From Anonymous:
As for school configuration, it is clear that no parents showed up to ask for an expansion of the old middle school model. As much as administrators try to push it, nobody is buying it.
Visiting the middle schools right now will not tell you anything
because they are currently underpopulated. What people remember is what a disaster the middle schools were when they were fully populated. It is clear that Plainfield parents are done with traditional middle schools.
We have to great buildings that can be put to better use. We need to be
discussing better ideas for these buildings.
We know that parents are clamoring to get into the K-8 Centers and
PAAAS. So, why don't we replicate those models and provide more
choice.
We know that PAAAS is going to run out of space as it moves towards
full implementation to twelfth grade.
I suggest that PAAAS be moved to the Hubbard building so that it can
grow to full fruition. Moving PAAAS would open up space at their current location that can be used to open another K-8 Center or to expand Jefferson School into another K-8 Center.
Maxson School could be converted into a 7-12 Magnet School like PAAAS, but with a different theme. I suggest that the theme be Science with concentrations in Engineering as well as Health Sciences.
I think that if we run the numbers, this configuration will help alleviate overcrowding as well as provide parents more positive choice within our school district.
We need to move away from complaining about the past. Lets move forward and debate ideas on how to move forward. I invite people to provide feedback on my ideas. I would also like to hear other peoples ideas about how to give the community what we want and need.
Thanks Maria for providing this space for discussion on this very
important issue.
4 comments:
Parents want to know the school system will successfully educate their child. Parents want choice options. Parents want to know their child's school is meeting their needs (whether the child is entitled to Special Education services / Gifted and Talented / ect). This is why parents opt for private or charter schools.
Prior to the middle schools downsizing, their were school of choice options available within each middle school (ex. Global Studies at Maxson and Performing Arts at Hubbard)and the student population was between 700 - 1000 students. What ever happened to these program? With numbers that high, obviously not all PPS students were leaving the district.
We just want choices within our school district or to know that our needs will be met regardless of which end of Plainfield the student lives.
I see the point that the previous poster makes about the Academies that we're set up at Hubbard and Maxson. However, just like the academies that used to exist at the high school, the were not effective because they only existed on paper. They were not true magnet schools in the sense that they created a separate space for kids that applied, competed, and we're accepted into a rigorous academic program. Instead, they were just a system of dividing students up on paper based on the type of electives they chose to enroll in.
We need to take a real look at what we had in our middle schools in the past. We need to have an honest evaluation of why they failed so miserably.
We can serve our students much better under a new configuration that provides learning environments that match the needs of our diverse student body (in this instance I am referring to academic diversity). Not every child has the same interests. The student that might be motivated by the arts is may not be as motivated by science and engineering. Most of our students may plan on attending a four year university right out of high school while others may want to enter directly into a career before pursuing higher education.
We need to begin the overall discussion about what is the best configuration for our kids between grades 6-12. Let's face it, we are doing better in grades pre-k through 5. It is in grades 6-12 that we have the problems.
Three smaller, specialized high schools would work better than on large institution. Real small learning communities are easier to manage than one large group that is only divided up on paper. Two smaller magnet high schools (one arts and one science) as well as a comprehensive high school (college prep along with technical education) in the main high school building would provide us with the configuration we need. Students would be in environments that best suite their needs and interests.
Check out 'Comprehensive High Schools' here:
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comprehensive_high_school
Check out Magnet Schools here:
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnet_school
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