Poll: What got cut?
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In last week’s poll, we asked if you would be attending the first PA/PTA meeting of the school year. Most parents — 66% — voted yes.
Several respondents said that back-to-school night segued into the inaugural meeting. A Queens parent said that the first PA meeting is “crucial to attend” for information about changes for the upcoming year. Another parent disagreed, calling the PTA “useless,” and added, “They didn’t even serve coffee.”
Twenty-two percent of parents said they would not go to the meeting. Two parents voiced their frustration that the PA at their schools “is led by a clique of parents with their own agenda.”
Eight percent of parents received no notice of a meeting and 2% have no parent organization at their school. Chancellor’s Regulation A-660 mandates that all schools have either a PA or PTA, and that the association send out notification to families about meetings in a timely fashion.
According to the regulation, it is the responsibility of the school principal to re-activate, or establish, a PA or PTA. Parents whose schools have no PA, should get in touch with the school principal, or the parent coordinator. And, if they are unresponsive, contact your district family advocate for assistance.
The Daily News reports that class sizes are soaring at schools across the city. Due to the 5% budget cuts, at some schools class sizes have increased; at others student supports have been lost and programs have been cut. This week’s we want to know how your school was affected by this year’s slimmer budgets. Vote now, and leave a comment to let us know how your school is coping!
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What didn’t get cut is the question! I was trully appalled to the standards, ethics and lack of education at the fundamental level for my 1st grader.
I moved from Jersey last year and thought I was sending my son to one of the better schools in the district. After about a month at his new school I was wondering why my son wasn’t receiving tests or bringing classwork home. I spoke to the principal because I thought he needed more work, and the teacher. They bolth told me he could be tested for an IGC program in second grade and maybe by third grade he could get into the gifted program that he obviously needed.
Appaled I called district 31 and asked about enrichment programs for achieving students. I was quickly told the district has no enrichment and was hung up on (very nastly lady). I finally dug into my pockets and paid for math enrichment at the local college for a few hundred dollars he was able to get the math challenge he needed (he was on a 3rd grade level in 1st grade). I also had several issues where my son was punched during his gym class, hit his head on playground no one saw the bump or applied ice (I had to take him to the school nurse myself). The children at this school were out of control and everytime I tried to communicate with the principals on the issue I was given half answers with no resolution.
I actually received comments that they don’t believe in extensive homework. My response was I do! Thus this single mother who receives no support I might add has had to put her child into private school to ensure my child is safe and gets the education that is challenging enough so he isn’t bored all day. I have now found the reason our kids aren’t learning anything is the new way they are teaching our kids. It’s called OBE education (google it for your self) what it means is until the slowest kid in the class gets the material the class wont move forward. It also plays down testing and is more concerned with outcomes. Some districts are actually starting to do away with report cards. IT”S ABOUT EVERYONE BEING THE SAME (DUMMING DOWN EDUCATION) IT WORKS GREAT AS LONG AS YOU HAVE NO AMBITION TO GO TO AN IVY LEAGUE SCHOOL OR HAVE HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR YOUR CHILDS FUTURE.THE CITY SHOULD BE SENDING ME A CHECK. SENDING YOUR KID TO SCHOOL IS A LAW I MUST OBEY AND UNFORTUNATLEY PAY FOR OUT OF MY OWN POCKETS IF I WANT HIM TO COME HOME SAFE AND LEARN ANYTGHING. P.S. I DON”T THINK OBAMAS EXTENDED DAY”S EDUCATION IS GOING TO HELP AS LONG AS THERE GETTING THIS NEW WORLD ORDER OBE EDUCATION IT”S JUST GOING TO CAUSE PEOPLE LIKE ME TO PAY MORE IN TAXES.
Comment by WJB — September 28, 2009 @ 1:42 am