tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post5430885081032437416..comments2023-09-29T06:32:16.005-04:00Comments on My School Committee Blog: Amherst Bulletin - August 13, 2010Catherine A. Sandersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03523667921190365891noreply@blogger.comBlogger86125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-54027590347245188982010-08-21T09:29:41.198-04:002010-08-21T09:29:41.198-04:00Yes Rich- you made a HUGE mistake in choosing a ma...Yes Rich- you made a HUGE mistake in choosing a math program that fits better with your child's style of learning rather than caving into the intense pressure to make students learn through the cookie-cutter approach espoused by the supporters of the College Board monopoly.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-40618495857692942322010-08-21T07:27:29.946-04:002010-08-21T07:27:29.946-04:00Hi Michael,
Take a look at this highly selective ...Hi Michael,<br /><br />Take a look at this highly selective magnet school:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.californiaacademy.org/faq.jsp" rel="nofollow">California Academy of Math and Science</a><br /><br />They require IMP for their kids:<br /><br />"Students take a specialized math program called the Interactive Math Program or IMP, for short. Students taking IMP learn about algebra, geometry, trigonometry, statistics, probability and logic each year through an integrated approach. After three years of IMP, students are prepared for university calculus in their senior year."<br /><br />For science, 9th graders are required to take an integrated course and also engineering. They take Biology in 10th grade, Chemistry in 11th grade and Physics in 12th grade.Nina Kochhttp://www.arps.org/users/hs/kochn/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-87105031793694079392010-08-20T23:28:43.389-04:002010-08-20T23:28:43.389-04:00Rich M.
I don't think anyone thinks you have ...Rich M.<br /><br />I don't think anyone thinks you have made a mistake. To be quite frank I don't think we really know. Your daughter may become, for many of us, a great source of information in determining how we feel about IMP.<br /><br />As an engineer IMP concerns me yet as a parent of a child less interested in math it is something I will learn about. Maybe for my child this will be the type of curriculum that motivates her to learn math.<br /><br />So as IMP is something I have no real knowledge of I want to learn more before I have to make that choice in a few years. I would love to hear from parents who's kids took IMP and went on to major in math, sciences, or engineering.Michael Jacquesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-15238193024892460372010-08-20T23:05:07.224-04:002010-08-20T23:05:07.224-04:00Would someone explain to me what my kid, a rising ...Would someone explain to me what my kid, a rising senior, has been missing by being on the IMP track in math? <br /><br />She's testing well. She did reasonably well in a math class in a 14 week private school program last fall populated mainly by prep school kids. She thinks she wants to be a science major in college. <br /><br />So how specifically did we goof with IMP at ARHS? I'm just not getting it.<br /><br />Rich MorseAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-54094165618979403572010-08-20T23:02:46.965-04:002010-08-20T23:02:46.965-04:00My quick response:
Rich - ummm, thanks, I think?!...My quick response:<br /><br />Rich - ummm, thanks, I think?!? I'm glad you, and some others, have found this blog useful in some way. I've enjoyed (for the most part) doing it, and I've certainly learned tons. I can't imagine being on SC without having a blog that allows this type of dialogue, actually ... though I will certainly not continue the blog once I'm no longer on the SC (which, as you note, may be as of next spring). <br /><br />Abbie - I continue to be surprised by the number of people who see questioning practices/curricula (e.g., Investigations, trimesters, extensions, no AP chemistry) as bashing teachers or saying our schools are terrible. But I think that reaction, and that portrayal of me/my blog/my supporters, has been effective in helping to decrease people's willingness to even question our (somewhat unique) educational practices, which I don't think is good at all. <br /><br />In terms of your list of things to improve -- I'd be VERY happy if the HS moved to semesters, added AP chem and AP stats (so that our kids would have the same options as kids in other MSAN districts), and allowed kids to take biology in 9th grade. Those are all standard things that most high schools we compare ourselves to have, and they don't seem to me to be unrealistic expectations.Catherine A. Sandersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03523667921190365891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-4215202317254235642010-08-20T22:52:31.706-04:002010-08-20T22:52:31.706-04:00to anon@ 1:32
Maybe you are reading a different ...to anon@ 1:32 <br /><br />Maybe you are reading a different blog where someone(s) "paints the entire high school as deficient because it doesn't make all kids go through calculus and doesn't offer AP Chem" because I haven't seen that here. Here I see a mostly respectful discussion about math and science. What we can't even talk/write about it without being accused of painting the school entirely badly?<br /><br />There are all kinds of views blogged here. It seems to me that if everyone (kids/parents/teachers) is fully aware of what limitations (IF ANY) IMP presents then I don't have a problem with offering it.<br /><br />I am also not pushing for AP Chem, I am just curious why those who seem to be against AP Chem don't seem to be bothered by our current offering of AP Environmental Science, for example. Why is an AP Chem an 'elitist, smarty-pants, kid-of-pushy Ivy wanta-be parents' class but AP Environmental Sciences seems fine.<br /><br />The Biology options just strike me as usual and closing some doors prematurely (which could be opened again in college) and uses more resources than the typical sequence (biology then AP biology).<br /><br />Pretty much my only big problem with the HS is trimesters, having no direct experience yet. The rest is largely curiosity. I think HS should prepare and motivate/inspire kids for college (and that doesn't mean they have to go), AND it should expose kids to really cool stuff that they might want to pursue in college. It just so happens that a lot of the cool stuff (at least in science) tends to come after kids learn the basics and are in advanced classes.Abbiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02989627808442831131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-19900852500556518492010-08-20T22:45:35.611-04:002010-08-20T22:45:35.611-04:00This blog has become a must-read for anyone who wa...This blog has become a must-read for anyone who wants to stay informed about what's going on in Amherst. Catherine has her bias about the schools, but it's responded to and challenged by the regular commenters. And I think that that's healthy.<br /><br />What I see going on here simply does not fit the caricature of her and of this blog that I read elsewhere. I think that one can learn a lot here. And I suspect that many more people in Amherst visit here than admit that they visit here.<br /><br />So, as a regular reader, I thank the commenters here, especially those who have some recent experience in the education field, and most especially the dissenters like Nina and others, for taking the time to create the sheer volume of intelligent content available here. And, yes, people mix it up here. So what? <br /><br />OK, sometimes it crosses certain lines, but the dialogue almost always has a vibrancy to it that I find nowhere else in Amherst. Whenever Catherine leaves the political scene and takes her blog with her, I am quite sure that we will miss it.<br /><br />I always say that I would not want a School Committee with 5 Catherine Sandersons, but one Catherine Sanderson has brought something interesting and provocative to the table not seen before. We'll soon see what the voters think. <br /><br />Rich MorseAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-23256255907059335852010-08-20T21:30:29.650-04:002010-08-20T21:30:29.650-04:00Ken,
You might be interested in this report from ...Ken,<br /><br />You might be interested in this report from bestevidence.org out of Johns Hopkins:<br /><a href="http://www.bestevidence.org/word/elem_math_Feb_9_2007.pdf" rel="nofollow"> Effective Programs in<br />Elementary Mathematics:<br />A Best-Evidence Synthesis<br /></a><br /><br />It's a review of multiple studies. The conclusion supports your contention that choice of curriculum is not nearly as important as the daily practices within the classroom. That's why professional development is so important, to help teachers reflect on their practice. There's going to be a renewed emphasis on that this year in the district, with something known as "instructional rounds" and I am really looking forward to it. I wish you were still in the district!Nina Kochhttp://www.arps.org/users/hs/kochn/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-55201880363671237912010-08-20T21:15:36.561-04:002010-08-20T21:15:36.561-04:00It is Friday night ... so I am going to be brief h...It is Friday night ... so I am going to be brief here ... but I want to say I've read all the comments people have written, and I really appreciate the tone and dialogue. Thanks to the many who've used their names and posted -- Ken, Nina, Joel, Abbie, Mike, Janet (perhaps others I've forgotten) -- and those who have posted anonymously yet respectfully. I really like having the range of voices. I am going to do a post later tonight that responds to various issues raised here. Also, Ken - thanks for reminding me that I didn't post that math article -- I was on vacation at the time so I missed it initially, and then I started on a long blog post to summarize my reaction and I didn't finish it (but will do so this weekend and then post it). <br /><br />I think it is great that we all care about math. I think it is also clear that all people posting on this blog want great math for all kids. I think we should all keep that in mind - even when we have different ideas about the strengths/weaknesses of our current math and how/what to do (if anything).Catherine A. Sandersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03523667921190365891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-28666222925259205262010-08-20T20:55:28.148-04:002010-08-20T20:55:28.148-04:00Hey, hasn't anybody told you guys?
You can...Hey, hasn't anybody told you guys?<br /><br />You can't be having a serious discussion about curricular choices in our schools HERE. <br /><br />It's way too negative here. You are simply providing aid and comfort to the enemy HERE.<br /><br />Could you move this conversation over to www.communitysupportededucation.net? They care so much more about the schools there.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-27942143900030996732010-08-20T20:27:57.797-04:002010-08-20T20:27:57.797-04:00Anon 1:32 here again.
I think my comments are bei...Anon 1:32 here again.<br /><br />I think my comments are being distorted a little. I am not arguing for abandoning prep for college math or AP courses in general. I am merely suggesting that a public school, with its limited resources and diverse student body, cannot be all things to all people. We have a number of strong AP offerings. We have a math curriculum that prepares kids for college math, should they have that desire/ambition, and an additional one (as I understand it) that serves the needs of students without such an interest. That seems pretty good to me -- strikes a decent balance.<br /><br />But to paint the entire high school as deficient because it doesn't make all kids go through calculus and doesn't offer AP Chem? That strikes me as a very narrow focus on the needs of just a few kids.<br /><br />Kids of all incomes from Amherst can and do pursue challenging curricula that prepare them well for elite colleges -- just look at the list of colleges we already send our kids to: http://www.arps.org/hs/offices/guidance/planning/SchoolProfile.php#colleges<br /><br />Without more "data" to support the contention that ARHS is somehow failing our kids in this regard, I will remain baffled at the disproportionate focus on these two issues. <br /><br />Abbie - I'm not sure I understand your comments about Environmental Science. Are you suggesting that if a choice needs to be made among AP courses, Chemistry should be favored over Environmental Science? I think that's an entirely reasonable argument about which I have no opinion.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-83181449799267727822010-08-20T20:12:44.072-04:002010-08-20T20:12:44.072-04:00Anonymous 6:38: It's important to understand ...Anonymous 6:38: It's important to understand that the state requires MCAS data to be disaggregated by race, social class, ESL, Special Education, Title 1 and other things. No one who knows about MCAS speaks of aggregate scores only anymore. If a particular subgroup is named as doing better in Amherst than in the state, it is only the scores of that particular group being compared, and no other students scores are factored into that comparison. <br /><br />My experience has been that there's far too much guesswork, anecdotes-for-facts, cherrypicking research and offhand explaining away hard evidence, which together pass for real data on this blog, and it sidetracks, if not prevents a real, substantive discussion of issues affecting students in our schools.kennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-15739157534304314842010-08-20T18:58:17.795-04:002010-08-20T18:58:17.795-04:00Hi Abbie,
The upper level Env Science course is n...Hi Abbie,<br /><br />The upper level Env Science course is not being offered any more. (2009-2010 was the last year for it.) <br /><br />Also, the Biology courses (both college prep and honors) are just two trimesters (not three). Did you see it written with three somewhere on the web site? If so please tell me where so I can fix it. The AP Biology is 3 terms, but not the others.<br /><br />In terms of kids deciding whether they like Biology or not before they choose AP, one of the reasons for offering an integrated course in 9th grade is to give kids an introduction to Biology, Chemistry, and Physics so that they will have an idea of the type of questions pursued in each discipline.Nina Kochhttp://www.arps.org/users/hs/kochn/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-73717456503190384972010-08-20T18:57:36.251-04:002010-08-20T18:57:36.251-04:00Anon 5:55 PM
Give us a break with the faux outrag...Anon 5:55 PM<br /><br />Give us a break with the faux outrage. The conversation was about the decision of parents.<br /><br />But nice try on attempting to distort things.<br /><br />For me, for a person who publicly rips School Committee members for damaging our schools simply through their utterances and actions and who then sends his/her kids outside of the school system, well, they got some 'splainin' to do.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-52111324007382854092010-08-20T18:38:04.454-04:002010-08-20T18:38:04.454-04:00Way back on this thread was talk about Amherst kid...Way back on this thread was talk about Amherst kids doing better than the state average on the MCAS. While this might look like a great measure for some, it is not a high measurement. For groups struggling to pass MCAS, we indeed have to put more resources there to help. At the ES level at least, I believe our district is doing this with afterschool help. But many of the kids who are not struggling breeze through these state exams with no problems, and keep our averages up. But these children would probably do well anywhere. Does that mean they are reaching their potential? No way...we should be shooting higher for all kids.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-29637826761760373592010-08-20T18:15:05.525-04:002010-08-20T18:15:05.525-04:00hey did you ever think that maybe, just maybe the ...hey did you ever think that maybe, just maybe the principal-in- question's child doesn't want to go to the school where dad is in charge?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-32703963206198350292010-08-20T17:55:30.681-04:002010-08-20T17:55:30.681-04:00Kids are off limits, whether they are in a family ...Kids are off limits, whether they are in a family with a school administrator, a teacher, a school committee member or a school employee. The fact that people actually believe talking about where kids go to school should be fair game on this blog is evidence of how low this blog (or any blog) could go. Would I want a school committee member's kid to attend private school? Probably not, but I guess it would depend. It would certainly affect the way I understood their critique of the public schools. Would I want a school committee member who was on staff at a private school? why not?<br /><br />But do I think it is appropriate to discuss on a public blog children in our community? NO. And I would hope every parent would feel the same way. <br /><br />Amherst, where are you headed??Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-38226486388756050472010-08-20T17:49:19.426-04:002010-08-20T17:49:19.426-04:00What a clarifying comment from Anon 1:32.
So, wha...What a clarifying comment from Anon 1:32.<br /><br />So, what about the poor kids who are smart enough to get into Harvard? They can't have the APs or outside tutoring, etc. I guess they should just suck eggs because their parents can't afford to send them to Deerfield. No need for ARHS to help poor kids get into elite colleges. No, no that's too, elitist. <br /><br /> I guess Michelle Obama and Deval Patrick (both originally working class kids from Chicago; one went to Princeton and the other to Harvard and they've done quite well in life with those elite educations) can thank God they didn't go to ARHS<br /><br />Social justice indeed!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-23030575656515362992010-08-20T17:28:43.591-04:002010-08-20T17:28:43.591-04:00Teacher quality is the number one factor affecting...Teacher quality is the number one factor affecting student outcomes, not programs. A recent study of the LA school district has just reconfirmed this. If a teacher thinks Investigations relegates the need to develop number fluency to a back row or negates the need entirely, they neither understand the program well nor the needs of some students--some students will need more practice than others. This is an issue of teacher education and teacher practice, not whether program A or B is better. There are many math programs emphasizing number crunching which yield awful results for certain populations, just as Investigations can also if those elements of the math curriculum are left out, or if teachers have the same expectations of math learning for all students within one way of going about things. Getting caught up in programs misses the point that students matter most. To be a successful math student in this day and age, it's important to have number fluency as well as conceptual fluency. You can get those in ANY math curriculum with the right teacher, one who understands math, and more importantly his/her students.<br /><br />But if we have to get sidetracked into talking about programs: The What Works Clearinghouse has only passed on one math program re research validity. Most districts in the country to do not use it (yet). The fact that research on Investigations has not been validated by the WWC does NOT prove that it is a poor math program, only that the research conducted on it so far--either pro or con--has failed to meet certain criteria.<br /><br />Finally, I will just add that it's important to view MCAS results with more attention than we are used to doing in this town, both to show what is not working as well as what is. This the Dept. of Education's expectation at both the state and federal levels, that a state's testing is the lens through which districts take appropriate action regarding the progress of all students, and specific demographic groups. For PUBLIC schools, MA has probably the most rigorous state test, and MA students do near or at the top of all US students at all grades. Therefore, it is nothing to sneeze at or dismiss when MCAS results show strength in a district, just as districts ignore poor MCAS results at their peril.kennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-75373895687839891422010-08-20T17:27:20.748-04:002010-08-20T17:27:20.748-04:00in reply to anon@1:32:
you seem to be fine with i...in reply to anon@1:32:<br /><br />you seem to be fine with idea of AP Environmental Sciences... What's with the difference with AP Chem? Personally, I'm not so excited about the AP test part, but I understand why some are. What I think is important is to get students exposed to some of the cooler science stuff that comes after learning the basics. This is what can turn a person into a future scientist, who might cure cancer, find ways to combat global warming, feed the hungry. We desperately need those and I don't think they should come only from private schools, from families that can afford that luxury.<br /><br />Also looking on the ARHS site, we have Environment and Ecology (9th grade) required and then additionally Environment and AP Environment. Superficially, it seems like maybe 'Environmental Science' might no longer be needed with the new 9th grade course. Again, it goes to the question of priorities and resources.<br /><br />I take issue with this idea that somehow folks who want a really good science program are somehow selfishly promoting only kids destined for elite colleges (implied that these are supposedly their own). And this selfishly takes away resources from the majority of kids' needs. <br /><br />A parent who attended the math consultant meeting told the group that "If we need to sacrifice the achievement of the top kids so that those at the bottom can be brought up, so be it." BTW, this person is in the group who started the new blog on Amherst Schools.<br /><br />I find this sentiment disturbing and at best naive. Think about this idea being put into practice in ALL public schools, because we couldn't keep such a progressive idea just applied to Amherst (that would be elitist). I invite folks to think about what this would mean if it were actually to be put into effect. <br /><br />Its pretty scary...with all kinds of implications.Abbiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02989627808442831131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-74348302856882195852010-08-20T16:02:57.958-04:002010-08-20T16:02:57.958-04:00Hey what a great discussion. So I will throw in m...Hey what a great discussion. So I will throw in my two cents. I don't have a problem with the district using IMP for students who don't want to follow a traditional track. I think the option is great but if there are future ramifications or limitations it would be good for both parents and students to know them up front. This way more students might get excited about math realizing there "may" be some extra work needed in the future if they choose a very technical field.<br /><br />As for whole science curriculum issue I really don't have a problem with 9th grade environmental. From what has been posted on the school web site the top students are doing some great work. Here's that nasty but again, But if we are going to go down this path we need to allow double dipping in science no later than 10th grade (9th preferred) and we should have AP Bio, Chem, Physics, and Environmental. Also motivated students should have the ability to take every one of these AP courses. What a great opportunity for financially strapped families. This would really make our school stand out.<br /><br />As for leaders in our schools sending their kids to private school, it is certainly the right for those leaders not to tell the public about the reasons for this decision. But, lets face facts, if they don't, other parents will want to know why a principle is not using their own product. It certainly is a difficult place to be, but then leadership in a public arena is rarely ever simple.<br /><br />Now if a SC member pulled their children out of school permanently it would be gracious of them to resign. If they were pulling them out for, lets say MS only, and were working to change those things in the MS they had issue with I would find that acceptable.<br /><br />Just my thoughtsMichael Jacquesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-51576363219011478862010-08-20T14:36:50.964-04:002010-08-20T14:36:50.964-04:00I am glad to hear of anon@9:46 good experience of ...I am glad to hear of anon@9:46 good experience of the 9th grade ecology class but not so happy to hear the biology class didn't measure up so well.<br /><br />I have some questions about the HS biology courses. From the website, I saw that two courses, each 3 trimesters, are offered (regular) biology and advanced biology, reading the course descriptions I take that a student has to decide without having had biology yet between (regular) biology and advanced biology. Here are my questions:<br /><br />1) What happens to kids who take (regular) biology, love it, and want more? In most HS, these kids would have the option to take a semester of AP Biology.<br /><br />2) What happens to kids who take AP Biology who find its not their cup of tea? They drop back to (regular) biology?<br /><br />3) It seems like the ARHS biology approach takes more resources. Two entire courses have to be taught. In other HSs, regular biology is offered consisting of 2 semesters and then a SINGLE semester of AP biology is offered. In teaching hours, it seems like a switch to the 'typical' bio sequence would free up the resources needed to offer AP chem. Of course the translation gets complicated by the trimester system we use...So I don't, for a moment, believe that not offering AP chem is because we don't have the resources- its all about the choices made with our resources.<br /><br />4) It seems like in Massachusetts, arguable the 2nd biggest center (after California) of Life Sciences (biotech, pharm), we would consider providing our students a top notch education in this area. Lots of high paying jobs for those who have that education and interest. And that interest is often piqued in HS, given a high quality exposure.<br /><br />But let me repeat- I am really really glad the 9th grade ecology course is super!Abbiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02989627808442831131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-66924166894270127852010-08-20T13:32:36.677-04:002010-08-20T13:32:36.677-04:00I am a little baffled by the focus on (1) AP Chemi...I am a little baffled by the focus on (1) AP Chemistry, and (2) preparation for college mathematics. The lack of AP Chem primarily affects two groups of students: First, those interested in pursuing the sciences in college. My understanding is that AP test scores do not generally count toward credits for science majors, only for credits for general education (breadth) requirements. Certainly, that appears to be the case at UMass.<br /><br />Second, those students seeking to satisfy part of their college Gen Ed credits with their AP score. For this non-science major group, the AP Physics and/or AP Bio scores will do the trick that AP Chem would do. <br /><br />One question raised for me in the various anecdotes about students allegedly taking "remedial" Chemistry is what their AP scores were -- merely taking a class designated as AP in high school is not generally recognized by colleges as satisfying any requirements. The student has to get a 4 or 5 on the actual test. As a new student advisor at UMass for several years, I can attest that only a minority of students who take AP courses in HS go on to both take the relevant test and score high enough to obtain academic credit. <br /><br />The second thing I'm confused about is the focus on prep for college math. The majority of HS grads will never need calculus in college or in life. Those who do not go to college and those who do but major in something other than the sciences or math will be quite successful with more basic math skills. Statistics is a far more relevant course for this group of students than any other. The problem-solving curriculum that I understand IMP to is in fact much better suited to this group.<br /><br />These discussions seem to focus only on a subset of students whose parents are determined that they go to elite four year colleges, majoring in math or sciences. But that's not who the majority of students in Amherst are, and I would hope that the curricula in a public school system would be designed to serve the greatest numbers of the public. Parents who want different challenges for their particular students -- say an easier ride to an elite college -- are free to take their kids to private school. The fact that some parents exercise this choice does not mean that our public schools are deficient in some way. It simply means that a public school, by its very nature, must serve (with limited resources) a much broader constituency.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-22197308515180837822010-08-20T13:08:15.448-04:002010-08-20T13:08:15.448-04:00I think it speaks VOLUMES when an administrator, t...I think it speaks VOLUMES when an administrator, teacher, or override supporter says one thing about the public schools, yet sends their child to a private school. This is true in California, where over 50% of the public school teachers send their children to private schools. What does that say?<br />akabAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-89101676720262321402010-08-20T12:57:12.146-04:002010-08-20T12:57:12.146-04:00I'm not going to judge what families decide to...I'm not going to judge what families decide to do, nor would I make that a criterion for whether or not someone is a good School Committee member. What matters is whether or not someone cares about children and education. It doesn't matter what their own personal situation is.Nina Kochhttp://www.arps.org/users/hs/kochn/noreply@blogger.com