Study Says Mayoral Control Of Schools Works
Talk about "Ask and ye shall receive!" Just yesterday, yours truly suggested we base educational change on empirical evidence, rather than just changing for the sake of change. And what happens today? A study by researchers at Harvard and Brown indicates cities that give mayors control of their schools get better results than those who don't.
The L.A. Daily News reports, "It concludes that those districts showed greater improvement than traditionally run school systems because of greater accountability and higher public confidence in the education system."
Sounds like a good reason to support the mayor's takeover plan to me. Obviously, we'll want to read the study and learn more about the researchers themselves, but the preponderance of the evidence just shifted to mayor's side of this debate.
After all, if we don't base policy on objective, empirical study, we can't reasonably expect good results.
In an attempt to rebut the study, LAUSD Board Member David Tokofsky said: "When you hit rock bottom like Cleveland, Chicago, New York and other cities, you ought to be willing to try mayoral control, governor control, or even turning your schools over to the French government. But L.A. doesn't fit the prerequisites that justify that."
Yikes! Is he saying let's wait for things to get worse before we try something that researchers say works in other cities?!
Anyway, I, for one, am now leaning in favor of the mayor's takeover plan. And I've got to give him credit for pushing to make it happen.
How about you? Do you favor or oppose mayoral takeover? In answering, remember that he won't be the mayor forever. So even if you're not wild about him, what do you think about mayoral control of the schools in general?
Posted by Walter Moore @ 5/21/2006 08:02:00 AM
9 Comments:
Walter,
Only someone like you would mention a study at Harvard and Brown and then place a picture of Blair Tower from Princeton University. Do you have your diploma strapped around your neck too? Such a big diploma at that, what are you compensating for?
Mayoral control of the schools is the worst idea I've ever heard of. This city is enough for one person to tackle. I'm not saying he can't have some kind of role, but it cannot be what HE is aiming for.
It's a very bad idea.
Riordan wanted to do it and we didn't want him to. So what if Riordan were the mayor and wanted control?
Oh wait......that is our situation.
Never mind.
LOL. I can't believe you recognized Princeton's architecture! Actually, I tried to find a nice picture of Harvard, but couldn't find anything I liked. The only time I went to Harvard, it was for a debate tournament, and I got stuck for days in the Blizzard of '78!
I remembered how "Ivy League" Princeton looked, and figured it would do the trick. I'm amazed anyone knew the difference!
I do not have my diploma around my neck, but I did save it, to remind me that I used to be, allegedly, a fairly bright fellow. You know, before I fell on my head and stuff.
I tend to support the mayor's efforts precisely because of the incompetence demonstrated by the Board (in particular, the mental midgets known as Marlene Canter and David Tokofsky). The board is a joke and its soon to be newest member, Monica Garcia, is another in a long line of do-nothings.
And, does it make sense to people that Romer's former aide, Glen Gritzner, is at the law firm doing $20K a month of "political advising." I guess Glen has never heard of the revolving door policy. Just another in the long line of examples of why the District cannot be trusted.
Walter,
There are no nice pictures of Harvard. To get a nice Ivy League picture in Boston/Cambridge you'd have to go to Wellesly, maybe Hillary can give some of her pics. In appearence, Harvard is the ghetto of Ivy League schools. You were lucky enough to go to the Country Club of Ivy League schools.
"...LAUSD Board Member David Tokofsky said: "When you hit rock bottom like Cleveland, Chicago, New York and other cities..."
Ha, what a crock!!! I have the Initial Visit Application for Crenshaw HS submitted by the Western Association of Schools & Colleges. This was done when Crenshaw was in jeopardy of losing its accreditation.
The percent proficient minimum target for English Language Arts is 22.3% (Their target for proficiency is only 22.3%??). Only 16.5% of all students were proficient, with 18.6% of that being black students, & 11.8% being Hispanic. The proficiency rate target for mathh is 20.9%. Only 12.1% of all students were proficient in math. Do you want to know what percentage of 9th , 10th, & 11th graders were proficient & above on the Algebra I portion of the Calfornia Standards Tests in 2005? 0% This is a decrease from 2003 where 1% of 9th graders & a whopping 3% of 10th graders were proficient & above. If this isn't rock bottom, I don't what is. Dismantle LAUSDE now!!!!
And you think this is LAUSD? Not some shitty parents who aren't monitoring their kids homework and classwork? If you are in touch with your teachers, your child can learn absolutely anywhere. I don't care what school or district it's in.
Pick a fucking school full of gang bangers who don't give a shit and then blame LAUSD for not teaching them.
Moron.
You people who support this fucking mechista mayor are fucking nuts!!!!!
This is the one mayor you don't want to control ANYTHING!
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