Comments on: Via Brownstoner, a checklist for making your local school better http://gothamschools.org/2009/04/07/via-brownstoner-a-checklist-for-making-your-local-school-better/ Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:27:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Philissa Cramer http://gothamschools.org/2009/04/07/via-brownstoner-a-checklist-for-making-your-local-school-better/comment-page-1/#comment-90717 Philissa Cramer Tue, 07 Apr 2009 20:31:02 +0000 http://gothamschools.org/?p=12586#comment-90717 Not at all, Anon. Insideschools updates its school reviews regularly as schools change, and so it kept PS 11's review up to date as parents there informed the Insideschools staff about new developments. Having an up-to-date review that reflects a vibrant community where parents are involved is a good strategy for any school and the folks at PS 11 were particularly conscientious about keeping the Insideschools staff informed. In fact, I would add creating an information pipeline with Insideschools to the checklist in this post for anyone who is hoping to make his neighborhood school a more welcoming place. The "friendraiser" last spring was simply one PS 11 parent's way of recognizing that Insideschools provides an important service — giving New Yorkers an expert view into their local schools — and that it takes resources for the site's employees to produce independent school reviews. Not at all, Anon. Insideschools updates its school reviews regularly as schools change, and so it kept PS 11′s review up to date as parents there informed the Insideschools staff about new developments. Having an up-to-date review that reflects a vibrant community where parents are involved is a good strategy for any school and the folks at PS 11 were particularly conscientious about keeping the Insideschools staff informed. In fact, I would add creating an information pipeline with Insideschools to the checklist in this post for anyone who is hoping to make his neighborhood school a more welcoming place.

The “friendraiser” last spring was simply one PS 11 parent’s way of recognizing that Insideschools provides an important service — giving New Yorkers an expert view into their local schools — and that it takes resources for the site’s employees to produce independent school reviews.

]]> By: Anon http://gothamschools.org/2009/04/07/via-brownstoner-a-checklist-for-making-your-local-school-better/comment-page-1/#comment-90710 Anon Tue, 07 Apr 2009 20:16:08 +0000 http://gothamschools.org/?p=12586#comment-90710 So did Inside Schools hype PS 11 in exchange for donor $? This sounds like an investment banking scandal. So did Inside Schools hype PS 11 in exchange for donor $? This sounds like an investment banking scandal.

]]> By: inexile http://gothamschools.org/2009/04/07/via-brownstoner-a-checklist-for-making-your-local-school-better/comment-page-1/#comment-90691 inexile Tue, 07 Apr 2009 19:30:33 +0000 http://gothamschools.org/?p=12586#comment-90691 Yes, it does take a village but it also takes the DOE to help effect change. So if the DOE is not working with parents to make the school better, than I believe the parents won't make much difference. You need an administration that's open to parent input and you need the DOE to also work along with the other stakeholders. It seems to me in the current environment - the DOE is allowed to just write off failing schools. Why aren't we holding the Chancellor and the DOE responsible for schools that are failing? After all, isn't mayoral control all about "accountability"? So in the end who is accountable for a failing school and why is that school closed instead of being improved? Yes, it does take a village but it also takes the DOE to help effect change. So if the DOE is not working with parents to make the school better, than I believe the parents won’t make much difference. You need an administration that’s open to parent input and you need the DOE to also work along with the other stakeholders. It seems to me in the current environment – the DOE is allowed to just write off failing schools. Why aren’t we holding the Chancellor and the DOE responsible for schools that are failing? After all, isn’t mayoral control all about “accountability”? So in the end who is accountable for a failing school and why is that school closed instead of being improved?

]]> By: John Hancock http://gothamschools.org/2009/04/07/via-brownstoner-a-checklist-for-making-your-local-school-better/comment-page-1/#comment-90676 John Hancock Tue, 07 Apr 2009 18:59:52 +0000 http://gothamschools.org/?p=12586#comment-90676 Finally people taking the "it takes a village to raise a child attitude" Thank god!! Finally people taking the “it takes a village to raise a child attitude” Thank god!!

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