talulahgosh: never read the tribune-review. it's about as biased as you can get.

Depends... did they cite the Allegheny Institute for Public Policy, the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation, or the Sarah Scaife Foundation?

/The Richard Mellon Scaife circle jerk in this town is amazing.

Kimothy: Even1/3 is too much. There are so many administrators/superintendents/assistants etc. in any school district that I have no doubt they could have used their own internal "expertise". It appears from the article that the money was spent on developing and implementing computer technology that helps track students, but even that could have been chosen by experts in the district, instead of outside consultants.

As usual, public education finds ways to waste money and still not directly benefit students.

That's the problem here in CA. The education system has tons of money, but it's swallowed up by the bureaucracy. Recently they spent $70 million on a new administration facility in LA, meanwhile they're shuttering schools due to lack of funds. Outrageous..

Walker: This is why I don't donate money to charity.....that and I'm a tightwad.

Yeah same here. I dont sign petitions either.
netizencain: FTA: "Barack Obama Academy of International Studies"


HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Yeah that is definatly a WTF. Must be next to the "Drew Curtis Academy of Sobriety Studies"

"as one consultant that could help improve the Barack Obama Academy of International Studies in East Liberty,where her daughters are students."
What the hell?

Is anyone really surprised to learn that most charities are really scams?

The article says that 1/3 of the money went to consultants and didn't say anything about administrators. Not sure where the comment about "nearly all" comes from. Also, why the outrage? If they had the people on staff who knew how to fix their problems, they wouldn't have the problems. Hiring an expert from outside seems like a pretty good way to spend the money, frankly.

Wait, I should be upset that a school is acting responsibly enough to hire expert outside help to improve their teaching methods and infrastructure?

I realize that a thoughtful, reasoned approach has no place on Fark, but wouldn't it make some sense to get some expert opinions on where to spend the bulk of the money before actually doing so?

meanmutton: The article says that 1/3 of the money went to consultants and didn't say anything about administrators. Not sure where the comment about "nearly all" comes from. Also, why the outrage? If they had the people on staff who knew how to fix their problems, they wouldn't have the problems. Hiring an expert from outside seems like a pretty good way to spend the money, frankly.

and

Nill: Wait, I should be upset that a school is acting responsibly enough to hire expert outside help to improve their teaching methods and infrastructure?

THESE. You can't just take grant money for one purpose and then use it for teachers' raises or whatever.

The article itself says that the Gates Foundation has to directly approve how the money is being spent. If the Gates Foundation doesn't care, why should we? Other, of course, than the fact that Republicans get their panties in a wad whenever money goes to anyone other than wall street bankers.

And by "consultants", they mean local bartenders.

I thought the children were our future. Guess the real future is top-heavy administration...

The article said 1/3 of money already spent, and 68% of the predicted spending in the coming year.

netizencain: FTA: "Barack Obama Academy of International Studies"


HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

That school is in my backyard, practically. I get a chortle every time I step outside and see those signs. "Too soon!" It's getting bulldozed for office space in a year or two, anyway. Then hopefully I'll have a pedestrian route to Penn Ave that doesn't involve a 4 block detour.

//And yeah, the Trib is a turd.

So, how much is earmarked for actual spending on the kids? You know, hiring competent teachers, books, computers, other supplies? That's what I'd like to know.

Yes, I'm aware that some administration costs are unavoidable but seeing as how they never touched on their other plans for the money I can't say I have much faith in what they claim to be doing.

Walker: This is why I don't donate money to charity.....that and I'm a tightwad.

Charity misuse of funds isn't a reason not to give, it's a reason to give carefully. Investigate orgs' financial efficiency, transparency, and mission effectiveness before sending a check. There's also the option of giving locally, where you may get more direct information about how and where your donations help.

peterthx: Kimothy: Even1/3 is too much. There are so many administrators/superintendents/assistants etc. in any school district that I have no doubt they could have used their own internal "expertise". It appears from the article that the money was spent on developing and implementing computer technology that helps track students, but even that could have been chosen by experts in the district, instead of outside consultants.

As usual, public education finds ways to waste money and still not directly benefit students.

That's the problem here in CA. The education system has tons of money, but it's swallowed up by the bureaucracy. Recently they spent $70 million on a new administration facility in LA, meanwhile they're shuttering schools due to lack of funds. Outrageous..

Would you really like to have your head explode in rage? Look up what the LAUSD (Los Angeles Unified School District) requires when building a new or upgrading an existing school.

I'll give you a hint: The city of L.A. is in what the city classifies as a 'methane zone'. That means the city requires a certain number of things be done when a building is built to mitigate any possible methane gas entering the building and doing bad things. Like go 'BOOM'. The city of L.A. has the most stringent requirements of any city or county in the country and the LAUSD takes those requirements and goes all derpy with them. I'm talking about requirements for an open air playground (or playfield as they call it) that has stronger requirements than your typical building or requiring four levels of inspectors on the GMS (Gas Mitigation System) when even a local hospital only requires one.

/Not that I'm really complaining. It makes me money and I don't got any kids in the LAUSD.

So typical of American education at all levels these days.

Note to self: Start a charity.

On vacation?

It wouldn't matter anyway. Kids either want to learn or they don't. Past a certain point you could triple the amount of money you spend and the main result would be tripling the amount of money you spent. That and the parking lot would have freshly painted lines and the janitors could use the new tennis courts after hours.

I don't understand. Were they supposed to just give cash to the kids or something?

Mavent: The article itself says that the Gates Foundation has to directly approve how the money is being spent. If the Gates Foundation doesn't care, why should we? Other, of course, than the fact that Republicans get their panties in a wad whenever money goes to anyone other than wall street bankers.

Indeed. I find it funny that Richard Mellon Scaife's rag is trying to tell Bill Gates what to do with his money.

/Millionaires vs Billionaires. Talk about class envy.

At any business you want to name outside consultants and contractors are just kick back routes to the people that hired them. It costs $0 to have some jerkoff show the employees the "thinking outside the box" diagram so they have no overhead and even less to have somebody be caught while falling backwards into a "trust circle" or whatever BS name the frauds are calling it this year. They put together this BS and charge the companies a butt load of cash, do nothing and then kickback a big chunk of the dough to the execs that hired them. The money appears in Grand Cayman or Channel Island accounts and the execs spend it outside the country on their next vacation or whatever. It is good to be king and it's just another way to screw over the employees while fattening your own bank account.

The company has received about $3.1 million to develop a system for the district to track information such as grades, attendance and student schedules,

Are you kidding me? This isn't off-the-shelf software that you can license for a few thousand a year?

FTFA:

The Gates Foundation sets the disbursement schedule. Annual funding is contingent upon whether grant recipients show they're on the path to meet the priorities outlined in their application.

"We're very pleased with the work happening in Pittsburgh," said Debbie Robinson, a spokeswoman for the Gates Foundation. "Things are progressing well."

Even by Fark standards, this thread is full of fail.

Personally I think the priorities for training at elementary/middle school is completely wrong...

Every child should receive sort of a modernized 'Samurai' training:

Learn to swim - well - before they're 10.
Learn basic first aid by 10 and basic EMT training by 15.
Train and practice daily basic self defense classes (i.e. Krav Maga). An alternative to parents who disapprove: daily Tai Chi/Qigong and/or pilates/yoga.
Learn to be financially responsible - at least plan/maintain a family budget, manage a debit and credit card. Realize what it means before they decide to go a quarter of a million dollars in debt to get a Masters in Art History (nttawwt major... the amount of debt kids are carrying out of college is.... criminal).
Learn to be a good citizen. Each student spends one day a week rotating/working various places in the community. The younger kids can plant trees/flowers, pick up trash, visit rest homes; hell, just get outside. In big cities, it would be nice if the city managers created/recovered green zones from failing areas and let the kids (under supervision) develop it once the land is cleared.

Grow/tend food by maintaining hydroponic/aquaculture systems at the school. Fresh food to supplement their breakfast/lunch. I'd like to see rabbits/chickens and a methane/biogas generator for the high schools.
Learn how to prepare, cook and store food. I mean long term planning/storage ala the Mormons.

Every snowflake before 12 should have to visit a supermax prison and spend 24 hours alone in an isolation cell. No exemptions. Our prison systems are horrible; maybe exposure will compel the next generation to do something about it.

At 17, each student performs 2 years public service (e.g. military, peace corps, rebuilding infrastructure, parks, etc.). Time can be deferred to get specific training so they can intern, (LPN, electrician, etc.) but zero exemptions.

I think 'specialty'/magnet schools that tailor to gifted kids - math/science, music/art, for say 10%-20% is realistic. However, we really need vocational training like NY's BOCES for at least 40%-60 of the populace. We need an apprentice program where we can mainline kids who can build and maintain things: plumbers, electricians, welders, as well as community service support: police/fire/EMTs.

The remaining students we need to target two specific areas: the next generation of teachers, and health care.

I don't know if times have changed, but years ago I thought we should have ramped up an entire apprenticeship program dedicated specifically to ER nurses and docs. The number of hours they were required to work at the time was... unethical. Regardless, with the shift in age, more and more trained health care staff are going to be needed to provide in home/hospice care.

/I'd also like to see a 35hr. work week and an end to companies working salaried workers 50+ hrs. with no compensation, just because they can.
//We need a shorter work week as parents are going to need a day a week to 'volunteer' w/ all these kids running around town lol :)
///If you're wondering when any of the kids would have time to learn math, science, english, history... We're getting close where most educational training will be taught via self-paced internet apps that kids would do at home; teachers would check their progress and make recommendations to alternate materials if they get 'stuck'.
////So short answer, Schools need to become more about development of our childrens' mind and body only as it pertains to integrating them into a healthy and happy society. Teach them how to care for themselves and be productive in their community.

Tired_of_the_BS: Personally I think the priorities for training at elementary/middle school is completely wrong...

Every child should receive sort of a modernized 'Samurai' training:

Learn to swim - well - before they're 10.
Learn basic first aid by 10 and basic EMT training by 15.
Train and practice daily basic self defense classes (i.e. Krav Maga). An alternative to parents who disapprove: daily Tai Chi/Qigong and/or pilates/yoga.
Learn to be financially responsible - at least plan/maintain a family budget, manage a debit and credit card. Realize what it means before they decide to go a quarter of a million dollars in debt to get a Masters in Art History (nttawwt major... the amount of debt kids are carrying out of college is.... criminal).
Learn to be a good citizen. Each student spends one day a week rotating/working various places in the community. The younger kids can plant trees/flowers, pick up trash, visit rest homes; hell, just get outside. In big cities, it would be nice if the city managers created/recovered green zones from failing areas and let the kids (under supervision) develop it once the land is cleared.



This guy makes reasonable, sensible points.

He must be stopped.

que.guero: Is anyone really surprised to learn that most charities are really scams?

Its not the charity its the school system.

RTFA

pdee: que.guero: Is anyone really surprised to learn that most charities are really scams?

Its not the charity its the school system.

RTFA

Can't. School didn't have enough money to teach me.