I agree with Bleakley that we do have some well-meaning board members, educators and civic leaders who have made sincere attempts to address the ever-growing problems with our schools. I also agree these attempts have resulted in failures, except for some successful efforts in specific schools. It is these “specific, successful schools” I would like […]
schools
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Guns, guns, guns!
Credit: Brad Gregg Classes already have plenty of books and backpacks. What schools really need are more guns. McCullough’s resolution: Strap teachers and principals with firepower. After all, this is Oklahoma, where no politician has ever been hurt by making sweet, sweet love to the Second Amendment. Three days after the Dec. 14 tragedy, McCullough […]
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School daze
The revelation comes amid allegations by some former Douglass teachers and administrators that former Principal Brian Staples altered student grades and attendance records to make it appear that the beleaguered school was improving. At a heated news conference yesterday, Oklahoma City Public School officials blamed the mess on violations of policy and procedures, but declined […]
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Douglass needs help
The National Oklahoma City Douglass High School Alumni Association has existed in its present form, to support the growth and development our school and its students, for 26 years. We have existed through a litany of school administrators. The history of Douglass High School now stretches over 122 years. It has produced giants of leaders, […]
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A tale of email
Credit: Mark Hancock The hundreds of emails were obtained through an Oklahoma Gazette open records request submitted June 4. They were not released until October because of technical problems with the email system, according to Tierney Tinnin, a school district spokeswoman. Staples resigned after the conclusion of a district investigation into allegations of altering grades […]
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Report-card reaction
Belle Isle EnterpriseMiddle School Credit: Mark Hancock Those expecting high marks received them. Those who anticipated the worst saw their fears realized. As part of the state’s new evaluation system, all public schools were issued a grade from A to F based on a list of newly developed criteria. In Oklahoma City Public Schools, the […]
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Incomplete ‘grade’
If presented within context, my message is that “for some students within the lowest quartile of test takers who have serious handicapping conditions, ‘it is just about too much to ask” that they be held to the standard — the numerical gradient of growth — expected of the general population of students. Given the severe […]
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Degrading the grade
Most districts have opted not to release the grades until the State Board of Education certifies them at its Oct. 25 meeting. Board members voted last week to halt its issuance so agency officials could review the evaluation system, which many district superintendents claim is flawed. The one exception in the metro, Putnam City Schools, […]
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The principal’s office
Fired Douglass teachers who raised the allegations, however, contend the district officials had ignored their complaints for three years. Oklahoma Gazette first reported the allegations in June, when district officials launched the probe at the request of former teachers and the local chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Sandra Park, […]
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Candidates and early childhood education
While some think early childhood development rests solely on the shoulders of parents, there are ways in which societal factors can hinder early learning. These include lack of access to quality health care and child care as well as exposure to toxic stress and poverty-related trauma. Research shows quality early childhood care and education helps […]