Allentown School District is going the way of the old Charlie Tuna ads, trying to convince students and their parents that it is the best option for their education. Like the tuna campaign, they're going to be using billboards, radio and social media. They will be creating a new communications position to implement this new strategy. Supposedly, the effort is directed to help stem the student flow to charter schools.
As someone with a background in both education and communications, I find the new approach truly uninspired. Apparently, this idea is the current fad of the day, and Bethlehem is also doing it. Bureaucrats are bureaucrats, whether at a city hall or the school district building, and seldom think beyond the ideas presented in their profession's current magazines.
Before large public school systems were gutted by cost cutting, after-school activities offered a large menu of activities and sports. These were the lures which attracted students, whether it be theater or football. As a taxpayer, I would rather see the money spent the old fashion way, on coaches instead of communication directors.
photo: the former Little Palestra at Allentown High School
Mike,
ReplyDeleteIf I was still on the board this stupid idea would never had gotten off the ground. This and a few other things. Clearly, there was no room for common sense there. The current leadership of the school district is a disaster. Sorry to be so blunt.
In the meantime a wonderful family bought a home on our block, a "minority" couple with a couple young kids. They were both professionals and fell in love with the house and park. After investigating the school district they moved back to Brooklyn and made the house a rental.
Another bureaucratic job. The people send their kids to charter school to get them out of decayed public school system. The money would be better spent in cleaning up the school system and their operations. These illogical ideas are not the answer. Start from within first.
ReplyDeleteWell I'm the product of the ASD. Attended school from 54' - 65'. I went to Dieruff for tenth grade. Fortunately (though some political family connection), I was able to attend Lehigh University, and received an engineering degree in 4 years. My wife attend public school in North Western Pa. We met in graduate school (Penn State) - we share the same opinions about our public incarceration - sorry I mead alleged education.
ReplyDeleteWe home schooled our children, never would put them through that hell.
The public schools are all about the furthering the unions and the bureaucracy. And what's worse they have turned into 'indoctrination camps' that feed the students the latest government/leftist agenda.
I laugh when the headlines read: "New school board President has a plan ....."
People put their children in charter schools because we don't have vouchers.
If you want your child to hear about Jimmy with two daddies / Jimmy who wants to be Jo Ann / global warming / all cultures are equal / immigration is really great for us/ health care is a right / BLM is a peaceful organization / - then the government school is for you!
recently, a fellow blogger criticized comments at this blog as promoting "hate." he was actually trying to justify his exclusion of this blog on his blogroll, for an entirely different reason. people comment here by their actual name or a consistent pseudonym; they own the comment, not me. some of the commenters politically are to my right, others to my left. it's my preference not to reply to comments, and be lenient about which ones remain.
ReplyDeleteMM,
ReplyDeleteWill there be a digitally enhanced version of the tuna?
By the way, there was an existing communications administrative position. Does the ASD now have two full time administrative positions for communications?
ReplyDeleteIf you combine the salary and media budget for this endeavor and put in into the schools it still won't make a difference in the school system. What is there to promote? "Bring your students to ASD which specializes in three free meals a day; 95% poverty rate with a handful of middle class kids with whom you have nothing in common?
ReplyDeleteImagine going back to the New York City schools system rather than enroll your kids in ASK. 'nuff said.
What the naysayers don't acknowledge on this blog are that one of the reasons the public schools don't have the money to provide the after school activities that ASD schools in the 1950's did is that the entrepreneurial/profit driven charter schools, fueled by their lobbying and purchasing of legislators, joined by the religious school lobby, have diverted tax payer money to these non public entities.
ReplyDeleteHome schooling and fleeing to virtually all white charter & religious schools undoubtedly make the parents happy, but, thinking this will prepare their children to engage with an emerging society their parents fear & scorn is delusional.
It's similar to Trump's fantasy speech to the UN....."reform my way to 1945 and US world dominance." Of course they will ignore this...only a fool & Trumpkins will buy this BS. Likewise, non public schools are a con on taxpayers. If you want to send your kids to them, do it like was done in the 1950's.....pay for it yourself...not with taxpayer money. Conservatives always scream socialism & "government control/schools/medicine" when taxpayer money goes to public education & health care. But when they succeed in raiding the public treasury for their charter schools & religious schools, not a peep. "Deficit spending" is terrible when a Democrat is in the White House or control Congress....just fine when a Republican is President or controls Congress.
So many on this site so angry & fearful....sad.
I don't understand why some people are against children getting a diverse education. We all agree that all children need a solid education. As such, we pay taxes to fund their education. Educating children is not rocket science (my previous profession at Langley). I'm not religious - but if the parents choose to send their children to a school, with a bit of a religious twist I do not see this as an endorsement of religion by the state. The public school is only one option, and unfortunately, due to excessive political correctness, many schools are the LCD (lowest common denominator). For all the minority children that want a good education, they are trapped in public schools. That's why there is a need for vouchers. America is built on competition - it's how things constantly improve. Unfortunately the teacher's union want a monopoly.
ReplyDelete