South LA HS 1: your kids, your money, your loss
One of the most emailed articles of the past twenty-four hours is this piece in yesterday's Times about South LA High School Number 1.
The fact that this article---which comes on the heels of news of approval of another highly expensive high school---has been so well read, even though election turnout last week was so poor---indicates that there's a thirst for information regarding what's really going on in our City's schools. All the flashy, funny-looking schools that have been built in the past five years---are they working? Is it a good idea to build a school like South LA HS 1 or not? Will accountability to the Mayor---who typically endorses candidates who generally favor big, ground-up spending over rehabilitation---really solve anything?
So much for the public to know; so little journalistic interest in bringing it out. This Erika Hayasaki article is a leader at the Times because it addresses something the people want to know, not something a political consultant wants you to hear.
"This was, for three years, Romer's talked-about flagship [small learning community] site," said Board of Education member David Tokofsky. "It was his dream, and it has turned out to be a nightmare."
[snip]
Students carry weapons because "they have to go through somebody else's turf to get to and from school," said Dean David Hickman. "The district never asked us, who are on the ground, how to build a school."
The fact that this article---which comes on the heels of news of approval of another highly expensive high school---has been so well read, even though election turnout last week was so poor---indicates that there's a thirst for information regarding what's really going on in our City's schools. All the flashy, funny-looking schools that have been built in the past five years---are they working? Is it a good idea to build a school like South LA HS 1 or not? Will accountability to the Mayor---who typically endorses candidates who generally favor big, ground-up spending over rehabilitation---really solve anything?
So much for the public to know; so little journalistic interest in bringing it out. This Erika Hayasaki article is a leader at the Times because it addresses something the people want to know, not something a political consultant wants you to hear.
Posted by Joseph Mailander @ 3/13/2006 08:35:00 AM
10 Comments:
Speaking of schools and sleazeballs
Somebody PLEASE give Heather Repenning the Titanic Captain's "Awww Its Just a Little Leak" Award for her failure to remove that scourge CHRISTOPHER BIANCO ARELLANO from the running in District 2.
Heathah, who delighted us recently by explaining Arellano's lying about his "Masters degrees" with the notion that actually having to graduate to make such a claim "was a kind of formality" seems intent on going down with the ship. Word is that Crash and Burn Chrissy is going door to door pressuring the good folks of the district to try and reinstate his lost endorsements.
But Heathah, Dah-link, we know youre a postmodernist lit-crit maven and all that, and sure, TRUTH is such a boooring RELATIVISTIC notion, but dontcha think you should save all that FABULOUS cultural critique for the cappucino lounge and pull your LYING HUSTLER of a candidate outta this mess before he takes you all down?
And meanwhile, on our own pk's award winning blog:
http://a-z-on-christopher-bianco-arellano.blogspot.com/
...The late great Italian director Pier Paolo PASOLINI speculates that Chris maybe...just may be...the MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE!
Jeepers!!
We need to make the neighborhoods safe by adding police. The problem isn't the schools, per se. The problem is the war zones in which they are located. Children should be safe all day, not just while they're in school.
Right on Walter......
Isn't this Huizar's school? Where is Huizar? What has he been doing, besides shredding evidence.
it was also under Monica's watch
...and UTLA's and Romer's watch too???
A brand new school with the finest of everything and the damn school district hasn't figured out why the students are fighting. Right on Walter we need more police in the neighborhoods where these kids live. But don't tell Antonio that. He thinks the city should spend $39 million on elephants instead.
I guess elephant-mounted police, in the spirit of Hadrian crossing the Alps, would be out of the question...
Its the schools, wait not its the board, wait but what about RomerDuffy, and how about more police, well its the street gangs, if they only had good jobs to offer and more programs...then everything would be ok. How about more stable families with two parents...
Look all of these things are important..but having more police is not the answer in and of itself. The reality of it is that the foundation for healthy livable, safe, communities comes from having good decent schools for all students to attend. And new schools does not equate with good schools when what is happening inside of them is truly a tragedy. Unfortunately we will have a city with over a hundred multimillion dollar new school facilities with third world quality education happening inside of them.
Inside these schools you find: Administrators who are overworked and cannot make decisions because of the constant amount of paperwork thrown at them from beaudry, educators who cannot use creativity and flexibility because of district wide programs that dont treat teachers like the professionals that most of them are, a central administration that is too scared to lose control and thus manages everything from high above (including finances) and is too afraid of the power of the union to actually hold anyone accountable, and a union too worried about protecting their own interests first and foremost which comes at the expense of educational progress, and last but not least a school board that is led by someone courageous who cant lead, a couple of old retired district folks who think everything is alright for the most part, a member that is always confused, and a couple of others who often make sense but cant form allegiances and cant convince the other donkeys to try something proven and sensible.
While I understand and to a certain extent agree with the prospect of mayoral control, I still have not heard any concrete plans on what the mayor is going to do when he gets control. How will he make sure that the needs of all students are met? How will he ensure that there is increased flexibility for delivering a wide range of educational models for our ever increasing diverse learning population? How will he ensure that there is accountability at all levels? How will he bring much needed investment into the schools (human and financial capital)? Is he willing to go toe to toe with Fabian and CTA's wishes(?), potentially at the expense of any future state level office?
The only bright spot about the debacle of the LAUSD is that Tony Villar will be washed up - forever. I pray that he takes over the stewardship of LAUSD - it will be the last nail in his coffin.
Every other state in the nation is terrified that their state will turn into the disaster that befell Los Angeles. In every respect.
As a former sixth -generation resident of Los Angeles, I have nothing but sympathy for anyone from the old crowd of multi-generational families who are still living there. I know there aren't many of them left, thank God. Who in the hell would want to learn Spanish??? French, yes...
The people of Califoria have two choices: tax revolt or move!!!!
Also, I would seriously think bringing of a class action suit against the thieves who are called 'elected officials' because the massive fraud they have perpetrated against the people of California (Los Angeles, in particular) is unprecedented. Too bad most of the population can't speak English and has no idea of what I am talking about. So there couldn't be much chance of a 'class-action'.
The demise of Los Angeles is coming sooner rather than later, and it's going to send a horrific shock wave to every other state in the nation. I'm just waiting for the fireworks to begin!!!!!!
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