tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762201600804179432.post469165083519883604..comments2023-12-15T07:51:27.673-08:00Comments on Betrayed - Why Public Education Is Failing: School district excludes feedback from parents, teachersLaurie H. Rogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18367210923946752695noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762201600804179432.post-44112569324556204712010-01-04T13:49:23.690-08:002010-01-04T13:49:23.690-08:00http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/south_king/ech/news/40...http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/south_king/ech/news/40577383.html<br /><br />White River is having the same difficulties with their alternative programs as the rest of the state - Collins Cooperative services four districts and has a 10% graduation rate. <br /><br />The task force that made the recommendations (continuing academic probation) included three new superintendents (Nelson, Mendoza, and Lockyer).<br /><br />I believe there are three things that have not been addressed by your districts. For one, they are headed toward insolvency, that is in part why they chose to start their own cooperative. In doing so, they ignored or in their ignorance chose to use the same curriculum that was responsible for failing those students. The fact White River has such an ad hoc math program shows students and teachers are struggling to find some mode of success. In alternative programs, students are placed on independent contracts, having to learn the same material with little or no assistance from certificed teachers. You would be better off looking for a home-school program. Collins is not a credible program, but these districts cannot afford better alternatives. <br /><br />In my district, the Principal started its alternative program - it has a 5% graduation rate. Most of the students don't make it past four months. This district is one of three in your state that will be insolvent within two years. They purchased 80 acres of undevelopable land for 10 times its assessed value in a pyramid scheme. These idiots cannot be prosecuted? That's what I think of your justice system, there is none.kprugmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02126184111625382040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762201600804179432.post-85909619321167494032010-01-04T12:07:51.680-08:002010-01-04T12:07:51.680-08:00Kim, I found out some information for you.
Sumner...Kim, I found out some information for you.<br /><br />Sumner School District uses Investigations in Number, Data and Space, a reform/discovery program that is weak on basic skills. In middle school, they use MathThematics and in high school, they use Glencoe for Algebra I and Geometry, and Holt for Algebra II. They JUST adopted Investigations and are considering changing the middle school program. This is an odd mix of curricula – reform in elementary and traditional in high school. Since Investigations is a recent adoption, I suspect the district is still committed to discovery learning.<br /><br />In Enumclaw, they are going through a K-12 math adoption. I like that they’ve reviewed the entire K-12 program at once. I wish all districts did it this way. Holt was recommended for middle and high school. Math Expressions and Everyday Math is used in elementary, but this is under review, according to the Web site. My feeling is – from the recent recommendation of Holt – that this district is perhaps moving toward a more traditional approach. You will want to find out if the board approves Holt.<br /><br />In White River, they use Bridges for elementary school. The superintendent told me Bridges has been “tremendously successful” for the students, and the curriculum person told me he disagrees with the state assessment of Bridges (which is that it’s inadequate). The superintendent said Bridges combines inquiry with a “strong computational base,” but this is not my understanding of that program. Even Spokane – a longtime supporter of reform/discovery – kicked out Bridges. At any rate, it looks like Bridges won’t be leaving White River any time soon. The middle school program is “Connected Math,” a weak reform/discovery program. The superintendent said there might be a change in middle school. The curriculum person said high schools use an older version of Holt Algebra/Geometry/Algebra II, plus Glencoe for calculus. He said there are plans to look at high school, however, and he indicated that the district is moving toward a “balance” between discovery and direct instruction. Since they like Bridges, I would worry about where the high school adoption would go.<br /><br />If I were you, I might look more at Enumclaw, then, but please do speak with the districts’ curriculum coordinators and find out if your impression is the same as mine.<br /><br />I hope this is helpful. If you need something else, let me know.Laurie H. Rogershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18367210923946752695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762201600804179432.post-73974478135968938232010-01-01T20:26:19.164-08:002010-01-01T20:26:19.164-08:00Discovering algebra is another elitist curriculum ...Discovering algebra is another elitist curriculum with no signicant studies to support that it works for students. It relies heavily on graphing calculators. I don't recommend it for at-risk students. A better approach with the far below basic child is using Marcy Cook materials, since these materials were developed using the primary modality of language learners, which is speaking. Language learners have difficulty comprehending with the other modalities: listening, writing, and reading. The teaching of primary mathematics should be treated like a language, not as it is now content-driven. The authors of Singapore understood the nature of their students and the problem. More than half of Singapore students are English language learners. The problem is similiar here to ours in the states.kprugmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02126184111625382040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762201600804179432.post-81500981110862728162009-12-29T14:07:15.819-08:002009-12-29T14:07:15.819-08:00Hello Laurie, sorry for the late reply - the Chris...Hello Laurie, sorry for the late reply - the Christmas busy-ness distracted me. I hope you enjoyed yours this year. :)<br /><br />Ladders is being taught in the Buckley WA school district, and your offer to find some info on it is *greatly* appreciated! I asked the principal, who spent 20 minutes explaining it to me, and left still not knowing a thing about it. I think I need a new set of questions, because the 'teach-speak' isn't particularly enlightening for us dim parents, lol.<br /><br />We're looking for homes in Pierce County, in the Enumclaw/Buckley area predominantly, but also in Bonney Lake. If you happen to know if any of these districts are currently infamous, please let me know. I'm appreciative of any little crumb of info you can share :)<br /><br />bbl, and thank you again!Kimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03005529288878212308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762201600804179432.post-20375255682976522312009-12-22T20:18:53.337-08:002009-12-22T20:18:53.337-08:00Kim, if you tell me which school district you'...Kim, if you tell me which school district you're moving to, and which grade you're talking about, I'll try to find out something about the math curriculum for you.Laurie H. Rogershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18367210923946752695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762201600804179432.post-61585492304882525712009-12-22T18:59:45.900-08:002009-12-22T18:59:45.900-08:00Laurie, thank you for trying so hard to fix our sc...Laurie, thank you for trying so hard to fix our school system. What a huge mountain you have chosen to climb. I'm a totally confused parent having a very hard time deciphering what a good curriculum even looks like anymore. We're attempting to move to another school district and when I asked about the math program I was told it was Ladders, which is one I haven't even heard of before. Do you know what it is?Kimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03005529288878212308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762201600804179432.post-37584784901154211742009-12-17T17:12:24.534-08:002009-12-17T17:12:24.534-08:00I'm 15 years old and I am so fed up with the m...I'm 15 years old and I am so fed up with the math system. Once there was a word problem where a kid didn't want to do his homework on a subject (I can't remember exactly what the subject was but it doesn't matter)and asks you, the answerer, to do it. I said I wasn't doing his homework. I got full credit. How is that related to math? Another time, I got points docked because my hand writing was too messy. Say something to my english teacher, but don't penalize me in a MATH CLASS!<br />Thank you for your blog. It confirms what I've been thinking for a long time: Spokane public schools sucks, and is only in it for the money.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762201600804179432.post-12356748750614170712009-12-17T13:46:06.544-08:002009-12-17T13:46:06.544-08:00Laurie are you famliar with the Delphi technique? ...Laurie are you famliar with the Delphi technique? It's when they abuse their power and treat you like a complete idiot, while you think you are being treated with respect.<br />Look up Delphi. The Educrats have the technique perfected!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com