Not the parents' fault

I was surprised that your editorial about the astronomical dropout rates in Vallejo didn't mention the new graduation requirements from Dr.

[CasualObserver]

Why then do we need police presence in the schools?

Who the heck do you think you are kidding?

Quit having babies at 14 and if you do, teach them respect for other people and things. Take the video games, cell phones, Ipods and MySpace away.

Take responsibility...

for a change.

[Craig]

Perhaps it's time to consider two things:

1. The Vallejo City Unified School District should NOT be returned to full local control until the dropout rate can be stabilized at the state average (which is still a terrible 24%, but would be a marked improvement over Vallejo's current odeous rate).

2. If the VCUSD continues to fail in it's mission to educate its students, maybe its time to consider de-certifying the school district and allow a neighboring district like Benicia or Fairfield to get Vallejo's funding and give their seemingly better management a shot at improving the state of things in Vallejo.

It's always good to have more parental involvement, but blaming the parents and the students for these kinds of results is nothing more than a monumental cop-out. It's like an ER blaming its patients for their too-high mortality rate ("you don't understand - these patients are simply too sick to surrvive..."). It's time for district MANAGEMENT to either take some responsibility or lower their flag and let someone else succeed.

--Craig

[Huh What]

Must be a parent! New graduation requirements? Actually to pass all the courses! Man, that's over the top. How can we expect the kids to do that? Can't we just let them graduate if they attend 1/2 the classes? Not like they're going to college anyway? Good education starts at home and blaming teachers and administrators is a huge cop out. Hey parents go for the lawsuit and be laughed out of court and laughed at by the entire CNN watching country.

[DHH]

You have to change the Ghetto Culture.

[not convinced]

It is not an either or situation, the government school have had their way [socialist] for the past 40 years. If you have gone to a government school in the years since the hippies took over in the 60's then you have been affected [contaminated] by their teaching.
The current crop of parents have been programed to believe that government will care for them, how's that working? The kids in school today are getting sub-standard education which is costing the people who pay taxes billions. This money should be spent in private schools that allow the parents to decide which and what kind of school that their child goes to. Ask yourself why it is O K to have choice in the college your child may go to but not in the K thru 12 school you are forced to send your child to? It is all about the money which feeds the unions which supports the people in office which make the laws that keep you in this circle of nonsense.

[team_ahhh whatever]

Parent's and Teacher's alike ARE responsible for the children's education's ...period !
If your child fall's behind or between the crack's of the system then Parent's it's up to you to oversee "What" exactly happened .Teacher's if a child fall's behind or between the crack's of the system then ,it's up to you to see that the parent's know their child is not where they should be !
As far as a lawsuit ???Good Luck ,but I doubt it'd help as education start's at home -if you do not instill the importance of learning prior to Kindergarten then you too are failing your child from the get go !What's the old saying ..."It take's a Village ..." .
So I guess everyone's at fault here !

[Nici]

not convinced.... do you think that if people got the money back from the government to send their children to a private school all parents would???? NO most parents would be responsible and send their children to school but some kids would not go to school if their was no public school system.... they may have to spend their money on PG&E or gas to get to work. Voucher systems have proven to qwork but if the parent's don't care then what....... their kids are penalized

I think that the parents attitue towards their childrens' schooling affects the kids if their parents don't care how the kids are doing in school the kids think school doesn't matter. but the VCUSD has gone way down hill in the past ten years or so, but of course they had money to build a new admin building. No books to take home, impacted classes.... that is NOT the parents fault

[wanda]

Nici wrote:

not convinced.... do you think that if people got the money back from the government to send their children to a private school all parents would???? NO most parents would be responsible and send their children to school but some kids would not go to school if their was no public school system.... they may have to spend their money on PG&E or gas to get to work. Voucher systems have proven to qwork but if the parent's don't care then what....... their kids are penalized
I think that the parents attitue towards their childrens' schooling affects the kids if their parents don't care how the kids are doing in school the kids think school doesn't matter. but the VCUSD has gone way down hill in the past ten years or so, but of course they had money to build a new admin building. No books to take home, impacted classes.... that is NOT the parents fault

To get into private school, you have to take tests and PASS them in order to be accepted into the school. With the drop out rate and complaints that the exit exams are too hard, private school doesn't sound like the answer for these kids. Having said that, the voucher system works wonderfully for those kids who do well and are serious about school and their education. The unfortunate thing here, is you have some kids with very involved parents and then there are those kids who have parents who couldn't give a damn about their child's schooling, which makes for an uneven playing field for the students, because they're not all coming to the table with the same tools for success. Because of this, you're going to have the kids who do well in school and those who don't care whether they go to school or not. It's really very sad.

[Concerned citizen]

It is the fault of the parents! They are the primary educators. They are responsible for their children until they are 18 years old.
I am so tired about hearing about how it is the administrator and the teachers fault that children drop out or can't pass the simple test that they need to in order to get a diploma. It is pathetic.
Let me tell you that we, as teachers, do inform the parents. Parents are either filled with excuses or do not respond or even show up for conferences. Most schools have online grading programs where parents can check the students progress at any time. THEY HAVE TO MAKE AN EFFORT!
The problem with today's youth is that they do not want to follow rules. They do not FEEL that they need to attend school, complete assignments and have consequences for their behavior. We need to make life easy for them.
I agree that a huge part of the problem is that teenagers are having children. Teenagers are still children.
Make parents accountable for their children. Teach them respect for themselves and for others. Teach them to that it is their duty to become responsible members of society.
In order to get into a private school, you must take a PLACEMENT test. The reason why private schools are not the answer is because the parents and children both have to agree to support the school and follow the RULES! What a concept - rules. There is no police presence at my childrens' school. My children are safe. Yes, we face the same problems that public schools, the difference is that parents get behind the adminstration and support them. The school makes children accountable and there are consequences that are enforced whether it is on a academic or behavioral level.
File a class action suit. You are exactly what is wrong with our society. How is that going to change the fact that the students do not attend school or complete their work. We need to teach children that as adults we need to go to work every day to be able to be responsible members of society and that their job is to attend school and pass their classes so that one day they too can be responsible members of society. Stop making excuses. Point the fingers at the right ones that are to blame- Our Parents.
Parents need to support the school, stop making excuses and get their child to school. If not plan to pay for them whether they are on welfare or in prison.
You are upset at the cuts in the Vallejo? Blame the governor who said he would not cut school funds and that is exactly what he did. I personally hate having my tax dollars go to a school system that is continually in decline. I am just glad that we can afford to pay the private school tuition.

[Vallejo parent]

CAN YOU SAY “BAD MATH�?????

Here is what was reported:

“Over the next four years, up to 41 percent of Vallejo's current high school population may drop out of public school, according to data projections released Wednesday by state officials. That compares to about 24.1 percent statewide, the figures show. For Vallejo, the one-year dropout rate is about 11.6 percent, or about 683 students per year, the state figures show. The district reported a figure last year of about 10.7 percent, or 628 students in grades nine through 12.“

The ONE-YEAR dropout rate is 10 to 11 percent! The PROJECTIONS are just adding that figure over 4 years, which is BAD MATH! It is still only a 10-11 percent dropout rate. Ten percent of each year does NOT add up to 40% over 4 years!

Let’s say a school has 100 seniors, 100 juniors, 100 sophophores and 100 freshmen (total of 400 students) and they have an 11% annual dropout rate. That means that 44 out of 400 students drop out each year. Over 4 years, that number is multiplied by 4: 176 students. If you would believe the T-Hs numbers, it looks like 176 out of 400 students, or nearly half, are destined to drop out.

HOWEVER... good math dictates that if you are multiplying the dropouts by four, you MUST multiply the total number of students by 4 as well, so it is NOT 176 out of 400 who dropped out, it is 176 out of 1600!! That is still only an 11% dropout rate.

Whoever reported these figures obviously has no clue. Things are NOT as dire as the Time Herald would have you believe.

[Springs Road Resident]

Dear Adrian, you are stupid to the nth degree. Have you not rode public transportation during the times when these "Future Leaders" are riding the buses. These demon seeds are "Off the Chain". Maybe just maybe the school staff and administration are less than effective, but nothing compares to the kind of people reproducing lately and the inability to effectively parent. I will leave your less than effective observing rear-end with this:

THE PRIVILEGE OF BRINGING CHILDREN INTO THE WORLD CARRIES WITH IT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF TEACHING THEM THE FUNDAMENTALS OF SOUND CHARACTER.
One of life’s greatest joys is the sense of wonder that accompanies the arrival of a tiny new human being into the world. But that joy is accompanied by a tremendous responsibility that perfectly encapsulates the need for personal initiative. You can provide children with all the physical advantages of a good childhood, but unless you strive to set a good example for them to follow, you will know only dismay as they reach adulthood and blossom into purposeless drifters. Your personal initiative, whether or not you are raising a child, must always incorporate exemplary behavior. You cannot take ethical shortcuts, big or small, without other people observing them and assuming that this behavior is something you wouldn’t mind having turned back on yourself. Certainly you will make mistakes, but if you have always striven for the best course, others will remember it and treat you accordingly.

[East Vallejo Resident]

I too believe the school system needs overhauling, but I have a slightly different focus than the Adrian Davis. I believe that too much emphasis is placed on teaching to the test. I know, you've heard it all before--but it is true! The high school exit exam, the CAT, or whatever the current fad test is, are more important than being sure the kids really understand all that A + 4 =16 and why. Teachers have very difficult jobs with little support from the community. I've seen too many incidences with parents all up in the teacher's face because little Johnny or Mary was disciplined for some infraction or other. I don't want to go back to corporal punishment--no way!, but we have to give our teachers time to teach, not just police a group of kids and be so concerned about test scores they are stressed out worried their jobs won't be funded, rewarded or continued. Sure, everyone wants to clear out the deadwood teacher who has reached his/her limits and no longer is able to effectively spread knowledge to our children, but my gosh, get off their backs a little and let them really teach! Don't even get me started on this "no child left behind" mess. What a farce that is!!

[Sam Kurshan]

What a crock.

What about all the pupils that do graduate.
How come they were able to deal with it all?
It is because he went with he flow and adapted instead of bucking the system.

[A concerned parent]

This was my childs first and last year in the vallejo school system. He came in as a senior, I was surprised to find the counselor shocked when we came in after a progress report told us that he was in danger of not passing one of his classes. I guess this is not the norm for the parents around here.
Parents have the ultimate responsiblility to their own kids to make sure that they graduate. The blame game is doesn't help anybody. My child was told he was short on credits so we had him take the GED and get his diploma that way. Lo and behold there must have been a snafu and he did have enough credits to graduate. I am proud to say that all my children have graduated and there were no excuses.
I don't see any changes unless we all change our way of thinking and stop the blame game. Parents be responsible for your child, good or bad and teachers do your best in the job you were hired to do. Stop this blame game and take responsibility for your own backyard.

[DLG]

Parents and/or Guardians & Teacher Involvement, it takes a village to raise kids. Take responsibility and get involved in these "ghetto" times!!! IT TAKES A VILLAGE to raise a CHILD! Otherwise, the jail system will be overcrowded than it already is......Quit pointing fingers!

[Jen Lemus]

Like it not, Vallejo's schools terrible performance are as much a problem of class and demographics as poor leadership. You throw both in the mix and you've a recipe for consistent failure. Simply by merging with neighboring Benicia, and busing students around by social class (not by race) Vallejo's schools would improve dramatically.

If you want to learn a thing or two about why schools fail, check out this recent NY Times article. Too many children in poverty will cause poor schools, dragging down even the children who want to learn and have supportive parents. Without a large, stable pool of middle class students in a school the poor will continue to fail at higher rates. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/20/magazine/20...

Don't blame the parents - blame the poverty. When performance was not expected from them, they will not expect it from their children. Get enough middle class in school and the people who care will lift the tide for all. Once the cycle has broken, that generation will work to improve the lives of their own children.

Unless the parents can imagine a better life for their kid, they aren't going to push their children forward. The schools have to push those those kids, why else is it manditory for all classes of people?. Blaming the parents is a cop out.

[JudgeJudy]

Have you been to a Vallejo High football game recently? well, I did. I saw very few parents or teachers in the stands. I do not understand why a parent would not want to miss out on their own child's performance. First blame the parents, perhaps Vallejo School District would not be so inebt if the parents made a point to get involved--ask questions parents, hold the school district responsible, and take away the t.v., m-tv, x-boxes, and the poor role models (gangsta rappers).

Vallejo schools need tough love approach. Dress code--no baggy ass-revealing bangs, no grills, bluh bluh.

[Concerned citizen]

How can children be pushed when the teachers spend more time getting them just to behave. I for once agree with Sam - instead of finding a way to scam the system conform to it. Quit making excuses because the ones doing poor and dropping out are not just the underpriviledged. The middle class is in there too. Wake up.

[Alg]

Pink slip and lay-off the administrators sounds good, looks good and saves money, however, the questions begs, "Who will handle the problems in school?" The Vallejo Police? The district office? The Times-Herald? Any urban school district struggles with poverty, the threat of violence and low test scores. Pinole Valley High School had 2 students toting a machine on campus the other day and if were not for another student approaching school officials, anything could happen. My point is that Vallejo is not alone struggling with parent involvment, student engagement and success or school safety.

[Alg]

I meant a machine gun.