Oh, boy, now HBO is getting into education.
June 20, 2008 - The article begins:
The law is called No Child Left Behind, but anyone who claims it's living up to its billing probably hasn't spent much time at Frederick Douglass High School.-------------------------------
Veteran documentary filmmakers Alan and Susan Raymond did, gathering footage at the historic west Baltimore school during the 2004-05 school year. What they saw left them certain that for inner-city schools to succeed, they need more than standardized tests that measure students' reading and math skills.
Their film, "Hard Times at Douglass High: A No Child Left Behind Report Card," premieres Monday on HBO.
TT - Same old dance routine: they are black, mired in poverty, come from single family homes with no fathers. Not enough money - even for books! Students roam the halls. The principal frets that he/she could be replaced. Test scores are bad. Not enough highly-qualified teachers. No Child Left Behind Act.
There is hope:
The film finds rays of hope. Douglass has a well-run music production program, a flourishing debate team and a spirited marching band, and some of the school's best students channel their energy into these outlets.Excuse me, but doesn't that have the same odd feel of the 1920s when blacks turned to music as an outlet because they were denied equal education? hmmmmm
WHAT'S WRONG with that whole scenario is that schools throughout the U.S. that don't have black populations have the same miserable test scores. Schools with the highest Hispanic populations have the same miserable test scores. Schools with 90% white populations have the same miserable learning experiences and miserable test scores.
Frederick Douglas High School is in the Baltimore Public School district.
GreatSchool.net ratings are based on test scores.
Ratings are 1-10 (10 being highest)
8 The school rates 1 at GreatSchools.net
8 The district rates 3 at GreatSchools.net
For this, the district pays $10,910 per student. (State average=$10,382.)
Frederick Douglass High School must be buying more expensive books than schools in the rest of the state.
Luckily, at GreatSchools you can search for other schools in the District to compare.
8 Paul Laurence Dunbar High School rates a 7, has 98% black, 54% are eligible for a free or reduced-price lunch.
8 Frederick Douglass High School rates a 1, has 99% black, 60% are eligible for a free or reduced-price lunch.
Maybe it's not poverty?
One difference?
Paul Laurence Dunbar High School has 501 students.
Frederick Douglass High School has 1151 students.
Highly-qualified Teachers
-- % of classes taught by teachers who are not highly-qualified
Paul Laurance Dunbar H.S. 15.3%
Frederick Douglass H.S. 57.7%
"Highly-qualified" teachers require 1)at least a bachelor's degree; 2) full state certification that includes passing Praxis I basic reading writing, and math tests; and 3) demonstrate knowledge in the subjects they teach.
Praxis I - Reading - Writing - Math
Isn't that what you thought would be minimum for anyone to teach?
Massive failure
There are 44 high schools in the Baltimore City Public School district. Only five schools rate above 5. A total of 39 high schools rate 4 and below for poor academic performance.
This is not a failure to fund schools, nor poverty as a bottom line indicator. It is a colossal failure to provide decent education to a whole city school system. Warehousing students in a school with 1151 students is bound to create a morass where students fail to find the attention they need to achieve.
ONLINE RESOURCES
2007 Maryland Report Card
Greatschools.net
(You can also type in your school name and GreatSchools at Google)
Definition of Highly Qualified Teacher
Praxis I Overview
Teacher Salary Scales Effective July 1, 2008 in this district
Teacher Benefits in this district
Median Household Income in Baltimore
