tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5583157134881112619.post7351571431783578032..comments2024-03-10T23:44:30.359-05:00Comments on Racine Post: All quiet on the Unified front, but test scores show difficult task facing school districtDustin http://www.blogger.com/profile/10717778498642473701noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5583157134881112619.post-11972808802064954102009-04-29T22:33:00.000-05:002009-04-29T22:33:00.000-05:00"Find an effective way..." Were it only so simple ..."Find an effective way..." Were it only so simple to educate a child from a struggling background. Nobody -- and I mean nobody -- in this country has found a solution within the existing educational framework. And it's not for a lack of foundations and studies and experiments. Here's the thing: We've never been able to do it. It's only the testing movement in recent years that has identified our failures so blatantly. Now we're beating up the educators for failing kids -- when they've never been able to educate all kids from all backgrounds.<br /><br />What we need is a revolution in education -- something that will break the stranglehold that unions have on schools. When people come in to make massive change, the unions just stand in the way. Say what you will about Dr. Thomas Hicks, but he had a clear education plan (how he ran the business side of the district was another matter), had the backing of some pretty smart people at the Panasonic Foundation and really seemed in a position to make things happen. But the unions fought him every step of the way, including picketing a banquet where he was receiving an award for his efforts.<br /><br />We'll never know for sure, but I wonder what would have been possible if the unions had gone along and people had actually tried the educational initiatives that were on the table. Instead, all we got was more of the same educational practices that have failed us.<br /><br />And until we get some real change within the educational system in this country, we're not going to meet the needs of all students, especially those who don't have the full support at home.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5583157134881112619.post-16281857525954660802009-04-29T12:53:00.000-05:002009-04-29T12:53:00.000-05:00I don't buy the economic excuse. This excuse came...I don't buy the economic excuse. This excuse came up just as we were not allowed to use skin color as an excuse anymore. There is no reason based on family income that should make it so a child cannot get a decent score on the state test. We are investing hundreds of thousands of dollars to educate these students. Find an effective way, bottom line.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5583157134881112619.post-57581857743516199292009-04-29T00:46:00.000-05:002009-04-29T00:46:00.000-05:005:21, if you're going to compare curriculums at Go...5:21, if you're going to compare curriculums at Goodland and Gifford, compare the student base and their situations as well, as economic and learning disability factors play a much bigger part in the differences you see in test scores. Goodland has one of the highest percentages of students qualifying for special-ed in Unified as well as one of the highest percentages of poverty-level families. The student population at Gifford is the closest thing Unified has to a private school.jaymohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10932095714056834656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5583157134881112619.post-44057961518929956102009-04-28T22:06:00.000-05:002009-04-28T22:06:00.000-05:00In regards to Anon 5:21 comments, scores can not b...In regards to Anon 5:21 comments, scores can not be blamed soley on teachers. If we are looking at the school iteself, and not taking into consideration the family and environment, then we need to see the whole picture. Principals and central office need to provide more professional development for staff. Additionally, everyone in the schools from teachers to principals to support staff to the cafeteria workers need to create a positive climate in the schools so students can feel safe and supported to learn.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5583157134881112619.post-22472819714741327432009-04-28T18:46:00.000-05:002009-04-28T18:46:00.000-05:00I would like to know how changing the test from Fe...I would like to know how changing the test from February to November made a difference in scores. That would be at least 3 more months of learning before taking the test. If the state really wanted the students to succeed, they would either move the test back to February or to November of their junior year. Many of these students (especially in HS math) are being forced to take tests in subjects that they haven't taken yet.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5583157134881112619.post-11859993890705651632009-04-28T17:21:00.000-05:002009-04-28T17:21:00.000-05:00I am appalled at Goodland School's numbers. That i...I am appalled at Goodland School's numbers. That is where my children would go. I think we need to look at Gifford's curriculum to see what they are doing well. Their numbers were the highest in the district. I also must say, way to go REAL school. Those numbers were also very high! I think the principals in the schools need to take a look at their staff and if their numbers continue to drop then it is time to make some changes. It is easy to take the easy way out and say our school's poverty level is high and therefore those children can not learn. I think that is a load of something. If you teach those students, they can learn. They may need extra attention and respect, but they can do it if you believe in them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5583157134881112619.post-65881104322479883272009-04-28T09:21:00.000-05:002009-04-28T09:21:00.000-05:00The state tests are not meant to work for the indi...The state tests are not meant to work for the individual student. These tests are to determine whether or not the curriculum that is taught by a district meets the educational objectives of the state as a whole. In other words, these scores tell educators whether their methodology is working to achieve state standards. It is the content and delivery methods that are measured, not the child.Brian Deynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5583157134881112619.post-90624729818060386762009-04-28T08:49:00.000-05:002009-04-28T08:49:00.000-05:00The WKCE is a joke.
This test is given in fall ...The WKCE is a joke. <br /><br />This test is given in fall and the individual results are given to the teachers now, in spring, with less that two months left in the school year. This is more about holding aggregate scores over heads than it is about the individual needs of the students.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5583157134881112619.post-76413484060866839772009-04-28T08:45:00.000-05:002009-04-28T08:45:00.000-05:00The article states that none of the High Schools m...The article states that none of the High Schools met the state requirements, looking a the cohort scores comparing all the schools to the state, Walden III 10th grade surpasses the state score and beating the Annual Measurable Objective percentage so what are the state requiremtns they're not meeting?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com