[Rhodes22-list] Some Public School Programs Work Pretty Well
Roger Pihlaja
cen09402 at centurytel.net
Fri Oct 8 23:46:54 EDT 2004
----- Original Message -----
From: "Todd Tavares" <sprocket80 at mail.com>
To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Sent: Friday, October 08, 2004 8:37 PM
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Some Public School Programs Work Pretty Well
>
> Roger,
>
> I wish I had such a plan to use when I got out of high school.
> My older brother got a full boat scholarship to the University of
> Maryland for Civil Engineering (he never completed his
> degree). My parents paid for my sister to attend nursing school in
> Baltimore. Both would come home on the weekends and drop their
> laundry off on Mom while they went out and partied with their friends.
>
> I graduated in the June of 1980.....right in the middle of the Iran
> Hostage Crisis and the re-start of the Selective Service registration
> for a possible draft. Having not working hard enough during my senior
> year of high school, a scholarship was not in my future. My father
> was drafted in WWII and being his favorite son :-) he did not me to be
> drafted should we go to war in Iran. I decided to got to a trade
> school in Tulsa, Oklahoma to learn aircraft mechanics. Pops promised
> to pay my tuition and buy me a used car. Rent and food was my
> problem.
>
> We loaded my dad's old Chevy van with my few possesions and headed
> to Oklahoma. The transmission in the van started to slip as we pulled
> into town.(an omen of things to come, but I failed to see the signs)
> Well, I registered for classes and found a roommate. The only thing
> left was to find a used car dealer..so we headed out. Imagine my
> surprise when we pulled up in front of the departures terminal at
> Tulsa International Airport. He jumped out and his parting remark
> before disappearing into the crowd was "Get the transmission fixed and
> you got yourself a nice van!" (omen #2).
>
> I found a part time evening job and was settling in to my new life
> away at school. About four months later, I got a notice to see the man
> in the finance office. He informed me that my tuition was already two
> months behind. I assured him that it had to be a mistake because my
> dad was paying the tuition. He handed me the telephone and I called
> my father long distance, at work, in D.C., and the conversation went
> just like this:
>
> "Hey Dad, I am sitting here in the finance office at school and the
> man here says that my tuition is two months behind!?"
>
> Dad: "Oh yeah, I've been meaning to call you...(awkward
> silence).... You're on your own now kid...Sink or Swim!" CLICK
>
>
> Todd
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Roger Pihlaja"
> Date: Fri, 8 Oct 2004 07:25:47 -0400
> To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list"
> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Some Public School Programs Work Pretty
> Well
> > Todd,
> >
> > Deb & I also had a "pay for performance" bonus for grades with
> Daniel &
> > Gary. Same pay scale too: $5.00 per A, $4.50 per A-, $3.50 per B+,
> $3.00
> > per B, $2.50 per B-. For all A's, the bonus was dinner with the
> family at
> > the restaurant of their choice, or the cash equivalent. (The cash
> equivalent
> > of their dinner, not 4 fancy dinners! - about $25 at the time)
> Daniel flip
> > flopped both ways between dinner & the money depending upon his
> finances at
> > the time. Gary has, so far, always chosen the restaurant. At the
> > restaurant, we've always had a celebratory toast for the honor roll
> student.
> >
> > With Daniel in college, we have a different system. We have a
> contract. In
> > this contract, Deb & I agreed to pay for tuition, books & supplies,
> fees,
> > room & board, clothing, travel expenses to and from home, provide a
> car, pay
> > the insurance and maintenance costs on that car, and a weekly
> allowance
> > (currently $30/week) in order to allow Daniel to attend any public
> college
> > in Michigan enrolled in any degree program he chooses. Daniel choose
> > Northern Michigan University (NMU) in Marquette, MI in their Graphic
> > Arts/Electronic Imaging program. In return, Daniel agreed to:
> >
> > 1. You must carry a sufficient class load each semester to keep you
> on track
> > to graduate in 4 years.
> > If you fall behind in your degree schedule by failing or dropping
> > classes or not taking enough
> > classes; then, you must attend summer school at your own expense
> until
> > you ar e caught up.
> >
> > 2. If you receive a grade in any of your classes that is not
> sufficient to
> > permit you to apply it towards
> > your degree; then, you must pay the tuition and fees for that class.
> > Plus, see item #1 regarding
> > the consequences of retaking that class.
> >
> > 3. The expectation is that your cumulative GPA will be => 3.0. If
> your GPA
> > falls below 3.0, we have a
> > formula that calculates the proportion of tuition and fees you will
> owe
> > for the semester that your
> > academic performance was below standard. Basically, at a GPA < 2.0,
> you
> > will be paying 100%.
> > Plus, see item #1.
> >
> > 4. The cost of room & board is based upon the current cost of living
> on
> > campus in the dormitory and
> > eating in the NMU cafeterias. If you wish to live off campus; then,
> you
> > will pay any increased cost
> > of living.
> >
> > 5. For each academic school year, we will settle up accounts at the
> end of
> > summer. If you cannot pay
> > your share based upon the above criteria; then, you will have to
> > interrupt your college and get a job
> > to pay off your debt.
> >
> > 6. Changing your major is highly discouraged. However, if you must
> change
> > your major; then, talk to
> > us regarding the situation sooner rather than later. We will
> > renegotiate your contract.
> >
> > 7. The only excuse for not performing against the above criteria is
> serious
> > illness or injury. In this case,
> > we will renegotiate your contract based upon the specific
> circumstances.
> >
> > So far, a few of the clauses in this contract have been invoked.
> Daniel
> > doofed the winter semester of his freshman year with a GPA of 2.4.
> He owed
> > us about $600. Although Daniel worked a part-time job, by the end of
> > summer, 2002, he had not paid off the debt. So, Daniel stayed home
> in the
> > fall semester, 2003, attended Delta College from home, and worked
> part time.
> > Daniel took general education classes at Delta College which would
> transfer
> > up to NMU in order to keep him on degree schedule track. By the end
> of the
> > fall semester, 2003; Daniel had paid off his debt, gotten his GPA
> back up, &
> > attended the winter semester, 2004 at NMU. During this semester, he
> dropped
> > a class just before the close of the drop period, thus invoking
> clause #1.
> > Daniel took another class at Delta College in the summer of 2004 and
> worked
> > to pay off his debt. Also in August, 2003, Daniel wrecked his car.
> > Fortunately, no was hurt; but, Daniel's Subaru Legacy AWD sedan was
> totaled.
> > The accident was 100% Daniel's fault. Deb & I only agreed to provide
> one
> > car & Daniel has been without a car since then. Daniel & I commuted
> to
> > college together a lot in the fall semester, 2003 and last summer.
> Delta
> > College is about 5 miles from Saginaw Valley State University
> (SVSU). I
> > would drop Daniel off at Delta College on my way to school & Daniel
> was
> > either stuck there until I came back to get him based upon my class
> schedule
> > or had to find his own way home. Note that both college campuses are
> about
> > 35 miles away from our home. This year, Daniel is living off campus
> for the
> > 1st time. He's living in the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity house with
> an
> > on-campus cafeteria meal pass. The difference in the cost of living
> is
> > theoretically only about $1.50 per month. But, we'll reexamine this
> expense
> > with real data after each semester. It's been a little messy; but,
> so far
> > the plan is working. Hopefully, Daniel won't mess up any more
> classes
> > because were running out of subjects he could take locally that wo
> uld
> > relevant towards his degree.
> >
> > Gary is watching all these developments with great interest because
> he knows
> > he's next in line!
> >
> > Roger Pihlaja
> > S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Todd Tavares"
> > To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list"
> > Sent: Thursday, October 07, 2004 10:44 PM
> > Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Some Public School Programs Work Pretty
> Well
> >
> >
> > >
> > > Brad,
> > >
> > > My wife and I have always firmly encouraged our boys to do their
> > > very best without pushing too hard. We didn't want to force them,
> and
> > > have always made school/homework fun and rewarding I took quite a
> > > bit of grief from friends because I give my sons money for grades,
> > > with a very special bonus for straight A's. I defend my actions
> > > because this mirrors the corporate world.....pay for top
> performance.
> > > A's are $5, B's are $3, but a big ticket item for straight A's. I
> > > didn't know mountain bikes cost so dang much!! lol
> > >
> > > Luckily, these days doing good in school is cool!! The smartest
> > > kids are the most popular. The teen years have arrived though and
> > > only time will tell. But soon it will be four-wheelers and cars
> > > instead of mountain bikes.
> > >
> > > Todd
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: brad haslett
> > > Date: Thu, 7 Oct 2004 10:02:18 -0700 (PDT)
> > > To: The Rhodes 22 mail list
> > > Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Some Public School Programs Work
> Pretty
> > > Well
> > > > Todd,
> > > >
> > > > You may recall a controversial book that was published
> > > > in 1994 titled "The Bell Curve: Intelligence and Class
> > > > Stucture in American Life" by Herrnstein and Murray.
> > > > Herrnstein had the good sense to die before
> > > > publication which left Charles Murray alone to defend
> > > > chapter 13. His studies showed that Asian-Americans
> > > > tested slightly higher in IQ than other groups but
> > > > this alone wouldn't account for their superior
> > > > academic performance. He was crucified by the PC
> > > > police.
> > > >
> > > > Students attempt to meet the standards that are set
> > > > for them at home. If those standards or even a
> > > > fu nctioning home is missing, performance will suffer.
> > > > It is beyond the function of the education system to
> > > > fix those problems.
> > > >
> > > > Some public schools work because the communit ies where
> > > > they are located work. Merging functioning schools
> > > > with non-functioning ones generally drag both down.
> > > > This is not a racist view, this is what we used to
> > > > call common sense before the cottage industry of
> > > > political correctness was developed.
> > > >
> > > > Brad Haslett
> > > > "CoraShen"
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > --- Todd Tavares wrote:
> > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Roger,
> > > > >
> > > > > We HAD something like that here in Maryland,
> > > > > called the MSPAP. I
> > > > > was initally to used to gage how well the schools
> > > > > were teaching the
> > > > > pupils. The schools had to pass and each year
> > > > > show an improvement or
> > > > > face ta ke-ove r by the state BOE.
> > > > >
> > > > > We unfortunately did not reap such positive
> > > > > results. Instead, the
> > > > > results were twisted and used by a certain
> > > > > racially based "lobbyist"
> > > > > group (no names here), to show that minority
> > > > > children did universally
> > > > > worse than their white counterparts. The test
> > > > > was supposed to be
> > > > > blind and the children's sex, ethnic and economic
> > > > > information was
> > > > > never to be recorded...but it was.
> > > > >
> > > > > A committee was formed by the state Board of
> > > > > Ed to find out why
> > > > > the minority children....all except a group named
> > > > > the "Asian/Pacific
> > > > > Islander Group"...were scoring po orly. The
> > > > > committee spent two years
> > > > > and generated a 208 page report. I studied the
> > > > > report in painstaking
> > > > > detail. The c onclusion was 11 reasons grouped
> > > > > into three main root
> > > > > causes. Poverty, Lack of parental involvement,
> > > > > and low self esteem.
> > > > > When explaining why the Asian/Pacific Islander
> > > > > Group children (approx
> > > > > 2%) scored consistently highest in all grades and
> > > > > genders, the
> > > > > committee came up with a statement..to
> > > > > paraphrase it...It is widely
> > > > > known that Asian students are generally the
> > > > > smarter.
> > > > >
> > > > > Poverty meant that the children were under
> > > > > nourished, could no t
> > > > > buy paper and pencils, etc. Lack of parental
> > > > > involvement is
> > > > > self-explanatory. Low self esteem was sort of a
> > > > > catch-all for every
> > > > > other excuse. Low self esteem came from low self
> > > > > worth in males
> > > > > because of the absence of a male role model in
> > > > > th e home setting;
> > > > > and the instructional material did not reflect
> > > > > enough people of color
> > > > > or their heritage. That is about the only point
> > > > > I could have agreed
> > > > > with. etc, etc, etc.
> > > > >
> > > > > The state budgeted monies and came up with
> > > > > very loose guidelines
> > > > > for the counties to follow as far as what types
> > > > > of programs and
> > > > > activities to provide to the minoritiy students.
> > > > > This money was to
> > > > > specifically help only minority students who were
> > > > > scoring poorly. The
> > > > > counties in turn passed the money out to the
> > > > > schools and left it up to
> > > > > individual principals to decide how to use it.
> > > > > (within the vague
> > > > > guidelines mandated by the state BOE) There was
> > > > > no accountability at
> > > > > all. At my sons' elementary school there was
> > > > > free breakfast and
> > > > > lunch for minority children, free before and
> > > > > after daycare for
> > > > > minority children, they had the "BBC'......the
> > > > > black boys club which
> > > > > held field trips, pizza parties and more
> > &g t; > > exclusively for "african
> > > > > american" students. Hispanic, Asian and all other
> > > > > minority students
> > > > > were excluded....community mentoring and big
> > > > > brother programs, etc.
> > > > > The principal was African American, and she too k
> > > > > all of the money
> > > > > given out by the state, all money budgeted for
> > > > > the gifted and talented
> > > > > program, and even bullied the PTA into opening
> > > > > their accounts to her
> > > > > for the stealing.
> > > > >
> > > > > One of the county Board of Ed members is a
> > > > > friend of ours. When she
> > > > > spoke out against the testing and kept her
> > > > > children home during that
> > > > > week, she was publicly censured by the Board,
> > > > > received a gag order
> > > > > and was threatened with legal action for not
> > > > > having her children at
> > > > > in school.
> > > > >
> > > > > Thankfully so much negative publicity was
> > > > > generated that the state
> > > > > stopped this particular test. Now we have "No
> > > > > Child Left Behind" and
> > > > > no funding.
> > > > >
> > > > > My brother and sister-in-law have their
> > > > > daughter in a Catholic
> > > > > school. There are less programs and resources
> > > > > available than in public
> > > > > schools. They face a different set of problems
> > > > > though. My niece did
> > > > > not do very well last year, but she was advanced
> > > > > anyway. When I was
> > > > > discussing this with my brother-in-law, he
> > > > > reasoned that she must have > > done enough or she would not
> have
> > > been advanced
> > > > > to the next grade. I
> > > > > could not contain my laughter. I looked him in
> > > > > the eye and asked, "Do
> > > > > you think they would admit that they dropped the
> > > > > ball on educating
> > > > > your daughter and then look you in the eye and
> > > > > ask for another $6000
> > > > > to repeat the sixth grade? Come on!!"
> > > > >
> > > > > Schooling is like anything else. You only get
> > > > > out what you put
> > > > > in. We stay very involved with our kids
> > > > > schooling. -proactive and
> > > > > not reactiveand so far it has paid-off.
> > > > >
> > > > > Todd
> > > > >
> > > > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > > > From: "Roger Pihlaja"
> > > > > Date: Wed, 6 Oct 2004 08:22:27 -0400
> > > > > To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list"
> > > > > Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Some Public School
> > > > > Progra ms Work Pretty Well
> > > > > > Here in Michigan, we have a test called the
> > > > > Michigan Education
> > > > > Assessment Program (MEAP). It tests skills in
> > > > > math, science, reading,
> > > > > writing, and critical thinking. Students that
> > > > > score highly in the 9th,
> > > > > 10th, 11th, & 12th grades on all sections of the
> > > > > MEAP test can earn up
> > > > > to $3000 towards attending a Michigan college.
> > > > > Our older son, Daniel,
> > > > > max ed out on the MEAP award money & it helped
> > > > > tremendously in paying
> > > > > for his college at Northern Michigan University
> > > > > (NMU). So far, our
> > > > > younger son, Gary, is on track to max out as
> > > > > well. I've seen the MEAP
> > > > > test & it seems like a pretty reasonable tool to
> > > > > access a student's
> > > > > level of development. But, the MEAP test has been
> > > > > con troversial here
> > > > > in Michig an as well. Lots of educators don't
> > > > > like it for all the
> > > > > reasons cited in the earlier posts on this
> > > > > subject.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Schools of choice also seems to work pretty
> > > > > well here in Michigan.
> > > > > Again, both of our sons have benefite d. We live
> > > > > in the Meridian School
> > > > > District, a rural area that is not very wealthy.
> > > > > Meridian High School
> > > > > does not have a very good vocational education
> > > > > program. However, they
> > > > > supplement their program by participating in a
> > > > > magnet school program
> > > > > with the Bay-Arenac Skill Center, located in Bay
> > > > > City, MI. Note that
> > > > > the Bay-Arenac Skill Center is located in another
> > > > > county, about 30
> > > > > miles away. The Meridian School District pays
> > > > > tuition and provides b us
> > > > > transportation for our students to & from the
> > > > > Bay-Arenac Skill Center.
> > > > > The program is a half day, 5 days/week. Meridian
> > > > > High S chool students
> > > > > either take their morning or afternoon classes at
> > > > > Meridian and then
> > > > > the other half of the school day at the
> > > > > Bay-Arenac Skill Center.
> > > > > Daniel took 2 years of Computer Aided Design
> > > > > classes at the Bay-Arenac
> > > > > Skill Center, which has been very helpful in his
> > > > > Graphic
> > > > > Arts/Electronic Imaging major up at NMU. Gary has
> > > > > benefited from this
> > > > > program even more than Daniel. Last year, Gary
> > > > > took his first year of
> > > > >
> > > > === message truncated ===
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > _______________________________
> > > > Do you Yahoo!?
> > > > Express yourself with Y! Messenger! Free. Download now. < BR>>
> > > http://messenger.yahoo.com
> > > > __________________________________________________
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