Our tax dollars at work

Suzie Dean · Post by **Suzie Dean** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 9:14 am

I had open house at my daughters school last night. I went with such excitement I couldn't wait to see all the new technology and the brand new building, only to leave disappointed.

The halls seemed VERY crowded. I know there was a lot of parents that did attend. And there were some students that had both parents. But on the average in each of my child's classes I would say that half of the students had parents there. So not all children had parents attend. I couldn't even imagine trying to walk through the halls if all the parents had come. I can't even imagine all the students walking the halls to get to their classrooms.

I thought with the new buildings the numbers in the classrooms were to be smaller. On average I would say that my child has 25+ in each of her classes. The computer teacher said that there is 30 computers in her classroom and there are 29 students in her class. The Health teacher doesn't even use the text book to teach with because he only has 11 of them. I spoke with another teacher whose promethean board didn't even work until Wednesday. As in TWO days ago....school has been open for how many days now???!!!

I have also spoken with parents that have students in the Energy program (gifted talented) The sixth grade gifted science class does not have a science lab. All the other kids do...but the GIFTED does not?? Also I might add that Harding's program has 28 self contained students and Garfield has 16 with gifted AND clustered students combined!!!

This stirred some curiosity within myself and I made a couple of calls this morning...

As of September 7th, Harding had a total of 735 students enrolled and Garfield had 641 students. If I remember correctly the schools were built to "house" 750 children. So in our first couple of weeks Harding is pretty much at its max capacity. Also if I'm not mistaken I think the severely disabled children are only at Garfield and not at Harding. So that would be included in those enrollment numbers as well.

The other thing that bothers me is that most of the teachers that my daughter has do not give out very much homework. Social Studies said she doesn't give out homework because the kids are usually overwhelmed with work from Math and Language Arts. Science doesn't really give out homework because they do a lot of in class labs and its hard to give homework for that. Math only gives the average of 1 or 2 problems two to three nights a week. She said that she feels they get a lot of work done in the 42 minutes that they are in class and there isn't the need for it. So she just does a couple of problems to have SOME independence. And then there is Language Arts who doesn't give out homework other then the occasional finishing up something they didn't finish in class or the occasional essay. She does how ever also have a reading log. She has to read 10-20 minutes 5 nights a week, and that is turned in quarterly. Oh did I mention that most of these teachers also don't give out textbooks. My daughter has one text book besides her little we'll say "workbook" looking paperback text book for math. The Language arts teacher doesn't feel it necessary for the kids to carry a text book..."to much of a hassle" I think were the words used. She has the text books kept in the classroom so they can use them if and when they are needed.

I was just curious of what your thoughts and concerns were....this is "OUR" tax dollars at work...!!!

Ivor Karabatkovic · Post by **Ivor Karabatkovic** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 9:27 am

Suzie,

I was very VERY (Jim and others can back me up on this) harsh on the Board of Education for the "quality" of education that was available to me through middle school/high school.

But everyone that I've talked to that are now freshmen in universities around the state and even myself, we are thankful for the times we spent doing a ton of homework and studying because it prepared us very well for college material.

I've actually been kicking myself for not taking another class that I should have taken as an elective this past year.

With the closing down of Horace Mann and those kids having to go to harding now, I'd imagine the kids-per-class numbers would jump. 29 students is about average at LHS. Most art classes and health have around 32. Gym, about 50.

I'm sure it will be better as everyone is finally getting their feet wet with this whole rebuilding phase.

And text books are something that always get questioned. In my years at Lakewood, I've used the books from the 80's on a consistent basis. Every year new books get printed, all that's different are the covers and the new look. Nowadays, rarely do teachers actually use the book as part of their lesson plan.

They use the internet, computers, etc. to teach the kids about the subject and then have them answer 10 questions in the book at the end of the chapter. It all depends on the class. Math uses the book just for problems, notes are given on the board by the teacher who prepares them.

The power of a worksheet! I now realize why I always had paper to start a camp fire at the end of the year

Katrina Holmes · Post by **Katrina Holmes** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 9:42 am

Actually according to the Gifted teachers at Garfield the number is more like 34 students.

Suzie Dean · Post by **Suzie Dean** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 9:48 am

Katrina,

Is that strictly the gifted...or is that the two combined?

The two combined (gifted and clustered) at Harding is about 60 from what i'm hearing.

Katrina Holmes · Post by **Katrina Holmes** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 9:56 am

I am not sure, they only said that they had to do 34 conferences. So maybe it is combined. I have to agree the class numbers seem to be much nicer at Garfield. Hate to brag but my daughters computer class is only 12.

Suzie Dean · Post by **Suzie Dean** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 10:17 am

TWELVE!! to 29

How is that equal??? What's wrong with that picture?? Weren't things supposed to be equal with the brand new buildings.

To me I look at it as poor planning!

Either the boundaries need to be drawn different or we are going to need a third middle school in the near future...and I have a gut feeling it is going to have to be sooner then a lot of people think.

With the numbers at our Elementary schools... Example: Grant kindergarten... 28 in one class and 27 in another. I don't see enrollment declining. I see us maxing out our middle schools...then what???

Katrina Holmes · Post by **Katrina Holmes** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 10:31 am

Well I know of 1 student who has already transfered from Harding to Garfield. So you are down 1.

Christine Gordillo · Post by **Christine Gordillo** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 10:37 am

I too attended the Harding open house last night and was particularly disheartened to hear about all the things that aren't working in the building yet. Every teacher I talked to said the Promethean boards are extremely tempramental, if they are even working at all. One told me that tech services people are in the school every day trying to work out the kinks but with no success yet. Also, one teacher told me the sinks are not working in the science labs. My son's science class does not even have tables to handle science experiments. And, the gym was ready for use only earlier this week!

I know that the district had a huge undertaking on its hands with the opening of four new schools, however, I think it needs to be more honest in its assessment and communication with the parents about how it is going. Stop telling me everything's "on time and on budget" when demolition is still happening at Harding and my kid couldn't use the gym when school started.

Dee Krupp · Post by **Dee Krupp** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 10:41 am

I attended Harding's open house last night as well. One of my gripes is that they have all 3 grades at the same time and I couldn't visit both my kids' classes. I too was suprised at the crowding in the hallways. I wondered if that's how it is during the school day??

I have a different perspective of homework...I don't agree with 20 minutes of homework for each class which leads to couple of hours a night when they're in school for 6 hours. Especially with a child that needs more than 20 minutes to complete the tasks. He ends up doing homework ALL night and that is pretty stressful.

I do think it's a shame they don't have enough text books. The district can afford those fancy boards, but not texts? Maybe technology is moving that much ahead that they don't need them as much....I don't know.

My son's LA class has only 18 kids. I was pleasantly surprised to hear that since he does struggle with reading, but I am surprised to hear the school is almost at capacity.

I also don't understand why the project is not complete. The kids weren't able to use the gym because it wasn't ready until this week. They still can't change clothes because the locker rooms aren't finished. My son's science teacher still didn't have use of her smart board. This or that still needs to be done. Kinks need to be worked out. It definitely sounds like planning issues to me.

And when will that pile of dirt, debris and concrete be removed????

Diane Helbig · Post by **Diane Helbig** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 10:57 am

I wonder if the disparity between the two schools in terms of numbers of students has anything to do with parents of new 6th graders not wanting to send their kids to Garfield.

I heard a lot of that at the end of the school year at my elementary school. Parents were afraid to send their kids they said. They thought there was a 'rough crowd' that would be going to Garfield.

So maybe a lot of them open enrolled at Harding?

We chose to keep our son at Garfield and I have to say my husband and I are thrilled with the school. We kept saying that we don't think our son appreciates what he has at that school as we walked the halls last night at open house. It made me wish I could go back to school. Of course, then I realized I will be as I help him with his homework!

Diane

Richard Cole · Post by **Richard Cole** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 11:08 am

I spent two hours last night at Harding. Very impressed with the building and the facilities available. Some teachers had a better handle on the use of technology than others.

The dirt pile does need to be removed.

Overall, I was pleased with the way the tax $ had been spent and the higher overall quality for the next few generations of Lakewood kids.

Katrina Holmes · Post by **Katrina Holmes** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 11:19 am

Diane - that is funny you should say that because according to my daughter (who is at Garfield) all of the "bad" kids from her elementary school where going to Harding. I think sometimes, what is the saying "Perception is reality." Maybe that is the perception of some parents, but reality is it really isn't a "rougher crowd" from what I have seen.

Dee Krupp · Post by **Dee Krupp** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 11:23 am

Diane Helbig wrote:I wonder if the disparity between the two schools in terms of numbers of students has anything to do with parents of new 6th graders not wanting to send their kids to Garfield.

I heard a lot of that at the end of the school year at my elementary school. Parents were afraid to send their kids they said. They thought there was a 'rough crowd' that would be going to Garfield.

Diane

That's funny...I had always heard Harding had that reputation when I decided & began to send my kids to Harding 4 years ago while their classmates went to Horace Mann. The gun at school incident last year didn't help the argument.

Suzie Dean · Post by **Suzie Dean** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 11:44 am

Richard Cole wrote:I spent two hours last night at Harding. Very impressed with the building and the facilities available. Some teachers had a better handle on the use of technology than others.

Richard,

How can you say that some teachers may have a better handle on the use of technology when a majority of the teachers haven't even had the chance to even use their board because....IT DOES NOT WORK!!!

It's not the teachers its the equipment...

But yet as they say...

We are on time and on budget!!!

I wasn't aware of open enrollment...I thought the point of building the new schools to be equal was so that there didn't have to be open enrolling???!!! If that's why the numbers are the way they are then it has to stop!!

Suzie Dean · Post by **Suzie Dean** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 11:52 am

Oh and did I mention that it was like a hundred degrees in there...Wasn't it supposed to be so cool that the teachers had control of their own classrooms. They could keep it as hot or as cold as they so chose...for some reason I doubt that the teachers wanted it to be so hot in their last night.

And for safety...our security intercom still is not working.