Yes, they’d do just as well being homeschooled.

Homeschooled means they are taught on one of the online high schools, not taught by a ESL or illiterate parent.

My point is that their academic prowess is more from their own innate intelligence and socialization to work and work hard which does not come from OUSD. OUSD in the case of these kids is merely betting on winning horses.

These kids would have been winners at Piedmont Schools, Berkeley, Hayward or anywhere else.

It’s nice for OUSD to have winners. Really, it is.

But did OUSD make these kids do a better job that they should have? Did OUSD take them beyond all expectations? Did OUSD discover an occupation or talent that had never been realized in these students or others of their type, and reveal that potential – train the students in a way no one else would have thought of and taken them to occupations and income streams beyond anyone’s guesses.

That’s what I’d consider a fantastic showing.

Now I give you – the black students. Do something with these kids so that they can earn a middle class living and be the first in 3 generations to do so.

Of course the kids aren’t doing it for the scores or the benefit of others. They’re working hard for themselves and their own future. But the programs and scores are a reflection of their success. Keep up the great work, students AND teachers AND OUSD.

(Yes, OUSD, please take note. We DO appreciate when you’re doing something positive

I am not a huge fan of OUSD’s educational program, but in fairness, it does deserve SOME credit for the success of students who come from homes where no one speaks English, and who go on to attend Cal, UCLA, Davis, etc. (EG: All the kids in the photo above). Those kids are not going to do “just as well” being homeschooled. Nor would any motivated student who is the first generation to attend college.

Now, does OUSD do a better job with those kids than it should? Nope. But no one ever talks about that.

Problem is, you can’t tell when you are getting buried, and we have been slowly for decades now.

I’m not sure what point you are trying to make in your post #11. “…many of these “prol(e)” students you talk about…”. If you are suggesting that I’m saying blacks never appear in advanced studies and advanced degrees – your’re imagining that. They do. My grandfather held a PhD in Chemistry from a Midwest State University in the first half of the 20th century at a time when black PhD’s in lab sciences could be counted on your hands. Because of his career we bumped into other blacks with advanced degrees – they tended to teach and tended to flock together socially. In WWII people of all races were collected to work on government research projects. I was born on a military base. The military was a good place to start looking for them. Schools at military base area were a great place to find minority students scoring off the statistical charts academically. The US Military screens for IQ, blocks low scorers, and matched assignments to aptitude scores. Like the NFL.

Too bad the public schools no longer so the same.

OUSD on the other hand… Is a black dominated district that explores the lower boundries of failure in education for it’s students.

If you think I’m insulting you, you are wrong. This isn’t insulting, it’s discussion. Enjoy the difference.

Your “idealistic vision” – I was about to say something about that but perhaps I don’t understand what it is you are saying so I should ask for clarification. This thread started in response to your objection to Hills Parent’s comment on the Asian dominance in the advanced students. You believe that observation is “…unnecessary and very ugly to be honest.” I took exception. Hills Parent’s observation was fair comment and you were being unreasonably insulting.

Finally, and I’ve made this point previously over time. OUSD cannot take much credit when high IQ students do well. They would have done just as well being home schooled. I would have respect for OUSD if they produced literate & employable black and brown students in a number exceeding the stats statewide or nationally. I have no doubt far better results could be obtained if the public schools stopped pretending to teach black and brown kids and actually ran a real school. I know it would shock, it would be unpleasant for the kids, but we did it in the 1950s and early 1960s.

I repeat, the measure of how good a job OUSD is doing is seen in the fate of black 18 year olds who leave OUSD’s campuses – with or without graduating. The high functioning Asians and others will ALWAYS be just fine.

It’s on this basis I complain about OUSD. And why I react the way I do when I see smiling Asian faces getting awards, as the schools expresses self congratulations.

Tell me what OUSD has done lately for the Negroes.

I see your point, but you make too many generalizations which sound like stereotypes. Every black person I know went to college and lead very successful and prosperous careers. Their children are doing well in school and will most likely follow in their parent’s footsteps. I’m sorry that the few you witness in OUSD tend to cloud your image of everyone.

Nextset,

Relax. I am not an Educrat, just a happy teacher who wishes nothing but the best for all of her students. Sorry to toot my own horn, but many of these “prol” students you talk about have attended and successfully graduated from a college or university because teachers like myself and my colleagues believe in them.

Please, go ahead and continue to insult me and my idealistic vision…I will continue to do the best for my students…rather than dismiss them on blogs like this one.