The two-year old will now be known as the three-year old. As she approaches five, I start to think more and more about when she will start school. It was with dismay that I learned that Disney Elementary was one of the 38 schools in Tulsa that failed to meet minimum state standards, as that is where she will attend her first days of school. Can Disney be turned around in two years? In the upcoming election, will Tulsans elect a strong mayor who prioritizes education? Will Tulsans replace the school board with folks that are serious about education instead of indoctrination?
I admit that I do not know the names of the school board members. Perhaps if one does not have school-aged children one does not care about such things. Although I get the impression that most parents who do have school aged children do not care about such things either.
I have told you how I believe that Tulsans are waking up, that they are taking their city back. Will they do it in time for my three-year old? I do not know what the future holds for Tulsa and for my family. I hope we have a future together, I hope that we can elect strong leadership and that my daughters can attend top-notch Tulsa public education. I vow to fight to that end, but if we cannot reach that goal together, I must consider parting ways with Tulsa.
Technorati Tags: No Child Left Behind
Tulsa Public Schools
Disney Elementary
3 comments:
Give some serious consideration to homeschooling. There is not a snowball's chance that public indoctrination in this town will ever be anything but that. We've been homeschooling for about nine years and it's a great option.
Consider a surrounding community. There are some excellent districts all around Tulsa. Since my wife has taken a job in the Jenks system, we are seriously considering transferring our kids to that system. Just another idea.
My 9 year old attends Disney. It is my opinion that parental involvement makes a difference. You have to get to know the teachers and know what they do in the classroom. My daughter is entering the fourth grade this year. Her first grade teacher was awesome, but has now left Disney. You have to keep on top of things. I wasn't happy with the class she was put in last year and neither was she, but a couple of letters and visits with Mr. Galuzzi the principal fixed that problem and Stephanie Lowers was a great 3rd grade teacher. For some of us homeschooling is not an option. It's great if you can do it, but I truly believe that Christians have to stand up and make a difference where they are...you know, the whole salt and light thing.
While there are students who test poorly, there are still some quite bright students who excel in public school. Parents just need to get backbones and make their voices heard in the TPS district.
It's all well and good to protect your children, but one of these days they'll have to enter the workforce and they need preparation for the real world where Christians have to deal with non-Christians. We are, after all, in the world but not OF the world, and we have the responsibility to be the light in the midst of darkness.
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