Comments for Failure to Communicate at http://www.theind.com , comment 1 to 5 out of 5 comments http://www.theind.com Sat, 18 May 2013 17:36:05 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.theind.com/cover-story/6724-failure-to-communicate#comment-9452 I found this.... http://www.higheredinfo.org/dbrowser/?year=1990&level=nation&mode=map&state=0&submeasure=36 Very interesting that Arkansas has gradually increased their graduation rate for the last 20 years, now. Also interesting that the southern states have lower graduation rates, and the north/midwest states have the highest. I wonder if the climate causes that....:) - ragin_cajun Wed, 11 Aug 2010 15:42:43 +0100 http://www.theind.com/cover-story/6724-failure-to-communicate#comment-9448 "statistics are off" ??? when i read that story it lookd to me like mr. pastorek lied. i think that is important. but maybe you don't, "get," and maybe your candidates don't either. i will keep that in mind. - not stupid but thanks for asking Wed, 11 Aug 2010 15:03:46 +0100 http://www.theind.com/cover-story/6724-failure-to-communicate#comment-9447 Why is it not students' fault if they don't graduate from high school? That's the most ridiculous idea I've ever heard. Especially when they pass the LEAP test in 8th grade. This is about life decisions, not education. - ragin_cajun Wed, 11 Aug 2010 14:53:52 +0100 http://www.theind.com/cover-story/6724-failure-to-communicate#comment-9443 Is the Lafayette Parish School System a model or a failure? Fortunately/unfortunately, it's both. LPSS excells at innovation and programs for traditional and gifted students. Our problems are on the opposite end of the scale. The mind set of many members of the current administration and School Board are that the disadvantaged and the black students can't succeed until their parents succeed. The reality is that a school such as NP Moss and its students cannot succeed when there have been six principals since it opened eleven years ago. Or Alice Boucher when its scores rose substantially, its principle kissed a pig for the students exceeding their reading goal but she and the entire staff were essentially fired two weeks before the scores were announced. Anyone who attended The Independent presentation of Pastorek last December or The 705 meeting last month, heard Pastorek state emphatically that Lafayette Parish is poised on the brink of greatness if we no longer embrace those excuses. The issue is not whether the statistics are slightly off. The issue is why 32% of LPSS student fail to graduate from high school particularly when they are capable of succeeding. Think about it. That means that 32% of our 30,000 students will drop out. That's over 9,000 students. No wonder our crime rate is rising and our workforce is under-developed. The answer is October 2. Vote for school board members who believe that 95% of our students can graduate from high school rather than those that believe 68% is the best that we can do. That'll make a difference in 8,000 students lives as to whether they can succeed or will be destined to fail. - Get It Done Wed, 11 Aug 2010 13:56:08 +0100 http://www.theind.com/cover-story/6724-failure-to-communicate#comment-9431 i don't live in lafayette, but have heard the same stories about this man (pastorek) in my parish. i think it's crazy that the guy in charge of public education is suggesting we'd all be better off without it. I've looked at the scores for the schools in new orleans,and they are horrible. but he still talks about how they are doing so good. i have relatives down there, and they say it is common knowledge that he gave the charter schools to friends and business associates. hope he doesn't try to do that in my parish. - same ol same ol Wed, 11 Aug 2010 11:43:02 +0100