have no excuse for the low attendance. I think everyone should have been there - parents and non-parents alike - to hear a solid plan the district.

    Shaw actually brought up the lack of parental involvement in schools. He said the reality is most urban school districts have little parental involvement, and that shouldn't be an excuse for poor school performance. Public schools have to help all students, regardless of whether their parents attend conferences or get involved with PTAs.

    Anon 9:38 - I don't know anything about Dr. Shaw's plans for retirement, and it's safe to say you don't either.

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  28. Dustin - in response to your comments:

    Pretty gutsy to call someone a wus when you post anonymously.I would say it right to your face but do not wish to post it front of the masses.

    Private schools are great! But not everyone can afford them. Also, their numbers are inflated because they can select who attends their school. Public schools take everyone, and work to help everyone. There are scholarships and fundig avaialbe for those who cannot afford, but that is always an easy excuse.n And that is what is nice about private schools - they can take whomever they want - that is why people go there and that is why they are successful.

    I have no excuse for the low attendance. I think everyone should have been there - parents and non-parents alike - to hear a solid plan the district. That's another reason to choose a private school - parents don't care in RUSD - which was obvious by the attendance.

    Public schools have to help all students, regardless of whether their parents attend conferences or get involved with PTAs. Without parent involvement you are destined for failure.

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  29. I forgot to mention that Dr. Shaw has a "contract" and probably would enjoy being fired and bought out at full salary!

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  30. Homeschooling, baby! Homeschooling!

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  31. 1:58 - great socialization - NOT!

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  32. This is all amazing commentary to watch.

    There are a good number of us who pay our taxes and do not have or have never had children in the schools (public or private) here in Racine. And, we truly care about the well-being of the students and the quality of their education...to the extent that we also work with students after school to help them.

    Some people genuinely and unselfishly wish Dr. Shaw and his ideas great success.

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  33. As my Dad used to say,"if wishes were horses, beggars would ride." Alas, it's going to take more than positive thinking to salvage Unified.

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  34. I hope and pray that the North Star initiative isn't a scam like the expensive programs I encountered in Michigan. With most of our citizens existing in para-Depression penury, we don't need budget-busting bunk.

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  35. My grandfather used to ask, "If you wish in one hand and crap in the other, which hand will fill up first".

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  36. 1:58
    Yes, the purpose of education is to be socialized into a vile and immoral culture dominated by brainless children with no wisdom except how to text message using non-language. Yes, let's socialize our kids to bond with other kids, rather than adults. Let's socialize them to accept dressing like whores and getting abortions and worshipping Hannah Montana when we're only 6 years old. Yes, EDUCATION really is all about socialization.

    What utter nonsense. Meet up with the millions of homeschoolers in this country and eat your words, you teacher's union shill.

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  37. Children begin learning from the time of conception. What I mean is that if we have women having babies who don't get adequate pre-natal care, who don't nurture their babies, children who don't eat healthy foods, children who are sleeping only 4 hours a night, children who live in fear of violence and unstability, etc, etc....how can we as a city expect all children to learn at the same rate and to have the same test scores as their peers whose parents were reading to them as infants and who have countless more advantages...sometimes these kids do need more advantages in school just to have a chance to have a fair shot.

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  38. This is all so damn sad.

    We all know Unified isn't the best school system. Not even close. But it IS our public school system, like it or not. But when you combine the economic realities here with a lack of trust of an institution you "start" to understand the issues. An institution that is locked up in a struggle to improve itself but can not due to a set of regulations by the State and Federal regulations which prevent any real meaningful improvement. Ask yourself how much latitude does a teacher have in what is being taught these days? Or how it is taught?

    If you have a good job, my gut tells me you are sending your sons and daughters to a private school. But just imagine yourself if you don't have a good job. What real choices do you have? Combine that with what is happening on the streets of the city and you have a real struggle on your hands.

    Then there is the new kid in town, the Shaw of Unified. Another in a long list of heads of Unified. Can he relate to what is happening here? We have the worst unemployment in the state. This is not a place where one ponders education. It's a place where people ponder survival. Yes, it's that bad here.

    I know what your thinking. What would you do? It's bad everywhere just worse here. Let's just get real how Unified deals with parents. Meetings at the Ritzy Golden isn't how it's done in today's Racine. Reaching out to neighborhoods by the Shaw may help. Meet people at their level but certainly not in suits. Our State and Federal reps also need to help the schools. Just look at all the schools in the news lately. Racine isn't the only one with problems. I believe our problems usually roll down hill. State and Federal regulations often tie the hands of local school districts.

    We need to wish each other much good luck in all this. After all, all we have is each other. Whether a parent, teacher, school administrator, law maker, I hope more begin to take that to heart and start doing something positive to help children live better lives than their parents. Then and only then can Unified start to do better.

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  39. Holy Cow... Perhaps it is time our community stepped up, put on a suit like Mr. Shaw and had some guts to make a change.

    I don't consider myself "ritzy"... but I have no problem going to the Golden Rondell for a meeting. It is a great place to hold such an event... And it is in the inner city where most of our low income residents live. So knock the excuses and stop your whining. Home schools... do what you want. Private schools? Send your kids to Public and get involved. Save your money or donate half to your public school PTSA and make a difference in this community.

    I have traveled the World and I have never met more Whiners and complainers than I have in Racine. What is wrong with you people? Go out and make a difference. Be an asset to your community, support our schools, but please stop your whining. If there is a reason to leave this city it is because of the ridiculous whiny attitude amongst Racine's Community. Now get off you A$$es and do some good with your lives.

    You bloggers that do nothing but complain make me sick.

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  40. Dear 10:34 P.M., Maybe you don't feel out of place at the ritzy Rondelle, but lots of poor blue collar guys who don't own a decent suit wouldn't want to go there. As for whining in Racine, unfortunately our oppressed wage slaves have plenty of legitimate reasons to bemoan their sad situation. Anyone who lives in the real world instead of Yuppie Land knows that rank-and-file people can barely eke out an existence and should not be expected to "make a difference." Please snap out of your Transcendentalist trance and get real.

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  41. 1:53 - Home schooled children are misfits in society. I agree with your comments of the things that go on in the public school system. That is why I would never send my children there.

    10:14 - Don't blame the government. Why are other public school systems superior to RUSD e.g. Kenosha school district. They are all operating under the same set of rules.

    I am also tired of hearing about the cost of private schools - there is money available, scholarships, grants, loans or I have a unique idea - maybe the student could get a part time job and summer job. There are ways if you are really concerned about your chid's education.

    10:34 - all you small people. The Rondelle is hardly what I would call ritzy. You'll make up any excuse to let parents of the hook for their responsibility for their children's education. And finally aren't your crippled hands tired of typing Yuppie Land - it's starting to sound like you feel left out - poor baby.

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  42. During an economic crisis, asking the community to fund two new elementary schools is ridiculous.

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  43. 8:18 - Spending any money on RUSD is a bad idea with the results they turn out.

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  44. Dear 8:08 A.M., You have confused me with another person whom you've browbeaten in the recent past. In case you don't already know it, the term "Yuppie Land" has been around for more than a decade. If the poor soul whose pain brings you pleasure actually has "crippled hands," you ought to be ashamed of yourself for bullying him. As for feeling excluded, any unfortunate guy who didn't get an invitation to the money party would be miffed at the way our system maldistributes wealth. Someday you could wind up in his situation. Think about it and do the right thing.

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  45. 8:32 - Sorry to confues you with my other friend. I am very supportive of individuals with disabilites, except for those that use that as an excuse. Individuals with disabilities can add value to the community like anyone else and many do. It's those that hide behind it I have no respect for. And I don't know why you are referring to invitations - this event was well advertized. It just amazes me how many excuses people have for not taking an interest in the child's education. 75 people, that is disgraceful.

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  46. Trust me on this topic: many Racine residents DON'T like the Golden Rondelle because they associate it with snobbery. I know white collar people earning fifty grand or more who'd feel uncomfortable there. If we'd hold our meetings at the schools which their kids attend, more parents would show up and (I hope) give Dr. Shaw some constructive input.

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  47. 9:01 - I don't beleive that for a moment. If you have it at one of the schools, most parents would attend - that is baloney. The majority of parents don't care. Also are you suggesting there are only 75 wealthy parents in Unified that attended? That in itself supports my point.

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  48. No, I'm just saying that only seventy-five parents possessed enough free time and self-confidence to attend that meeting at the Golden Rondelle. For people who didn't get a good start in life, the Rondelle and the elitism it represents can be scary. I have acquaintances who take indirect routes to and from work in order to avoid seeing that building and other reminders of the privileged class' contempt for anyone who isn't wealthy. If we want people who earn less than six-figure incomes to show up at our meetings, we've got to hold them where prospective attendees will feel comfortable. Due to a variety of reasons connected with the history of a major corporation and a city whose workers feel victimized by that firm, the Golden Rondelle isn't the right place. (If Racine were an upscale community, the Golden Rondelle would be perfect. Unfortunately, our municipality is a dying rustbelt town trying to reinvent itself as a tourist destination/art colony.)

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  49. Dear 8:08 A.M., It's true that Racine has an abundance of whiners. Then, again, when you examine the city's history, you'll see that many of its hapless inhabitants had--and still have--plenty of reasons to rant and rave. Our founder (Gilbert Knapp) was an ex-privateer who was kicked out of the Coast Guard by Andrew Jackson. Knapp's pals tended to be slick land speculators who cheated scads of unwary settlers. Most of the industrialists who prospered here were crooks like Knapp and his clique. People descended from their victims had good reason to be angry and they passed their rage along to future generations of their families. Later on, migrants from the South and immigrants from the lands below the Rio Grande discovered that the opportunities they'd been promised didn't exist. So, yes, even though we have whiners galore and they annoy us, we really can't condemn them for complaining about things which weren't their fault.

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  50. Sometimes whiners can come up with useful ideas to help improve our town. Contrary to old prejudices, they aren't all crybabies.

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  51. 12:51 - your comments are so absurd they are not worth responding to.

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  52. 12:19 - You missed the whole point. If low income parents feel uncomfortable going to the Rondelle, (which I don't buy) why weren't the rest of the middle class - upper class parents in attendance either. Like I said before I don't care if you are low income, middle income or high income - RUSD parents do not care about their children's education. If they did care they would have attended the meeting.

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  53. Although I don't wish to offend anyone, I'll have to speak quite bluntly: many citizens of our community hate the dollar-sign despots who own the site of that meeting. Those parents who don't despise the corporate clan in question are few and far between. Here in Racine, we have poor, working class, lower-middle class and--believe it or not--solvent people who can't stand the oligarchs responsible for much of the misery in our sorry city. Selecting the money-mutts' property as a venue for an event involving the general public is a major error. Frankly, we're lucky we attracted seventy-five parents.

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  54. 4:19 - That is a very lame excuse, but people like excuses which allows them to avoid their responsibility. If you love your kids and care about their education, you'd go anywhere.

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  55. Maybe you and I would "go anywhere" to improve children's education. Even so, many other people don't share our opinion. For many folks, hatred of the House of Wax trumps every other consideration.

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  56. 4:56 - Then they don't care about their children. Nothing is more important - not even some ill advised ideas about a prominent family in Racine.

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  57. Yes, the parents care about their kids, but they don't like what you call a "prominent family" and its excessive power in our community. Also, the parents are suspicious of anything or anyone connected with that clan, including educational reforms which could be schemes to turn non-privileged kids into indoctrinated wage slaves. Due to the current economic crisis, many rank-and-file parents harbor an extremely negative view of billionaires and their six-figure flunkeys. For our children's sake, let's hope that Dr. Shaw holds future meetings in non-private sector venues only.

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  58. 7:59 - Excuses, excuses - if this was the case as I said before, why didn't middle class or upper class parents which don't have issues with the "clan" as you say attend? Are you saying of the thousands of children in RUSD, there are only 75parents that don't have a problem with the "clan". As we all know that is not the case. Parents overall with children in RUSD don't care about their children's education. No wonder why we have such violence in our city - no parent involvement.

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  59. Dear 8:48 A.M., Don't think that I'm excusing the parents' behavior. Rather, I'm only explaining why so many of them didn't show up at the meeting. Sad to say, many Racine residents hate a certain oligarchic clan. (By the way, the family in question is aware of this fact or it wouldn't have a Director of Worldwide Security on its staff.) If we want more parents to attend future meetings, we'll have to hold them at non-corporate facilities.

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  60. 9:20 - you keep skirting my comment from before so I'll state it again: Are you saying of the thousands of children in RUSD, there are only 75 parents that don't have a problem with the "clan". Your excuse is pathetic.

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  61. In addition of the 75, how many were couples? This means there was really less attending from a family standpoint.

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  62. I'll stand by my interpretation of events. Widespread aversion to a certain excessively-powerful family played a role in causing poor attendance at the meeting. Other factors may include moonlighting or social engagements. Then, of course, there's the pervasive feeling that any attempt to improve Unified is a farce doomed to failure. In my neighborhood, nobody except one high school teacher believes that Unified is capable of improvement. Everyone else writes it off as a lost cause.

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  63. 11:36 - the only thing I agree with is "Unified is a farce doomed to failure." That' why pick a private school.

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  64. For those who can afford it, private education is great. Unfortunately, it's a budget-buster for most people.

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  65. Those with a victim mentality are doomed to failure. Fact. It's impossible to see any door open if you are convinced that all door will always be closed. Nothing good comes from depression....

    One major difference between a public and private school is that one is responsible to the parents, its customers. I can not change RUSD but I do have an affect on my kids' education there. When I have a concern that I and/or one of my kids can not resolve I bring it up with the teacher, counselor, department head or principal as needed. All of those concerns have not been resolved how I would have done it but they have been resolved to a satisfactory outcome. I wouldn't consider myself "lucky" but rather a parent that is willing to be involved as needed, not coddle my kids, teat others with respect even if they don't always deserve it, and support the teaching staff in front of my kids even when they are wrong. People tend to treat you how you treat them, even when disagreeing. Most people, especially teachers, want to help those that are willing to receive the help and they, in general, will commit themselves to those that try to progress and succeed. It's extremely hard for our kids to even try to succeed when we think that we can not succeed and have fallen into being a victim.

    Depression sucks, I live with it and a work-disabling injury; I fight daily not to give up in front of my kids, especially when it comes to their education. Yes, we COULD afford to send our kids to a private school and no, I did not go to the meeting even though I could have. If I had I would not have worn one of my suits, coats, or ties either....

    Attitude is everything, make sure the ones you pass down to your kids are healthy-- your kids will thank you for it many times in many different ways for the rest of your life.

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  66. In this evil system, many of us ARE victims. Blaming the victims for their plight is an obscenity. As for the much-touted power of positive thinking, don't ever inflict that bosh on Holocaust survivors and other victims of forces beyond their control. What you and your privileged mentors view as defeatism is just the victims' realistic appraisal of their situation. Indeed, it could be argued that any workers who aren't depressed are either high on drugs, drunk or crazy.

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  67. Given the pan-pervasive misery and despair among Rat-scene's rank-and-file residents, it's a miracle that anyone showed up at that meeting.

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  68. In this money-men's system, attitude is nothing while GRAB-itude is everything. Ordinary people who see the system as a con game rigged against them by the rich are smart, savvy realists.

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  69. Dear 9/24/2009, 8:08 A.M., Why should kids have to get summer jobs in order to earn private school tuition? All that sorry experience taught me was to hate the privileged twits who bossed me around while they loafed and laughed at my misery. Let's allow our children to enjoy their early years.

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  70. In a society where only the rich receive rewards, telling rank-and-file families' kids to work hard is ridiculous. Unless a public school is "The Blackboard Jungle," it will meet most students' needs. Anyway, for most of us private education is a pricey luxury.

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  71. Most K through 12 education is a generic product. Why the yuppies and the would-be wealthy invest in it is a mystery. (If they think their kids will make useful contacts, they're in for a rude awakening. At private schools, the trust fund brats either shun or bully the less-affluent students.)

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  72. Snobbery and racism are the REAL reasons why SOME--not all--bourgeois parents blow dough on private education. Many ambitious parents want their kids to attend "exclusive" schools which by definition include very few poor or minority children in their student population. Then there's the upwardly-mobile opportunists' notion that their kiddies will make the "right" friends at a pricey private school. In actual practice, the rich youngsters haze or ignore their less-solvent classmates. The belief that the "right" friend from a privileged family will someday hire or otherwise help a middle class fellow-student is wishful thinking.

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  73. One reason that the U.S.A. does such a rotten job with public education is the fact that in this country, where the bourgeoisie puts its progeny in private schools, our public schools are perceived as schools for poor children. Historically-speaking, any institutions designated as places for the poor become poor institutions because the people with clout--who see the poor as subhuman--don't give a darn about them. If we want to have excellent public schools of the type which serve the people of Western European nations, we may have to change our laws, put most private schools out of business and make the majority of our youngsters attend public schools. Then, when their children have to go to public schools, the semi-privileged middle class will take an interest in public education. But as long as bourgeois families are allowed to opt out of our public schools, the public schools will function as nothing but holding pens for the poor.

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  74. Let's compare statistics - 99% attendance, 99% graduation rate, 99% go on to technical school or a university, no cops in the school, all students can leave the same exits at sporting events, parent involvement, no need for metal detectors, no gangs, no fights - should I go further. That's what private schools provide. Now you make the choice. Oh, and one last point - I know for a fact St. Catherine's and Prairie have over 25% diversity.

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  75. IF a certain ultra-wealthy clan really wanted to improve education in Racine, it would have helped the public and parochial schools instead of starting and endowing an elitist snob snuggery I'll call "Precious Airy Academy." When we finally elect a people's government capable of shutting down establishments like "Precious Airy," bourgeois children will have to attend classes with kids from less-posh backgrounds. I can tell you that once the advantaged youngsters are in our public schools, their parents will move heaven and earth to make sure that their kids receive a good education. Then--and only then--will our public schools be excellent schools.

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  76. 8:30 - you know not what you speak as usual. As I mentioned previously there are over 25% diversity in those schools - plus many of the students pay there own way, so it is not what you call bourgeois children. It's a place where many parents sacrifice and don't but the Harley's cars, camper's etc.that many of the public school parents do so they do not have the money to send their children to private schools. Their toys are more important than their children's education. You have a misconstrude idea of these schools.

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  77. I don't understand the controversy over the location of the event.

    I have attended each one of the annual events at the Golden Rondelle, and have never felt out of place because of what I was wearing.

    Are there people in suits? Absolutely, but they're probably just coming from work and didn't have time to change.

    Really, it wouldn't have mattered if it was held at a school. I'be been to those events as well.

    The same few members of the general public, RUSD staff, and local press are the only ones that ever attend.

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  78. I don't understand the controversy over the location of the event.

    I have attended each one of the annual events at the Golden Rondelle, and have never felt out of place because of what I was wearing.

    Are there people in suits? Absolutely, but they're probably just coming from work and didn't have time to change.

    Really, it wouldn't have mattered if it was held at a school. I'be been to those events as well.

    The same few members of the general public, RUSD staff, and local press are the only ones that ever attend.

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  79. Dear BJ, If you've never felt out of place at the Golden Rondelle, you're either gifted with great self-confidence or endowed with wealth. The vast majority of poor and working class folks don't like that venue because they have to make reservations to visit it. Then, assuming the disadvantaged people show up there, they've got to deal with the yuppie administrators and staff who aren't always happy to see members of the impecunious general public. Unified meetings should be held at Unified facilities, not corporate showplaces designed to intimidate the rank-and-file residents of Racine.

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  80. The Golden Rondelle is just another reminder that a certain cash-cadging, tax-dodging corporate crime family controls Racine. Anyone struggling to survive here hates the rich in general and that clan in particular. If the hyper-privileged oligarchs genuinely cared about education in this community, they'd be paying their property taxes to support Unified instead of conning Governor Doyle into giving them questionable tax exemptions. Also, they'd be donating serious cash to improve our local public and church-affiliated schools in lieu of founding and funding an elitist private secular school which exists to keep their executives' preening progeny separate from workers' kids.

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  81. Public school meetings should be held at public school facilities, period.

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  82. If the Waxies were to spend the same kind of money on Unified that they've been blowing on a custom-designed shrine for a seaplane, perhaps their private facility would be an appropriate place for Unified's meetings. Unfortunately, that's not the case.

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  83. A guy I'll call "Doctor Risk Waxman" ought to pay his property taxes to support the public schools instead of cadging property tax exemptions from Governor Doyle. The idea of holding Unified meetings at a facility owned by a wealthy tax-dodger is ridiculous.

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  84. You guys are all idiots - it does not matter where these events are held, RUSD parents don't show. That was proven in a recent article in the JT's concerning parent/teacher conferences where it was stated that there is low attendace at these. So you can say yuppies,gifted with great self-confidence or endowed with wealth, corporate showplaces designed to intimidate the rank-and-file residents of Racine etc. If you have it they will not come!

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  85. Dear 11:24 A.M., As long as we hold Unified meetings on yuppie turf, ordinary people won't come to them. For many folks in my neighborhood, the Golden Rondelle is a symbol of oppression associated with an arrogant dollar sign dynasty and its Ivy League retainers. Having to make reservations to attend functions at the Golden Rondelle is more than minimum-wage laborers with multiple jobs can cope with--it's just too bourgeois. (I strongly suspect that the reservation requirement exists to discourage working class participation.) Although I've earned advanced degrees, I feel unwelcome in that pretentious bastion of pecuniary privilege. Imagine what a high-school dropout who flips burgers or cleans houses to survive must experience there. Common sense and respect for Racine's workers both demand a friendly PUBLIC venue for PUBLIC school meetings.

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  86. I don't want to offend anyone, but my neighbors and I want to know if there are any ties between the House of Wax and Dr. Shaw. Reliable sources have told me that that the Waxies keep a six-figure education expert on their staff at "Whitebread." Having researched the Carnauba Court and its flunkeys, I can tell you that the pedagogical person in question is earning her hundred grand or more doing something for the skinflint "Scam-ily." Could that gal's job have included recruiting or recommending Dr. Shaw? The Waxies don't hand out big bucks for nothing.

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  87. 2:34 - you said "Although I've earned advanced degrees" I think you should get your money back. What is it you do not understand? RUSD parents don't show up at any school events whether it is in their own school or offsite. Time to be realistic, you've worn out your bourgeois comment. RUSD parents don't care low income, middle or high - they don't show. I'm done with you on this one, you are dismissed - carry on!

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  88. Dear PR=PR, The notion that people will treat others as they've been treated is extremely naive. As for your practice of supporting teachers even when they're wrong,that just tells kids that their parents don't value them. (Years ago, the parents of a friend who'd been molested at a local high school backed the instructor because they didn't believe that educators diddled kids. Only after their daughter had a nervous breakdown and other victims came forward did they support her. By then, though, it was too late. As for the pedagogical sexual predator, that teacher remained on the faculty for years.)

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  89. Abolish teacher tenure a.s.a.p.

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  90. 3:27 - It sounds like Obama's new School Security Czar except he molested a 15 year old boy - not a girl.

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  91. Dear 2:59 P.M., Who the heck are you to dismiss anyone? Climb down off your high horse and get down to earth. The parents in this town DO care about public education. However, they don't care for meetings held at a corporate facility. Anyone who isn't a pet yuppie financed by "The Scam-ily" hates that place and all for which it stands--pecuniary power and privilege.

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  92. Dear 3:36 P.M., The sexual predator in question was a Lesbian who came from a well-to-do family and voted a straight Rich-pig-lican ticket. Because her New England clan possessed serious money and the creature enjoyed teacher tenure, nothing was done about her. Abolish tenure now!

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  93. Yes, I remember the case. The teacher's crimes took place in spring, 1962. To protect itself and the predator, the school district tabbed the victim as a "troublemaker" and pressured her poor parents into sending her to a twenty-dollar-an-hour shrink every Thursday for two months. As for the predator, she remained at Unified for over forty years. Tenure must go!

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  94. If the predator was the one my parents warned me about, she was a great journalism teacher with a not-so-great moral code. Still, even though she was a better-than-average instructor, the predator remained a predator and should NEVER have been given authority over other people, much less a captive classroom clientele.

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  95. Regardless of the predator's identity, let's DUMP TEACHER TENURE!

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  96. Amen! Without exception, my worst teachers were tenured personnel.

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  97. 2:59 - Yes 75 parents out of thousands of parents in RUSD care! and yes I do dismiss ignorant people - so you are dismissed.

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  98. I meant to say to (9:09, not 2:59).

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  99. Dear 10:04, Never dismiss your brothers and sisters. Someday you may need them for your survival.

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  100. Getting back to teacher tenure, it's nothing but a featherbedding scheme for the benefit of lazy slugs and--in some tragic cases--sexual predators. When I was at Horlick, I had one English instructor who hadn't changed her lecture notes for thirty years. Another pooped pundit had us memorize and regurgitate Elizabethan madrigals--in a MODERN music class. Then there was the guy who lectured us about the importance of prayer during an American history class and the art teacher who said she had daily chats with Saint Therese of Lisieux, aka The Little Flower. As for sexual predators, the physical education department was loaded with them. Abolish tenure NOW!

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  101. You're right. With teacher tenure, it's well-nigh impossible to fire the lazies and the crazies, not to mention the sexual predators. It's a dirty shame that these creeps wreck the reputation of our district and the good teachers who work here.

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  102. chasinghistory10/04/2009 11:48 PM

    I am a RUSD parent and I was there the night Dr. Shaw spoke. By the way, I wore jeans and did not feel out of place. There were probably about 75 people and 30 to 40 of them were parents (not 75). Pretty sad isn't it! The other thing that is sad is that the parents who were there, are the parents that I usually see at PTA, and parent meetings. The problem that I see happening within RUSD, is a lack of parent involvement in our schools. There are too many people who just don't care. Their priorities are all screwed up, and their children's education comes last. I also agree that something needs to be done with teacher tenure, because I too have seen some teachers who really don't belong in a classroom. I don't know which is harder getting rid of bad teachers, or getting rid of bad students. Some people might be offended by that, but we have some dangerous kids in RUSD. I also think that the administrators and some of the people in central office need to take some type of pay cut. Did you know that we have over 15 people within RUSD making over 100,000.00 a year... I think our community would be more supportive if Dr Shaw would walk the walk - If Dr. Shaw really cares about RUSD, he would put some of that money back into our schools instead of hitting up the tax payers again...

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  103. Amen! Dr.Shaw and his yuppie pals should return some of their loot. As for not feeling out of place at the Golden Rondelle, you're blessed with a level of self-confidence rarely found outside the privileged class. I have friends with decent jobs paying forty to sixty-five grand a year who think the snooty Rondelle yuppies despise them. In fact, I know one lucky fellow who makes over $100,000.00 per annum but doesn't think the Waxtrash gatekeepers want him in their masters' pricey facility. Until we cap fortunes and use the funds seized from the predators to help ordinary people, such feelings will persist. Meanwhile, let's hold PUBLIC school meetings where everyone should feel welcome--OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

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  104. Memo to All Bilionaires: Unless you're willing to pay your property taxes like the rest of us, keep your manipulative, predatory paws away from Unified. Tell your pet education expert to stay out at "Whitebread"--Ms. Yellin' can let her snoop-ervise her slaveys. And NEVER, EVER invite a PUBLIC school district to use your private, corporate facilities. We know that this invitation is like the one the proverbial spider gave the fly. All you want is a district which will provide you with cheap, dumb, docile serfs. Wake up and change your oppressive ways before a people's government teaches you respect for the common man.

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  105. Whenever possible, Unified should use its own venues. Privately-owned facilities always come with a hidden price tag: covert corporate meddling.

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  106. Mr. Angry - you are at it again - what a miserable old guy you are.

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  107. No, there's no Mister Angry. There are MANY people--mainly working men --who have had it with our economic system. The sooner capitalism collapses, the better!

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  108. Ye p that's the Mr. Angry we all just endure. Sad old soul!

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  109. Dear 11:37, There's no "Mister Angry." Even so, the working citizens of Racine are mad at their oppressors. One way or another, they'll change the system. Pray that they may use non-violent means ONLY!

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  110. 3:52 - you are Mr. Angry!

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  111. No, just a concerned citizen who's fed up with the mega-money mutts and their big lies.

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  112. Mr. Angry 3 cheers for mega-money!

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  113. Only after the mega-money has been confiscated by the people's government!

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  114. Mr. Angry - you already have the peoples government - but at the next election, we'll get back on track - furthermore stay on subject. Better than that give it up - you live in a dream world in your own mind. Your threats are idle - no one will ever take you serious - Oh, I know you have your doctored in a useless field and you lived in Detroit. I guess that makes you an expert - Ha!

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  115. Dear 1:22, You've got the wrong guy. I've never been in the Motor City and have no intention of going there.

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  116. Nope, we don't have to go to Detroit to see poverty, unemployment and crime galore. Here in our Moo-turd (not Motor) City, we've got all of Detroit's social problems plus a few special afflictions of our own.

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  117. Although it pains me to say it, Racine is the poverty pit of the Midwest. As for its public schools, their reputation is so raunchy that even Chicago-area educators snicker when I mention Unified. Until the law compels the rich to send their prancing, preening progeny to public schools, Unified and other districts like it will remain an evil joke. However, after rich brats are sent by legal fiat to our public schools, their parents will use their cash and clout to improve those places. Only when people with power take an interest in our public schools will they improve.

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  118. True. Schools intended primarily for poor kids tend to be poor schools.

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  119. There's a big difference between a bad school and a school with low test scores. Good teachers may increase students' abilities 10 fold, but still see them score poorly on standardized tests. Environment and parenting plays a huge role in the classroom. Until Racine addresses its chronic poverty levels, its school will always be considered "poor."

    What's sad is the community piling on a district that's working with two hands tied behind its back. 1.) It spends less than any other school district in southeastern Wisconsin. 2.) More than half of its students come from impoverished families.

    If Racine wants better schools, it has to come together to create better schools. That means tax increases, more volunteering, better parenting and simply increased levels of pride in public education.

    But my experience here is the majority of the community is content to complain about schools while doing nothing to improve them. The choice is ours, Racine. We can rally together or continue with the status quo.

    Let's try an experiment. For the next 10 years, let's go all-out on public education. Let's build new schools, volunteer and support students and teachers and, for once, take pride in public education. In a decade, we'll evaluate the outcome and see what happens. If it fails, disband the district and try something new. But if it succeeds, we'll have educated more young adults, created hope in families and created a jewel in the community.

    Seems like a worthwhile risk, no?

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  120. Dustin - you are nuts. We've been throwing money at this money pit for years and there have been no positive results. If the students want a real education, then send your kids to a private school. There is money available for those that cannot afford it - just look. If you want 99% attendance, 98%-99%graduation rate and going on to a technical school or university, if you want no gangs, guns or knives, if you want no need for police monitoring the school,if you want safe sporting events, if you want no fights in schools - send your kids to a private school. It is well worth the investment. There are many who - if they gave up their toys, Harley's, big house, campers etc. they could afford it.

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  121. Come on Dustin - let's hear your rebuttal to the previous comment. there is not one is there.

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  122. I have no problem with private schools and think vouchers and school choice are good ideas. I'd just like to see Racine make a real, lasting investment in its schools and turn them into a source of pride for the city.

    Racine Unified is a stabilizing and positive force in the lives of thousands of kids every day. Can things improve? Sure. But improvement is tough when every year you're cutting resources and coping with crumbling facilities.

    Look, I don't pretend to influence anyone with these words. Times are tough for everyone and no one wants to see tax increases. I just think Racine has a "sleeping giant" with its schools. If the community could turn its full attention to educating and helping our children, I think we'd be amazed at the positive impacts it would have.

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  123. Dustin you said:

    I'd just like to see Racine make a real, lasting investment in its schools. Money has nothing to do with the poor results coming out of RUSD. As mentioned previously we have poured thousands/millions of dollars into the schools and the results continue to get worse.

    But improvement is tough when every year you're cutting resources and coping with crumbling facilities. Are their some stuctural problems in the schools - sure, but crubling is an exaggeration. Futhermore buildings don't teach students.
    Racine Unified is a stabilizing and positive force in the lives of thousands of kids every day. Which one's - the 50% that don't graduate, thw one's that skip school, the one's that are in gangs, the one's that carry weapons?

    I just think Racine has a "sleeping giant" with its schools. I'd say the union teachers and students are sleeping.

    If the community could turn its full attention to educating and helping our children, I think we'd be amazed at the positive impacts it would have. Thishas been done for years and nothing has changed.

    If parents want their kids to have a true, safe and succesful education they will not get it through RUSD - send them to a private school.

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  124. Dustin - how about a response. You don't have or cannot come up with one can you.

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