Recent Comments
Re: “Sandra Parker: No apologies”
1. Is there a drug and alcohol test required for members of the RBA like the company that relocated to Texas? Drug testing for potential employees is not a good indicator of how well they will perform on the job but it's a great way to weed out people who need the jobs the most-poor people and people of color.
2. Why do free market principles apply except for when they don't? Competing against other states by awarding tax breaks to companys is great for cheap labor, high profits and and increasing folks in need of welfare services (see every red state) but not for growing a strong middle class and formidable national economy that is competetive in the world. Shouldn't tax payers help the middle class grow instead of lining the pockets of wealthy investors?
3. Why do business leaders ignore data and theircomplicitness in the demise of the city schools? Loss of living wage jobs with benefits combined with white flight, not wilfully poor educators is why the RCSD is in the shape it is. The biggest indicator of a child's success in school is his/her parent's income level-a stable job with good benefits and placement in an economically integrated school. Replace public schools with charters -break unions and continue de-facto segregation policies and the results will continue to be on par with Kodak's demise.
When our leaders devise solutions to problems that don't exist while ignoring the elephants in the room we all lose.
Linda Lopata
Re: “Feedback 2/12”
Let's take Bob P olhemus's logic and apply into the root of the problem of city schools-economic segregation. For decades the Republican controlled Monroe County Legislature , County Executive and their colleagues in town and village government have done nothing to increase economic opportunity for inner city residents, and everything in their power to isolate the most needy, resulting in the destruction of city neighborhoods and schools. "It seems obvious to me that "Ms. Brooks and her cronies" should be replaced by an executive and staff that is willing to work with all parties to implement innovative and meaningful changes in the system." Hmmm....like a county -wide schools sytem and mixed-income housing in the suburbs? "No other private or public enterprise would tolerate the continuance of officers during such a prolonged period of non-performance. Replacing "Ms. Brooks" cannot possibly have a negative impact on the schools." Mr. Polhemus, I would also hope that many concerned citizens would agree to take corrective action. "If it is really about the children, how could they not?"
Re: “Changing my mind about charter schools”
No, we cannot punish people with less resources for advocating for their children. So how, do we make schools of choice work for ALL children? Education should not be about survival of the fittest.
Re: “Changing my mind about charter schools”
Yes, I really hate those poor decisions that babies and children make.
Re: “Tim Mains: 'I was the gay teacher'”
We are losing a gem! Tim's advocacy, by simply being himself, is profound. His work with educators and students is tireless. Tim hit the nail on the head with so many of his insights about the RCSD but I was especially appreciative of his frank commets to business leaders who complain about the broken system. "If the district is that bad, and you know all of these schools around it are so much better, why not just disband the school district? Then all the kids who live in the city would have to be absorbed by the surrounding suburbs." Why not indeed?
Re: “Feedback 5/20”
Just curious how, for example, thousands of city youths applying for a handful of Summer of Opportunity jobs ,who rely on RTS for transportation, could be characterized as culturally dependendent and dwindling? No wonder it's difficult to tackle poverty when seemingly intelligent people spew ficiton to justify systematic oppression.