Kriner Cash is celebrating what exactly?

Yes, it's that time of year when students report back to school. And and the administration of the Buffalo CSD tries to make a big deal about the changes that they have made at a few schools. Namely five schools.

First: Class sizes will be smaller at the city's most struggling schools. I will respond to this in the most polite way possible. Well, duh. Research shows that smaller class sizes increases achievement. The ideal class size is 15 students per teacher. Buffalo will be aiming for 18 – 20 students per teacher. This will be down from 27-36 students in other schools.

Second: After school support and enrichment will be offered. Holy cow. How much brainstorming did it take for them to come up with that. No. Wait. Research shows this increases student achievement. Yes, with academic enrichment, support in emotional and behavioral supports for students that need them. And snacks. Yes, food for students that might not have enough at home.

Third: Thirteen schools will become “community schools” that will offer services beyond education, like access to social services. These services will include adult education, immigration and legal services (which the poor usually can't afford anyways), and voter registration. (Republicans should be outraged at that one, I wonder how long before that is challenged?) All that and the school libraries will be open longer. Gee whiz. After Erie County went on a library killing spree years ago the Buffalo schools are going to make up for the slack that the students needed. I wonder if the boneheads that slashed the public libraries realized what they were going to be doing to the community? Doubt it. I think it was Republicans that killed the libraries.

Fourth: Innovative high schools. These are high schools that are affiliated with specific college programs. Kind of like college prep schools. Or vocational schools. There's a medical program, a program that will be affiliated with Solar City (if it ever opens), computer science, a law/police program, and an international program. This is innovative because? Services like this have existed in BOCES and similar educational programs for years. The big deal is … ?

Fifth: New Technology like iPads and 1 to 1 laptop programs to make computing more available. I come from a district that is in its third year of a 1 to 1 program. It's a tool. If a student isn't going to do paper homework, they aren't going to do it on a computer. And if the student does not have Internet access at home, this is gong to help them how? And I have students that use them as glorified mp3 players, video game platforms, and social media services. Technology is a tool. I don't see it as a cure all. And I've seen it fail. I've also seen some amazing success stories. It depends on so many things.

Sixth: Multi Language Reform. Great. The school is complying with a civil right, namely the right to and education. If the student can't speak the language (namely English) they aren't going to learn. Providing a translator is the responsibility of the district. So the district is going to make a big deal about upholding a civil right and a responsibility. What ever will they thing of next?

Seventh: Hiring more Special Education teachers! (Surprise!) Yes, meeting the educational needs of special needs students is a real nice thought. It's also the law.

So the district is trying to make a big deal about doing what it is supposed to be doing in the first place.

They are celebrating this because?

Now to do something about the chronic absenteeism that some students face because they don't have a stable home life, or one consistent address to call home, or parents that are there for them because they (the parents) are working two minimum wage jobs to make ends meet in an city that is becoming more un-affordable for the poor.

I can't wait to hear what they plan to do about that.

Yes. I want to be there when Carl Paladino talks about the problems that capitalism causes.

Pardon my snarkiness in this blog post, but I don't see what the big deal is.

This is what schools should be doing in the first place.

Buffalo has been plagued by the crises that capitalism causes for years with the loss of manufacturing and other good paying jobs that have been sent to wherever labor is the cheapest.

And the students in Buffalo and WNY have been suffering from the failures of capitalism.

It's time for capitalism to pay for the crises that it has caused in so many peoples' lives.

Sadly, capitalism's solution to the educational crisis that it has made is charter schools.

We need to fight to prevent any more from coming into Buffalo and WNY.

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And I'm afraid to move my computer because my cats are all chilling out listening to Duane Eddy. I'm playing it on the CD drive. Even the wacky little kitten is chilling out.

I am being oppressed by cats.

I may have to write up the Catmunist Manifesto in order to liberate myself from this tyranny of cats.