Interesting read. What are views of you with kids going to public school and or those of you that are teachers on this?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070829/us_nm/usa_schools_segregation_dc

Why is it impossible to believe that people of the same color will reguarly congregate together? Ever since I was in school, it's always been about the 'clicks', the band click, the redneck click, the NJROTC click, the spanish speaking click, the goth click, the NHS click, the jock click, the gay click, the BLACK click(s) (there is usually more than one). Who cares.

Isn't there usually the 'black' side of town and most of the schools on that side of town are considered the 'black' schools? It's that way here in Jacksonville, the whole North side is the 'black side' and the West side is the 'redneck side'. Is this segregation or did these people choose to move/live in these areas?

Why is it impossible to believe that people of the same color will reguarly congregate together? Ever since I was in school, it's always been about the 'clicks', the band click, the redneck click, the NJROTC click, the spanish speaking click, the goth click, the NHS click, the jock click, the gay click, the BLACK click(s) (there is usually more than one). Who cares.

Isn't there usually the 'black' side of town and most of the schools on that side of town are considered the 'black' schools? It's that way here in Jacksonville, the whole North side is the 'black side' and the West side is the 'redneck side'. Is this segregation or did these people choose to move/live in these areas?

What they're worrying about is the teachers flocking to the white schools.
I think the bigger problem is the students themselves.
Reports coming from inner city public schools are that they stab teachers, shootings, gangs etc etc. If you can stop that then there wouldn't be a fear of working for that system.
An incentive program would work also, start paying more money to the teachers and you'll get better teachers, Period. What happens when a teacher begins to teach in a place like miami, they've wanted to teach their whole life then suddenly they realize 35 k isn't going to pay them enough to have a family a home etc.
THey move out of teaching and go towards becoming a professional, a salesman etc.

Well, I'm a teacher, but I'm on lunch-break, so...

I think it's interesting that the article pointed out some people blaming the government for what the article later correctly identifies as a non-govenrmental issue: that certain areas have rapidly growing populations of people who are not white. I'm not sure that there is a floor for the complainers to stand on.

Sooner or later everyone, of every race, is going to have to realize that valuing education at the homes, and in the communities, is what will propel their kids, and thus their students, forward. All too often we see the effects of parents' attitudes, who don't seem to value education themselves (e.g. not doing everything they can, as my grandparents did, to shift to the dominant language of the country they chose to move to), get "inherited" by their children.

I am so happy for, and proud of, my students who can speak two languages - that's awesome, and there is nothing wrong with maintianing a link to one's culture, so don't get me wrong ... but I teach using the English language, and do my best to teach to as high of a level as the students I get are ready for (which, by and large, is not the same level the same students from other areas are ready for), and that's about all I can do (well, besides choosing to live in what I consider poverty - financially, accepting a teaching job in south Florida is a disaster - but then beach free-diving does keep me in better shape than boat diving, lol).

I think that, for this country to be truly fair to all, it is going to have to get rid of some of the regulations of the past. I see my students look beyond race every day, and see that (thank God) our country is slowly becoming what my school's students embody. It isn't there, yet, but with the way so few resources are, these days, equally spread out amongst the communities (the old books, the moldy, depressing rooms, and the lack of supplies), I don't see segregation as being an intentional effort that 'controls' who is going to get what education any more. It really is all about each individual household making each individual community. If a community is safe enough, and stable enough, I may very well accept a job there.

And yes, I have started down two different paths to attempt to make more money. I don't want to concede failure and move out of Florida, but I can't take the low pay any more. I already have a roomate (always have since accepting a job as a teacher down here), yet I still owe too much for my education and gasoline to make it worthwhile.