School's spin: F = Fantastic

Orlando Sentinel ^ | August 13, 2002 | Lori Horvitz

[Rodney King]

School's spin: F = Fantastic.

For Jeremy Hunter, the F-grade given to Mollie E. Ray Elementary this past spring does not mean the school is failing. The 11-year-old fifth-grader said it stands for fantastic or fun. "Most of our kids are good," Jeremy said Monday, after a morning pep rally on the first day of school in Orange County. "We have good teachers, and we have a good principal and a good assistant principal." Most students returned to school Monday in Orange and Volusia counties, the last two Central Florida districts to begin the year.

(Excerpted. Click link for full story)

[Rodney King]

Any wonder why this school performs so poorly? When will these people understand that self esteem is illusory if it is not earned?

[dubyagee]

Most of the children speak Haitian Creole, the principal said. "Their parents said the private schools don't have staff who speak the language," Taylor said.

How does any parent expect their child to learn in an American school if they can't speak the #$#% language!

[stlrocket]

The difference between public school and private school.

WHY PUBLIC SCHOOLS SUCK

Think about it!

[dubyagee]

He he he...cute.

You know, my kids go to public school, and while I feel the curriculum could definitely be more challenging, they're not bad schools. My daughter came home on the first day and said one of her teachers had told the class that he would probably be the most politically incorrect teacher they ever had. I, of course, said "Great! You'll probably learn something in there." 8 * )

[billhilly]

Does this mean that they can't punch the chad out.

[Motherhood IS a career]

while I feel the curriculum could definitely be more challenging, they're not bad schools.

So what would be your definition of a bad school if not that? I think the main criticism of the government schools is that they're being dumb-ed down at an amazing rate to allow for the union teachers to claim success for doing less every year.

[luckystarmom]

We've gone to private for the past 3 years. Last year was horrible, and we are trying public school. My son's teacher was inexperienced, and my son was very bored. I really don't think she taught him much. He would have definitely done better at home last year. If public school doesn't work, then I'll try home-schooling.

Also, my daughters have speech problems and are starting kindegarten. There is no way the private school would touch one of them. I know they could not/would not make the accomodations needed to educate her. By law, the public school will have to make the accomodations to educate her. It is up to me to make sure the public school does their job.

[dubyagee]

Agreed. I'm not defending public schools. But the schools in the area I live in (NC) are not the worst that are out there, far from it in fact.

[Axenolith]

Thank the Lord my elementary education took place in Moscow, Idaho and Fort Leavenworth, Kansas in the 70's...

[summer]

We've gone to private for the past 3 years. Last year was horrible, and we are trying public school.

I recently met several parents who told me the same thing - they are ditching a private religious school in FL and heading for a highly graded public school. Quite interesting.

Also, my daughters have speech problems and are starting kindegarten. There is no way the private school would touch one of them. I know they could not/would not make the accomodations needed to educate her. By law, the public school will have to make the accomodations to educate her. It is up to me to make sure the public school does their job.

Also true, in that a number of private schools will not accept students with learning difficulties or problems of any nature. Thanks for your interesting post. I am always amazed at the diversity of opinion on FR with respect to school options! :)