Tulsa Schools and New Standardized Testing & Common Core

[heironymouspasparagus]

Very well said, especially the last paragraph.

In conversations with teachers, they feel besieged and trapped. The legislation required them to teach in ways inconsistent with logic, which you pointed out. They feel in their hearts that the legislature, the governors office and school boards are populated with idealogues who want the system to fail and be privatized. True or not, its a conspiratorial mindset that seems to be borne out by actions and supported by the general public.

There is no target more popular for criticism than public schools, yet few private schools would do much better with the students the public schools have to instruct.

It is a siege.  It is a plan to cause failure of public schools - they talk about it in the RWRE (idealogue) 'code' and legislative actions.  Example; cut $200+ million from public education, while giving $250+ million subsidies to oil for fracking, etc...


Private schools can kick out the ones who bring down the curve - and they do!  (Church On the Move school has done so to 3 kids I know.)

[Gaspar]

It is a siege.  It is a plan to cause failure of public schools - they talk about it in the RWRE (idealogue) 'code' and legislative actions.  Example; cut $200+ million from public education, while giving $250+ million subsidies to oil for fracking, etc...


Private schools can kick out the ones who bring down the curve - and they do!  (Church On the Move school has done so to 3 kids I know.)

So why not a voucher system like the one in Wisconsin. It decreases class size, increases private options, creates competitive pressure for excellence, and gives poor and minority students more opportunity. The program has now gone statewide after booming success for both public and private schools in several cities.  If you really want to improve education, you would give parents choices, remove politics, and encourage competitive pressures.  

Otherwise it's just a political game played by teachers unions and the politicians.  The kids are just pawns.

[swake]

So why not a voucher system like the one in Wisconsin. It decreases class size, increases private options, and creates competitive pressure for excellence. The program has now gone statewide after booming success for both public and private schools in several cities.  If you really want to improve education, you would give parents choices, remove politics, and encourage competitive pressures. 

Otherwise it's just a political game played by teachers unions and the politicians.  The kids are just pawns.

Because a huge part of the cost of public schools are disabled children being mainstreamed and less advantaged kids. Teaching your child doesn't cost the average cost of education in the state. Not even close.

[heironymouspasparagus]

So why not a voucher system like the one in Wisconsin. It decreases class size, increases private options, creates competitive pressure for excellence, and gives poor and minority students more opportunity. The program has now gone statewide after booming success for both public and private schools in several cities.  If you really want to improve education, you would give parents choices, remove politics, and encourage competitive pressures.  

Otherwise it's just a political game played by teachers unions and the politicians.  The kids are just pawns.

Because of part two of that post.  You ignored the second line completely.  IF a voucher system required the private schools to take all the kids in a district - like public schools are, then I might be in favor of a voucher.  Until then, there is WAY too much 'cherry-picking' going on for students as it is.  Leads to an "intellectual inbreeding" situation that is NOT healthy for our society.

[Gaspar]

Because a huge part of the cost of public schools are disabled children being mainstreamed and less advantaged kids. Teaching your child doesn't cost the average cost of education in the state. Not even close.

I would be interested to see what those numbers and costs are.  I believe that about 13% of Oklahoma students are considered to have some learning disability, and our current expenditure is $9,075 per student ($3,000 per student more than I am paying for a private school).  

Interestingly enough, one of the subjects covered at all three private schools we investigated was learning disabilities, and each offer programs, but none of them charge any extra tuition for them. I can't help but think that for under-advantaged kids having the option to choose a better education, would be. . .well. . .better?

Anywhoo, carry on.  We're done with the public system and I'll continue to push for the rights of parents to improve their kid's educations through choice.

[RecycleMichael]

 ... our current expenditure is $9,075 per student ($3,000 per student more than I am paying for a private school).  

You are only paying $6,000 a year? The good private schools are more expensive.

Do you send you kids to some sort of combination welding/beauty school?

[swake]

I would be interested to see what those numbers and costs are.  I believe that about 13% of Oklahoma students are considered to have some learning disability, and our current expenditure is $9,075 per student ($3,000 per student more than I am paying for a private school).  

Interestingly enough, one of the subjects covered at all three private schools we investigated was learning disabilities, and each offer programs, but none of them charge any extra tuition for them. I can't help but think that for under-advantaged kids having the option to choose a better education, would be. . .well. . .better?

Anywhoo, carry on.  We're done with the public system and I'll continue to push for the rights of parents to improve their kid's educations through choice.

The only one I know that cheap is Victory.

Seriously, you aren't sending your kids to that cult you?

You understand they reject parts of basic math, teach young earth creationism and as an added bonus cover up child rape? Right?  That's not an education, it's indoctrination.

[nathanm]

Anywhoo, carry on.  We're done with the public system and I'll continue to push for the rights of parents to improve their kid's educations through choice.

Are school boards not elected in this state?

[Gaspar]

The only one I know that cheap is Victory.

Seriously, you aren't sending your kids to that cult you?

You understand they reject parts of basic math, teach young earth creationism and as an added bonus cover up child rape? Right?  That's not an education, it's indoctrination.

School of St. Mary.  It would be less if we were Catholic.  Excellent program and facility.  We also looked at Marquette.  It's actually just slightly under $6K.

[Gaspar]

Are school boards not elected in this state?

Yes.  So are presidents but we still seem to be forced into things that we don't want.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/mar/28/obama-health-law-fails-gain-support-poll/

I was talking about individual choice.  Not group choice.  I know it's confusing.

[nathanm]

I was talking about individual choice.  Not group choice.  I know it's confusing.

There go those goalposts again. They move so much.

[Gaspar]

There go those goalposts again. They move so much.

Not really.  I think it's rather clear that when someone talks about a parent choosing their child's school, they are talking about making an individual choice, not casting a ballot.

[swake]

School of St. Mary.  It would be less if we were Catholic.  Excellent program and facility.  We also looked at Marquette.  It's actually just slightly under $6K.

Ok, much better. I know kids that have gone there and done very well. Good place.

[Gaspar]

Ok, much better. I know kids that have gone there and done very well. Good place.

I know I'm a geek, but when I saw the computer lab my heart skipped a beat.  They have amazing top of the line equipment, and start teaching very basic programming, Office suite, Photoshop, and vector based design programs in 4th grade.  They will also start teaching 3D modeling with SketchUp and VUE, and perhaps even some 3D printing next year thanks to a new parent volunteer  .

[Conan71]

Because of part two of that post.  You ignored the second line completely.  IF a voucher system required the private schools to take all the kids in a district - like public schools are, then I might be in favor of a voucher.  Until then, there is WAY too much 'cherry-picking' going on for students as it is.  Leads to an "intellectual inbreeding" situation that is NOT healthy for our society.

At the same time, you don't want the education of the brightest being disrupted or dumbed down by forcing them to sit through remedial instruction just to keep it "fair".