FIX OUR SCHOOLS!!!

Tammy, your brother is one of the good guys of the world that's for sure. I happen to be a Rotarian and Rotarians also go overseas as your brother does to build and help. So what's my point.

I think what your brother and others are able to accomplish, is outside the auspices of the local governement. And therein lies the success of their good works.

promoguy, so we should try to get help from outside entities and maybe try and fund the local organizations who are already trying to fix up the schools? Thanks
Tammy

Not sure about what other states have going on about raising the level of education, but here in California there has been a big development of CHARTER SCHOOLS. They are part of the school district but operate separately. California education which at one time was in the top ten is somewhere around the bottom now.

These charter schools shown such an approvement in students scores in the underserved areas that they are getting a lot of flack from the teacher unionists.

These are not private schools.

Don't get me going on vouchers. Another good thing that that the teacher's union fight against. Interesting to note that in the black areas of cities the polls show that there is a big want of vouchers. But I guess the teachers union know better since they fight the idea.

http://www.myschool.org/

http://www.canec.org/ccspage.html

http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/opinion/atoz/article_738906.php

Do a Google and you'll find tons of information.

I think that the parents of children in the VI public school system who really care about their childrens education and future are the ones who might benefit from Charter Schools.

Fight the good fight and maybe enlist local Rotary and Kiwanis and other volunteer groups.

I think it's worth it.

And no I am not an educator.

One thing I found interesting during the last election in the USVI is I never heard anyone ask a canidate where is children went to school. My guess is that lots of politicians send their children to private schools so they just give lip service to improving things in the public schools.

Same is true for many of the other movers and shakers in VI society I'm sure.

Jim

Parent involvement is a problem there as in many places. There was a meeting some time ago re. loss of accreditation at Central - I believe 10 parents came to the meeting.
I do know that Sen. Russell's daughter is at Country Day and is definitely well aware of her "status".

Jane, in your opinion, why is there such a lack of parental involvement? Do the parents here not care or do that not feel that anything they would do would make a difference?

I don't know - best ask them.

Glad to see you have come around Tammy. The more noise you can make about how bad the schools are is always a good start. I've always said things will not improve until the majority of the population wants a change and gets aggresive and follows things through. But you have to look at the culture. What so many people like about the islands is that it is laid back. Getting anything to change is like pulling teeth. Change does not come to the virgin islands quickly. I wish you all the best luck in getting something going and would be happy to help.

Just my two cents,

I would love to see improvements in the schools as I still am close to people and their kids in the public schools. I will say that unfortunately it was impossible for me to find my way into helping to make changes. There is that fine line where a continental such as myself is still looked upon as an 'outsider' and getting people to talk to me let alone try to change anything or make suggestions or do work myself was frowned upon. What I am trying to say is to make sure the voice of the group you have trying to make the changes is a local. There are some things the locals do like about the schools and don't want some things changed. While everyone can say there needs to be improvements, there is and will be a debate about what those improvements should be for the schools.

All that being said, go for it with everything you can do. It takes a while to get the stone rolling, but I think everyone wants it to happen, they just don't know what to do. The government really needs some checks and balances and that is up to the voters and citizens.

On sort of a side note, there were some news articles about a school that was shut down. Apparently it was for all the 'troubled' junior high and high school kids. They shut it down to rebuild a new 'special' (for lack of a better word) school. They built the school, but do not have the 'troubled' kids attending. All the 'troubled' kids (we are talking about violent and otherwise) were put back into the public schools with no special assistance provided. The crimes in the schools rose drastically when this happened. I wish I could be more specific, but I can't find the article nor the facts about it. It does seem to point towards the corrupt government and money. There have been protests at many schools involving this issue. I just don't understand why the protests are quickly shut down and nothing seems to be resolved.

Teresa