Applying New Trier Standards to Chicago Public Schools
I am thinking that it might be a good idea for Chicago Public School teachers, whose students take the first day off for a field trip to Winnetka to "enroll" at New Trier High School might try applying New Trier standards to those children who wish to attend New Trier.
First of all, every teacher should assign homework on the first day of school, but maybe not too much, only a half hour or 45 minutes or so per class. When the students go to school on the second day of school, they will obtain the assignment and will then have 24 hours to make up their missing homework. In addition, they will also have to do their second day of school's homework, but since it is earlier in the semester, a half hour or 45 minutes per class is plenty.
Also they will have to serve an in school detention for failing to show up the first day, or maybe 2 months of breakfast club, a really early morning study hall, or maybe even Saturday school.
This is what New Trier students do routinely. Oh yes, those nice books at New Trier? You have to pay for them yourself, the school generally does not provide them, and you have to go buy them before school begins.
Note: New Trier begins its year August 21, and the students who want to enroll aren't showing up until September 2? They would never be able to catch up.
First of all, every teacher should assign homework on the first day of school, but maybe not too much, only a half hour or 45 minutes or so per class. When the students go to school on the second day of school, they will obtain the assignment and will then have 24 hours to make up their missing homework. In addition, they will also have to do their second day of school's homework, but since it is earlier in the semester, a half hour or 45 minutes per class is plenty.
Also they will have to serve an in school detention for failing to show up the first day, or maybe 2 months of breakfast club, a really early morning study hall, or maybe even Saturday school.
This is what New Trier students do routinely. Oh yes, those nice books at New Trier? You have to pay for them yourself, the school generally does not provide them, and you have to go buy them before school begins.
Note: New Trier begins its year August 21, and the students who want to enroll aren't showing up until September 2? They would never be able to catch up.
posted by Publia at 3:16 PM
11 Comments:
Great points Publia! I don't think they have pondered greatly on the semantics, just the theatrics!
If the Chicago Public School students are willing to do the hard work and if they can get their teachers to cooperate, they, too, can get great educations right in their own neighborhood. What they may not understand is the level of sacrifice New Trier requires for this great education. Sometimes local people move out of district just to avoid this school.
Those are great points. I knew and I'm sure you and your children have known parents who made large sacrifices to rent a place in the district so that their children could go to school at New Trier. What can you say about Meeks, when he was involved in that notorious traffic stop Meeks had a few car loads of "body guards" following him like some sort of posse, they then intimidated the cops. Lovely guy.
I don't think the group planning to come over understands at all the sacrifices by both students and parents demanded by New Trier. Even those who live in New Trier easily and comfortably make great sacrifices of time and effort to get their kids successfully through high school.
I hope the Rev. doesn't bring his posse.
Publia, dont be so naive. You honestly think "hard work" by the students will close the achievement gap in our education system. If you havent realized it already, money and resources is at the heart of the inequalities in education. It's really hard to "work hard" when there arent enough books in the classroom for each student. And what does "get their teachers to cooperate" mean? I went to New Trier as a student and now I am a teacher. I think some of you have been in your bubble a little too long.
Kushner, I would disagree that money makes all the difference. Have you forgotten that your parents had to buy your books and you didn't get them for free? I believe that any student who is willing to spend the hours that the top-third or top-half of the graduating class spends on school work will receive a superior education.
By "cooperating" I mean that the teachers have to be willing to be as harsh on their kids as they are at New Trier to get an education that is as good as New Trier's. Also, to receive the equivalent of a New Trier education, many parents will have to hire private tutors, just as they do here. That also is expensive.
Do these kids know that the price of a New Trier education is very little fun, no parties, and little social life? A New Trier education comes at a high price to New Trier students, and I am not sure whether students elsewhere understand that. They might not like the idea. Then again, I am not so sure that New Trier students like it either.
By the way, I did not go to New Trier. I had a nice balance between work and fun in high school, and I turned out fine.
Publia,
I think you are confusing the nature-nurture debate. New trier students arent born smarter than other students. They work harder because parents instilled educational values from a young age and parents are encouraging their children to study hard. Underprivileged students have lots of single parents who work and dont have time to go over homework and make sure their kids study. Once again, it comes down to money and resources.
Also, I dont know why you are assuming that teachers at other schools arent "as harsh" on students than at New Trier. I student-taught there. The teachers are not much different than at other schools.
Did you honestly say that new trier students have "little fun, no parties, and little social life." you do realize that they drink, smoke pot, and party harder than most other students. trust me, i went there.
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Kushner, all I can tell you is what New Trier was like for my kids, their friends, and my friends' kids. Most had high grades and several were National Merit scholars. Some were also from single-parent homes. The party-hardy kids were either brilliant or 2 levels. I don't think it's necessarily money and resources. Four and five hours of homework a day--which I personally think is a little excessive, but fom what I saw, usual--means that these kids graduated very well prepared. I do think that it makes a difference that the average New Trier parent probably has a graduate degree. Also--when did you go there? Things have changed a lot over the years, and from what I understand New Trier has gotten much tougher.
By the way, my New Trier graduates are all for some CPS students coming over--they figure that they might bring some of that CPS football expertise along with them and take New Trier to a state championship.
One big difference at New Trier is that the parents are willing and able to pay for the omnipresent tutors that students use. They are expensive and that takes money.
This was all very interesting until the line about not having gone to New Trier. One thing the Internet has saddled us with is way too many people writing paragraph after paragraph of opinion on some subject, from a particular vantage point, only to let out later that the writer did not in fact ever sit at that vantage point.
Why not just write about things where your well made points can stick? Not just a question for you but for everyone? Why not?
I had 2 children who went to New Trier, a spouse who went to New Trier, a close relative who taught at New Trier, and a lot of friends who went to New Trier. While I went to a private school, I think I am well qualified to comment on New Trier.
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