nice school

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-25-2008
nice school
218
Fri, 11-07-2008 - 11:33am

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Chicago_Laboratory_School


Obama's girls have a nice school to attend; if public education is so great, how come his girl's don't go to public school?

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
In reply to: greenie75
Thu, 11-27-2008 - 2:11am

LOL, now there is a good question.

Just based on talking to parents in a couple of high-end districts, NCLB testing requirements have made schools worse. The testing requirements may be helpful in really terrible schools, but in decent to good schools, the constant need for improved scores means that time that could be spent on literature, grammar, differentiated instruction and the like is now used for taking practice tests instead.

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-20-2008
In reply to: greenie75
Thu, 11-27-2008 - 5:54am
Absolutely! In our district, the county has added 4 'benchmark' tests. These tests are aimed to measure students progress towards tested skills on a quarterly basis and are in addition to the state tests administered in the spring and the ongoing chapter tests which have become standardized within the county as well. On the surface it would seem a good idea - but as there is no time to go back and really reteach material that students are deficient on it ends up being, in essence, 4 more wasted instructional days. The tests are 'confidential' and so don't even go home with scores on them so that parents, should they be inclined, could provide the necessary remediation. The kids just feel tested to death and overwhelmed on testing days.
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iVillage Member
Registered: 02-19-2008
In reply to: greenie75
Fri, 11-28-2008 - 1:33pm

I heard a great deal about President Bush's parenting from many here. Many felt that unless Jenna and Barbara Bush were over fighting in Iraq it was hypocritical of President Bush to send other peoples sons and daughters there.

One other comment .... I am not criticizing Barack and Michelle Obama as parents. I am criticizing them as POTUS and First Lady, a title they freely chose to seek. They have chosen to open up their lives to public scrutiny.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 02-19-2008
In reply to: greenie75
Fri, 11-28-2008 - 1:34pm
Do you mean his failure to do anything for public schools during his tenure as a "community organizer" in Chicago?
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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-04-2003
In reply to: greenie75
Fri, 11-28-2008 - 1:36pm

<< One other comment .... I am not criticizing Barack and Michelle Obama as parents. I am criticizing them as POTUS and First Lady...>>

Pre-emptive criticizing? I wonder if it will be as effective as the concept of pre-emptive war.

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-19-2008
In reply to: greenie75
Fri, 11-28-2008 - 1:48pm

Teachers unions look out for teachers. When a teachers union complains about something (ie NCLB) the primary reason for the complaint is that whatever they are complaining about is not good for teachers.

My criticism of BO isn't that he sent his kids to private school. It is his belief that everyone else can make do with the same schools he rejects.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 02-19-2008
In reply to: greenie75
Fri, 11-28-2008 - 1:57pm
Our public education system was in decline long before NCLB. What NCLB's mandatory testing has done is forced people to see just how bad many of our public schools are, and to say that there will be consequences if a school continues to fail to educate their students.
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iVillage Member
Registered: 02-19-2008
In reply to: greenie75
Fri, 11-28-2008 - 2:01pm
I certainly wasn't surprised by their behavior. They behaved this way when BO was a Senator . BO chose a VP who acts this way as well. Birds of a feather .... unless you are saying BO will be withdrawing his little punishments from Sidwell Friends upon taking the oath of office. I wouldn't recommend you hold your breath to see that.
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