With last day of classes, 21 KC district schools fade to memory

[proud2BlibKansan]

<skip>

Today, 21 buildings will watch children pass through their doors out into summer for the last time.

It’s not an easy thing, telling a school goodbye.

The schools range from 17 to 101 years old, most of them older and tired. They are elementary schools, middle schools and a high school. Their communities and their district faced storms of economic change, racial politics and down-spiraling enrollment.

But the children and teachers leaving them today will take indelible memories with them, same as the generations before them.

School closings strike deep, said education researcher and author Diane Ravitch.

Kansas City’s plan, closing 40 percent of its schools, is particularly stunning in scope, but not a lone action. Many districts are closing schools, sometimes as the ultimate punitive measure for poor performance, other times driven by starving budgets.

“It seems that some superintendents boast of how many schools they close,” Ravitch said in an e-mail to The Star. “School-i-cide doesn’t improve education, and it destroys social capital.”

While Kansas City considered a school’s academic performance when making its list of closings, the overarching reason was a looming budget crisis. But that is small comfort, Ravitch said, to communities preparing to lose their anchors.

“When schools are closed because of underenrollment,” she said, “it is a matter of sad necessity.”

Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2010/06/02/1988984/21-kc-schools-fade-to-memory.html?mi_pluck_action=comment_submitted&qwxq=1051938#Comments_Container#ixzz0pn1wrjLd

[no_hypocrisy]

1. That's so sad.

I know well the feeling of loss. My first school was built in 1912 and I attended it for kindergarten and fifth grade. I loved all of it: my classrooms, the hallways, the auditorium, the library, the gym, the cafeteria, every room. I just knew I was "home" when I was in it. I even had the opportunity to return to it as a student teacher.

Four years ago, my town voted to abandon this school and to build a more modern version. Former students were given the opportunity to wander the halls and visit their classrooms one more time for a day three years ago, around this time of year. I spent hours going room to room, saying hello and goodbye, grieving. The week after this event, the town police were given access to the building to practice commando tactics and shot up the place. A little while after that, the bricks and mortar were piles of rubble and carted away.

I still miss the school. It's more than sentimental as there is no substitute close to it. It's the story of my town, the story of this country.

I sigh with Kansas City.

[donco6]

2. They'll just be reopened as charters.

You watch.

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. Hey I'm already depressed.

:)

[donco6]

4. Ooops - sorry.

:hug:

[Catshrink]

5. I'm so sorry

I know how gut wrenching this is for you.

:grouphug:

[Reader Rabbit]

6. Condolences, P2BK. My thoughts are with you.

:hug:

[Admiral Loinpresser]

7. I'm so sorry.

For you, for the kids, other teachers, the parents.

The only consolation is that every time the RW sticks it to working people, we get closer to the political tipping point in this country. The day when we turn to progressive policies and no longer accept rat bastards like Obama and his corporatist bullshit!

[proud2BlibKansan]

8. I am with you 100%

But I think you already knew that.

[Admiral Loinpresser]

9. ;-) n/t

n/t

[demtenjeep]

10. are you affected with this development?

Will you have to re-interview?

[proud2BlibKansan]

12. Yes and maybe

Still don't know. It's a human resources nightmare at this point.

[demtenjeep]

13. wow, I am sorry

I am also afraid that all of our schools will be forever in turmoil because of this

[proud2BlibKansan]

14. I have decided to just go with the flow

Whatever happens happens.

I feel incredibly grateful that I got to spend 13 years at a high performing school. It was a grand ride. As I said on our last day WE DONE GOOD. And we should be proud.

Hopefully I'll land in a decent school next year. :)

[LWolf]

11. .

:cry: