From www.News4Jax.com (http://www.news4jax.com)
QuoteJACKSONVILLE, Fla. -
The Duval County school board is set to meet Thursday to discuss Superintendent Dr. Nikolai Vitti's proposal of open enrollment, which would allow families to choose any school in the district they would like to send their children to.
Vitti said right now, if people don't like their neighborhood school they can send their children to a magnet school, but that only benefits academically or athletically gifted kids. An open enrollment policy would open school selection to everyone else.
Vitti's proposal could dramatically impact thousands of families that are not happy with their neighborhood schools.
"If boundary students are not satisfied with schools, they're going to charter schools," Vitti said. "I'd much rather say to that parent, 'You might not be interested in going to boundary school, why not check out this other school that may meet your needs?'"
http://www.news4jax.com/news/open-enrollment-may-be-coming-to-duval-schools/-/475880/24947710/-/2wuqi2/-/index.html (http://www.news4jax.com/news/open-enrollment-may-be-coming-to-duval-schools/-/475880/24947710/-/2wuqi2/-/index.html)
Seems reasonable, as long as those who choose to go out of their boundary have to get their own transportation. I do wonder if this would overcrowd schools such as Wolfson and leave Terry Parker with empty classrooms.
Yes, please!
I have my kids on school choice vouchers- and I have been stressing getting them into the better funded schools in the district, as they have gotten older.
I currently drive my boys 30min one way (2hrs driving daily) to a school that I feel, is better (has more resources) than the ones surrounding the areas we can afford to live in.
I would elaborate further on the reasons for this- if anyone would like to hear my perspective- but I'll end this post as I started it; Yes, Please!
If you read through it I don't know how much an impact this would make. Magnet schools would still function the same way. Residents of the neighborhoods zoned for schools would still be first admission. It seems to me that this would only help children in bad schools go to schools that are midrange rated and have room. I mean that's better than nothing certainly but the parents would also have to provide their own transportation.
This is going to be interesting as now any kid can choose their high school based on sports programs too. WOW! The poorer areas are really going to get crushed, we may see schools close as a result. Which I think is the main goal here, justification of closing schools.
Perhaps if the school board had been using title 1 monies for TITLE 1 SCHOOLS such unbounded choice,would not be needed.
Here's the truth of it.
When you are a single mother with a HS education and no support (maybe because your family is just as poor as you are) you do not have a lot of choice on where you live.
There are only certain areas of town where 8-10 an hour can pay rent. Those schools are going to be filled with other poor people, who work their asses off to try to get ahead- and as such their kids are being raised by cheap daycare or given the latch-key.
Because they do not have another parent to assist in rearing, these kids are being reared by daycare workers (also paid minimum wage) and/or unsupervised TV and/or internet access.
We wonder "whats wrong with these kids", yet we call their "never present/ever working" parent "lazy" in the media for being poor- glamorizing-by-proxy the "easy money" of criminal behavior.
Its easy to have a failing school when teachers are so overwhelmed with the "need" around them, from children who come without supplies, or whole clothing, that they often transfer mid- year. The services in those schools are so underfunded that children with behavioral issues go untreated- and their behavior issues escalate to suspensions. Yet, there are not enough "monitors" in the lunch room to help open ketchup packets, let alone prevent/detour bullying.
I am living this. I have lived this
I have made hard choices, and it is at great cost that I have put their avenue out (education) above living in a better house/safer neighborhood, (safer does not mean the schools are better!) and other material things.
Such is the nature of being a parent.
Might be better than my cousin's solution. She moved to get her kid into the school she wanted.
Quote from: GoldenEst82 on March 17, 2014, 01:15:54 PM
Perhaps if the school board had been using title 1 monies for TITLE 1 SCHOOLS such unbounded choice,would not be needed.
Here's the truth of it.
When you are a single mother with a HS education and no support (maybe because your family is just as poor as you are) you do not have a lot of choice on where you live.
There are only certain areas of town where 8-10 an hour can pay rent. Those schools are going to be filled with other poor people, who work their asses off to try to get ahead- and as such their kids are being raised by cheap daycare or given the latch-key.
Because they do not have another parent to assist in rearing, these kids are being reared by daycare workers (also paid minimum wage) and/or unsupervised TV and/or internet access.
We wonder "whats wrong with these kids", yet we call their "never present/ever working" parent "lazy" in the media for being poor- glamorizing-by-proxy the "easy money" of criminal behavior.
Its easy to have a failing school when teachers are so overwhelmed with the "need" around them, from children who come without supplies, or whole clothing, that they often transfer mid- year. The services in those schools are so underfunded that children with behavioral issues go untreated- and their behavior issues escalate to suspensions. Yet, there are not enough "monitors" in the lunch room to help open ketchup packets, let alone prevent/detour bullying.
I am living this. I have lived this
I have made hard choices, and it is at great cost that I have put their avenue out (education) above living in a better house/safer neighborhood, (safer does not mean the schools are better!) and other material things.
Such is the nature of being a parent.
Thanks for posting. The root cause for this condition is in your very first sentence. Lack of education and bad choice in picking a mate certainly excaberates and prolongs the problem. Our local drop out rate... while getting better is still way to high. Children born out of wedlock or children of divorce face more difficult obstacles than others... unfortunately this condition seems to get worse rather than better.
I hope your hard choices work out for you and your children... sounds like you are doing the right things.
While you are correct about the statistics- I would like to offer a slant.
If we wanted to make those statistics untrue- we could make it so that childcare from birth to age three is affordable/available for every mother/father as long as they are enrolled in an institution of higher learning.
That ONE thing would cut poverty rates, as your income is directly tied to education.
Quote from: GoldenEst82 on March 17, 2014, 04:23:00 PM
While you are correct about the statistics- I would like to offer a slant.
If we wanted to make those statistics untrue- we could make it so that childcare from birth to age three is affordable/available for every mother/father as long as they are enrolled in an institution higher of higher learning learning.
That ONE thing would cut poverty rates, as your income is directly tied to education.
An interesting proposal. Let me make sure I understand... Daycare is provided to single parents of 0-3 year olds while they are attending an institution of higher learning. I certainly could support something like this.
Having a newborn (6wks) in daycare costs between 180-200 a week.
It is almost impossible, to work enough to house/feed yourself on a low wage (less that 12-14 p/h) paying those kind of costs in child care. Not to mention, attending and passing classes.
Quote from: GoldenEst82 on March 18, 2014, 11:19:34 AM
Having a newborn (6wks) in daycare costs between 180-200 a week.
It is almost impossible, to work enough to house/feed yourself on a low wage (less that 12-14 p/h) paying those kind of costs in child care. Not to mention, attending and passing classes.
I agree... it must seem impossible at times. I commend you for the effort you are making... I am sure it will pay off for you in the end... and will make you a stronger person later in life.
But for the sake of discussion... I want to ask... in a non judgemental way and without getting too personal...
What could you have changed earlier in life for your current circumstance to be less likely? I ask because I am a parent also and these are important things that must be taught and more importantly... heeded... by our children.
Quote from: stephendare on March 18, 2014, 12:42:49 PM
Quote from: BridgeTroll on March 18, 2014, 12:37:30 PM
Quote from: GoldenEst82 on March 18, 2014, 11:19:34 AM
Having a newborn (6wks) in daycare costs between 180-200 a week.
It is almost impossible, to work enough to house/feed yourself on a low wage (less that 12-14 p/h) paying those kind of costs in child care. Not to mention, attending and passing classes.
I agree... it must seem impossible at times. I commend you for the effort you are making... I am sure it will pay off for you in the end... and will make you a stronger person later in life.
But for the sake of discussion... I want to ask... in a non judgemental way and without getting too personal...
What could you have changed earlier in life for your current circumstance to be less likely? I ask because I am a parent also and these are important things that must be taught and more importantly... heeded... by our children.
wow. really? How do you ask that in a 'non judgemental' way?
I guess she could have smothered the babies in their crib and run away to angola.
We were having a conversation Stephen... please allow us to do so without throwing bombs.
Quote from: stephendare on March 18, 2014, 12:52:08 PM
Quote from: BridgeTroll on March 18, 2014, 12:48:46 PM
Quote from: stephendare on March 18, 2014, 12:42:49 PM
Quote from: BridgeTroll on March 18, 2014, 12:37:30 PM
Quote from: GoldenEst82 on March 18, 2014, 11:19:34 AM
Having a newborn (6wks) in daycare costs between 180-200 a week.
It is almost impossible, to work enough to house/feed yourself on a low wage (less that 12-14 p/h) paying those kind of costs in child care. Not to mention, attending and passing classes.
I agree... it must seem impossible at times. I commend you for the effort you are making... I am sure it will pay off for you in the end... and will make you a stronger person later in life.
But for the sake of discussion... I want to ask... in a non judgemental way and without getting too personal...
What could you have changed earlier in life for your current circumstance to be less likely? I ask because I am a parent also and these are important things that must be taught and more importantly... heeded... by our children.
wow. really? How do you ask that in a 'non judgemental' way?
I guess she could have smothered the babies in their crib and run away to angola.
We were having a conversation Stephen... please allow us to do so without throwing bombs.
being a judgemental ass over someone else's circumstances isnt a 'conversation', BT..... Seriously? Where does anyone get off with that kind of question?
What in your life could you have done differently to prevent asking questions like that in the future? It had to be something, and just so that our children can learn from your mistake, why dont you share that with us.
You know...in a spirit of 'conversation'?
Had she asked... I would have given an example... since it is you... well being an ass... I decline.
Golden... if I offended you by my question... I apologize as it certainly was not my intent. I hope things work out...
Quote from: BridgeTroll on March 18, 2014, 12:37:30 PM
Quote from: GoldenEst82 on March 18, 2014, 11:19:34 AM
Having a newborn (6wks) in daycare costs between 180-200 a week.
It is almost impossible, to work enough to house/feed yourself on a low wage (less that 12-14 p/h) paying those kind of costs in child care. Not to mention, attending and passing classes.
I agree... it must seem impossible at times. I commend you for the effort you are making... I am sure it will pay off for you in the end... and will make you a stronger person later in life.
Agreed - and you're setting a great example for your children as well. Kudos, and best of luck with your studies.
Stephen, I appreciate the point you are trying to make- but I understand his question, and where it is coming from.
You might not like my answer, Bridge Troll.
If my parents had decided to teach responsible sexual practices- things might have been different.
There is a backstory to understanding the dynamic.
I had very young parents.
By the time my mother was 31 (my age) she had a 15y/o, a 13y/o, a 10 y/o and a 4 y/o. I am the eldest. They home-schooled me, (and sibs) but were paranoid about me repeating their mistakes- and were very controlling over my HS life.
I never went to a HS party for example- I was not allowed out past 10, on the weekends. I was abstinent (by choice) until I was 17.5. I left my parents house the week I turned 18- (I had already graduated) and from then on supported myself. I enrolled in Community College, where I met my children's (now absent) father.
I had my oldest son at 20, basically because I trusted my then partner to "protect" me, for me.
There are, of course, other ideas about relationships and the power structures of them, that religious centered upbringing skews- that make it harder for women to "insist" or "make their partner" use protection.
I am not laying blame on anyone but me. Hindsight is always 20/20 though, and I would have felt empowered to make better choices, had my parents been more open people.
(They are now, though!!)
Oh, one other thing- for clarity.
I am not in school, I never went back. 21 months after my oldest, I had my second. 21 months after that- I left their abusive father.
I have a startup now.
I am pretty broke- but I have a partner that is committed and supportive- which makes all the difference in a family.
One good side effect of my upbringing- I learned how to self educate. Which is how I have managed to get where I am now.
Honestly, I am asked questions like that- a lot.
I have realized that if I am offended by those questions- it means I am ashamed.
I am not.
This is my life, and I have moved upwards from some very low places, and I am proud of that.
I understand why you think it would be offensive though.
Quote from: GoldenEst82 on March 18, 2014, 01:45:43 PM
Honestly, I am asked questions like that- a lot.
I have realized that if I am offended by those questions- it means I am ashamed.
I am not.
This is my life, and I have moved upwards from some very low places, and I am proud of that.
I understand why you think it would be offensive though.
I appreciate your honest response... and you are right of course... there is no reason to be ashamed of anything. Had we been having this discussion over lunch... there would have been a less clumsy way of asking the question and getting the answer. Such is the nature of "forum" style discussion. For Stephen to point out others "offensive and bad examples" of others is of course... ironic.
My parents were also (by my standards at the time) over protective... though not to the extent you described. I also left home early and never returned. I guess I was lucky in that enough common sense my parents tried to impart to actually stuck and I avoided a possible less that successful start. I shared my experiences with my child in the hopes some of it sticks... we shall see.
I received a robo-call today from DCPS: Dr. Vitti is encouraging parents to attend one of three upcoming meetings.
http://dcps.duvalschools.org/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&DomainID=4&ModuleInstanceID=8080&ViewID=047E6BE3-6D87-4130-8424-D8E4E9ED6C2A&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=11891&PageID=1 (http://dcps.duvalschools.org/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&DomainID=4&ModuleInstanceID=8080&ViewID=047E6BE3-6D87-4130-8424-D8E4E9ED6C2A&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=11891&PageID=1)
^Points to the scheduled meetings, the ones Mar24-27th are going to relate to school choice and open enrollment.
I also found this page of podcasts linked on the dcps fb page- http://dcps.duvalschools.org/Page/9342 (http://dcps.duvalschools.org/Page/9342) the first of which is about this topic.