Dr. Scales states that we "must make sure all of our schools are safe and secure. That’s an issue we all have, and we have to work on it.” So he basically admits that we have an "issue," yet at the same time he dismisses the parents' complaints as invalid. If that's not cynicism, I don't know what is.
Never mind school safety, which is easily verifiable through public records. How about the educational track record? Here you can look up the TCAP scores of the various Hamilton County schools:
Select a school from the drop-down box and click the Achievement tab below to see the 2008 scores. Mr. Scales, pick--oh, let's say Orchard Knob Middle--and tell me with a straight face that scores of DFFF for 2006, 2007 and 2008 with no upward trend at all make this school a "good option." Of course, during the presentation last week he chose to focus almost entirely on Lakeside Academy, which does have better scores, ignoring any questions about Orchard Knob.
Having noble intentions for all schools of the system is very laudable indeed, but I prefer for my kids not to be early pioneers in (t)his social and educational experiment which has a very real potential for failure. Call us once these feeder schools HAVE REACHED the level they are striving for. Until then, please give us some real options without dismissing us like some pesky children.
Hamilton County: Parents want better middle schools
Dr. Scales states that we "must make sure all of our schools are safe and secure. That’s an issue we all have, and we have to work on it.” So he basically admits that we have an "issue," yet at the same time he dismisses the parents' complaints as invalid. If that's not cynicism, I don't know what is.
Never mind school safety, which is easily verifiable through public records. How about the educational track record? Here you can look up the TCAP scores of the various Hamilton County schools:
http://edu.reportcard.state.tn.us/pls/apex/f?p=222:1:5431523471100068::NO:::
Select a school from the drop-down box and click the Achievement tab below to see the 2008 scores. Mr. Scales, pick--oh, let's say Orchard Knob Middle--and tell me with a straight face that scores of DFFF for 2006, 2007 and 2008 with no upward trend at all make this school a "good option." Of course, during the presentation last week he chose to focus almost entirely on Lakeside Academy, which does have better scores, ignoring any questions about Orchard Knob.
Having noble intentions for all schools of the system is very laudable indeed, but I prefer for my kids not to be early pioneers in (t)his social and educational experiment which has a very real potential for failure. Call us once these feeder schools HAVE REACHED the level they are striving for. Until then, please give us some real options without dismissing us like some pesky children.
Uwe W. Radu