tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4184539467031647989.post3338503148352238431..comments2023-10-07T02:42:10.642-07:00Comments on Coalition for Kid-Friendly Schools: Guest post: Is our school board responsible for what goes on in our schools?FedUpMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00951858601020687242noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4184539467031647989.post-28302291059824548252011-01-22T20:50:12.113-08:002011-01-22T20:50:12.113-08:00Matthew and Anonymous -- I have to disagree, at le...Matthew and Anonymous -- I have to disagree, at least a little. My sense is that people who don't have kids in the school system are much less likely to vote in school board elections (unless they work in the school system), at least in my town. I think we'd be much better off, on the whole, if it really were school boards, rather than the state and federal governments, making school policy decisions. I'm certainly not saying that everyone would agree with me -- only that parents would likely have more of a say, which I think would lead to relatively more humane schools. I would much more happily put my kids into the hands of Iowa City voters than into the hands of the Congresspeople who passed No Child Left Behind.<br /><br />I also want to question the idea that the general public actually supports the test-driven, authoritarian approach to education that we have now -- if only because that idea serves the interests of people who want the system to stay as it is. Is it really true? What's the evidence? No Child Left Behind has so distorted the playing field that I don't think it's fair to use school board elections as a gauge of public opinion on these issues. In my town, we've never had a school board candidate who ran hard against test-driven education -- what would be the point? We have to do it anyway, because the federal government coerces the state government into making us do it. So the debate is over before it even begins. And state and federal elections are no good measure, either, because there are very few people whose vote in a Congressional election hinges on the candidates' positions on educational policy. (Not even mine.) Of all the influences driving the typical Congressperson's votes on education, I suspect the actual opinions of everyday citizens are pretty low on the list.<br /><br />You may be right, and things might not be any better if schools were more locally controlled. But I won't concede the point until I see it genuinely tested.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12919030671050831251noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4184539467031647989.post-85458076747491175392011-01-22T20:17:40.554-08:002011-01-22T20:17:40.554-08:00I've been meaning to respond to Happy Elf Mom&...I've been meaning to respond to Happy Elf Mom's comment. That's a hard comment to read, because there's clearly some truth to it. I do wonder, often, whether my kids would be better off homeschooled. (The few private options near us don't leap out as very much better than the publics.) There are all kinds of reasons we don't do it -- e.g., I'd have to quit my job, my kids are connected to a lot of their school friends, there's not as much of a homeschooling community as we'd like, my wife would probably not agree to it, etc. But I do wonder whether someday I'll regret the choice to stick it out with these schools.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12919030671050831251noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4184539467031647989.post-58624345760506168222011-01-07T13:13:38.988-08:002011-01-07T13:13:38.988-08:00Good point Matthew. A lot of voters who don't...Good point Matthew. A lot of voters who don't have children in school believe those high test scores equal high property values. In a way they are correct, the realtors tout the high test scores to sell houses. The school board is usually non-responsive to any concerns re: the police state nature of our public schools. I'm sure to them the culture equates to safe schools.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4184539467031647989.post-11730726016316575432011-01-07T05:08:18.118-08:002011-01-07T05:08:18.118-08:00Also, I think it is important to remember that not...Also, I think it is important to remember that not just parents are voting for school board members. Non-parents, who only hear "high test scores" and don't see what is actually going on inside the system, have no reason to not keep voting in the same board members.<br /><br />We just had an election where an incumbent was reelected who was on record as saying "I don't want to hear about the bad things at this school, just tell me the good news." Meanwhile, two other candidates who had very detailed, positive plans on how to fix some of the problems were soundly defeated.Matthewnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4184539467031647989.post-56953084756890732172011-01-06T19:38:42.929-08:002011-01-06T19:38:42.929-08:00HappyElfMom, I think unless huge numbers of parent...HappyElfMom, I think unless huge numbers of parents get involved in school issues, vote in school board elections, it is difficult to see real change.<br /><br />What is a parent to do if they complain and nothing is done. Certainly you can communicate with school board members etc., but that is no guarantee they will take action.<br /><br />Sure the parents are ultimately responsible, but what other options do they have. Not everyone is wlling or able to pursue other options like private school or homeschool.<br /><br />I live in the same school district as the blogwriter. Based on my past experience, the majority of the school board won't answer questions or acknowledge problems that exist.KDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07883213697051461818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4184539467031647989.post-51590009971270214472011-01-05T11:55:06.638-08:002011-01-05T11:55:06.638-08:00And can I also add... the parents are ultimately r...And can I also add... the parents are ultimately responsible. So, when you continue to send your children after you complain and nothing is done, YOU are part of the problem as well. HOW severe does something have to be before parents will act? I'm just wondering. I don't have an easy answer myself. It just seems that we went from open campus high school to lockdown city within a 20 year time span. <br /><br />It seems as though everyone wants freedom for their children, but the test scores are more important than their childhoods.Happy Elf Mom (Christine)https://www.blogger.com/profile/15047347624037697311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4184539467031647989.post-66559143138747650362011-01-05T04:54:25.302-08:002011-01-05T04:54:25.302-08:00Yup, that sums it up. One big chain of buck-passi...Yup, that sums it up. One big chain of buck-passing with no one willing to stick their necks out a little and try to make a difference.Matthewnoreply@blogger.com