The Jones County school system in Georgia has decided not to seek federal Race to the Top funds. Their Superintendent William Mathews said Thursday the money comes with stipulations that are not in the district’s best interests. They were scheduled to recieve $573,000 over four years.
The fist thing I thought when I saw this was. wow. Somebody in education stood up and did the right even if it wasn’t the easiset thing and lets face it in these tough times it’s hard to turn down money.
There are often many strings attached when money comes to town. Strings imposed by far off beaurocrats in ivory towers who have no idea whats going on. School sytems like children aren’t all cut from the same cloth. They have individual intersts, desires and priorities but this money says if you take it, you do this.
Take Jacksonville for interest. Inclusion is the mantra spreading through the city like a wild fire and like a wild fire it brings destruction with it. We are now incorporateing special education children into regular education classrooms and this is happeneing regardless if the teachers, or students are prepared or not. What string was this money attached to. I don’t know but I can tell you the consequences it is having.
Classes are being disrupted and many childrens education is being dumbed down. Children and teachers woefully unprepared are being put in no win situations. It’s another one size fits all solution rammed down the throats of the people education policy makers should be trying to help but once again have handicapped.
I applaud the leaders of Jones County for standing up and saying, no thanks, your money as much as we could use it will make our issues worse not better.
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