Hey, there! Log in / Register
The Boston Public Schools confuse me
By adamg on Thu, 01/25/2007 - 2:13pm
Yes, our daughter is actually in a Boston public school (and thank goodness that loser from Rochester double-crossed us before he started working here as superintendent).
Earlier this month, we learned she'd been invited to the fourth-grade "advanced work" program. This is cool because she's already getting bored sometimes at school and this is, well, an advanced program (kids basically work at the next grade level). But it would mean changing schools because hers doesn't offer it.
A couple days later, we got a letter from her principal congratulating us and pleading with us to keep her there - and saying she could get just as good an education (this Boston public school came in second in the entire state in third-grade MCAS math scores, so they must be doing something right). On Monday, we went to a session with the head of the citywide advanced-work program, who told us that any principal who made a promise like that is lying. And, she added, unless we put her in advanced work, she'd basically have two types of chances to get into an exam school: Slim and none.
Tonight, we go to a session with the principal to hear her case. And I'm thinking "Jesus, aren't you people all on the same team? Or our are kids really just ping-pong balls to you?"
But, wait, it gets even better: All but one of the advanced-work schools in our zone are K-5, so if she did go in, she'd have to transfer to another school for sixth grade. Like, say, the Irving Middle School. Which my wife has heard from AW grads there has a good program - in part because they keep the AW kids completely segregated from the rest of the students, the ones who seem to make the local paper every few weeks for punching teachers in the face or whatever.
Free tagging:
Ad:
Support Universal Hub
Help keep Universal Hub going. If you like what we're up to and want to help out, please consider a (completely non-deductible) contribution.
Comments
What Does This Say About Boston?
The CBS4Boston.com article says that Rivera was offered $300K as a base salary with increases after that and concessions by the School Committee to every request he made.
My comments:
First: $300,000 as a base salary!?! No wonder our per pupil expenditure is $17,000. I would happily do it for half price.
Second: All the money; contract concessions, and the moral suasion of having accepted a position still didn't convince Rivera to sign on. He knows something we don't, or we don't know how to evaluate character in an interview process.
Third: Given your description of the divisions among staff, I'd say Rivera made a face saving choice in backing out. Is the school department one that can actually be governed? Not based on your description and Rivera's action.
Last - Thanks for discussing your parental dilemma. As my grandson approaches 5, the clear decision is - move from the Fenway to Belmont!
What it says
It says the Boston school system still has some work to do. But it doesn't mean it's hopeless.
I can't speak for the Fenway, because that's in the North Zone, and we're in the West Zone, but there *are* good schools in Boston, even at the elementary level (maybe especially at the elementary level). But yes, you do have to work harder to get your kid into one than you would in, oh, Belmont. At least for me, as your basic pasty white guy, one of the advantages of a Boston school is diversity, something you won't find in most suburbs. Also, the zone system is not necessarily a bad thing - even with the constraints of citywide standards and the MCAS, there are different educational philosophies and, well, as long as you get lucky in the lottery, you can find a school that's a better fit (which is basically what we did, even though it means a bus ride for our daughter, albeit not a ridiculously long one).
As for Mr. Rivera, I didn't realize they'd offered him $300,000+. That better be one helluva "once in a lifetime opportunity" he's getting in the Spitzer administration. Fortunately, the acting superintendent, Michael Contompasis, seems capable, and the school system has carried on even without a permanent superintendent (for example, in the absense of one, our daughter's school still got approval to expand to a K-8 program).