myw8orhiw8 wrote on Jul 23, 2008 11:09 PM:
" Charter schools in Minnesota have not been well thought out at the state level. Teachers that speak out on Boards or that voice opinions against administration are treated inappropriately or fired. Many other states have regulated their charters more appropriately. Wisconsin has allowed Charters to co-exist in public school buildings, run by administrators that have experience and licenses. Many of these school charters were written and planned by staff, families and administration in the early 1990's.
It's too bad that Winona Public schools couldn't have seen the benefits of student/family choice and written their own charters and hired their own employees. This would have prevented funding loss and the terrible practice of building more schools that we don't need. Now we just have a bunch of disfunctional charter schools. "
NLiteND wrote on Jul 22, 2008 11:11 PM:
" The school has changed so much over the years. When the O'Grady's were still there, there was good teachers and the students showed respect for each other. When they left, the best of the staff left with them. The following year, the rest of the good ones left. I think that says it all. I feel it is time for Krause to get her head out of the sand and see what is actually going on around her. For being so smart, is it possible that she can truly be that clueless? "
myepinion wrote on Jul 22, 2008 8:11 AM:
" Based on "For the Good's" comment, I would guess that teachers were laid off there not for Montessori reasons, but for lack of actually controlling their classrooms. Lack of adequate progress. Riverway has potential, but it needs to be choosey as to who teaches and who it lets in the doors to establish itself as a unique school and not a place second to the ALC. "
For the Good wrote on Jul 21, 2008 4:46 PM:
" I went to Riverway, because I thought it might be better for my disability, ADHD. The non-structure system worked for a little bit, but as I got used to it I started to cheat. If they would allow you to sit in your own little cubical with the answers in the back of the book.The teacher did not know how to handle just 12 kids. I had fun with the outings, we went hiking and canoeing; we learned more about history and nature. In the end, I was yelled at because I played with the younger kids and didn't socialize with kids my age. I was told that I had no future, if I didn't learn everything that was put in front of me. In the beginning, I was told that the way to learn, was to learn on your own. I find that I liked somethings, but hated most. "
Killgore wrote on Jul 21, 2008 12:10 PM:
" myepinion -if she's just putting a name to what was already done, then why insist on firing the teacher with the most tenure? the teacher with the highest test scores? Why insist on having a certified Montessori teacher?
One fact not mentioned in the story is that Lauries daughter, Coe, works at the school. Coe is the pre-primary teacher. The pre-primary has always used Montessori practices. Coe is a huge proponent of Montessori. Coe's daughter moves to the next classroom this year and that is the classroom that had to "change" to Montessori.
Coincidence? "
myepinion wrote on Jul 21, 2008 11:21 AM:
" Oh. You work in the school district. Nevermind. That explains a lot. It certainly explains the inability to educate yourself about the system differences yet you hold to an opinion based on very little factual information. Typical school district employee. "Winona Montessori" is not a school. There is Bluffview--which is Montessori. There is Riverway which has USED the method but not declared itself--then there is LaCrescent. but you "know" people who know people.....how nice. "
SKlaufi wrote on Jul 21, 2008 10:24 AM:
" Speaking as someone who goes to the school, and having contacted parents of my friends who go to the school with me, Krause stepped out of line, if she does anything that does not follow the rules of the board (Administrator does not have the right to make significant system-wide or programmatic decisions without an intentional process that gathers and considers input from students and families.) And I also know students who go to that school because of how it is with their students, I'm one and a few of my friends are. The teachers are not as lenient as you may think, especially with the younger students, the higher secondaries are the only one's left alone because they have shown that they are mature enough to handle being left alone. "
always wondering wrote on Jul 21, 2008 9:54 AM:
" I have family that has sent their children to the winona montessori and I have also spoken to teachers from there and also from teachers that used to teach there. And I work in the school district and deal with kids that went there but parents changed the child to the traditional schools. "
myepinion wrote on Jul 21, 2008 8:46 AM:
" The Montessori Method does not necesarily equate with leaving the classroom whenever they want. It is usually controlled learning by offering the tools for many different lessons. the students choose the lessons in their desired order. Riverway may allow the free movement of children around the building, but not all Montessori classrooms do such. You should really study the 2 in Winona and the LaCrescent center to understand how different they can be! "
always wondering wrote on Jul 20, 2008 8:09 PM:
" I know that riverway kids don't leave until college. I was talking about Montessori. Please re-read what I wrote. "
myepinion wrote on Jul 20, 2008 5:40 PM:
" Riverway is K-12....these kids don't have to "leave" to go to HS. "
always wondering wrote on Jul 20, 2008 1:13 PM:
" Do you have proof of the pot smoking? If you do, call the police.
As for the way the school is run; the Montessori isn't much different. The kids are allowed to leave the classrooms whenever they want, they have no structure at all. What happens to these kids when they get to high school and find out they can't do as they please? "
madisonsmom wrote on Jul 20, 2008 12:57 PM:
" This school is DANGEROUS. Kids are often left unsupervised - even around ovens and stove burners. The idea behind the school - experential learning - is great but half the staff smokes pot and are much too lenient letting the kids run the school instead of the teachers. "
NLiteND wrote on Jul 20, 2008 11:53 AM:
" I feel if the right people look into it, they will find a lot more serious things wrong with Riverway! Joe Luby should have concerns for all students and not just his own. Laurie Krause should maybe open her eyes a little and look at the whole picture concerning her administrative staff. Missing any funds Laurie? They are closer then you think. There are a lot of wonderful people that are connected with Riverway. Too bad there are a few that are bound and determined to make the school fail all due to their greed. Too late for some students, but maybe not for all. PUBLIC...OPEN UP YOUR EYES!!! "
myepinion wrote on Jul 20, 2008 7:03 AM:
" Having studied both charters (Bluffview and Riverway) in depth, I would argue that Riverway was muchmore Montessori based anyway! Bluffview is sort of a hybrid between traditional and Mont. But Riverway...I don't think Laurie's decision was that out of line. They were for mostly doing it anyway!! She just put a name to their pratices! "
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