[speedgibson] Speed Gibson: Too Little, Too Late

[Email subscription to blog articles]

Posted by Speed Gibson:
Too Little, Too Late
http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1222441215.shtml


   I noted earlier there was a disconcerting aspect to the story of the
   Milwaulkee Public Schools. That's not to say that I'm happy about the
   rest of that situation. It just seems the inevitable result of what
   Fredrick Hess in "Common Sense School Reform" calls "status quo
   reform" of the current system, something we're seeing now in the
   continuing decline of the Minneapolis Public Schools.
   Milwaukee recently tried building new neighborhood schools, some using
   the K-8 model that intrigues me. It seems right on both counts, yet it
   didn't work. The parents weren't impressed and did not return.
   I suspect the parents saw this as old wine in new bottles. The same
   teachers were there, the same structure, the same political
   correctness, whatever it was that made them use vouchers or seek other
   options. Plus, in reading some other Web articles, it looks like K-8
   works best as evolution, not revolution. You turn a K-5 school into
   K-6, K-7, K-8, then close the middle school.
   There are facilities challenges, too, that existing buildings aren't
   necessarily suited to the necessary dichotomy. The teaching model can
   also vary. Do you essential bring the middle school curriculum into
   the "ele-middle" school or extend the teacher as generalist elementary
   model upwards?
   I don't really know if K-8 would work here, as an education
   professional I met so passionately believes. I do remain convinced
   that the middle/junior high model cannot continue as is if the public
   schools are to avoid Milwaukee's fate.