Parents Frustrated With Government School Failure Want Control
March 7, 2012 by Sam Rolley
Frustrated with the failed bureaucracy that has left one local school operating less-than-satisfactorily, parents in the small desert town of Adelanto, Calif., have decided to take over the school and fix its problems themselves.
Through a 2010 California law, the parents are working up a petition that will allow them to do such things as fire the school’s principal, close the school and reopen it as an independent charter.
“We just decided we needed to do something for our children,” Doreen Diaz, a parent organizing the trigger effort told The Washington Post. “If we don’t stand up and speak for them, their future is lost.”
According to the newspaper, Diaz’s daughter attends Desert Trails Elementary where last year two-thirds of students failed the State reading exams, half were not proficient in math and 80 percent failed the science exam. The school has reportedly for the past six years been ranked among the bottom 10 percent of schools in the State.
If the parents are successful, they are seeking to get preschool classes, a longer school day, a computer lab, every teacher to have a master’s degree, a full-time librarian and clean, working restrooms, among other things at the school. The district school superintendent says the demands are impossible to meet because of financial constraints.
Parents in other school districts throughout the Nation have taken similar steps. The Florida Legislature is voting on a parent trigger this week, and at least a dozen other States are weighing similar measures this year, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Comments
Here's a good example of what a "rudimentary" education can lead to.
The founder of John Deere (the farm impliment company) started out as a blacksmith apprentice at age of 17. He later designed the first self-scouring steel plow. He got the idea from when he was a little boy he would clean the rust off his mothers sewing needles by repeatedly poking them into a small cloth bag filled with sand.
There is much that is NOT taught in our public schools these day, that should be. Instead, the curiculum seems to be gear towards making our kids more dependent on government and less on themselves. Have you heard of any public school that teaches how to grow a garden and preserve what is grown? Of course not, that might make the kids grow up to be more INDEPENDENT.
There are many big companies in existance today, that were started by people that didn't have fancy educations. Instead, they had imaginations and a drive to explore the ideas they imagined. All one really needs to know, is how to read well and understand what they read. If you have that, you can pretty well educate yourself in any field you are interested in.
Abraham Lincoln only had 52 weeks of formal education, the rest was homeschooling or self-teaching through READING.
Well Hell! I don't know calculus, physics, chemistry etc. BUT Thank God my kids were good students and graduated. I am so relieved that they are no longer in the school system. It has become nothing but a political machine. I worry for my grandkids. My oldest granddaughter goes to a Charter School but I am not sure thats any better. I am trying to talk my kids into homeschooling. I actually did it for a yr when my 2 oldest were in 3rd and 4th grade. They had no problem when they got back into school the following year
Harappan.man,
You are fortunate. Perhaps your school isn't rittled with liberal teachers, as many are. Or perhaps your school board members are more conservative than in some school districts, and are better at vetting the staff that are hired.
Your concerns about parents that don't have diplomas, that home school, seems eletist. Are you aware, that in many schools the kids are graduating who can't even handle BASIC math, let alone the other math course you mentioned. It's quite possible that the kids that are homeschooled by parents that didn't get their own diploma's just might get an education that will be as valueable if not more so, than what they youngin's might have gotten in public school. Like a good healthy dose of "COMMON SENSE".
Contrary to popular opinion, not ALL kids are college material. Many would be better served if they were taught trade skills. What good will it do us to make engineers out of everyong if there isn't anyone trained in turning wrenches, welding, carpentry, etc. to build what the engineers design? Have you ever heard the phrase, "Too many chiefs, not enought indians"?
im amazed, teachers teach out of books, theres nouthing, scientific,mistical, your telling me that a parent cant do the same job. just read to your kids and parents learn also. come on!
Get on line with John Hagee ministries. They have k-12 schooling for people who want to home school their children. They are accredited for most colleges and universities. Tell the public ed system that it has failed and no longer deserves your tax dollars or support. You won't have to worry about perverts molesting your children and teaching that homosexual life styles are okay. Take a stand for your childen and America.
If you are looking into supplementing your child's education check out this classical on line school: http://www.fpeusa.org/
Get rid of Teachers Unions!
Ditto, Martin!
Parents: Teach your children at home about the people who brought us our freedom. Display a HistoryStrip at home! http://www.historystrips.com
It is so frustrating, trying to fight "the system" when you have to work two jobs, pay your taxes that pay for the "schools" and then, when you listen to what your child says about what he is being taught or not being taught in that "school" (that I pay for with my taxes), it is maddening! When my son was growing up, I kept a close eye on his homework, his books and listened to what he said about what went on in "school" that day. It was outrageous! When I would call to question, comment or complain, I would be ignored or dismissed with a condescending attitude from a person who makes over $100k/yr to administer a "school" where students graduate without actually knowing much of anything. Part of the problem is lack of accountability or interest in what parents think, believe or consider important.
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