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Any Pinellas County Teachers in here?? Question for you

As a teacher, do you believe Fundamental Schools are superior to regular public schools? Does it just depend on the area?

I have a few friends who were insistent on putting their kids in Bay Vista or another fundamental in south St. Pete.

My kids are at a regular public school in N. St. Pete, and I see no problems with it. The teachers and staff were all pretty good and I had no problems. My son is very smart and I believe he can thrive in just about any environment because he has a lot of self-motivation. He'll be entering 1st grade this year so no FCAT concerns here just yet.....

 DH says that someone he works with has a wife who works at a fundamental school and says that even though fundamentals claim to have all these rules, that they can't really enforce a lot of them because it is still a public school. Supposedly one of the mothers at the fundamental school threatened to go to the naacp and file suit when they asked her son to leave due to serious rule breaking, everything from being a disruption in the classroom and attendance, to the mother not attending the required parent-involvement meetings, etc... and needless to say her son didn't have to leave the school after she threatened that (even though the basis for asking him to leave had nothing whatsoever to do with race).

Anyway I was wondering what teachers thought about fundamental schools versus regular public schools, and any insight you can give me as to how fundamental schools are - or are not - "superior" to regular public school. Well any opinions about it at all, really.... would be appreciated!

Thanks in advance, I'll check back later!

 

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Re: Any Pinellas County Teachers in here?? Question for you

  • I am not a teacher, and don't really want to share my opinions on this because they are very strong... But, Yay! for another Laura on the board!
  • If he is doing well in Public school and you see no problem with it, why move him?

    And I know 2 kids who have been kicked out of a fundamental school and one was just in 1st grade so it does happen.


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  • I'm a teacher at a non-fundamental school and I do think it depends on the area. I work at a pretty good school in a middle class neighborhood.  The best thing about fundamental schools (I think) is parent involvement. I know most parents work but it is sad that there are parents who have never had lunch with their child, attended a PTA meeting, came to a chorus concert, or made it to a conference. Then when things don't go well in the classroom, the teacher is blamed. All schools should have the same standards as fundamental schools but unfortunately that is not the case. Anyway, I will get off my soap box, now! 
  • I do like the structure of the fundamental schools because that is the type of parent I am/will be.  I don't think it is the school's responsibility to parent our children.  Or to force parents into parenting their children.  Obviously, not doing so is to the detriment of the child, but I do not believe our tax dollars should go to governing the behaviors of the parent and child.

     

    ETA:  I am not a teacher, parent of a school-aged child, or other qualified individual.  I just like sharing my opinions about things. 

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  • I am a PCS teacher at a low income school which is not fundamental. 

    Fundamentals have their ups and downs in my opinion.  As others have said, the parent involvement is great at fundamental schools, but I personally don't like how they require it.  Piggy backing off the idea of parent involvement, I used to work with a woman whose child was in a fundamental program.  Her son had a detention after school because the woman had not signed her son's homework agenda.  I don't agree with that one bit.  

    My suggestion is to do your OWN research and don't rely on what other mothers insist on.  Like other have said, if your child is doing well, then I wouldn't move him.  Good luck!

  • I am a teacher, but in my county we don't have Fundamental schools....we do have magnet schools, which I am guessing are similar...can someone confirm this?
    BabyFruit Ticker
  • Ryan I think they are a little different. Most magnet schools (in Pinellas) focus on a specific area (like math, science, arts, etc.) Some schools are entirely magnet program and some schools have a magnet program in addition to a typical curriculum set-up. Fundamental schools don't really focus on a specific subject area but are more geared towards a strong parent-student-teacher involvement which is required. Someone correct me if I am wrong....but I think that is the difference.
  • okay, thanks for the explaination.  Do they have these in Hillsborough as well?  I think my SIL might work at one.  Yes, our magnet schools have a focus area.  We have two- one is Math and Science, and one is the Arts. However, I believe they are also geared towards a strong parent-student-teacher involvement as well, requiring the parents to do a certain amount of volunteer time.

     

    imageblossomtg85:
    Ryan I think they are a little different. Most magnet schools (in Pinellas) focus on a specific area (like math, science, arts, etc.) Some schools are entirely magnet program and some schools have a magnet program in addition to a typical curriculum set-up. Fundamental schools don't really focus on a specific subject area but are more geared towards a strong parent-student-teacher involvement which is required. Someone correct me if I am wrong....but I think that is the difference.
    BabyFruit Ticker
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