Comments on: Getting High Schools Right

By: Stephanie Hunter

Stephanie Hunter — Sat, 02 May 2009 04:23:42 +0000

There is a forum tomorrow at Madison from 9:30am to noon.

By: New around here

New around here — Fri, 01 May 2009 06:15:59 +0000

Rita and I were at different tables during the first Big Idea high school reorg meeting last week, so I don’t know that we heard all the same comments.
Several times, the rotating facilitators in our group poked around at the “size of the ideal high school?” Something as large as a 2,500-student school could have positive aspects if the facilities were properly designed. Something like 700 kids could be that warm, fuzzy cocoon where a kid could be sure to find that one make-or-break mentor connection.

But we asked 2 questions: 1) What are the student body sizes that support a full slate of staffing/offerings? 2) What are the capacities of our current high school buildings?

The answers we were given: Enrollment levels somewhere around 1,400-1,600 students sustain the FTE needed for a fully functioning high school — meaning equally broad and deep course offerings. We have 10 buildings currently used as high schools and only a handful are at capacity. Dividing 1500 students out equally would only fill 7 buildings.

This blunt math may not have made it on to the microphone in our table-by-table recaps.

It was clear to me that no details had been decided, yet. It was also clear to me that some number of high schools would no longer be open.

By: Ken

Ken — Fri, 01 May 2009 05:11:51 +0000

The story Rita references above:

http://news.opb.org/article/48.....h-schools/

By: Rita

Rita — Fri, 01 May 2009 04:48:15 +0000

Looks like the cat is out of the bag at last. According to Rob Manning’s report on OPB this afternoon, PPS is anticipating the closure of 3-4 high schools in conjunction with the high school redesign. (By the way this was not articulated at the meeting last night.)

It seemed to me from the beginning that there was some other agenda behind all the glitz since there was no actual explanation or research offered to justify blowing up the existing high school system.

Now we know what that agenda is: more school closures. Surprise, surprise. No doubt because the last round worked out so well.

So here we go again. God helps us.

By: lauralye

lauralye — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 16:23:35 +0000

Looking at Arne Duncan’s quote, I think it is very possible it is being misread. I suggest one alternative reading following the quote.

“We should be able to look every second grader in the eye and say, ‘You’re on track, you’re going to be able to go to a good college, or you’re not.’ Right now, in too many states, quite frankly, we lie to children. We lie to them and we lie to their families.”

What he is asking for is correct assessment so that support can occur. If we pass people along to be nicey, nice than we will never grant the instruction and knowledge that is wanting. To not prepare a child for a university education and to imply to them and their parents that they are prepared sets them up for failure. I do not think his statement was about assessing potential, but calling to task those who would rather pat someone on the head than work to impart the skills and knowledge necessary.

Oh, and I am a Ph.D. who dropped out of high school. I also teach many graduates of PPS. There are a variety of reasons that a kid may drop out. I will not bore you with my story. Some kids are not being challenged, but others cannot accept the challenge: Boredom plays into dropping out, but boredom also occurs when students are not given the skills to engage with information. How can they be inspired by something if they have no tools to decipher its meaning or use it to build, make, or create?

By: Steve Buel

Steve Buel — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 00:06:52 +0000

The original Oregon school reform put forth by Norma Paulus and Vera Katz had testing and vocational training as equals, but with the provision that neither would come about without the funding. Well, obviously the testing did come about, spurred on in my opinion by middle and upper middle class neighborhood school activists making sure it came about, while vocational education went by the wayside. One more example of the inequities in PPS.

By: David Colton

David Colton — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 22:10:04 +0000

As a high school counselor in this district I have noted with great alarm and concern to look at success in high school within the narrow confines of getting students in to college. An example of this is having all high school students take the ACT, one of the standard college entrance tests used nationwide for college admission. Where I counselor I did a quick data analysis of the results of this test to note that only about 12% of the students taking the test had a score that would admit them to college. No one would talk about the impact on self esteem for those forced to take the test who are in special education or English Lauguage learners or those who just had no plans to go to college. I always said that PPS was boondoggled just as surely as those who fell prey to sub-prime mortgages. ACT is a large corporation just as SAT is.

My point is that they are not all going to college and that we must never design a high school thinking that they are. I was amazed to read in the Spirit Mountain Smoke Signals that the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde was supporting the passage of a bond to maintain shop and welding classes and programs. They were not seeking a bond to add these programs but to maintain them. I grew up in Willamina and watched by brother build a stunningly beautiful boat in his woodshop class. This was 1965. Portland Public would be wise to reinvent what served the needs of many of our students years ago. They don’t have to end up carpenters and mechanics but having those skills can lead to a very enriched life. How terribly we have missed the opportunity for helping our students find their way by limiting and narrowing their options. Advanced Placement is vital but not all students want AP nor do they belong in those classes. Health Services was cut to half a program next year at Madison at a time when the data shows that the jobs of the future will be in some form of health care. I hate to sound like a fogey saying it was better back when but as a person who loved going to college and graduate school, I would also like to see servcices for those who want to do something with their hands or something that does not require an ACT or an SAT……Culinary and hospitatlity will be huge…where are those programs……..we are not serving all our kids by demanding that they all take college entrance tests……

By: Stephanie Hunter

Stephanie Hunter — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 00:29:02 +0000

I just don’t think that college readiness should be an indicator of success. We should value students who choose work and college equally. I used to supervise a lot of people making 9 bucks an hour who had grad school degrees. I was a high school drop out for one semester who returned and graduated with only a half credit more than the minimum required. It’s fair to say this quote could have been out of context but the value of a “good” college straight out of high school is overrated. I really wish I would have known about americorps when I graduated.

By: PPS_Parent

PPS_Parent — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 23:13:10 +0000

I think that what Mr Duncan was getting at is the importance of giving all kids a better shot at going to college by making sure that their schools give them the skills they will need to get to college and to succeed there. That may not have come through very well in his speech and opponents of President Obama and Mr Duncan are stretching this into something it isn’t.

The Obama administration actually has some good ideas on reforming student loans, but, guess what, is running into opposition from the lending isdustry …

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04......html?_r=1

The Obama administration is actually proposing to cover about two-thirds of the cost at typical public colleges and all or almost all of community college tuition.

By: Rita

Rita — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 22:33:44 +0000

Ok, tell me that quote is out of context. Please.

First of all, this implies that we’re able to predict with any kind of confidence what kind of life a 7 year old is destined to have. Truth be told, too often we can, but to my mind that’s an indictment of the system, not a goal we should aspire to.

Secondly, this is slightly off-topic, but does this prediction include any recognition of the reality that many students — in fact, more and more every day — are prevented from going to college for economic rather than intellectual reasons? To their credit, Obama & Co. have increased the Pell Grant amounts somewhat, but it’s still chicken feed next to the real cost of higher ed. When I went to college and grad school, a poor student like me really could afford higher ed through a combination of scholarships, grants, loans and work. No more. It’s shocking how many 22 year olds are graduating with crushing debt of $40-60K and up. I worry about all kids, but I particularly worry about my own son. That lottery ticket better come through or we’re in big trouble….