Comments on: All Fremont schools aren’t equal

By: Ishan Shah

Ishan Shah — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 22:30:42 +0000

OSB, The reason that Mission fails to get funding is because of its high scores. Many are under the impression that simply because a school achieves a lot academically,t it doesn’t need financial assistance. This could not be more wrong. Take a walk around MSJ and you’ll see how badly we need the funds…

I have it on good authority that the next health and safety bond would largely help Mission, as it is in the worst physical condition of all the high schools (this used to be Washington, but the last bond went primarily towards them). However, it seems we can’t convince the rest of Fremont to pass something that would help Mission a lot, even though its been done in the past for other schools. This sectional approach really is a core factor in impairing the educational atmosphere of the youth who attend the schools in the FUSD.

By: OSB

OSB — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:36:35 +0000

Anu is correct – not all elementary schools in Fremont are equal. Is there an assumption that everything should be equal where measured by academic scores? This disparity exists in all the cities in the Bay area – Fremont is aligned to the other cities in this matter.

Elementary school academic performance is driven by competition between the students and the priorty given to academics by the students, parents and teachers. This has nothing to do with how good the facilities are in any school.

In my opinion, schools doing well academically are attracting more parents and students who have place emphasis on education. This starts a vicious cycle – increase in score, leads to more students and parents who want the competive schools, who in turn drive up the scores.

For schools looking to increase thier academic scores, they need to increase their focus on academic acheivement. This needs the teachers, students and parents to all agree to spend more time teaching the kids.

By: SMALLS

SMALLS — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 11:08:54 +0000

Ishan,
You have hit the nail on the head. The Campus at MSJHS is so outdated it is a very sad. I would love to see your movie when you are done with it.

By: SPA

SPA — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 22:41:52 +0000

I would like to comment to the person that states that Mission has PTA’s that donate money while others don’t. This is not true. Anonymous person please come to the PTA/PTC meetings at the high schools. At Hopkins the lockers are breaking apart and pieces of metal are exposed. The tennis courts are not playable and extremely dangerous because of the holes in the concrete. At Mission the locker rooms are full of rodents and locks do not work. The stairs are breaking apart and the dry rot is visible. So on and so on. Please take a walk through these schools and you will too understand. Everyone thinks that Mission schools are the best because they get funding. They are the best academically because the parents push the kids to do well. That is all. Unfortunately,this comes at a price. The homework at Hopkins is 4-5 hours per night for regular classes and at Mission if you are not an A student, you are nothing. Parents can protest till they are blue in the face, but the reality is that the district loves these scores and nothing will happen. The schools will continue to fall apart around the students all over Fremont because facilities are not important. If you care about the facilities then vote to pass another Bond measure. Also which schools have working showers??? I never saw any except for football players at one of the schools.

By: SPA

SPA — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 22:32:35 +0000

In response to the ridiculous comment Anu Natarajan made at the community meeting last week regarding schools. Ms. N has no idea that all the schools in Fremont are in terrible shape. She is completely out of touch if she thinks that Mission schools or even Weibel (which is part of the Irvington attendance area) get special treatment or extra money from the district. The only schools that have ever received money from the state are schools that are PI/Title I schools (need improvement). The other schools get funding from PTA’s, alumni associations and corporate donors. I think Ms. N needs to take a walk around Mission and some of the other high schools and see if she still thinks they get more money and are in great shape. I would like to see her drive her car through the American or Irvington parking lots and see what she thinks and if she survives driving these lots without a flat tire. She needs to use the bathrooms at Mission, etc. What was more interesting than this comment was that she too is out of touch with reality. During the course of a two hour meeting she did not take notes and all she said was “send me an e-mail.” Matt from the Argus also neglected to mention that many of us were angry that thousand dollar trees were being put up and the city has no money to cut them and they have no money to fix potholes but yet the trees keep going up. He also neglected to mention the problems by many residents regarding the police department. Lastly several people opened businesses in other cities with no problems but could not get a permit in Fremont. What is wrong with this picture? We need people to come to the City Coucil meetings and speak up even if Wasserman cuts us off. The time has come to unite to make our city a better place to live and vote for new people on the City Council who are willing to speak up and confront the current establishment of arrogance and non-responsiveness! Mr. Stickler and Mr. Wasserman your time has come. We now have people in the community who know how bad both of you are and are willing to make a change.

By: Ishan Shah

Ishan Shah — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 20:17:13 +0000

Volunteer:

I like that quote alot: Blood is RED! We all have it…….

By: Volunteer!

Volunteer! — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 17:49:03 +0000

p.s. we are looking for a VOLUNTEER plummer!

By: Volunteer!

Volunteer! — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 17:36:49 +0000

What’s up with the Chinese and Indian thing…..people are people. get involved with your children’s education and they will succeed…teacher’s need parents help as well. It dose not matter what school they attend….API scores are crap….GET INVOLVED! and quit being a raciest! Blood is RED! We all have it…….

By: Ishan Shah

Ishan Shah — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 00:39:26 +0000

Hahah, Doug you know that wasn’t my point!

By: Doug

Doug — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 00:32:37 +0000

No Personal Insults Please – The problem with your post No. 3 is you do not identify the schools. Instead you refer to, “some schools”. Speaking in general terms makes it difficult to quantify your argument. I am sure each person reading it thought of a different school for each issue you listed. Without specifics your argument is unsubstantiated.

Ishan, let’s be realistic about MSJHS football. Football requires beef, especially on the front line. With approximately 72-75% of the student body of Asian descent that requirement is hard to come by. That’s not a slam, just a reality. I guess you could call that unique, just not B-I-G unique.