I really hate to post this because it such an embarrassment. However just hiding it will not make it better. I hope every Louisiana citizen that reads this sends the posts I shall link that Revolution 21 has done to ten of their friends and ask them to do the same.
I used to live in Baton Rouge and the situation as to the school system has gone from bad to worse. I know the situation is complicated. I know that the East Baton Rouge school officials have much of the blame. I know that because of the Catholic and Private schools system that a lot of citizens don't support the system. I know all about the deseg decree and Judge Parker.
However now its time to STOP blaming people and pointing fingers. This is sad. There is no excuse that a Parish that has the Flagship University in it, Southern University , and the seat of State Government should allow this to happen. It is an indictment on the citizens of East Baton Rouge Parish and all of Louisiana. I hate posting this must we cannot hide from it.
Please read and pass along the following links.
When we let our kids' schools deteriorate into dumps, is it a human-rights violation?
Disbelief in Omaha, or No Frame of Reference
More scenes from 'America's next great city'
Home is where the heartbreak is
Saturday, October 6, 2007
A Pretty Stinging Indictment of East Baton Rouge Parish
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3 comments:
The solution should have come 40 years ago. The damage is long done and it is part of the reason that Ascension and Livingston parishes are amongst the fastest growing parishes in Louisiana. In fact, even the school systems IN EBR that have left the EBR school system have started to perform excellently (I want to say the Zachary school system is #1 test-scores wise)
That said, I am a graduate of the magnet program (I know, that doesn't mean much :) ) and I can tell you for sure that the EBR school system has and does produce some fine students. In fact, Bobby Jindal is a graduate of BRHS. I'll let those results speak for themselves.
It took generations to make this problem. It will take a similar amount of time and maybe a further sub-dvision of the system to correct it.
On the physical deterioration of the schools ... they were that bad when I was there some 15-20 years ago. It is sad to see that the conditions haven't improved. A reduction in parents who care about the education of their children has affected those who are left to the system.
Another thing, see how many private schools EBR has? Its incredible actually. It is a major problem but sadly the history of the situation has created a majority of parents who did choose to stay in the parish believing that private school tuition is a natural part of life like housing, utilities and grocery bills.
It is just depressing to look at those photos. It is a tough situation. ANd you are right the great private schools do produce a side affect that people do not feel a connection to the public ones
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