tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5458172893016186479.post1409822796492403942..comments2024-03-09T03:28:44.216-05:00Comments on Thoughts on Education Policy: In Need of AlterationCorey Bunje Bowerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09764159604965707919noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5458172893016186479.post-81615139706061282722008-07-30T10:38:00.000-04:002008-07-30T10:38:00.000-04:00Caroline: I read your blog comment on Alter's post...Caroline: I read your blog comment on Alter's post and agree with you wholeheartedly. <BR/><BR/>The KIPP selection process is NOT random - only students (and parents) willing to abide by the KIPP contract are welcome to attend. And only those students and parents who are motivated enough to apply are even in the lottery pool for possible acceptance. <BR/><BR/>From my understanding, the KIPP contract includes standards on behavior, attendance, homework, and agreeing to the longer school days and Saturday classes. <BR/><BR/>Most struggling, low-income students do not have the dedication to follow a schedule like KIPP's - that's part of the reason they are struggling. Only the most motivated students and parents will have the motivation and knowledge to apply to this program, let alone stick with it for all four years.<BR/><BR/>From my reading of Eduwonkette's blog, there is a very high attrition rate at KIPP. From 5th grade to 8th grade many students (especially boys) leave. This impacts the "college attendance" rates: Apparently, those students graduating in the 8th grade are only a fraction (about 60%) of the students who began in 5th grade.<BR/><BR/>All in all, I hardly think that the success of a few students at KIPP schools is reason to castigate all teachers and advocate for the demolition of teachers' unions.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5458172893016186479.post-65471669644024198322008-07-30T10:28:00.000-04:002008-07-30T10:28:00.000-04:00The column was interesting, but I don't agree with...The column was interesting, but I don't agree with his KIPP program comment about the length and number of school days. I can see how sending lower socioeconomic students to school longer may be beneficial. However, I do not think lengthening the school day will be of benefit to students of other socioeconomic status, because there are other worthwhile after school activities available to them. So, the KIPP program may be closing the achievement gap between rich and poor, but it may not be enough to close the achievement gap between us and other countries.<BR/><BR/>More educational discussion at <A HREF="http://thoughtsonoureducation.blogspot.com" REL="nofollow"><BR/>Thoughts on Our Education</A>.Dustin Corneliushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12114371352053927612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5458172893016186479.post-44543099445212662752008-07-29T21:39:00.000-04:002008-07-29T21:39:00.000-04:00My blog comment on the Alter column, to which he h...My blog comment on the Alter column, to which he has responded, is on www.examiner.com -- direct link:<BR/><BR/>http://tinyurl.com/5vl8xhcarolinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08127336930949752636noreply@blogger.com