State Senators John Loudon, a Republican from West County, and Rita Days, a Democrat from North County, recently appeared on the public affairs show “Jeff City Journal” with host Missy Shelton. One of the topics discussed was the situation with St. Louis Public Schools.
May 8th, 2007 at 2:30 PM
I always laugh when West Countians criticize the City.
Letting down our kids? Maybe your middle class exodus let down the City.
May 8th, 2007 at 3:59 PM
Reoublicans have been salivating over this opportunity. With a republican governor, and Danforth’s “greatest mayor in the history of st. louis” slay—nothing can go wrong.
Because republicans are really, really smart.
May 8th, 2007 at 11:15 PM
oh you all slps is in the hands of the govenor and he is going to clean house. That includes the board that is the joke of public education in the country.
May 9th, 2007 at 11:31 AM
He is certainly planning to build house. That is why he appointed Sullivan.
May 9th, 2007 at 9:16 PM
OK. So it’s not just St. Louis kids who are in crisis. How is it possible that “all these urban districts” all over the country are suddenly being lambasted for “failing the students”? Is it really even possible that EVERY urban district in America is a failure?
Could it possibly be that SOMETHING ELSE is the common factor in the struggle of these children? Something like urban decay, lack of social support programs, poverty, joblessness, crime, etc. etc.????? But those sound like concerns that local, state and federal government have had the authority and power and money to deal with–not school districts!
HOW DARE THEY sit there so smug and act like they are stepping in to “rescue” these children THEY have ignored and let down all these years?! HOW DARE THEY criticize the school districts who have gone beyond the extra mile trying to mitigate these social issues with what little paltry resources they were allotted so these children would be ABLE to learn ANYTHING AT ALL?!
Divvy up the money and power any way you want to, nothing will change until the children’s human needs are met. You simply can’t begin to educate a child who is afraid, hungry, cold, abused, emotionally tormented, lead poisoned, drug addicted, neglected or in despair until you deal with those problems. Every child can learn IF their human needs are attended to. Until then, urban children are left behind. Period.
May 17th, 2007 at 12:37 AM
How “dare” they criticize the St. Louis Public School district? Look at the test scores for your answer.
Ariel mentions “urban decay, lack of social support programs, poverty, joblessness, crime, etc.” That does not sound like a great ad for the city.
St. Louis City has major problems and it is ridiculous to assume that it is someone else’s fault, or that the residents of the city aren’t responsible for the problems that their city has.