Leslie,
I want to share that you have your opinion and I have mine. I respect yours.
Let me share that:
1. A MOU must be done first. You don't build a school with the intent to utilize the Rec. Center's Property and dis-lodge folks who currently use it without it making sense.
2. I can only strongly suggest that DCPS build the property on DCPS current property and make arrangements to utilize certain parts of the Rec. during school hours when when the class needs the space.
Regarding kids being behind and on PAR -- with proficiencies in the TEENS, 20's, 30's and barely toughing 40's for the most part, I don't know who you are referring to. The kids whose scores are pulling the average up should go to the Stem School. Let them Stretch for the Stars if they are a little behind -- using your theory. I am only interested in getting the foundation really set properly. Just so you know, I have taken a child back from 4th grade work to 2nd grade work to bring them back to par in a year and back on track. She further went on to Private School and is now in college -- community college - her choice but never-the-less, she will be in a Maryland College next year.
So, when we have solve for Diverse needs, we loose focus of the Main Group who needs help -- thus leading to truancy and failure.
3. As to the Spanish -- IF kids in MIDDLE SCHOOL CANNOT SPEAK, WRITE, SPELL, DO SIMPLE MATH -- then I could care less about them learning a foreign language. These same kids would benefit from personal enhancement classes more than SPANISH. You and the rest who are entralled by this "foreign language" when kids don't get English are amazing to me. TO ME, you are acting like a mother of a two year old who is broke but wants big party for HER NOT THE CHILD who wouldn't remember the party -- maybe not at all.
4. Bunker Hill -- I keep sharing -- What's the difference in building Bunker Hill from Scratch and Building Brookland Elementary from Scratch -- we can avoid the same issues that you are referencing. Unless you are going to click your heels and get your child to Brookland Middle, you are going to have to drive them there just like Bunker Hill -- unless you live closer to Bookland. Furthermore, it would be easier to retro-fit Bunker Hill to make a Middle School and add a GYM where the Playground is.
SO, let me tell you why BUNKER HILL IS A BETTER OPTION
1. Placing an Elementary School at the Brookland Elementary site would make more sense as elementary kids don't need as much use of Turkey Thicket as a Middle School would. Still, with the folks in charge, I would still have a MOU signed prior to this use exchange.
2. It is much easier to deal with elementary school kids from all over at a Rec. Center at the same time than it would be Middle Schoolers.
3. Two extra blocks of walking would be a much better time lag than having our girls connecting with older boys/men from Luke C. Moore on the train. In addition to that and the consequences of that increased intermingling, there is less of influence that the middle school boys might benefit from as well.
4. They definitely wouldn't be talking about placing the school on the South side (the current baseball fields) of Turkey Thicket and there would be no need for DCPS to be in control of Turkey Thicket or for Turkey Thicket to be a tennant.
5. The current use of Turkey Thicket would probably be un-affected.
Before anyone says anything about renovations that has been done to Bunker Hill, there wouldn't be much loss -- and even so, this isn't the first time they would lose a few dollars to get the decision right.
In closing -- I don't make any decisions - I just point out the variables. You can teach them all foreign language if you want all day long, because if they don't get Enlish and Math and get some bahavorial skills inbedded in them -- all they are going to be speaking is some FOREIGN LANGUAGE -- Bonics, Spanglish, Franche, Chiney -- they won't be able to get a job and they will be robbing or breaking in or mugging or shooting or something to stay alive.
What the heck do I know anyways. As much as I argue against what DCPS does at times, I don't envy them or any of the Teachers with what they are faced with on a daily basis.
I have given my input -- Just so you know, I build things and have 20 years of mistakes, successes (experience) to teach from -- and most all of that experience laterally transfers.
Wish you luck.
Rob Ramson
On Thu, Apr 4, 2013 at 9:40 AM, Leslie Jones <lesliedwjones@gmail.com> wrote:
Rob (and anyone else with the same views)
First, I don't think you explained why Bunker Hill is a better option.
You gave a lot of things that you feel DCPS/DPR/DGS etc.
aren't/should/could do, but no reason for the use of the current
Bunker Hill. I can't go back and forth with every point you throw out,
but I will address a few that stick out:
1. No Bunker Hill does not have a drop off. However, it was built 70
years ago when people actually attended neighborhood schools and when
most people didn't own cars and drive everywhere. The school on my
block is the same way, and I can assure you that when I am leaving the
house in the morning to take my own children to school, I don't enjoy
navigating through the labyrinth of traffic that has been created by
parents. We are building a school from scratch and can try to avoid
the things we know cause problems.
2. Foreign language and vocational ed. While I feel there is a
benefit for learning Spanish (or any language) selecting a language
because it may be the language of one's co-workers is the same reason
someone may choose French or Chinese or Portuguese.
3. Designing a curriculum whose sole purpose is to help students who
are behind will never get them ahead and it won't meet the needs of
the students in the ward who are not behind. And there are many of
them. Some of them, like mine, are currently enrolled in Ward 5
schools. Others are in out of boundary schools where their parents
feel their needs are better met. Others are in charters. We should
all be working to design a school that meets the diverse needs of our
children.
4. MOU would obviously be developed. It has been discussed at
numerous meetings along with ways to avoid some of the mistakes that
have previously been made.
Leslie Jones
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R. Ramson
3744 12th Street, N.E.,
Washington D.C., 20017
202-438-5988
"We must become the change we want to see" - Mohandas Gandhi-
(Together, for a Brighter Tomorrow)
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