Reply to Innovative Ideas to reduce educational disparity

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Reply to "Innovative Ideas to reduce educational disparity"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote]There are no easy solutions. That is why they have not been implemented. Bussing accomplished a lot of these goals in the 1980s but it does depend on spreading out disadvantaged students which is harder to do the larger of a percentage of a whole that they are and which can leave them socially isolated and/or feeling like outsiders in the schools they attend.

Lower class sizes at Title I and Focus schools make sense, and MCPS has put a lot of resources into making that happen. That should mean that teachers have more time with high-needs students who haven't had all of the enrichment and cultural knowledge/preparation of wealthier peers and that bright students with less family support don't get lost in the shuffle of a huge classroom. But it seems like it's not enough to fully off-set the challenges of poverty.[/quote]

Bussing was not successful in the 80s. In fact, it was one of the most harmful experiments in public education. The families who could afford it moved out of the system and it left city / inner suburban schools in a state of deep poverty. In many areas of the country, school systems started splintering off. This resulted in a substantial resource loss for the poor areas as they no longer had wealthier areas as a source of funds.

There were virtually no advocates for bussing from the populations actually bussed. The wealthy and poor were in agreement not enjoying having their kids bussed out of their communities because some disconnected educational policy maker thought they knew better what their kids needed. Its failed in every state that has tried to do it and at every point in time.

Lower class sizes do make a difference but the low SES kids coming in are so far behind their peers that it doesn't help. MCPS needs ability tracking AND lower class sizes. It can be fluid with extra after school classes for kids that want to do the work to catch up and get on track but this pretending that one teacher can effectively teach the same material to kids who have a 3 year grade level range needs to end. [/quote]

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