One more get-up, then we have a break. Let's work together in pumping up our system, instead of bringing it (and each other) down. Use this time away from school to cherish our families, friends, and neighbors, recharge, refresh. Clear all the bad Karma from our lives.
Even if we are to be run by the state, it is what it is. We must remember why we chose our profession, lift up our students, hone the skills they possess, and provide a safe environment where their educational foundation will be enhanced.
Tomorrow, On May 31st there will be a meeting at about The state taking over. This meeting, I feel, is our last chance. Even if you don't go to/work for/or graduated from Broad Ripple Magnet High school, Please support them(us) and support IPS to keep The state and Tony bennett out of our schools. Thanks! WE CAN DO THIS!
I think all the students in IPS will flee if the state takes over. I have had parents tell me with all the red tape in the government, IPS will end up in worse shape. Most have already said they will send their child to the closest township. When IPS is destroyed, I guess Mitch will be happy--nevermind the teachers, parents, students--he will have gotten even with Dr. White for calling him a liar when he was in Washington Township.
As a BR grad., and teacher, I believe without a doubt we have improved and our scores will show this.
I think combining all the schools is a great idea. The township system is a: stupid and b: wasteful. Do we really need 11 school systems in ONE city? If other states can have one school system per city we should too.
Larger is not better! The problem with IPS now is that it's too big. I would support following the actual township borders. IPS should be made of students who live in center township only. Trim the fat, programs that don't work. Accountability will be stronger bc there are fewer students and fewer staff to keep track of. Simplicity is always better!
I'm in the "it can't be worse than it is now" column. I think a state takeover would be better. I think a single city-wide district would be better. I think separating IPS into the townships would be better. I don't think the boundary lines mean as much as they used to, though. If you can provide transportation, most of the townships now allow students who live in IPS. (Does anyone know if it works the other way around. Can someone who lives in the townships enroll in a magnet school?) I also predict vouchers will send some of the more involved, underserved poor families to parochial schools, but the wealthier families with stick with the magnet schools, and the rest of the families will just mindlessly put their kids on the neighborhood bus, completely oblivious to whether the state or Eugene White is running the district.
Uh, hello. Unigov did not/does not encompass Beech Grove or Speedway, which are each cities, separate from Indianapolis, having their own city limits, mayors, laws, police forces, fire departments, school systems, and taxation base. There are THREE cities in Marion County, but NINE townships: Pike, Washington, Lawrence, Warren, Franklin, Perry, Decatur, Wayne, and Center.
The "doughnut" refers to the eight townships surrounding Center Township.
On state takeover, from the Indy star. "IPS spokeswoman Mary Louise Bewley said that if there are going to be turnaround efforts at IPS schools, the district should be allowed to manage them.
"We think we have the skills and the expertise to do that," she said.
And I think I have the skills to play in the NBA, thinking something is one thing, proving it is another. IPS has proven over and over they can't solve the problems, and I have proven over and over I do not have the skills to play in the NBA.
Mary Louise don't tell us what you think, tell us what you can prove with honest data.
How do we know it will be so bad? Sometimes I think they can't do any worse than Dr. White and friends. They take all the money in a school system that touts itself as "Children come first". Maybe the state would make sure that money gets to the classroom; A/C, laptops, chairs that aren't held together with boogers, paper, pencils.....
You are right, perhaps the state would do more with a principal who is drunk at school events then recommend she find a more private place to drink and get counseling for her bullying behavior. She is a manipulative liar, and the folks down town turn a blind eye to her behavior.
Are you serious? Combining all the schools into one district? That would just be peachy keen, as then the hoodlums can drag everyone down to their level. You can skip Beech Grove and Speedway as they don't accept Federal funding, and therefore don't have to follow NCLB, and they can rightfully tell anyone to go fly a kite.
Naaah, it wouldn't be that big of a deal. Most of the kids at IPS are just like most of the kids at the townships. The worst of the worst in IPS wouldn't be able to drag down kids at the township schools unless they took on the policies of IPS on attendance, discipline, and course offerings, which they wouldn't.
I'm not an IPS employee, but I read this blog from time to time to find out things about IPS and other school districts that are ignored by the weak local news media.
I wonder if anyone might respond to the question(s) I have: What is the biggest problem in IPS?
Is it the size of the district (bureaucracy? The socio/economic realities of the inner city and how students are affected by that? The school board? The superintendent? Principals? Teachers? Students' lack of caring about their own educations? Or, I guess I should add, all of the above?
These are not loaded question. I would really like to read what people here think about this.
Oh, and I don't know where you got the idea that Beech Grove and Speedway don't accept federal funding and don't follow NCLB, but it's completely wrong. Check for yourself on IDOE. The NCLB information is listed in the "school data" section and the federal funding information is in the "school financial reports" section.
@What is the biggest problem in IPS? I think it's a mixture of all of the things you listed, but as an IPS teacher, I believe the single biggest problem is a horrible sort of self-fulfilling prophecy in which adults (parents, teachers, principals, administrators, school board) expect IPS kids to be inferior to other kids, and their attitudes and actions teach the children to believe that and fulfill those expectations. Again, I think there are all kinds of contributing factors, but I think the biggest problem in IPS is children with a statistically higher-than-average number of parents who aren't optimistic about the future of their children are put in schools with statistically higher-than-average number of educators who aren't optimistic about the future of their students. This is a dangerous and heartbreaking combination.
"It's" is the contraction for it is. "Its" is the possessive form of the pronoun it (belonging to it = its, no apostrophe). The two are NOT interchangeable. It would be tacky to leave this error uncorrected, so I'm pointing a finger at you. I sure hope you teach little kids before they encounter contractions or map-reading.
Also, Southport is Perry Township.
I'll bet you write "alot" as one word, not two, and write that damned apostrophe on all of your plural nouns. I'm a product of IPS, and I know better. Which township used social promotion on you?
Southport is still in Marion County, as is Perry Township. It is an excluded under town under Unigov, similar to Speedway and Beech Grove. Also, instead of being an elitist ass, try adding something substantial to the converstation. Most people are posting via phone, so typos are generally missed. If you have a smart phone with an auto correct feature, the word "its" automatically gains an apostrophe.
So, your phone is not so smart, eh? Auto-correct becomes an oxymoron.
You've given me another reason to keep my old cellphone. I'd rather publicly exhibit correct grammar and remain an elitist ass than appear ignorant while using the latest technology.
This may be the first time in this blog's history that an IPS graduate has been labeled an elitist. Keep it coming! I love it!
To all educators and our supporters:
ReplyDeleteOne more get-up, then we have a break. Let's work together in pumping up our system, instead of bringing it (and each other) down. Use this time away from school to cherish our families, friends, and neighbors, recharge, refresh. Clear all the bad Karma from our lives.
Even if we are to be run by the state, it is what it is. We must remember why we chose our profession, lift up our students, hone the skills they possess, and provide a safe environment where their educational foundation will be enhanced.
Tomorrow, On May 31st there will be a meeting at about The state taking over. This meeting, I feel, is our last chance. Even if you don't go to/work for/or graduated from Broad Ripple Magnet High school, Please support them(us) and support IPS to keep The state and Tony bennett out of our schools. Thanks! WE CAN DO THIS!
ReplyDeleteWatch and see how fast the kids move out of Arlington...
ReplyDeleteI think all the students in IPS will flee if the state takes over. I have had parents tell me with all the red tape in the government, IPS will end up in worse shape. Most have already said they will send their child to the closest township. When IPS is destroyed, I guess Mitch will be happy--nevermind the teachers, parents, students--he will have gotten even with Dr. White for calling him a liar when he was in Washington Township.
ReplyDeleteAs a BR grad., and teacher, I believe without a doubt we have improved and our scores will show this.
Time for the powers to be to consider the next step in the UniGov plan. Combining all the school systems into one county wide system.
ReplyDelete"Time for the powers to be to consider the next step in the UniGov plan. Combining all the school systems into one county wide system."
ReplyDeleteYou, that is, Yoda?
@Time for the powers to be to consider the next step in the UniGov plan. Combining all the school systems into one county wide system.
ReplyDeleteSomeone started vacation early. I'll have what he/she's having.
I think combining all the schools is a great idea. The township system is a: stupid and b: wasteful. Do we really need 11 school systems in ONE city? If other states can have one school system per city we should too.
ReplyDeleteLarger is not better! The problem with IPS now is that it's too big. I would support following the actual township borders. IPS should be made of students who live in center township only. Trim the fat, programs that don't work. Accountability will be stronger bc there are fewer students and fewer staff to keep track of. Simplicity is always better!
ReplyDeleteMarion County is a square (approximately).
ReplyDeleteThere are eight "doughnut" townships.
Use the Circle as the center. Divide the county into eight right triangles. Each existing township gets one piece.
Or not.
I'm in the "it can't be worse than it is now" column. I think a state takeover would be better. I think a single city-wide district would be better. I think separating IPS into the townships would be better. I don't think the boundary lines mean as much as they used to, though. If you can provide transportation, most of the townships now allow students who live in IPS. (Does anyone know if it works the other way around. Can someone who lives in the townships enroll in a magnet school?) I also predict vouchers will send some of the more involved, underserved poor families to parochial schools, but the wealthier families with stick with the magnet schools, and the rest of the families will just mindlessly put their kids on the neighborhood bus, completely oblivious to whether the state or Eugene White is running the district.
ReplyDeleteUh hello, Marion County is comprised of nine townships. IPS has schools in eight of those nine.
ReplyDelete9 townships, plus Beech Grove and Speedway. That makes 11 school systems, 11 superintendents, 11 school boards; all for ONE city.
ReplyDeleteDumb.
Uh, hello. Unigov did not/does not encompass Beech Grove or Speedway, which are each cities, separate from Indianapolis, having their own city limits, mayors, laws, police forces, fire departments, school systems, and taxation base. There are THREE cities in Marion County, but NINE townships: Pike, Washington, Lawrence, Warren, Franklin, Perry, Decatur, Wayne, and Center.
ReplyDeleteThe "doughnut" refers to the eight townships surrounding Center Township.
On state takeover, from the Indy star.
ReplyDelete"IPS spokeswoman Mary Louise Bewley said that if there are going to be turnaround efforts at IPS schools, the district should be allowed to manage them.
"We think we have the skills and the expertise to do that," she said.
And I think I have the skills to play in the NBA, thinking something is one thing, proving it is another. IPS has proven over and over they can't solve the problems, and I have proven over and over I do not have the skills to play in the NBA.
Mary Louise don't tell us what you think, tell us what you can prove with honest data.
How do we know it will be so bad? Sometimes I think they can't do any worse than Dr. White and friends. They take all the money in a school system that touts itself as "Children come first". Maybe the state would make sure that money gets to the classroom; A/C, laptops, chairs that aren't held together with boogers, paper, pencils.....
ReplyDeleteYou are right, perhaps the state would do more with a principal who is drunk at school events then recommend she find a more private place to drink and get counseling for her bullying behavior. She is a manipulative liar, and the folks down town turn a blind eye to her behavior.
ReplyDeletePlease Tony step in and clean up this mess.
Are you serious? Combining all the schools into one district? That would just be peachy keen, as then the hoodlums can drag everyone down to their level. You can skip Beech Grove and Speedway as they don't accept Federal funding, and therefore don't have to follow NCLB, and they can rightfully tell anyone to go fly a kite.
ReplyDeleteNaaah, it wouldn't be that big of a deal. Most of the kids at IPS are just like most of the kids at the townships. The worst of the worst in IPS wouldn't be able to drag down kids at the township schools unless they took on the policies of IPS on attendance, discipline, and course offerings, which they wouldn't.
ReplyDeleteI'm not an IPS employee, but I read this blog from time to time to find out things about IPS and other school districts that are ignored by the weak local news media.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if anyone might respond to the question(s) I have: What is the biggest problem in IPS?
Is it the size of the district (bureaucracy? The socio/economic realities of the inner city and how students are affected by that? The school board? The superintendent? Principals? Teachers? Students' lack of caring about their own educations? Or, I guess I should add, all of the above?
These are not loaded question. I would really like to read what people here think about this.
Oh, and I don't know where you got the idea that Beech Grove and Speedway don't accept federal funding and don't follow NCLB, but it's completely wrong. Check for yourself on IDOE. The NCLB information is listed in the "school data" section and the federal funding information is in the "school financial reports" section.
ReplyDelete@What is the biggest problem in IPS? I think it's a mixture of all of the things you listed, but as an IPS teacher, I believe the single biggest problem is a horrible sort of self-fulfilling prophecy in which adults (parents, teachers, principals, administrators, school board) expect IPS kids to be inferior to other kids, and their attitudes and actions teach the children to believe that and fulfill those expectations. Again, I think there are all kinds of contributing factors, but I think the biggest problem in IPS is children with a statistically higher-than-average number of parents who aren't optimistic about the future of their children are put in schools with statistically higher-than-average number of educators who aren't optimistic about the future of their students. This is a dangerous and heartbreaking combination.
ReplyDelete9 townships, plus Beech Grove and Speedway. That makes 11 school systems, 11 superintendents, 11 school boards; all for ONE city.
ReplyDelete- Actually, you forgot Lawrence and Southport. Who is dumb?
Southport is not a part of Indianapolis, and Lawrence has it's own township school system.
ReplyDeleteDon't point fingers, it's tacky.
"It's" is the contraction for it is. "Its" is the possessive form of the pronoun it (belonging to it = its, no apostrophe). The two are NOT interchangeable. It would be tacky to leave this error uncorrected, so I'm pointing a finger at you. I sure hope you teach little kids before they encounter contractions or map-reading.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Southport is Perry Township.
I'll bet you write "alot" as one word, not two, and write that damned apostrophe on all of your plural nouns. I'm a product of IPS, and I know better. Which township used social promotion on you?
Southport is still in Marion County, as is Perry Township. It is an excluded under town under Unigov, similar to Speedway and Beech Grove. Also, instead of being an elitist ass, try adding something substantial to the converstation. Most people are posting via phone, so typos are generally missed. If you have a smart phone with an auto correct feature, the word "its" automatically gains an apostrophe.
ReplyDeleteThe claws are out now!
ReplyDeleteToo bad we can't channel this energy into helping our students and becoming better teachers.
What a sad state of affairs that we have to point out how much better we are than others.
I guess some people have self esteem issues.
So, your phone is not so smart, eh? Auto-correct becomes an oxymoron.
ReplyDeleteYou've given me another reason to keep my old cellphone. I'd rather publicly exhibit correct grammar and remain an elitist ass than appear ignorant while using the latest technology.
This may be the first time in this blog's history that an IPS graduate has been labeled an elitist. Keep it coming! I love it!
is it true that township students can attend ips school if they have a ride to and from school ?
ReplyDelete