New Comments as of 5/18
Total Pupil Expenditures ( Per Mass Dept of Education)
District----------------------------Number of students (FTE)
1999 . . . . . . . . . . $10,192,294 . . . . . . . . . . .1,914
2003. . . . . . . . . . $16,028,479 . . . . . . . . . . .2,546
2007 (est) . . . . . $25,000,000. . . . . . . . . . .3,000 (est)
1999-2003 funding - 36% Increase
1999-2003 students - 25% Increase
2003-2007 funding - 36% Increase
2003-2007 students - 15% Increase
The 2007 numbers are before the override.
Question: Over the two five year periods here, why does it cost 10% more for the same increase in student population from 2003 to 2007? What percentage are teacher salaries and what percentage is administration?
Question: If these numbers hold true over the next ten years does that mean the school budget will be $34,000,000 in 2012 and $46,000,000 in 2017, nearly double what it is today?
Remember none of these numbers include the cost of building new schools. New students entering the system have been dropping for 2 years. Yes, utilities are way up, we pay them also. All the more reason to question the affordability of the extra 4% for "improvement" the District wants in an override this year.
Is the override necessary? We don't think it is.
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I thought new students were entering the system at a higher rate?? Jay where are you
It is our understanding that for several years ending somewhere around 2004, the school district got about 200-250 new students a year. That number is now down around 100 a year.
That begs the question: Why a million dollar override now and not a few years ago?
You can be sure that Jay Byer is typing at this moment.
Over to you Jay.
When this oveerride first came up I asked what would happen if they didn't get it. I was told that the average classroom size would go up from 18 to 23. Our student population isn't like it was when we went to school. Most of us had classes of 30 or more. That was a lot in the sixties and what made it a lot was that we didn't have "special" classes. We all can remember the few kids that were the behavior problems,the ones that disrupted classes and stole the teachers time from the rest of us. Mendon and Upton do not have "bad" areas breeding these problems. Our children are motivated and easy to manage for the most part and when they are not they can be removed. It's been 20 years since I have taught in our public schools and it was great then and I know it's even better now. This is an easy community to teach in. Teachers from many other towns would happily take less money to work here than where they are currently employed.You have all done a great job as parents and it didn't come cheap. You deserve a break, vote no on the override.
Just a correction to your numbers. School budget for FY07 is $24.4 million including the override, and enrollment will be a minimum of 2,900 students, but probably closer to 3,000. Over the last 10 years enrollment is up almost 100%, as is the budget. Teachers raises are 3% for next year, same for all district employees including administrators. Compare the "real" per pupil expenditure for FY07, $24.4 million divided by 2,900, and you get $8,400 per student. Compare that to the state average for FY05, the latest posting, and we are still $600 per student below state average. The state doesn't count all students, leaves out some sped transportation costs, and any out of district sped placements, which can sometimes cost over $100,000 a student. Yes, we have a couple in that group too. Mendon is being asked to fund less than 22% of the total budget, including the override. The one thing you should conclude from per pupil expenditures, no matter how you calculate them, is we run a tight ship, and provide a pretty good value for the buck. We do more with less You can make numbers support any position you want if you put them in the right context, so don't support the override for the schools based solely on a bunch on numbers. Support the override because you want a better school district.
Sorry guys, I'll check in again later, but I have to go to work. You know, gotta pay the taxes!!!
What are the budgets for some of the other local schools compared with their student population?
Ex:Bellingham has 2600 students currently and a proposed budget of 19 million.They have a couple extra buildings then us (overhead) and pay for busing in the budget.
MCAS scores are lower but does money teach the kids or talented teachers?
Not sure if it makes any difference or not but has anyone thought about the fact that we have a new Superintendent starting and that maybe he is a "cash savvy" person and until he starts his job and looks at everything we may not need such drastic override!!
Ok, I’m back for a few minutes. I’ll try to answer what I missed this morning. Questions in quotes.
“the school district got about 200-250 new students a year”
Don’t know where this figure came from. Enrollment has been increasing by around 125 – 150 a year for the last several years..
“I was told that the average classroom size would go up from 18 to 23.”
Class sizes at the elementary level are in the low 20’s, middle school level in the mid-20’s, high school mid to high 20’s. Without the override the elementary will stay the same as there are no new classroom teachers proposed. The middle school will increase to the high 20’s, and high school will increase to the high 20’s – low 30’s. The high school class size varies depending on how the schedule for students lays out. If a student wants to take band it is only offered at one time and will impact which other times other classes can be taken. Therefore you could have one English class at 20 and another at 30. Here is a better comparison for the enrollment at Nipmuc, we are graduating a senior class of 150 this June, and will bring in an incoming 8th grade class of 230. With new students also moving into the two towns we expect a minimum of 100 new students above this year’s enrollment. We are looking for three subject teachers at Nipmuc.
Bottom line folks, if the override is approved the district will be able to maintain current class sizes and meet expectations we should be meeting. If the override is rejected we will have increased class sizes, and will not meet those expectations. Spin the numbers anyway you want, this is it in a nutshell.
FYI – Override in Mendon is $421,044 as the Mendon FinCom informed me they were recommending funding an additional $75,000 within the existing levy. The tax impact will be $191 for a house valued at $400,000.
Question for Jay:
How many teachers do you plan to hire?
Assuming an average starting wage of $45,000 with benefits (generous) a million dollars would hire 22 new instructors. Using your desired class size of 20 that would cover 440 additional students or 4 times the students you expect next year.
What are we missing here? Please do the math for us. Thanks
HG
HG,
Didn't I send you a list of all new hires along with the budget sheets back in March? The are all listed there. New hires amount to $756,712 for 11 full time, 3 part time, and 7 added time, and $1,312,737 cover the fixed cost increases, contracts, insurance, transportation, etc. We will have a handout tomorrow night highlighting everything.
You did send some numbers in March but not the workbook. We did get your email today with the handout and the workbook. Thanks.
HG
One point on the enrollment. So you drop 150 to the graduation and pick up 230 at grade 8, however how many do you lose when the 8th grade becomes grade 9? I am sure some must go off to private HS, and also BVT. So really you should look at what grade 9 (incoming) looks like as well.
Good point, we do lose some to either private school or BVT. I don't have that number, we probably won't until next fall. But I can tell you last year coming into the current year we dropped 15, the previous year we dropped 16, and the year before that we dropped 5. How many of those actually left and were offset by new move-ins, I don't know, but I guess there is a pattern here of around 15?
If Bellingham has a budget of 19 million(rounded up) for 2600 students, how is Mendon-Upton running a "tight" ship at 2900 students at 24.4 million? They also maintain 7 Buildings.
A meeting when Sinco De Mayo falls on a Friday?
Ese hedores ! ¿Podemos traer la corona?
Riff, we hope that was clean Spanish!
HG
The Milford daily did not report on the Upton vote last night. I suspect the BVT fashion show is of much greater editorial importance than the school budget. Maybe I am wrong about this premise and maybe it went too late to make the paper but i would be interested to see how our partners in all this viewed the proposal.
I believe it passed in Upton. They did not finish their meeting last night and it will resume on Tuesday.
Upton passed the override in their town meeting last night according to WMRC.
Good point on the MDN. It can only get worse now that they will be owned by an outfit in Illinois. That is the death knell for "Community Papers". Just look at what happened at the Woonsocket Call.
Tough to compare Bellingham to a Regional. First off, some of the maintenance costs may be borne by other departments, and as well as Medical and Insurance costs do not count in the 19M. Regions have to carry the Medical, Dental, Insurance costs, as well as certain maintenance of Regional District buildings, so to say that you get a better bang from Bellingham would be wrong. I bet if you factored just the benefit allocation you would easily up their number to at least 2M higher. This is not to say that MURSD is efficient with their management/admin etc. but it is important to note this when doing the comparison.....
I think given the economic times, the energy costs etc, and already an overburdened tax base, any override will be a tough sell. Naturally Upton maybe wants to pressure Mendon into doing it their way, but to be fair, sometimes you have to take a pass, and live with what you have, which includea a substantial increase in Chapter 70 funds.
Some time back NPR reported on real estate values in San Jose that were directly related to SAT scores from that school district (if I remember right it was about $25,000 per SAT point). All realtors give prospective buyers in Mendon recent MCAS results. By under funding our school, and assuming we will get lower MCAS scores, we will indirectly tax every one in both Mendon and Upton by reducing the attractiveness of both towns, and reducing real estate values. This may be slightly offset by reduced tax, and reduced assessed value, but a $10,000 impact on our house prices is easily offset by saving $200 per year over 50 years!!!!!
Interestingly this also means that the a NO vote in one town could be seen as imposing a loss in real estate value on residents of the other town that may vote YES. An interesting form of taxation without representation.
I would like to applaud all who read and contribute to the Mendon blogs. It is nice to see stirrings of real debate, but what we really need is a longer term plan for this town that lays out where we want to be an options to get there. This would make the costs of postponing decisions easier to understand, and allow us (you) to make informed decisions, not vote on intuition about how an issue fits into the bigger picture.
Mark Thirsk
All the local towns are struggling with growth issues. What are our state and fed reps doing?
Does MCAS and No Child Left Behind really help our children's education? If so, are they being funded properly.
The answer should not always be to get more taxes locally. The answer should be to get some of the state and federal taxes we pay to cover our needs.
If we are "struggling with growth issues" then why do some town officials want more of it? It is reported that one of our selectmen told the ZBA that Mendon needs to grow. Is this true and if so, why?It doesn't make sense.
As for the connection between money and MCAS, the key word is "assumption." Good teaching is not necessarily related to money.
My point was that MCAS and No Child Left Behind are your typical underfunded feel good bureaucracies.
We could cut everyones taxes by eliminating these useless programs. Apparently, they work well in selling homes though.
Let communities teach their children.
A Very Good Point!
"Let the communities teach their children," is what lead to those programs. The figures in article are irresponsible because they do not take into consideration what you so bravely asked Jay to comment on. To just throw that simple math out there is misleading because it does not take into consideration contract issues, special needs expenses, etc. Without this increase our students will all write like Riff Raff. Do we want that or something better for our children!
Anonymous said...
"Let the communities teach their children,"
Those simple numbers come from the State, take it up with them.
The school committee should have taken contracts into consideration when they signed them, not come back to the well in year 3 for more money to cover the nut.
Special Needs costs are out of control in this system. Go to the State site and check it out.
Your elitist insult to one of our posters is a clear indication of your background and agenda.
You come to this blog with the same old tired scare words. "The children will suffer." Can It! We have heard that for 25 years.
If you want something better than above average, send your children to private school. They will get a better grounding in looking down their noses there.
Hanging Gardens
My concern is not that the students will be writing like me but thinking like you.
Government programs are never successful.
Please explain how MCAS and NO Child Left Behind have improved the education of our youth?
(Please make sure you answer in complete sentences and spelling counts.)
Oh my, did I hit a soft spot HG!
The one thing I agree with Riff about is that government programs rarely work. I believe MCAS was designed to make the school system more accountable about what is taught and the method the school systems use to teach. I think MCAS has forced the schools to get back to teaching the three Rs and at a standard that is at acceptable grade levels.
As for the way I think Riff, like your evaluation of Mendon issues, you need more than just 50 words on a blog to draw a better conclusion. You just can't continue to speak with bits of information and expect to sound informed.
As for HG's comments on my choice to educate my children, I will continue to place high demands on the school district so I get the education I think the taxpayer is paying for rather than just settling as you suggest I do. Additionally, the state has lots of numbers and depending how you spin them,you or I can make them say anything. I have seen your arguments HG, and the latest is a bad one. Come up with a better one and make us all proud. Your argument that we are out of control helping children with educational issues is also disturbing. What do you suggest, lock them in the basement. We can't spend enough to help these kids.
P.S. Riff it is not the spelling or sentence structure that scares me it is your thought process and how infomation is reasoned.
We can agree to disagree on MCAS. I believe it forces to teach to a test.I also believe it is underfunded. Additionally, the federal government(NCLB)has no business getting involved in education.
For the most part, I am asking questions about what is happening.
If my questions concern you or my thought processes disturb you...good.
"When all men think alike, no one thinks very much"
Anonymous said...
“The one thing I agree with Riff about is that government programs rarely work”
Who do you think runs the schools? The government. Those very same folks who pay $900 for a toilet seat and can't get a sandwich into a devastated city for 3 days. Do you think they are any better at spending your money on education? Guess again.
Anonymous said...
“As for HG's comments on my choice to educate my children, I will continue to place high demands on the school district…”
What you are really advocating is a blank check for an educational bureaucracy that has no rival in history. Job #1 for this bureaucracy is preservation and expansion of itself and 100% employment for it’s minions. Educating children comes in a distant third.
We will agree that MCAS has put pressure on the system to focus on their real job but it is too little too late. Although MCAS was designed to test teacher performance many of the teachers transfer their stress to their students come test time in a shameless effort to boost scores.
The problems in “public” education are systemic and deep rooted. Just throwing another million bucks at our school system will not accomplish anything other than encouraging a grab for another million bucks next time.
Our ballot vote will be NO.
HG
How can Riff be so against government programs like "No Child Left Behind" and MCAS but in the next breath state the problem is not funded properly. Why do you think it is not funded correctly Riff? You also state that MCAS teaches to a test. Well, if it is the basics being tested I don't see your point Riff. Are you saying they don't need to be tested on the basics? HG has a better argument against the MCAS when HG argues that there is a tremendous amount of stress passed onto the students by the administration and teachers. Maybe that is something to focus on.
Riff, I should ask you if you prefer to be called Riff, Riff Raff, of Raff.
By the way Riff, do they still teach, "sticks and stones will break my bones but names will never hurt me." Keep them coming!
HG said
Our ballot vote will be NO.
AND our will be YES
Public Safety Commando, you have cancelled us out... Gee, this is just like being married!
HG
The government has the habit of requiring something but not compensating for it. My preference would be that they don't require MCAS in the first place. If they do require it they should fully fund it. Sometimes learning boils down to opportunity, environment and genetics. (Does MCAS account for that?)
The children get tested all the time on their knowledge. I question if the yearly testing thing is usefull. Why bother with grades then?
I have no preference what you call me.It's only a way so I can be addressed directly as opposed to "anonymous at 4:25 said".
Thanks for joining the debate.
They don't teach the sticks and stones thing anymore.
(It's not on the MCAS test)
Riff Raff, I for one have enjoyed your comments, observations and questions you put forth on the blogs. Keep it up. Makes for MUCH livelier discussions!
Riff i am glad you allow me the time. Its enjoyable!
What i am having a tough time with now is understanding what you mean by "tested all the time". They normally get tested only to see what they have learned during a particular lesson plan. The MCAS is much different because it assures us that the students are progressing with the fundamentals with at least a minimal level. Surely you want the kids to have at least that. How else do you propose we find out how our children are learning compared with others in the same age group or whether our teachers are really teaching/performing. Before MCAS we had no gauge to measure the teacher's performance. You still have not explained "underfunding". And lastly, when you said opportunity and environment you forgot potential. It is all about allowing for the child's potential. You don't really believe the "genetics" element because then you get into "if you were born to stupid you will remain stupid," and that is just down right ignorance speaking.
I will give you the last word on this because we seem to be going around and around. Knowing HG as I do, HG will also have something to say. As for me I rather move on to other topics.
This issue will remain on the radar screen at least until the ballot vote.
Anonymous, you should pick a pen name so we know you when you comment.
Riff, we talk about your posts all the time but we never know what gender to use. If you feel up to it you could give us a hint. Our guesses are evenly split male/female.
Great give and take here everyone. It makes maintaining the blog worth it.
HG
How about you do the same HG.
I know the gender of Riff Raff does anyone remember Pat from Saturday night live??.
Just kidding Riff
Anonymous said...
How about you do the same HG.
We use the plural because it's true. As for the question of gender, that would depend of who is on top at that moment.
HG
An observation for anonymous who states that across the board testing was absent prior to MCAS. Surely you remember the Iowa and California standardized tests which were given to all grades beginning in the third grade to measure each student's and the community's proficiency in all areas across the nation. Standardized testing has just taken on a new spin in the form of MCAS, and so far, I don't see that it is any more effective.
Where in my comment was it said that "across the board testing was absent prior to MCAS?" Look at the comment and then reply to what was exactly said. There was never the implication that you have suggested. Hey spinster, how were your standardized scores in reading comprehension?
P.s. to my last comment to "Spinster," you probably did not see the effectiveness of the MCAS exams because you were probably not understanding the results or reading it correctly!
Search the internet for "MCAS funding" and "NO Child Left Behind funding".Several articles concerning both. The literary specialists we want to hire with the over ride were eliminated as a result of state cuts.
I believe genetics does play a part.That does not infer that they can't be taught. It does infer that they will need more help. If you think that is ignorant, oh well.(Maybe it is my genetics)
I did well on the CAT testing when I was younger.(and a better speller)
HG,
Who amonst you thinks I am male and who thinks I am female?
Sorry, typo. .
Meant amongst
Riff
The men think your a woman and the woman thinks your a man. Go figure!
HG
One of you is right.
Riff my spelling has not always been my strong point. I will continue to work on it. With that said, you would be surprised how far it has taken me and my elite fanny so far. Don't you agree HG?
As for your CAT score, "did well" tells me nothing, much like most of what you have posted. You still reason in a way I can't understand. I can find contradictions from one comment you make to your next.
I think I am back to the beginning with you on this issue so I am moving on to other issues. At the very least, I am moving on to comments by other authors.
As a side note, I personally don't care if you are male or female. I enjoyed the debate. Oh! FYI - You don't leave language within parenthesis just hanging outside the sentence. You live in a glass house don't you?
1.So much for giving me the last word.
2.The spelling comment was directed at myself not you.
3.My lowest California Achievement score(math) was equivalent to a senior in high school when I took it.(3rd or 4th grade is when I took it I think)
4.Thanks for the English lesson. I consider blogs to be a conversation not a thesis. You are critical just for the sake of being critical.
5. You appear to be very angry for some reason.I am not your enemy. We just have a difference of opinion. I just want less government and more personal freedom.
Anonymous, you are an elitist ass (not lack of reading comprehension, just a paraphrasing of your "elite fanny"). The point was that the tools have always existed as well as the means to measure their effectiveness. These tools were not put into a comprehensive plan to further the education of the children. Yet when charter schools which intend to cater to educating our children in areas in which our country is lagging behing (i.e. math, science), local school systems challenge them in court because it will take away monies from their system. If they were doing their jobs effectively, there would be no need for such schools. As a side note, you say you are moving on to other issues, but you keep returning to "enlighten" the ignorant. And by the way, I was 98th percentile.
The Spinster
Hey Spinster, Thanks, you get it!
HG
Spinster, I didn't say I was finished with you, just Riff. Oh, congrats on those scores!
What is with the obsession on this blog with the word "elitist"?!?!
You would prefer effete snob, perhaps? Spinster
Riff, you are gaining quite a following on these blogs.
I actually am not "spinster" who asked the question, just one of the many anonymous readers out here. I just wonder what the obsession is with such titles as "elitist" and "effete snob" which seem to keep popping up in replies. Where do you come up with these characterizations of people from reading one or two posts on a blog?
I actually am not "spinster" who asked the question, just one of the many anonymous readers out here. I just wonder what the obsession is with such titles as "elitist" and "effete snob" which seem to keep popping up in replies. Where do you come up with these characterizations of people from reading one or two posts on a blog?
http://www.cnn.com/2006/EDUCATION/05/12/teacher.quality.ap/index.html
Or click on www.CNN.com and look for "Every Single State Fails Teacher Test". Ten states,DC, and Puerto Rico could lose fed funding.
We are one of the twelve states that are under review and haven't been rated yet.
Great info Riff! Now this is the kind of stuff I was talking about earlier! Something we can all sink our teeth into. As for those wondering about the obsession or characterizations of people ask your host HG. He called me an elitist a number of comments back.
I was called one as well.
I guess you and I are elitists because he can't steer us the way he tries to steer everyone else on the way HG views the issues! HG actually used "Can It" with me. I haven't heard that since my father said it back in the fifties! It didn't work then and it won't work now!
Hey "can it"
Your Dad was trying to tell you something. You Don't Get It!
This thread is about the school override. We said we were against it and why. Try to stay on topic.
Your turn.
HG
PS: We miss the Spinster and the Elitist
To "I am not spinster", just read the posts preceding those comments and you'll have your answer. Some just can't resist trying to belittle others to prove their own superiority. You'll notice he/she never mentioned their scores.
Maybe because those tests were taken 40+ years ago! If you believe Spinster can remember them you probably also believe everything Spinster writes. 98%, come on! Why didn't you just make it 100%! HG what was your score?
What did Spinster say that you think is incorrect? Spinster's posts are pretty articulate so we will take (her) at her word on the 98%.
HG
PS: We never took those tests, the nuns just beat us into academic excellence.
Spinster, could you please tell me more about how you see the MCAS as not being a comprehensive plan to further education. I see the stress being passed onto the students as an issue but fail to see where the MCAS has not heightenned the awareness of the basics. After all we are at least talking about it. Everyone is concerned now with the MCAS basics/results. Would you agree there is much more awareness now then when you or I took the CATs?
I agree that there is certainly much more awareness because of these tests, but not for the reasons the state hopes. Most of the awareness seems centered around the stress it causes students, parents and teachers, and unfortunately, as it became a graduation criterion as of 2003, the attempts to have the tests modified for certain groups (i.e. vocational students), or have a sliding scale applied for certain students, or the issuing of "second tier" diplomas. I suggest that people are more concerned with the results for the wrong reasons, not that the children are truly "better" educated than they were twelve years ago. Teaching takes motivated and stimulating educators, and though there will always be those who are simply there to pick up their paychecks, or waiting for a "better" job opportunity, the system has many of these educators who inspire their students to think and to learn. Preparation for these test channel the plan to performing to rigid criteria that will be in the testing material, and doesn't provide the opportunity to actually explore the material, question it, anylize it or relate it to other aspects of their curriculum or their lives.
And to anonymous who can't remember 40+ years ago, sorry for your pre-mature memory loss.
Do you suggest that our teaching methods could learn from a more Montessori method of learning rather than the more structured environment?
Not suggesting that at all, though utilizing more creative approaches to learning and teaching is usually beneficial. The MCAS structure as it is tends to hamstring teachers in their methods of teaching and leaves little room for creativity. I would prefer to see monies spent on good teachers with the resources to teach their classes. Of course testing should occur, but these tests (MCAS) leave little room for children who are learning or socially disabled, or who are (not to offend anyone), of less than average intelligence. While special programs exist and in some cases are state mandated, the state funds these programs less and less as the years go by, and the communities are left with the expense. Each community should have more flexibility on how education monies are spent, considering that they account for a huge slice of the tax revenue pie. Children should certainly be proficient in the fundamentals of reading, writing, math and sciences. But the first bastion of a child's education is his/her home. Parents need to do their job as well, and not look to the schools to instill discipline, ethics, morals etc. Teachers can reinforce these lessons, but it is not their job to raise children to be good and productive human beings, it is their parents'.
Ah ha! your a teacher blaming the parents! Before you support the writer as articulate HG, find out where the writer is going! This is a teacher and the rest of us are just bad parents!
Let me begin by telling you that when my kids were in school they did their homework first after school. They were straight A students and all three are doing well in college (one in grad school). But that was not because of you Ms Teacher! That was because I paid for tutors when they were not getting the help they needed in school and it was because I insisted on the things from the district that they were suppose to get but were not! Maybe because you were left to huggy feely your way through teaching! I, like many other taxpayers, are great parents!
If all that you say is true why was it found that our children were being pushed ahead straight through graduation with a 6th grade reading level. Before I go on, you don't teach seventh grade english do you?
The truth of the matter is that parents do not know everything there is to know about educating our children and relied (and paid)on you to teach the children. That is where the name teacher came from!
Another truth of the matter is that the government mandated MCAS and NCLB programs are an aweful mandate but the education system was not cutting it when administrators were left to decide where the funds should be spent. Yes, there is a tremendous amount of stress on the students and parents but that is coming from the school system. They are affraid their flaws will be singled out if MCAS scores are low. Truth be told, the aweful alternative we call MCAS is the only measurement that the taxpayer has to make sure you are doing your job! We could not tell before until a child reached college level and could not do the work. By then, even all that touchie/feelie stuff you insist on as important would not help!
MCAS is only good for one reason, and that is to make sure you are doing your job! Parents out there, go to the DOE website and see what MCAS is all about. It is about bringing back accountability to the educational system. It is about providing us parents with a report card on our school system.
Next time just come out and tell us your a teacher! It is an honorable profession, don't be ashamed!
Oh I almost forgot! I did not ask you to raise my children and I don't think most [98%:)] parents/taxpayers are asking that. You confuse teaching/educating our children with raising. "Raising" is the stuff that occurs the other 80% of the time! Teaching is what you are suppose to do that 20% of the week we entrust them to you!
Elitist, I applaud you for your dedication to the education of your children. And as I said, the first responsibility for educating children begins in their own home.
But once again, you make assumptions and run with them. No, I am not a teacher. And no, I do not advocate a "touchy-feely" approach to education. Perhaps you should look into a reading comprehension course.
I agree that the public education system was not making the grade across the board in Massachusetts, but, while the MCAS has the power to withhold a high school diploma from a student, I have yet to learn of any teacher who has been fired because of poor MCAS preparation resulting in students who cannot pass the test. The tests are like any other mandatory criteria. The children are trained to pass THIS test. I still prefer that the monies spent be put into GOOD teachers and resources to teach, and to give administrations and school boards the autonomy to put effective teachers and curriculum into play and to dispose of those people and programs that do not make the grade.
My reading comprehension is just fine. What you need to realize is that not too long ago the administrators and school boards were not performing.
I believe in the school system we have here in the district and I believe the school board is a very good one, but many communities need the MCAS because they are not as fortunate as we are.
What amazes me though is how you began to shift the attention to the fault of the parent. It is always about how the parents don't do enough. The real problem is that these "professionals" are feeling a little stressed and that is not good for them if our MCAS report card comes back less than it did the year prior. If the student is being taught to the test and the test is about the basics I am for the test. If you want me to lighten up in my position show me better results in the communities that are failing. And never, never tell me that the administrators would do a better job with a free hand. We all witnessed how that ended up back in the eighties!
As good as we have it here, when my children attended school here I had to sometimes step in where I felt there was not enough being taught, when there was no homework being sent home, and when I was not getting corrected papers back from the teacher. Don't begin to tell me that an administrator should have an open checkbook with my tax dollars and leave me with nothing to gauge how well they are performing. It is all about performance and accountability "teach."
Your reading comprehension does seem to be a problem, or you are being deliberately obtuse. There was no blame of parents for this system, and no one suggested an open checkbook for the administration. The point was to strive for a system that has all facets working together to raise the standard of education for our children to a higher level, not to channel them all into achieving a "minimal" standard.
Utopia? Won't happen and not because you and I don't try. I am just afraid it won't happen. keep reaching though, if you and I stop we will ever get a better school.
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