Friday, November 30, 2007

Do we have cooties?

US News and World Report came out today with the best high schools in the country. See the Wisconsin schools listed here.

The following counties are adjacent to Sauk County: Adams, Columbia, Dane, Iowa, Juneau, Richland, and Vernon. While I'm not sure how many high schools are in this geographic area, there are well over 500,000 people (maybe 750,000?) within it.

Think of all the tax dollars spent on government schools in this same geographic area. My guess is that it would be well over $500,000,000 and is probably closer to $1 Billion (that's with a B, Billion) dollars.

How many high schools in this geographic and reasonably well populated area passed muster to be ranked as the best high schools in the country? The answer is four:
- Necedah High School, Juneau County - Bronze award
- Kickapoo High School, Vernon County - Silver award
- LaFarge High School, Vernon County - Bronze award
- Viroqua High School, Vernon County - Bronze award

First of all, congratulations to those schools and sincere best wishes for continued success. They are obviously doing something right.

Besides these being rural high schools, what do they all have in common? Each of the award winners are an hour or more away from here and close to two hours from Madison. I didn't notice Dane county on the list...and where in the H-E double toothpicks is Baraboo? I keep being told Baraboo has great schools! Ovbiously, this is propoganda to make people feel good. After all, "perception is reality!"

The montra needs to be changed. Baraboo HAD great schools.

Without leadership by the school board
(some kahonas and common sense would help, seeing as they're either in short supply or being saved for a rainy day - because neither are exhibited with great frequency)
and changes in the administration
(lack of leadership, egomaniacal, condescending - It's time to can the few bad apples),
we'll never make the list.

Consider all of the "great schools" within the geographic area that didn't make the list either. It just goes to show no matter how much money is thrown at Baraboo government schools, no matter how "great" they are talked up, it will never be enough without changes to the school board and administration.

It's time to can (terminate the employment of) the bad apples.

School board pre-meeting check list:
- Show up (on time, if possible) - check.
- Carry on innocuous pre-meeting chatter - check.
- Observe pompus person enter one minute prior to meeting - check, CHECK!

All set?

School board: It's Monday night, 7PM. It's time to can the bad apples.

Now, did you remember to bring your kahonas and common sense? You don't typically bring them with you, and you're gonna need them for this meeting. Please find them and add them to your pre-meeting check list.

If you can't find your common sense or don't know what kahonas are, graciously step aside.

...and the beat goes on...

According to today's BNR, Mr. Mering is a committee member on Baraboo Community Ed, "an organization that advocates for public education."

Further into the article, readers can get the school district's administrative spin from Ritzenthaler and Schwarz, the same two administrators that tried peddling the last referendum at town hall meetings. More doom and gloom about "reduced or eliminated programs and reduced staff", but no specifics. Why no specifics? The number of teachers increased from 220 in the 2006/07 school year to 226 in the 2007/08 school year, so "reduced staff" didn't include the number of teachers.

It's more selective disclosure - like the "failing" reading scores they tried peddling at the town hall meetings. Next thing we'll hear about is the shrinking toilets at South school (again), crumbling infrastructure, and that we can't afford to pay all of the district staff because the district has negotiated everything away in labor contracts. The excuse will be inflation, but the result will be the same.

Generally speaking, public (government) education has failed us as a nation. Government education wastes too much, sets its own standards, is not held accountable for results, and quality erodes over time because there's no incentive to improve. Baraboo is no exception. For these reasons, it is shameful that Baraboo has "an organization that advocates for public education".

Instead of complaining at the capitol that the funding formula needs to be changed, Mering could have come forth with a solution. He missed this opportunity - had it and blew it, big time. But, maybe he doesn't have a solution at all. Just send in your $ and the government education system will do the rest. Like the saying goes, "I'm from the government, and I'm here to help." For the love of God, please stop "helping". We can't afford your "help" any more!

I have been working on a solution to the school funding issue. There are some unknowns, but the general concept is sound. Most people would view the idea as an amenable solution - as long as they valued quality education for kids higher than their personal interests. Reader, let me know if you're interested.