Reply to Achievement gaps and gifted & talented or test-in programs

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Reply to "Achievement gaps and gifted & talented or test-in programs"

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[quote=Anonymous]

I agree with you, PP.  I am compassionate and believe in social justice.

However, there is only so much a school can do to dampen the effects of a chaotic home life. I firmly believe that, in many cases, the Herculean efforts of teachers, counselors, etc. on behalf of these children are wasted.  In the absence of fundamental changes at home, there is little that can be done at school.  Sure, the kids can have a warm meal or two, but will that have a meaningful impact on their lives?

I am not advocating that DCPS write these children off.  On the contrary, I would advocate for a CFSA-DCPS partnership, in which DCPS opens a number of public boarding schools to serve these children and CFSA uses its authority to place children in these boarding schools until the parent(s) get(s) her(their) act(s) together.

Imagine how dramatically the outcomes for these kids would improve if overnight they moved from a chaotic environment to one in which they received three healthy meals per day, 8 to 10 hours of sleep per night, a complete wardrobe, preventive medical & dental care, glasses when needed, teachers to help with homework, a caring to read to them at bedtime and tuck them in, etc.

Its much easier to bear children than to raise them well.
[/quote]

I agree with you completely. I am the pp who talked about the chaos in the lives of the lower performing kids. Yes, schools can only do so much. As I mentioned, school is a place for these kids to experience calm and let their guard down a little. They are not fully available to learn. Yes, there is only so much teachers can do-I know this first hand.
I love the idea of HHS, Dept of social services or any other agency to partner with DCPS to help parents be parents. Maybe expand schools to be community centers where parents can come to be supported and to learn to be parents. 
I think the idea of a dorm like living situation for teen aged moms and their babies where everyone can be helped to learn solid life skills and live a calm, stable healthy life. Our schools will improve when the lives of the children improve.  Why can't we do it?[/quote]

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