[Speed Gibson,
Wednesday April 12, 2006 at 12:16am]
Oprah goes to school
Oprah is dedicating two episodes (April 11 and April 12) to "American Schools in Crisis" with Bill and Melinda Gates.
Part one reviewed the current situation, starting with a tour of a pristine high school in an affluent Chicago suburb and a distressing tour of a couple of inner-city high schools. The neglect was appalling, far more than I thought possible. If these were businesses open to the public, OSHA and Public Health regulators would shut them down immediately. Another problem is (de facto) segregation, worse than ever before according to one expert. I think she's right in terms of results.
Part one was just about symptoms. Buildings decay not because of policy, and in the cases shown, not from a lack of money. Washington D.C. spends considerably more per student than almost any other state, but only 32 percent actually goes for instruction.
I'll have more to post Thursday after I watch part two.
Part one reviewed the current situation, starting with a tour of a pristine high school in an affluent Chicago suburb and a distressing tour of a couple of inner-city high schools. The neglect was appalling, far more than I thought possible. If these were businesses open to the public, OSHA and Public Health regulators would shut them down immediately. Another problem is (de facto) segregation, worse than ever before according to one expert. I think she's right in terms of results.
Part one was just about symptoms. Buildings decay not because of policy, and in the cases shown, not from a lack of money. Washington D.C. spends considerably more per student than almost any other state, but only 32 percent actually goes for instruction.
I'll have more to post Thursday after I watch part two.