Thread: GATE-closing plan stirs parental debate at Lincoln Middle Sc

By Adam Klawonn
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
May 19, 2005

VISTA – Parents of Latino students at Vista's most ethnically diverse school are incensed over a campaign by other parents to preserve an honors program there.

The policy debate is taking place at Lincoln Middle School, where the principal is proposing mixing some of the school's most gifted students with others of mixed academic abilities in an effort to pump up test scores.

The proposal to dismantle the Gifted and Talented Education, or GATE, program at the school is supported by the Latino parents, opposed by parents of the GATE students.

The matter returns to trustees of the Vista Unified School District for review Monday night.

"All students should be treated equally," Latino parents said in a letter to the board and district administrators. "We believe that the school should not create differences between students who know more and students who know less."

Given the reaction from Latino parents, Principal Larrie Hall yesterday said he doesn't "have the faintest idea" what will come of the meeting.

After news of the proposed changes to Lincoln's GATE program became public in late February, parents whose children are in the program protested on the school steps at lunchtime.

They held signs that read "Don't punish the bright ones." They said the change would be "dumbing down" their child's rigorous education.

One parent said mixing the brightest with other students wouldn't work because "you can't compare an orange and an apple and say you'll get the same juice."

In a written response, Latino parents said they "don't understand why the parents of the GATE students don't want to work together in public school.

"We want to reduce discrimination through uniting and working together."

GATE parents said preserving the program is about making sure their children stay challenged so they have a better chance at college.

It has nothing to do with ethnicity, said Crista McClure-Swan, a Vista real estate broker whose daughter is a GATE student at Lincoln.

She expressed disappointment that Latinos had raised the ethnic issue.

Robb Scheele, another GATE parent, agreed. "What we're saying is, 'Why get rid of a program that has worked so well?' "

GATE programs at Vista's three other middle schools have been eliminated.

The student body at Lincoln is 63 percent Hispanic or Latino. Of the school's 1,293 students, 437 are English-learners, and 99 percent of those speak Spanish.

That group has pulled down test scores, putting Lincoln on "program improvement" status under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

The act allowed parents to transfer their children to another school within the same district by March 1.

But faced with a flurry of transfers, the district extended the deadline to May 24 so Hall could work with parents on his proposal to change the GATE program.

Meanwhile, nine parents have changed their mind about transferring their children. But much of Hall's proposal remains unchanged, and 192 Lincoln students are set to transfer to either Roosevelt or Madison middle schools next year.

The school board meets Monday at 7 p.m. at the Lincoln gymnasium, 151 Escondido Ave.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/educ ... 9vusd.html

What a shame! How will we encourage the brightest of our students if it becomes an 'ethnic' thing? Parents should be willing to dumb down their kids?? There should be no recognition of excellence? None for perserverance?

This is incredible.

RR

Guess they can pass out dumb pills at lunch time.

This is infuriating but hardly surprising. Opening the door to a human tidal wave from the Third World is bringing us slowly down to their level. It isn't "going to happen"--it IS happening. The idea of a meritocracy is fading.

How long before we are a 3rd world country, we are starting to look like one in many areas.

Originally Posted by Charlesoakisland

How long before we are a 3rd world country, we are starting to look like one in many areas.

It's been looking like a 3rd world nation in alot of places. Build a Wal-Mart, and they will come. If you have one close by, drive through the neighborhood and you will see nice homes and lawns, getting trashier by the day. You read the article 11 cars in the driveway, or something? It's true. These people are making their homes look just like the cesspools they left.

This is very disturbing. Why should talented students have to be dumbed-down because the illegals can't make it? Just another example of illegals ruining our schools. Send them home...

It makes sense to me, I have a relative who is a teacher in and has been told consistantly to stop teaching the children so much. They said that have complaints from parents because their kids know too much!.

I've been thinking a lot about this today. It's a repeat of the past 3 decades and doesn't bode well for the future.

After desegregation took place and civil rights took hold, we began dumbing down the schools. ALL children suffered this insane attempt to "level out the playing field."

***Instead of making certain that the kids that were behind were brought up to the "white kids level," thereby giving them a leg up..........they kept them down while lowering the expectations of the white kids.

It became a tug of war in the inner cities. Now, it's not changed except for the fact that EXPECTATIONS ARE STILL BEING LOWERED! They're being further lowered due to the kids that don't speak the language. It's unbelievable to see what's graduating in some of these areas. They literally cannot read.

Who's been hurt? Not just the white kids...........the black kids received a double whammy.

Until ALL PARENTS DEMAND that the educational level is raised and expectations of children are raised........nothing will improve. It's not the government's job. They are abysmal in the Education department.
{my 2 cents}

If I had my way...there would be no federal funding of schools. All schools would be tuition based...all schools would be in control of those who pay the bills. That would end the dumbing down of our kids...that's the way they do it in other republics...and it works...they have foreign kids there, for sure, but they turn out students of excellence.

RR