Why Schools Don't Work for All Kids

[Guest guest]

Why Schools Don't Work for All Kids

A few years ago, a high school principal received the reading scores of his

freshman class. About 60 kids read on a college level, about 60 read at

second grade or below, and the rest were arrayed in the middle.

" What are you going to do about the 60 kids who can't read? " the principal

was asked.

" There's nothing to do, but it explains our low test scores, " he replied.

Think about the kids who couldn't read. Their own principal - the person

paid to watch over their education - said, " There's nothing to do. "

" Why Schools Don't Work for All Kids, " will appear in every Alliance Alert,

and is meant to be a counterweight to the good-news stories in " It's Being

Done. " It is a reminder of why we need radical and systemic change in our

schools. Because we do not believe that public humiliation is a good

teaching tool, we will not name individual schools or teachers. This

practice will raise the issue in readers' minds whether the stories are

true. We promise to be extremely careful to make sure our stories are true,

but if you find something unbelievable, please email

kchenoweth@... and we will give any supporting

information we can without exposing individuals to embarrassment. We would

like to believe that many of these individuals are trapped in failing

situations and might act differently if the situation were changed.

What Is The Achievement Alliance?

The Achievement Alliance ( <http://www.achievementalliance.org/>

www.achievementalliance.org), has as its purpose providing accurate,

nonpartisan information about the No Child Left Behind Act and student

achievementt, with particular attention to the achievement of children who

have been traditionally left behind - poor children, children of color,

children learning English, and children with disabilities. It is a project

of the following groups:

Citizens' Commission on Civil Rights: www.cccr.org <http://www.cccr.org/>

National Council of La Raza: www.nclr.org/

Just for the Kids/National Center for Educational Accountability,

www.nc4ea.org <http://www.nc4ea.org/index.cfm?pg=home>

Business Roundtable: www.businessroundtable.org

<http://www.businessroundtable.org/>

The Education Trust: www.edtrust.org <http://www.edtrust.org/>

Jimmy Kilpatrick

JimmyKilpatrick@...

Special Education Consultant/Advocate

832 814-7463

1723 Westheimer Road

Houston, Texas 77098-1611

LDAdvocates.com <http://www.LDAdovcates.com/>