Friday, May 05, 2006

California parents, taxpayers, finally understand government schools are failing their children

Californians have a low opinion of the state's education system, with residents of Los Angeles taking a dimmer view of their public schools than those in any other region, a poll released Thursday says. The Public Policy Institute of California survey found that just 15 percent of Los Angeles County residents gave the local public schools an A grade and 14 percent gave a D or F. By comparison, Orange County and San Diego residents gave their schools the highest rating, with 25 percent giving an A, and only 7 percent giving a D or F.

Los Angeles Unified School District board President Marlene Canter said the public perception lags the actual improvements the district has undergone in test scores and others areas in the last few years. "We're dealing with 30 years of neglect," Canter said. "What we have seen in the last six years is more progress than has happened over the last 30. "I think it will take time for the perception of success to catch up. We're moving in the right direction." She said, for example, the district has shown one of the best improvements in API scores at the elementary level in the state. One problem facing the district, she said, is adequately communicating some of the successes to the public.

The poll comes as Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is pushing a controversial effort to establish control over the Los Angeles Unified School District. Villaraigosa said he was not surprised by the survey's findings. "I think there are a lot of reasons people are unhappy with their schools," Villaraigosa said. "I think people are looking for change and fundamental reform in the education system." He noted that statewide, education is underfunded and per-pupil spending in California is near the bottom among the states. "It's no wonder people are upset with the schools," he said. Villaraigosa's comments came at a news conference where he promised to take an active role to win voter support for Proposition 82, the measure on the June ballot that would increase income taxes on those making over $400,000 a year to fund a statewide preschool program.

The poll found 51 percent of likely voters support Proposition 82, and 40 percent oppose it. That measure would impose taxes on the wealthy, but the poll found most average Californians wouldn't be willing to let their own taxes increase to help improve education. Sixty-three percent of Californians would oppose an increase in the state sales tax and 72 percent oppose an increase in property taxes to help provide additional funding for schools. A majority, however, was willing to raise taxes on the rich, with 64 percent supporting raising the top income tax rate on the wealthy to pay for education.

"The public's frustration with the state of education is palpable," PPIC survey director Mark Baldassare said. "They see lots of rhetoric but little progress." LAUSD Superintendent Roy Romer said the district has made substantial progress in recent years. The lower poll ratings, he said, reflect the characteristics of large urban areas where people typically feel disconnected from their government institutions. Over the last six years, he said, Academic Performance Index scores are up 196 points at the elementary level, compared with a state average increase of 125 points. Meanwhile, the district is building more new schools more rapidly than any other large urban district in the country. "We are rapidly changing," Romer said. "If you took this poll five years ago, you'd have found a whole lot more negative. If you take it five years from now, you'd find a lot more positive." .....

Sixty percent of adults rated the state's public education as "not so good" or "poor" in preparing students for jobs and the work force.

More here






British school selection to be purely racial

No mention to be made of any differences except racial differences. Any mention of merit forbidden

Schools are to be required to balance the social and racial mix of all their pupils under new government rules designed to end backdoor selection, The Times has learnt. In plans described as a "minefield" by head teachers, schools will also have to carry out detailed research into applicants to ensure they "attract all sections of local communities".

At the same time they will be banned from asking about the financial, employment or marital status of parents before a child is admitted, to ensure fairness. Heads will also be barred from inquiring about a child's "behaviour or attitude" at primary school when deciding on admissions.

Ministers were given a warning last night that the rules in their proposed new admissions code would create extra red tape for staff and divert resources from teaching. John Dunford, of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: "These proposals are inconsistent and I think they will place impossible demands on head teachers." The measures were promised by ministers to appease Labour MPs who are unhappy over plans for trust schools.

The Tories, who support the creation of independent trust schools, accused the Government of planning a "draconian" admissions code with "prescription piled on prescription". Nick Gibb, a Tory schools spokesman, said: "The code is far too prescriptive and . . . reflects the Left's obsession with admissions rather than standards." He added: "The purpose of the code is to make the system of admissions crystal clear but measures like this are not crystal clear. "It will be an extra bureaucratic burden on head teachers when what they should be focusing on is raising the quality of teaching at the school. Instead, they will be bogged down conducting analysis for social engineering reasons."

The statistical work will be required from all "admission authorities", meaning the governing bodies of foundation, voluntary-aided and academy schools. In practice, much of the extra work will fall upon senior staff, heads fear. The requirement is included in a "skeleton" school admission code seen by MPs analysing the Education and Inspections Bill.

If schools fail to carry out the analysis and act upon any shortfall of certain categories of children they can be ordered to do so by the Education Secretary, the document states. The Liberal Democrats will propose a system of anonymous admissions, which they believe will be fairer than the Government's proposed rules.

Mr Dunford added: "The provisions on a mixed intake are a bit of a minefield because I do not know how people will determine whether schools have a balanced intake. "Encouraging schools to have a more balanced intake is good but it could mean a large amount of work for head teachers in making all the calculations into whether they have got the approved mix in their school. I think that whole area needs a lot more work."

The proposed code states that schools "must act" upon the new statistical information about children's backgrounds. Secondary schools should work with primary schools in more deprived areas, for example, to encourage applications from children of poorer families. The document adds: "Faith schools should similarly work with local primary schools to encourage local people of the faith, or of other or no faith, to apply for their school."

The code also urges schools to make it clear that there is no charge related to admissions. "It is poor practice for schools to refer to donations and voluntary contributions in their prospectus," it states. A spokesman for the Department for Education and Skills said: "We need to ensure that schools reflect their local community and some schools will already look at these issues. This is about serving a local community and we are clear that schools need to have open and transparent systems."

Jacqui Smith, the Schools Minister, has said that consultation on the code will begin in September and that it will come into force next February and govern admissions for September 2008.

Source

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For greatest efficiency, lowest cost and maximum choice, ALL schools should be privately owned and run -- with government-paid vouchers for the poor and minimal regulation.

The NEA and similar unions worldwide believe that children should be thoroughly indoctrinated with Green/Left, feminist/homosexual ideology but the "3 R's" are something that kids should just be allowed to "discover"


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