How to fix metro Atlanta's public schools... (credit, neighborhoods)

[equinox63]

What can be done to improve metro Atlanta's ailing public school systems? Specifically Dekalb and Fulton Counties... even APS? There seems to be a bit of disparity between the north and south sides or both counties. What can be done to equalize and bolster public education... or are you an advocate of complete privatization? Please be specific...

[lastminutemom]

Parental involvement which will improve schools regardless of racial and socio-economic differences. Take a look at DeKalb's theme schools (Marbut, Bouie, etc) nearly 100 percent minority have relatively high (though not for DeKalb) poverty levels. These schools consistently outscore both the system (not saying much) and the state. They also really outscore the surrounding schools which is notable since the students much live in those schools neighborhoods to attend these schools. (Theme schools were built to relieve overcrowding at specific schools, so only students from those schools can attend these schools.)

Parents have to opt in for their children and then must do at least 12 volunteer hours a year (I think it is much more) and there is a very strict uniform code and tons of homework. These schools, though, aren't for everyone as the teaching styles are quite rigid and not very creative.

Simply dropping a child off at a school, even a good one, isn't enough. Dr. Lewis of DeKalb has really been preaching this message for the last couple of months. You can take your poor student, who is also poorly behaved, and put him at the best school and he will still be a poor students who is poorly behaved.

Among some cultures, education is not valued. Among most parents today, there is a desire for little Johnny an little Jane to feel good about themselves regardless of whether they deserve to. My friends in S. DeKalb say there is a tremendous amount of concern about self-esteem and not enough concern about academics. I recently met a principal who told me he couldn't get students to do homework. On the Northside, these kids seem to flunk out.

Parental involvement is the key along with high parental expectations.

[tonygeorgia]

nothing, i blame the parents

[equinox63]

Originally Posted by lastminutemom

Parental involvement which will improve schools regardless of racial and socio-economic differences. Take a look at DeKalb's theme schools (Marbut, Bouie, etc) nearly 100 percent minority have relatively high (though not for DeKalb) poverty levels. These schools consistently outscore both the system (not saying much) and the state. They also really outscore the surrounding schools which is notable since the students much live in those schools neighborhoods to attend these schools. (Theme schools were built to relieve overcrowding at specific schools, so only students from those schools can attend these schools.)

Parents have to opt in for their children and then must do at least 12 volunteer hours a year (I think it is much more) and there is a very strict uniform code and tons of homework. These schools, though, aren't for everyone as the teaching styles are quite rigid and not very creative.

Simply dropping a child off at a school, even a good one, isn't enough. Dr. Lewis of DeKalb has really been preaching this message for the last couple of months. You can take your poor student, who is also poorly behaved, and put him at the best school and he will still be a poor students who is poorly behaved.

Among some cultures, education is not valued. Among most parents today, there is a desire for little Johnny an little Jane to feel good about themselves regardless of whether they deserve to. My friends in S. DeKalb say there is a tremendous amount of concern about self-esteem and not enough concern about academics. I recently met a principal who told me he couldn't get students to do homework. On the Northside, these kids seem to flunk out.

Parental involvement is the key along with high parental expectations.

good points...

[gt6974a]

Originally Posted by joe2000

nothing, i blame the parents

^ Yeah, no kidding, I'm tired of hearing 'How do we improve the schools?'

How about 'How do parents improve themselves?', and then 'How do parents improve their kids?'. That might trickle down into ' How do we improve elected officials?', and then you might NOT HAVE TO ASK, 'How to we get accreditation back?'

[equinox63]

Originally Posted by gt6974a

^ Yeah, no kidding, I'm tired of hearing 'How do we improve the schools?'

How about 'How do parents improve themselves?', and then 'How do parents improve their kids?'. That might trickle down into ' How do we improve elected officials?', and then you might NOT HAVE TO ASK, 'How to we get accreditation back?'

In that case, how do we increase parental involvement? How to get parents to invest in their children's education?

[gt6974a]

Originally Posted by equinox63

In that case, how do we increase parental involvement? How to get parents to invest in their children's education?

Tell them that for every D or F their kid receives, they have to spend a week in jail, in the same cell as their dumb a$$ kid.

Sounds harsh, but I bet it would work.

[equinox63]

Originally Posted by gt6974a

Tell them that for every D or F their kid receives, they have to spend a week in jail, in the same cell as their dumb a$$ kid.

Sounds harsh, but I bet it would work.

How do we get schools to enforce harsh penalties? In many schools, a students has to almost literally kill someone to be expelled? The parents vehemently rebel what does not constitute as sliding their kid by. It's everybody else's fault but their child's...

And since you mentioned it, how to get legislation passed to jail the parents of failing kids?

Needless to say, it would be pandemonium. So what would really work?

[gt6974a]

Originally Posted by equinox63

How do we get schools to enforce harsh penalties? In many schools, a students has to almost literally kill someone to be expelled? The parents vehemently rebel what does not constitute as sliding their kid by. It's everybody else's fault but their child's...

And since you mentioned it, how to get legislation passed to jail the parents of failing kids?

Needless to say, it would be pandemonium. So what would really work?

Nothing is ever going to really work. It's a lost cause. Life isn't tought enough for dumb a$$es. Once it become that way, maybe it'll change.

[equinox63]

Originally Posted by gt6974a

Nothing is ever going to really work. It's a lost cause. Life isn't tought enough for dumb a$$es. Once it become that way, maybe it'll change.

So you are saying that there's nothing that can be done and we should just give up on education period? In other words, let an entire generation degenerate into lawless ignorance?