Showing posts with label schools. Show all posts
Showing posts with label schools. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
SCDS
Ethan got in to SCDS. Now we just have to figure out how to balance paying for private school, saving for college, saving for retirement, and the occasional vacation. Not sure how others do it, as I think we can do 2 1/2 out of the 4 on our current salaries, and will be down to 2 if Willa gets in too. Ethan is enrolled and we are totally excited for him, but it will be a challenge.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Math, and other scary subjects...
Just read this op/ed column: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2009278185_opinb31mass.html
First, I am worried about the quality of education, especially on the math front, that Willa and Ethan will get.
Second, note that the author is one of Karri's favorite NPR commentators.
Third, reminds me why I will likely run for school board at some point in the future. People elevating process over kids is a travesty.
First, I am worried about the quality of education, especially on the math front, that Willa and Ethan will get.
Second, note that the author is one of Karri's favorite NPR commentators.
Third, reminds me why I will likely run for school board at some point in the future. People elevating process over kids is a travesty.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Kindergarten (more parental craziness)
As you may have read - Karri and I are thinking about school for Ethan (and hence Willa). Ethan will enter kindergarten in fall 2010, so this isn't a hot issue for us yet. But we figured if we liked a nearby public school, then we wouldn't have to consider testing and private schools.
I just finished Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers (thanks Kevin) and the penultimate chapter was on schools/education. It focused on a couple things including the KIPP program. The KIPP program has a longer school day (8 vs. 6 hours) and a longer school week (1/2 day on Saturday). Coupled with the analysis in his article Most Likely To Succeed, I think that the two main things we should be looking at are: number of hours per day of subject matter teaching AND the quality of the teachers employed.
My concerns are how to tell if the teachers will be any good and the state of the public schools' budgets. We'd appreciate any feedback on determining the quality of the teachers. On the budget side, we have already seen proposals to cut school days to cut expenses. I am concerned that what seem like short term budget solutions will lead to long term problems in my kids' schools and education.
No one is asking me, but wouldn't it make sense to have school run from 8:30 until 5:30, rather than 9 until 3, and in those 3 extra hours be able to commit more time to core subjects like math & science (which Americans seem to struggle at compared to the rest of the world), extra-curriculars (debate, Math Team), and enrichment activities (art & music). I bet that most parents would fork over $1,000 per month per kid for this sort of change to their local public school. Might even pay more as it would end the need for most after-school care.
I just finished Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers (thanks Kevin) and the penultimate chapter was on schools/education. It focused on a couple things including the KIPP program. The KIPP program has a longer school day (8 vs. 6 hours) and a longer school week (1/2 day on Saturday). Coupled with the analysis in his article Most Likely To Succeed, I think that the two main things we should be looking at are: number of hours per day of subject matter teaching AND the quality of the teachers employed.
My concerns are how to tell if the teachers will be any good and the state of the public schools' budgets. We'd appreciate any feedback on determining the quality of the teachers. On the budget side, we have already seen proposals to cut school days to cut expenses. I am concerned that what seem like short term budget solutions will lead to long term problems in my kids' schools and education.
No one is asking me, but wouldn't it make sense to have school run from 8:30 until 5:30, rather than 9 until 3, and in those 3 extra hours be able to commit more time to core subjects like math & science (which Americans seem to struggle at compared to the rest of the world), extra-curriculars (debate, Math Team), and enrichment activities (art & music). I bet that most parents would fork over $1,000 per month per kid for this sort of change to their local public school. Might even pay more as it would end the need for most after-school care.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Kindergarten
Hot topic amongst Daphne's People - and showing just how crazy we are - Karri and I just looked at Coe (http://www.seattleschools.org/schools/coe/) and Hay (http://www.seattleschools.org/schools/johnhay/) to try and figure out which kindergarten (and ultimately elementary school) will be best for the kids. Of course, Ethan will be entering in 2010, so we are a little ahead of ourselves AND we are not even sure we will have a choice in 2010.
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