Comments on: Twenty Miles: The impact of poverty and language barriers on educational performance

By: The Connecticut Watchdog for the Public Interest « Diane Ravitch's blog

The Connecticut Watchdog for the Public Interest « Diane Ravitch's blog — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 12:00:35 +0000

[...] Not surprisingly, Pelto has been critical of Adamowski’s close ties to the charter school industry and to conservative groups like NCTQ. Pelto repeatedly exposed the ties between Governor Malloy and corporate reformers, as well as the lobbying activities of Michelle Rhee’s StudentsFirst. Pelto has written scathing commentaries about the state takeover of Bridgeport and about Paul Vallas’s stewardship of the district. Pelto is one of the few commentators who has criticized the “reformers” in Connecticut for ignoring the impact of poverty on educational achievement. Please readthis. [...]

By: Rich White

Rich White — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 01:17:00 +0000

There’s significant research that choosing the right bilingual model for ESL students is more important than using ’money’ and ‘poverty’ as proxies. There’s a myriad of models to choose from for different age groups and different home environments and cultural scenarios.

Of course those studies are wasted on people who associate higher paid teachers and union dues as the only working models that counts.

By: Guest

Guest — Sun, 08 Jul 2012 02:13:00 +0000

Thought you were told to go piss up a tree, White.

By: Jonpelto

Jonpelto — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 18:08:00 +0000

Thanks for picking that up – yes – the number is $13,101 for Bridgeport vs. $45,500 for Weston

By: guest

guest — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 16:07:00 +0000

That is a typo the Bridgeport number is $13,101 per student in Brideport.

By: Linda174

Linda174 — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 15:29:00 +0000

You are unable to learn new information. You have your opinion and you read information that furthers that same opinion. You spout ignorance because of your preconceived notions. Posting data or studies would not help you. Anything that doesn’t align with your beliefs is unable to be filtered through your brain. I usually don’t give up when teaching, but you are a lot cause. Please tend to your goats; they are calling you.

By: Rich White

Rich White — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 15:11:00 +0000

Poverty isn’t a cause. It’s a symptom of the dysfunction. Increasing funding to school districts doesn’t cure the dysfunction and is proven to be a largely ineffective method of mitigation.

By: Buygoldandprosper

Buygoldandprosper — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 13:20:00 +0000

“Governor Malloy went so far as to make it clear that he doesn’t mind a policy of teaching to the test, as long as test scores go up.”

Dan is well know for being what is called lace-curtain Irish.The world,outside of his public housing in Hartford, is one big shanty that represents opportunity for higher office. And Dan has been running a marathon for years.
He is the product of the public schools,sort of,if you consider private Catholic universities public schools. He spent a little time as an ADA, but sure makes it sound like he spent decades in the courtroom protecting the public.His kids even spent time in the public schools,sort of.SAY! What are those boys up to these days?! Not like them to be soooo quiet and law-abiding.
As Dan tools around the state (or the globe) in his chauffeured ride,with his wife passing out pork in her cushy,well paid, sinecure I find it offensive that he peeks out,past the lace curtains,in the Hartford mansion and has visions of higher test scores being a panacea for the great unwashed masses.
Like most of his scattershot visions for the rest of us,Dan will leave behind mountains of debt and a system worse off than when he and his cronies attempted to “fix” it. Indeed,the fix seems to be in.

By: guest

guest — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 12:57:00 +0000

that’s “labyrinthine”!

By: guest

guest — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 12:56:00 +0000

Good article. More prominent citizens, professors of education, and veteran teachers in the “protected” districts need to begin speaking out.
It is not really correct that parents are apathetic. Parents are dissed and disrespected all the time. They are sent down blind alleys and through labirynthine bureaucracies.
It doesn’t happen often in wealthy districts, but it does happen elsewhere.