tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35977419.post5606625705304999916..comments2023-08-19T06:36:16.096-04:00Comments on James River Maven: Okay, Let’s Talk About Schools (Part I)Bert Berlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13475537924353776378noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35977419.post-3875563123148747182007-08-15T08:30:00.000-04:002007-08-15T08:30:00.000-04:00As a teacher in RPS, I know exactly what everyone ...As a teacher in RPS, I know exactly what everyone is talking about. I encounter many things that have been discussed on a daily basis.<BR/><BR/>The one thing that stands out to me most is that the open enrollment at Fox, Munford, and Fisher is unfair. <BR/><BR/>That allows children from my neighborhood to attend one of those schools instead of attending their home/neighborhood school. Maybe that is why our city schools appear to be segregated? Less diverse?<BR/><BR/>Until we have parents, community leaders, and school board representatives involved in changing the their own home school, then we will continue to have less diversity and more of the same in our classrooms.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35977419.post-58023998527709690492007-08-01T11:23:00.000-04:002007-08-01T11:23:00.000-04:00Just a minor correction to say that I know many pa...Just a minor correction to say that I know many parents send their kids to RPS, but with open enrollment they generally end up going to Fox, Mumford or Fisher. WIth the change in transportation rules, some of this may change. <BR/><BR/>Your points about the mayor's "contribution" to the situation are good ones.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35977419.post-47261087029984601722007-08-01T09:31:00.000-04:002007-08-01T09:31:00.000-04:00Firstly, I'm "anonymous" 2 and 3 (I wasn't thinkin...Firstly, I'm "anonymous" 2 and 3 (I wasn't thinking about the attribution issues when I commented, I just didn't wanna sign up for yet another web ID). I was also the commenter on the school-board audit post. <BR/>I'm the second generation of my family to deal with the city school situation. My parents lived in Fernleigh in the late 60's and early 70's - I was born when they lived on Cheyenne. My brother started school at Fisher in 1970/71, which was right around the time of the annexation and busing. He did not have a positive experience, and my parents chose to move into the county after his first two years of elementary school. <BR/>You comment on the success of the graduates, but I want some idea of how much parental involvement there is in OUR school. You don't have kids in the system - how many folks that do are volunteering with you? What's the PTA like?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35977419.post-36903238935693472062007-08-01T07:49:00.000-04:002007-08-01T07:49:00.000-04:00Like many City residents, I don't have any childre...Like many City residents, I don't have any children, but I am also a big supporter of public education. <BR/><BR/>From what I can tell, the big problem with RPS is the state of the facilities. There are some beautiful buildings that have been allowed to deteriorate, at the same time, there are a few schools that should have never been built where they are in the first place and are real dumps. Richmond citizens should demand better, like Wilder is doing.<BR/><BR/>On the other hand, where are the computers and equipment needed for competitive modern schools? Both the City's civic and political leadership have ignored the needs of RPS students in favor of wasteful downtown development for nonexistent tourists. Instead of spending $100s of millions on a white elephant convention center, why not spend $10 million carefully on a muni-wifi network for Richmond citizens and students and chip away at the Digital Divide? (A wireless network would also save on wiring old public school and municiple buildings.)<BR/><BR/>Where are the green schools that promote energy and resource saving? Where are the solar schools that will allow students to know something besides the antique, filthy fossil fuel grid? Where are the school buildings that will serve not just as points of pride for neighborhoods, but also as vitally needed disaster recovery centers?<BR/><BR/>But perhaps the biggest failing is allowing schools to go on without proper ADA access. It leaves the City open to more costly lawsuits, and more importantly, it tells kids that no, we don't live in a society that values equality and access to a good education, we live in a society that is turning its back on civil liberties that older generations fought for.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com