Report Inappropriate Comments

John,

I agree with you on Head Start as any benefits from it are pretty much lost by the third grade. With respect to the TG-EG comparison, i think it still holds. Is your assumption that only the poorest of the TG feeder kids attend the public schools? Look, i'm not implying at all that middle school is a panacea but it can and does work but it's only as good as those who operate within it. I have three kids in schools, one at each level, and the large majority of their teachers have been very good.. But my wife and I are involved in their education and stay on top of them and what they're doing. As far as high standards go, holding people to them can be done. Just because past school committees and Administrations didn't do it does not mean that it can't be done. I just don't buy that. I don;t think the school committe fully understands its duties and responsibilities - they operate (and have operated over the years) deferentially. I feel the same way about Admin but they work for the school committee. With respect to the high schools I use the term hard work because I would also expand the Career & Tech center to make it a home school, allow more Warwick kids in beginning in 9th grade, and allow more tuition-paying out of district kids in. There's a growing demand for CTC education and not many communities are going to build their own CTC. We have one, a good one, that's just too small.

Gordian Knot, the 'declining enrollment - therefore no more money' argument is kind of funny. The city lost triple the amount of population than the schools did over the last 10 years or so but the city side of the legder has grown dramatically during that period. Wouldn't it stand to reason that the City budget be held even like that of the schools? Look, I'm not suggesting that the schools deserve $3.8 million. All budgeting is a kabuki dance and the real numbers are rarely part of the proposed budget. Lastly, this Gorton issue has taken on the appearance of a fire drill that has to be done now. Closing it for Sept poses real problems. If we do that and the state mandates all day K (which most people agree is coming) there is not enough classsroom space in the current elemtary schools too house it for several years. So when that happens, the same critics will come out and start asking 'why is this so?' 'Where was your plan?'.

From: Skeptics question plan to close Gorton

Please explain the inappropriate content below.