| In response to a recent evaluation of Los Angeles | | | | would be as extensive as they currently are.)o |
| schools, Superintendent Brewer released a new | | | | Rigorous Curriculum - Setting a higher standard for |
| strategy for helping failing secondary (high schools, | | | | students to reach is all well and good, but if the |
| grades 9-12) schools improve. Called "The Strategic | | | | students attending these failing Los Angeles schools |
| Plan for High Priority Schools", it is a document that is | | | | are already behind, (and it's a good bet that this is so, |
| intended to address the problems inherent in these | | | | especially if we're talking about those in danger of |
| schools and the goals that have been set to solve | | | | dropping out or with learning disabilities) it's hard to see |
| them. | | | | how raising the bar will help. Perhaps more |
| Los Angeles schools who attend these failing schools | | | | concentration should go into getting these students of |
| (approximately 13 in all) may feel like they are being | | | | Los Angeles schools back on track academically |
| taken care of by their school board, if they take the | | | | speaking.o High Quality Instruction - This simply means |
| time to even think about it. Most likely, they have their | | | | putting better teachers in the classrooms. Too often, |
| minds on other, more pressing (to them) matters, such | | | | low-achieving schools are the dumping ground for |
| as living in poverty, learning to speak English, learning | | | | what's wrong with the teaching profession; they'll take |
| with disabilities and whether or not to stay in school at | | | | any assignment they can get in order to keep their |
| all. | | | | jobs. They're teaching for the paycheck (as |
| These students attending these Los Angeles schools | | | | unbelievable as THAT may be) and little else. Improving |
| may look to their school as a place of sanctuary, but | | | | teacher quality is imperative; principals have got to be |
| given the habit of teens to bring wear their problems | | | | able to rearrange, reassign, retrain or even FIRE |
| on their sleeves, it's doubtful that even the best school | | | | ineffective teaching staff. Failing teachers working at |
| can offer much sanctuary from a stressful life. | | | | failing Los Angeles schools really do not deserve job |
| The Plan: Inspired or Misguided? | | | | security. We wouldn't accept that from a doctor, |
| So is the "Plan" misguided? I believe that the leaders of | | | | lawyer, policeman or even preacher, so why should |
| Los Angeles schools truly want to improve their | | | | teaching be any different? |
| schools that need improving. Is the plan the best way | | | | While these are only a few areas which are |
| to go? Well, let's take a look at a few of its high | | | | addressed in "The Strategic Plan for High Priority |
| points.o Local Control - individual Los Angeles schools | | | | Schools", it is easy to see that Los Angeles schools |
| will be given control over how they will improve. With | | | | have their work cut out for them. Reform is |
| district support, these Los Angeles schools can use | | | | necessary, and won't be simple. Hopefully, the leaders |
| what methods work best for their particular students. | | | | of Los Angeles schools will stick to their jobs for the |
| (One has to wonder, however, that if the | | | | long haul and fix what's wrong with these Los Angeles |
| administrators of these Los Angeles schools were | | | | schools. |
| doing their best in the first place, whether the problems | | | | |