Albuquerque Public School Crimes (relocate to, teacher, company)

[SunshineAlly]

Originally Posted by midwest liberal

Before I moved to Albuquerque, I saw Karmathekats posts and thought, no way, it cant be that bad. And then moved into APS instead of Rio Rancho and turned down two charter schools for my son, we lasted one year before I finally found a job in TN. I would encourage you and anyone else to take her posts and advice seriously. Administrators that actually care can make or break an educational system.

We moved to Albuquerque from the midwest 4 years ago and I actually had the same reaction to posts about the schools. I thought surely the schools in the neighborhood where we were lived would not be bad. I was wrong. Even the "best" APS schools were not up to par with the schools we left in the midwest academically or safety-wise. After La Cueva hired a full time guidance counselor to deal specifically with drug issues last spring, we had had enough and moved back to the midwest. My kids straight A's from their schools in ABQ are now A's and B's, but I feel their education is greatly improved and they will be better prepared for college. And while I understand kids will find drugs anywhere if they want to - a school hiring a full time guidance counselor to deal with drug abuse is a huge red flag that it is a MAJOR problem.

90,000 students is too big of a school district to effectively manage. No doubt there are many good teachers and many more well-intentioned teachers - but the teacher training in NM is crappy. I have a elementary license from NM after taking master's level classes through UNM and can attest it was far too easy. I had straight A's and feel like I didn't learn anything that any knowledgeable professional wouldn't already know for the most part. I am now jumping through major hoops to get that license to transfer and having to study many things never covered at UNM.

[midwest liberal]

Originally Posted by SunshineAlly

We moved to Albuquerque from the midwest 4 years ago and I actually had the same reaction to posts about the schools. I thought surely the schools in the neighborhood where we were lived would not be bad. I was wrong. Even the "best" APS schools were not up to par with the schools we left in the midwest academically or safety-wise. After La Cueva hired a full time guidance counselor to deal specifically with drug issues last spring, we had had enough and moved back to the midwest. My kids straight A's from their schools in ABQ are now A's and B's, but I feel their education is greatly improved and they will be better prepared for college. And while I understand kids will find drugs anywhere if they want to - a school hiring a full time guidance counselor to deal with drug abuse is a huge red flag that it is a MAJOR problem.

90,000 students is too big of a school district to effectively manage. No doubt there are many good teachers and many more well-intentioned teachers - but the teacher training in NM is crappy. I have a elementary license from NM after taking master's level classes through UNM and can attest it was far too easy. I had straight A's and feel like I didn't learn anything that any knowledgeable professional wouldn't already know for the most part. I am now jumping through major hoops to get that license to transfer and having to study many things never covered at UNM.

We lasted one year before moving out.

[midwest liberal]

In Albuquerque, which started tracking arrests after noticing more minor cases coming from schools, more than 900 of the district's 90,000 students were referred to the criminal justice system in the 2009-2010 school year. Of those, more than 500 were handcuffed, arrested and brought to juvenile detention, officials said. More than 200 were arrested for minor offenses, including disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, refusing to obey and interference with staff.
Preliminary numbers indicate arrests have fallen 53 percent since the class-action lawsuit was filed in 2010, prompting law enforcement officials to order more caution.
Albuquerque school officials have declined comment on school arrests, citing the pending litigation.
But juvenile advocates and parents say first arrests could lead to more trouble.
Annette Montano says her 13-year-old son was arrested at a middle school for burping in gym class. The tension between him and school officials led to several more run-ins, she said, including a strip search after he was accused of selling drugs.

[midwest liberal]

Hundreds of APS kids handcuffed: report

School district is being sued for hundreds of arrests, many for nonviolent misdemeanor offenses.

[N8!]

Awesome!

[midwest liberal]

Originally Posted by N8!

Awesome!

It is sad to think of the kids affected...

[Merlander]

Originally Posted by SunshineAlly

And while I understand kids will find drugs anywhere if they want to - a school hiring a full time guidance counselor to deal with drug abuse is a huge red flag that it is a MAJOR problem.

The flip-side of that argument is they're acknowledging there's a problem, and are willing to act to correct that problem. If only all school systems were so proactive.

[midwest liberal]

Originally Posted by Merlander

The flip-side of that argument is they're acknowledging there's a problem, and are willing to act to correct that problem. If only all school systems were so proactive.

Well when the problems are as bad as they are, they are impossible to ignore.

[midwest liberal]

Even parent involvement does not seem to make a difference, Parents were protesting the bullying policy back in April after a middle school student was beaten up. Parents, students protest APS bullying policy | KOB.com

[NMHacker]

Thank God you left, right. Obviously you want to only complain. You only post in this forum negativity. How about posting about how to work to correct problems. Or just keep you head in your little paradise you're living in now and move on since Abq is not your community any longer.