Reply to Protest Hogan's diversion of public funds from public schools into private schools

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Reply to "Protest Hogan's diversion of public funds from public schools into private schools"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]

This.

MCPS is more focused on perception than education.  I was at an early meeting where MCPS was talking about installing Promethean boards in the schools. I think it was the 2008-09 year, a time when the country was facing economic difficulties.  I know it seemed prudent to use caution before adding a large budget item.  I asked them what function the Promethean boards could perform that couldn't already be done with the technology they already had.  After thinking a while, they finally said that it could be used to annotate videos as they were watched.  I'm sure the Promethean boards are nifty, but I'm not sure how frequently teachers need to annotate videos.

I have seen MCPS pour money into things that have little to no effect on education.  Further, MCPS has poured money into reducing the gap for many years, and it hasn't seemed to reduce the gap.  I remember Jerry Weast having red and green zones.  I don't know how many superintendents before him tried to close the gap.  The people of Montgomery County are not only willing to fund our school system at a high level, but to support allocating higher funding to lower performing schools.  If giving money to MCPS was the answer to helping struggling students, I think they'd be in much better shape.

Frankly, despite it's claims to being one of the best school systems in the country, I think it's a mediocre one at best whose performance is masked by a highly educated population who makes up for its shortfalls either through parents supplementing at home or hiring professional tutoring services.  Seems to me a lot of our public school students are going to private "schools" like Sylvan and Kumon.

If we had charter schools, vouchers to private schools might be less of an issue.  However, MCPS has fought charter schools for years leaving us with the choice of MCPS or private.

I believe fiercely in the importance of public education.  I think every child deserves a good education.  [b]However, if they aren't getting it from MCPS, maybe we should look for other options that will offer them that opportunity[/b]. [/quote]
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I don't agree with "change for change's sake."  MCPS, however imperfect, has to offer a fair and equal education to all of those who want it, at a zero $ cost and is held accountable for its students meeting or not meeting those standards.  Private schools do not.  When they agree to meeting transparent  standards and take all students who want to attend, then maybe, I would consider having some of my tax $ go to them.  [b]If not, don't ask me to subsidize private school choices for parents who want specialized options for their kids.  [/b][/quote]

Especially considering that public schools often excel, like MCPS does, at catering to high-achieving students in magnet programs and accommodating students with special needs because of its large resources that privates do not have.
Privates cherry picl students upon entry, then gloat about their high test scores and exmissions. While making their parents pay through the nose, and apparently taxpayers as well, now. There is something wrong with channeling even more funds to such set-ups when we could work to make public schools better.
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