Some of you may be wondering what the big deal is. Maybe you aren't interested in magnet programs for your children or maybe you think its all a bunch of fluff that detracts from basic academics. So why should you care? Because your non-magnet base school is limited in what it can offer to your child. No 'regular' elementary schools can offer band or orchestra. They cannot offer a foreign language as anything more than a once a week special. Your middle school children can only take 1 elective each semester. Non-magnet base schools are prohibited from offering anything more than the basics because then the magnet schools won't be so appealing. Not enough of 'you' will apply to the magnet schools to help them achieve their goals.
I think most of us have learned to accept this even if we don't like it because we are led to believe that all magnets are located in crime-ridden, high-poverty neighborhoods. We're led to believe that we are giving low income kids opportunities that they might not otherwise have like exposure to the arts and violin lessons. But as I've illustrated, some of the magnets are not located in high-poverty areas. So not only are our children denied opportunities at their base schools, we are subsidizing those opportunities for children living in homes that most of us could never afford. And we are paying for them to get those opportunities at their neighborhood school where they can walk or ride the bus with their neighborhood friends.
That is why you should care.
So what can you do? Write to the BOE to let them know that it is not acceptable to have magnet schools serving middle to upper income base nodes. Magnets should be located in high poverty areas or at the very least, only serve high poverty base areas.
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2 comments:
What was discussed at this week's Board meeting that caused the Board to spare Broughton's magnet status?
Jennifer: I got your blog site address from the Bedford HOA site. First, I applaud your concern about the school system here, and would like to have a conversation with you sometime. I am new to Wake County (and NC, for that matter). I think you could help me to sort through this mess of a public school that Raleigh has created. Already you've taught me that non-magnets are forbidden from offering elective programs, which is absolutely incomprehensible to me.
While I see your point about magnets being located in economically challenged areas only, I see things a little differently. If abolishing the magnet program at Davis Drive means those kids will lose their electives and bands, etc, then that's a shame. If that means that those students will now need to attend a magnet school to get those opportunities, then that's a shame too.
IF we had better base schools, we wouldn't need to apply for the privilege of sending our kids to good public schools that are located so far from home. We wouldn't need the magnet programs at all.
It seems to me the argument is to boost the academic performance and elective opportunities at base schools, not to isolate magnets to EC areas only. Along with that is the argument to keep kids in their local schools and not keep uprooting them every year. It's all intertwined.
I welcome your opinion on this, but it seems to me these magnet programs are contaminating local opportunities for our children. I'd like to get rid of them altogether.
IF we had better base schools, we could open up a "reasonable" amount of seats for ED students to come to US, rather than the other way around. I'd rather see that happen, as we'd be more likely to get the motivated ED students who really WANT to be there, rather than traveling to be with an ED population who may or MAY NOT appreciate the education they are getting at their local magnet school.
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