Saturday, April 15, 2006

Are Magnet Schools Really Better? Perception vs. Reality

There was a letter to the editor earlier this week in the Journal Times that has been bothering me all week. The author, as I understood the letter, will not support a RUSD referendum because the system is a “dysfunctional and unfair” one.
Dysfunctional – I agree with that. Unfair, that may be true on some level. It seems she has a vendetta against magnet schools, which I feel needs further analysis. She claims it is unfair that the district’s 3 elementary magnet schools have to limit their enrollment. I agree with her on this point; every year there are lengthy waiting lists to secure a seat in these schools. The magnet schools work, but not because of special curriculum. I know this because my children attended two of these magnet schools.

The magnet schools do work, but not because of any administrator in Central Office or special curriculum. They work simply because there is parental involvement. Parental engagement is the panacea for student achievement. So instead of 2 million dollar Riverdeep software, consultants from Michigan, NWEA-MAP testing, perhaps we need to buy some parental engagement. Does anybody know how to accomplish this? Last I checked, you cannot legislate or mandate good parenting.

Do we need more magnet schools, return to all neighborhood schools, or a combination of both? As a parent I want to have the choice to send my child to the school I choose. Which is the best way? The community of eastern Racine County has a rare opportunity; with the facilities study done in June, administration and the board will be asking these very same questions. Let your voice be heard. Attend a meeting, phone or email a board member; we hold all the power. If Unified is not “doing it” for you, exercise your greatest power and vote NO on June 6th.

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