Starbase Victory program in Portsmouth (Virginia Beach, Norfolk: school district, college, live)

[Majestc24]

Does anyone know about this STEM program in Portsmouth public school for 4-6th graders? Would love to hear your thoughts. Thanks

[Spazkat9696]

Portsmouth public schools says it all. They are bad.

[randomlikeme]

Originally Posted by Spazkat9696

Portsmouth public schools says it all. They are bad.

I don't want to go on a rant about this, but maybe developing programs like this is showing that they are at least trying to do better and be better.

We are quick to judge "X is bad because it has always been bad! X is a bad city!" when maybe this is a good program overall and a good thing for P-town public schools and the kids in it, because I do not think they always have to be bad.

I know you are in education yourself, but I am hoping you can see that there can be good, dedicated teachers at "bad" public schools just as well as their can be horrible, lazy teachers at "good" public schools.... and "bad" schools need to start somewhere to improve!

It seems that this program includes goal setting, team work, introduction to computers.... and that there are projects that each student is trying to create (like a powered rocket) and all of the instructors have at least a master's degree. Seems like it could be a neat thing for kids. I hope it helps those kids to develop an interest in something!

[TN Lily]

I would go with Spazkat9696 on this. There is enough in the news about Portsmouth to realize that this city has major issues. I am pretty certain that Portsmouth schools are actually worse than Newport News. And I would NOT recommend those in NN.

[randomlikeme]

Again - it is not asking about Portsmouth Public Schools, but a particular PROGRAM within Portsmouth Public Schools.

There are a million threads discussing the public school systems of each city. This person didn't say, "I am hoping to send my kids to Portsmouth schools for this program. Is it worth it?" Could be they have a kid starting it and are wondering what it is like for them.

Not every post needs to turn into Portsmouth = BAD, everywhere else = GOOD. If the post asked about Portsmouth Public Schools speficially, then say they're bad.... but understand that even in a bad school system, there can be good things within them!

This particular program includes teachers with at the MINIMUM a master's degree. I would say in that case - it might be a very good program within a system with a larger subset of problems but that doesn't make the program bad.

[TN Lily]

Randomlikeme, do you have children in any of the local public school systems?

[randomlikeme]

Irrelevant, much like assessing the public school system when all that is mentioned is one program in particular.

I am a product of the public education system. I went to a failing public school in Pennsylvania for the foundation of my education, K-9. My dad, sister, and mother-in-law are all teachers or retired teachers. The school was worse than Portsmouth's public schools, comparatively. All of whom have teached in VB, Norfolk, Suffolk. I have pals who teach in Portsmouth, VB, Norfolk, Chesapeake. All of whom are fine educators who truly care about the kids and their careers.

I stand by the statement of no child will be a failure due to their public school system and there is a lot a parent can do to foster the education and intellectual growth of their child. If you would look at the statistics of the school where I spent the majority of my time, I was not expected to succeed when my family moved to Virginia Beach. Guidance counsellors confirmed that by trying to talk me out of courses I wanted to take. I ended up third in my graduating class, which if you would go by where I had most of my education it wouldn't make any sense! I have also graduated from a state college with many Portsmouth graduates and do not feel like they were in any way beneath me due to being Portsmouth grads.

I just choose to believe that a good deal of education comes from parents having an active role in their child's life. I also choose to believe that schools many see as "bad" are not all inherently bad. If someone lives in Portsmouth because it is what they can afford and their kids attend Portsmouth public schools, it doesn't mean they're doomed for failure or that this program might not help them to teach the skills that are not tested on any mandated state tests.

That is ALL. Peace.

[Spazkat9696]

Originally Posted by randomlikeme

Again - it is not asking about Portsmouth Public Schools, but a particular PROGRAM within Portsmouth Public Schools.

There are a million threads discussing the public school systems of each city. This person didn't say, "I am hoping to send my kids to Portsmouth schools for this program. Is it worth it?" Could be they have a kid starting it and are wondering what it is like for them.

Not every post needs to turn into Portsmouth = BAD, everywhere else = GOOD. If the post asked about Portsmouth Public Schools speficially, then say they're bad.... but understand that even in a bad school system, there can be good things within them!

This particular program includes teachers with at the MINIMUM a master's degree. I would say in that case - it might be a very good program within a system with a larger subset of problems but that doesn't make the program bad.

A lot more goes into a school than teacher. You could have a school of super teachers but if the administration is no good the school will not be successful. You already commented on the importance of parents, but it's more than just parents it's the whole community. If you are in a community where education is not valued you will not value it either. Clearly there exceptions to the rule, but all the ptown students I have met were at least a year behind their same grade peers in other districts despite making As in ptown.

As for this particular program it may be great. The fact remains it is basically a field trip for 4-5 consecutive days a year and wouldn't be enough to offset the overall issues with the public schools in ptown.

[TN Lily]

I agree with what Spazkat9696 said. At some point, a parent is likely to have to deal with the administration of the school, whether it be a vice-principal, principal or someone in the main office. A school is far more than the teacher in the classroom.

A bad administration typically fails to support not only the students and their parents, but also their own teachers. The effect is felt throughout the system and affects the quality of education.

Randomlikeme, it sounds to me like you do not have any experience dealing with a public school system as a parent.

[randomlikeme]

If someone asks, "How is this program at Maury High?" and you say, "Bad because Norfolk Public Schools are bad." Is that actually answering the question?

It does not matter where my kids go, where your kids go, where anyone else's kids go.

What matters is the question being asked.

Would I choose for my kids to go to said school for the program? No. However, if my kids were already enrolled in the school because that is where I lived and I were trying to get answers on a particular program I wanted more information about and all I get is "X Schools are bad" I would be annoyed. My question wasn't "Are Portsmouth Public Schools bad?" My question was, "How is X program as my child may already be enrolled there anyway?"

We can fight about what is wrong with our public education system in the education forum.

I just assume if someone comes here to ask a question - you answer the actual question. My thought on the program is it could be a good thing for kids who might need to see something tangible as a result of education and it could develop a love of learning in kids where it wasn't previously there. Don't care what school district it is.