In response to a message to Charles on ...
DT>CB>I think that's terrific.  We can't allow each individual teacher to 
DT>CB>set standards or we'll continue to promote programs that graduate 
DT>CB>children who have few skills.  Will there be periodic testing in 
DT>CB>your schools to make sure the kids are keeping up?
DT>
DT>I don't know that the State is the best ones to issue standards, but in 
DT>this case it worked very well.
I don't understand this attitude.  Who do you think should be in control?
DT>I hope the State puts its money where its mouth is.  Last year 
DT>they cut Special Ed funding...made a big cut and we lost most of 
DTour paraprofessionals.
I hope they put their money up front as well.  However, with so many 
of our citizens distrusting government and calling for cuts in 
taxes, services must be cut.  Don't you think the national call for 
vouchers is really a call for privatization of education?  If 
education were privatized, then tax support could be gradually withdrawn.
DT>Our benchmark tests occur beginning at 4th grade. Not sure where else.  
DT>One of the current discussion centers around having a grade-to-grade 
DT>consistency so that benchmarks can be achieved.  I agree that individual
DT>teachers should not set standards for their classrooms.  In our district
DT>we have always had grade level outcomes or standards set by the 
DT>district.    
How many districts are there in your state?  Do they all set their 
own standards?  Are all of these standards high enough to ensure 
that graduating students really can read, write and do math?  How 
could you know?
DT>Retention just isn't done very much in our district...although we do 
DT>retain a few each year.  Most are sent on to the next grade level.  
DT>Those in Spec. Ed. won't ever meet the standards but most likely will 
DT>move up with their classmates.  Then there are the borderline kids.  
DT>They are usually promoted as well.  It usually takes an extreme to hold 
DT>a kid back.
We retain few kids as well.  We do have summer school programs for 
grades K-5 in our district, summer school for grades 7 through 12 is 
held on a county-wide basis.  Except for our state standards 
(Regents Exams), there's little to ensure that kids in summer school 
actually learn the material.
DT>By the end of the year it may still be a few kids.  Kindergarten is 
DT>still half-days most places I know.
Kindergarten is all-day in all of the districts around us.
Chas
Chuck Beams
cbeams@dreamscape.com
http://www.dreamscape.com/cbeams
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