From the Tribune:
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_708590.html
- A change to make the Westinghouse single gender academies seems like a wise move. At the time of the original proposal, PURE and many others recommended that if single gender academies had to be put in place over other options like a top notch CTE academy, they should be all-city magnets. Probably a practical move, too- most likely the admin realizes they need to attract more students to avoid underenrollment. It is not clear if Westinghouse will be a feeder school for any students.
- Moving up the move of IB to Peabody to Fall 2011- not a wise move. Families of current 11th grade students were promised that because those students already had to switch buildings after 9th grade, they would stay at Reizenstein through graduation. Also not wise because it does not allow for much needed renovations. The IB Committee conditioned its recommendation on the addition of natural light to the building.
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And, it's not like Reizenstein building can be closed up and sold anyway- there is an early childhood program in the building that apparently will not be moving.
Why not let the new superintendent come in and evaluate all the options?
They can move the early childhood pretty quickly, I'd imagine. Weren't there scheduled to be quite a few changes in the East End? Some other building could be found.
Bet they wish they hadn't spent all that money on Reizenstein for a big couple of years. Wait, that was our money. Wish they hadn't poured all our money into Reizenstein only to close it again.
Move Reizenstein ECC to where? Board member Sharene Shealey said at a recent meeting that it needed to be in that particular area and that a program at Peabody would serve an entirely different population. She mentioned ECC being at Reizenstein until the cows come home.
It's true some options wouldn't be as close by. But there's Pre-K for the district at the Kingsley Center, the old Homewood Montessori building in Homewood (there's something there now, but is the building full?) and the old Belmar building will be empty after this year (as will the old Crescent building, though that's farther away.)
Would the Obama program really fill Peabody? Its numbers aren't huge, even with the extra grades.
Then again, it wouldn't surprise me if the district plans on not selling something that might be worth something!
The obama program wouldn't fill peabody. It has around 700 in 6-11, add another grade next year and it will be 800+.
PG article on this topic:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10315/1102391-298.stm
- The article indicates that the pghboe.net website has proposed feeder cahnges, but as of now the link to the proposed plan for HS is incorrect- it leads to the same map as the link to the current plan.
To Questioner: I agree. Maybe there is another option. In the PG article, Lopez said that there will be no renovations to Peabody. Would it be best for IB to stay at Reizenstein and ask them to build us an auditorium. I love the green space...
Please don't go there.
I don't have any doubt that thanks to some of these new ideas, the IB program at Peabody is going to grow. Let's face it, the pinheads have angered many parents with these new east end plans. IB is now a wonderful and much safer alternative.
I would debate Mr.Lopez about the need for renovation, of course. There are so many ideas that go into a new school that are currently not at Peabody--innovative ideas for various programs that IB/Obama is embarking upon. It's funny that the district has this program but really doesn't know what it is or that it should be a jewel among its schools. Here's a suggestion to Mr.Lopez and his colleagues: read.
Truth be told, I also like the set-up of Reizenstein. I like its campus-like setting and think it has promise. But before any program should be placed there, someone should come and tear the roof off and put another one on, once and for all. Someone should solve the heating and air conditioning quirks. And I don't think building an auditorium would be a big problem, either.
To Anon: 7:35
You make some really great points. LOTS OF WORK needs to go into Reizenstein before it is a permanent home for IB. I think that we have a greater shot at getting renovations at Reizenstein than we do at Peabody. Maybe some parents need to get a meeting with Mr. Lopez to see if this is a possibility. Roosevelt is gone, who knows what the response will be. All we can do is ask.
By the way, Mr. Lopez's son goes to Obama. He might just be interested for another reason....
I really like the idea of Reizenstein as a campus. And again, I think there are so many possibilities for this plot of land and this building as an educational establishment. In that regard, I don't see the need for a move down Highland Avenue.
You're right about the money being probably better spent at Reizenstein.
Aside from the physical items I mentioned, celebrate the exciting programs that are carrying over from Schenley and starting up through Obama and put money into the building that aids those programs and future opportunities.
I was not aware that Mr.Lopez's son goes to Obama. Perhaps he should speak with Dr.Walters about the vision for the future, the programs and the promise of IB and then take a better, clearer look at this move.
Word is the Mr Lopez himself at first was against the Peabody location. He knew the program would have a better chance of success at Reizenstein.
Then he ought to step up and make modifications to what is a proposal full of faulty logic. The fly in the ointment of course--like the Schenley travesty--is whether there are other monetary plans for the property.
Obama parent, I take issue with the comment that the IB program is now a safer alternative. It was ALWAYS a safe alternative in a lively, diverse, exciting, central setting. Need I say more? When Schenley parents tirelessly worked to save the building, there was never a question of safety and quality of program. There are studies that show that the Reizenstein building would cost much more in the long run than the proved longevity of that "other" building. It is STILL THERE. It can be reclaimed and be a vital location for the IB program. By the way, the air quality tests of the Reizenstein building far exceed that of the original building. And there are asbestos floor tiles.
You missed my point, anonymous. By "far safer", I wasn't alluding to Schenley. On the contrary, I meant in relationship to other district schools where east end parents might be forced to send their kids. Relax.
I wouldn't have any problem with moving into the Schenley building. I wouldn't have any problem keeping the Schenley name alive. I think the IB program incorporates the best of both worlds--the programs that are alive within the Schenley staff and the programs coming in from the Frick staff. And there are programs which are starting up that are simply brand new.
Again, I like the Reizenstein campus. I'm unsure about your air quality comments and would wonder about construction codes of older buildings as compared to newer ones like Reizenstein. Please note, my comments about the roof were more aligned to the concern about mold. Any time you have such residue from water leakage, you get mold.
The Schenley building would have been ideal, but that ship has sailed. Lets move on to what we can do. We either have Peabody or Reizenstein. Those are our choices. From the article, no work will be done at the Peabody facility, but Reizenstein can BECOME a NEW part of the picture.
To Obama Parent: Your comments are very thoughtful. Mr. Lopez has children at CAPA, Obama, and Montessori, but we have to remember that he is still "ADMINISTRATION." He can be appealed to, however.
Teachers here at Obama have found him to be responsive to what we have asked him to do. He has met with the Schenley teachers to address their concerns. He would listen to us if we had parents, teachers and students who wanted to talk to him. I wonder if we should ask Dr. Walters to reach out to him.
I hadn't noticed the Schenley building sailing away- it's still there!
Obamaparent, I misstated when I commented about the airquality of the Reizenstein building. It was tested to be more dangerous than the Schenley building but that was never brought to light.
Anonymous9:19, the ship can come back to port. Now that the main opponent is leaving in 6 weeks, it can be reinstated. Why not?
The point of finding that Peabody requires no renovations is that they are not going to spend any more money.
The choices (currently) are Reizenstein with no auditorium (and no, they won't build one) or Peabody as is, though one would hope they'd at least bring over all the new furniture they bought for Reizenstein those few short years ago.
I'd be interested in Dr.Walters thoughts about the move. I'm sure the constant uprooting is disconcerting and would wonder about his thoughts on the physical plant that is Reizenstein.
It would seem that the program and staff can benefit from having a building that allows both--IB and Obama programs-- to flourish.
And again, while I think that housing both Schenley and Frick in the same building was problematic, I'd wonder about the site now that it is one school.
As a parent, I'd like to see the school have an auditorium. As a parent, I have some concern about the gym--but a move to Peabody won't alleviate that concern anyway.
And again, I'm no fan of the roof or the heat/AC issue there.
But I do believe it is a more viable location than Peabody. I do like the campus being self-contained and not in the middle of a community.
I would gladly take part in a conference with Dr.Walters and I know other parents who would, as well. I would also think that Mr.Lopez already knows that many of us wonder why the move is needed, especially if renovations are not going to be happening.
I always looked at Roosevelt as simply being the guy in charge of a number of talking heads who feel the same way and are still there. Yes, he is leaving but you are not losing the mindset on Bellefield Avenue. It's still there. Just ask any teacher. They don't see any sea change coming.
It will be interesting to see if the level of agreement that Roosevelt was able to cultivate will be able to be maintained. Who could fill those shoes? His was more of a star-studded tenure than one of substance. Will it all come tumbling down?
The emphasis now is to protect the Roosevelt "legacy." That is probably part of the sudden push to vote on moving the IB program. Is this really a vote that needs to happen just b/f the start of the holidays, with the superintendent on his way out the door? How about hearing what current IB families have to say?
Questioner: At the Ed committee meeting, a couple of Board members asked for a survey to be done. I think Dr. Allen was one and Ms. Hazuda was the other. That should be hard to do.
Obama Parent is right about the location (the green space, the campus) where else can you find that in Pittsburgh? The roof leaking is a problem, and they have already put at least $3 million into the building for the IB program. They have to repair it. Why wouldn't they build an auditorium if that were the home of the program?
I think asking Dr. Walters what he thinks about the move is also a good idea. Then have him talk to Mr. Lopez. Again, what do we have to lose?
I meant that the student/parent survey "should NOT be hard to do".
At a Highland Park meeting Dr Walters didn't favor one building over the other. He did point out that some parents think it is easier to keep 6-8 separate from 9-10 at Reizenstein. Is there a way to separate grades without renovations at Peabody?
The renovations at Reizenstein were actually more than $8M. The survey would be a good move. Was it a survey on whether to move to Peabody at all, or just whether to move a year ahead of time? Emails for these Board members are shazuda1@pghboe.net and dallen1@pghboe.net if people want to encourage them to do the survey.
If Peabody closes next year and Obama *doesn't* move, there is no place to have the musical. This was an issue before when they moved, until they got the Peabody auditorium, but they won't open the building just for the auditorium as far as I know.
To commenter above -- IB is Obama and Obama is IB, so I'm confused by your distinction between the two?
If the program is moving, I think there are a lot of parents that feel better to move sooner than later, so that the program can finally be where it is going to be.
Wouldn't the building be open every day for robotics?
Another reason to delay the move is to see how things work out with sending Peabody feeder students to other neighborhoods. Many Peabody parents and community members remain very, very concerned.
If Reizenstein remains the location for an ECC and IB moves out, maybe Peabody can move to Reizenstein.
To QUEST: $8 million??? Then an auditorium for Reizenstein would be how much more? Would it be more than $5 million? I think that PPS spent about $14 million on the Milliones building and they completely restored the auditorium. It is beautiful.
I have the emails of Board Members, but thanks for giving them to others. If I am not mistaken, the survey was about "when" to move, not "whether" to move. I don't see why we can't ask them to do both. We can also ask Dr. Walters to include teachers in on this question.Dr. Walters may have changed his mind by now also.
Once we got comfortable in the Reizenstein building, with all of its shortcomings, it just feels like a school. It is next to Ellis and the park.
Separating Peabody for students without renovations would be a hard.
I see that Dr.Walters was interviewed in his school's on-line paper and also responded that he doesn't really have any thought about buildings. It's the kids, the staff and the programs that make the school. I can respect that.
Still, I simply see the Reizenstein situation as much more workable than the move to Peabody.It certainly feels more like a school campus.
The roof can be fixed, and if they are throwing $14 million at Northview to make it "green" or putting additions onto a Sterrett, building an auditorium should be a no-brainer.
Yes, we should push Dr.Walters and staff for their feelings on the building and campus at Reizenstein.
The auditorium at Milliones may be beautiful, but it seemed to be a little isolated- not an integral part of the building. And the rest of Milliones is not by any stretch beautiful. Not enough windows; lots of interior partitions to try to close open classrooms; and they set kids loose with cans of all different colored paint to "brighten it up." And it's clearly not a real high school- the scale is junior high.
The official word is that buildings don't matter, it's the people who count.
Yes, people are most important; but good design and aesthetics can have a huge impact on the human spirit. Some buildings are inspirational; others are depressing.
We won't get building aesthetics at Peabody, that's for sure. We can re-start a dialogue about making Reizenstein what we want. I just believe we will get further going in that direction than moving to Peabody.
Agreed. I don't know if any principal has the gumption to plead with central administration these days and if what Dr.Walters has said publicly is true, then it's pretty much down to parents and perhaps some staff to voice their opinions.
I'd like to know what staff thinks in this matter, too.
The windows issue really doesn't matter. You don't have them at Reizenstein and you won't have them at Peabody. But campus vs being on a major thoroughfare, in the middle of a neighborhood, should be a focal point, especially with safety concerns.
The prominence, quality and access to fresh air, sunlight, and skylight are critical to the well-being of the human spirit, body, soul, and psyche. Peabody and Reizenstein are void of these essentials.
The recycled air and artificial light are not healthy and given the substantial portion of students and teachers days spent in such environments, the effect is counterproductive.
What cost to renovate either building in these areas?
The district has avoided seeking information on renovation costs. A firm apparently did some work estimating the cost of a Reizenstein estimate but was asked by the district not to pursue this issue.
The facilities consultant recommended Reizenstein over Peabody for reasons that have never really been explained. The IB committee did not have the benefit of the consultant's work.
It's very hard to tell from the way the article about Northview is written how much of that money may come from special sources. I'm guessing that extra money is why it's getting done and that the whole cost isn't coming out of the district's pocket.
They need to find some of that money to make their windowless wonders more appealing.
I still don't see the district building anything new right now, like an auditorium.
Interesting point about needing to keep Peabody at least partially open if they are keeping robotics there.
Still, this is likely a done deal, just like everything else that we hear about. By the time you know about it, the board's votes have been counted in advance to insure its success. If they didn't have the votes, we wouldn't have heard about it.
I do know there are active parents at Obama who *want* to move asap. To me, it just seems like two bad choices.
Anon at 2:23, I have heard snippets about "wanting to move", but little else. Are you privy to the reasons why some wish for a move?
I think that the two main reasons would be
1) it's what was said to be happening and is most likely to happen, so they'd rather do it now and start settling in than spend any more time in limbo.
2) it's a high school and was designed as a high school -- so it's more appropriate for the age ranges. It is windowless like Reizenstein, but it has far more things in it than Reizenstein -- I think the gym may be larger (though the pool doesn't have a nice viewing area), it already has an auditorium, etc.
Milliones is a middle school, as is Reizenstein, and neither will ever feel like "real" high schools. But then again, the 6-12 model dicourages that idea. That is why students are flocking to Allderdice. One of the reasons the move was going to happen in 2 years was so the students who will be seniors next year will not have to move 2 times in their high school career.
Move twice and attend three different buildings for high school.
I dunno, seems kind of like a fun fact to convince people of the insanity of the planning in the district!
The principal at Pgh Obama, Dr. Walters, has no thoughts on the move. He is not the one to carry the water and bring a message to anyone when he can't even respond to emails. He has to do what he does and getting him to do what parents want is sure folly.
So, the real advocates for the kids and the programs, as well as the taxpayers, are parents and taxpayers.
Sadly, too, teachers are not going to out out on a limb and be advocates either. They all can be informed, but they'll choose to hunker down and play CYA.
It (whatever "it" is) is up to us -- or nobody.
It sucks that the move was talked about as reported upon in the Trib this week to Sept 2011. The move should be in Sept 2012. Plus, it sucks that the move is going to happen without any rehab to the Peabody facility.
From the Board meeting the $20M - $25M project at Arlington definitely is not receiving outside funding. Northview was not questioned as closely and didn't receive the same level of discussion but still there was no mention of outside funding- just a low interest bond being floated, a method which could apparently be used to renovate any of the buildings.
Re: no new auditoriums being built- in just the last yr to 2 yrs, U Prep received a new auditorium. Strangely, at the same time that Sci Tech at the Frick building lost its auditorium.
Sorry Mark. There are a lot of good teachers at Obama. Too bad that you think they would be more inclined to cover their arses than give an opinion. That statement not only shows that you take more time in posturing than getting to know people, it shows that your agenda has tunnel vision. What tripe.
Saying that teachers need to cya (cta?) doesn't say that they are bad teachers. It says that we have an administration that breeds fear.
Currently, I'd say Obama teachers and IB teachers are far more worried about the program surviving in any recognizable form than what building they are teaching in. Bigger fish to fry and all that.
I can think of 5 people off the top of my head who plan on pulling their child out for next year, and more that are not thinking they'll stay for high school.
Clue me in. Why pull them out? That's pretty serious, in my estimation. Don't be cryptic.
Here's a question for you and yes, it's a bit rhetorical: how long do you and your friends think that the school within a school concept at Allderdice will be allowed to last? Guess that's much more worrisome to the people who think there is a greener pasture, eh?
As for the teachers, I gather there is a culture of fear across this district thanks to administration. We parents should have done a great job in telling the board to support teachers, haven't we? And Mark is going to give a Knute Rockne speech? Come on.
I just love you free agent types and your mouthpiece.
I'd sum up the complaints under two main headings:
Behavior.
Lack of challenge (at least up until the IB years; the first new batch has just started so we'll see if it's being watered down or not).
With an undertone of disappointment that high schoolers aren't treated like high schoolers. That feeling's not just the high school parents, either. The middle school parents see it coming and that's part of their thinking.
Most posts on this blog are worthwhile and informative, but for the few who insist on personal attacks- please stop. Your opinions on the issues are more than welcome, but it only detracts from the discussion to attack others personally.
Re: the last post- by IB years do you mean HS, or the diploma programme/last 2 years? B/c now the entire program is IB, although the diploma program has been thought of as quite a bit more difficult than the middle year programme (b/c in Europe, where it originates, the diploma year is the point when many students split off on different paths such as career training, etc).
There is no indication that the school w/in a school at Allderdice will ever be touched. Re: the 6-12s it will take a lot of effort to keep from becoming extended junior high schools.
Yes, the "DP" years, rather than the "MYP" years. (Diploma program 11th and 12th grade, middle years program all the years leading up to it.)
Unless we are talking CAS kids in IBMYP, it needs to remembered that Obama teachers are IB, but they are still expected to use the PPS curriculum, They have been told this repeatedly.
Your gripe it would appear is with PPS, as usual.
Maybe it's because I have friends with kids all over the city, but sometimes those with negative comments are a bit naive about the realities of the district's schools. Maybe they really should leave and see if they find better.
I doubt it. I seriously doubt it.
Lopez has kids at Montessori, that school has quite a waiting list. Administration is not allowed to place their children ahead of others, nor get any favoritism. I find it suspicious.
Start digging to see where admin kids go to school. Berdick , Lopez are the only 2 I am aware of.
IB-Watered down--Is it because every student is required to participate in the DP as opposed to a select few? Is it because the teachers aren't able to hand select the students who take part in the program? Is it because the parents who have traditionally been able to get the "school-within-a-school" at Schenley in the 11th and 12th grade because they knew how to advocate. I truly hope that "access" and "expectations" for all students isn't being equated with "watered" down. If so, I am concerned about perspective here.
Thank you. All points well taken!
Some people explain that PPS itself used to say not many years ago that IB was appropriate for the top 5 percent or so of students. And only half of those students got the IB diploma. And then PPS began to say it was appropriate for anyone with a 2.5 or 2.0 average. So of course there may be some confusion.
IB classes were open to anyone at old Schenley -- and there were kids who were highly encouraged by the teachers to take at least one or two classes -- in an area of special interest or ability. Also, many "CAS" kids did NOT take all IB courses, by choice, as well.
IB classes were different because the kids in them *wanted* to be there, regardless of their grades. *That* is what has changed. It's not so much a specific level of "intelligence" but a desire to learn in a different way. Now, you're in it regardless of how you feel about it.
Just like at Obama now you can only be in two clubs...and you have to be in two clubs. So much for letting kids make choices and learn to live with the consequences of their choices.
Watered down is, for instance, requiring higher level science courses of kids who do not have the math skills necessary to do those classes. Something has to give -- the teacher has to then teach the math too, cutting into the science teaching time. Ditto if reading skills are below grade level and the students are expected to be reading above grade level. Something gives.
they are still expected to use the PPS curriculum, They have been told this repeatedly.
Your gripe it would appear is with PPS, as usual...
Maybe they really should leave and see if they find better.
I doubt it. I seriously doubt it.
There's kind of a disconnect there, isn't there?! If they have to use the curriculum and that is part of the gripe...then, well, it sounds like it's your gripe too!
I used to agree with you 100% -- that the education *possible* in the PPS was easily one of the very best in the region, even including private/parochial schools.
However, over the last few years, the "reforms" and the new curricula...I have to say that I no longer agree that it's better and it is sliding quickly to not nearly as good, if it's not already there.
The ideal is for students to make choices ____even if adults believe the course or program may be to difficult. Students like challenges that they have chosen and tend to rise to those challenges.
When choice is denied or taken away we lose them.
What precludes the quest for the ideal?
Ah, the old IB topic rears its head again. If you want to know what's really happening in the growing IB school, talk privately with teachers you know well and trust. They'll fill you in. The culture of fear in PPS is acute in Obama. I've seen good teachers berated openly about trivial matters, so disrespectfully. Add to this the threat of disciplinary action if you don't turn in your lesson plans on time or in the manner in which they are requested, there is a stifling anxiety among many teachers there. And before anyone claims it, it's not just among the "bad" teachers.
How can teachers teach using PPS curriculum, while teaching at CAPA, Sci-Tech or Obama?
I looked up definitions of IB and found this on Wiki. PPS appears to have a Polar opposite of view regarding clone education.
" The IB Diploma Programme (IBDP) was described as "a rigorous, off-the-shelf curriculum recognized by universities around the world” when it was featured in the December 18, 2006, edition of Time titled "How to bring our schools
out of the 20th Century".[30] The IBDP was also featured in
the summer 2002 edition of American Educator, where Robert Rothman described it as "a good example of an effective, instructionally sound, exam-based system."[31] In 2006, as part of the American Competitiveness Initiative (ACI),[32] President George W. Bush and Education Secretary Margaret Spellings presented a plan for the
expansion of Advanced Placement (AP) and InternationalBaccalaureate mathematics and
science courses, with the goal of increasing the number of AP and IB teachers an the number of students taking AP and IB exams, as well as tripling the number of students passing those exams.[32] Howard Gardner, a professor of educational psychology at Harvard University, said that the IBDP curriculum is "less parochial than most American efforts" and helps students
"think critically, synthesize knowledge, reflect on their own thought processes and get their feet wet in interdisciplinary thinking."[33]
Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Baccalaureate
My kid is flat out refusing to go to Peabody next year. Someone needs to have a meeting with the students and work things out with them.
Of course there are a lot of good teachers at Pgh Obama. I never wrote otherwise.
As a teacher at Obama, the comment about the culture of fear, the public dressing down of individuals who don't turn in lesson plans or plans that meet the approval of administration is a fabrication of incredible proportions. As is the case with any school these days, the only people feeling anxiety are the ones who are not doing as directed.
I would hope that individuals on this site would stick with facts instead of hearsay and gossip. I've read distortions on blogs before, but that's downright amazing.
Thank you for sharing your observations of the situation! Over time, it will be apparent which schools are providing a good environment for teachers based on whether they are able to attract and retain great teachers.
Video from an August meeting with the district explaining that no renovations were planned for Peabody and that the cost just for natural light would be over $10M:
http://www.viddler.com/explore/Rauterkus/videos/364/
- Will this building really be serving students, as is, for the next 35-40 years? Or are we just putting off renovations that will one day need to be made anyway, at greater cost and disruption (staff indicates that the job cannot be done over the summer).
the only people feeling anxiety are the ones who are not doing as micromanaged.
Either way, that's not the issue at Obama. Strange that someone would post such drivel. and I would be prone to believe it comes from someone with an axe to gring against the principal. The man has been nothing but supportive and generally says nothing but positive things about the staff and the school. Good school. Good vibe.
Good school. Yes. I agree.
Good vibe? Nope. Disagree.
I'm glad you're doing OK there, Obama teacher. Not all teachers there feel that it's great, and these are not all the teachers who need replacing. My observations and esperiences -- or rather my reporting of them here -- are no more reliable than yours.
I am going out on a limb by guessing Obama "Teacher" is part of the Teacher Academy and is towing the line.
There is a lot of defense being played on these threads lately. Mark Rauterkus post is one example of overreaction. He did not state teachers at Obama were Inferior, yet "someone" decided to insert that idea.
I hope the administration is reading this blog for the right reasons not just to stir the pot and divert.
I have to agree with the sentiment that you have a great many mistruths being spouted here. Anon at 10:54, your reporting is something approaching what can be found in a gossip rag. It's so out of touch with the majority that it is truly embarrassing. Who are your sources, and why are they malcontent? I hardly wonder.
Times change. We're not in the Schenley building anymore. The Obama IB student is not what the Schenley IB student may have been? What's your solution? Should we all just throw our hands up? Should we all just quit working with our students? Where towing the line is concerned, should we all just conduct ourselves as if it were 1995 and see where the chips may fall?
You'll have to forgive me as I'm well aware of how things were and how they are. I prefer to dwell on the present. I also prefer to give the public a true rendering of Obama, IB and the atmosphere---and I have been around the IB program for a long while, talk to many, many colleagues and am in tune with what's going on.
Are you? Or are you talking to one or two of the malcontents and portraying it as factual?
You'd prefer to assail a school based upon someone's idea that since the principal doesn't return e-mails, he must be out of touch. and the school must be falling apart. How pathetic.
Poster says: "The Obama IB student is not what the Schenley IB student may have been? What's your solution? Should we all just throw our hands up? Should we all just quit working with our students?"
My big complaint is the lack of options and choices for students academically. The model at Obama seems to be aiming at one size fits all.
I wonder how many kids will get the diploma next year, the first year of kids educated solely under this new model. While it is said that everyone has to take all the tests, will as many students be prepared for them as have been in the past? Will the lack of choice in taking the classes/tests lead to higher achievement or lower achievement.
I guess we'll see. You'd think with FAR more kids taking all IB and all exams (something not required at most other IB schools) there'd be far more diplomas awarded. My fear is that there will be far fewer kids actually prepared to do well -- in one subject or all of them.
Wait a minute. Not a great many kids got their IB Diploma in our last years at Schenley. Your analogy is somewhat faulty in that regard.
If the one size fits all mentality that you speak of should naturally entail more kids getting the diploma, I will revisit my last comment: the IB student of today is not the same as a few years ago.
As for choices...I'd agree. There should be more, and I would think there will be.
A lot of the IB exams are super hard, especially math, languages and theory of knowledge. Kids who got all A's in those subjects and went on to excel in those subjects in college often got mediocre scores on those IB exams. They are also expensive but presumably the school will now pick up the cost whether students pass or not. That would be about 100 thousand a year for a class of 150. The emphasis may need to be on the program not the diploma.
I'm confused -- you do have the same kids as you did at Schenley, if anything, you should have "better" kids available -- all kids who have chosen (or at least whose parents have chosen) a magnet program. Many of these kids have had Dr. Walters as their principal since 6th grade -- he's provided their teachers and their experiences for years. That was not true of or at Schenley.
The main difference is that all kids in previous IB years had more choices -- choices of classes, choices of what to take in IB, what to take in PSP, what to take in CAS, etc. Now, that's been removed. They had choices of activities and clubs, rather than a required number at required in-school times, too. They were treated as teenagers developing into adults.
I believe the number of diplomas had held steady over the last few years -- between 10-20. My point is that it will be interesting to see if next year's class gets that many, despite having prepared this whole batch of kids for years on end. One would expect far more diplomas if 4 to 5 times as many kids are taking all the exams.
Do you expect that to happen? Do you expect that next year's class will have 30 or 40 or 50 diplomas?
Do you think there will even be 10-20?
There have never been many students who have gotten the IB Diploma. Is it the students? Is it the teachers? Is it both? Many of the wonderful, inspiring teachers have retired or moved on to different venues (including extremely motivational teachers from Frick who chafed under the micromanagement of Mr. Walters).Those students who received it (or didn't receive it) 3 years ago had to deal with sub-quality science education and a teacher who checked out before the exams. Two years ago, the students had to deal with the wrenching move to a crappy building and the imminent closing of their beloved school, and had to take the exams in inappropriate spaces that were not in line with IBO instructions.
Last year? Who knows? Many college bound students are seeing that the IB diploma still does not hold the weight at many schools and universities that AP credits do, and that the standard level exams do not result in college credit at all (unlike 1 year AP exams- which actually do not require even taking the course). And, there are more students who just don't care and just don't want to do all the work that IB requires. The full diploma carries a heavy, heavy work load, and much has to be given up (including sleep) to get it all done. Those who do choose to do all the work find college very doable, but not all choose to look that far ahead in their educational career. IT IS NOT A PATH FOR EVERYONE.
The reputation of a school and the efficiency and concern of high school counselors also plays a very large role in the acceptance rate of students in the college admission process. Don't think that the upheaval and changes in the IB school structure hasn't reached the admission offices. And the counselors have not been very good, anyway.
Allderdice's reputation follows it to admission offices and its counselors are very proactive in making phone calls in support of students. Apparently, that has and still continues to make a big difference in college acceptance rates, when comparing Schenley (and soon to be Obama) students acceptance rates who are comparable to Allderdice students. Oh, and don't forget, colleges and universities choose well-rounded students, which it is now harder and harder to find at these small focused schools that are not offering the full platter of CHOICES.
At a magnet presentation about IB a couple of years back, Cate Reed played down the importance of the diploma. The question is- will classes that have many students not pursuing the diploma goal be as effective as classes composed almost entirely of students seeking the diploma or at least seriously aiming to pass the exam for that class? And it's true that many colleges do require such a high score on the IB that it doesn't really result in college credit. But it will help them to be prepared when they take the class again.
If they will have to take the class again, many will wonder, "Why bother to take it the first time?"
They will definitely be more likely to do well if they have had the IB class before. But if they just want to get their science requirement out of the way, for example, it's a different story.
The reality of the IB situation is clear and it started with the Roosevelt decision to close Schenley. Here's a man---and a school board--with no clue as to what it has with an IB program. There was no way--none--that Schenley should have been closed. The meddling in that school muddied a fine program and today, the meddling that comes down from administration continues to cloud the IB program.
Make no mistake about it: this administration would love to have Obama under its control. The most it can do is what it is doing now: applying pressure about PSSA scores, quizzing teachers about PPS curriculum, doing the Rise two step. All of this---and myriad meetings about nothing---diminish what IB is supposed to be. In fact, I would love for an IB representative to come in and say as much to administrative types.
If you want to place blame, you need look no further than Bellefield Avenue. Whether in the wake of the Schenley closing to this point in time, even the most casual onlooker must wonder why there is even an International Baccalaureate program if those in charge do not understand that teachers and administrators within it are supposed to follow IB guidelines geared toward the learner profile.
The buffoons at the board level feel it is unnecessary to become acquainted with IBMYP and IBDP. To these clowns, if the school is part of the district, it is supposed to tow the PPS line, right?
The information is out there, we are far from the only district in the idiotic "waiting for superman" bs.
http://journals.democraticunderground.
com/madfloridian/5900
"The Broad Foundation likes to infiltrate its targets on multiple levels so it can manipulate a wider field and cause the greatest amount of disruption. Venture edu-philanthropists like Gates and Broad proudly call this invasive and destabilizing strategy "investing in a disruptive force." To these billionaires and their henchmen, causing massive disruption in communities across the nation is not a big deal."
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