The state of my father's alma mater hurts my heart. Props to Dr. Blackburn and Eric Cowan for being uncharacteristically vocal.
Generally, you hear from Dr. Blackburn when he is requesting data and you don't usually hear from Cowan much at all. I'm glad both of these leaders felt strongly enough about the outcry of the public and students to say something with urgency about fixing/replacing SOC.
Not much to say here that wasn't already covered by the DMN, but the general response to this is less sadness for SOC and more a greater lament for the condition of the majority of DISD schools. The SOC students were right: Band aid fixes, patches, and other temporary measures are penny wise and a pound foolish. Painting lockers that aren't even in use? Not shocking to anyone that has spent any amount of time in DISD.
Much of the criticism over the 2015 Bond Deal was that it didn't do enough address the needs of certain schools, particularly some of the southern schools like SOC and Carter, is resurfacing now. Paired with the rising tension over the recent failed attempt to block construction of a new Uplift campus, this is validating my theory that things are only going to get messier around here. That's a good thing if it airs out more of these chronic issues AND finds solutions to them.
The woman you have now seen on the news and in the paper whose son was denied from charter school for fighting too much articulated the importance of facilities and its relevance in the greater education debate better than anyone else in the past few weeks. At the community event, she pleaded with attending community members not to be attracted by charter facilities. Well that's part of why the waiting lists and interest in charters is what it is. The facilities look better, the toilets flush, and there are fewer chain link fences. The buildings look like someone cares about them. They are new and well maintained.
First impressions aren't everything, but they matter. Nobody enjoys walking into a building that looks like a prison everyday, not even prison guards. Am I saying that the instruction is better and kids are learning more in charter schools? No. What I am saying is that if you put a picture of SOC next to a picture Uplift Hampton, 9/10 random strangers will pick the charter school if given no additional information. That's a problem DISD can no longer ignore. Everyone likes nice things.
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Related Articles:
Thanks Trustee Cowan for Serving DISD
DISD Trustees stop by to visit with us
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Fireworks at a DISD Board Meeting
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Not much to say here that wasn't already covered by the DMN, but the general response to this is less sadness for SOC and more a greater lament for the condition of the majority of DISD schools. The SOC students were right: Band aid fixes, patches, and other temporary measures are penny wise and a pound foolish. Painting lockers that aren't even in use? Not shocking to anyone that has spent any amount of time in DISD.
Much of the criticism over the 2015 Bond Deal was that it didn't do enough address the needs of certain schools, particularly some of the southern schools like SOC and Carter, is resurfacing now. Paired with the rising tension over the recent failed attempt to block construction of a new Uplift campus, this is validating my theory that things are only going to get messier around here. That's a good thing if it airs out more of these chronic issues AND finds solutions to them.
The woman you have now seen on the news and in the paper whose son was denied from charter school for fighting too much articulated the importance of facilities and its relevance in the greater education debate better than anyone else in the past few weeks. At the community event, she pleaded with attending community members not to be attracted by charter facilities. Well that's part of why the waiting lists and interest in charters is what it is. The facilities look better, the toilets flush, and there are fewer chain link fences. The buildings look like someone cares about them. They are new and well maintained.
First impressions aren't everything, but they matter. Nobody enjoys walking into a building that looks like a prison everyday, not even prison guards. Am I saying that the instruction is better and kids are learning more in charter schools? No. What I am saying is that if you put a picture of SOC next to a picture Uplift Hampton, 9/10 random strangers will pick the charter school if given no additional information. That's a problem DISD can no longer ignore. Everyone likes nice things.
Follow us on Facebook; Twitter; iTunes; Soundcloud; Stitcher
Related Articles:
Thanks Trustee Cowan for Serving DISD
DISD Trustees stop by to visit with us
Complaints about SOC heard by DISD BoT - DMN
Fireworks at a DISD Board Meeting
Challenger in DISD District 5
DISD Charter School Battle Just Getting Started
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