My Area Education Guide

Robin Hood and Dallas ISD

2009-12-30T08:37:00.000-08:00

We all know that Dallas ISD has had their share of financial problems this year. We also know that the students served in the district are mostly from low income families. So, how is it that Dallas schools had to make a $13.7 million Robin Hood payment while at the same time borrowing money to pay the most basic of bills?

Let's examine how the system works. Robin Hood was known for taking from the rich to give to the poor. That is the reasoning behind the system that is meant to provide an equal opportunity education to all Texas students. Since school funding is derived from property tax revenue, there was quite a disparity between spending on students from poor areas and those from rich areas. The rule was meant to equalize the spending thereby equalizing opportunity.

So, how did Dallas ISD get in the situation where they had to pay? Easy, for the 2008-2009 school year, property values within the district increased with new buildings and shopping centers while student enrollment declined. Traditionally, the Houston and Dallas ISD have been left out (or loopholed out) of the system altogether since they are both unique in location, demographics and size. The current economic situation and lower property values will mean that district will not have to "share the wealth" this year.

America prides itself on being the land of opportunity. Education is the single most important determining factor on the success of an individual. It could mean the difference between a person earning a six figure income or a welfare recipient. So whether or not you feel that the system is fair or that you should not have to pay to educate other people's children, it is what separates us from other counties. It is not always about what we spend, but how we spend what we have that we should look at.

Opportunity. Choices. That all men are created equal. America.

TAKS Test

2009-05-12T04:41:00.000-07:00

I was not allowed on my children's campus today. I got a letter a few days ago requesting that while parents are encouraged to visit the schools most of the time, the TAKS test would be taking place and everything is not business as usual. My first grade daughter also got her folder signed (that is not good). The comment? "Talking in the hall during TAKS". For at least 3 days during the year there is tension on elementary campuses all across Texas. Of course it is there in middle and high school also but our babies are really feeling the stress. Is it all really necessary? Maybe, maybe not.

On one hand it is understandable. In order to ensure the integrity of the test, everything must be well controlled and monitored. Nobody wants to be accused of cheating. Only authorized personnel are allowed access to the tests as well as the students taking the tests. The teachers are testing administrators for the day. They are bound to a script and inform the students that they may only answer questions about the test itself and not about the questions. The entire school must be quiet to allow the students and teachers to focus on the task at hand.

But is this the best for our kids? Does it really tell you what they know or what they can do? Probably not. We know our kids have a limited attention span. On a regular day, they are shuffled through a variety of lessons and activities. They are timed so that about the time they get bored/restless it is time to put it away and move on. There is down time during each day so the children can burn off energy and talk/play with their friends all in hopes that they "get it out" and work diligently when they are supposed to. But on TAKS day everything is different. They are supposed to focus on essentially one thing all day long. There is no talking (other than small tightly controlled breaks), no recess or p.e. and even lunch is served in the classroom. Some kids walk out of school exhausted. Not because of all the physical activity, but because of the control they had to have over themselves all day. When asked, many kids say they couldn't concentrate because it was "too quiet". That's easy to see when you are used to working in a relaxed environment and it changes suddenly. As with most things, the atmosphere will work for some and not for others. I would love to see how those kids would do under normal circumstances. I think it would be interesting. But in the end, our kids will learn how to deal with things as they are. They are resilient and adaptable and that is just what they need.

Universal Pre-School

2009-03-05T06:06:00.000-08:00

I always thought I was for universal preschool. Being stuck in the middle-class (2 teacher incomes) in a city with a high low-income population, you tend to notice that there is not much difference in the lifestyles. The main difference as I saw it was that I had to pay for everything I had and if the money wasn't there, we did without. When I stopped teaching to care for my 2 children everything was tough. My husband took on an extra coaching assignment which put us over the income requirements to qualify for CHIP by $200 per year. Instead we struggled to pay the $500 a month cost of health insurance. The lesson? Hard work doesn't always pay off. As I saw it, it's just not fair. Why can't my children have go to preschool for free? Why are they at a disadvantage? The answer: Because life isn't fair and they are not at a disadvantage.

They have educated parents who will do what it takes for them to succeed. We have access to libraries and computers and knowledge that has allowed me to not only make money from home, but also to provide my children with a preschool of my choosing. I get to choose the philosophy and methodology that best suits my family. If I started at the school and later realized that it didn't live up to my expectations, I have the option of moving my child without a long, political process filled with meetings and endless paperwork. And, while I have not yet felt the pressure to put my youngest (3 yrs. old) in preschool, I suspect that would change if preschool were open to everyone. Do you remember when kindergarten was half day and consisted of playdough, dress-up time, story- time and singing? I worry that the panic over our education problems is coming to drilling our babies and taking time away from what is important in being a child. I haven't done the research but I am willing to bet that we are not behind the rest of the world by age 3!

So, I finally had an epiphany. I am against universal preschool!

My Baby can go to Harvard! (And yours can too!)

2009-03-03T04:51:00.001-08:00

I am so excited! My son (8 yrs. old) had told me that he wanted to go to Harvard. At first I thought, wow what an awesome goal! Then, reality hit me like a tether ball in the face. The average cost for Harvard is $45,000 per year! You don't want to discourage your children from a dream like that but there is absolutely no way that we, as teachers, could ever afford to send our 3 children to a school like Harvard...until now!

I just learned that Harvard has what they call a "middle income initiative". The deal is that Harvard will charge 10% of household income for tuition for students whose families earn between $120,000 and $180,000. This means that instead of paying the normal $45,600, you would only pay $12,000 to $18,000. This is still a stretch for 2 teachers, and we may be left eating beans for 4 years, but it is doable!

Harvard will also give grants (not loans) in financial aid packages that don't count equity in a home so that parents won't be forced to sell or borrow against their homes to send their children to the prestigious university.

What's even better? If you make under $60,000 your child can go to Harvard without any contribution from you! And, an income of between $60,000 to $80,000 will yield you significant discounts.

Knowing this, I no longer get that bad feeling in the pit of my stomach when my son talks about going to the Ivy league school. I feel confident that if he does the work to get in, then the option is open to him. What a fantastic country this is! Now, if he says he wants to go to Harvard and get a degree in "Underwater basket weaving"....we need to talk!

Celebration Covenant Church Mother's Day Out Preschool

2008-03-05T10:11:00.000-08:00

A child's dream greets the children when they walk into this preschool! The walls have incredibly colorful and lively murals completely covering them! The small school has chosen to focus on being a quality preschool and accept children ages 2-5. Each classroom has 2 teachers so the class can flow from activity to activity without delay. Included in the tuition is spanish and music classes that the children take each week. They then have an opportunity to showcase their skills for their parents in a theater that doubles as an indoor play room for bad weather play days.

Peanut Gallery

2008-01-18T10:47:00.000-08:00

The Peanut Gallery takes kids from infants through 12 years old. They offer a well-rounded schedule of academic curriculum with enhancements like computer class, Spanish, karate, and gymnastics. The kiddos were all happy and busy in their classrooms. They use a strong curriculum and I am confident that there is a lot of learning going on here!

SS Noah (Allen, TX)

2008-01-17T12:52:00.000-08:00

This is a drop-in facility located within the Stacy Furniture strip mall. Once registered ($30), members pay a modest hourly fee for the supervised play time. The place is open and includes a large indoor playground similar to those found in McDonalds and Chuck E. Cheese. There are planned activities throughout the day as well as rated E and G movies and games. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served at the facility, also for a small fee. The staff seemed to enjoy being there and called the children by their names (I thought this was nice since it is a drop-in facility). The children were having a great time!

Kids R Kids (Allen)

2008-01-17T10:58:00.000-08:00

Talk about security! If you are really nervous about someone else caring for your child then you need to check out this facility. Right from the start, security is an obvious priority. From the coded entry, to the safety view glass in the classrooms, and the cameras in the rooms that allow parents to monitor their children from wherever they are; parents can rest assured that their children are safe! I visited during lunch/nap time so I did not get to see the children working in their rooms. I know that they use a theme based curriculum.

Kindercare (Allen)

2008-01-16T09:31:00.000-08:00

The amount of love and experience that exudes from entering this facility blew me away. All of the teachers have years of experience in the double digits and turnover is rare. All classrooms had a warm feeling where the children were all involved, happy and surrounded by books, creative centers, educational posters and their own work. Parents can easily come in and see the lesson plans to know what their children are working on. Serving infants through school age children, Kindercare gives parents the convenience of the childcare hours and the benefit of solid educational plans.

Welcome!

2008-01-08T19:17:00.000-08:00

Welcome to my blog! This is meant to describe my experiences as I tour local (Dallas) education centers. Please visit my main site, My Area Education Guide to find a great school! You may also contact me at myshele@myareaeducationguide.com with an questions or comments that you may have! I look forward to hearing from you.