🚀 go-pugleaf

kckbxr@next16pg2.wam.umd.edu (Robin Hood) writes:
>In P.G. County, MD, there are a variety of magnet schools offerred.  I  
>think that this is discriminatory at this age-level.  I don't see the need  
>to concentrate on the magnet school programs on the hs-level when there  
>aren't enough funds to educate the general public properly.  

It provides students who know what they want to do with their lives an
opportunity to get a head start on their college classes -- or whatever
classes they need; personally, I think a voke ed magnet school would be a
superb idea.  I don't really think that magnet schools siphon any more
many than regular schools, and most magnets I've seen admit neighborhood
kids in any event, just like a regular school.

Part of the problem is that it seems like you're pulling the "good",
motivated students out of the regular schools and leaving only the less
motivated ones.  I'm not sure I agree with that, but I have a solution
which may or may not make sense.

Don't make school mandatory.

That sounds pretty radical, I know, but think about it.  A kid who
doesn't want to be at the school in the first place isn't getting
anything out of being there, and there's a strong chance he's actually
disrupting the learning of the students who DO want to be there.  This
kid would no doubt be far better served by finding something to do which
he finds more engaging -- a job, perhaps.  I also think we shouldn't
restrict schools to just kids.  If someone drops out or is graduated
without actually possessing basic skills, I think they should be allowed
back in to complete their education.

If that sticks in your craw, then offer tax incentives to parents for
every kid that actually IS in school, and they might actually take more
interest in how their kid is doing.

--
--Andrew Hackard                                 If I spoke for UT, this post
  andy@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu                        would make even less sense.