On the Relationship between Education, Poverty and Student Testing

• A Commentary, by John Ruskin, on data published in the Times-Picayune, for the New Orleans metropolitan area schools. [September 27, 1999]
• Read Ron Marks' letter to the editor - October --, 1999, on page -, Section B, of the Times Picayune

I've done some extensive evaluation of the statewide performance data. My evaluation was in greater depth than the media have provided lately. If you're curious about my analysis, and some interesting insights, contact me.

Also, if you have questions on how the State DOE defined score and poverty, contact me, or call the toll free number listed on their website.

On the Relationship between Freedom, Education and Standardized Tests

• A thought . . .
• Some Questions:
  • Are standardized tests the proper measure of schools' performance?
  • Do the tests measure the ability of teachers, schools, or the school system, to maximize the learning potential of every student, regardless of skill level?
  • Have the tests changed the way teachers teach?
  
  
  • My thoughts on these questions and standardized tests.

Some Surveys
I've thought alot about public school issues, and I'm curious to read your thoughts. I've assembled these surveys for just that reason. (When I have assembled enough responses, I can send you the URL with a summary of the responses.) Crowds haven't answered, but the logs tell me lots of folk have read the survey; food for thought, then, at least.

Speak your peace in the surveys, eMail me, read the comments associated with each of these web pages, or read the discussion forum. Most importantly, do not fail to talk about these issues with your neighbors.

• Survey #1 - Standardized testing
• Survey #2 - Funding the Public School System
  • Under Development
  • Property taxes, Sales Taxes
  • the Homestead Exemption
  • State taxes and State funding
  
  
  • My thoughts on the Homestead Exemption.
  • Some excerpts from the Louisiana Constitution, including portions on property taxes, school funding and the homestead exemption.
  
  
• Survey #3 - School Vouchers
  • Under Development

Orleans Parish School Board
Vacancy - District 6

You can read the School Board's application questionnaire, and my answers given to the School Board, on August 25th, 1999. I, and six other applicants, were interviewed by the school board during 20 minute sessions. My interview was September 3rd, 1999, the final interview. Ms. Anderson was selected by the Board; an election will be held in March, 2000 to fill out Mr. Bowers' term, and another election in late fall, 2000, for the next full term.

The OPSB has its own website, located at http://www.nops.k12.la.us. I looked at the site on Nov. 2nd, '99. The site is organized in a "tree" fashion; most content around the site is suggested URL's, some of which repeat across various branches of the site's tree. Be sure to turn on image downloading, as the site does not have alt-text everywhere, and uses graphics to provide information in a few locations. You can find phone numbers for the schools on the site, but it is easier to look in the Blue Pages of the N.O. phonebook. There is also some summary information about the budget, and other reference information, which mostly includes the collection of outside URL's disbursed across the various pages.