"
What's not being discussed yet is the cuts being made to foreign language
programs throughout the district as well. This isn't district-driven but
principal-driven at the school level.
Media bombards us with reasons to bolster rather than cut foreign languages.
Universities come to our schools to promote their programs to our non-native
English speaking populations and our upper level language students because they
understand where the jobs are. The Obama administration talks up the need for
Americans to increase their study of second (and third and fourth) languages.
Shrinking world. Globalization. International connections. Refugee work.
Military. Peacekeeping. I could go on and on but I'm sure you get it.
Yet check out these cuts:
2 Spanish at CAPA including the entire middle grades program
1 Spanish at South Brook
.5 Spanish at U Prep (leaving only 1 full-time Japanese and a .5 Spanish)
1 French position at Westinghouse (leaving only Spanish)
1 Spanish at Brashear
.5 Spanish at Allderdice
German phased out at Allderdice
1 foreign language position at Sterrett
Note that many of the schools above (Westinghouse, Prep) serve our neediest
populations yet get some of the most measly options to internationalize their
studies. Meanwhile, some schools have growing programs and have languages like
Mandarin and Russian, critical languages according to the federal government.
How is this equitable?
30 comments:
So we should expect A+ schools to call for equitable foreign language opportunities across schools, just as it called for equitable art and library. And, just as any day now A+ should call for equitable African American representation at CAPA, just as it called for equitable African American representation in CAS, AP and IB classes.
The return of "early release" will be the demise of any subject not on the keystones-- pittsburghers faked ut yet again
A question about the board meeting, what is the difference between Clayton and the school in Homewood that Mr. Brentley referred to? He said that school could handle Claytons students. Is that true? If so why do we still have Clayton? I apologize for not knowing the name of the Homewood school but can someone enlighten me?
Why is Westinghouse losing french? And why in the world is UPrep losing Spanish??? I thought the pps realized it has to more choices to kids in these schools!! They're getting the shaft yet again!!!! I'm so angry I could spit!
Be reasonable, 10:50 poster. The PPS cannot afford to offer quality classes and, at the same time, pay for consultants and award central office bonuses.
Something has to give.
Nice sarcasm, 12:03. :-)
This is typical current day PPS BS. Back in the day, this district was on the forefront of foreign language instruction. We made national news because we were looked at as forward thinking, we had elementary language magnet programs that people camped out for to get their kids into, we had a test for speaking before anyone else in the country -- we were the district that people looked to for a good model of language instruction! They used to have Russian at Westinghouse and Peabody, for crying out loud! And Japanese at Perry! What has happened? Why don't our neediest children get these benefits anymore?
Libraries became one say a week, and no one yelled,
They pulled PE and THOUGHT no one would yell, and then they moved to languages...
Add this to the arrogance of acting on the PE weeks before the board meeting...
We used to joke that PPS was wither 10 years ahead, or 10 years behind...this is more like 30 behind!
All the changes that ths admin have done iare totally opposite of the rest of the state.
Only urban districts in trouble went to k-8, or even 6-12
Other disticts are going to k-3, or ibternediate schools with 5-6 etc. No these arent smaller schools with less services-- they are focused on age groups and student needs.
We have lost everything for the sell-out of scripts.
And the scores have sunk.
Please stop the madness--
The reality is that the administration of pps since 2006 does not do what is needed to strengthen the district. Their policies have weakened it and if it continues the deterioration will continue. What will be left will be a totally sub par system that only those without other options will attend. It seems almost as if they look for strengths to eliminate. We should not be cutting foreign language. It's an integral part of any decent education. Cutting the middle school programs has been going on for years and years. Parents should be outraged, it never should have been permitted. Really what we should be doing is adding elementary programs. And the original poster is right, our neediest schools have the fewest options. It's unacceptable and truly disgusting to hear the administration ramble on and on about equity while at the same time undermining our students of color. They care about their pr but when it comes to anything of substance that would really support our students they can't be bothered. It is way past time for the madness to end. There are many people in the system, parents and teachers that care and are dedicated and competent who can help turn this around. The current policies and administration are nothing but destructive.
Find millions of surplus after tax hikes, hire new admin after cutting positions.
No. Insane. We don't need more bellfield babies who don't have a clue breathing down teachers backs.
Instead, use the extra money to save positions, DO NOT HIRE MORE ADMIN. Preserve and grow programs. And get rid of the bloat at central office. Looking for creative solutions? Ask the parents, teachers and students. Central admin is totally incompetent.
regardless of how anyone might feel about what is happening environmentally Marcellus Shale is producing lots of jobs for skilled labor. there is great demand for welders for example. we always seem to be behind the demand or in this case, completely clueless. the disservice reaches all corners of our student population. there are just too few voc ed programs. don't be surprised if a charter application with a vocational education/emphasis in the trades is the next one you see coming before the board.
9:15, you make a very good point.
But since the time of Mark Roosevelt, the PPS has been downplaying and marginalizing vocational education.
And there is a reason for that. The Central Administrators want to brag that a high percentage of PPS students are taking advanced algebra and physics. So everyone must take advanced algebra and physics. Vocational options disappear.
It's all about the Central Administration's image. But Pittsburgh really doesn't need more mathematicians and more physicists. We need more plumbers, more electricians, more carpenters. That's where the jobs are.
But the trades aren't glamorous. Algebra II is glamorous. So Central Administration chooses to offer what makes Central Administration look good, not what's best for our students.
It's funny that there is a focus on students taking advanced courses while cutting foreign language. That would mean not as many options for taking a language. If they really cared about advanced courses they should be keeping foreign language.
Our students need multiple options and they keep shrinking.
One thing I see going on is the requirement of two years of foreign language to get into college. When I was in HS, some of the state colleges were eliminating this back in the early 70's. In 1978, you still needed two years of language as a pre-requisite for the Pgh. Institute for Mortuary Science. Two years required for an undertaker but not to be a teacher.
Several years back, City Councilman Udin struck up a program with local trades to work on renovating the old Joseph Hornes. 500 spots were made available to minorities. Only 300 applied. In 1 1/2 years, only a handful were left. At the same time, PPS had programs in place to train Carpenters, metal workers, electricians, plumbers and Electronic Technicians. Feeder classes were plentiful through Construction, Manufacturing and graphics. All taught by Industrial Arts teachers. At one time, we also offered shoe repair and dental technician.
For a good many years, PPS had superintendents who were vocational teachers themselves. Once Jerry Olson retired, we began the downward spiral. Under Dr. Wallace, many programs were closed never to be seen again.
Shame on them, shame on them all.
2 years is the bare minimum for some colleges, most want 3-4 in reality.
http://collegeapps.about.com/od/theartofgettingaccepted/a/ForeignLanguage.htm
What does Penn State & Pitt require?
Promise ready my ass.
Here is Clarion University.
Go to the bottom of the page and see Please Note no language is required, two years are recommended. I would imagine this is typical of the state university system. The link on 1:18 gives general requirements with a few specific schools mentioned. Our kids are most likely not going to those schools. They will, however, be attending state university schools. Penn State does require two, recommends three years. Those not meeting this requirement can take the world language courses before 60 credits are reached.
http://www.clarion.edu/306/
Pitt requires 3 years with a B average.
Many years ago, I was in the "Scholars Program". We were required to take a language. I wanted Spanish. I was told that a "scholar" was a student of class. French or German were my only two choices. Spanish, as shops and crafts(jewelry), were for the schlubs.
Today as I tour the country, I sure wish I had some idea of what the Hispanics are saying. Used to be if you wanted an exotic vacation where Spanish was spoken, you just went to Holiday Inn. Now, everywhere you go it is either English or Spanish.
So why in the world are they cutting Spanish? If anything, they could get rid of the Russian, Japanese, Latin. Even losing German and French would be no big loss. All PPS kids should be conversant in Spanish by the 9th grade!
We moved from Pittsburgh when my son was in 8th grade last year. He is in a public school district (NOT Charter) in IL. I think he can take Latin, Spanish, French, & German. He is in 9th grade and is taking Spanish, and is nailing it.
It is simply a better district, he was even accepted into CAPA and I am certain he is getting a much better education here. Pittsburgh is a mess.
It is night and day.
Respectfully, Anonymous 10:32, there are lots of reasons to keep languages other than just Spanish. While Spanish does some obvious advantages on the local front, our students who become proficient in any language have advantages in the workforce over those who speak only English. I can give you names of countless people who have jobs because they have some facility in another language or their employer saw them as culturally and linguistically flexible enough that they trained them in yet another language (for example, a friend of mine works for Bayer here in Pittsburgh. She spoke Spanish but was trained to speak German. She now does sales in both Spanish speaking and German speaking markets).
Eliminate Russian?? Are you not following the news??
Next thing a "language charter" will come in offering a full complement of world languages, and PPS will spend twice as much to hire someone else to provide this option.
Our language elementary magnets used to be THE places to send your kids in the 90s. What happened? Why are the elementary programs now so much less popular? Are kids coming out of with any ability in the language they're studying? Are other cities doing elementary language programs better than we are?
Parents do report language time being cut at the elementary schools. Plus, in the past kids and parents knew that the language programs led to Schenley, which for so many was everything they wanted in a HS including a successful IB program.
Note at the beginning of this thread, it said it was "principal-driven" Again, everything that is wrong,district wide- seems principal driven. BUT, if the admin above you says:
cut languages
no suspensions,
minimum special subject (used to be cut to none)
It only SOUNDS principal-driven. No one has a tighter script than principals- who also wind up on improvement plans if they dont follow order.
Also, instead of feeling pride and yes, a bit of competition- now one of them gets a bright idea,admin praises, and so the others follow.
PPS parents didnt complain when Latin left PPS (yes it is doing well in other districts), when Northview closed-again language magnet, etc. When we lost comprehensive middle schools-such as Reizenstein, then the board was able to say-- oh, we cant support languages in "elementary schools."
There was a reason why we left k-8 in the early 70s-- the ability to offer more choices was one of the reasons.
Another was yes integration--4-longer before CAPA middle -- Reizenstein put on musicals, had languages-- and more students had opportunities to participate.
Anon 7:04
You are spot on in so many ways. Reizenstein opened in the mid 70's and had so much to offer. A large PE facility. Not many k-8 buildings (If any) had pools back then. Those that did were old high schools. (Gladstone, Latimer ) Reizenstein was a model for what a school could be. Foreign Language department had German, French, Spanish and 1/2 day Russian. They had a great OVT department.
Three Business Ed classes with a school store. Graphic Arts, metalworking with a foundry and forge. Woodworking along with the Manufacturing and construction curriculum rounded out the program. Cooking, Sewing in their own labs, not a combined home-economics.
Towards the end, there was a principal, M. Klimasara. She presented a plan to teach the under-achieving student. Project Pass served students who were more than one year grade level bleow in Math, and Reading. Smaller classes with strong emphasis on reading. It really was a school within a school.
Anon 7:04 says integration was also a reason for the middle schools in the mid 70's. Anon needs to go back to 1967 when Columbus Middle School opened. There was a school that focused on integration. That building was built without a pool, no shops. One French and German teacher. Students were bussed to Oliver for OVT. A mess all it's own.
The way principals used to be blamed was the use of "site-based budget" in an answer to any parent complaint about something we felt was lacking.
The days of principals having any real say-so are probably over. Even the most successful and lauded can fall fast when a problem hits the light of day. Some of us do recall principals with some authority and clout, like Dr. Reginella. Central Admin didn't seem to want to tell her "No" but is that the case anywhere now with our current leaders?
One thing not mentioned about some of the truly wonderful former schools and programs inPPS were the media studios.
At Reizenstein Middle School, Warren Carter had a fully operational TV/Media Studio.
An 11-year-old-7th-grader from that program is now :
Sr. Director, Engineering and Project Management
at VIACOM INTERNATIONAL MEDIA NETWORKS.
PPS has many such success stories resulting from the WIDE range of programs offered. A focus on reading and math alone will never get our current students to that level of success.
Our kids have enormous potential, but the current PPS programs provide minimal opportunity for that potential to develop.
Here here, 2:42!
Some districts manage not only foreign languages but also computer coding, seen as increasingly important
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/11/us/reading-writing-arithmetic-and-lately-coding.html?_r=0
A side by side comparison of where money goes in those districts and where it goes here could be very informative.
The end all to this entire conversation--indeed, to any conversation about cuts to teachers and programs---is that Linda Lane would rather keep her administrative work force intact and cut at the school level than touch anyone who occupies an office at Bellefield Ave, Greenway or any other PPS office.
End of story. Complete problem in a nutshell.
When those in charge of a school district look to cut teachers and programs that positively affect students while keeping those who AREN'T in the schools to begin with gainfully employed, you have a philosophical problem that comes down to cronyism and nothing more.
Our kids need foreign languages. They need electives. They need a South Vo Tech because even though it runs counter to those who understand the Promise as nothing more than a PR tool, not every PPS kid is a college kid in the making. And there's nothing wrong with that.
Note to Linda Lane: you found $26 million dollars. Put it to good use. Cut your own salary before laying a finger on a needed student program. Cut your own bloated administrative staff before you dare cut a teacher.
This is education, pure and simple. It's students and teachers.....not suits.
Yes, the bottom line is teachers and students. That's why schools exist! To educate! Not push around papers and people! Central Office has no real purpose so they need to create one or a million--makes no difference--but provides an illusion that justifies existence.
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