Mayor's latest plan offers nothing new
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has proposed a detailed nine-point plan aimed at dramatically improving Los Angeles Unified's dropout rate -- a plan that is virtually identical to efforts already in place in the district.
The plan, part of an 18-month review of best practices at schools across the country, proposes everything from boosting after-school programs to improving tracking of at-risk students.
But the district already began implementing such measures last year, raising questions about whether Villaraigosa's vision of school reform is a blueprint that will truly make a difference.
And even though the district and the mayor's efforts appear similar, UCLA professor John Rogers said it's too early to conclude they are the right steps.
``All of the ideas are positive,'' he said. ``Whether they're enough to make a substantial difference is a harder question.''
The Mayor's Office defended its dropout proposal, saying it differs significantly from district efforts because it emphasizes ending the practice of promoting students to the next grade even if they're not ready.
Officials also note the district's dropout efforts have been sporadic and the mayor's plan would emphasize creating smaller, more personalized schools to reduce dropouts.
``There is no evidence that the district has moved to implement a dropout reduction plan with the required urgency to solve the problem,'' said Marshall Tuck, education advisor to the mayor.
``What we need is leaders committed to a total realignment of the organization.''
Comments
Economy of Scale (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_scale) is an idea that is lost on politics and the LAUSD! How come private schools get much better students for the same or less money than what is spent on public school kids? Vouchers seems a good idea to me... oh, right, the Union doesn't like vouchers 'cause the Union doesn't want to help students, they just want to help themselves. If you don't believe that, then you've already drank the kool-aid. Same with our Mayor. He's on his high-horse and has an answer for everything, as long as he looks good or it doens't do him much harm in the long run.
Posted by: save-my-green-beans
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March 22, 2007 8:26 AM
When the Mayor first announced his desire to lead LAUSD, I have to admit I had high hopes. Here was someone who seemed willing to stake his personal and political prestige on a problem that for years has plagued our society.
What a disappointment. So far, all of his ideas seem to be retreads or fluff. The dropout plan seems to be more of the same. I don’t know for sure which number to use, the district’s 25% dropout rate, or Harvard Universities’ 50%. I just know that either number is way too high.
The answer is not to raise the bar. The answer is not to track the kids as they leave school. Frequently, I tell my middle school students that no trumpets blare on the day a student drops out. It’s much simpler than that. One day, a student turns off the alarm clock and crawls back in bed. A few years later they realize that was the day.
Until this school district gives these students a reason to stay in school, the dropout rate will continue to be astronomical. There is a great fallacy in education today, everyone is going to college.
College attendance is at an all time high, but it has never been and never will be for everyone. As long as our schools requires only college preparatory academic courses, students who realize they are not going to college will drop out. Why wouldn’t they? Why continue in a system that is not willing to offer what a student needs to survive?
The problems education face need solutions that demonstrate thinking outside the box.
Posted by: Smiley | March 22, 2007 10:01 AM
You have a good point there, Smiley. Not every kid is destined for college, nor should they be. But in order to feed the union greed, school districts have dropped subjects like physical education and arts, and most importantly, trade classes. Perhaps kids with little acadamic talent should be released in the 9th or 10th grade, reduce high school funding, and divert the funding to non-union public trade schools and those students with them.
Posted by: Truth Mustbetold
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March 22, 2007 11:03 AM
Wow. I agree with both Smiley and Truth Mustbetold. College is definitely not for everyone, yet look at all the useless liberal art classes and majors that have developed over the years! Those fluff classes don't prepare anyone for the real world. Trade classes should be high HIGH on the list of things to change the LAUSD. Metal shop, carpentry, even printshop was around when I was in high school.
And if everyone went to college, it would saturate the market with useless college degrees. We need good paying skills of plumbers and electricians. And where the hell are the parents of these dropouts? Is it really the school's responsibility to keep kids in school? In my day, getting F's or dropping out was cause for shame on the family. I guess we are not in Kansas anymore!
Posted by: save-my-green-beans
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March 22, 2007 11:27 AM
Truth, one point I'd like to clarify. It was not the union that brought an end to trade classes, that was a small department in LAUSD called risk management. The Lawyers, concerned only about lawsuits from parents over kids with missing digits. The union fought long and hard to retain these classes, recognizing the need for those students who were looking for a trade.
By the way, this is the same department that is actively trying to end field trips for the kids because of the "risk" associated with letting kids out of their cages.
I don't mind you blaming the union for things like salary or benefits packages, though I still believe it is the market economics that drive those things, but at least recognize the role of lawyers play in the education or lack thereof in our schools.
Posted by: Smiley | March 22, 2007 11:54 AM
Smiley, I can accept your explanation about the cancelling of trade classes. Makes sense. Certainly, this overly litigious society is also a major cause of problems. We have too many politicians from the law profession enacting laws that benefit their profession.
Posted by: Truth Mustbetold
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March 22, 2007 3:19 PM