Comments on: An Oakland science teacher’s message to Obama

By: Marc Epstein

Marc Epstein — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 04:20:13 +0000

When the school to career funds for summer internships were cut I attempted to access for these students funds through the summer youth employment program and the green career training program. I also took the same action in other jurisdictions on behalf of many economically disadvantaged students involved in our training programs. The uniform response was that even though these students were qualified based on family income, they had demonstrated academic success and were motivated and therefore would have the lowest priority for job placement.

If we are going to jump start our economy, we need to support our talented and hard working economically disadvantaged students and not leave them out in the cold in favor of the most difficult youth. Many wondor why our economically disadvantaged youth do not strive for success, and act out. The way our government has structured assistance programs for economically disadvantaged youth with priority to the most difficult kids, should we expect any different.

By: Caroline

Caroline — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 19:44:00 +0000

I was interested to learn that one of the high schools cited for praise serves Vienna, Va.

Relatives lived there until recently and I stayed with them for a few days a couple of years ago. I know it’s not unique, but it was outside my previous experience to be in a place so utterly disconnected from reality, especially the environmental realities that our world needs to be dealing with NOW.

If you specifically set out to design a playground of decadence that consumed as much and as wastefully as possible, it would be Vienna, Va. — giant, sprawling mega-homes, acres and acres of rolling lawns, absolutely nothing walkable or transit-accessible. I wonder what those kids are really learning about that one crucial area of science. Of course, it’s not the kids’ fault, but it would be nice if Obama had praised schools in a community that’s not so selfishly, aggressively, decadently destructive, not to mention schools that didn’t entirely serve the very, very wealthy.

Not to be ungrateful to my hosts, who HAVE moved since…

By: Katie Noonan

Katie Noonan — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 17:38:56 +0000

Many thanks are due to Marc Epstein, executive director of NorCal Student Environmental Network and adjunct professor at Merritt College for offering this wonderful workshop. I agree with Chris Vernon that OUSD provides an excellent academic education. My son graduated from Oakland High in 2001. He keeps in touch with his classmates and, I think, has benefited from the multicultural experience he enjoyed there. He attended the Peralta community colleges,then transferred to UC Berkeley, where he graduated with honors in Integrated Biology. Unfortunately, community colleges are cutting enrollment and class offerings at a time when the state universities are also cutting enrollment and hiking fees. This is a sad time for educational opportunity and equity in our state. Educators and students at all levels are organizing to march to the state capitol on March 4th to protest these extreme budget cuts to education.

By: walton barnaby

walton barnaby — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 04:32:07 +0000

Fix the headline–An** Oakland Science Teacher’s…

By: Robin Freeman

Robin Freeman — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:02:27 +0000

Good work to all who participated in this Merritt Collge workshop with Marc Epstein. Thanks for making it part of this record!

By: Chris Vernon

Chris Vernon — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:57:05 +0000

As a graduate of Oakton High School in Virginia and a parent of two students who have gone through OUSD (Peralta, Bret Harte, Oakland Tech) – I can vouch for everything you say. Thank you, Katie, for all the wonderful work you’re doing with our kids, Oakland’s kids.

The kids going to the 3 schools you mention in Virginia generally have many more socio-economic advantages, but OUSD has some amazing teachers and my kids have received an excellent academic education with the added benefit of a much broader social education than that of the kids at Oakton High and such schools. OUSD kids can deal effectively with such a broad spectrum of people. That has untold value in a diverse society such as ours and will serve them well as adults.

By: David B. Cohen

David B. Cohen — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:52:33 +0000

Excellent post – thanks for sharing this glimpse into some wonderful work with students, and important insights about education policy.