New Haven Independent

Posted by: Ned | July 22, 2009 9:24 AM

"Mayo said that in his view the three touchstones of a kid's life are home, school, and church or synagogue." What, no pagan temples, sacred groves, mosques, stupas, Hindu temples??? Superstition should be a part of every child's life...

Posted by: anon | July 22, 2009 11:22 AM

"Parental involvement" only goes so far. Talking about that as the main issue is shifting the responsibility away from where it really lies.

Children in urban districts are permanently disadvantaged not just because of a lack of early literacy experience or need for school reform, but also because of the toxic urban environment and lack of summer enrichment. I hope that any discussion of school improvements in this city will also cover topics such as summer opportunities for children, stress (economic and environmental), environmental racism, air pollution from automobiles and "bunker fuel," ambient noise, public safety and lack of recreational facilities.

There are many compelling studies showing that these factors are actually far more important than what is done in the schools. It's time to stop glossing over the truth and address the real underlying issues within public health and education, not just the ones that people already happen to be paying money towards.

Posted by: why sell youth short | July 22, 2009 11:36 AM

I believe that engaging parents and allowing them to feel empowered is key with a childs success in this school system. If people in control of education have the attitude that "they know whats best for the communities children without the parents involvement" with these rules for schools then we would'nt have this rediculous excuse for a sound education system it could have easily be fixed but to keep people making money and staying in their respective positions including the mayor and Mayo
we are still failing falling behind with beautiful buildings. Parents that are involved need to be able to help make decisions or advise these leaders who know so much and be held accountable if they don't act in the interest of the kids and families(leaders). I do like the idea of more clinicians only if they are'nt there to prescribe meds for kids who's problems are not medical it societal lets do the hard work together and stop trying to put bandaids on an open wound that is are education system.

Posted by: robn | July 22, 2009 4:59 PM

ANON,

Parental involvement is EVERYTHING. A school is not a parent and never will be. If kids come to school with no discipline and unprepared to learn then forget it. The parents of misbehaving kids are damaging the system for everyone else.

Posted by: Tim Holahan | July 23, 2009 9:51 AM

I'm disappointed that only a quarter of the Board would show up for this meeting. What is more important than this project?

The work of the BoA's own Budget Review Panel (in which I participated) showed that more than half of all city spending goes to education. We spend almost as much per student as it costs to send a child to Foote School, but the performance of our schools and our students is on the whole simply unacceptable.

The mayor's new reform initiative may or may not be election year politics, but clearly it's in response to a growing demand from citizen activists for a more creative and accountability-driven approach to education in the city.

It will not succeed, however, without a strong and sustained commitment to oversight by the aldermen and the citizens.

The Budget Panel called on the aldermen to appoint a citizen panel to provide independent oversight on the reform initiative. I'm going to do what I can to push the board to follow through on this. If such legislation is introduced, I hope Independent readers will let their aldermen know that they support it.

Posted by: FIX THE SCHOOLS | July 24, 2009 12:10 PM

ROBN,

You've said this before. I continue to disagree with your conclusion.

There is no question that parents ARE critical to a successful educational experience. BUT if there is a lack of a strong parent presence at home then the system MUST compensate.

The good news is that there are plenty of school examples that have shown us that education can be delivered successfully to kids who come from very tough home situations. Poverty conditions or uninvolved parents are simply not a legitmate excuse for the gap in academic success.

Posted by: teachergal | July 25, 2009 8:56 AM

Robyn, you are totally right on!!!!

I am a NHPS teacher. As a child growing up in a family of six children, my parents were not involved in our education as much as the could or should have been by todays standards. They did what they could by providing us with a clean place (the kitchen table) for us to do our homework and tried to help whenever possible. As I remember, they did go to parent teacher conferences but that was about it. But, when and if they were called about a situation, my brothers and I would get the necessary discipline to solve the problem. The teacher was never cursed out or yelled at over the phone, we were the beneficiaries of some sort of punishment and we knew it!

Unfortunately, nowadays, if you can get a hold of a parent, if the number is right, if they decide to pick up, and if they will listen to the problem and take responsibility for their child, there is a 50/50 chance of parents taking responsibility. I don't mean to insult anyone here, but I can't tell you how many times I hav been yelled at, insulted, or told to get another job just because I called a parent about their child's progress or behavior. The children know this and thus they laugh at teachers when they are told their parents are to be called. Then when you do reach a parent they either yell at you or want to talk about the other students who may or may not be involved in the problem. Times have changed let's face it.

Believe me, it is hard to talk to parents who are argumentative and belligerent. Yes, they might have good reasons for their anger, yes maybe they did not have a good school experience, and yes, this and that but how does that help the child? Teachers know the importance of parent communication but when parents don't want to hear it and can't take responsibility what is the use. But we persist!

Lastly, I agree, every child should be "afforded" the opportunity to go to college but this year I worked with at least 50% of students who could not read and respond to literature @ their grade level. As teachers, we provide the lessons and instruction but if the students are not going to take advantage of education there is not much we can do. And so far as extending the school day, the worst possible idea, unless you are providing activities that kids like and homework help that allows them to be able to participate in those activities, it will be a labor in futility. The day is long enough, the kids just have to take advantage during the school day.

Posted by: Mr. Woodberry | August 27, 2009 7:17 PM

I'm all the way out here in Sacramento, CA, & my wife & I chose to put our daughter into a charter school rather than the public school that's around the corner from our house for one main reason: the emphasis on college. We're both actively involved in our daughter's school by serving in parent-teacher committees & we have a running dialogue with the dyamic young principal. Here's the link to their site: http://www.aspirepublicschools.org/?q=sacramento

I grew up in New Haven, & my brother & my sisters are NHPS products. I went to Barnard, Roger Sherman, Troup & Hillhouse in the 70's & 80's, & throughout that time, my mother Christine was active in the PTA; she made sure not only my family & I, but every kid in school was being properly addressed; matter of fact, she was the one who got all the restrooms renovated at Troup back around the early 80's, when I was in the 6th grade.

My point is this: parents need to get involved. They have to want to first. I understand there's been a vicious cycle of poverty, violence, & utter despair that's been present since my time there, & it's only gotten worse. I still have family there, & know what they've been through. I know out here in Sacramento Kevin Johnson, the Mayor, has an organization called St. Hope. about 4 years ago, his alma mater, Sacramento High, was the worst performing school in the district, so his organization took it over after the city shut it down. It became a charter school broken up into several academies, & now it's one of the best high schools in the STATE! Of course Mr. Johnson had to vacate his position in order to run for mayor, but what he did was bold & viciously opposed by many, but he did it. I applaud Dr. Mayo & Garth Harries on what they're attempting to do, but Rome wasn't built in a day...