Date: 5/3/2004 11:43:00 AM
From Authorid: 2030
Most people live where they do by choice. We buy homes, we pay property taxes, and invest in our community. We also want our children to attend the schools we pay for and support. I don't want my children shipped to another school farther away just to satisfy someones quota.  |
Date: 5/3/2004 11:44:00 AM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 9130
Although I do not have children, I agree-- if I did have them I know I wouldn't want them moved around either.  |
Date: 5/3/2004 11:47:00 AM
From Authorid: 53054
society is taking things way out of porpotion now-a-days...why should children be shipped of to others school to satisfy what the government, or whoever else wants...it might mean paying more money...or it will mean driving your kids for a lot longer which some parents may not have time for...cant people just leave things alone and let the parents decide what school there kids go to...  |
Date: 5/3/2004 11:53:00 AM
From Authorid: 61977
I know for me personally, if I had children I would want them to go to a racially mixed school. I would also like to live somewhere where that it is possible to do so. If the place is not a proper upbringing for children I would move, to give my child that diversity that I did not have growing up as a child. HUGS,  |
Date: 5/3/2004 11:54:00 AM
From Authorid: 13283
The school they attend should be close to home as a matter of convenience . Desegregation would be nice , but it is a hassle . Dallas ISD ruled recently that all our public school were integrated . They are gonna put a stop to all the bussing that was going on , to desegregate schools . Razzy aka  |
Date: 5/3/2004 12:06:00 PM
From Authorid: 62675
For my son to be bussed to another school it would take over an hour. I went to school where he is currently going and in highschool they tried something like this, they bussed african american kids in cause our school was 95% white 5% hispanic. The only problem with that is that the kids they did bus in were behavior problem kids with major issues. So what does that show the white kids? I am surprised alot more of my classmates aren't racist due to that. I do not think it is a good idea. -Sunni818  |
Date: 5/3/2004 12:11:00 PM
From Authorid: 59876
i'm not willing to move my child just so there will be a racially diverse environment. i think that is ridiculous. it is supposed to be about your child's education first and formost. then there is this. where i lived before, there was several extremely diverse schools, the ones with good programs, willing teachers, willing parents, in short, people that gave their all, those were great schools! the rest, with mediocre staff, absent parents, etc, etc, blah blah blah, those schools had problems, with truancy, with vanadlism, with gang activity and qafter school fights. rather than bringing kids closer together as was probably intended, it separated them. there was not enough stucture. i had a little girl that came in from sixth grade every day bawling her eyes out because she was tormented for being half and half why? who the hell knows? another student got beat up on her way in by several other girls, five or six. the next day there was retalitory action and only the retalitory side was punished. bad staff. and don't get me wrong, it isn't all about diversity, but diversity can be a factor, as well as gangs, as well as truants, as well as poor staff commitment, as well as absent parents that have no clue what their kids are doing, drugs, etc. it is about the education, not the diversity. there needs to be structure, commitment by all parties, teamwork, school spirit, etc. anything good can happen with all that. they need to fix what is broke, not what isn't. people need to think about what messages are being passed on. in the elementry school, those kids knew they were different from each other but didn't know enough to think it mattered. they moved on to an equally diverse middle school down the street and that all changed. why? their heritage didn't change, just their age and their school. so what is the difference?  |
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Date: 5/3/2004 12:15:00 PM
From Authorid: 62675
Not to mention how it is messing up the kids self esteem and what not trying to adapt to a totally different environment then they are used to. And if they do make friends then the parents have to drive how many miles so they can see each other. -Sunni818 |
Date: 5/3/2004 12:59:00 PM
From Authorid: 53284
One of the criteria that we used when we selected the place we live, was the school district. It is consistantly one of the top school districts in the state. Our kids, I think, received great benifit from living in a comunity that has great schools. Diversity was not one of my considerations. I wanted my kids to live in the community in which they went to school and to attend schools that would maximize their educational potential. If,when my kids were still in school, I found out that they were going to be bussed to one of the nearby communities, I would have moved. Not because of the ethnic makeup of the schools but because the schools have consistantly underperformed in state testing.  |
Date: 5/3/2004 1:59:00 PM
From Authorid: 47218
huh...I think all schools should be equally well funded and that all children deserve a quality education and that any person who doesn't care about the fact that some people are receiving a poor education because of their economic status should be questioning their pride in a country whose school system churns out illiterate, poorly educated citizens. However, I don't think shipping people to other schools really does the trick-- they have such a thing in my city. We have academies that specialize in different topics, and kids are shipped from all over the city to these different academies, and what do you expect happens-- the kids from wealthier neighborhoods stay segregated in these academies and get a quality education, while the lower class kids are regular classes, and it doesn't make a lick of difference. No, it really doesn't address the problem, which is mainly the education level of the parents, and that the system is aimed at kids from middle and upper classes, while kids from lower classes have different needs. I think the system needs to be overhauled so the educational methods of each school can be restructured to meet the needs of kids from varying backgrounds. Which doesn't mean that the lower status kids should get lower standards. No, expectations should be high all around.  |
Date: 5/3/2004 2:30:00 PM
From Authorid: 13974
Mollycat, most people do care about education, that is untill it is time to pay for schools, then they don't care. Still they want to complain when they cannot find decent emplyees, or that everyone they encounter seems to be illeducated, or when they get mugged. That is when they care, but when it comes time to do something about it, it is someone else's problem.  |
Date: 5/3/2004 2:40:00 PM
From Authorid: 44321
I have an example of bussing,When I was ready to go into 1st grade,the principal informed all of the parents the last day of kindergarten,that my class would be getting bussed the following year,my grandmother was not for that so she pulled me out of public school and plopped me into a catholic one....I know I would not be for the idea of bussing out if they asked me.  |
Date: 5/3/2004 2:42:00 PM
From Authorid: 6867
A big NO! I am for intergration. But this personally affects my son and I. He can't attend the school across the street from our house because he is a "minority" *rolls eyes* SO, they keep slots open for white children pretty much. It is one of the best public schools in my city, with wonderful music, drama, and athletic programs. I don't get it. I have to take my child to a school 10 miles from where we live....that offers NOTHING at all like some of the other schools in the so called "ghetto" So I am totally against alot of these children from my neighborhood not being able to experience music, drama, and sports because the white kids from the rich side of town are being deprived of such wonderful programs! I am peeved to say the least, I am one of the parents always waiting on the school administration steps when there is a meeting just to say my piece. It's unfair. I don't understand why programs like these can't be started in some of these schools in the wealthy neighborhoods...why take it away from inner city youth? They deserve it...ESPECIALLY if they live right across the street! Just a bunch of bullcrap. Any white child that registers at this particular school, gets in regardless of where in the city they live. My child's name on the other hand, has to go into a lottery, and for 2 years now, no luck.  |
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Date: 5/3/2004 2:56:00 PM
From Authorid: 44321
Where we live you have to go to the school that is in the radius of your home address,if you don't like the school, you have to put in a form asking to be moved and have to give details why.I have been looking into charter schools in our area and the waiting lists for them is at least a years wait. |
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Date: 5/3/2004 2:58:00 PM
From Authorid: 59876
that is ridiculus gia. he should be in that school sheerly on the grounds that it is in his neighborhood zone. it is rediculous that you have to take your child 10 miles down the road to an inferior school based on ethnicity. sp? now my girls went to a school with few programs, little money, most of the parents were poor as well and alot of the kids had either a single parent or two parents working, but it was an excellent school and my girls got an excellent education because the staff was dedicated and all about the kids. it doesn't take anything fancy to inspire a child to learn. we have an elementry school right on the corner and supposedly that is where my son will have to attend. the school got busted for not meeting state standards in their teaching. parents were then given the option to bus their kids out. the school is not lacking in funds at all so what is the problem. is it fair then to allow parents to bus out their children if the staff is not doing their job. the children are required to be there so who is suffering? |
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Date: 5/3/2004 3:23:00 PM
From Authorid: 6867
doh, yep, it is totally based on ethnicity. I thought there was something more to it than what the ladies working in the school office were telling me, but the ppl at school administration said the same thing. and the school my son attends is exactly the type of school you are speaking of. the teachers don't give a flip. and it is sooooo funny to me how they are always having fundraisers. Where is all the money going? I refuse to sell anything for that school if I cannot SEE what they are doing with it. also, this time last year, they were considering closing the school's doors. but i guess shipping all the poor little minority kids there kept it open. He would be better off home schooling. But thats not realistic since I have to work for a living. *sighs* can't wait until I can afford private school...where I can CHOOSE a performing arts school. |
Date: 5/3/2004 4:11:00 PM
From Authorid: 62367
I believe in integration, especially for the junior high and high schoolers. The primary grades are better off in the neighborhood schools, usually. Something needs to be done to make school funding more equitable. I know people in good areas that pay high property taxes want to see all that money to go into their neighborhood schools. I have seen just how extreme this idea can be. For 3 years, I was a volunteer in one of the poorest elementary schools in Washington, DC. The public schools in DC's wealthy areas are excellent and have all the supplies they need. Let me tell you about Malcolm X Primary School in Anacostia. When I was a volunteer, the school had 680 students with 80% from single parent homes and over 90% of the kid's parents were unemployed. At this school, teachers bought paper, pencils, books and chalk for their students. Nothing was supplied except a class room, desks and chalk boards. This school supplied breakfast, lunch and dinner for virtually all the students. The government agency I worked for supplied computers and people to install them. A program for adult literacy was started. The principal of this school put in 16 hour days. The teachers varied from very dedicated to new teachers. The kids were so far behind yet they tried so hard. The young ones wanted to learn so much. Something happened about the 4th or 5th grade. Disillusionment, apathy and frustration set in. Only the most talented teachers could reach these kids then. It was heart breaking to see.  |
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Date: 5/3/2004 4:25:00 PM
From Authorid: 47218
periodcat, that is truly pathetic. I've had some experience in the public education system myself, and I've seen some of the inequities myself. People think these kids are lazy and unmotivated, but they're actually frustrated. How can you have enthusiasm for something when you do so poorly at it? |
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Date: 5/3/2004 5:18:00 PM
From Authorid: 59876
on the other hand, the last school i worked at had alot of money to spend. top of the line computers, programs, etc. those kids were much more priveledged than the children at my first school. why? the parents. teachers, administration, and parental organizations (parents club, pta, etc.) was over the top in fundraising to provide the best for these kids. here is what was the same across the board northern and southern california. stores like walmart and target have lists up inside the front door stading what must be bought for each child each grade. this means everything with the exception of textbooks. crayons, paper, scissors, glue, pencils, rulers, etc. none of that is provided now. before we moved here, at the end of the year, the teachers would give us brand new boxes of crayons, brand new scissors, all kinds of brand new stuff they hadn't used, plus the stuff they had used. it was a real boon for us but it really made me mad. the reason given to me for this action was that they get new funding for those dupplies each year. if they still have usable supplies, that funding gets redistributed somewhere else. now that funding isn't even used for those supplies at all. it is wasteful and wrong and makes me seriously doubt the moaning and graoning about inadequate funds. don't even get me started on all that money for downsizing, buying portables to house the extra students and teachers, and now we aren't downsizing anymore and permanent buildings are being built instead. waste waste waste. |
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Date: 5/3/2004 5:20:00 PM
From Authorid: 59876
the wealthier school was in the habit of throwing new chairs away instead of replacing the slider caps on the feet. i'd salvage them, my husband would help me fix them, and then the custodian would steal them back out of my room to match chairss for the kindergarten teachers. |
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Date: 5/3/2004 5:22:00 PM
From Authorid: 59876
it was the school that had little funds that used to give us so much new stuff. what excuse is there for that? |
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Date: 5/3/2004 5:23:00 PM
From Authorid: 59876
you should make a fuss gia. squeaky wheel and all that. get other parents with you on it. |
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Date: 5/4/2004 9:52:00 AM
From Authorid: 2030
Some of these comments are sad, but they illustrate a point. The school is as good as the parents, the students are as good as the parental support and influence they get. 80% single parent homes, 90% unemployment, and probably paying no taxes, now who's fault is that? Certainly not the child, but also certainly not the fault of someone like me who works and supports his family and pays hefty property taxes that very well Should stay in my school district. Deal with that 80% and 90% number and you'll have the answer to your inner city schools problem. |
Date: 5/5/2004 11:10:00 PM
From Authorid: 12341
I pay "hefty" property taxes too, and make enough money for my grandchildren who live with me, not to be on welfare. If I wanted to segregate them, which I don't, I would place them in private schools, which I could easily do. I sent all my daughters to Catholic schools, elementary and high school. Paying tuition on top of property taxes that are higher based on where I live. I was ruled by my religion, (at the time), and my own self image. I wanted "better" education, better schools, and broader horizons, today, I am disgusted with the (me) I used to be. Today I believe children must be exposed to other cultures and other races, other standards of economics. It is the world we live in.  |
