I interned at a KIPP school over here. The school day is from 8am to 5pm M-F and half days every other Saturday. The kids get 1-2 hrs of homework a night.

Parents have to sign a pledge of only X number of hours of TV a week, mandatory attendance of PTA meetings/ Parent teachers conference, etc.

If the parents don't show up or cooperate, the kids gets assigned another school.

The teachers have to sign a contract to work there. They rotate on a "Homework line" where students can call them at home on a dedicatd cell for extra help. They get 4 weeks of in the summer with the rest of the time spent in summer school and teacher training.

They get paid for performance. They also get bonuses and strict evaluations. They have to complete a certain amount of CEU's per year and must get an MA within five years of hire. If the kids in their class consistently fail they get booted out of the school and assigned to another district. The teachers LOVE it because they don't have to put up with foolishness from parents or kids and they get decent money.

This school was the WORST in the district. Within ONE year they where the thrid best in their district and within 2 one of the BEST in the COUNTRY.

This is a Magnet/Charter school, but it is a public school and free. The school district spends the same amount in that school as they do in every other school in the district, no extra money aside from the initial outlay. That district has since opened 4 or 5 of these school and is thinking of more.

Throwing money at the issue without fixing our problem is not the answer.

I interned at a KIPP school over here. The school day is from 8am to 5pm M-F and half days every other Saturday. The kids get 1-2 hrs of homework a night.
Parents have to sign a pledge of only X number of hours of TV a week, mandatory attendance of PTA meetings/ Parent teachers conference, etc.
If the parents don't show up or cooperate, the kids gets assigned another school.
The teachers have to sign a contract to work there. They rotate on a "Homework line" where students can call them at home on a dedicatd cell for extra help. They get 4 weeks of in the summer with the rest of the time spent in summer school and teacher training.
They get paid for performance. They also get bonuses and strict evaluations. They have to complete a certain amount of CEU's per year and must get an MA within five years of hire. If the kids in their class consistently fail they get booted out of the school and assigned to another district. The teachers LOVE it because they don't have to put up with foolishness from parents or kids and they get decent money.
This school was the WORST in the district. Within ONE year they where the thrid best in their district and within 2 one of the BEST in the COUNTRY.
This is a Magnet/Charter school, but it is a public school and free. The school district spends the same amount in that school as they do in every other school in the district, no extra money aside from the initial outlay. That district has since opened 4 or 5 of these school and is thinking of more.
Throwing money at the issue without fixing our problem is not the answer.


hmmm, very interesting that you should mention this. a friend of mine from KS was just talking to me about Magnet schools. this truly sounds like a great idea.

but i think first things first.....in order for this to truly work, we need parents to show that dedication and interest in the betterment of their child.

hmmm, very interesting that you should mention this. a friend of mine from KS was just talking to me about Magnet schools. this truly sounds like a great idea.
but i think first things first.....in order for this to truly work, we need parents to show that dedication and interest in the betterment of their child.


Parents today seem to say that they want better for their kid, but they don't always participate in it. Some folks think that making more $$ is making it better for their kids, but that only solves the popularity contest of material things.

The educational decline in the Bahamas bridges more than a single generation of school kids. Based on statistical grades & ages, most of the young parents of today have also been neglected by their school system. It's important to say that many have crossed the gap able to get into a boarding school, college or university somewhere if they wished. Many have not and it are these parents that must realize that to fully cooperate in a program like that, they (the parents) must educate themselves at the same time.

That will be hard for some people to accept

Parents today seem to say that they want better for their kid, but they don't always participate in it. Some folks think that making more $$ is making it better for their kids, but that only solves the popularity contest of material things.


that is my belief too. who cares if you send your child to D.W. Davis or Queens College? if your child doesn't know the basics of mathematics, they're still on the short end of the stick.....regardless of what you're paying for their tuition. it's not about WHERE your child schools. it's about WHAT they're actually LEARNING.


The educational decline in the Bahamas bridges more than a single generation of school kids. Based on statistical grades & ages, most of the young parents of today have also been neglected by their school system.

that tends to happen if the mother is just as concerned as the daughter about where they're going clubbing. does anyone else see a correlation between the 'teenage mother syndrome' and the now (seemingly) commonplace family tradition of poor education? :confused:


It's important to say that many have crossed the gap able to get into a boarding school, college or university somewhere if they wished. Many have not and it are these parents that must realize that to fully cooperate in a program like that, they (the parents) must educate themselves at the same time.
That will be hard for some people to accept


gone are the days (apparently) where parents sacrificed catching up on the soaps....talking on the phone.....socializing with their friends....posting on BI...just to make sure their kids are doing what they should in school.

listen here.....my mother used to ask to see my school books EVERY night. i had to account for EVERY grade i got. come Parent/Teacher night....there was nothing my mom didn't already know. as i got older (and she tried to teach me responsibility), she stopped checking my homework....but the concern was always there. the interest was always there. and i will NEVER forget that.

i intend to be the EXACT SAME way with my kids...........whenever i have 'em.

While your suggestion is a good one. I must say however, that no plan can move forward without bearing in mind the learning needs of the young male. While institutions are good, we must find a way to reach out to the Bahamian male FIRST, then we can talk about institutions.

While your suggestion is a good one. I must say however, that no plan can move forward without bearing in mind the learning needs of the young male. While institutions are good, we must find a way to reach out to the Bahamian male FIRST, then we can talk about institutions.

That is what this kind of school does. It concentrates on curriculum and parental involvement to deal with the needs of the individual child (Male and Female)

I have seen kids come into this school beat down and dejected. Within HOURS using the teaching style they employ, the kids are smiling and their is a twinkle in their eye. The boys and girls WANT to learn. They WANT to be better citizens.

Kids who were once diagnosed wih learning problems or unteachable are top of the class. You should hear them running around bragging in the newspapers and such how its cool to be smart and where they plan to go to college. The test scores and grades show it too.

Yep BOYS AND GIRLS!

That is what this kind of school does. It concentrates on curriculum and parental involvement to deal with the needs of the individual child (Male and Female)
I have seen kids come into this school beat down and dejected. Within HOURS using the teaching style they employ, the kids are smiling and their is a twinkle in their eye. The boys and girls WANT to learn. They WANT to be better citizens.
Kids who were once diagnosed wih learning problems or unteachable are top of the class. You should hear them running around bragging in the newspapers and such how its cool to be smart and where they plan to go to college. The test scores and grades show it too.
Yep BOYS AND GIRLS!

YK's point is a most valid one and can be put to rest in most magnet school environments.Magnet schools are very popular in urban environments and are thriving academically.The very reason for their success is not just the quality of teaching,but moreover the involvement of the student's parents.

A castle cannot be built on a foundation of mud,good parenting is the foundation of a child's success.:)

You see this is the thing, there is a structural differnce in capacity to understand and concentrate between males and females. Moving from one institution to another does not help the situation all that much. I say that, because I know of very strict parents who can not get the academia through the heads of their good kids. This is more often than not I am afraid. In addition, what use is it of more stricter enviornments, when the way in which you are teaching them is not penetrating because they are structurally incapable of comprehending what it is you are saying to them, because they need to be taught what you are teaching them in a different format.

Learning is not about the insitutution, and it is almost entierly not about strict rules, forcing kids to concentrate; we have that now. We need to COMMUNICATE with the young male especially. The females per-average are ok. With that, your way may reach a few "extra kids" but the fact of the matter is, each way will either reach or lose a few kids. We need a better way in which we get our message accross, over any institutional boundaries because the institutions, are nothing without the methodological underpinning of what it is we are doing. You can have a class in a barn-yard, or even outside under a tree; but it is the way you teach to the kids experience, is what gets accross to them.

We just have to find out AGAIN, what motivates out young men and gear some teaching towards what they identify with. Because, I feel, that new institutions and buildings ..etc, will run your into a circle and be a waste of time, resources and money.

We can do better.

You see this is the thing, there is a structural differnce in capacity to understand and concentrate between males and females. Moving from one institution to another does not help the situation all that much. I say that, because I know of very strict parents who can not get the academia through the heads of their good kids. This is more often than not I am afraid. In addition, what use is it of more stricter enviornments, when the way in which you are teaching them is not penetrating because they are structurally incapable of comprehending what it is you are saying to them, because they need to be taught what you are teaching them in a different format.
Learning is not about the insitutution, and it is almost entierly not about strict rules, forcing kids to concentrate; we have that now. We need to COMMUNICATE with the young male especially. The females per-average are ok. With that, your way may reach a few "extra kids" but the fact of the matter is, each way will either reach or lose a few kids. We need a better way in which we get our message accross, over any institutional boundaries because the institutions, are nothing without the methodological underpinning of what it is we are doing. You can have a class in a barn-yard, or even outside under a tree; but it is the way you teach to the kids experience, is what gets accross to them.
We just have to find out AGAIN, what motivates out young men and gear some teaching towards what they identify with. Because, I feel, that new institutions and buildings ..etc, will run your into a circle and be a waste of time, resources and money.
We can do better.

You are right.young boys need dicipline and strong male role models that are good men.Otherwise we would have all run astray!lol.:)

We just have to find out AGAIN, what motivates out young men and gear some teaching towards what they identify with. Because, I feel, that new institutions and buildings ..etc, will run your into a circle and be a waste of time, resources and money.
We can do better.


Things that motivate young men. In no particular order...


Boobs
Sports
Butts
Cars
Boobs
Money
Boobs

You see this is the thing, there is a structural differnce in capacity to understand and concentrate between males and females. Moving from one institution to another does not help the situation all that much. I say that, because I know of very strict parents who can not get the academia through the heads of their good kids. This is more often than not I am afraid. In addition, what use is it of more stricter enviornments, when the way in which you are teaching them is not penetrating because they are structurally incapable of comprehending what it is you are saying to them, because they need to be taught what you are teaching them in a different format.
Learning is not about the insitutution, and it is almost entierly not about strict rules, forcing kids to concentrate; we have that now. We need to COMMUNICATE with the young male especially. The females per-average are ok. With that, your way may reach a few "extra kids" but the fact of the matter is, each way will either reach or lose a few kids. We need a better way in which we get our message accross, over any institutional boundaries because the institutions, are nothing without the methodological underpinning of what it is we are doing. You can have a class in a barn-yard, or even outside under a tree; but it is the way you teach to the kids experience, is what gets accross to them.
We just have to find out AGAIN, what motivates out young men and gear some teaching towards what they identify with. Because, I feel, that new institutions and buildings ..etc, will run your into a circle and be a waste of time, resources and money.
We can do better.


This type of school does exactly what you are saying and more. The curriculum and teaching style is designed for maximum effect.


It's not about the money you spend. I said that in my first post.

You are right.young boys need dicipline and strong male role models that are good men.Otherwise we would have all run astray!lol.:)


While I agree with you, they need much more as I know of a few pastors kids, and kids with very present male figures, who have just maximized their potential. Just saying good role models, allthough it is desireable, is not enough to get this task done.

Things that motivate young men. In no particular order...
Boobs
Sports
Butts
Cars
Boobs
Money
Boobs
LOL...
While you may be a little lighthearted in your ideas, your pattern of thinking about this situation is the way we ought to be moving. It can become alot more nuance, and we must identify and curb the "attention compettition" as well as "structure learning around what they identify with". This is no easy task, but we only would know is if we simply just "ASK" what it is that the young men like, and make clear structural descisions on what it is we find out en-mass about what they go through, how it is they think and what it takes to get the message of ABCs/123 accross to them. The simple thing is, we just have to ask and find out FROM THEM. If that turns out to be boobs, cars etc...well, we know where to start from, and then begin to bridge the gap towards what it is we would like them to concentrate on, by meeting them at their level and then slowly begin to mentally replace, or add too, what ever code it is they live by and let them go through the world with complete understanding.


This type of school does exactly what you are saying and more. The curriculum and teaching style is designed for maximum effect.
I don't know. Maybe it is the FNM in you (LOL)...What exactly does "teaching style is designed for maximum effect" mean?
:dgi:



It's not about the money you spend. I said that in my first post.
It all comes down to money. Top shift from one type, to another type costs money, even if the less affordable type is what you are shifting towards. However, we must bear in mind that what it is we are switching over to is going to work. You have not convinced me that it can, and in fact, I think it would run in circles from what we are doing wrong now, into another style of what we are doing wrong. We can not make different institutions, without gearing in mind exactly who it is, and what it is we are trying to reach. You can put a dog in another room, but he still barks. You can talk to it in english, or japanese as much as you like and in as many different rooms as you like, but it still only understands dog talk. Unless, you find a way to talk like a dog, or you find a way to reach the dog at a medium where both of you understand what it is you are trying to tell the other. Ya dig!?

We can be better and we certainly can do better than this.
:)

bump