I was at Safeway last week, and a parent approached me with a look of concern. I don't have one of her kids in my classes, but she recognized me and decided to ask me a question: "why did the teachers decide to cancel Open House?"
I was shocked to silence, a rarity for me. I didn't know what to say because I didn't know it was canceled.
I told her the truth: "I didn't know it was canceled. When did this happen?"
She said, "I got a mailing today." She then went on to explain how she enjoys Open House to see who her son's teachers are, the environment in which he learns, and how difficult or easy it is for her son to get to his classes.
Of course, she wanted to know who made the call, but I really didn't know. She said she'd call the school.
By the way, this was one week before the scheduled Open House night.
The cancellation was never mentioned at a staff meeting (we had two last week and one this week), and it still has not been discussed at all.
Apparently the Boss Lady decided to cancel it because of a soccer game and a volleyball match. However, we still have not been provided the opportunity to discuss the way this was handled.
A group of parents went to the school board and complained, and the Boss Lady was grilled for all to see. Ouch!
P.S. I found out yesterday from a parent--after mailings went to the community--that our parent-teacher conferences are now changed as well. I'd say that's 0 for 2 in the communication department.
Showing posts with label Early Education. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Early Education. Show all posts
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Simple Economics
A Seattle Times article explains how early education programs in Chicago have paid dividends twenty years down the road. An oversimplified justification for early education programs could be simple economics. A co-author of the study said, "the gains in terms of reduced social-welfare costs have far exceeded the program's $5,000 per student, per year cost to the Chicago public-school system." Social programs are often eliminated from government budgets despite the numerous long-term benefits.
The people who were in these programs also described themselves as depressed less often and more likely to possess health insurance. Again, the long-term benefits of early education become apparent.
Further benefits based on this study are as follows:
- higher high school graduation rates,
- fewer felony arrests and incarcerations, and
- more have full-time employment.
It would seem to make sense that the more education provided to people ages three and four the more likely the individuals will be successful later in life. Early investments pay off down the proverbial road.
Currently, a large portion of my community does not want to invest in the futures of our youth. We barely passed a levy last year, but this year a bond failed by 24 votes. Letters continue to plague the pages of our local paper decrying the bond.
Especially frustrating are the letters with incorrect information. Since this bond is only concerning infrastructure, a new alternative school--the focus of much of the dissent--to replace an obsolete structure, repairs to other buildings, and the replacement of Eisenhower-era buildings, the letters discussing how the money goes to teachers and to support "those" kids are points of conflict.
Kids, current and future, will benefit from these new buildings. These structures need more than band-aids, which was previously done for years, and now is the time to do it. Prices will only go up; in fact, the price of the new alternative school has already tripled since being voted down in 2001.
We will be able to offer more early education programs to our community's children with this bond passage. We need the facilities, and then we can provide the opportunities.
I only hope this bond passes and that early education programs continue to prosper.
The people who were in these programs also described themselves as depressed less often and more likely to possess health insurance. Again, the long-term benefits of early education become apparent.
Further benefits based on this study are as follows:
- higher high school graduation rates,
- fewer felony arrests and incarcerations, and
- more have full-time employment.
It would seem to make sense that the more education provided to people ages three and four the more likely the individuals will be successful later in life. Early investments pay off down the proverbial road.
Currently, a large portion of my community does not want to invest in the futures of our youth. We barely passed a levy last year, but this year a bond failed by 24 votes. Letters continue to plague the pages of our local paper decrying the bond.
Especially frustrating are the letters with incorrect information. Since this bond is only concerning infrastructure, a new alternative school--the focus of much of the dissent--to replace an obsolete structure, repairs to other buildings, and the replacement of Eisenhower-era buildings, the letters discussing how the money goes to teachers and to support "those" kids are points of conflict.
Kids, current and future, will benefit from these new buildings. These structures need more than band-aids, which was previously done for years, and now is the time to do it. Prices will only go up; in fact, the price of the new alternative school has already tripled since being voted down in 2001.
We will be able to offer more early education programs to our community's children with this bond passage. We need the facilities, and then we can provide the opportunities.
I only hope this bond passes and that early education programs continue to prosper.
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