Reply to Can Prince George's schools ever be improved?

Forum Index » MD Public Schools other than MCPS

Reply to "Can Prince George's schools ever be improved?"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous]In this current budget crisis and with the testing requirements, no I don't think they can be improved in the short term.  There are challenges in the school system that require creative solutions that aren't possible in a system that's inflexible.  We need better facilities (the cost of maintaining the older buildings eats a lot of the per-student allocation), additional facilities (to address overcrowding in younger grades and cut down on huge 2500 student high schools), more teachers to address a variety of needs (non-native English speakers and learners is a big one), more flexibility with curriculum to bring back more recess and daily physical education (a major positive contributor to learning in the lower grades), and simply more money to keep arts/drama/music/language programs.  If all of these were in place, we might be able to attract and retain teachers who are (a) well-educated, trained, and certified (rather than Teach for America types, who seem to be the bulk of new teachers) and (b) interested in making a commitment for the long term to the school system.

Parent involvement is only the icing on the cake, and has to do with the success of individual students.  Systemic problems need systemic solutions, and what we see in PG is just a reflection of the way we see public education around the country.  As the Montgomery County person pointed out, the schools may be better funded with more extracurriculars and better arts programs, but they are still bound by the testing requirements.  We are facing a fundamental challenge in this country in what we believe public education should achieve and what the best pedagogical approach is.  Until we create schools that are based on sound principles at their core, many people are going to opt out if they can, even from "good" schools.[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics