| Too Little, Too Late |
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| Written by Speed Gibson |
| Monday, 29 September 2008 08:33 |
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I noted earlier there was a disconcerting aspect to the story of the Milwaulkee Public Schools. That's not to say that I'm happy about the rest of that situation. It just seems the inevitable result of what Fredrick Hess in "Common Sense School Reform" calls "status quo reform" of the current system, something we're seeing now in the continuing decline of the Minneapolis Public Schools. Milwaukee recently tried building new neighborhood schools, some using the K-8 model that intrigues me. It seems right on both counts, yet it didn't work. The parents weren't impressed and did not return. I suspect the parents saw this as old wine in new bottles. The same teachers were there, the same structure, the same political correctness, whatever it was that made them use vouchers or seek other options. Plus, in reading some other Web articles, it looks like K-8 works best as evolution, not revolution. You turn a K-5 school into K-6, K-7, K-8, then close the middle school. There are facilities challenges, too, that existing buildings aren't necessarily suited to the necessary dichotomy. The teaching model can also vary. Do you essential bring the middle school curriculum into the "ele-middle" school or extend the teacher as generalist elementary model upwards? I don't really know if K-8 would work here, as an education professional I met so passionately believes. I do remain convinced that the middle/junior high model cannot continue as is if the public schools are to avoid Milwaukee's fate. Cross-posted at Speed Gibson. Comments welcome. |
