John Marshall Petition

[Dark Jedi]

Originally Posted by krissy

Does anyone know what the task force hopes to accomplish for the new John Marshall?

From many on the thread, apparently have blacks banned from the state. Or at least that is their hope.

[Karried]

I don't think anyone has said that at all.

[jbrown84]

I said something about segregation, but it seethed sarcasm. If you missed that, you might want to read the context again.

[Karried]

I would hope the task force would focus on making the school a safe environment conducive to learning.

Safe meaning that a child should be able to walk down the halls without worrying about having her hair set on fire.

The test scores are nearly the lowest in the state. John Marshall High School Test Scores - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma - OK


35% Reading 6% Math

Unbelievable.

[asta2]

School safety and discipline were the key words mentioned in task force meeting today. Race was not an issue. There was talk however on how to make the school more representative of the neighborhood it's in. Yep, that means how do we get the "white" kids to go there. This school is surrounded by $200K plus houses and yet 84% of the kids qualify for free or reduced lunch program. I walked into the library today. There are no books! There are floor to ceiling shelves on all sides completely empty! We can build a 20 million dollar school but can't put books in it? I don't know if they are waiting on the old JM to close and bring over all of theirs or what. It just seemed odd. Maybe they are all back ordered? Parent involvement was another issue brought up. They asked what it would take for us to bring our kids back. I don't think I will ever put my kids back there. The supposedly crown jewel of a school is no where near the standards I have for my kids. It is just a typical OKC public school, with the exception of Harding and Classen. I want better for my kids... I just can't afford it and that sucks.

[Easy180]

So to sum it all up you are willing to pay for your kids to go to a better school....Can't expect a Honda to be comparable to a Lexus so why try and compare free public to pay private schools asta?

I would hope a school that costs $700 a month to attend would be better than a free school

[bandnerd]

Ah, but there are some great free schools out there, Easy

Sorry, had to get my plug in, but asta did it for me!

[asta2]

Originally Posted by Easy180

So to sum it all up you are willing to pay for your kids to go to a better school....Can't expect a Honda to be comparable to a Lexus so why try and compare free public to pay private schools asta?

I would hope a school that costs $700 a month to attend would be better than a free school

Willing? I suppose you can call it that. It's not what we had planned for. I feel more like I'm forced. I had no other option this year. Independence and Belle Isle were full and wouldn't take her. Quail Creek is a great school, it's free. Classen and Harding are free too. Across town and very little athletics. Any body have a house for sell in Edmond?

[bandnerd]

Actually, both Classen and Harding have most sports, just not football.

At Harding, we have the following:
Boys and girls: Cross Country, Rowing (Chesapeake boathouse) Tennis, basketball, indoor and outdoor soccer
Girls only: Volleyball, softball
Boys only: Baseball

We also offer weightlifting classes for boys and girls, a cardio bootcamp-style class, a dance aerobics class, and spring/fall sports for boys and girls.

We also offer golf if there is interest.

We don't have space for a football field, or the funds. Same for track and field. Maybe someday we can figure it out.

[teach4reasons]

I am a high school teacher and deal with messes and chaos on a daily basis. It seems to me that there are parents at the New John Marshall that are very happy. Maybe the reason is they raised their children to be responsible and respect authority. Those parents aren't complaining about the school are they? Maybe we should put some of the responsiblity where is lies.... With MAPS for KIDS. It has been stated that the OKC School Board wanted to wait to open the New JMHS until it was complete, but MAPS for KIDS insisted that it open.... They must not have had children who had to go to the school, sit in overcrowded classrooms, not have any room for lunch, not have a cafeteria in the school that worked, not had any athletic facilities and they obviously have not been to the school since it has opened.

Personally I feel sorry for the KIDS in the school that have been labeled as BAD. As a teacher, I don't know of BAD kids, but I do know of kids who make BAD choices and have to suffer the BAD consequences.

We as adults have to set examples for ALL children, bu taking responsiblity for our own BAD choices. I think for the KIDS at the New JMHS, it was a BAD decision to open the sschool until it was completely finished and ALL the kids who live in that district could attend together.

[asta2]

Originally Posted by teach4reasons

I am a high school teacher and deal with messes and chaos on a daily basis. It seems to me that there are parents at the New John Marshall that are very happy. Maybe the reason is they raised their children to be responsible and respect authority. Those parents aren't complaining about the school are they? Maybe we should put some of the responsiblity where is lies.... .

That's the problem with OKC schools. JM looks great compared to where some of those kids came from like Hoover Junior High. Those of us who came from some of the really good elementary schools it was a rude awakening.

[teach4reasons]

THERE ARE BOOKS FOR THE NEW JMHS!!!!!!!!!!!!! The problem is they are still at the Original John Marshall HS and have to be divided between them and Oklahoma Centiennal HS. There was money for the new schools; however, I'm not sure what they planned to do to educate the kids when it wasn't finished. The teachers and administrators at the New JMHS did a great job just getting resources so they could teach. If you are concerned, don't just give you opinion, give your effort. Maybe you have old books lying around your house you could donate (its a tax write off). Please go visit the school, meet the teachers, kids and administrators. I am a teacher and if I had kids, they too would qualify gor free lunch. Free lunch feeds children, why is that a problem. Remember, $200,000 houses are surrounded by numerous apartment complexs, where single parents and yound families live. Not everyone can afford a $1500-$2000 house payment. I know, I am one of them and I have several college degrees.

Please give the school an opportunity to be successful. You are judging on one year, when the school wasn't even complete until the end of January 2007. Other new schools were built in the Metro. Douglass and Grant. Neither of them were made to open until they were complete. Even they have children fighting, doing drugs, skipping class, and other things.... Why haven't we seen them on the news. What is happening at OKC schools is a nation wide problem; not just a district problem.

If you aren't a part of the solution, then you are a part of the problem. WE as parents, educators and people of OKC have to beleive in our schools and do what we can to make them better. There is no reason for any child to be afraid to go to school. Volunteer in your neighborhood schools and not jus the ones that have money and look pretty, but the ones who struggle..... Be a mentor to young people. Don't just gripe about how they are. Remember, the children of today will be the ones paying taxes and supporting us later. I hope and pray that what I do as a teacher as a positive effect on the kids I teach. I know that they are not perfect, but if I expect more I get more. If I expect nothing, I get nothing.

[teach4reasons]

Unfortunatley you have that wrong. Those scores do not reflect the new school. Those children in that school are testing for the first time this year. Those scores are for the Orignial John Marshall; or they are the old Hoover scores that follwed those kids to the New JMHS. Please be sure you have the correct information.... That makes those children who are brand new in a brand new school, look below average.

[teach4reasons]

I am offended that you think teachers and administrators are here for paychecks. I teach at an OKC and was assaulted by a teenage boy in a huge fault in the hallway. I was caught in the middle of the fight, the kids knew I was a teacher and didn't stop. Gee, I didn't get paid extra that day!!!!!!!!!!!! At the same time, two of collegues were also assaulted in different fights outside the building. Didn't hear or see that one the news did ya? It happens, it will always happen, no matter what school or waht administrator. These kids live in neighborhoods where there are problems. They don't like each other there. What makes you think that if you put them in the same school,, they will like each other there?

[Easy180]

Originally Posted by teach4reasons

THERE ARE BOOKS FOR THE NEW JMHS!!!!!!!!!!!!! The problem is they are still at the Original John Marshall HS and have to be divided between them and Oklahoma Centiennal HS. There was money for the new schools; however, I'm not sure what they planned to do to educate the kids when it wasn't finished. The teachers and administrators at the New JMHS did a great job just getting resources so they could teach. If you are concerned, don't just give you opinion, give your effort. Maybe you have old books lying around your house you could donate (its a tax write off). Please go visit the school, meet the teachers, kids and administrators. I am a teacher and if I had kids, they too would qualify gor free lunch. Free lunch feeds children, why is that a problem. Remember, $200,000 houses are surrounded by numerous apartment complexs, where single parents and yound families live. Not everyone can afford a $1500-$2000 house payment. I know, I am one of them and I have several college degrees.

Please give the school an opportunity to be successful. You are judging on one year, when the school wasn't even complete until the end of January 2007. Other new schools were built in the Metro. Douglass and Grant. Neither of them were made to open until they were complete. Even they have children fighting, doing drugs, skipping class, and other things.... Why haven't we seen them on the news. What is happening at OKC schools is a nation wide problem; not just a district problem.

If you aren't a part of the solution, then you are a part of the problem. WE as parents, educators and people of OKC have to beleive in our schools and do what we can to make them better. There is no reason for any child to be afraid to go to school. Volunteer in your neighborhood schools and not jus the ones that have money and look pretty, but the ones who struggle..... Be a mentor to young people. Don't just gripe about how they are. Remember, the children of today will be the ones paying taxes and supporting us later. I hope and pray that what I do as a teacher as a positive effect on the kids I teach. I know that they are not perfect, but if I expect more I get more. If I expect nothing, I get nothing.

Nice to know we have teachers out there with this much motivation teach4reasons...Keep on keeping on

[Karried]

I am a teacher and if I had kids,

I know people get really upset when I say this.. but when you do have kids you might feel differently about sending your kids to a school that has such negative publicity surrounding the safety of it's students along with the bullying problems.

I, as a parent, would never want to send a young person to a environment that is so counter productive to learning.

Having to worry about getting set on fire? Or a riot? Wasn't this the school where the police officer was attacked? The language and attitudes are atrocious from what I've heard from other parents.

No way. I would work three or four jobs to be able to avoid that.

[Easy180]

Originally Posted by Karried

I know people get really upset when I say this.. but when you do have kids you might feel differently about sending your kids to a school that has such negative publicity surrounding the safety of it's students along with the bullying problems.

I, as a parent, would never want to send a young person to a environment that is so counter productive to learning.

Having to worry about getting set on fire? Or a riot? Wasn't this the school where the police officer was attacked? The language and attitudes are atrocious from what I've heard from other parents.

No way. I would work three or four jobs to be able to avoid that.

Wouldn't that do more harm than good if you weren't ever home for your kids karried...Send them to John Marshall (where there are god forbid reports of fisticuffs) and be home for your kids at night or send them to Bishop Mc and have them raise themself at night with leftover pizza and PS2's?

[teach4reasons]

I am sorry you had that experience. It is a great school filled with great teachers and administrators. The children will do great things and we as a community should support any and ALL the things they do. I hope you don't shut out the option for your children to attend a OKC school. GOod luck!!!!

[teach4reasons]

I work hand-in-hand with the Original JM kids. Most of them are not a problem. There is a gang problem in the neighborhoods and it does carry into the schools. Guess what? There are members and wanna be members all over OKC. Don't think for one minute, that some of the private school kids don't know some of them or hang out with some of them. Some of these kids grown up in homes where everyone is involved in gang activity. They don't know any different. It's a lot like poverty, if its all you know, its what is comfortable. I can't wait for the 10-12 graders to go to the New JMHS and prove everyone wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hopefully, I will be right there with them, teaching!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[bandnerd]

What do you propose the community do, teach? I teach in a charter school that has VERY little public/community support except for the parents we have and we don't have these problems. And we have kids that came from JM. And kids that came from all over the city, some who have had drug/other problems at other schools but we have given them a chance and they are fine here.

I would support JM if I felt it was on the right path, but I'm not sure it's got the right leadership behind it. I just don't know exactly what you want people to do?

[Karried]

Wouldn't that do more harm than good if you weren't ever home for your kids karried

Yes, I can see your point.. but still, I did work and so did my husband for years and years before we ever had kids.. and we saved so we could give our children a safe and decent education.. so, I was exaggerating the amount of jobs I would work at one time ( if I had kids) to demonstrate that for me, I wouldn't want my kids in an environment where they were afraid to walk down the halls.

I would move to a different area if I felt they were in danger.

That's my point.. matter of fact .. I did move them, from CA to OK.

[Easy180]

I just think the problems at JM are way overblown...Just newsworthy since it's a brand new school and a product of MAPS...They will get it straightened out and this story will be a distant memory by '08...Once the kids get settled in they will have more pride in their school and stop acting a fool

Those that aren't kicked out anyway

We could always call in the national guard if it's too hard for the OKCPD to handle.

[teach4reasons]

That is a little harsh.... The officer that was attacked has a school age child and is my boyfriend. He was doing his job and doing it well!!!!!!!!!! The out of control kids are problems at home as well. Teachers and administrators cannot do in 7 hours a day what needs to be done from the time the child is born. OCPD does a great job in our schools. I know, I also have one of them at the school I teach in. Thanks to those officers who help us everyday!

[teach4reasons]

I love teaching, no matter where it is. I love the kids I teach, problems no problems, red, blue, green.... Color is only skin deep. Most of the kids we are referring to live lives we don't want to talk about. All it takes it patience (sometimes that is very hard) and tolerance. It really bothers me, that we like to place blame on each other instead of working together. Hoover kids, Quail Creek kids, what is all this? ALL of our kids deserve an education. It is ALL of our jobs to make sure that happens. Parents, committees, teachers, volunteers and mentors have to work for a common goal, SUCCESS. I have read most of the blogs in this forum, and focusing on the children's success has not been mentioned. I to am guilty of not mentioning that.

I have been lucky this year, even with the many changes and situations that I have found myself in. I connected with a lot of kids in the school where I teach. Some of them even get excited in class. They have started to wonder about their future, college or work. That is a big step for some of them. Remember when you are bashing or venting about a school, many different types of children are in there. Many of them want more, but need someone to show them, not tell them how to get there.

Teaching, just like parenting, is not for everyone. I am not a parent, but I love kids and I love teaching. Some of these blogs have attacked teachers and administrators and that it hurtful to some, because they do give it their whole heart everyday. My day begins around 6:30 am and doesn't end when the children leave on the bus at 2:10 pm. I attend events to support my students and I grade papers, make tests and talk to parents a lot during the evening hours.