And where are we? Have we made any progress? I can't help but reflect back on the year. The cheats from Buist get to stay at Buist while we kick kids out of St. Andrews Math and Science. The parents of Fraser stood up to Dr. Maria Goodloe and she shot them down dismissing their concerns over their school sharing a principal. An OCR complaint regarding the inequities between Charleston Progressive and Buist Academy still remains unresolved. Members of the District 20 community have filed 2 lawsuits against CCSD, yet wait for a court date.
I've heard parents blame parents. I've heard CCSD blame parents and their lack of involvement. I've even read comments from people stating a parent should simply move to get a better education for their child...as if moving is a simple process.
Yet, I still believe we should educate all children no matter what their parents are doing and no matter where these children live. We are handing diplomas to functioning illiterates STILL in the 21st century. It's unacceptable. We are clearly not meeting the educational needs of our children. We want to continue to point the fingers in other directions when we should each be looking in the mirror. We can all be doing more to ensure all children learn to read and write. Education is the key too many of us take for granted. We can be doing more to ensure all children receive an equal education. Unfortunately, we are our own worst enemy. Because too many of us do not believe we can educate all children. We want to make excuses, yet there is NO excuse for allowing a child to reach middle or high school without basic reading and writing skills. As taxpayers, we should be outraged.
All children deserve an accelerated learning environment. School should be exciting and fun. Expectations should be high. Classes should be stimulating and challenging. Yet, our schools are failing our kids. We are chipping away at the children's natural love for learning, year after year...When will it end? When will we all believe all children deserve an equal education?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
5 comments:
Well said. We know what the problem is. Our school leaders are saying they are "targeting" the low end kids, yet they continue to peg them as statistical losses which can be moved or hidden within annual system report cards. Are we really educating these kids or just manipulating "good reports" for politicians and administrators?
Anyway you cut it, CCSD just keeps on "chipping away at the children's natural love for learning" especially those where early childhood support is the answer. We need school leaders who sincerely believe that somewhere among all of our children (I mean here, in this city, living on every street) are future Nobel Prize winners, not just tourist industry workers.
There is some solace to know that downtown parents are also chipping away at the stone cold heart of what is called CCSD. So far CCSD is ahead as it marginalizes parents and empowers political factions that care more about their own personal piece of the pie than about quality public education for the next generation. At least downtown parents are beginning to expose some of CCSD's history of cruelty and meanness to the rest of us. Oh, and there is so much more abuse by CCSD of the public's trust and their shortchanging of our schools to expose in 2008.
Ok, so who is going to run to get on the school board?
That's a great question. We desperately need elected officials who are passionate about education (as opposed to their resumes and egos).
Didn't Nancy Cook and Hilary Douglas run unopposed in the last election? That's pathetic.
The reason the people in Buist aren't getting kicked out is because they are the "smart" ones. Although they do not live downtown they are allowed to stay. Did you know in South Carolina there are765.5 violent crimes a year? 25% of our 8th grade students are at or above proficient reading level and we spend $7,549 per student. In Massachusetts 43% of 8th graders are at or above proficent reading levels and they spend $11,642 a year on students? We waste our money. I mean when Buist got money they re-did all the bathrooms and added self flushing toliets. Did we really need that? Do we really need smartboards in every room? I do not understand. We are punishing the smart people. I mean our intelligence is wasting away.
-Buist Student
Thanks for your comments, Buist student.
I find them interesting...
Please share more...
Post a Comment