I don't think anyone is a winner in this case. To have school this severely under funded is not okay. Kids in high school can't expect to learn in a classroom of 62 kids. Without this money, I think the education provided will be eroded, and it sounds like from years past these school have already seen a pretty big hit in their budgets. I think Bobb's performance needs to be evaluated because he has let this deficit grow while continue to shut down schools. Clearly, he isn't doing something right, so the state and the children are losing because he isn't doing a good job.
The proposed plan to use future tobacco settlement money, which is already incorporated into the budget, to alleviate some of the deficits of certain school districts seems to be just another convoluted action that only serves to displace and defer problems. While the schools are hurting, and things are not going to be ideal until school districts can get closer to balancing their budgets, I don't think that this is the best solution. If districts want to see this plan happen then why is there no one to support it in the House? The teachers don't seem to like it. Even if the money is to be used the plan needs to be revised. Also, it seems to be focused on urban districts, so why should other districts have to deal with the consequences of this? Where did the DPS get the 500 million for construction on new and existing schools while they are shutting down so many other schools?
62 kids in one classroom for a class is just simply not O.K. We have schools for kids to learn and grow. By having 62 kids in a classroom, they'll do nothing of the sort.
It's appalling to me that the DPS allowed themselves to get this deep in debt. Bobb's lackadaisical attitude and actions were wrong, but we must fix this issue. Students deserve the best schooling possible, and to me, this sounds like the worst.
First, we must recognize the role that Robert Bobb is in and his track record.
He was brought in by DPS as an Emergency Financial Manager to help deal with the aftermath of a serious scandal that surfaced in which DPS officials embezzled money from the already depleted district budget. Additionally, a corrupt mayor further set back DPS through rampant mismanagement. So, Bobb came in to assess the damage and give an estimate on how much money it would take to get DPS out of its deficit. He has done similar administrative work in other cities around the country to varying degrees of success. But, I would also like to point out this: if Bobb were to go into nearly any school district in the state of Michigan, he would likely come back with an estimate in the millions that would be needed to get the district out of its deficit and get the "best school possible" for students.
"Since Bobb was appointed as emergency financial manager in 2009, the district's deficit has grown from $219 million at the end of 2009 to its current $327 million. He's closed 59 schools in two years and outsourced several departments including transportation and school security." Bobb has many public interests at heart but he also has a lot of interests in the private sector. He is the CEO of a public/private consulting firm yet has also served on the D.C. Board of Education.
Bobb has taken an approach to education reform similar to that of Michelle Rhee, the former Chancellor of Schools in Washington, D.C., whose methods he has openly supported. This methodology specifically targets teachers, including eliminating seniority in union contracts and rules at schools and implementing merit-based pay (based on student performance on standardized testing and continually rising 'progress' standards). Other reform measures include: extending the school day and school year, and allowing flexibility to use outside service providers to run schools, according to the plan (i.e. contract schools).
After implementing a similar plan in D.C. of massive teacher cuts/layoffs, school closures and shifting of principals around, Michelle Rhee stepped down as Chancellor of the D.C. Schools. She served as Chancellor for two and a half years. Robert Bobb has publicly stated his intentions to stay only to the end of this school year (http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2010/10/robert_bobb_confirms_he_will_e.html). That means his stay in Detroit will have lasted all of two years.
Now tell me: Is this the sort of "educational reform" we would allow at our university? Someone comes in for two or three years, fires professors, lengthens our school year, outsourced the administration of our school to a private company, reworks our entire budget.. and then leaves? Would this be heralded as working for the best interest of students? Would this be viewed as a viable plan for the future of Northern?
In my opinion, in order to create a classroom for children of this age that enables them to socialize, learn, and gain knowledge to better benefit them in the future, classroom sizes must be that so each student has their own space, but also easy accessibility to their resources, like their teacher. The underfunding of this particular school combined with the borderline negligence of Bobb on behalf of the kids is a recipe for disaster. Sixty two, young, immature, growing children in one classroom prevents them from forming a connection to the benefits of schooling and the future, simply because the influence of so many other kids strives them away from social development that is possible in smaller groups at that age.
I agree, Connie. I also do not think there is a winner in this particular case. You make a good point that without this money the educational system will be further eroded, and in order to give children an efficient education, this scenario should not happen. You also make a good point that Bobb's performance needs to be evaluated due to the fact that under his guidance, the system is in shambles. As I said, in order to be able to give children an education that is both useful and applicable to real life circumstance in the future, they need an environment that can produce that for them. With the severe underfunding that is happening here, that is not possible.
I don't think anyone is a winner in this case. To have school this severely under funded is not okay. Kids in high school can't expect to learn in a classroom of 62 kids. Without this money, I think the education provided will be eroded, and it sounds like from years past these school have already seen a pretty big hit in their budgets. I think Bobb's performance needs to be evaluated because he has let this deficit grow while continue to shut down schools. Clearly, he isn't doing something right, so the state and the children are losing because he isn't doing a good job.
ReplyDeleteThe proposed plan to use future tobacco settlement money, which is already incorporated into the budget, to alleviate some of the deficits of certain school districts seems to be just another convoluted action that only serves to displace and defer problems. While the schools are hurting, and things are not going to be ideal until school districts can get closer to balancing their budgets, I don't think that this is the best solution. If districts want to see this plan happen then why is there no one to support it in the House? The teachers don't seem to like it. Even if the money is to be used the plan needs to be revised. Also, it seems to be focused on urban districts, so why should other districts have to deal with the consequences of this? Where did the DPS get the 500 million for construction on new and existing schools while they are shutting down so many other schools?
ReplyDelete62 kids in one classroom for a class is just simply not O.K. We have schools for kids to learn and grow. By having 62 kids in a classroom, they'll do nothing of the sort.
ReplyDeleteIt's appalling to me that the DPS allowed themselves to get this deep in debt. Bobb's lackadaisical attitude and actions were wrong, but we must fix this issue. Students deserve the best schooling possible, and to me, this sounds like the worst.
First, we must recognize the role that Robert Bobb is in and his track record.
ReplyDeleteHe was brought in by DPS as an Emergency Financial Manager to help deal with the aftermath of a serious scandal that surfaced in which DPS officials embezzled money from the already depleted district budget. Additionally, a corrupt mayor further set back DPS through rampant mismanagement. So, Bobb came in to assess the damage and give an estimate on how much money it would take to get DPS out of its deficit. He has done similar administrative work in other cities around the country to varying degrees of success. But, I would also like to point out this: if Bobb were to go into nearly any school district in the state of Michigan, he would likely come back with an estimate in the millions that would be needed to get the district out of its deficit and get the "best school possible" for students.
"Since Bobb was appointed as emergency financial manager in 2009, the district's deficit has grown from $219 million at the end of 2009 to its current $327 million. He's closed 59 schools in two years and outsourced several departments including transportation and school security." Bobb has many public interests at heart but he also has a lot of interests in the private sector. He is the CEO of a public/private consulting firm yet has also served on the D.C. Board of Education.
Bobb has taken an approach to education reform similar to that of Michelle Rhee, the former Chancellor of Schools in Washington, D.C., whose methods he has openly supported. This methodology specifically targets teachers, including eliminating seniority in union contracts and rules at schools and implementing merit-based pay (based on student performance on standardized testing and continually rising 'progress' standards). Other reform measures include: extending the school day and school year, and allowing flexibility to use outside service providers to run schools, according to the plan (i.e. contract schools).
After implementing a similar plan in D.C. of massive teacher cuts/layoffs, school closures and shifting of principals around, Michelle Rhee stepped down as Chancellor of the D.C. Schools. She served as Chancellor for two and a half years. Robert Bobb has publicly stated his intentions to stay only to the end of this school year (http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2010/10/robert_bobb_confirms_he_will_e.html). That means his stay in Detroit will have lasted all of two years.
Now tell me: Is this the sort of "educational reform" we would allow at our university? Someone comes in for two or three years, fires professors, lengthens our school year, outsourced the administration of our school to a private company, reworks our entire budget.. and then leaves? Would this be heralded as working for the best interest of students? Would this be viewed as a viable plan for the future of Northern?
In my opinion, in order to create a classroom for children of this age that enables them to socialize, learn, and gain knowledge to better benefit them in the future, classroom sizes must be that so each student has their own space, but also easy accessibility to their resources, like their teacher. The underfunding of this particular school combined with the borderline negligence of Bobb on behalf of the kids is a recipe for disaster. Sixty two, young, immature, growing children in one classroom prevents them from forming a connection to the benefits of schooling and the future, simply because the influence of so many other kids strives them away from social development that is possible in smaller groups at that age.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Connie. I also do not think there is a winner in this particular case. You make a good point that without this money the educational system will be further eroded, and in order to give children an efficient education, this scenario should not happen. You also make a good point that Bobb's performance needs to be evaluated due to the fact that under his guidance, the system is in shambles. As I said, in order to be able to give children an education that is both useful and applicable to real life circumstance in the future, they need an environment that can produce that for them. With the severe underfunding that is happening here, that is not possible.
ReplyDelete