Education

The president just went on national tv (actually clips from his speech to the US Chamber of Commerce) to support the central falls firings by saying this:

“If a school is struggling, we have to work with the principal and the teachers to find a solution. We’ve got to give them a chance to make meaningful improvements. But if a school continues to fail its students year after year after year, if it doesn’t show signs of improvement, then there’s got to be a sense of accountability.

And that’s what happened in Rhode Island last week at a chronically troubled school, when just 7 percent of 11th graders passed state math tests — 7 percent. When a school board wasn’t able to deliver change by other means, they voted to lay off (fire the entire)… faculty and the staff.

As my education secretary, Arne Duncan, says, our kids get only one chance at an education, and we need to get it right,” he concluded.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-americas-promise-alliance-education-event


Mr. Obama’s remarks about Central Falls high followed Duncan’s statement of praise last week for the “courage” that Rhode Island Education Commissioner Debaorah A. Gist and city school Suprintendent Frances Gallo showed in “doing the right thing for kids.”

http://preaprez.wordpress.com/2011/05/14/no-obama-endorsement-this-july/


Here's the video of the entire speech:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-video/video/helping-america-become-a-grad-nation

and here's how it played on the nightly news:

The policies of this administration were the direct cause of the wholesale firings at central falls (the poorest district in rhode island) and other schools across the nation:

In his speech on Monday, Mr. Obama said states would be asked to identify schools that perform at persistently low levels, with graduation rates of 60 percent or less.

To qualify for the federal money, known as School Turnaround Grants, he said, the school districts must agree to take at least one of the steps: firing the principal and at least half the staff of a troubled school; reopening it as a charter school; or closing the school altogether and transferring students to better schools in the district.[/b

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/02/us/02obama.html


And the results?

Remember back to the spring of 2010, when the district superintendent Frances Gallo in Central Falls, Rhode Island, threatened to close the high school and fire the entire staff because performance was so poor...? Eventually an agreement was worked out with the teachers’ union, large numbers of staff left, and the tumult died down.

Now we learn that Central Falls High School has a much higher graduation rate, but teachers are saying–anonymously and off the record–that the graduation rate is phony. Students who were persistently absent graduated. Teachers say that students got quick and easy credits by credit recovery, by sitting in a front of a computer for a couple of days and answering multiple-choice questions. Similar questions have been raised about the graduation rate from middle school to high school.

But Gallo and Gist say they trust the higher graduation rate.

Here’s the deal: The data are closely scrutinized and criticized when they want to close your school. But when the reformers take over, the data are taken at face value.

http://dianeravitch.net/2012/07/11/ongoing-drama-at-central-falls-high-school/


Central Falls grads absent for 90+ days

Central Falls graduates from the class of 2011 missed months of un-excused time in the classroom but still received diplomas, according to records obtained by Target 12.

During the 180 day school year, eight graduates missed at least 50 school days with some of them missing half the year...Twenty-six seniors from last year's graduating class missed at least 30 days...

This rash of truancy happened the year Central Falls climbed from a 48 percent graduation rate to a 71 percent graduation rate. Several Central Falls teachers tell Target 12 they are skeptical about the 2011 rate.

http://www.wpri.com/dpp/target_12/target-12-central-falls-grads-absent-for-90-days

Grades of ‘F’ in four core subjects at Central Falls’ Calcutt Middle School are not enough to hold students back, according to teachers who claim they were ordered to pass the failing students onto high school...

Target 12 has learned dozens of Calcutt Middle School students who failed two to three of their core classes of Math, Science, English and Social Studies will still become freshman. The district attracted national attention in 2010 when 88 teachers were fired, in part, over a graduation rate of 48 percent.

http://www.wpri.com/dpp/target_12/target-12-f-students-passed-in-central-falls


Central Falls Teacher: Why I Resigned

My name is Dale Dearnley. As of Friday May 6, 2011, I resigned my position as science teacher at Central Falls High School...I came to Central Falls High School because of the optimistic and wholesome sense of community. It was a place where everyone looked out for each other, students said "thank you" when handed homework, and teachers and administrators worked together to bring peace and promote learning. Much of this stopped when Superintendent Gallo took over.

In five years, I have helped start the Jump Start Academy and the 9th grade Renaissance Academy, served as an ESL teacher, ran the after school Science and Math Investigative Learning Experiences club (SMILE), brought students to both Harvard University and the University of Rhode Island for real-world science projects with real-world scientists, trained with the Amgen Bruce-Wallace Biotechnology Teacher Training Program (bringing $30,000 of equipment for student use to CFHS), assisted students in achieving college scholarships and jobs, helped start of the current PTSO, and most importantly, watched more than 1,200 students graduate—all in addition to my classroom teaching responsibilities.

I told you why I came here and what I did; now I am compelled to explain why I resigned. It was ultimately a decision based on personal and professional ethics. I can no longer stand by, or remain silent about, the current abuse of students, abuse of teachers, and abuse of power...

http://www.golocalprov.com/news/central-falls-teacher-why-i-resigned/