Is “school quality” a code word for “student quality”?

[Anonymous]

On the other hand, Title I schools have a lot of teacher churn and a higher volume of disruptive behavior.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have taught at both title 1 schools and wealthy schools. Far and away the better instruction was at the title 1 schools. It was out of necessity—if teaching wasn’t good, those kids would literally climb out the window and leave, or go to the bathroom and get high, or punch their neighbor to entertain themselves, or start stabbing things with scissors out of boredom. We had to have engaging lessons every single day to keep kids in class.

At the rich school? Teachers were pulling the same worksheets they’d used since 1991 out of a file cabinet, even though they no longer matched standards. They taught things the way they always taught and kids either got it, or parents paid $$$ to tutors so they got it. Staff bragged about their 100% pass rate on state tests when they could have done absolutely nothing and those kids would have passed.

Don’t get me wrong, there were some good teachers at the rich school too, as well as kids getting high in the bathrooms. And the poor school had a few dud teachers and plenty of kids who truly wanted to learn and did all they could to take advantage of opportunities.

All schools I’ve taught at have been very diverse—the difference is $$$$.

I’m now at a middle of the road school and I think this is my happy medium. Kids know the value of education (they aren’t going to inherit millions and be independently wealthy), but also don’t have to worry about not having money for bills, so they can focus on grades instead of stress about being evicted.

Huh. Interesting insight. My DS is at a T1 MS and I think the teachers are really are solid. The administrators are very dedicated and focused. But at the end of the day they just are not attuned to what a college bound kid needs to do to prepare. Big respect for the whole school though.

[Anonymous]

Only people who grew up rich or went to private schools think school quality is about race. Do you really think it's black students with the low test scores out in rural Virginia? My parents in the 90s would have been thrilled to have me take the place of a suburban UMC student whose parents wanted them to experience diversity by being around poor kids.

And yes, T1 schools probably have the best teachers since it's school policy now to focus on the poor schools. But teachers aren't going to solve any of the social problems that come along with being poor and you shouldn't subject your children to it unless you have no choice.

[Anonymous]

We go to a poorly rated HS with significant truancy issues, about 25% are chronically absent by the county's definition. On a daily average our son said most of his classes range anywhere from 15-25 students and not uncommon to have single digits every now and then. The supposedly bad kids our neighbors moved away to avoid are barely present at school which is unfortunate in and of itself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Which is a dog whistle for how white a school is?

Honey, why don't you move to a different part of the city and try to figure it out yourself

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is an important question. We need massive investment and reparations in poor non-white communities, to separate poverty from race, so we can get an answer.

The grift is strong in this one.