The Board of Education has an opportunity, I believe, to set aside the contract that employs Doctor Marlon James and Loyola University since I do not believe it has been signed. To do so would show they are truly interested in fixing the achievement gap problem. To remind everyone the scope of the James/Loyola agreement is to look at black male students in the high school and try to find out why they underperform white students. Please note it is a single-sex single race approach. It would seem to be similar to another study, Doctor James performed with an Atlanta school, (See http://journalofafricanamericanmales.com/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2010/09/Never-Quit-Marlon-C-James-.pdf).
I am not at all opposed to the idea of studying why we have an achievement gap and how to rectify the situation. If we can understand why we have an achievement gap, we can, and will, I am sure, understand how to approach the issue and minimize, if not nullify this unfortunate gap. To reduce or nullify the achievement gap is the stated goal of all parties concerned, the parents, the BoE, and the State. The single-sex, single race approach is shortsighted and arguably could be called racist. I am very surprised that people are not complaining about the fact that we are studying only one subgroup of the minorities in Windsor. Why are we not studying black females, and Hispanics, and for that matter any and all subgroups?
Again, I am not opposed to such study. However, the scope of such an endeavor should be widened to all minorities and more narrowly focused on an area where we can make an appreciable difference. To do otherwise is wasting time that we do not have. I have said repeatedly: Education is not a do over business, yet this study clearly is a do over study. We also will be wasting money and lengthening the period of time that we must live with an achievement gap. That in my opinion is totally unacceptable.
I understand there is information that suggests the achievement gap becomes evident in the elementary schools. So a fair question, and moreso the proper question is: Why are we not studying how to alleviate the achievement gap in the elementary school where it begins?
We do know that it is easier to modify behavior while the children are still in the formative years of elementary school. If we can find out what causes the achievement gap at this level we can then easily implement tools or create methods to modify the path that leads to an ever widening achievement gap. However, to study the high school is to study students that have followed the achievement gap trajectory from many years. It is at the high school level that modification of this path is going to be very difficult vs. making an adjustment in elementary school where change is much easier to implement. Also studying this at the elementary level places us all in a better position to FIX this problem and yield some tangible results.
I can only hope calmer, less emotional, and more thoughtful minds will review this information that I’m putting forth and reconsider their approach to this problem. We clearly do not want an achievement gap and we clearly want to fix the problem. However, to study this at the high school level, where the behavior is a fait accompli, is a waste of valuable time and resources.
I would be interested in hearing other respectful comments on this issue. I believe the approach I am fomenting is appropriate logical and will actually yield results that benefit the most important people in this process, the students.
However according to the census bureau 'black' households earn more than 'white' households in Windsor. So the black households are more likely to have a higher level of education. So it further carries that black students should perform better in schools. However they do not. Why? Is it a cultural issue? Is it a perception issue? Is it a bias issue? Is it a peer issue? Is it bright/white/black flight issue? Is it a race issue? I can’t answer those questions. Chief Justice Brandeis said: "If the broad light of day could be let in upon men’s actions, it would purify them as the sun disinfects." If we are not willing to have open dialog without using charged buzzwords, then how can we hope to solve a problem.
Mr. Panos, BOE member, has questioned whether minority households have higher incomes than white households when only considering those in the Windsor School District. The Census bureau figures may not be available only for those in the Windsor School District (which includes people that do not live in Windsor) split demographically. However, regardless of the income distributions in Windsor, I've read that some minority groups perform at a lower level on standardized tests even when other factors such as family income are equivalent.
How many people have moved out of Windsor because of the WPS. I have been told many times that people with school age kids do not look at Windsor and that is sad and BAD for all of us. We are also seeing a greater number of students going to Magnet schools (+10% over the past several years) and are stymied only by available space and the lottery system. An interesting # would be the # of Windsor students entered into the lottery yearly trying to leave WPS. We should all know by now that throwing money at this problem has not and is not a solution. That has clearly been proven a failed approach. If it was not failed we would NOT be having this conversation, would we.
I seen written on these pages and been told that rules, procedures and/or administrative process was not followed. These administrative errors could easily be rectified by taking another vote on the final contract. Ahhh, but is that seen as losing face or admitting an error. It could be, and well, people just do not like doing that. If the original vote was OK then this should not be a problem. But if upon deeper reflection some feel this whole agreement is in question or aspects are flawed (my opinion) then you do not want another procedural vote because the outcome may be different, then you must face the error and that may cause additional questions. The reality is they have no reason to back down because to be proven wrong would require legal action and since as most bodies they create their own rules with exception. There is no check or balance until November.