Unconscionable!!!

[Tino3]

I was extremely disappointed in today's (Sunday) story about Meriden schools. I've been involved with several schools in this city and all I've seen nothing but hard working teachers striving to do the best for their students. Sure, there are challenges--just like all inner city schools. But I know that this system is doing a good job with the resources it has. By now, everyone understands how unfair the No Child Left Behind law is!!! It was unconscionable to put those two little girls on the FRONT page. Where is the other side of the story? I'm sure that you could find parents who would have positive things to say about their school and/or teacher. This was an example of the worst type of journalism. I challenge the reporters and editors to find the positive aspects of this school system and make it a FRONT page story. There is so much good to report. How sad.

[BillCarson436]

Hello....

I agree with you on 2 points, the first about todays article and for
an earlier front page story that did no justice to a Wallingford event
that puts thousands of dollars in the the Local Red Cross each year.

Interview the thousands of people that exit each night after their
walk through the trail.

Interview the families who benifit from this event.

Interview the volunteers who start their nights after school or work,
and entertain thousands.... yes thousands, on their nights off in the
cold and often damp woods, most leaving well after midnight.

Yes...people wait for hours... and ask them if it was worth it. Those
long lines are a testament to the dedication of the creators and the
talented people behind those gates. Those are are not forced to stand
there in anticipation, and the ones that opt out, often return on another
night.

So... where are the articles about he long lines at EVERY Amusement
Park Coaster ride where people wait HOURS for a 45 second scare. I
can hold my breath for 45 seconds.

I wish people would think... before putting negative press out just to
secure a front page spot and /or justify their jobs. There is more than
enough BAD news in Meriden to lay off the good.

And as for cutting in lines... or drinking.... the negative stuff... that
happens everywhere. When I see a teenage girl falling down drunk
with tears in her eye's because her " friends " left her outside of the
gate.... that says more about kids, and PARENTS, and right and wrong
....than it does about giving ones TIME for others. So please.... if you
have to write about the Trail... try to be like FOX NEWS and go for the
fair and balanced reporting...lol

[collie]

I enjoyed today's article - nice to see a parent taking advantage of NCLB and placing her children in a better school. No offense, Tino but you really should run for office. Anyone who can put such a positive spin on the state test scores that come out of Meriden's public schools is well suited for politics.

[eds]

I am glad these kids were able to transfer. What's unconscionable is the third kid being denied.

The statement regarding the fact that the fifth grader receives spelling words the second grader receives seems to be at the heart of the matter. It bothers me that I rarely see kids today being challenged. On any given day I see kids "hanging out" at the mall more than not. Or participating in three different after school activities. One is plenty. Two is border line. I can't believe these kids finished their homework so fast to be able to do all these other things. If that is case they need more homework or challenging homework. If the homework is not challenging enough they should be challenged more. Each kid should be motivated to achieve A's and parents should not accept grades below B.

The article even showed how these kids seem to want to be challenged but can't find it. For many kids I think that is true. These kids want to learn and they want to be challenged but the curriculum is too easy.

The teachers are doing their job, sure. I think most teachers try to challenge their kids as much as possible within the curriculum. But there are some parents who allege there is too much homework. Instead of supporting the teachers efforts many parents get involved in an adverse way. They complain if their kid gets too much homework and can't "be a kid" and play. Playing is good. Physical activity and socializing are important parts of a child's upbringing. But there needs to be more homework than play. Education comes first. I understand the teachers today are forced to teach to a curriculum that includes a recommended amount of homework per night. I think there should be a lot more homework. I think parents should assign their own homework.

In New York we had regents exams and we had to pass them each year to advance to the next level. We need these exams in Connecticut.

I also think there should be year-round schooling, there should be more of a focus on kids being challenged to take courses in the AP program and encouraged to go on to graduate studies. When a kid gets back from summer vacation, they have forgotten most of the previous year. Summer reading is a good thing, but let's take it a step further. If it means paying more taxes to keep the schools open year-round, so be it.

Today, it is very difficult to earn a better than average living without a master's degree. College education, even for the trades, is necessary. How many carpenters out there understand the math behind angles for roof framing and the physics involved with load bearing structures, or plumbers the theory behind hydromechanics, or electricians the concepts behind electrical engineering? Knowing how to sweat a joint is good, but understanding the theory behind what you are doing is better.

I am very big on education. Education should be a much a higher priority in our families and in our communities or we will be unable to compete in the global marketplace.

[Tino3]

Collie, I think if you spent time in the schools, you would understand what I am talking about. While improvements could be made in our education system, the NCLB laws aren't the answer. Again, I have only seen dedicated, hard working people in the Meriden system. I was disappointed that the story didn't provide opposing views.

[collie]

Opposing views don't change test scores that have been crappy for years. NCLB may not be perfect but never have I seen such an effort to improve test scores in Meriden. For that alone, for the spirit of the NCLB Act, I am grateful it is effect. Perfect it is not but I think it makes perfect sense that parents have an option to transfer children from a failing to non-failing school. Does this mean I don't think teachers, administrators, etc. work hard? Of course not. Buddy Readers, the Back to School Expo, etc. - I know we have a community that truly cares about our children. And don't patronize me by suggesting if I only spent more time in Meriden Public Schools I'll see "reason." Are you suggesting I don't give back to my community and its schools? I have and I do. I also found it insulting that another parent has written in implying it was a lack of parental skills holding the girls in the newspaper article back. How smug and unkind.

[eds]

It all comes down to the test scores. Working hard is good. But when I see the test scores are so poor I wonder why? People say its the parents. Others say its the teachers. But we also have to include the students as well. Its their job to learn and learning is just as much their responsibility as it is the teacher's.

I know teachers work hard and are given little resources to be successful. I know teachers who spend their own money to get supplies they need.

With all this hard work and effort, can anyone tell me why Roger Sherman is on the "Needs Improvement" list? Do not provide any answers that include demographic information as they are invalid. Too many times I hear that its the makeup of the student body which is causing the issue.