Proposed new charter school
Dec. 8th, 2011 12:42 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
klauspood.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
davis_squareThere is a proposal for a new charter school in Somerville. The state (DESE) will be reviewing the application for the next few weeks and will possibly grant the charter on February 28th. If granted this charter school will undermine the existing Somerville Public Schools by reducing school funding by nearly $5 million a year, which is almost 10% of the current school budget. This cut in funding will lead to devastating cuts in public school programs, loss of 60 -75 teachers, and potentially closure of an entire school. This would represent a huge set back for public education in Somerville, setting back much of the progress that has been made in our schools in the last 25 years.
There will be a public hearing by the DESE on this on December 14 2011 at Somerville High School. More info can be found at:
https://sites.google.com/site/progresstogetherforsomerville
http://www.thesomervillenews.com/archives/21168
http://www.doe.mass.edu/news/news.aspx?id=6532
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no subject
Date: 2011-12-08 08:33 pm (UTC)As long as it's not one of those for profit evil things, of course. :-)
Yes, it would be great to fix the schools that already exist, but with local politics that's rarely possible. Independent schools are far easier to change and mold to the needs of the students who go there.
And yes, the mainstream schools will lose funding, but they will also have fewer kids to serve, thus evening things out fairly well. And empty school spaces can be turned into more open ended community spaces that serve the city even more. Creating maker spaces, continuing ed classrooms (there's a huge shortage of public spaces for teaching in Somerville!), and even funky things like Sprout, Parts and Crafts, and perhaps non-profit incubators.
no subject
Date: 2011-12-08 09:41 pm (UTC)I *personally* believe that U.S. public schools in general are criminally underfunded, but that's my soapbox about a larger social problem.
no subject
Date: 2011-12-08 09:50 pm (UTC)I'm just saying that the allocation of funds should be at least somewhat under the control of the families using the schools. If a superintendent doesn't even want to work with the families on meeting their needs better, then it's time to either get rid of that superintendent, or to allow the parents to create their own programs, redirecting the money, proportionately, to the new programs based on how many students choose them. If Somerville has choice in schools (which they do) then this is entirely fair for everyone.
(As for actual amounts of funds schools get, I think they need a whole lot less than they are getting, though, because most of what they do is hugely wasteful! I went to public schools, all over New England, and they all were crappy. Even the ones in very wealthy areas. But that's a whole other ball of wax! Or, give them the same amount or more but get rid of all the laws, union rules, and anti-student politics that get in the way of students being able to learn what they want and need to learn in the ways that work best for them, rather than what some random politician believes they should do it. :-)
no subject
Date: 2011-12-08 10:05 pm (UTC)I guess what I'm saying is, wouldn't it be cool if this charter school proposal touched off a massive restructuring of the decision-making process? *dreams*
Watch Waiting for Superman!
Date: 2011-12-08 10:25 pm (UTC)I'd love to see some mainstream programs allowed to stay in each school, and with the majority of the school being open-ended for pretty much anyone in the community to create classes and workshop spaces.
Re: Watch Waiting for Superman!
Date: 2011-12-09 12:45 am (UTC)Re: Watch Waiting for Superman!
Date: 2011-12-09 01:47 am (UTC)Sources:
http://projects.propublica.org/schools/districts/2510890
(which is a highly interesting
waster of my work dayinformation source in general), andhttp://www.doe.mass.edu/cnp/nprograms/nslp.html
no subject
Date: 2011-12-08 09:51 pm (UTC)Why do you think that it is rarely possible to improve the schools. The Somerville Schools have improved dramatically in the last quarter century, and this trajectory continues. We are on of the only cities that have a publicly sponsored PreK program, which is vey effective. And the Somerville High School is quite good.
Regarding your last comment, there is already plenty of empty space in Somerville for the kind of things you list. There plenty of room left at the Ames building, and I am sure the city would be interested in your ideas for the now empty Powder House school. Your willingness to let a vital entity like a public school die so that the carcass can be carved up for other uses is quite disturbing.
The school system is failing the families of those who are working to create this new school.
Date: 2011-12-08 10:00 pm (UTC)It's not about scores or tests, it's about education for real life. Mainstream schools are designed to produce "good workers who take orders well". Many parents don't want that for their kids (or anyone's kids really!). You might be happy to let your kids go to such a school, but don't force someone else to, and seriously don't expect the citizens to have to pay for such a thing if they believe it's bad.
And you've entirely missed my point about making the schools MORE useful, MORE alive, MORE valuable rather than letting them "die". I want to see schools being used all the time, by anyone who wants to learn, explore, and share ideas and information about living a great life on this planet and beyond. You might not want that, but I do!
Re: The school system is failing the families of those who are working to create this new school.
Date: 2011-12-08 10:20 pm (UTC)Have you ever been to a public school in Somerville? Do you know that the Healey School curriculum is the same progressive methodology advocated by the proposed charter school? Do you really think it so simplistic that schools are designed to produce "good workers who take orders well"? Do you realize how offensive that point of view would be to some of the amazing teachers who have dedicated their working lives to teaching children?
Maybe I missed your last point, you seem quick to put words in my mouth. Of course I agree with all your "MORE" statements. Actually the best way to achieve this would be working together, not apart.
Seriously?
Date: 2011-12-08 10:36 pm (UTC)Do you seriously want to publicly say something like that about people who've invested a huge amount of their time and energy and probably money in making a school that will serve hundreds of kids in a way that they believe is best? Please reconsider, so that you at least sound like you value these families and their interests and needs. :-)
I have not personally gone to Somerville schools, but I've known (and been a nanny for) kids who have. And I saw the effect of the schools on these kids. And it was sad. I even know of one family who was in the Unidos program and did have problems with a teacher. I'm sure the teacher was passionate about their work, but even the most fantastic teacher can't do much when repressed by politics. As a teacher I'm offended by what most teachers and students have to put up with in mainstream schools! (And yes, it is the case that the primary political goal of schools is to produce effective workers. You might not like it, and I hope you don't, but it's the truth.)
My goal is to help all students get the best education possible, based on what they want to learn about and what will help them be the kinds of people they want to become in life. The mainstream schools as they are now are in opposition to that.
And, yes, working together would be great. But as I've pointed out several times already, the superintendent doesn't want to. Thus, the DIY spirit that is so amazing in the Camberville area has been evoked!
Again, if you're happy with the schools the way they are, or even want to just tweak them a little, within the bounds of what the politicians allow you to, go for it. But don't force other families to do the same when they honestly believe that they can do better.
Re: Seriously?
Date: 2011-12-09 02:11 pm (UTC)> Do you seriously want to publicly say something like that about people
Having observed them and heard of their behavior recently, that's exactly how I would characterize them. At a PTA meeting someone recently asked a SPCS (the new charter) supporter giving info at a table, why they didn't want to send their kids to the existing charter school and their response was "Have you seen that place, it's a sea of black faces".
They've sneaked this proposal through without involving the community or making substantive attempts to involve the city and the school committee. A huge number of the very active and civically involved parents in the city were completely blindsided by this. They're trying to steamroll it through without concern for the rest of the community. There are other options whereby they could start a charter under the umbrella of the school committee, but they are butt-hurt that they didn't get their way at the Healy and that is why they are saying "screw you guys, we'll do it anyway, at a heavy cost to the rest of the community". I would not trust any child of mine with these inexperienced dogmatic control freaks.
Seriously, Seriously?!
Date: 2011-12-09 02:24 pm (UTC)And since the superintendent has already clarified his belief that nothing needs to be changed to meet the needs of these families, then obviously it would be moronic to try to work with the school system to fix the problem. DIY is the best way.
Maybe there is a bit of racism in that one person, but this democratic charter school is the most liberal thing I've ever seen in Somerville, so really, I think you are more likely making it up.
Re: Seriously, Seriously?!
Date: 2011-12-09 02:41 pm (UTC)Nothing of the sort. Don't twist my words. Firstly, I'm not claiming they're all racist. Secondly, you can be racist against blacks while supportive of immigrants; you don't have to be white anglo to be racist either.
However, this school is definitely not "designed and aimed at serving immigrants". The ELL aspect of the school is *inferior* to that which is currently in Somerville schools, and was tacked on late to give the proposal some weight and chance of success. I think this list archive is open to the public: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/somerville-4-schools/message/3862
> This democratic charter school is the most liberal thing I've ever seen in Somerville
Really!? The most liberal. It's utterly anti-liberal. Don't be lead astray by the "Progressive" in the name - that's a 100 year old educational term and is nothing to do with progressive politics. It's removing education from the control of democratically elected school boards to put public money in private hands. It calls itself "democratic" but then puts hurdles in the way of that democracy (can't run for office without spending time in the classroom) which will make elected office primarily for upper-middle class parents. It's all about dividing the school system into a two tier system for the haves and have-nots - leaving the SPS to pick up the pieces.
Try to see past the propaganda of the proposal and the proposers. For an excellent outline of why this is not the most liberal thing *anyone* has seen recently, read this excellent post: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/somerville-4-schools/message/3851
These questions should be asked of the organizers.
Date: 2011-12-09 02:54 pm (UTC)Re: These questions should be asked of the organizers.
Date: 2011-12-09 03:04 pm (UTC)I started out neutral and interested, but every new bit of information I discover has led me to be suspicious and now hostile to their intents. My utter lack of confidence in them and their ability to run a school would be enough on its own for me to object. However, the damage, division and inequity it brings to the city's school system adds to my misgivings.
It's only very recently they've put content on their website in response to the outcry over their secrecy with which they have been trying to push this through. They deny any secrecy, but as I said, the sheer numbers of involved parents who were completely unaware of this application belies that.
Re: These questions should be asked of the organizers.
Date: 2011-12-09 06:15 pm (UTC)Re: The school system is failing the families of those who are working to create this new school.
Date: 2011-12-09 05:08 am (UTC)This strikes me as the weakest of the arguments against the charter school. If the curricular approach that the charter school parents want was already available at the Healey, the founders would have no reason to want to create the charter school.
no subject
Date: 2011-12-09 03:19 am (UTC)Expanding the shools to allow for MORE diversity is good, in my opinion.
Date: 2011-12-09 12:41 pm (UTC)Re: Expanding the shools to allow for MORE diversity is good, in my opinion.
Date: 2011-12-09 05:55 pm (UTC)> of what kinds of programs meet their needs best?
Because that choice is only available to a few of them, and honestly, that choice is already available to a few of them. I want more diversity, but not at the expense of any viable options for educating the kids whose parents *don't* have time to argue endless about this on internet forums, and who have heard of Sprout, Arudinos, kinetic sculptures, and parts and crafts. Bring Parts and Crafts to the open elementary school (wait, wait, I believe that's already been done, yay Parts and Crafts!) Don't shut one down so that you can rent it to them so that only families that look like mine can go learn there in all sorts of ways, in their own languagues, and with evolving programs that bring Arduinos (ok, maybe just Lego Mindstorms) to their classrooms.
I'm fortunate enough that I can do all of that with my kid, but part of why I choose to participate in the public schools is to share what I can with the entire community, not take away from them .
Seriously, you were not talking about expanding the schools, you were talking about shutting *down* schools because Somerville needs more empty buildings to turn into fabulous pony-and-flower-filled fantasy world of learning and hacking that wouldn't be open to everyone or even necessarily provide more than an hour of stuff to do a day. That's reducing options, and extremely important ones in my book.
Unless you have a fantasy proposal for how all kids are going to get afforded the chance to do any of this cool stuff, instead of just yours or mine?
Re: Expanding the shools to allow for MORE diversity is good, in my opinion.
Date: 2011-12-09 06:06 pm (UTC)My goal is for every kid to have all these choices. Period. MORE diversity, as I said. You seem to want less. You don't want people to have the option to have another school, run differently, by people who really want to create a school. Clearly having another option, just as open and availble to everyone as the current schools, is good for Somerville. But you don't seem to want more diversity. You want people to be forced into using only what's currently available. That's pretty mean, if you ask me.
If you really want all kids to have all of these options, then encourage your own school to allow outside programs to use the building, for free, using any empty space that happens to be there. Alas, without the unions going away, it won't happen. So for now, creating a new school, free of those restrictive unions, is the best option.
Re: Expanding the shools to allow for MORE diversity is good, in my opinion.
Date: 2011-12-09 06:21 pm (UTC)(
I don't want THESE people to run THIS school with the money that should SERVE EVERYONE. I want more options, but I want them to not be one of those for-profit evil charter schools companies AND not to be something else that strikes me as equally damaging to our community.
Re: Expanding the shools to allow for MORE diversity is good, in my opinion.
Date: 2011-12-09 06:11 pm (UTC)