Federal Watch List for Thirteen Peninsula Schools
Thirteen schools on the North Olympic Peninsula are on a federal watch list because of test results during the 2008-09 school year.
These schools have fallen short of the target for “adequate yearly progress” mandated by the federal No Child Left Behind Act. Quilcene is the only Peninsula school district that doesn’t have any schools on this federal watch list.
I haven’t followed school/education issues for a long time, so I don’t really have an opinion on WASL or the No Child Left Behind Act.
What say you?
These schools have fallen short of the target for “adequate yearly progress” mandated by the federal No Child Left Behind Act. Quilcene is the only Peninsula school district that doesn’t have any schools on this federal watch list.
I haven’t followed school/education issues for a long time, so I don’t really have an opinion on WASL or the No Child Left Behind Act.
What say you?
Labels: “adequate yearly progress”, Federal Watch List, North Olympic Peninsula Schools
posted by Tom Harper at 3:27 PM
26 Comments:
Only so much a kid on crack can do. Don't blame them, or their parents who are obviously trying so hard, too.
Quick! Let's float another bond! Send the school district all your money... for the children!!
The more bonds that pass, the dumber the kids get....don't pass another, maybe they'll start getting smart again.
As if you'd pass a bond...Our schools use used computers from other districts. When they upgrade, we get the leftover out-of-date stuff. Nice.
computers are not replacements for good teaching, books and writing. Why is it people always say "oh computers computers computers" like they are some magic bullet to make kids smart. The reality is they are a tool, but should not be a focus of our schools, particularly in the primary grades. Look at how test scores, and other indicators have fallen since teachers have started to rely on technology, instead of focusing on WORK, rote work. Sure not fun...but, the basics are important and necessary.
As for bonds for technology....give me a break, most of it goes to more school administrators. It goes into the general fund. The computers and software purchased are purchased at outrageous costs and stupid decisions are made.
No, I'd vote for paper and pencils. I'd vote for more teachers and reduced classroom size. I would vote for more support for home schooled children. I would vote for more enrichment classes (art, sports, music). I will NOT vote for technology in schools because its throwing the money away.
As a former teacher, I agree with the previous commenter. When teachers started being told we had to "teach to the test" instead of teaching a balanced liberal arts curriculum, everything fell apart.
More money is not the answer, because it's true that it mostly goes into the General Fund (read administration). Computers aren't the answer, either. Technology is important, but kids learn that outside of school because it's fun. Inside school they need the 3 Rs and the socialization that comes from actually (gasp) interacting with others instead of sending text messages.
Get rid of the WASL, make the computer lab an elective, and go back to actually teaching. Then we'll have something.
I total agree with the teacher & anonymous 10:23! No more money for administrators!
Must not forget that The Powers That Be WANT an ignorant populace.
Educated no more than is necessary to acomplish basic drudge work.
Bread and Circuses.
There are days that I kind of agree with the Powers That Be. Why waste all that taxpayer money on a kid who's just going to drop out and flip burgers? Or, worse, sell drugs?
Even if they don't screw up their lives and pick an honorable profession, how much education do you need to construct houses, clerk at Wal-Mart, or fix cars? Wouldn't it be better for everyone to migrate those kids into more specialized learning? Learn a trade rather than get a liberal education?
But, on the other hand, who would choose these paths? The government? The school? The parents? The kids? What if they get something wrong? What if that's the best opportunity a smart kid has, and his parents force him into the wrong track?
I don't know. It's a tough call.
"I don't know. It's a tough call."
That is why Crack is so popular in Port Angeles.
You think I'm kidding?
I can't believe that commenter at 10:30 AM actually lumped working WalMart in with construction and mechanics. You do realize that the best workers in both fields generally have to have extra schooling for those jobs? They are considered specialized learning. That's why they are offered at the college. They should be offered at the Skills Center, which some of you might poo poo, but is actually a very good idea with rather crappy implementation.
CRACK is popular...no no, I beg to differ..its METH that is the Port Angeles favorite.
Crack or rock is a solid, smokable form of cocaine -- a little high classed for this town.
Meth, Speed, Crank -- on the other hand is made by the reduction of ephedrine or pseudoephedrine(over-the-counter cold or allergy medicines)with flammable and corrosive solvents. It's a poor-man's highly addictive toxic drug. Port Angeles has had a chronic meth problem for more than 20 years -- and it's getting worse.
For more information: http://www.digital-immersion.net/meth/resources.htm
Anon 11:45:
You're right; I apologize. I regretted running the three together after I hit the "publish" comment. I think clerking is a honorable profession, and none take a liberal education after a certain age (not liberal in the "blue state" sense, btw, in case anyone's confused about that). That's why I put them all in the same list. Manufacturing and repair obviously take higher, though more specialized, skillsets.
Although some clerks I've met could learn a few things about customer service and punching the right buttons on the register! Is there a class for that?
Anon 6:48
I wish you were kidding. Really do.
"CRACK is popular...no no, I beg to differ..its METH that is the Port Angeles favorite"
Oh, You're right. And that is what I really meant to say. Used to live in Gales Addition. Need I say more?
From todays' PDN about trying to find tenants for the former Gottschalk building:
"Gase and Hyden both said Port Angeles doesn't have enough residents or an average income high enough to attract big retailers during a recession.
"Most of the retail stores that are in large malls have a certain set of parameters," Hyden said, referring to population and income.
"You can't adapt your building to meet those kind of parameters.".."
I don't think it is the recession that is the only problem. From recent court testimony from city PW Director, Glen Cutler:
" Growth in the city has been flat and the Rainier plant has closed. Tax revenues in the city have been down and services have been cut. The City cut support for the senior center, the marine life center, and community parks, and has closed the swimming pool. Street repairs have not been done in three or four years other than minor patching."
Three or four years? Has the recession been going on for THAT long?
What is it going to take for the local leadership to see the reality of the situation?
They need more METH. Or??
"They need more METH. Or??"
...or people on welfare. Don't forget that. People say there's no one wandering around downtown. Well, they just haven't been paying attention to the traffic coming and going from DSHS. It's an active place!
Maybe they can expand to Gottschalks.
Greed and insanity -- the crack of the government.
I have a question for everyone....would you all multiply out your utility bill power usage and see what you get? Multiply the KWH by the rate (it's .0582 per KWH) and see if you get any difference between the cost billed and what your calculator says. I'm finding an average of .30 to .50 cent difference on most of my bills over the last year.
Is the city cheating?
.50 cents on every utility bill every month is a lot of extra $$$ for their coffers.
Instead of a bond for technology, they should consider enlisting volunteers from the community - to teach special computer skills outside the classroom. Provide the room (like at the vacant Skills Center boondoggle, put a few calls out to the public and especially the retirees...
Right now, they (the school) won't hear of it. I wonder why??? There's plenty of good, practical knowledge in our community.
Meantime, concentrate on attracting and securing excellent math and science teachers and develop a curriculum that is tough. Pay out a handsome bonus for the teachers that crank out math and science literate young adults.
Oh yeah, the teacher's union. I guess those ideas would not go over too well with them.
It is not crack, crank, meth, pot, coke, smoke or alcohol that is screwing our kids.
ever try donating old computers to the school...even not so old ones? They don't want them. Nope. Not interested.
The reality is...the smart school districts will put on a Unix-based operating system and hook them up to a network, and they work just fine. But, nooo. We're either too good, or too stupid to do that!
Someone told me some years back that Microsoft tried to donate NEW computers to our school district. Decision makers rejected them because they were anti Microsoft. If that was true - or if anyone knows the truth or false, I would like to know. It stunned and dismayed me.
" Meantime, concentrate on attracting and securing excellent math and science teachers and develop a curriculum that is tough."
.. and
" It is not crack, crank, meth, pot, coke, smoke or alcohol that is screwing our kids."
What planet are YOU living on? I don't mean to sound rude, but, do you interact with daily life here in Port Angeles? Have you actually gotten out of the house in the last 10 years?
Go talk to the Police Chief and Sheriff. They'll tell you about the meth, etc that runs rampant in Port Angeles.
Remember the line about "You can take a horse to water, but..."? The schools in Port Angeles are on the Federal watch list for a reason.
Yep Anon at 9:11 PM, August 23, 2009. All is lost and it is solely drugs at fault for low test scores. Why even try?
Let me guess... you are one of the pathetic teachers they cannot fire.
"All is lost and it is solely drugs at fault for low test scores. Why even try?
Let me guess... you are one of the pathetic teachers they cannot fire."
Actually, no. Although I have talked with a number of teachers in different districts over the years, and have the utmost respect for most all of them.
I can't imagine how they do it, much less show up everyday, try to maintain order with all the craziness going on. To read through the papers and tests, reports and such for 30 or 40 people (or more) at a throw. To generate "lesson plans" to provide a cohesive, connected line of interesting topics and subjects, to TRY and keep kids attention in the classrooms, when all they really want to do is play with their I-Pods and cell phones.. AND comply with the numerous state and federal requirements telling them what to teach, and how. And what not to say, or discuss?
To work all day being the parent that isn't there, to look out for abused children, sick children, and children with undiagnosed problems like poor eyesight, poor hearing, developmental issues that affect their ability to learn at all, and more. To interact with parents who are barely involved with their kids education, other than to complain. To go home with stacks of papers to look through and grade before they can turn in for the night.
And all that only STARTS the list of what being a "teacher" entails. I don't have the time to even try to complete that list, but I think you get the idea.
Now, about the drug issues. Like so many things in this consumer based society we live in, drug use is "learned behaviour", that is driven by the basic human need for "acceptance", and by many humans' "insecurity". We are taught by advertising that we will have the man/woman of our dreams hanging off our arms if we use this deoderant, that shampoo, this lipstick, drink that beer, drive this car, listen to this music, etc, etc, etc. And within the subcultures in society, we are encouraged to do things to "be cool", in order to be accepted by our peers. We are rediculed for the clothes we might choose to wear, for example.
Out of fear of being alone, a lot of people do a lot of really dumb stuff.
And "drugs" fit into that description, really well.
Solutions DO exist, and education is the key
"ever try donating old computers to the school...even not so old ones? They don't want them. Nope. Not interested."
If the school gets not-so-old computers, then the computer labs don't look so bad. If they don't look so bad, the school board can't push a bond for new computers. If they can't push a bond for new computers, they won't have money to go into the general fund to pay for administrators.
In the meantime, schools will keep failing no matter how much cool new technology they get. But remember... this is for the children!
I swear, schools are headed for irrelevancy.
Why is this town so corrupt? Does anyone know?
In Seattle, they teach Chinese or Spanish to Kindergartners.
"Why is this town so corrupt? Does anyone know?"
Because the residents allow it to be.
That is the short answer.
I don't think it is inherantly more corrupt than any other town, but in Port Angeles, few people get off their butts to do anything about it. They love to complain, but can't be bothered to do anything about those few in "power" who are only too happy to spew rhetoric while they totally screw up the town for their own benefit.
Post a Comment
<< Home