Mayor Walsh tapped for Labor Secretary (Boston, Lenox: station, complaints, job)

[id77]

Originally Posted by msRB311

'I'm open to hearing alternative ideas that give underserved and disadvantaged families the same chance to excel and prove they're every bit as capable as the advantaged ones'

You do realize that there are plenty of advantaged ones who don't excel right?

Yes, but not for lack of opportunity.

[bigfatdude]

Originally Posted by BostonBornMassMade

Khymani James’ Columbia application essay on exam school admissions

Khymani James, a senior at Boston Latin Academy, was elected by the Boston Student Advisory Council to be their representative to the School Committee. He’s been accepted to Columbia University for next year. This is what he wrote as his personal essay.

Aside from Khymani, from what I understand a good number of students (seems like a majority) at the exam schools don't want exams. And they took the exams themselves. I understand these are just children but these are supposedly our cities brightest children. And they are actually in the schools so that should count for something. But then again I know some students still want exams.

Much-needed social justice brownie points along with "f*ck you, I got mine and I don't give two sh*ts about what happens after" attitude - brilliant! Obviously nothing to worry about now that the acceptance letter fat envelopes are in the mailbox and you won't have to spend the whole day watching your teachers having things thrown at them being called all sorts of fun names, standard-issue BPS style.

[msRB311]

Originally Posted by id77

Yes, but not for lack of opportunity.

Right, they have to want the opportunity and have the intellect of reaching the opportunity as well. Rich parent does not necessarily equal great kid.

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by id77

I'm open to hearing alternative ideas that give underserved and disadvantaged families the same chance to excel and prove they're every bit as capable as the advantaged ones. Poor families don't have the resources for tutors and focused education environments at home to train their kids to ace the entrance exam. It's not enough to have the aptitude if one can never even have the opportunity to develop that aptitude.

It's not to say some from disadvantaged families don't still get in and succeed, but the fact that such success stories are regarded as the exception to the rule screams at the imbalance. Nobody who possesses the aptitude should ever be an exception because of their background, and yet they are.

Exams are a very good tool in measuring how able a student is to succeed in that environment. If one can't master that testing aspect by 6th (or 8th) grade, it's unlikely they will graduate from Boston Latin unless they lower their standards to cater to that group.

[BostonBornMassMade]

Originally Posted by massnative71

Nice eliminate the gang unit at the same time gang related shootings are on a dramatic upswing. Bicycle units are proven in their effectiveness at crime prevention. Seriously how do these folks come up with this stuff?

For once you and I agree.

I don’t see the value in getting rid of those units. Bicycle folks are friendly and helpful. Gang Unit in a city with 100+ gangs is a must. Gangs in Boston are the most brash and bold they’ve been in 25 years. I’d be open to restructuring or eliminating the gang database though. Their criteria is wayyy to subjective

But Campbell has never been my top pick.

I understand where she’s owing from to an extent I follow BPD on Facebook and the gang unit does recover many illegal firearms.. but even people -Republicans and conservatives- from out of state comment there are some egregiously shady or illegal searches happening in Boston’s gang areas virtually everyday. If not flat out illegal, theyre sketchy at best. Hard to balance the fact that I think they make a positive impact with the fact that they are likely violating constitutional rights of the people.

[id77]

Originally Posted by BostonBornMassMade

Khymani James’ Columbia application essay on exam school admissions

Khymani James, a senior at Boston Latin Academy, was elected by the Boston Student Advisory Council to be their representative to the School Committee. He’s been accepted to Columbia University for next year. This is what he wrote as his personal essay.

Aside from Khymani, from what I understand a good number of students (seems like a majority) at the exam schools don't want exams. And they took the exams themselves. I understand these are just children but these are supposedly our cities brightest children. And they are actually in the schools so that should count for something. But then again I know some students still want exams.

I'm inclined to agree with them, and agree with his sentiment that schools across the board need better resources rather than us focusing efforts on only the top schools.

Originally Posted by BostonBornMassMade

Exams are a very good tool in measuring how able a student is to succeed in that environment. If one can't master that testing aspect by 6th (or 8th) grade, it's unlikely they will graduate from Boston Latin unless they lower their standards to cater to that group.

Disagree. Tests like the SAT/ACT are built such that it's less about what you know and more about training to the test itself. There's too much emphasis on exam scores (mainly I imagine because funding gets stapled to them) and not enough on actual, meaningful education. It's that 'teaching to the test' need that skews the advantage back to the families with the means to run their kids through the SAT tutor/training gauntlets, and it's doing our students a disservice by focusing on test-taking instead of knowledge and its applications.

My guess is such exams largely exist because they have the air of objectivity and thus are a seemingly unbiased means of assessing intelligence and skill. I think that objectivity is deceptive, though, as not all students are good at the same skills, just as all employees in a company aren't good at the same skills. I also concede I don't immediately have a better solution; if I did, I'd be screaming it from the rooftops and voting in anyone who would implement it.

[msRB311]

What would be the point of eliminating the gang unit? Of all units...and how are they violating the rights of people?

[BostonBornMassMade]

Weird, I didn’t type that last comment , Id. That was someone else’s comment. Dunno how my name got on there.

[Lampert]

Originally Posted by BostonBornMassMade

Andrea Campbell wants to reallocate $50 million dollars of BPD Funds to public health

I think this point is a good idea. Mental health issues should almost never be addressed by regular police, we need specialized people.

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by id77

Disagree. Tests like the SAT/ACT are built such that it's less about what you know and more about training to the test itself. There's too much emphasis on exam scores (mainly I imagine because funding gets stapled to them) and not enough on actual, meaningful education. It's that 'teaching to the test' need that skews the advantage back to the families with the means to run their kids through the SAT tutor/training gauntlets, and it's doing our students a disservice by focusing on test-taking instead of knowledge and its applications.

My guess is such exams largely exist because they have the air of objectivity and thus are a seemingly unbiased means of assessing intelligence and skill. I think that objectivity is deceptive, though, as not all students are good at the same skills, just as all employees in a company aren't good at the same skills. I also concede I don't immediately have a better solution; if I did, I'd be screaming it from the rooftops and voting in anyone who would implement it.

I think it should be some combination of test scores and GPA. But fact still remains that if one lacks that test taking ability, a school like BLS is probably a poor fit for them. Doesn't mean there shouldn't be options for them to succeed elsewhere.