The mistake was purely mine and I didn't have any idea who Kristol was -- although evidently I should have. The quote merely came up on my phone as part of a famous quotes app, and I interpreted it as positive. I took it to mean that going forward there would be equal opportunity for libraries across Evanston. My apologies if it was offensive in any way to you or anyone else. That was never my intent. Our goal now is to look holistically at Evanston library services and to work to make them equal. To me, that was what the quote said.
I commented once before on this blog about trying to get west side library services and said that we are as committed as any single group to do this. Nine years ago I was unaware of such an effort. Up until this recent library battle, we've never had such a unified effort. The internet and communications have changed all of that. I've read the 1999 report on Library Svcs to low and moderate income Evanston, I've asked for Ald Jean-Baptiste's help in identifying individuals who can work to bring library svcs to the west wards, and other underserved areas of Evanston, and even posted a previous response to you asking the same. We've spoken to Denia Hester [the former West branch librarian] and she has given us some great information regarding the former west branch. She was my own kids' librarian at Kingsley and I respect her opinion and involvement a great deal. The quote was my fault, and I took it to mean something positive for the future of the situation.
What did happen 30 years ago, or nine years ago while tremendously important, shouldn't negatively affect what CAN happen now. We want your help, and working together to make this happen will be an important part of getting library services to ALL of Evanston. My sincerest apologies. Please contact me personally if you would like to discuss this in a less public forum. In the meantime, I wish that you would consider joining our efforts. We need people who are committed to strengthening library services for all of Evanston, including the west ward.
I guess it is too much to expect that those who buy Lotto tickets [and other gambling] would know better when they see the City Council and "we want all our pet projects" spending as if there is no tomorrow [may be literally true !] with funding for branches, Media and Ecology Centers have have long ago failed to serve a purpose.
If the Council and these 'special project' supports, who claim they are educated and want these for continuing education, don't understand enough of economics [not to mention reality], why should we expect those 'less educated' to ?
Some how these groups think everything can be done as it always was and 'hope' some miracle will bail the city out just as Lotto buyers 'hope' they win before they go broke.
I was a magnet school parent, but yanked my kids out of Bessie Rhodes before winter break, and RAN back to my home school, Oakton Elementary.
And I happen to know a number of families that are doing the same. Don't let the silly word "MAGNET" fool you. It is just a school, more like a commuter school, and with it comes a sense of entitlement you wouldn't believe. We are so happy at Oakton. A million times happier than we ever were at that Magnet School.
The switch was like night and day. Oakton has a feeling of family from the moment you walk in the doors. The caliber of art work is amazing. My son is flourishing in Spanish, not in TWI, but still picked up more in a week at Oakton than two at Rhodes.
I can honestly say that I feel as though my son is more safe and cared for at Oakton than Rhodes. It is so sad that so many neighborhood parents are even given a magnet choice, and not having given their home school a try go for the easy answer magnet school.
Huge mistake...and we are the proof! So proud to be an Oakton family!
I agree that Hardy Murphy's entire game plan with parents is "divide and conquer." He likes to start fires then run off while everyone else points fingers about who started the fire, who should put it out, how it should be put out, when it should be put out and at what cost.
And for this less-than-sophisticated approach to educating our children, we pay Hardy Murphy almost $300,000 a year,
Here's some advice from another D65 parent who has been there and done that with the incompetent goofballs at D65 headquarters:
1. Stop pointing fingers at other programs and schools. If you are a magnet school parent, do not view neighborhood school parents, including TWI parents, as the enemy. I was shocked to see postings about TWI in an article about the magnet schools' options for the future.
2. Go to the Board meetings. Virtually no parents attend unless Hardy Murphy has proposed another ridiculous plan, has pitted groups against each other and has stacked the deck with the Board members using phone calls before the Board meeting. By the time that Hardy Murphy proposes something publicly, he has already lined up the votes on the Board to get it approved.
Parents need to go to every meeting and keep a watchful eye on the clever chess-like moves that Hardy Murphy uses to get the Board members to eat out of his hand.
I used to go to Board nmeetings. I personally saw Hardy Murphy sneering at every parent who, during the public comment, asked any questions about anything. Then, at the end of the comments, he takes the opportunity to bash (oh so subtly) every parent question and proclaim them stupid or uninformed (again oh so subtly).
If more parents went to these meetings, the meetings would return to what they are supposed to be -- a public meeting in which our children's interests come first and issues are discussed intelligently and decided. Now, the D65 Board meetings are a farce with Hardy Murphy playing the Board members like a fiddle.
I gave up attending the meetings because there were almost no other parents in attendance. Sad but I now understand why others gave up. A handful of parents watching what's happening lets Hardy Murphy know that he is totally in charge with no oversight. The Board is supposed to provide that oversight but ever since Jonathan Baum left the Board, no one asks the right questions any more.
To get the superintendent to change you have to take out his support. Back in Fall 2007 the board voted to extend his contract for 5 years. Three of the existing seven board members were there and voted in favor of the extension (Terry, Lockhart and Summers). As long has he can get 4 votes for what he wants then he will do what he wants. Keith Terry and Bonnie Lockhart are up for re-election next year if they want to serve again.
Watch the board and remember to vote in the Spring of 2011.
I think it a joke that this council thinks it can keep these branches open for six months pending some sort of community bail out miracle... and I think the bigest joker of them all has to be Alderman Wynne for even floating this idea... These branch libraries are no more than reading rooms... I have been to both these braches numerous times to find them void of any patrons at all. I think their supporters are few in number in comparison to the overwhelming majority of residents who are more concerend about the importance of front line services like police, fire, garbage, snow removal, health, etc. What impresses Evanstonians more is the ability to balance a budget and stop the deficit spending as opposed to placating a few rich snobs on the north side and lake front. Give it a break folks and lets focus on economic development and the plight of our collective neighborhoods hit so hard by the economy and home foreclosures.
Thank you to whoever posted the alert to the Branchlove webpage quote which appears next to their statement celebrating their recent victory at city council; Not only is this an offensive sentiment of an arch neo-conservative, but for this elite minority to use it to imply that there has ever been "equal opportunity"on this issue to all Evanston children and families throughout our city is truly insulting!! There has not been a branch library on the west side for 30 years and when we tried 9 years ago to rectify that , where were the "equal opportunity" branch love folks then ??????
You hit the nail on the head. Dr. Murphy has a history of creating divisions within the community to deflect attention from his agenda. In this instance, he deliberately pitted the neighborhood schools against the magnet schools. Why else would he have the enrollment cap discussion scheduled for the same night as the presentation by the Magnet School Committee? Clearly these two items are at odds. You can't create a strong magnet school program if you are simultaneously using the magnet schools as a mechanism for siphoning off students from neighborhood schools.
And now that the Magnet School committee has spent one school year making recommendations for changes, the Board has given the administration until December 2010 to figure how to implement changes with no increase in funding. So that's another school year gone. The Supreme Court decision that removed race as a metric for selecting students for magnet schools was June 2007. The board and administration have known since then that they needed to reexamine purpose of the magnet schools, but they've delayed and delayed. Why are we letting them waste time and our children's youth with their incompetence and delaying tactics?
Scroll down a bit on the link provided. On the right side of the page is a box with the heading "Downloads." See: Community service grant interest form and other 2010 community service grant documents
I am puzzled by the quote that appears at the top of the branchlove.org website:
"Democracy does not guarantee equality of conditions -- it only guarantees equality of opportunity." - Irving Kristol
Irving Kristol is widely recognized as one of the founders of the neocon movement. (You know, the people who brought us the Iraq war.)
Why would branchlove choose to quote such an odious figure on their website?
And how does the quote itself apply to this situation? Is it a justification for the current inequality of conditions (branch library for Central Street, but not the west side)? Are they saying "too bad, west side..we have a branch library and you don't...that's how democracy works"?
Certainly this does not apply to all or even a large portion of those with foreclosure and housing under-water.
BUT when I go to some of the stores that sell lottery tickes and I see people buying substantial Lotto tickets and they certainly don't look like they can afford to throw money away. I bet they also made poor 'bets' on housing and financing they payments as well as other expenditures.
Someone in the schools and other community organizations should be teaching them about the odds---how big the jackpot would have to be given the odds, even if they did not have to split it and getting it as an annuity or a fraction if they take a lump sum.
Where are the preachers telling their congregations about the same things and putting their family first and investing wisely and improving education/training instead with the money they save.
We have a budget crisis and need to cut costs like the branches and yet the response of Lori k. and I assume others is to open another branch and spend more money when there seems to be no evidence the existing have any value---except for providing Jackie Collin novels.
Once again, the district administration has failed. The district did not prepare for this overcrowding. This overcrowding didn't occur overnight. The district is responsible for having projection enrollment plans. The district placed programs at these schools knowing that these schools had limited classroom space. The district has let the desirability of the magnets slip.
To try to address this overcrowding one week before kindergarten registration is a joke. The administration should be held accountable for these failures.
As to your first question, the magnet schools serve a valuable role in the district by balancing class size and offering a choice to parents. Strong magnets benefit the community. If it weren't for the magnets, cap and transfer may have to be done every year. This was clearly communicated and supported by multiple studies and examples in the magnet school report. The magnet school committee did not, by the way, ask for ongoing additional funding but a small amount of start up money - certainly not more that twi, for example, has spent to start their program.
Twi does cost the district additional money. At the board meeting even twi's biggest proponent, Tracy Q, said that putting twi strands in one building would "consolidate resources" citing the recent hiring of spanish speaking staff. THere are also reading materials, etc that are new for the program.
Finally, I find your use of the word "hogwash" to describe racial imbalance in classrooms extrememly insensitive. For most of us, a class of white and hispanic kids does not reflect the diversity of a community with a population of 30% african americans and 7% multiracial. Likewise, classrooms that are over 75% african american in general education do not reflect our community. If by "hogwash" you are thinking that it's not true, I encourage you to look at the 'opening day report' on the district website. Even if the district decides the benefits of twi outweigh this negative, it is important that the magnets offer an option to parents who want to experience the diversity that Evanston has offered for generations.
I have read several strands of comments on this article and the Magnet Schools article. It has become clear to me that Hardy Murphy has gotten EXACTLY what he wants. Everybody pointing fingers and arguing with each other instead pointing the finger at the gentleman who needs to be taken to task, Dr. Hardy Murphy. The way he treated parents of Park School at the board meeting was offensive. To dismiss their plea's by talking about a mural on a snow plow at Haven? To not even question funding of the Magnets school new curriculum proposals after telling many schools there is no money for them? Dr. Murphy clearly has an agenda that he is sticking to no matter what any of us want. We are all fighting because we want we feel is best for our own children. We should come together as Gen Ed, TWI, Special education program and Magnet school parents and demand TOGETHER that Hardy listens to US & fixes what he broke.
The magnet schools are the focus of this study and the process. The problem is that they can no longer use race to select students for those schools. So what are they supposed to be?
For thousands of students and parents, TWI is not a problem. In fact, it's a joy. It is the reason that many parents (like me) put up with the arrogance and foolishness of the District 65 administration. The TWI teachers are fabulous. The cultural exposure is tremendous. Most importantly, many, many children in TWI excel in both languages.
And I'm not certain why you claim that TWI is costing big $. TWI is a kindergarten through 5th grade prgram and all of those students are primarily with one teacher for the day. All of the TWI students (native Spanish speaking and native English speaking) need to be in a classroom with a teacher, don't they? Are you suggesting that if the native English-speaking students weren't in TWI, they would attend school at no cost to District 65 Sorry but native English-speaking students would still need to be assigned to classrooms and they would still need teachers.
What would cost big bucks are these extravagant proposals for the magnets. Sure, dream big but plan to spend within our very tight budget.
District 65 has determined TWI is effective. The test scores establish that it is better for the vast majority of native Spanish-speaking children. And yes, the English-speaking students do very well, too. So studies about other approaches really don't signify anything right now as no one in District 65's administration is suggesting that we change TWI. And TWI isn't broken.
The racial imbalance argument is hogwash -- trotted out repeatedly by those who don't have the facts but, for some reason, want to undermine TWI. When the classroom is half Hispanic, you start with a large minority population in the room.
And yes, many parents love TWI. You love your magnet school, don't you?
Please -- let's focus on what needs to be fixed without wasting time trying to trash what isn't broken in Evanston.
Interestingly, under the cap and transfer proposal most likely no existing Evanston students will be affected unless they delay registration. It will be those who buy houses over the summer and register late. So really the concern is over the feared decrease in property value. Also, there is the very real possiblity that projections are inaccurate and there will be no need to transfer anyone.
This is an outstanding forward thinking opportunity which has the potential to vastly improve the climate in Evanston for virtual businesses and take advantage of emerging SaaS technologies. It should be supported aggressively. If people want to comment on Northwestern and fair share let them do it in a forum which is relevant. There is absolutely no connection between the issues....someone forgot to take their meds this morning.
I do understand the definition and justification of twi in the district. I disagree, however, in many ways.
First, there are many other much less expensive ways to teach non English speaking kids. Many are equally or more effective than twi, depending on the body of research you read.
The reason twi thrives is Evanston is because the English speaking twi parents love it.
Many general education parents in neighborhood schools do not like the way twi has divided their schools and in many cases racially imbalanced their classrooms.
branchLove is earnestly investigating and supports bringing library services to the underserved populations in Evanston, and among those efforts is looking into dempster/dodge, as well as other, city-owned properties. I just read the 1999 study/report about library services in Evanston to the Low and Moderate income residents -- I agree, it's appalling. We have also spoken to the former West Ward librarian, and looked into the Digital Divide - there are many, many options that we need to explore and we have asked for input from the community. Please get involved, it is your perspective and input that will be important as we move forward. As for nine years ago, personally then I had 3 kids ages 5 and under and work full time, so this may not have been on my radar then. But it is now, and I can assure you, is a priority for branchLove and supporters of branch libraries, the Library Board Task Force and the community.
"Our district is spending big $ to teach English speakers Spanish... ."
It is obvious that you are proud of King Lab. But allow me to educate you on the fact that there are hundreds of families who are likewise proud of TWI.
Allow me to provide you with some facts as your posting seems to highlight a lack of understanding of TWI:
The goals of the TWI program are to teach native Spanish-speaking children how to speak and learn in English at a high level and to provide that educational experience without forcing those children to forget their native language. Based on my reading, the TWI approach is the most successful method of accomplishing those goals.
The native English-speaking classmates are somewhat "along for the ride." Their native Spanish-speaking classmates learn English from them on the playground, in the lunch room, in art and in music. The native English speakers learn Spanish while their other classmates learn English.
And no, no one sits around conjugating verbs in either language. These students have the same curriculum as the general education classrooms. My children's teachers have all been phenomenally talented educators who have helped all of my children achieve well above grade level -- all while they are becoming fluent in Spanish.
To claim that District 65 is "spending big $ to teach English speakers Spanish" demonstrates a serious lack of knowledge about TWI's goals and successes.
Perhaps while you blow your horn about your allegiance to and love for King Lab, you would take care not to bash (without facts) a tremendous program that has helped thousands of Evanston and Skokie children and has its own loyal following of devoted families.
And my children's neighborhood school has a tremendous fine arts program as well and virtually every teacher is a gem. I am proud of our neighborhood school and the TWI program that is flourishing there.
The name of that school -- Oakton. Our community has worked together to make great things during the past three years. We welcome all District 65 families to recognize the tremendous progress by our students and to wish us continued success.
Dickelle,
The mistake was purely mine and I didn't have any idea who Kristol was -- although evidently I should have. The quote merely came up on my phone as part of a famous quotes app, and I interpreted it as positive. I took it to mean that going forward there would be equal opportunity for libraries across Evanston. My apologies if it was offensive in any way to you or anyone else. That was never my intent. Our goal now is to look holistically at Evanston library services and to work to make them equal. To me, that was what the quote said.
I commented once before on this blog about trying to get west side library services and said that we are as committed as any single group to do this. Nine years ago I was unaware of such an effort. Up until this recent library battle, we've never had such a unified effort. The internet and communications have changed all of that. I've read the 1999 report on Library Svcs to low and moderate income Evanston, I've asked for Ald Jean-Baptiste's help in identifying individuals who can work to bring library svcs to the west wards, and other underserved areas of Evanston, and even posted a previous response to you asking the same. We've spoken to Denia Hester [the former West branch librarian] and she has given us some great information regarding the former west branch. She was my own kids' librarian at Kingsley and I respect her opinion and involvement a great deal. The quote was my fault, and I took it to mean something positive for the future of the situation.
What did happen 30 years ago, or nine years ago while tremendously important, shouldn't negatively affect what CAN happen now. We want your help, and working together to make this happen will be an important part of getting library services to ALL of Evanston. My sincerest apologies. Please contact me personally if you would like to discuss this in a less public forum. In the meantime, I wish that you would consider joining our efforts. We need people who are committed to strengthening library services for all of Evanston, including the west ward.
I guess it is too much to expect that those who buy Lotto tickets [and other gambling] would know better when they see the City Council and "we want all our pet projects" spending as if there is no tomorrow [may be literally true !] with funding for branches, Media and Ecology Centers have have long ago failed to serve a purpose.
If the Council and these 'special project' supports, who claim they are educated and want these for continuing education, don't understand enough of economics [not to mention reality], why should we expect those 'less educated' to ?
Some how these groups think everything can be done as it always was and 'hope' some miracle will bail the city out just as Lotto buyers 'hope' they win before they go broke.
But some have more access to a library than others.
Speaking of animals, I would agree with council that we have beaten this dead horse enough. My only hope is that they don't renege in 6 months.
There are plenty of other budget issues to address - none quite so fraught with inequity, but they're out there.
I was a magnet school parent, but yanked my kids out of Bessie Rhodes before winter break, and RAN back to my home school, Oakton Elementary.
And I happen to know a number of families that are doing the same. Don't let the silly word "MAGNET" fool you. It is just a school, more like a commuter school, and with it comes a sense of entitlement you wouldn't believe. We are so happy at Oakton. A million times happier than we ever were at that Magnet School.
The switch was like night and day. Oakton has a feeling of family from the moment you walk in the doors. The caliber of art work is amazing. My son is flourishing in Spanish, not in TWI, but still picked up more in a week at Oakton than two at Rhodes.
I can honestly say that I feel as though my son is more safe and cared for at Oakton than Rhodes. It is so sad that so many neighborhood parents are even given a magnet choice, and not having given their home school a try go for the easy answer magnet school.
Huge mistake...and we are the proof! So proud to be an Oakton family!
I agree that Hardy Murphy's entire game plan with parents is "divide and conquer." He likes to start fires then run off while everyone else points fingers about who started the fire, who should put it out, how it should be put out, when it should be put out and at what cost.
And for this less-than-sophisticated approach to educating our children, we pay Hardy Murphy almost $300,000 a year,
Here's some advice from another D65 parent who has been there and done that with the incompetent goofballs at D65 headquarters:
1. Stop pointing fingers at other programs and schools. If you are a magnet school parent, do not view neighborhood school parents, including TWI parents, as the enemy. I was shocked to see postings about TWI in an article about the magnet schools' options for the future.
2. Go to the Board meetings. Virtually no parents attend unless Hardy Murphy has proposed another ridiculous plan, has pitted groups against each other and has stacked the deck with the Board members using phone calls before the Board meeting. By the time that Hardy Murphy proposes something publicly, he has already lined up the votes on the Board to get it approved.
Parents need to go to every meeting and keep a watchful eye on the clever chess-like moves that Hardy Murphy uses to get the Board members to eat out of his hand.
I used to go to Board nmeetings. I personally saw Hardy Murphy sneering at every parent who, during the public comment, asked any questions about anything. Then, at the end of the comments, he takes the opportunity to bash (oh so subtly) every parent question and proclaim them stupid or uninformed (again oh so subtly).
If more parents went to these meetings, the meetings would return to what they are supposed to be -- a public meeting in which our children's interests come first and issues are discussed intelligently and decided. Now, the D65 Board meetings are a farce with Hardy Murphy playing the Board members like a fiddle.
I gave up attending the meetings because there were almost no other parents in attendance. Sad but I now understand why others gave up. A handful of parents watching what's happening lets Hardy Murphy know that he is totally in charge with no oversight. The Board is supposed to provide that oversight but ever since Jonathan Baum left the Board, no one asks the right questions any more.
To get the superintendent to change you have to take out his support. Back in Fall 2007 the board voted to extend his contract for 5 years. Three of the existing seven board members were there and voted in favor of the extension (Terry, Lockhart and Summers). As long has he can get 4 votes for what he wants then he will do what he wants. Keith Terry and Bonnie Lockhart are up for re-election next year if they want to serve again.
Watch the board and remember to vote in the Spring of 2011.
I think it a joke that this council thinks it can keep these branches open for six months pending some sort of community bail out miracle... and I think the bigest joker of them all has to be Alderman Wynne for even floating this idea... These branch libraries are no more than reading rooms... I have been to both these braches numerous times to find them void of any patrons at all. I think their supporters are few in number in comparison to the overwhelming majority of residents who are more concerend about the importance of front line services like police, fire, garbage, snow removal, health, etc. What impresses Evanstonians more is the ability to balance a budget and stop the deficit spending as opposed to placating a few rich snobs on the north side and lake front. Give it a break folks and lets focus on economic development and the plight of our collective neighborhoods hit so hard by the economy and home foreclosures.
Thank you to whoever posted the alert to the Branchlove webpage quote which appears next to their statement celebrating their recent victory at city council; Not only is this an offensive sentiment of an arch neo-conservative, but for this elite minority to use it to imply that there has ever been "equal opportunity"on this issue to all Evanston children and families throughout our city is truly insulting!! There has not been a branch library on the west side for 30 years and when we tried 9 years ago to rectify that , where were the "equal opportunity" branch love folks then ??????
You hit the nail on the head. Dr. Murphy has a history of creating divisions within the community to deflect attention from his agenda. In this instance, he deliberately pitted the neighborhood schools against the magnet schools. Why else would he have the enrollment cap discussion scheduled for the same night as the presentation by the Magnet School Committee? Clearly these two items are at odds. You can't create a strong magnet school program if you are simultaneously using the magnet schools as a mechanism for siphoning off students from neighborhood schools.
And now that the Magnet School committee has spent one school year making recommendations for changes, the Board has given the administration until December 2010 to figure how to implement changes with no increase in funding. So that's another school year gone. The Supreme Court decision that removed race as a metric for selecting students for magnet schools was June 2007. The board and administration have known since then that they needed to reexamine purpose of the magnet schools, but they've delayed and delayed. Why are we letting them waste time and our children's youth with their incompetence and delaying tactics?
Scroll down a bit on the link provided. On the right side of the page is a box with the heading "Downloads." See: Community service grant interest form and other 2010 community service grant documents
I am puzzled by the quote that appears at the top of the branchlove.org website:
"Democracy does not guarantee equality of conditions -- it only guarantees equality of opportunity." - Irving Kristol
Irving Kristol is widely recognized as one of the founders of the neocon movement. (You know, the people who brought us the Iraq war.)
Why would branchlove choose to quote such an odious figure on their website?
And how does the quote itself apply to this situation? Is it a justification for the current inequality of conditions (branch library for Central Street, but not the west side)? Are they saying "too bad, west side..we have a branch library and you don't...that's how democracy works"?
I went to the Rotary site through the link provided, but wasn't able to find information about this grant. Could you provide a more direct link?
Thanks,
Michele Hays
Certainly this does not apply to all or even a large portion of those with foreclosure and housing under-water.
BUT when I go to some of the stores that sell lottery tickes and I see people buying substantial Lotto tickets and they certainly don't look like they can afford to throw money away. I bet they also made poor 'bets' on housing and financing they payments as well as other expenditures.
Someone in the schools and other community organizations should be teaching them about the odds---how big the jackpot would have to be given the odds, even if they did not have to split it and getting it as an annuity or a fraction if they take a lump sum.
Where are the preachers telling their congregations about the same things and putting their family first and investing wisely and improving education/training instead with the money they save.
We have a budget crisis and need to cut costs like the branches and yet the response of Lori k. and I assume others is to open another branch and spend more money when there seems to be no evidence the existing have any value---except for providing Jackie Collin novels.
Once again, the district administration has failed. The district did not prepare for this overcrowding. This overcrowding didn't occur overnight. The district is responsible for having projection enrollment plans. The district placed programs at these schools knowing that these schools had limited classroom space. The district has let the desirability of the magnets slip.
To try to address this overcrowding one week before kindergarten registration is a joke. The administration should be held accountable for these failures.
As to your first question, the magnet schools serve a valuable role in the district by balancing class size and offering a choice to parents. Strong magnets benefit the community. If it weren't for the magnets, cap and transfer may have to be done every year. This was clearly communicated and supported by multiple studies and examples in the magnet school report. The magnet school committee did not, by the way, ask for ongoing additional funding but a small amount of start up money - certainly not more that twi, for example, has spent to start their program.
Twi does cost the district additional money. At the board meeting even twi's biggest proponent, Tracy Q, said that putting twi strands in one building would "consolidate resources" citing the recent hiring of spanish speaking staff. THere are also reading materials, etc that are new for the program.
Finally, I find your use of the word "hogwash" to describe racial imbalance in classrooms extrememly insensitive. For most of us, a class of white and hispanic kids does not reflect the diversity of a community with a population of 30% african americans and 7% multiracial. Likewise, classrooms that are over 75% african american in general education do not reflect our community. If by "hogwash" you are thinking that it's not true, I encourage you to look at the 'opening day report' on the district website. Even if the district decides the benefits of twi outweigh this negative, it is important that the magnets offer an option to parents who want to experience the diversity that Evanston has offered for generations.
I have read several strands of comments on this article and the Magnet Schools article. It has become clear to me that Hardy Murphy has gotten EXACTLY what he wants. Everybody pointing fingers and arguing with each other instead pointing the finger at the gentleman who needs to be taken to task, Dr. Hardy Murphy. The way he treated parents of Park School at the board meeting was offensive. To dismiss their plea's by talking about a mural on a snow plow at Haven? To not even question funding of the Magnets school new curriculum proposals after telling many schools there is no money for them? Dr. Murphy clearly has an agenda that he is sticking to no matter what any of us want. We are all fighting because we want we feel is best for our own children. We should come together as Gen Ed, TWI, Special education program and Magnet school parents and demand TOGETHER that Hardy listens to US & fixes what he broke.
The magnet schools are the focus of this study and the process. The problem is that they can no longer use race to select students for those schools. So what are they supposed to be?
For thousands of students and parents, TWI is not a problem. In fact, it's a joy. It is the reason that many parents (like me) put up with the arrogance and foolishness of the District 65 administration. The TWI teachers are fabulous. The cultural exposure is tremendous. Most importantly, many, many children in TWI excel in both languages.
And I'm not certain why you claim that TWI is costing big $. TWI is a kindergarten through 5th grade prgram and all of those students are primarily with one teacher for the day. All of the TWI students (native Spanish speaking and native English speaking) need to be in a classroom with a teacher, don't they? Are you suggesting that if the native English-speaking students weren't in TWI, they would attend school at no cost to District 65 Sorry but native English-speaking students would still need to be assigned to classrooms and they would still need teachers.
What would cost big bucks are these extravagant proposals for the magnets. Sure, dream big but plan to spend within our very tight budget.
District 65 has determined TWI is effective. The test scores establish that it is better for the vast majority of native Spanish-speaking children. And yes, the English-speaking students do very well, too. So studies about other approaches really don't signify anything right now as no one in District 65's administration is suggesting that we change TWI. And TWI isn't broken.
The racial imbalance argument is hogwash -- trotted out repeatedly by those who don't have the facts but, for some reason, want to undermine TWI. When the classroom is half Hispanic, you start with a large minority population in the room.
And yes, many parents love TWI. You love your magnet school, don't you?
Please -- let's focus on what needs to be fixed without wasting time trying to trash what isn't broken in Evanston.
This is an exciting endeavor. The ramifications of its completion are even more exciting.
Interestingly, under the cap and transfer proposal most likely no existing Evanston students will be affected unless they delay registration. It will be those who buy houses over the summer and register late. So really the concern is over the feared decrease in property value. Also, there is the very real possiblity that projections are inaccurate and there will be no need to transfer anyone.
This is an outstanding forward thinking opportunity which has the potential to vastly improve the climate in Evanston for virtual businesses and take advantage of emerging SaaS technologies. It should be supported aggressively. If people want to comment on Northwestern and fair share let them do it in a forum which is relevant. There is absolutely no connection between the issues....someone forgot to take their meds this morning.
I do understand the definition and justification of twi in the district. I disagree, however, in many ways.
First, there are many other much less expensive ways to teach non English speaking kids. Many are equally or more effective than twi, depending on the body of research you read.
The reason twi thrives is Evanston is because the English speaking twi parents love it.
Many general education parents in neighborhood schools do not like the way twi has divided their schools and in many cases racially imbalanced their classrooms.
Dickelle,
branchLove is earnestly investigating and supports bringing library services to the underserved populations in Evanston, and among those efforts is looking into dempster/dodge, as well as other, city-owned properties. I just read the 1999 study/report about library services in Evanston to the Low and Moderate income residents -- I agree, it's appalling. We have also spoken to the former West Ward librarian, and looked into the Digital Divide - there are many, many options that we need to explore and we have asked for input from the community. Please get involved, it is your perspective and input that will be important as we move forward. As for nine years ago, personally then I had 3 kids ages 5 and under and work full time, so this may not have been on my radar then. But it is now, and I can assure you, is a priority for branchLove and supporters of branch libraries, the Library Board Task Force and the community.
Sorry ... wasn't talking about special education students but the students that would be turned away from Willard if the caps on kindergarten passed.
This statement is not accurate:
"Our district is spending big $ to teach English speakers Spanish... ."
It is obvious that you are proud of King Lab. But allow me to educate you on the fact that there are hundreds of families who are likewise proud of TWI.
Allow me to provide you with some facts as your posting seems to highlight a lack of understanding of TWI:
The goals of the TWI program are to teach native Spanish-speaking children how to speak and learn in English at a high level and to provide that educational experience without forcing those children to forget their native language. Based on my reading, the TWI approach is the most successful method of accomplishing those goals.
The native English-speaking classmates are somewhat "along for the ride." Their native Spanish-speaking classmates learn English from them on the playground, in the lunch room, in art and in music. The native English speakers learn Spanish while their other classmates learn English.
And no, no one sits around conjugating verbs in either language. These students have the same curriculum as the general education classrooms. My children's teachers have all been phenomenally talented educators who have helped all of my children achieve well above grade level -- all while they are becoming fluent in Spanish.
To claim that District 65 is "spending big $ to teach English speakers Spanish" demonstrates a serious lack of knowledge about TWI's goals and successes.
Perhaps while you blow your horn about your allegiance to and love for King Lab, you would take care not to bash (without facts) a tremendous program that has helped thousands of Evanston and Skokie children and has its own loyal following of devoted families.
And my children's neighborhood school has a tremendous fine arts program as well and virtually every teacher is a gem. I am proud of our neighborhood school and the TWI program that is flourishing there.
The name of that school -- Oakton. Our community has worked together to make great things during the past three years. We welcome all District 65 families to recognize the tremendous progress by our students and to wish us continued success.