If student acheivement is closely associated with parental involvement, as our Super believes, maybe the city should have used that PAC money to bribe the parents to get their kids grades up.  Call it "Cash for C's", "Cash for Caring", "Cash for putting down the Beer, Smokes, and Remote",or maybe "(no) Cash for Flunkers!"

 

Marcia Andrew

 

 

Marcia Andrew

You have to WANT it to benefit from it.

You must WANT your child to get a proper education, and prepare them daily for the opportunity.

You must feed them, clothe them, encourage them, work with them, and nourish them in every way mentioned.

 

The students must walk into the building awake, eager and prepared. 5 days per week.

The meals are there--the teachers for the large part DO care and work very hard at their profession.

Amazing how many students(particularly the very young) don't even make it to the building more than 1-2 days per week. Can't teach/develop them if you can't get them to show up.

Once again it falls back on the parents and priorities.

 

Too many un-educated parents are almost afraid to have their children be better educated than themselves. Jealousy and fear of status loss as the primary role model. So sad.

 

Problems are complicated.  Solutions aren't easy, whether it's education or business development.  But, according to some on this board, that is a bunch of hooey.  They demand results and the failure to excel is an indictment of the system and those that run it.  It may feel good to vent about problems in that way but it also is an approach that results in more failure.  Like the 70's and 80's when George Steinbrenner constantly threatening to fire a Yankees manager if they didn't win the series every year, regardless of roster considerations, injuries, bad trades, etc. 

 

Maybe overhauling the state report card method is needed.  Many criticize it already.  Though I doubt this would happen, perhaps one element of performance could be a statistic that compares test results with the poverty level in the community, # of disabled kids, etc.  Sort of a bell curve. 

 

I don't have all the answers but I think criticizing a district for not generating the same performance numbers as affluent districts is a flawed game.  A game that is rigged by the nature of the rules.  Like yelling at the McDonald's "chef" who can't come up with a meal that compares to the fancy French chef.

 

IMO Roosevelt School symbolizes so much of what is happening now. Look at the grand structure and monument to our local heritage. It seems to be giving the demo crew all they can handle and more. It is refusing to come down quickly or easily, and imo shouldn't be coming down at all. But it is coming down hell or high water regardless of the cost or necessity to create another green(hopefully) "space" in the community(right in the middle of Cental Ave.). I can literally hear that loyal building scream in pain every time that I drive by.

 

I was fortunate to spend one day as pretend principal in one of our schools.

Wonderful facility--excellent admin--what seemed to be a very caring dedicated group of teachers(many local faces). The children were from a lower income part of town. I spent time reading and interacting with every 1st grade class. The kids were quiet and sullen until I tallked TO them instead of AT them. Once they realized that they were recieving personal attention, they exploded with conversation. They LOVED talking about their home, their pets, their school and most importantly themselves.

 

I spent an hour or more observing the lunch room. When lunch was completed, these elementary students CLEANED THE CAFETERIA. WIPED OFF THE TABLES AND CHAIRS, SWEPT THE FLOOR AND FILLED THE TRASH. They did it completely, all without any bad attitudes.

 

I attended what was called a "data meeting", where all 1st grade teachers sat down with the principal, asst.principal and an admin rep to discuss classroom progress. Students were divided into three groups--excellent--average--below average, with the conversation revolving around where each student was headed--up down or lateral. The primary concern was getting the students in the door each day. I listened while VERY concerned teachers talked about children who miss at least two to most of the school days per week, and known problems within these youngsters' households. Being in my position, I also knew a lot of the parents of these students, so I knew just how badly things were for many of them.

 

The facilities are excellent--the principals that I know are very good--the teachers that I know or have met seemed to care as much as possible. I ran into a few older retired teachers there who were simply volunteering their time to tutor and mentor.

 

The "problem" you mention is huge, and there is no real answer out there. We have ONE truant officer in the system, who is absolutely overwhelmed. The principal makes home visits when the parents refuse to respond. There is only so much that anyone can do when you don't have the co=operation of the parents and guardians. We are living the product of our current low-end environment. We honestly will struggle to greatly improve or succeed.

 

We need to get these children motivated from early on before they ever set foot in our schools. The parents need to participate in the MCF's Dolly Parton Imagination Library program, which was brought to Middletown by MCF leader Duane Gorden. A chance to teach our own children reading and other positive habits preparing them to enter the system.

 

We need citizen volunteers to work with the youngest students. Retired citizens--those whose children have moved on--those without children--pretty much anyone who really cares and wants to make a difference. Once we get a foothold in the beginning of these young minds, we can change everything for the better. Teachers will be better able to do their jobs--scores will improve because students will want to be highly educated for all of the right reasons. Eventually the parents will be changed not by us, but by their own children. Eventually these children will become the parents.

 

Do your part--tutor/mentor--volunteer--run for office--something.

We all have the time if we really care about this.

 

jmo

 

Recently I have had opportunity to visit Rosa Parks, Wildwood, Mayfield and MHS.

I have yet to find a teacher or administrator in any of those facilities that was not professional or did not care anout the job/students, though I am sure that there are some of those out there.

 

The BOE members obviously all care, since they pretty much serve without compensation.

Changing or terminating these groups can only be a successful option if you have better staff to bring in.

Is it out there? If so--where?

Why would they come here for less than considerably more compensation?

 

Vet--we all could help more than we do currently.

That alone wouldn't change the big picture that much.

It still comes down to putting the students in the buildings on an everyday basis, and they must show up prepared/motivated to do their best for no one but themselves.

 

It is like the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland.

The answer to all problems and inconveniences is not "Off with their head!".

 

To many working class manufacturing-based local families, education was not the top priority when the well-compensated factory jobs were available. Those jobs are long gone now, and will most likely never return. We have a couple generations of parents who still haven't reacted properly, and we may not be able to change that mind set. As of now(and for a while), there is no safety net for those who don't take full advantage of the educational opportunities available. There ARE plenty of quality students currently in the system who are making the most of their opportunities. Those students will turn out just fine.

 

The area has changed.

Time for those resistant to change for the better with the area.

Butler Tech, Cincy St. and MU-M are wonderful opportunities IF you can make it to that level.

We all went through the system at one time.

It really wasn't that difficult, and if students would apply themselves properly, they would find that it is no more difficult today.

 

Vet--I realize that my posts haven't solved your primary concerns.

I share your concerns, and you know that.

I don't have any quick fix or answer.

Just my take on the situation.