Amen to that!"Marvin Stewart says Charleston County is not educating its children.
"He believes the curriculum in our public schools is not challenging enough, is uneven between "good" schools and "failing" schools. Many students who graduate from Charleston County schools aren't ready for higher education.
"Stewart says the district spends too much on gimmicks that don't work, such as partial magnet schools or arts-infused elementary schools.
"He says the district makes itself look better on paper by simply shutting down failing schools -- Brentwood, Rivers, Courtney -- instead of putting in the hard work to turn them around.
"For that reason, he's skeptical about the district's plan to shut down many downtown schools because of earthquake concerns, and questions whether those schools will ever reopen.
"These are strong charges -- charges the district disagrees with. But some community folks say the same things.
"The most amazing thing about these charges is that Marvin Stewart is not simply a mad parent; he is chairman of the downtown constituent school board.
Not a hypocrite
"Constituent school boards usually toil in obscurity, working directly with parents on transfers and the like. They rarely speak up. Stewart is the exception.
"A former high school teacher, he says his eyes were opened when his oldest daughter asked to be transferred out of her high school. He was shocked -- it was his alma mater, and she was doing well. But she said she wasn't learning anything. Stewart insisted his daughter be admitted to Academic Magnet.
"She now has a Ph.D.
"Stewart says these days there are school staffers who work at one school but send their kids to others. He doesn't blame them -- he did the same thing -- but then, he is not claiming that failing schools are actually succeeding.
"You shouldn't endorse a product you aren't using," he says.
A whistleblower
"In his 12 years on the constituent school board, Stewart has been vilified by some. A few officials aren't pleased that he praises the Charleston Charter School for Math and Science while criticizing district-generated programs.
"He saw the result of that ire when he ran for the county school board a couple years ago. The establishment came down on him hard.
"Stewart is unsure how much longer he can hold on to his constituent board job -- the entire board is up for re-election in November.
"The only reason I stay on the board is because I've helped 1,000 parents get their children out of District 20 schools," he says.
"He doesn't claim to have all the answers, but says the district needs a CEO and an external audit, as well as an outside consultant not swayed by local politics. But mostly, he says, there needs to be a consistent and challenging curriculum throughout the district.
"Whether you agree or not, one thing is certain: Marvin Stewart cares about schoolchildren. And for that reason his concerns deserve a listen."
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Go, Marvin!
In case you don't read Brian Hicks's column in the Post and Courier, try Wednesday's:
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9 comments:
Brian Hicks hit the nail on the head - again! Marvin has been a warrior for the D20 schools - including Charleston Charter School for Math & Science.
Very early in the campaign to make that school happen, when some were grumbling about its interest in Rivers, Marvin did something significant for the proposed school. Marvin brought to the District 20 Constituent
School Board a resolution of support for Charleston Math & Science to use Rivers . What's more, it prevailed!
That was a huge vote of confidence in the math & scince charter idea by the people who were elected to represent the District 20 schools. And it came when in the face of naysaying by a narrow but concerted effort to kill the school in the womb.
By the way, did you see that this school made AYP?
Marvin is a dedicated, loyal and honest advocate for quality public education despite whatever the administration or the powers that be would have us believe. He has blown the whistle where good teachers have been afraid to do so. His experience as a parent and an alumnus gives him a perspective that most administrators don't even have. By helping so many to find alternatives to the lack luster and inconsistent educational programs offered by CCSD Marvin has placed his priorities with meeting individual student needs and not white washing the system. Too bad McGinley started out by identifying Marvin and others like him as the enemy. Marvin could have been a powerful ally if the administration really wanted to advance downtown schools. Like those who are with him, he continues to push for educational excellence and transparency. Too bad McGinley and Company have failed to understand and appreciate Marvin's priorities. They are the same priorities for most of us.
BTW, the Math and Science Charter School met all of its goals during the last period which was part of the AYP evaluation. This and the only other public charter school located downtown, Charleston Development Academy, continue to make progress. They offer downtown parents and students the only non-failing public schools available to them from grades K thru 12. If left to CCSD there would be no downtown public schools. What a shame!
Marvin has given parents and their children alternatives that CCSD would prefer to deny them.
Not to throw cold water, but test scores are one thing, but the math and science charter is a management disaster and will be lucky to survive financially. It has no leadership and even board members are pulling their kids at the end of the year.
I haven't heard anything but great things from Math and Science Charter School parents. The truth of the matter is that it is already succeeding far beyond any CCSD school downtown.
Poster 9:17, what do you know? We have heard only good things and they seem to have lots of parent involvement. What is wrong specifically?
Charleston Math and Science is successful because the parents who put their children there are motivated and involved.
It has nothing to do with the program they offer. It has nothing to do with the teaching. It has to do with the parenting.
When will folks realize that the community determines the level of success of a school and not vice versa?
BTW, the principal was removed from the school and escorted off campus. Why did that not make the news? If this happened at Burke, the news media would be all over it.
Last time I checked, it was my tax payer money supporting that school. Do I not have a right to know what financial mismanagement took place?
Does being a charter school allow you to keep secrets?
The term is "scapegoat."
Maybe Babbie blocked "Jesus Colwell" from the negative press?
No, I believe that the former principal of the CMASC has friends in places that might protect him from press that might be damaging. Unfortunately, this has not been addressed at the P & C.
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