When Fort Wayne Community Schools unveiled its $500 million building program, a lot of people said, "But what about academics?" Now we have the answer. FWCS has plans to reinvent its six high schools. I'm working on an editorial about it, and I don't know exactly the final shape will be, but it will not be nearly as uncritically supportive as The Journal Gazette's:
Parents should also be prepared to accept changes that will create schools unlike those they attended. That model doesn't work in today's global economy.
[. . .]
The districtwide approach FWCS is taking distinguishes the redesign from reform efforts around the country. It also makes it harder to grasp exactly what the high schools will look like next fall or in five or 10 years. That's OK
Comments
Leo:
Don't be at all surprised to see the "block" scheduling go bye-bye, either.
I knew that was failed from the start, and I told my wife as much (she's a teacher, btw).
I think with ONLY SIX high schools in the area, there isn't a "need" for EVERY SINGLE school to be a "specific" school. ONE school might suffice quite well, in fact, with the other FIVE pursuing a hardline "core subject" structure.
And you are SO right that with all the changes to our world over the past 40 years, we NEED to get back to BASICS...spot on with that assessment, Leo!
When you and I went to school, we had 2 choices after high school:
1- work
2-college
(well three if you count the military draft, which we weren't ASKED if we wanted to choose anyway...lol)
And all the high school did THEN was prepare you for the aforementioned TWO choices.
(and nothing prepares you for war, that's a given)
With today's lack of manufacturing (and the advent of computer-assisted manufacturing) the mindset should be preparation for college or the 21st century workforce (which will certainly involve technical expertise).
Much food for though on this premise, though.
B.G.
When you and I went to school, we had 2 choices after high school:
1- work
2-college
(well three if you count the military draft, which we weren