Posted on 11/03/2005 11:11:56 PM PST by nickcarraway
LOS ANGELES The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has announced it has given seven-point-four (m) million dollars to expand programs at four Los Angeles high schools aimed at preparing students for college.
The money will expand small learning community programs at Carson, Jordan, Fremont and Washington Prep.
A small learning community has about 400 students who have the same teachers and classmates for all four years of high school. Often the community has a theme like the environment, arts or community service.
Supporters say the groups give students the opportunity to bond with teachers, build self-confidence and prepare for college.
Microsoft founder Bill Gates and his wife, Linda, have invested more than one (b) billion dollars in small learning communities nationwide.
If someone wants to give me 1.5 million dollars (umarked, i'll take 20's,50's,100's ) I will gladly spend it for you, i'll educate myself and spend the rest on a nice house, car, clothes, food so i can attend school without hassles.
=)
Far be it from me to suggest how others ought to spend their money, but maybe special schools for the gifted children would provide greater return on the effort in the grand scheme of things?
It seems to me that what this is accomplishing is creating the kind of environment which existed in many small towns years ago.It worked then.It might just work now.Having attended school in a similar situation(because I am so old)I think that much value was gained by the continuity of classmates and teachers.Hell,I even named my Yorkie after my first grade teacher,the same first grade teacher of my mother,and most folks probably can't even remember their first grade teacher for all the interruptions in their climb up the school ladder.
there is money being pissed away....
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