The district is considering absorbing the 6-8 middle schools back into the elementary school system (due to budget cuts). This idea has caused quite an uproar in our community. Today at work I was sent an email that attached a newspaper article and then a statement from the person that sent me the email stating her opposition of the idea and encouraging me to attend the community meeting to oppose the idea as well.
This was my response and was sent to my whole Union - which was a little scary to do!
As a parent, I understand the concern for changing the system as it is now.
In researching the K-8 scenario and experiencing it to a degree in a school before moving to Blythe, I do believe that there are also benefits of a K-8 environment:
1. give students greater opportunities at success by building relationships with staff over a 9 year period.
2. increase parent involvement during the 6-8th grade years. As most parents are more involved in Elementary years and since the staff will be the same it will help to keep that same level of commitment to volunteerism through the “middle school” grades.
3. Most middle school-ers WILL behave differently when in an environment with smaller children. I firmly believe this and have seen it in action.
4. teacher collaboration is increased across the grades
5. supervised mentoring from older children to younger children can increase confidence, understanding and retention of core learning concepts. This is also a wonderful opportunity for the mentor to learn character building traits.
All I am saying is that perhaps it is best to keep an open mind when going to the meeting. I too, would encourage everyone to attend the meeting. We need to openly express our concerns while still considering all options available to us given the economic climate.
I have a sick child today, so I am going home soon. I have not had any response to the email yet but we will see. I hope I just didn't get myself ostrisized!
8 comments:
No comments yet!? Dun, dun, dun! I'm still on the fence about this myself. I think I'm against it but I was against the time change too and now I see how it could have actually been helpful. I'm less than convinced about the studies. I certainly don't want the things that have been happening at the Jr. High at the elementary school level. I'm most concerned about the drugs and weapons. That stuff happened in Jr. High when I was there and has only gotten worse. The Jr. High aged kids that would benefit from mentoring younger children are not the ones I'm concerned about. There would really have to be true zero tolerance and at the first sign of trouble I would homeschool in a heartbeat. I also need it explained to me how shutting down the jr. high facility and causing the already crowded elementary school to bulge at the seems further is going to save money. I'm sure the theory is that the money that would go toward that school would be given to the elementary schools but really all you are getting rid of is the office staff and administration of that school. There are going to have to be many more classrooms set up to put these children in at the elementary schools. It just seems to me everything that is suppose to save us money in this district turns into a project that flushes a bunch of money down the toilet. I need a lot of answers I guess. That being said I did teach at a school that was K - 8th and there really weren't any problems. The older kids were actually really respectful with the younger ones. It was a very small school though. I fear more people means more problems. Looks like we all have a lot of praying to do.
Rach, you are a smart, smart, smart girl. That was a very well-thought-out response. It will be interesting to see how this pans out.
So I ended up going to the meeting and K-8 is only one of the many ideas that are on the table. They are also talking about a 4 day school week and a bunch of other stuff. I too worry about the older kids mingling with the younger kids and all that entails but really they wouldn't. They would share the administration and staff but essentially would be on a different bus schedule, lunch schedule, and in their own "pods". Since they don't have recess we wouldn't have to worry about anything like that. But I am leaning further and further to home schooling...I think that this town is just making it so hard to enjoy this time with our kids. It is not supposed to be this hard! Anyone interested in starting a charter school, a one-room schoolhouse or a co-op homeschool....I am pretty ready for something different. This is not really fair for our kids!
I would be completely on board for something like that (co-op or charter type school). Like I said before I have no fear of homeschooling but my little man loves his friends. Having other moms there to co-op with would be a dream come true for me. It would cut expense and our kids would have their friends. Look what we did with out little preschool that most of us didn't even take very seriously (well I didn't). Our kids are at the top of their classes. We must chat. I would love to hear about the other things they are proposing. Did you want us to come over this weekend for the Science Project? By the way Roxanne Ramirez homeschooled for years. She would be a good person to talk to. I have really been trying not to overract to all this. I really do get frustrated, mad even about how things are done at school. I think we could do a much better job. The kicker is we have the best teacher. Ms. Smith is awesome. It's the stuff out of her control that bugs me. Plus thinking of having my children in a schooling situation where they can not only pray but learn about God without anyone saying otherwise just makes my heart swell. I'm sorry I've gone on a rant again. I just love my kids and I want the very best for them. I don't think are schools are they are now are the very best. I also don't think they are the worst but I know we could do better.
Hey Rach, sorry you guys have to deal with this stuff. You're so awesome for sending that email. Disagreeing with people who always get their panties in a bunch isn't always easy.
The beaumont district is cutting 7million and talking about shutting down Tyler's school. It's a new school and is SO amazing! The only thing that would make it better is Mrs.Rymer. We even had a little struggle to get him in, and now they're talking about closing it. I'm not happy about that but I know whatever happens, we'll be just fine. And so will all of you! =) Miss you guys!
Sorry I am just seeing your post. Very nice Rachel! I know a lot of parents are concerned and if that gets them involved that's great. Lots of parents don't want K-8, but I think we just might be acting out of fear instead of fact. Yes, I have the same fear because I love my kids too. I am warm to homeschooling.
That being said there are a lot of different places to cut in our district, and lots of ideas. I have heard more than one person from the district say they don't care where the cuts are. If the parents can voice a majority of where we want them, we are likely to get it. One place I have noticed there is a lot of money is transportation. 1.5 million I think. Someone suggested that if we expand walking boundaries we could save a lot. And who are we kidding, most are driving our kids to school anyway. Maybe have more law enforcement out to make sure kids walking are safe. Lots of ideas and maybe this will not be as big of a deal as I fear. John went to the meeting on Thursday. I think they need to decide in the next month where they will cut. We are lucky to live in a small town. Let's keep our ears open and share our favorite ideas and if we don't like how things pan out we can be grateful that we have the option to homeschool. I know that I am, and I know most of you reading this are too. Thanks Rachel for giving a place where we can talk and share our ideas and express our fears! And Mande I agree with your preschool comment. I think we could do a great job uniting if and when we do!
I am just so confused about everything. Right now I am trying to do my research and figure out what the best option is and then bring it to the Lord and see if I am headed in the right direction. We are living in scary times, but we are also given the counsel to "fear not". I know that my children have been reserved for this very special time and sometimes I think that I am just being too much of a momma bear. Perhaps they were saved for this time because they have been prepared to handle the schools and the kids. There are some really great teachers in the district.
I don't know. I have been researching charter school a little and am thinking about going to one of those "charter school seminars" to see if a charter school in Blythe would really be an option. Charter schools typically get only about 80% of the (public) funding that "district" schools get...and yet the charter school that we were in really thrived! The parent involvement is what really made the difference. We kicked in to keep the landscape up, be the noon hour supervisors and teachers aids...and even did one on one tutoring with kids that the teacher felt needed additional help. It really had a sense of community and I loved that. "hot" lunch was not provided but they had microwaves and the children could heat something up, or use a hot water caraffe to heat up their cup o noodles or ramen.
The curriculum was high notch and I wonder (besides our kids) how many children would be able to handle the extra time and effort that it took to stay up - not to mention the need for parents to keep up as well.
If you would like to look at the curriculum for a first grade class - my favorite teacher of all time, Miss Park, has a complete list of everything she does in her first grade class including a calendar. The website is www.timpacademy.org and then you just go to "teachers pages" and find Miss Park, 1st grade. Unfortunately, the other grades are not quite as organized as she is - that is why I love her :) We could even use that curriculum as a basis for our little 1st graders if we did a co-op home schooling. It may also be used as a guide for creating curriculum for the other grades as well.
Well, I have rambled on for long enough...but if you would like more info on charter schools just let me know and I will post some more links.
I personally, think that k-8 is a good idea and agree with what Rachel said. I am not hot on the homeschooling idea, since I do not feel qualified to teach them the curriculum properly. I teach them the ethics, religion, morals, and manners and whatever else comes in my home, but I do not feel qualified to teach math, science or social studies. I am learning about history from my son's experiences and my taking history classes now. My husband is a credentialed teacher but he works all day. I hope that we as a community will find a balance and work something out. I too am praying for our district leadership and parents to come to a good option and get us back on track to a balanced budget and learning. Let's keep in touch and watch out for the meeting that will affect us so we can always have someone we know attend whatever meetings come our way about this issue. I am attending all of the school board meetings to follow the outcome. I attended last week and there were some parents for and against the k-8, I am planning to speak at the next meeting about why I feel k-8 is a good idea. Maybe transitioning us into a full k-8, by next year keeping the 6th graders, then the next year keeping the 6th graders as 7th graders in the elementary schools and then the 8th graders. That way we will not have the "poisoned" middle schoolers with our little kids.
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