Dropout factories: Public schools in which about 40 percent of students drop out.
The Lemon Dance (also known as Pass the Trash and The Turkey Trot): Nicknames for the annual ritual around the country in which schools pass off bad teachers—protected by tenure—to other schools.
Lottery: The completely random method by which children's educational fates are decided every year.
These are just some of the terms I picked up from Waiting For "Superman," the big-buzz documentary that examines public education in America. And, boy, was it an education. The movie paints a bleak picture of substandard schools, inferior teachers and bureaucratic insanity. The title of the movie comes from something Geoffrey Canada, a social activist and educator, reveals early on: As a kid growing up in New York's South Bronx, he kept waiting for Superman to rescue him.
The film was directed by Davis Guggenheim, the genius behind An Inconvenient Truth. It centers around five kids and their parents, who have entered a lottery for a charter school. Four of them live in impoverished urban areas. I expected to see parents who cared, and I did, but was especially touched by how even young children understood that a good education is their ticket to a better life. One fifth-grader in LA, Daisy, already knew which college she wanted to go to, and had contacted them.
Want to know the grim statistics? This movie's got them, galore. Among 30 developed countries, the US ranks 25th in math, and 21st in science. The rays of hope in this film come from the innovators profiled. There's Geoffrey Canada, the man behind the highly successful The Harlem Children's Zone, who tells it like it is ("You can get tenure if you can breathe for two years."). I silently cheered Michelle Rhee, the public schools chancellor of the District of Columbia, who fired more than 200 crappy teachers (and who, sadly, resigned last week). And I wanted to meet Mrs. Burk, the rapping math teacher. Heck, I wanted to take her class.
I saw the movie with a friend; K12, a company specializing in online education for grades K to 12 and a proponent of accessible education, paid for our tickets. My friend and I both walked out of the theater distraught about the state of our schools. "How strong the country is 20 years from now will largely be driven by this issue," Bill Gates says in the movie.
Scary.
Max is in private school, for now. I've been thinking about the potential of an inclusive class, but he's doing so well, it doesn't seem like the right time to switch. Besides, after our state had drastic school budget cuts, they replaced all the aides with hourly-paid ones, and there have been concerns about quality.
In general, the public schools where we live are considered good. Not great, but good. I'm realizing we're lucky—lucky, compared to what the families in the school have to contend with.
How are the schools in your area?
The Lemon Dance (also known as Pass the Trash and The Turkey Trot): Nicknames for the annual ritual around the country in which schools pass off bad teachers—protected by tenure—to other schools.
Lottery: The completely random method by which children's educational fates are decided every year.
These are just some of the terms I picked up from Waiting For "Superman," the big-buzz documentary that examines public education in America. And, boy, was it an education. The movie paints a bleak picture of substandard schools, inferior teachers and bureaucratic insanity. The title of the movie comes from something Geoffrey Canada, a social activist and educator, reveals early on: As a kid growing up in New York's South Bronx, he kept waiting for Superman to rescue him.
The film was directed by Davis Guggenheim, the genius behind An Inconvenient Truth. It centers around five kids and their parents, who have entered a lottery for a charter school. Four of them live in impoverished urban areas. I expected to see parents who cared, and I did, but was especially touched by how even young children understood that a good education is their ticket to a better life. One fifth-grader in LA, Daisy, already knew which college she wanted to go to, and had contacted them.
Want to know the grim statistics? This movie's got them, galore. Among 30 developed countries, the US ranks 25th in math, and 21st in science. The rays of hope in this film come from the innovators profiled. There's Geoffrey Canada, the man behind the highly successful The Harlem Children's Zone, who tells it like it is ("You can get tenure if you can breathe for two years."). I silently cheered Michelle Rhee, the public schools chancellor of the District of Columbia, who fired more than 200 crappy teachers (and who, sadly, resigned last week). And I wanted to meet Mrs. Burk, the rapping math teacher. Heck, I wanted to take her class.
I saw the movie with a friend; K12, a company specializing in online education for grades K to 12 and a proponent of accessible education, paid for our tickets. My friend and I both walked out of the theater distraught about the state of our schools. "How strong the country is 20 years from now will largely be driven by this issue," Bill Gates says in the movie.
Scary.
Max is in private school, for now. I've been thinking about the potential of an inclusive class, but he's doing so well, it doesn't seem like the right time to switch. Besides, after our state had drastic school budget cuts, they replaced all the aides with hourly-paid ones, and there have been concerns about quality.
In general, the public schools where we live are considered good. Not great, but good. I'm realizing we're lucky—lucky, compared to what the families in the school have to contend with.
How are the schools in your area?
Well, I home school. I was worried about it so much that I couldn't sleep, eat, etc. Home schooling is something I never thought I would do until I had a child with special needs. There is a shortage of special education teachers in our area, so they (some school districts) are giving emergency certification to anyone with a degree. They get to start teaching while they get the appropriate credentials for such a job. I am sure the process is a bit more on the up and up than my description, but that's how it goes in a nutshell. I am sure the candidate are scrutinized to a certain degree, but... I think special education is a place for the most passionate, the best trained educators tax money can buy.
ReplyDeleteFor example, a friend of mine, who has a degree in math is teaching in just this manner. She actually went to college to be an accountant, and she never expressed any interest in children, let alone teaching children special or multi-faceted needs. I feel like she is doing it because she simply needed a job. I don't see any passion.
As a parent of a child with many challenges and a background in education myself, I find this unacceptable for my child. So as the saying goes, "If you think you can do a better job, do it yourself!" That is exactly what I am doing.
Our public education worries me for "typical" kids, but it scares me for those with challenges. I mean this statement in general--even based on the data in your post. I am sure that there are wonderful exceptions to that rule, but not in my community.
Mr T MS A i went to a great school area in fact my high school is rainked 2ed in the state and the other one is only a half an hour from my house.
ReplyDeleteIf it had been up to me. I would have already seen this movie. Oprah was taking about it. I think while we are changeing the school system we also need to become more inculsive
I home school as well. Christopher started in Early Childhood and the first year he had a WONDERFUL teacher! She had expectations of the kids and they ALL exceeded their goals. Unfortuantely, she had a stroke driving home from our house one night.
ReplyDeleteThe next year was not so great....2 months into the school year, we STILL did not have a teacher. I had to threaten the district with legal action to get them to get us a teacher (Christopher was homebound). They finally got one, and she and Christopher worked on "Red" the entire school year. That's it.
I realized that I was doing everything else, including therapy. So, now we homeschool and we drive 300 miles a week for therapy.
We had a case against the district, but I had neither the time or the energy to sue them to "force" them to do the job they were supposed to be doing all the time.
However, I still help to educate parents locally about their rights. To say our school district HATES me is an understatement. They had things pretty good until I came in a rocked the boat - spreading the word that they and their children have rights.
We were told that Christopher would be in a persistant vegetative state. He is now working on his alphabet, can count to ten with a little help, has at least 20 signs, and knows WAY more that we have been able to figure out how to help him express. He would not be getting this far in the school district.
If I ever have anymore children, I am not even bothering with the school district.
Ellen--I went to see the film on Saturday night and have been so fired up since! I have very strong feelings from personal experience and they very much mirror the film. I worked as a social worker for many years and as a teacher for a few years after. Needless to say the unions and other teachers pretty much ruined it for me--teaching and the kids were fine it's the other crap that left me feeling like a ball of rubber bands and no way to articulate what I witnessed. Until now. This is not just a film, IT'S a MOVEMENT--one we need everyone to join. This is the time.
ReplyDeleteJennifer Griola
I'm dying to see that film! I know it will depress the hell out of me. My daughter is going to a public elementary school. She has autism, but is extremely smart. Last year in kindergarten and this year in first grade, she is in a regular classroom with a full-time behaviorist. I know this will be her last year with this support. Next year, she'll be on her own in the classroom. I think she can do it, but I'm scared to death. Our school has wonderful teachers. But I live in California, which is not funding the schools to the level they should be funded. I live in an affluent area, yet the parents do not donate the needed funds to the school. It's awful!
ReplyDeleteSigh.
Ellen,
ReplyDeleteLove your blog. That's why I had to write in immediately. I just wanted to give you a couple of links, the first of which is a critical review of "Waiting for Superman" Before reading this article, like many of your readers, I, too wanted to see this film. Now not so much. If you have time. Give it a read. It puts many of the points made in the film in perspective, and gives piece of mind to what I believe is an unfortunate alarmist film that's only going to leave parents scared for their children.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rick-ayers-/an-inconvenient-superman-_b_716420.html
The other link I'm posting is a really neat visual short that concisely explains what is wrong with our schools and what we need to do to fix them. In short, it's awesome in its breadth, and accessible in it's points. All in a twelve minute video on YouTube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDZFcDGpL4U
I'd love to know what you or your readers think of this article and video. Just thought I'd provide more info. for discussion.
hilary
hilonwheelsbog@gmail.com
We live in an area that has among the best public schools in the state, which isn't saying much. Quite honestly, I wouldn't send Monkey to our local public school if my life depended on it. Kindergarten classes of 30, standardized test preparation (starting at age five) put above all else, and major cuts to the music and art programs are just some of the problems with our local school system. I have also heard from other parents of children with special needs that their kids are really lost in the shuffle and given the bare minimum required by law.
ReplyDeleteUntil this year, Monkey attended a small, mainstream private school. We made the decision this year to take the educational bull by the horns and homeschool him. Although I had cold feet about it a few months ago, it has been a wonderful experience for us all. Monkey is free to return to "bye bye school" if he so chooses, but he will be enrolled in another private school if he does.
Growing up, I went to a private school, and my sister went to public (her choice). My parents observed our differing education and schools. They always say that I got a much better education, no question. They both regret letting my sister choose her school.
ReplyDeleteThose grim statistics you mention are totally the reason I have our children in private school. I am willing to sacrifice some material things, like frequent vacations, or a fancy car, so that my kids can get a fantastic education. The schools in our area don't even have music class. At our private parochial school, our kids get music class twice a
week, plus we have them in piano. No, I don't drive a Mercedes, but I WILL have well educated children.
I for some reason feel 'guilty' to send my kids for free education (since I can afford a private education)in our public school which is new and supposed to be good.I feel like people who do have access to the 'good public schools' are people who can actually afford to at least pay a little for their child's education unlike the kids who live in impoverished areas,have no access to good education at all.They are ones who need a chance at free and good education and they are the ones who probably get nothing out of our education system.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if anybody else shares the same views but I am definitely interested in knowing what other people think about this.
Also I did not grow up in this country(grew up in India) and the Indian education system has its own problems but when I compare my kids education,I feel like the education system is not challenging them much even in private schools.
Anita
Thanks for giving this documentary some space, Ellen. We haven't seen it yet but are closely following the press as my Hubs is a public school teacher. Responses from our local public school districts (17 in this county) are defensive.
ReplyDeleteAll other reports are that Guggenheim did a good job on the film. What now?
Barbara
The bureaucracy of our public system and the utmost fear for my daughter's education were a few of the reasons leading me to choose homeschooling this year. Sure it's "just" preschool, but I never in my wildest dreams thought I would be teaching our special needs child at home.
ReplyDeleteI believe in full inclusion and that just isn't happening where we live. Recess doesn't count as inclusion for me. I don't care what the teacher, principal or other parents think, I want my child included.
I just wrote up an update on my homeschooling adventure: http://www.caleighscorner.com/
I personally think there is very little, if any difference, between private and public schools. The ONLY difference is "Can the school kick out kids who behave poorly and won't follow the rules." Any school that can has a HUGE leg up on any that can't. As for the "lottery" that seem so desperately important in Superman. Hmmm, take a look at some studies of kids who applied to (but didn't get in) to charter schools. Guess what they don't differ much from those that applied and got in! The main differenc is the kind of family that cares ennogh to worry about and get their act together to even participate in a lottery.
ReplyDelete@Anonymous: Public schools cannot "kick out" the kids that misbehave, it's a PUBLIC school,where else can they go?Private schools can kick out kids that misbehave,I have seen it happen more than once.
ReplyDeleteI don't get what you said about there being little to no difference between public schools. The local public schools in my area have 30 children in one kindergarten class. My kid had 18 in his class. I have many friends who teach in public schools. They have told me that they do not have time to even speak to all of their students in one day. How is that effective teaching? Our school district has cut music, my son has music class more than once a week. The neighborhood school by my house consistently tests in the 60th-65th percentiles in math and reading(state sponsored testing), my son's school is in the 95th percentile and higher every time. I agree that parental involvement and action is crucial, but let's face it, it can only go so far in a substandard school district.
I live in New York and public schools aren't the best but it really is based on where you live.
ReplyDeleteI know people in New Jersey who rave about their public schools.
Michelle
I think it's unfair to make broad generalizations about public versus private schools, especially when it comes to children with disabilities. Both can be terrific and both can be terrible, depending on where you are and who is running the school.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, private schools can and do discriminate against children with disabilities. I read a poignant blog post about a year ago from a mom whose autistic son was kicked out of a Montessori program because they weren't willing to accommodate him. She's a lawyer and knew her rights, but they did it anyway--that's how strongly they felt about keeping the autistic kid out of the school.
My son, who has apraxia and SPD, is currently in a public preschool and we love it. The teachers are committed and caring, and he's made big developmental leaps in just a few weeks. Of course, that's this year--next year his teachers could be terrible. But that could be true in a private school.
In fact, before entering public school, my son was enrolled in an expensive private preschool for a year and we loved it primarily because of one wonderful teacher. Then when she left we pulled him out because the other teachers sucked.
If you're a parent trying to get the best education for your child, look at all the options. Don't automatically rule out public schools based on hearsay and don't automatically trust a private school because it has expensive tuition and fancy classrooms. Visit the schools, talk to the teachers and principals, observe the kids and pay attention to what's really going on. That's the only way to make a good choice for your child's needs.
My sister passed this along to me....I'm a former K12 teacher in inner city new orleans, and now work as a freelance education journalist.
ReplyDeleteLike many who have actually spent time in the classroom, I'm concerned about the implications of "Superman". The movie is correct in that teachers are the most important *in building* variable for a student's academic achievement, and stresses the need for finding ways to recruit talented teachers. Then it takes a dump on the teaching profession.
Public schools that serve high poverty populations struggle everywhere, even ones that AREN'T unionized (I taught in Louisiana, where only a handful of districts have unions). It places a big sloppy wet kiss on Charters, without taking into account things scalability. Sure, if you gave my school a few million bucks from Opera, and let me kick anybody out who I don't like (like KIPP, or the Harlem's Children's Zone...which kicked out AN ENTIRE GRADUATING CLASS because their numbers weren't good enough), but let's not pretend that those are the nationwide solution.
I write for a blog called Public School Insights, which talks about some of the developments doing on in traditional public schools, and school reform in general. You might find it informative: www.publicschoolinsights.org
Another point I forgot to mention previously:
ReplyDeleteWhen Monkey was about to turn three, I visited our local public school to learn more about the EI preschool. I walked into a room filled with children who needed stimulation more than ever, but really weren't given any. When I asked about the class routine and curriculum, the teachers just hemmed and hawed. Basically, there was no curriculum; the classroom was little more than a glorified waiting room, where the kids were pulled out for therapy. Now, I have heard some parents rave about their children's EI preschools, but ours really left a lot to be desired.
Do you mind sharing where your son goes to school? We can't afford private school and I'm not really sure how well I'd do with homeschooling, he's developmentally delayed. I think he needs to be with other kids. I have to hope we get him into a good program when the time comes but he'll just turn 2 next month.
ReplyDeleteI do have to say that he's going to a great preschool right now, the only one like it in our state. He goes two mornings a week for $100 per month but more than that we can't afford.
ReplyDeleteMy son goes to an amazing public school for kids with special needs. We live in NJ and really, the public schools are great in our state. Unfortunately, our governor is taking away A LOT of the schools' budgets and the children are the ones suffering. But, we are fortunate that our T-man goes where he goes, I cannot imagine him anywhere else. I am grateful that we live in New Jersey. We will never move from this area because of how good the schools are.
ReplyDeleteKristen
I reviewed this movie as well over at my blog, Ellen, and thank you for passing on the opportunity to do so! Yours is excellent -- and far more informative, I think, than mine. I was overwhelmed by the movie and didn't know where to start, what to think.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen this movie yet, but did see "The Race to Nowhere" which looks at schools from a different angle - teaching to the test and how much pressure is being put on kids from younger and younger ages to perform. To teh point where 3rd graders are getting sick with headaches and stomach issues because they have too much pressure. In my area, that is a much more likely outcome than an under performing school. Thankfully, I have my daughter in an alternative school (still part of the public system, but with a whole different philosophy!) I just hope I can figure out a way for Jack to go there when he's old enough!!
ReplyDeleteI have not seen the film and I should. But, I do want to say that I homeschool because the school system totally failed him. My mom was a teacher and then an administrator--and I expected her to stick up for PS when I pulled my son out. Instead she cried with relief, then clapped and said she was proud of us. No one has to put up with a broken system--and yes, I said that. Sometimes you have to walk away to get things fixed. I may not have been able to fire a teacher who harassed my child and called him stupid, but I protected him.
ReplyDeletePlease take a moment to read this article from the Washington Post. As someone who has worked in special education in DC, and felt the impact of Michelle Rhee (both positive and negative), the movie scares me because it does not always give the full picture. I support some of the ideas in the movie, but as with any story there is another side.
ReplyDeletehttp://voices.washingtonpost.com/answer-sheet/guest-bloggers/what-superman-got-wrong-point.html
I'm glad to hear so many people giving a balanced perspective on this movie. I have not seen it, but as someone who worked in public education, I know how quickly people point fingers at ONE aspect of American culture and expect it to solve ALL the problems.
ReplyDeleteBecause I'm a nut, I'll list my three biggest pet peeves with public schools today:
1. All children are on a college-track even though college is clearly not for everyone. Is it any wonder children get disillusioned and drop out? If someone wants to be a mechanic, is it necessary that they study Shakespeare? That frustrated me immensely when I was working with learning disabled kids.
2. We waste a lot of money and resources on pre-packaged curriculum because we don't trust the teachers. Teacher come inspired, with tons of training, and then we make them read out loud from pre-packaged materials. Doesn't make me long to get back in a classroom.
3. We don't give any extra money to the teachers that take the hard kids. In fact, there's a push to reward teachers who have high-achieving students, which is basically patting someone on the back for working with the easy kids. Wouldn't it be nice if people were working their tails off to work with low-achievers? If we created a situation where so many people wanted the job, it would be easy to fill with someone great and experienced? Instead, we pay them the same as someone teacher gifted chemistry and expect them to work miracles because "they love it." It's a lot easier to love something when it also helps you pay your mortgage.
They're OK...not great, not bad. I'm not raising rocket scientists or mathematicians, I know that, so I don't worry about statistics. I worry about class size, how kind the teachers and aides are, how gentle they are with the children and how gentle the children are with each other, if they're learning new things each week and demonstrating a curiosity and enthusiasm about their world. So far, so good. It's been a very positive year thus far and I love the whole "socialization" thing that happens from the "Good morning" to the teacher at the start of the day to the little "manners" lessons they get in the lunchroom and on the playground. Every moment is a teachable one, it seems, and they love it.
ReplyDeleteI don't have a college degree so I wouldn't "commit malpractice" as it were trying to homeschool my kids (like I even have the time to do that working two jobs!) but on top of not having the skills to teach, I don't think I could duplicate the peer and adult interactions they get at school even if I could stay home all day and still get paid. Also, they enjoy the structure of the day, are kept busy, and sleep good at night. I'll tell you, we've had some real improvements in behavior and manners in the last month and a half, even with a move and a lot of disruption--it's thrilling to be honest! I suppose if I were in a big city my experience might be different but smaller communities seem to be able to do a lot with less just because there's lots of parental involvement (to include volunteers in the classroom).
Interesting stuff. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteSidebar: We are in the Woodside High district, so as you can imagine, we're not big fans of how our school was depicted. A local parent, Georgia Jack, was recently interviewed about the discrepancy between the portrayal and her own daughter's experience. Video here:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.facebook.com/UpsideNews?v=wall#!/video/video.php?v=121241317933889
Here's what every article/news story/politician seems to miss on the whole education issue: education just isn't important to a LARGE percentage of our population. In fact, children who are motivated to learn are ostracized and bullied for trying to rise above their circumstances. The difference between a good public school and a bad one is ALWAYS the parents. While being poor would disadvantage a family (fewer books at home, parents working longer hours and unable to supervise homework, etc.) it cannot account for the vast education gap. I believe that even if you gave these people all the ingredients of a top school, you will see only minimal improvements because it's the rare child that can overcome his home environment. I propose that the families featured in the movie, actively working for a better experience for their children, are not the norm in the "bad" schools.
ReplyDeleteThe real problem is not how to improve our schools, but how to change the value system of the very large segments of our society that do not DESIRE a good education for America's children. Fix that and the schools take care of themselves. We'll demand it.
As for my experience:
My "normal" son went to Catholic school for 9 years and now is in a top performing public school (for Alabama, but it's as good as any of the private schools I can afford). I think he got a great education in the important things (morals and academics) and was sheltered from the things that he didn't need to learn at an early age. I'm pleased with both schools.
My daughter went to the same Catholic school for kindergarten, but she she became disabled we had to switch to public school to get any services. Our public system will only provide speech if you go to private school. Plus the private school didn't have adaptive PE teachers. So far our experience has been very good at our public school (our principal has a real heart for special needs kids), but my expectations for my daughter's education are different from those I might have of a "normal" child. Primarily I need her kept safe and healthy, and they provide that.
I haven't seen the documentary yet, but am definitely planning on it. Personally, as a mom to a toddler with DS, the thought of putting my son ina public school really scares me....for a multitude of reasons. My biggest fear, however, is that no one will recognize his potential. That he & a few other "special kids" will be isolated in some room & "taught" some curriculum which isn't appropriate for his individual strengths or weaknesses while he waits for ST/OT/PT. Just last week, a friend was crying on my shoulder about her frustrations with the public school system. She doesn't feel that her 11yr old with DS is getting a good education in the public school, but has been told that she won't be accepted into private school because she "isn't smart enough". I'm told that the public school's "inclusion program" means that little "E" gets to eat lunch with the typical kids. That's it. The rest of the time, she is relegated to a classroom with 7 other special needs students where she doodles into a notebook all day. My friend tells me that the school system will only formally evaluate her daughter's progress every 3 YEARS because...well, you know... those "kids with DS don't test well". I hear all of this & I think that my friend must be joking. I actually half expect Ashton Kutcher to pop out at anytime & tell that I am being punked because things really can't be that bad. All I know is this, I will be d@#ned if my bright, motivated son is going to sit in a corner & doodle all day. I'd love nothing more for my son to attend a quality school whether it be public or private, but if that possiblilty doesn't exist for him in my area, then I will be homeschooling him. He's 22 months old, & I'm already looking at curriculum....
ReplyDelete@Anonymous: Public schools cannot "kick out" the kids that misbehave, it's a PUBLIC school,where else can they go?Private schools can kick out kids that misbehave,I have seen it happen more than once.
ReplyDeleteYes, some public schools can. They send kids to other schools in the District. But that is my point. That it's not the 'public' v 'private' that matters it's if the school can get rid of problem kids. And I think that parental involvement matters more than anything. My kids' school is very overcrowded (30 kids in some classes) our schools are falling apart physcially, my kids books are often tattered and some had to be duct taped together. But this is a community where though funding is an issue, parents are very very very involved and have the personal resources to fil in the gaps left by sometimes not great teachers. We are thus a very high performing district.
Wow. So much to say. The problem with special ed teachers alone is worthy of its own documentary. More power to those of you who home school, it is an amazing, selfless feat. I can't imagine taking on full responsibility for educating a child.
ReplyDeleteAnita: ("I feel like people who do have access to the 'good public schools' are people who can actually afford to at least pay a little for their child's education unlike the kids who live in impoverished areas,have no access to good education at all.They are ones who need a chance at free and good education and they are the ones who probably get nothing out of our education system.") BRAVO. Its worth repeating here.
• Bravo #2 to anonymous for: "If you're a parent trying to get the best education for your child, look at all the options. Don't automatically rule out public schools based on hearsay and don't automatically trust a private school because it has expensive tuition and fancy classrooms."
• Bravo #3 to Matt, who writes a great blog on the topic: "Public schools that serve high poverty populations struggle everywhere, even ones that AREN'T unionized."
• Bravo #4 to Katy: "We don't give any extra money to the teachers that take the hard kids."
Bravos galore because everyone here made such valid points. Shannon, thx for that Facebook video on the negative portrayal of Woodside High (here it is again:
http://www.facebook.com/UpsideNews?v=wall#!/video/video.php?v=121241317933889).
Hilary, Rick Ayers makes excellent points in his review. I did think that teachers and unions were somewhat demonized in this film, and charter schools put too high on a pedestal. But I don't think the film could have possibly gotten into the socio-economic problems at play, or the solutions for those. Just too much to tackle. YouTube video on the topic was very thought-provoking.
Wow. So much to say. The problem with special ed teachers alone is worthy of its own documentary. More power to those of you who home school, it is an amazing, selfless feat. I can't imagine taking on full responsibility for educating a child.
ReplyDeleteAnita: ("I feel like people who do have access to the 'good public schools' are people who can actually afford to at least pay a little for their child's education unlike the kids who live in impoverished areas,have no access to good education at all.They are ones who need a chance at free and good education and they are the ones who probably get nothing out of our education system.") BRAVO. Its worth repeating here.
• Bravo #2 to anonymous for: "If you're a parent trying to get the best education for your child, look at all the options. Don't automatically rule out public schools based on hearsay and don't automatically trust a private school because it has expensive tuition and fancy classrooms."
• Bravo #3 to Matt, who writes a great blog on the topic: "Public schools that serve high poverty populations struggle everywhere, even ones that AREN'T unionized."
• Bravo #4 to Katy: "We don't give any extra money to the teachers that take the hard kids."
Bravos galore because everyone here made such valid points. Shannon, thx for that Facebook video on the negative portrayal of Woodside High (here it is again:
http://www.facebook.com/UpsideNews?v=wall#!/video/video.php?v=121241317933889).
Hilary, Rick Ayers makes excellent points in his review. I did think that teachers and unions were somewhat demonized in this film, and charter schools put too high on a pedestal. But I don't think the film could have possibly gotten into the socio-economic problems at play, or the solutions for those. Just too much to tackle. YouTube video on the topic was very thought-provoking.
Re. Looking Up's comment: I'm told that the public school's "inclusion program" means that little "E" gets to eat lunch with the typical kids. That's it. The rest of the time, she is relegated to a classroom with 7 other special needs students where she doodles into a notebook all day.
ReplyDeleteThe state law in Alabama is that inclusion begins in 2nd grade, and the special ed teacher comes to the regular classroom, not the other way around. I hope it will be nice, we're just in 1st right now. But my real point is that the school system is required by law to follow the IEP (Individual Education Plan) which is created by the team of teachers for the child (sp ed, regular, PE, therapists, etc.) in conjunction with and with the final approval of the parent. The parent can require that the student stay in the regular classroom, if they want.
Kate's IEP says she has pull-outs for therapies, and that she goes to the special ed classroom for extra reading/math help while the rest of the kids are at PE. But the pull-outs are NEVER allowed to infringe on classroom instruction time. She has to be in the regular classroom during all instruction. So far that's working well for us and she feels very much a part of her class.
I admit that I think I sacrifice a bit of education for Kate's emotional health (feeling part of the group). The fact is that Kate will never live on her own, and we have her whole but short life to teach her these skills, which she won't really even need. So I'd rather have her happy. On the other hand, she also knows if she can't do the work others can, and that makes her unhappy. So it's a balancing act, like everything else.
Thanks for your great review, Ellen! And I have loved the comments. I'm actually an employee of K12, so I'm doubly excited to see this conversation.
ReplyDeleteI liked anonymous's open-minded stance: "If you're a parent trying to get the best education for your child, look at all the options. Don't automatically rule out public schools based on hearsay and don't automatically trust a private school because it has expensive tuition and fancy classrooms. Visit the schools, talk to the teachers and principals, observe the kids and pay attention to what's really going on. That's the only way to make a good choice for your child's needs."
If the film, or reviews of the film have helped parents clarify what constitutes a "good school" for them, so much the better. This post and comments have done that for me. Thanks!