Comments on: High school closure talk starts… with Benson

By: FormerFranklinStudent

FormerFranklinStudent — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 13:32:00 +0000

All of these schools have school spirit that has and continue to have the pride of both former and present students. I know alot of former students from Benson, Cleveland (arch-rival of Franklin), James Madison, and of course, Franklin High School. First of all, what are going in the minds of PPS? They should all be committed to a psch ward. Second, crowded schools looks good on paper, but when they started to build some other schools in the district during the 70’s, it was because of overcrowding. Is that what Portland want for its students? I live in Virginia now and the schools have overcrowding. What is the end result, poor academics and higher dropout levels. So cool your jets PPS and rethink what you are doing. Consider all the factors for both the local economy that stay in business because of these schools; the neighborhoods; and above all, the students and the pride they have for their own schools!

By: a.hs.reader

a.hs.reader — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 06:19:28 +0000

In my opinion, I think Benson should stay. I mean the career center thing sounds ok, but at the expense of benson high? I think not. It’s a good school because of that special focus it has on “tech” related things.

It’s true that it isn’t as good as it once was, but it should not be the first school to “chop off the block”. Because it has no designated neighborhood area, it gives some students who are in an area in which their school doesn’t suit them, a chance to transfer. It can also set up students for a good path on their way to getting a good career with the “tech” things they have.

I think one of the main reasons they want to get rid of it is because the land that benson owns, is very expensive and huge, and would produce a lot of money for PPS if they were to rent it out or sell it, but I think Benson should stay.

Also, a Wilson/Lincoln merger would just be horrible. You would have a huge school, with it also being the only public school on the westside.

Also, not to mention they would be a powerhouse in sports, and would likely dominate entirely in the PIL and take some limelight from Grant. It would just be too unbalanced if the merger were to happen. Also many kids may be deprived of sports at this hypothetical lincoln/wilson school because many of the best players would fill up the spots on teams with such huge enrollment.

I think Jefferson may be an easy chop-off, but I’m not sure. Marshall may be going also, you dont hear much about them, and they’re not doing so well. A marshall/madison merger sounds not that bad though.

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Heck, while we’re at it, why dont we merge Grant, Lincoln, and Wilson and make a powerhouse mega school that would likely take state in every sport every single time! Yipee!!!!

I was being sarcastic with that last bit.

By: sean brown

sean brown — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 01:06:34 +0000

i am a softmore at Benson and that means that if they decide to close it i would haft to go to another school for my senor year and many other people at Benson it is one of the most successful schools in the nation it would be the most stupid and alienated thing if it were to close down

By: beth

beth — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 04:11:53 +0000

I went to HS in east county in the late 70’s and had a great educational experience. I moved into the city for college and watched, through years of gentrification and tax levy failures and property tax limitations and everything else, as PPS schools slowly fell into the toilet. In the mid 80’s through mid-90’s I was a non-certified music specialist at four of the PIL high schools, all on the east side, with my longest tenure at Benson Tech. Through it all, the kids have toughed it out, suffering through one political fight after another. Their dedication and desire made it worthwhile.

Today I no longer teach in PPS high schools. There are no music programs left for me to even donate my time to, much less teach for pay.

I look at all that has happened in PPS and I see no solutions. Much of what has happened is based on demographic and economic disparities that are decades old, with no hope for real change in sight. All I can say these days is thank god I didn’t have children of my own to suffer through this mess.

By: Lovemycommunity...

Lovemycommunity... — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 20:19:28 +0000

We have a huge problem in Portland Public concerning equity issues and changes that only occur in schools that are primarily low income. Isn’t it funny that the low income schools have been made into smaller schools. If this is such a good idea, why not do it at Lincoln, Wilson and Grant. Much of the mass exodus to other schools from neighborhood schools stemmed from Leave No Child Behind and AYP (average yearly progress). I think we need to go back to having good neighborhood schools by providing excellent programs in all high schools….that means every high school offers the same opportunities to all students. This will stop the mass exodus and kids leaving our communities to seek a better education across the river. Students have no idea what there community offers anymore. Let’s begin this Sept. by not allowing students to seek schools outside their neighborhoods. It will cut down on the overcrowding that is happening at Lincoln and Grant. If those numbers are accurate (note from Steve R.above) about how many students should be attending their local high school….then we wouldn’t have such an imbalance that is occurring now. We wouldn’t have to close any high school. We would be more evenly dispersed. There would be no high schools on the Leave No Child Behind list. The schools would be more diverse and balanced academically.

By: Lakeitha

Lakeitha — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 01:36:57 +0000

Middle School Mum, first of all, congrats on being a “middle School Mum”. So glad that you have access to a middle school option for your child. We don’t have that option in the neighborhood that I am from.
As for your sadness about the Benson situation, “The Benson options just make me want to cry. Benson was one of the best academic schools in the city, and it meant something to be a Benson
grad.
I too want to cry and on occasion have because there was a time when Jefferson was one of the best comprehensive high schools in the city( academic, art, automotive, dynamic bands and sports teams) and it meant something to be a Jefferson Alumni.
Now being a Jefferson Alumni probably means that you have had three different principals during your 4 years of high school, been a part of 2 reconfigurations of your school, lost several great teachers and a college counselor.
We need to look at a comprehensive reform of the transfer policy and get rid of the “Good School/ Bad School” mentality in Portland” and come to a place where it really means something to graduate from any of our schools.

By: Zarwen

Zarwen — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 01:33:35 +0000

It’s hard not to think that PPS has declared war on black families. First they dismantle Jefferson (and its feeders). Now they are targeting Benson. And what high school has most of the kids from the Jefferson catchment area? You guessed it–Benson!

I thought the laws prohibiting black people from living here had been repealed? Guess the powers-that-be can’t force them to leave, but not educating their children is being tested as a tool to drive them out.

Or am I missing something?

By: Steve Rawley

Steve Rawley — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 23:30:13 +0000

When my family was considering a move to Beaverton, many people told us Aloha High was the “worst” high school in Beaverton.

But if it were in Portland, it would stand out for its breadth and depth of curriculum and extra-curricular activities.

Beaverton is not perfect, but they have a core curriculum that is guaranteed at every neighborhood school. You can walk into any K5, middle school or high school in Beaverton and find the same basic programs, including library, music, art and PE.

In PPS schools, particularly in neighborhoods that are not predominantly white and middle class, you’re lucky if you find one or two of these four things, which we are now told are not core, but “enrichment.”

PPS refuses to define a base-level core curriculum and guarantee it at every school, which has led to a demonstrably separate and unequal system.

By: 4mykids

4mykids — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 18:41:07 +0000

Hm, I grew up in unincorporated Aloha, much has now been annexed by Beaverton. Aloha high school is a shell of what it once was. All the new high schools went (have been built) where the money is. Kids (at Aloha) can’t afford the exorbanate cost to play sports, band and much of the comprehensive extras cost extra that the parents can’t afford. Kids do transfer; their schools aren’t perfect. Perhaps better, but certainly not perfect. Bus systems aren’t nearly as great as Portland so it makes transportation harder if you want to transfer (thus limiting this option for many).
I don’t have any easy solutions; but I can say that it does not make economic sense to run several schools with low attendance when the infrastructure itself costs so much. Is there a way to create new boundaries, perhaps move/consolidate some schools and close some schools and offer a comprehensive education in all of PPS(k-12)?
I know that closing schools is a difficult topic, but if it isn’t working, no one is attending, and the building is crumbling, then what other options are there?
I don’t know much about Benson, but I had heard (from other parents) that it isn’t doing well anymore. If this isn’t true then what would the intent by in converting it?

By: Steve Rawley

Steve Rawley — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 15:48:07 +0000

There is enough pie to go around. Look at Beaverton, with similar demographics and state funding. I just wrote a new post about the topic.