Thread: Tex. School Emphasizes English, Wins Nat'l. Prize

"South Texas School District Gets $1 Million Prize"

By Christopher Sherman
Associated Press Writer
October 14, 2008

"Brownsville, Texas (AP)--One of the nation's poorest urban school districts won a coveted $1 million prize Tuesday for guiding its nearly 50,000 students toward academic achievement."

"The Broad Prize for Urban Education is the NATION'S LARGEST AWARD OF ITS KIND and will be divided among the district's graduating seniors for college scholarships."

"'Brownsville is the best kept secret in America,' said billionaire Eli Broad, founder of the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation, announcing the decision in New York. He praised the Brownsville Independent School District for 'smartly focusing all resources on directly supporting students and teachers.'"

"Brownsville, in the southernmost tip of Texas, beat out finalists from Aldine, a district in Houston; Boward County, Fla.; Miami-Dade County, Fla; and Long Beach, Calif.. Each finalist will receive $250,000 for college scholarships."

"'THIS IS CONSIDERED THE NOBEL PRIZE IN EDUCATION,' an elated Hector Gonzales, the district's superintendent, said by phone at the award presentation in New York."

"Brownsville's student population is overwhelmingly Hispanic, and 94% qualify for free or low-cost lunch, a common measure of poverty. The district impressed the foundation's judges by out performing other Texas districts with similar income levels in reading and math at all grade levels in 2007."

"Some 2,000 new arrivals from Mexico join the district's classrooms every year, and TEACHERS EMPHASIZE MASTERY OF ENGLISH IN THEIR CLASSES. Alan Ponce, 18, was one of those new arrivals. Born in Monterrey, Mexico, he moved to Brownsville in 2002 and is now a senior at Gladys Porter High School."

"He said when he heard about the award over the loudspeaker Tuesday morning, 'I heard two words: million dollars and scholarships,' he said.'"

"'It's a huge relief because my parents make very little money,' said Ponce, who hopes to study physics and astronomy in college. 'It makes me think I can go to any Ivy League school I want to.'"

"Broad co-founded home building Kaufman and Broad Inc. and launched financial services SunAmerica Inc.."

(copied from TBO.com - News From AP, 10/14/08. Caps mine)

"He said when he heard about the award over the loudspeaker Tuesday morning, 'I heard two words: million dollars and scholarship,' he said.'"

"'It's a huge relief because my parents make very little money,' said Ponce, who hopes to study physics and astronomy in college. 'It makes me think I can go to any Ivy League school I want to.'"

I applaud the school for succeeding, where others have failed.

That this young man thinks it will pay for his way to any "Ivy League" college boggles the mind! What's wrong with a community college? Being poor does not give you license to be greedy! Be thankful that you get anything at all. Get a job and pay your way through college, nobody owes you a college education!

This $1M is to be spread to the entire DISTRICT'S senior class, how far does he think it will go?

Some 2,000 new arrivals from Mexico join the district's classrooms every year, and TEACHERS EMPHASIZE MASTERY OF ENGLISH IN THEIR CLASSES. Alan Ponce, 18, was one of those new arrivals. Born in Monterrey, Mexico, he moved to Brownsville in 2002 and is now a senior at Gladys Porter High School."

I wonder if these 2000 "new arrivals" from mexico are arriving into this country legally?