NAACP Fights To Keep Kids Trapped in Failing Schools

Trouble wrote:

Sheesh, Neptune, it's not that difficult. But it does take some funding.

All the funding on the planet will never buy personal drive and ambition. Until students find that within themselves, throwing money at them is pure waste.

And that is the crux of the matter. It doesn't matter where you come from, poor inner city or poor rural, if you simply refuse to accept those limitations you can achieve much more for yourself. Three are countless success stories everywhere. Sure it may take longer, involve huge sacrifices, but in the end your accomplishments are rich reward. No matter what some may wish to believe that everyone ought to get equal opportunity, that is BS. It just is not going to happen that way no matter how much money you throw at the schools. The problem is in parents either not setting a good example, and that may be nothing more than them saying, "If you want something work for it", or "Never give up, you can do anything if you put your mind to it".

2wlady wrote: Schools can turn around in spite of the kids. But it can be a quite drastic change for teachers and students.

I believe it needs to be done on a school-by-school basis, because each school has a different mix of students.

In my albeit limited experience with Jr. Achievement, I've seen schools 95% Hispanic with lots of gang parents, 90% white school, with mid- to high-middle class income, but 10% apartment, lower income students, etc. They each have a different demographic that should be customized.

And I'm not saying every school will be successful, but taking New York City, there are so many differences in the schools that one policy cannot work for each school.

I am not sure what your point is WRT the op but it appears that NY is not taking a cookie cutter approach. At least they are trying. Fill in the definition for insanity here__________.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/14/nyreg ... hools.html


........."After a suit led to the reversal of 19 approved school closings last year, the city has had to take great care in carrying out its moves, and said it had planned consultations with local leaders before these plans were announced. "................."The moves will still be subject to public hearings at each location, as well as a vote by the Panel for Educational Policy, a mayor-controlled body, in March. "

OT Just saw the movie "Pursuit of Happyness", it is one of those success stories.

Rockdoc Franz wrote:

Trouble wrote:

Sheesh, Neptune, it's not that difficult. But it does take some funding.

All the funding on the planet will never buy personal drive and ambition. Until students find that within themselves, throwing money at them is pure waste.

And that is the crux of the matter. It doesn't matter where you come from, poor inner city or poor rural, if you simply refuse to accept those limitations you can achieve much more for yourself. Three are countless success stories everywhere. Sure it may take longer, involve huge sacrifices, but in the end your accomplishments are rich reward. No matter what some may wish to believe that everyone ought to get equal opportunity, that is BS. It just is not going to happen that way no matter how much money you throw at the schools. The problem is in parents either not setting a good example, and that may be nothing more than them saying, "If you want something work for it", or "Never give up, you can do anything if you put your mind to it".

Schools aren't just made of money and budgets.

Schools are made up of teachers, students and parents. If any one of those three fail to perform their responsibilities, the school will fail.

Totally agree, Nobody. The parents have to be involved. This was proven years ago when a school in Mississippi turned itself around, with the help of admin., teachers AND parents, with true parental involvement.

this was in an article in Parade magazine years ago. The participants spent the entire summer working on change. They said there were tears and anger but they were all going for a common goal and worked through it. Yes, it took money because the teachers were paid for working that summer.

Hire Morgan Freeman! Problem solved.

Very helpful, Steve-o.