This sounds like an interesting event:
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and education reformer Paul Vallas will anchor discussions on education in Peoria next month.
The forum, pulled together by Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis, is meant to generate discussion on strategies for helping struggling schools and sharing experiences on what’s worked and what hasn’t.
Unfortunately, the organizers of the event, the Institute of Principled Leadership at Bradley University, have decided not to hold this at Bradley or City Hall or District 150 headquarters or some donated venue and open it free to the public, but instead hold it at the Civic Center and charge $50 to $175 to attend. Yep, if you want to hear the mayor talk with the Secretary of Education about your own school district, it will cost you.
I suppose part of the reason is so that taxpayers won’t have to foot the bill for flying in the speakers and putting them up for the night, and possibly for Vallas’ consulting fee if he’s not donating his time again. That’s fine, but it’s hard to imagine that those costs alone warrant ticket prices at the level of a Broadway show. For $175, I want to see Duncan and Vallas do an ice-dancing routine to Bolero. In costume.
The sad thing is that the Peorians most affected by District 150 are the ones who can least afford a $50-175 ticket, so they’re the ones who will be left out of this event. That’s unfortunate. I suppose it’s good for the Civic Center, though. At least the event isn’t being held in East Peoria.
So can we assume they are not being paid (by the taxpayers) for those days that they “sell themselves” in this entertainment presentation.
This dog and pony show won’t be worth the price of admission, that’s for sure.
Spend your money instead on AVENUE Q, a Broadway musical comedy coming soon to the Civic Center. I’ve been listening to the CD of the music, and its very entertaining. (Warning, it’s not for kids. It’s also gross and profane. But funny.)
Yes, this is ridiculous! I was just looking over all the articles I pulled some time ago about Vallas’ failures in Chicago and Philadelphia.
Can you get cpdu’s or admin. academy credit?
JIM ARDIS TOUCH = E G O S
CJ I am so glad you posted this. When I read that it didn’t feel right. Glad to know it didn’t sit right with other tax paying citizens too!!
Simpletons!
Here is what I am doing:
Everyone I know is kicking in a couple of bucks. We are sending one person to the ‘event’ who will secretly use his cell phone to tape it! Then we are going to plaster it all over YouTube!!!
Sure, there is a little time delay, but………
We have got to prove that we are smarter than the govt. we helped rise to power [kind of makes sense; doesn’t it?]!
CJ,
Just ask for a press pass.
C.J.: “For $175, I want to see Duncan and Vallas do an ice-dancing routine to Bolero. In costume.”
For just $10, you can pay for a different sort of dance in downtown Peoria.
Read George Will’s column in Friday’s Journal Star. It will give you insight into Arne Duncan and his agenda.
This may be of some interest
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/answer-sheet/education-secretary-duncan/more-on-duncans-vip-list-in-ch.html
Everyone, click on the URL above and read it!
Peoria schools must be saved from what is being done in Chicago under Duncan, and now Obama. It’s anti-Democratic and elitist. It selects a few kids and throws the rest under the bus.
Regarding the article offered by Mr. Lucia, sorry – don’t understand the problem with offering different educational choices in a community as diverse as Chicago. The selective enrollment high schools in Chicago are some of the best public schools in the country and provide the type of college program necessary to be considered at top tier colleges and universities.
“The larger scandal is that Chicago has basically a two-tiered education system, with a handful of these selective enrollment magnet schools, or boutique schools. . . . instead of creating quality schools in every neighborhood, . . .”
This is getting to be a very tired argument. So because all students are not ready or able to perform at an elevated level, then the opportunity should not be available to anyone? No wonder the U.S. is falling further and further in the rankings as compared to other industrialized nations in the world.
The two-tiered education system is certainly well on its way in Peoria. I still maintain that both groups of students–the academically ready and the not-so-ready– can be educated in the same building. However, at the moment, in Peoria the discipline problems, not the academic issues, cause parents to pull out of some schools. However, Manual, right now is pretending to serve both groups, but the Johns Hopkins program is geared to students who read below grade level–5th and 6th grade levels. But the students who are at or above grade level are forced to attend Manual–they do not have choice. Richwoods, however, is offering courses for both groups. Frustrated, I’m sorry, but the more I hear from you, the more I tend to believe that you want a private school environment in a public school. You seem to want the private school advantages at the public school price. However (and there’s always a “however” with me because I often do see both sides) more money is now being spent at Manual than at the other high schools–but there is no improvement in academic progress. So all too often, the taxpayers are paying for programs that bring no results. Edison is another example–the scores prove that there are schools doing just as well as Northmoor, Franklin, and Edison–but taxpayers are paying more to give some a program that isn’t that much better.
I agree with Elaine about the article (link provided by Lucia). For the last forty to fifty years, the elite in our society (and this community) have opted for private schools. Unfortunately, the public schools, in general, are left with majority of students who have academic problems. Trying to turn a few of the public schools into schools that appeal to the remaining elite will just leave more children behind. This is exactly what Vallas did in Chicago. All the hype about his success was about the success in the few, not in the many, Chicago schools. 150 is on that path–that’s what Edison and the charter schools are all about. Until 150 concentrates its efforts on finding real solutions to the problems that face the majority of students in 150, the district won’t be fit for either the haves or the have-nots.
Did the Obama, Bush or McCain kids go to public school? Nope – two tiered system elites.
Palin’s – you betcha!
Perhaps that’s why she did what she did as governor in Alaska….read the book.
Public school in Alaska!!
What did she do to public schools in Alaska?
… and Palin’s kids turned out so well.
What is wrong with Sarah Palin’s kids?
Yep, Sharon. That is what I would like in public education, more specialized offerings to meet the needs of the variety of students served.
The problem is that the “specialized” offerings that you want do translate into schools for the elite and schools for the have-nots–the old separate but not so equal. Public education loses its value (in my opinion) when young people are not exposed to children of all walks of life and of differing abilities. And I always have to add that I don’t expect parents to send their children to schools where discipline and, therefore, an acceptable learning environment are not provided.
from the article:
“The guests discuss Duncan’s efforts to improve Chicago’s schools by pushing charter schools and private turnaround experts. This approach is what we now see in Duncan’s and President Obama’s blueprint for rewriting No Child Left Behind. ”
Is there ANYONE in the education system that doesn’t think NCLB needs to be rewritten… or replaced?
Let me ask you this… if you agree that public schools are failing, and are not teaching our kids as well as private schools (does anyone disagree with this?) WHY wouldn’t you want more charter schools, more home schooling, more private options… AND VOUCHERS?
“Perhaps that’s why she did what she did as governor in Alaska….read the book.”
Which is what? Look for a national promotion and then quit and go on a book tour?
Sharon – Public education loses it value when it does not meet student needs. That is clearly the case in Peoria where many have fled for higher ground. The reality is that some of the high school students that you describe, that are struggling with basic reading and math skills, are going to be “separate” from high achieving students whether they are in the same building or not.
“Specialized” offerings should be available for all student groups. It has nothing to do with being elite and all about moving a student from point A to point B. Manual is attempting a “specialized” program and though you believe it misses the mark, it is a step in the right direction.
Frustrated says: “Sharon – Public education loses it value when it does not meet student needs.”
So glad you acknowlege this. So what would you propose for the majority of the Student body whose needs will not be met by the Charter School?
Frustrated, please explain to me how Johns Hopkins is a step in the right direction–in what direction is that? Do you know anything about the program? Do you know any students at Manual? Do you know any Manual teachers? Manual had to be restructured because and only because of NCLB guidelines. Therefore, if students do not do better in NCLB testing, then it has failed in its purpose. That said, of course, I do not believe that NCLB has the answers to the problems of public schools in the United States. As far as charter schools are concerned, I am not at all convinced that the charter school will meet the needs of the majority of students in Peoria’s public schools. I think it might very well meet the needs of 225 students–if those 225 students do not include a majority of the lowest performing students in District 150.