Principal says Hispanics weren't blamed for school's low state rating
By JESSAMY BROWN, Star Telegram, Sep. 25, 2009
Hispanic freshmen at Gainesville High School were not blamed for the school’s academically unacceptable state rating during specially called assemblies, the principal said Friday.
Meetings solely for Hispanic students are among assemblies the campus has with various groups at the beginning of the year "to make sure they have the support, tools and information they need to be successful," Principal Gene Suttle said.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas is investigating a parent’s complaint that Hispanics were singled out for assemblies Sept. 17 to discuss low standardized test scores, gangs and sex.
Students were reportedly told that they were responsible for the school’s rating and "underperformance" on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills, the ACLU said Thursday in a news release.
Regardless of what was said, the freshman scores on the TAKS have nothing to do with the high school’s latest rating. Because those students were eighth-graders last year, their scores were calculated in Gainesville Junior High School’s academically acceptable rating.
"At no time were these kiddos accused of being responsible for the rating of this school," Suttle said. "We have a lot of very successful Hispanic kids. It was an informational meeting to make sure they know what support is available."
Separating Hispanic students could make them feel at fault, even if that was not the intent, said Gabriel Rivas, deputy state director for youth for the Texas League of United Latin American Citizens.
"What happened is the administration of the high school pulled the students out of their daily work. If they’re not saying it’s their fault, it still comes across that way," said Rivas, of Arlington.
Three parents complained about the Hispanic-only meetings, but several parents have had positive comments, Suttle said.
A meeting for Hispanic parents at the school was held Sept. 15. Other student meetings have been held for certain grades and for students struggling on the TAKS, Suttle said.
Hispanic teachers and staff members act as mentors and role models for Hispanic students. The Hispanic-only talks covered communication with teachers, how to access tutorials and get extra help if needed, and where to go for assistance, Suttle said.
But student Alondra Perez said the teens were told that Hispanic students had the lowest test scores at the school. She said she doesn’t think the campus rating was mentioned but added that she "tuned out" after a while. The adults discussed course credits needed over the next four years to graduate.
Perez, 14, freshman class parliamentarian, said she became uncomfortable when the discussion turned to teen sexual activity.
"At first they were talking about credits and all of a sudden the subject changed to boys and sex," she said.
Her mother, Maurissa Perez, said she filed a complaint with the ACLU.
Suttle said, "The only thing they talked about was making good decisions but there were no in-depth discussions."
We have a lot of very successful Hispanic kids. It was an informational meeting to make sure they know what support is available."
Gene Suttle, principal of Gainesville High School
JESSAMY BROWN, 817-390-7326
Monday, September 28, 2009
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1 comments:
Adrian, Thanks for your articles on Education and Youth
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Is it a good idea to evict and expulse Youngsters ??
Is it a good idea not to educate Youth ??
Old Ageing and Dying Nations : The Decay of Great Nations of Europe and Asia - Too Old to Compete - Will Babies save America ??
Forbes Magazine
New Geographer
The Kid Issue
Shrinking populations bode poorly for world economies.
Joel Kotkin,
Joel Kotkin is a presidential fellow in urban futures at Chapman University. He is executive editor of newgeography.com and writes the weekly New Geographer column for Forbes. He is working on a study on upward mobility in global cities for the London-based Legatum Institute. His next book, The Next Hundred Million: America in 2050, will be published by Penguin early next year.
September 8, 2009
The Kid Issue
http://www.forbes.com/2009/09/07/japan-elections-birthrates-opinions-columnists-joel-kotkin.html
Some excerpts :
Many Japanese recognize that their birth dearth contributes to the country's long-standing economic torpor.
.......................
Japan's predicament seems obvious. Its fertility rate has dropped by a third since 1975. By 2015 a full quarter of the population will be over 65. Generally inhospitable to immigrants, Japan could see its population drop from a current 127 million to 95 million by 2050, with as much as 40% of the population over 65 years of age. By then, no matter how innovative the workforce, Dai Nippon will simply be too old to compete.
While Japan's demographic crisis is an extreme case, many countries throughout East Asia and Europe share a similar predicament. Even with its energy riches, Russia's low birth and high mortality rates suggest that its population will drop 30% by 2050 to less than one-third of that of the U.S. Even Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has spoken of "the serious threat of turning into a decaying nation."
Russia's de facto tsar has cause for concern. Throughout history low fertility and socioeconomic decline have been inextricably linked, creating a vicious cycle that affected once-vibrant civilizations such as as ancient Rome and 17th-century Venice.
America :
The reasons for this divergence with other advanced countries likely includes such things as continuing immigration, more land, larger houses, a strong aspirational culture and a higher degree of religious affiliation. Whatever the cause, a younger demography could lead to a relatively brighter future for America than is now commonly assumed.
Additionally, in the next decade the U.S. will benefit from a millennial baby boomlet, as the children of the original boomers start having offspring. This next surge in population may be delayed if tough economic times continue, but over time it will translate into a growing workforce, sustained consumer spending and will likely spur a rash of new creative inputs.
On the surface, these trends should help America to maintain a growing economy while its main competitors fade. By 2050 Europe's economy could be half that of the U.S. But this is not inevitable. As in Japan, some leaders in European countries understand they cannot sustain prosperity with a steadily declining workforce.
More Statistics, Demography, Polls, Immigration, Minorities, Predictions :
Milenials.com
Vicente Duque
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