Posted on 04/17/2006 12:42:12 PM PDT by Born Conservative
Test Scores in County Lag Behind State's Poorer Areas
Black students in Fairfax County are consistently scoring lower on state standardized tests than African American children in Richmond, Norfolk and other comparatively poor Virginia districts, surprising Fairfax educators and forcing one of the nation's wealthiest school systems to acknowledge shortcomings that have been masked by its overall success.
Even within Fairfax schools, black elementary school students are outperformed on reading and math tests by whites and some other students, including Hispanics, poor children and immigrants learning English.
The statewide disparity occurs among all age groups except the middle-school grades, but it is most pronounced at the elementary level, according to Virginia Department of Education data analyzed by The Washington Post. Black third-graders in Fairfax ranked 91st among more than 125 Virginia districts in reading and 69th in math in tests taken last year. Fifth-graders ranked 40th in reading and 71st in math.
"Something is broken with the way we teach a segment of the population," said John Johnson, education chairman for the Fairfax County NAACP and the father of two students in county schools. "Despite all the things we have at our disposal, our children are being outperformed by people like us -- or people with fewer resources."
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Actually, the adminsitration has known about this for a while, and chose to do nothing about it. It's interesting that the WaPo is just getting around to noticing/publishing this...
Very interesting!
These kids are being hampered by the low expectations the public school system inflicts on them.
Stop telling the teachers that they are poor. any excuse will do.
Have these idiots ever heard of the "Bell Curve"?
It must be sooooo embarrassing to those folks that some first time English learners score higher...How tragic...
Their parent(s) need to spend more time with them doing homework/encouraging studies....It's not the schools (NOVA has some of the best public schools in the country).
Wow, we've gone this far without the required "Bush's Fault!"
Yes. And, the schools are not allowed to maintain discipline that should be TAUGHT AT HOME! In the upper grades, you have the gang-banger crowd who don't even go to school. Yet Jesse and Al keep on with the blame game.
Still vouchers are NOT allowed.
Their parent(s) need to spend more time with them doing homework/encouraging studies....It's not the schools (NOVA has some of the best public schools in the country).
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
So....the black parents in the poor districts are good parents and the black parents in the rich Fairfax area are bad parents???? Huh??.....I DON'T think so!
It is the schools in the Fairfax area that are woefully neglecting these black children. I would go further. I call it ABUSE!
Yet,,,,Would the government permit these kids to leave and take their education dollars with them? Heck no! The government masters keep those kids down on the government school plantation.
How about this:—Parents that spend time with their kids are good parents. Parents that neglect their children in pursuit of other supposedly more important things, are bad parents.
Would not that statement hold true, no matter what the skin color? No matter what the area of the nation?
Fairfax County has the best school system in the nation. The fact that these problems are primarily in elementary schools is a very telling factor—in our county (I am a local), elementary schools are established in a very small area. As the children get older, they are "consolidated" into larger middle- and high-schools. The fact that children in some elementary schools are underperforming is very reflective of the value placed on "education" in those very neighborhoods, rather than being a nonsensical indictment of the Fairfax County School Board.
Oh, and regardless of the fact, if you don't think public schools are doing the job, it's your duty as a responsible parent to find a way to put your children in better schools. Transferring the blame to a nameless, faceless bureaucracy never fixed anything (and if you don't believe that, just ask the French how well it's working for them)...
I beg that you take a closer—and perhaps less judgmental—look at this issue. I think you'll find out soon enough where the proper blame belongs.
Regards,
~dt~
So....somehow the rich black parents are neglecting their children and the white parents are not? Or...somehow rich black parents are more neglectful than poor black parents?
Who is being judgmental here? It is NOT me. It is YOU! You are blaming these black parents! Your argument is also irrational and it will be plainly evident to the posters on this board.
Would not that statement hold true, no matter what the skin color? No matter what the area of the nation? Somehow low academic achievement's is effecting black children living in a highly affluent area and they are doing worse than their white neighbors and other blacks living in less affluent areas. Sorry,,,,Please show me where this pattern is showing up all over the nation.
Fairfax County has the best school system in the nation.
Except if you are a black child.
The fact that these problems are primarily in elementary schools is a very telling factor—in our county (I am a local), elementary schools are established in a very small area. As the children get older, they are "consolidated" into larger middle- and high-schools. The fact that children in some elementary schools are underperforming is very reflective of the value placed on "education" in those very neighborhoods, rather than being a nonsensical indictment of the Fairfax County School Board.
The Fairfax County School Board ( that means REAL people) as well as the principals and teachers should be criminally investigated for child abuse.
Oh, and regardless of the fact, if you don't think public schools are doing the job, it's your duty as a responsible parent to find a way to put your children in better schools.
That would be my FIRST recommendation to these black parents! ( and all parents) REMOVE YOUR CHILD FROM GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS TOMORROW!
Transferring the blame to a nameless, faceless bureaucracy never fixed anything (and if you don't believe that, just ask the French how well it's working for them)...
Yep! I completely agree with you. Blaming the government schools will not get your child educated. The best solution for these black parents (and all parents) is to REMOVE YOUR CHILD FROM GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS TOMORROW!
Here's a hint: It would help if schools went back to teaching things like: reading, writing, and 'rithmetic. Educators need to get a clue.
Kindest regards,
~dt~
Why are you hysterical? Calm down, have a cup of tea or something.
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