tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5994679863347954941.post1829306442688623107..comments2023-04-15T11:32:36.760-04:00Comments on The Other Athens: This Is EmbarrassingUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5994679863347954941.post-75252684851983223872008-08-04T14:14:00.000-04:002008-08-04T14:14:00.000-04:00I don't think it's either racial or cultural. It'...I don't think it's either racial or cultural. It's about class, as are, at root, most things in America. When you're working 2 or 3 low wage jobs just to keep a roof over your head and put food on the table, you don't have much spare time or energy to get involved in the PTA and/ or help your kid with their homework, especially if you own educational achievement is pretty low (itself the result of your class position).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5994679863347954941.post-22029790471635210842008-07-31T08:25:00.000-04:002008-07-31T08:25:00.000-04:00Though some may interpret this as a racial comment...Though some may interpret this as a racial comment (or worst yet, a racist one), it is not.<BR/><BR/>The largest group of students in the Clarke County School District is black, at about 60% of the student population. Hispanic and white students each account for about 20% of the student population (there are a handful of Asian students, but not enough to affect the numbers). That makeup is changing, however, as the proportion of Hispanics relative to whites is increasing every year.<BR/><BR/>The problem is that what will soon be the two largest student groups (if they are not already), making up more than 80% of the student population, are the two that traditionally have the lowest levels of academic achievement.<BR/><BR/>As Chris noted above, the problem is not racial, but cultural - and I fear that it will only get worse.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5994679863347954941.post-70883389266456059452008-07-30T10:49:00.000-04:002008-07-30T10:49:00.000-04:00Heres my take from a graduate of Clarke County Sho...Heres my take from a graduate of Clarke County Shools now sending 3 kids to Oconee County Schools. By the way, 2 of my best friends from my Athens childhood live on my same street now and send their kids to Oconee County Schools as well. <BR/>Back in the day, (graduated in 89), the student makeup of CCSD was much different than that of today. Call it like it is, there were fewer low income kids, more middle class kids. You can also translate that to more white kids and fewer black kids although that is not the problem. The problem is a lack of parents who have the time, the resources or even the willingness to be involved in their children's education. These parents are not able to provide a stable, positive or nurturing home life. Why cant they? Lots of reasons. <BR/>The simple fact is that many of these kids grow up in crummy situations with no guidance and extremely dangerous role models. Can the self motivated, pull themselves up by the bootstraps kid become an exception and beat the house? Sure, they have the same rights as the rest of us but most of them have no idea how to do it. I liken it to a middle class white kid rasing themselves with no parenting. I wouldnt have turned out very well.<BR/>Want to see it for yourself? Go to any classroom or function at Oconee, Jackson or even Madison County Schools. You'll see a huge level of parent participation. Parents involved in their childrens lives. Children who respect authority, do their homework with their parents, and most importantly are loved and given guidance by those who know how to give it. <BR/>As soon as someone will step up and call it like it is, CCSD can improve. Will it ruffle some feathers? By the boatload! But as long as funding, bad tests, and leadership are blamed CCSD will achieve nothing but the mastery of finger pointing.HMMMMMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11505923714223331461noreply@blogger.com