tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post921198919813596359..comments2024-03-28T10:05:49.529-04:00Comments on Lehigh Valley Ramblings: Why Not Draw and Quarter the Allentown School District? Bernie O'Harehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comBlogger82125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-55882096023598876172014-02-28T22:14:00.145-05:002014-02-28T22:14:00.145-05:00It is just best to keep the ASD the way it is. Som...It is just best to keep the ASD the way it is. Sometimes it is better to just leave things alone. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-65156433525249411172014-02-25T19:05:53.002-05:002014-02-25T19:05:53.002-05:00Catty will jump at this opportunity!Catty will jump at this opportunity!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-11009301133220775142014-02-25T18:19:22.674-05:002014-02-25T18:19:22.674-05:00Momma,
What an amazing reply! I started out teac...Momma,<br /><br />What an amazing reply! I started out teaching Industrial Arts (shop). In later years, we developed into Technology Education. I WAS one of those 'specials.'<br /><br />By the way, thanks to the Trexler Trust, and others back then, we created a uniquely designed Technology Education program geared specially for urban schools. It garnered statewide acclaim. We were doing some things BEFORE Parkland did them!<br /><br />And now, POOF! (in ASD)<br /><br />There is no question, the loss of the specialist areas is very sad.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-83988871609725543872014-02-25T18:09:05.837-05:002014-02-25T18:09:05.837-05:00Oh, and I absolutely agree that the ASD teachers a...Oh, and I absolutely agree that the ASD teachers and staff deserve medals. They do a great job every day, and they deserve our collective thanks!monkey mommanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-24340108392355256562014-02-25T18:05:27.965-05:002014-02-25T18:05:27.965-05:00Great details, Lighthouse. Very interesting!
Mr....Great details, Lighthouse. Very interesting!<br /><br />Mr. Windish, when I say "hire back teachers," I don't necessarily mean decreased class size. I mean, get back the teachers who brought joy to school - the art, gym, music and library teachers. The so-called "specials." These classes can make many children love school. The specials have been absolutely decimated by recent budget cuts in ASD. (Parkland continues to have these specials at their schools, but not without great difficulty.) There is a positive spill-over effect onto core academics when artistic and physical elements are incorporated into a child's school day. Those are the teachers that need to return!<br /><br />But I would agree a smaller class size is certainly preferable.<br /><br />I wonder what the business leaders of Allentown had to say about the educational system here?monkey mommanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-71660887495212648982014-02-25T17:20:57.938-05:002014-02-25T17:20:57.938-05:00Fred is a former ASD teacher, and I defer to him o...Fred is a former ASD teacher, and I defer to him on the problems there. Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-66432990036194035842014-02-25T15:43:44.874-05:002014-02-25T15:43:44.874-05:00Good info, Lighthouse.
Your stats don't even ...Good info, Lighthouse.<br /><br />Your stats don't even list another key component that sets ASD apart. That is, the language barrier.<br /><br />MANY ASD kids come to school with little to no ability to speak, read or write English. In addition, no one at home is of any help! They are even LESS capable. I've seen it many times over many years.<br /><br />Some test-takers, huh?<br /><br />To make matters worse some of the kids come to ASD with NO prior school records. It is not at all unusual for the administration to look at a child and determine "He looks like a sixth grader" and there he goes!<br /><br />Allentown is forced to be an 'educational triage center.' There is a state of confusion many times greater than surrounding districts. Add in families moving from one apartment to another, in what seems to be every other month, there is a total lack of instructional continuity. It is not unusual for a September class of 30 kids to have a 60-75% turnover rate.<br /><br />ASD teachers and administrators should be given medals!<br /><br />Fred WindishAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-10524971042605123102014-02-25T15:12:06.050-05:002014-02-25T15:12:06.050-05:00I hesitated to comment yesterday, so this may be l...I hesitated to comment yesterday, so this may be little read. However, I tend to agree with Monkey Momma. Facts to reinforce her argument, 1-4 per 2012 M.Call account of the US Census Bureau’s 2011 American Community Survey.<br /><br />1.) “The median income for Allentown families has fallen from an estimated $38,760 in 2007 to $30,784 in 2011.” (compare to $49,120/$45,019 for Bethlehem)<br /><br />2.) “24.6 percent of families had incomes below poverty in 2011, up from 14.6 percent four years ago.”<br /><br />3.) “2008, 19.5 had no health insurance; in 2011 the number rose to 26.9 percent.”<br /><br />4.) The article notes: “Alan Jennings, executive director of the (CACLV), said part of the reason for local hard times lies outside of the area. Lower-income people are moving into Allentown for its relatively cheap housing.”<br /><br />5.) According to City-Data.com, in 2009 43.8% of Allentown children lived below the poverty line, compared to 16.8% statewide. <br /><br />The problems of the Allentown School District are heavily a by-product of the reality of Allentown demographics, not the other way around. I agree with the posters that the solution is not to simply divide the district and assimilate them into surrounding districts. That does not erase the reality. Going to “better” Parkland, etc, is not going to erase the fact that the bus still drops you back off in poverty. <br /><br />Besides academics, one could even look at sports. A district with the student population of Allentown, should be able to produce strong teams. Go to any football game this fall at school playing Dieruff or Allen. You will see small teams and bands, and hardly community support in the stands.<br /><br />Unfortunately, I do not have a counter-solution to offer. While I have not been in favor of the corporate welfare of the NIZ, if in time some gentrification of Allentown brings money into Allentown instead of the vicious cycle of poverty/cheap housing attracting yet more poverty/cheap housing, perhaps it will have a silver lining. Unfortunately, that will take a generation to play out, if ever.<br />Lighthousehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05346747286241817118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-67389553412750531562014-02-25T13:10:36.239-05:002014-02-25T13:10:36.239-05:00It is simplistic to say you want kids to fail. And...It is simplistic to say you want kids to fail. And I would not want this if it just means that Allentown's failure will be divided by four other districts. I want all kids to succeed and have a good edicational foundation. This is not a matter of social engineering. It is actually a matter of national security. We need to visit the way educational services are delivered and maximize the chances for every child, poor or rich, to succeed academically. Perhaps this idea won't work. Maybe it should be countywide or even statewide. But I think you'd agree that the current system is a failure. Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-56225081355045490282014-02-25T13:00:06.776-05:002014-02-25T13:00:06.776-05:00Bernie, I respect your opinion, but it's far t...Bernie, I respect your opinion, but it's far too simplistic to say that someone against this proposal "wants kids to fail". The most likely outcome of this idea would be to spread the area of failure as the outlying school districts get pulled down to Allentown's level as they get overwhelmed trying to address issues they have not created. I could throw the same argument back at you and argue that your proposal is condemning the kids in the outlying school districts to fail. All your doing is a bit of social engineering, and deciding one group of kids is more important than another.<br /><br />Also, in all this discussion, we haven't even touched the issue of control over the school districts. Even with your four way split, Allentown may wind up with a controlling voting interest in a small district such as Salisbury (as well as some of the others that I'm not as familiar with). Why would it make any sense to allow Allentown, with its failing results, to essentially take over a relatively successful district, against the will of its residents?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-9869002413160506142014-02-25T11:38:05.053-05:002014-02-25T11:38:05.053-05:00Insightful discussions like these can be very help...Insightful discussions like these can be very helpful. Any time typical 'teacher bashing' is left at the door we can all learn something.<br /><br />I also find much to like in 10:19's statements. Making surrounding districts absorb Allentown's student body is a bit like 'forced integration' but this time, it's not so much white vs. color, but prepared-to-learn vs. unprepared. <br /><br />I would much rather the state and federal government stay OUT of each local district's decisions about mandates and expectations. No Child Left behind was a colossal failure because kids and districts are NOT all the same, and never will be.<br /><br />I also appreciate monkey momma's wisdom here, and places before. Poverty is VERY MUCH the issue. Momma is also correct, one of the most effective ways to counterbalance that negative influence and broken family support systems that accompany, is through class size control.<br /><br />Class size really DOES matter! Ask any teacher. That's kinda the appeal of sending one's child to Swain or Princeton isn't it?<br /><br />Unfortunately, Allentown has been steadily increasing its class sizes over the past 6-7 years. Exactly opposite of what could help so many unprepared learners! Remember, if a kid doesn't have the benefit of a supportive Mom & Dad, he/she MIGHT get more of that necessary attention in a smaller class.<br /><br />P.S.<br /><br />The additional adults required in the schools don't all have to be certified teachers. (hint)<br /><br />Fred WindishAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-6636595742279341612014-02-25T11:03:52.484-05:002014-02-25T11:03:52.484-05:0010:19 is exactly 100% correct.
On the other hand,...10:19 is exactly 100% correct.<br /><br />On the other hand, the current school district/property tax arrangement has allowed big walls to go up around cities like Allentown. It's a pretty harsh reality for the kids on the wrong side of the wall.<br /><br />My parents and my husband and I work so hard to stay on the good side of that wall. That is, the Parkland side, as opposed to the Allentown side. I don't feel guilty - I feel like we've all worked our butts off to be here. <br /><br />But obviously the issues of urban school districts like Allentown need to be discussed and acted upon, as much as possible. I very much believe that the answer to Allentown's problems are not going to be found anywhere in the ASD. It's going to be found at home, in the family unit itself. Until parents demand more from their children, children will not perform well. It is possible to receive an outstanding education in the ASD - the kid just has to want it. And that's what's lacking. Not necessarily just money, although more money would help if it were used to hire back teachers. <br /><br />Families need to stop the poverty cycle by having less children, too. You can't mandate that. It's not fashionable to discuss, but the truth is, women need to stop having so many babies, and fathers need to marry their baby-mamas. Poverty is the root of this town's problems, and large families headed by single, poor mothers are the nemesis of improvements.monkey mommanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-67208475691554188872014-02-25T10:48:27.058-05:002014-02-25T10:48:27.058-05:00Look, we have an obligation to educate our childre...Look, we have an obligation to educate our children. Some generals actually consider this a matter of national security. The idea of liking into who should be paying or it is ridiculous. We all pay for it. Some of us even pay that and pay for Catholic education. You want kids to suffer bc ASD sucks. I don't look at things that way. Sorry. Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-35177054871620153102014-02-25T10:19:53.081-05:002014-02-25T10:19:53.081-05:00"It's not a "great deal" for AS..."It's not a "great deal" for ASD, which would be disbanded. As for the expense of educating kids, isn't this something we should want? The more education, the less likely he will go to jail."<br /><br />And right there is the bottom line point. The proposal you are throwing out is based solely upon the theory that ASD's problems are totally (or largely) caused by factors outside its control, and that it can't survive without outside money. This is somewhat debatable - I personally feel the problems of ASD are at least 75% due to factors totally based on Allentown (including family stability and district management and policies), and no more than 25% due to factors outside the city's control (pensions, federal/state funding mechanisms, etc).<br /><br />What's ridiculous about the proposal is the idea to throw responsibility to fix the problem at the expense of the surrounding four school districts. Leaving the obvious fairness issues aside, the idea won't fix the root cause of the problems, and the idea would cause a "race to the bottom" in the school districts as their funds and efforts would be poured into Allentown to try to fix problems that these School Districts have no responsibility for. I suspect the result would be much more detrimental to the surrounding districts than they would be beneficial for Allentown. You'd wind up with a much wider area of distressed schools.<br /><br />The only way to justify this would be an ultra-liberal "spread the wealth/pain" philosophy, based on social guilt. History has shown repeatedly that this philosophy is doomed to fail.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-60085406357040159902014-02-25T08:32:06.115-05:002014-02-25T08:32:06.115-05:00Legalizing pot will increase unemployment in Allen...<i>Legalizing pot will increase unemployment in Allentown unless dealer retaining is included in the legislation. Allentown is about to experience the boom that arena baskets promised. Be patient. Allentown is about to enter its fiscal renaissance. Right arena backers? No need to do anything but plan to spend the windfall. The school district plan is unnecessary.</i><br /><br />Excited for the puck to drop!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-87000164889803428342014-02-24T23:29:36.534-05:002014-02-24T23:29:36.534-05:00Wanna' get high?Wanna' get high? Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-38680935782016622642014-02-24T23:28:13.913-05:002014-02-24T23:28:13.913-05:00SorrySorryAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-20270283207701255972014-02-24T22:01:03.009-05:002014-02-24T22:01:03.009-05:00I think the marihuana point had Benadryl and is ge...I think the marihuana point had Benadryl and is getting repetitive.Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-30524467900736571402014-02-24T21:59:40.772-05:002014-02-24T21:59:40.772-05:00Matt M, consolidation of school districts would ha...Matt M, consolidation of school districts would have no impact on sports rivalries. Some of the biggest rivalries, like Freedom v. Liberty, are between schools on the same district.Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-14627553747120644112014-02-24T21:18:04.053-05:002014-02-24T21:18:04.053-05:00And i dont smoke weed. I just see the benefits of...And i dont smoke weed. I just see the benefits of keeping the money here instead of mexico. I haven't smoked in 25+ years and I'm a person who works and pays taxes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-72880749634728860202014-02-24T21:15:58.059-05:002014-02-24T21:15:58.059-05:00b-b-b-b-b-b- but Bernie, what about the sports riv...b-b-b-b-b-b- but Bernie, what about the sports rivalries??!! What will Troy Hein ever get to report about on the news?<br /><br />Actually, I'd love to see administration get consolidated to the county level as a start to save costs. Most every other state is set up this way already.Matt M.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-65391584422446598132014-02-24T21:10:40.502-05:002014-02-24T21:10:40.502-05:00The mexican cartels bring billions back to mexico ...The mexican cartels bring billions back to mexico every year from marijuanna sales alone. Imagine investing. 06% percent back into our schools. The government created prohibition and the likes of Al Capone, we can take it away alsoAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-83967580657060026502014-02-24T21:01:00.189-05:002014-02-24T21:01:00.189-05:00Nobody wants to take pensions away or cut teachers...Nobody wants to take pensions away or cut teachers. We need smart people to recognize that weed is the answer. Stop spending millions incarcerating none violent offenders and tax the kind bud. AmenAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-88222936593379562902014-02-24T19:50:56.200-05:002014-02-24T19:50:56.200-05:00Pensions are fair compensation for those tasked wi...Pensions are fair compensation for those tasked with teaching our youth, O'Hare you're a bitter man child. AM dialnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-39624241290878325092014-02-24T19:06:05.248-05:002014-02-24T19:06:05.248-05:00Thats some gooood beeerThats some gooood beeerAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com