Comments on: Magnetic Opportunities: With Harford Tech Full, Where Can Students Go? http://www.daggerpress.com/2009/07/17/magnetic-opportunities-with-harford-tech-full-where-can-students-go/ Sat, 20 Mar 2010 01:22:09 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Not from Here http://www.daggerpress.com/2009/07/17/magnetic-opportunities-with-harford-tech-full-where-can-students-go/#comment-24536 Not from Here Wed, 22 Jul 2009 18:14:49 +0000 http://www.daggerpress.com/?p=5727#comment-24536 It would be great to hear how the block schedule is impacting AP scores around the county. The research shows that scores are lower overall for kids on the block schedule. As far as math goes... in my daughter's AP calculus class, students had to go in at 7:15 a.m. one day a week so that they would have five classes each week. At her school, the academic classes meet four times each week (almost the same schedule as John Carroll and similar to Bel Air High School--pre-block schedule). The test scores went up, according to the teacher, after she started the five classes policy. It would be great to hear how the block schedule is impacting AP scores around the county. The research shows that scores are lower overall for kids on the block schedule.

As far as math goes… in my daughter’s AP calculus class, students had to go in at 7:15 a.m. one day a week so that they would have five classes each week. At her school, the academic classes meet four times each week (almost the same schedule as John Carroll and similar to Bel Air High School–pre-block schedule). The test scores went up, according to the teacher, after she started the five classes policy.

]]> By: Cdev http://www.daggerpress.com/2009/07/17/magnetic-opportunities-with-harford-tech-full-where-can-students-go/#comment-24524 Cdev Wed, 22 Jul 2009 14:09:51 +0000 http://www.daggerpress.com/?p=5727#comment-24524 I didn't say it was perfect. But you concluded block scheduling was horrible and more so in small schools. You named 3 of the 4 smallest schools in the county omitting Harford Tech from the list. Of those schools you named one had block scheduleing (all be it a different form before). Yes block scheduling can be bad for some subjects but for others it can be really good such as sciences, labs, and hands on. I taught at a school with an 8 period day (45 minutes each period) some classes like AP courses where offered in 2 credit courses so that the teacher had 90 minutes everyday to cover all the material. AP scores skyrocketed that year although the number of courses at that school that got taken declined. I didn’t say it was perfect. But you concluded block scheduling was horrible and more so in small schools. You named 3 of the 4 smallest schools in the county omitting Harford Tech from the list. Of those schools you named one had block scheduleing (all be it a different form before). Yes block scheduling can be bad for some subjects but for others it can be really good such as sciences, labs, and hands on. I taught at a school with an 8 period day (45 minutes each period) some classes like AP courses where offered in 2 credit courses so that the teacher had 90 minutes everyday to cover all the material. AP scores skyrocketed that year although the number of courses at that school that got taken declined.

]]> By: Kate http://www.daggerpress.com/2009/07/17/magnetic-opportunities-with-harford-tech-full-where-can-students-go/#comment-24523 Kate Wed, 22 Jul 2009 13:55:22 +0000 http://www.daggerpress.com/?p=5727#comment-24523 CDEV: Jopppatowne had semester scheduling for the block schedule. If you look at the educational research, it is probably the worst schedule for high school in terms of success on AP tests and SAT. Now the school system has a "hybrid" schedule for year long classes and 1/2 year. If you don't think it's a problem CDEV, you obviously don't have any kids in high school. I do... CDEV:

Jopppatowne had semester scheduling for the block schedule. If you look at the educational research, it is probably the worst schedule for high school in terms of success on AP tests and SAT. Now the school system has a “hybrid” schedule for year long classes and 1/2 year. If you don’t think it’s a problem CDEV, you obviously don’t have any kids in high school. I do…

]]> By: DW http://www.daggerpress.com/2009/07/17/magnetic-opportunities-with-harford-tech-full-where-can-students-go/#comment-24519 DW Wed, 22 Jul 2009 12:33:07 +0000 http://www.daggerpress.com/?p=5727#comment-24519 There are a lot of problems with block scheduling and teachers not being able to cover the required material. It's more of a problem in certain subjects than others (I think math is the one that has the biggest problems, but I could be wrong.) My understanding is that the teachers are having to cover too much material in one sitting and many students are having trouble grasping that much material. With regular length class periods less material is covered each day, but then the student has a chance to go home and do homework and master those skills before moving on to the next shill the next day. I'm just glad my school district didn't start the block scheduling garbage until my senior year and they phased it in so juniors and seniors and didn't have to make the switch (unless they were in a class designed for freshmen or sophomores, of course.) My sister had to go through it and hated it. There are a lot of problems with block scheduling and teachers not being able to cover the required material. It’s more of a problem in certain subjects than others (I think math is the one that has the biggest problems, but I could be wrong.) My understanding is that the teachers are having to cover too much material in one sitting and many students are having trouble grasping that much material. With regular length class periods less material is covered each day, but then the student has a chance to go home and do homework and master those skills before moving on to the next shill the next day.

I’m just glad my school district didn’t start the block scheduling garbage until my senior year and they phased it in so juniors and seniors and didn’t have to make the switch (unless they were in a class designed for freshmen or sophomores, of course.) My sister had to go through it and hated it.

]]> By: Cdev http://www.daggerpress.com/2009/07/17/magnetic-opportunities-with-harford-tech-full-where-can-students-go/#comment-24517 Cdev Wed, 22 Jul 2009 11:54:03 +0000 http://www.daggerpress.com/?p=5727#comment-24517 Kate, Jate to tell you Joppatowne had a block schedule before CSSRP! No problems then with scheduling! Kate, Jate to tell you Joppatowne had a block schedule before CSSRP! No problems then with scheduling!

]]> By: Not from Here http://www.daggerpress.com/2009/07/17/magnetic-opportunities-with-harford-tech-full-where-can-students-go/#comment-24512 Not from Here Wed, 22 Jul 2009 03:56:44 +0000 http://www.daggerpress.com/?p=5727#comment-24512 It is interesting that people have the impression that HCPS is very college focused, but yet so many students leave high school only to repeat what they should have learned in high school in remedial classes in colleges (which by the way is not unique to Harford County). I guess even if it does focus on college prepartation, it doesn't do it very well. The college clusters do not offer a college prep track and the tracks are for general areas of interest. In one cluster for example, the judge, the lawyer, the baliff, and the court reporter are all in the same career cluster. It's a beauty of a program. It is interesting that people have the impression that HCPS is very college focused, but yet so many students leave high school only to repeat what they should have learned in high school in remedial classes in colleges (which by the way is not unique to Harford County). I guess even if it does focus on college prepartation, it doesn’t do it very well.

The college clusters do not offer a college prep track and the tracks are for general areas of interest. In one cluster for example, the judge, the lawyer, the baliff, and the court reporter are all in the same career cluster. It’s a beauty of a program.

]]> By: Kate http://www.daggerpress.com/2009/07/17/magnetic-opportunities-with-harford-tech-full-where-can-students-go/#comment-24510 Kate Wed, 22 Jul 2009 00:20:43 +0000 http://www.daggerpress.com/?p=5727#comment-24510 Because the school system has so many required courses in the first two years, a career cluster really doesn't mean anything but can make it very difficult to schedule especially now with the block schedule where some classes are all year every other day and some 1/2 semester. It is a nightmare in schools where there are less than 1000 students (HVDG, Joppatowne, Patterson Mill). All of the issues with career clusters, block schedule, were part of CSSRP and were supposed to be evaluated by the Board of Education 3 years ago. They continue to sit on vital information and ignore problems associated with it. My son is going into his 2nd year of college in Engineering. HCPS did an okay job of preparing him in some subject matters not so much in others. Very deficient in science and because of the block schedule the amount of time that was cut out of Calculus 1 and 2, the teacher was unable to teach as much of the textbook as in years past. Same situation in English where the loss of instruction time was close to 50 hours. Too many parents don't realize what has been lost and I hope new leadership and new perspective will bring focus back on what is important. Because the school system has so many required courses in the first two years, a career cluster really doesn’t mean anything but can make it very difficult to schedule especially now with the block schedule where some classes are all year every other day and some 1/2 semester. It is a nightmare in schools where there are less than 1000 students (HVDG, Joppatowne, Patterson Mill). All of the issues with career clusters, block schedule, were part of CSSRP and were supposed to be evaluated by the Board of Education 3 years ago. They continue to sit on vital information and ignore problems associated with it.

My son is going into his 2nd year of college in Engineering. HCPS did an okay job of preparing him in some subject matters not so much in others. Very deficient in science and because of the block schedule the amount of time that was cut out of Calculus 1 and 2, the teacher was unable to teach as much of the textbook as in years past. Same situation in English where the loss of instruction time was close to 50 hours. Too many parents don’t realize what has been lost and I hope new leadership and new perspective will bring focus back on what is important.

]]> By: DW http://www.daggerpress.com/2009/07/17/magnetic-opportunities-with-harford-tech-full-where-can-students-go/#comment-24508 DW Tue, 21 Jul 2009 22:59:26 +0000 http://www.daggerpress.com/?p=5727#comment-24508 Cdev, In some cases that may have happened. In my case it didn't since my first two majors where both in fields that I enjoyed in high school and did extremely well in (taking AP and honors classes and scoring high on the AP tests.) The major I eventually settled on I basically fell in to because I wanted to get my degree and get out. Tastes, goals, etc change and I really don't think most high school freshman and sophomores have any idea what they want to do. I think most students are better served by being exposed to a variety of disciplines over their high schools careers rather than being pushed into one particular area. It would also help if teachers weren't forced to "teach the test" and could instead actually teach students how to think. My wife, who happens to be a high school teacher in Harford County, agrees completely with me on that. There should be plenty of vocational opportunities available for those who want them (and/or are most likely not suitable for college.) I think if there were more opportunities (and those opportunities not based solely on GPA's) some of the problems we're having in various parts of the county (namely the Rt. 40 corridor, Edgewood, and Aberdeen) would diminish. Get those kids interested in school and learning and let them see that they have a future that doesn't involve drugs, gangs, and violence and over time it should make those neighborhoods safer. Learning is important whether it's learning calculus, how to repair or build an engine, or plumbing. Now, maybe I'm misunderstanding exactly what the "career clusters" are supposed to be, but my understanding is that a student goes into a field (like sciences) and focuses most of his/her classes in that area and takes fewer classes in other disciplines, but is still on a college track (and is not ready for a career upon graduation.) Vocational training on the other hand is preparing the student who may not have the interest or ability to go to college right out of high school with the training necessary to start a career after graduation. Cdev,
In some cases that may have happened. In my case it didn’t since my first two majors where both in fields that I enjoyed in high school and did extremely well in (taking AP and honors classes and scoring high on the AP tests.) The major I eventually settled on I basically fell in to because I wanted to get my degree and get out. Tastes, goals, etc change and I really don’t think most high school freshman and sophomores have any idea what they want to do. I think most students are better served by being exposed to a variety of disciplines over their high schools careers rather than being pushed into one particular area. It would also help if teachers weren’t forced to “teach the test” and could instead actually teach students how to think. My wife, who happens to be a high school teacher in Harford County, agrees completely with me on that.

There should be plenty of vocational opportunities available for those who want them (and/or are most likely not suitable for college.) I think if there were more opportunities (and those opportunities not based solely on GPA’s) some of the problems we’re having in various parts of the county (namely the Rt. 40 corridor, Edgewood, and Aberdeen) would diminish. Get those kids interested in school and learning and let them see that they have a future that doesn’t involve drugs, gangs, and violence and over time it should make those neighborhoods safer. Learning is important whether it’s learning calculus, how to repair or build an engine, or plumbing.

Now, maybe I’m misunderstanding exactly what the “career clusters” are supposed to be, but my understanding is that a student goes into a field (like sciences) and focuses most of his/her classes in that area and takes fewer classes in other disciplines, but is still on a college track (and is not ready for a career upon graduation.) Vocational training on the other hand is preparing the student who may not have the interest or ability to go to college right out of high school with the training necessary to start a career after graduation.

]]> By: Cdev http://www.daggerpress.com/2009/07/17/magnetic-opportunities-with-harford-tech-full-where-can-students-go/#comment-24504 Cdev Tue, 21 Jul 2009 21:34:23 +0000 http://www.daggerpress.com/?p=5727#comment-24504 It is my understanding you apply to harford tech for a specific program. Some programs like welding are much easier to get into and others like cosmotology and culinary are more difficult. It is my understanding you apply to harford tech for a specific program. Some programs like welding are much easier to get into and others like cosmotology and culinary are more difficult.

]]> By: HDGReader http://www.daggerpress.com/2009/07/17/magnetic-opportunities-with-harford-tech-full-where-can-students-go/#comment-24501 HDGReader Tue, 21 Jul 2009 19:11:36 +0000 http://www.daggerpress.com/?p=5727#comment-24501 I agree with katelyn that HCPS is entirely focused on college, especially four year-colleges for all of their students. Some guidance counselors even think Harford Community College is not good enough. When I was a senior at HDG High in 1993, I had a talk with a guidance counselor who berated me for choosing HCC that fall. She said with my grades, why was I "settling" for HCC. I was blunt and told her that unlike other families who can afford to send their kids to four-year schools away from home, I lived with my grandparents who were on a fixed income and told me outright they were not helping with any college tuition. Either I apply for scholarships and a Pell Grant, or no school at all. I also wasn't ready to leave and go to school out of state or even College Park. I was 17 and still wanted to stick close to home. The guidance counselor still wasn't satisfied with my answers. I think HCC is a great school and outside of one nasty professor (who has since left) my college years there were wonderful. Anyway, HCPS needs to look at other alternatives for struggling students and even non-struggling students who would prefer to attend a trade school or enter the workforce. If the demand is there, why ignore it? I agree with katelyn that HCPS is entirely focused on college, especially four year-colleges for all of their students. Some guidance counselors even think Harford Community College is not good enough.

When I was a senior at HDG High in 1993, I had a talk with a guidance counselor who berated me for choosing HCC that fall. She said with my grades, why was I “settling” for HCC. I was blunt and told her that unlike other families who can afford to send their kids to four-year schools away from home, I lived with my grandparents who were on a fixed income and told me outright they were not helping with any college tuition. Either I apply for scholarships and a Pell Grant, or no school at all. I also wasn’t ready to leave and go to school out of state or even College Park. I was 17 and still wanted to stick close to home. The guidance counselor still wasn’t satisfied with my answers. I think HCC is a great school and outside of one nasty professor (who has since left) my college years there were wonderful.

Anyway, HCPS needs to look at other alternatives for struggling students and even non-struggling students who would prefer to attend a trade school or enter the workforce. If the demand is there, why ignore it?

]]>