Thanks to all who have taken on this important cause. I know that having access to different educational models is key for a successful public education system. I hope that others of influence realize the urgency and enormity of this issue as well.
L
Linda Barker
9 years ago
Featured
A very critical discussion about schools based on students' learning modes, passions, and active learning!
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Donald McGuirk
9 years ago
Well reasoned and well written arguement.
M
Marla Tomberg
9 years ago
I oppose Strive in DPS!!
A
Amy Bergner
9 years ago
Featured
Great schools in every neighborhood should be community based schools held to the same standards as our public schools. As a mom and a teacher I don't believe many of our charter school foster independent thought and learning, this is what I believe my children at home and in the classroom need to be successful.
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Marisela Aguilar
9 years ago
Yess!! Great cause!!
M
Moose Mamet
9 years ago
As a parent of a 5th grader and a teacher, I am particularly concerned about the availability of schools with diverse pedagogy and whole-child approaches in the middle school years. The emotional development for students of this age is as critical if not more critical than intellectual development.
In grades 5-9th, students can be pre-occupied if not completely overwhelmed by confusion and self-doubt, struggling with their identities and feeling of self-worth. Puberty is quite literally changing their brain chemistry - I see in my daughter how this physical and emotional growth affects her intelligence. I can tell you this with absolute certainty: my daughter is dumber during a growth spurt.
Test scores do not measure literal growth, and they do not take into consideration what effect this growth - the hormonal, chemical, bone, muscle, and organ development - is having on a student’s logical brain. These changes can last weeks, and students may emerge from each period of growth as stylistically different learners. During this time, my child needs encouragement, understanding, patience, and caring, not criticism.
As she is going through these changes, I don’t care about her test scores or her grades or her college-preparedness. I care she is learning about herself and what kind of person she is becoming. While naturally her intelligence is a part of her identity, focusing on measuring it and increasing it at the expense of emotional health is absolutely the wrong approach. While my child is experiencing these difficult changes, under no circumstances do I want a teacher to make her feel unworthy or substandard because she got a bad grade on a test.
In my experience, a rigid curriculum and assessment does not properly measure every student’s abilities, when on any given day a student’s intellectual capacity is suppressed by the emotional and physiological. Teachers must be able to recognize and have the flexibility to address these changes from a pedagogi
G
Gustavo Gutierrez
9 years ago
The Education Reform (ed reform) movement needs to be reformed! Just as the ed reform movement sought out to reform the education in this country, it is time now to reform the ed reform movement!
I am first generation college goer of immigrant Americans from Mexico. I know from personal experience the degree of difficulty to obtain a higher education when you lack the tools and know-how to navigate and succeed in an unfair society. As a former criminal defense attorney in the east coast for 8 years, I have seen the impact of an education system that fails generations and fall into the school-to-prison pipeline. Things did need to change in order to change this reality. The ED reform movement sought to do just that. Nevertheless, noble intentions and goals do not make a holistic movement. When said intentions and goals do not take into account the rich communities it seeks to serve. The ED Reform movement has failed, in this regard, the way the so-called traditional education did scores of underprivileged Americans. They did not listen to the voices of the people it wants to serve; never did they partner with them.
We are not here at a critical juncture. As a former DSST teacher (2014-2016), I know the tremendous possibilities there are to impact all kids and partner with them to achieve their dreams.
I am critic of the Denver 2020 plan because it doesn't allow for a more holistic range of schools that serve ALL children. I am critic of the Denver 2020 plan because it solidifies the lack sustainability of the teach profession. A reason why I left the education filed altogether (now I practice immigration law in NYC) was that I felt that my job was tenuous and short-term. There are host of other reasons that have been apparent to Denver and the country that makes the teaching profession not a top choice for anyone to join.
I raise my voice to say WE NEED DIVERSE SCHOOLS. If Denver had DIVERSE schools as described in this petition, I probab
S
Susie Apte
9 years ago
All children deserve a whole child education.
K
Kathryn Harris
9 years ago
Featured
Children learn differently, therefore, one style of education does not work for all children. We are doing children and families a disservice when we don't provide choice. For so many children, the paternalistic models promoted by these 4 charter schools do not work. Let's make sure we are building a system that works for all children.
E
Emmi Nidel
9 years ago
I support diversity in learning, and I fully support any initiative to expand options for parents and children.
A
Anonymous
9 years ago
Featured
Students need school options that fit their learning style, not just high compliance schools
G
Godwin Amouzou
9 years ago
Featured
As a kid of color I believe that this is an important cause for not just DPS students, but students from all districts.
J
Julie Behrman
9 years ago
Featured
We are a family whose children attend Denver Public Schools, and we oppose high compliance charters.
You think Education is expensive? Try ignorance!
Thanks to all who have taken on this important cause. I know that having access to different educational models is key for a successful public education system. I hope that others of influence realize the urgency and enormity of this issue as well.
A very critical discussion about schools based on students' learning modes, passions, and active learning!
Well reasoned and well written arguement.
I oppose Strive in DPS!!
Great schools in every neighborhood should be community based schools held to the same standards as our public schools. As a mom and a teacher I don't believe many of our charter school foster independent thought and learning, this is what I believe my children at home and in the classroom need to be successful.
Yess!! Great cause!!
As a parent of a 5th grader and a teacher, I am particularly concerned about the availability of schools with diverse pedagogy and whole-child approaches in the middle school years. The emotional development for students of this age is as critical if not more critical than intellectual development. In grades 5-9th, students can be pre-occupied if not completely overwhelmed by confusion and self-doubt, struggling with their identities and feeling of self-worth. Puberty is quite literally changing their brain chemistry - I see in my daughter how this physical and emotional growth affects her intelligence. I can tell you this with absolute certainty: my daughter is dumber during a growth spurt. Test scores do not measure literal growth, and they do not take into consideration what effect this growth - the hormonal, chemical, bone, muscle, and organ development - is having on a student’s logical brain. These changes can last weeks, and students may emerge from each period of growth as stylistically different learners. During this time, my child needs encouragement, understanding, patience, and caring, not criticism. As she is going through these changes, I don’t care about her test scores or her grades or her college-preparedness. I care she is learning about herself and what kind of person she is becoming. While naturally her intelligence is a part of her identity, focusing on measuring it and increasing it at the expense of emotional health is absolutely the wrong approach. While my child is experiencing these difficult changes, under no circumstances do I want a teacher to make her feel unworthy or substandard because she got a bad grade on a test. In my experience, a rigid curriculum and assessment does not properly measure every student’s abilities, when on any given day a student’s intellectual capacity is suppressed by the emotional and physiological. Teachers must be able to recognize and have the flexibility to address these changes from a pedagogi
The Education Reform (ed reform) movement needs to be reformed! Just as the ed reform movement sought out to reform the education in this country, it is time now to reform the ed reform movement! I am first generation college goer of immigrant Americans from Mexico. I know from personal experience the degree of difficulty to obtain a higher education when you lack the tools and know-how to navigate and succeed in an unfair society. As a former criminal defense attorney in the east coast for 8 years, I have seen the impact of an education system that fails generations and fall into the school-to-prison pipeline. Things did need to change in order to change this reality. The ED reform movement sought to do just that. Nevertheless, noble intentions and goals do not make a holistic movement. When said intentions and goals do not take into account the rich communities it seeks to serve. The ED Reform movement has failed, in this regard, the way the so-called traditional education did scores of underprivileged Americans. They did not listen to the voices of the people it wants to serve; never did they partner with them. We are not here at a critical juncture. As a former DSST teacher (2014-2016), I know the tremendous possibilities there are to impact all kids and partner with them to achieve their dreams. I am critic of the Denver 2020 plan because it doesn't allow for a more holistic range of schools that serve ALL children. I am critic of the Denver 2020 plan because it solidifies the lack sustainability of the teach profession. A reason why I left the education filed altogether (now I practice immigration law in NYC) was that I felt that my job was tenuous and short-term. There are host of other reasons that have been apparent to Denver and the country that makes the teaching profession not a top choice for anyone to join. I raise my voice to say WE NEED DIVERSE SCHOOLS. If Denver had DIVERSE schools as described in this petition, I probab
All children deserve a whole child education.
Children learn differently, therefore, one style of education does not work for all children. We are doing children and families a disservice when we don't provide choice. For so many children, the paternalistic models promoted by these 4 charter schools do not work. Let's make sure we are building a system that works for all children.
I support diversity in learning, and I fully support any initiative to expand options for parents and children.
Students need school options that fit their learning style, not just high compliance schools
As a kid of color I believe that this is an important cause for not just DPS students, but students from all districts.
We are a family whose children attend Denver Public Schools, and we oppose high compliance charters.
Former DPS student