From: kckbxr@next16pg2.wam.umd.edu (Robin Hood)
Subject: Re: Magnet schools
Organization: Workstations at Maryland, University of Maryland, College Park
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1993 20:01:26 GMT

In article <1993Jan07.182300.7993@eng.umd.edu> clin@eng.umd.edu (Charles  
Lin) writes:
> 
>    I read a moderately recently issue of US News and World Reports which
> discussed the issue of "magnet" schools.   Magnet schools, for those of
> you who don't know it, are schools that admit highly qualified students  
on
> the basis of examination or other similar means.   For example, New York
> City has several schools like this (Stuyvesant, Bronx School of Science,
> Brooklyn Tech, Hunter College, etc.).   I think the idea is that in a  
city
> as large as New York, and with so many schools, it is difficult to  
maintain
> a high quality education throughout since not all students are highly
> motivated.   
> 
>     Therefore exams are given, and anyone getting some score is admitted
> into these schools (which are free).   The distribution of various  
ethnic
> groups is pretty good, and so some minorities like this system because
> it gives a chance for qualified minorities to get the kind of education
> they want.   The downside is that it may foster a bit of elitism where
> top students are getting more of the resources than the rest of the
> city.
> 
>     My personal opinion is that, if it is not really possible to  
maintain
> high education throughout a city or town, either due to the lack of
> high quality students or teachers,  then magnet schools are a good idea.
> They make sure that those who are both willing and able are not hampered
> by the location that they live in and made to go to a school where they
> are not educationally challenged.   It also offers a way to emphasize  
education
> as something to strive for.
> > --
> Charles Lin
> clin@eng.umd.edu

I didn't read the article, but your letter and the examples taken from the  
article indicate magnet schools used in a post-high school setting.   
There, I agree.  In high schools, in my opinion, it's a different story.   
In P.G. County, MD, there are a variety of magnet schools offerred.  I  
think that this is discriminatory at this age-level.  I don't see the need  
to concentrate on the magnet school programs on the hs-level when there  
aren't enough funds to educate the general public properly.  Many high  
schools are limited as far as necessities are concerned (terribly old  
books, limited amounts of copy paper, resources, teachers, etc.) to the  
general public.  I don't see how the Dept. of Education can justify  
spending the general public's tax dollars on a few select individuals.  If  
these people want advanced education, then they should look for alternate  
means to funding it, but not the PUBLIC education budget! 

Now, you may disagree with me and say well, what qualifies me to have an  
opinion on the subject.  Well, I graduated from one of the high schools in  
P.G. County, MD, in 1989 and am currently at the Univ. of Maryland.  I've  
since visited my high school and have seen how pathetic it looks.  I guess  
we can all thank his royal highness, Gov. of Baltimore, Willie Shaeffer  
for the millions of tax dollars in which the kids will never be able to  
have for education now, can't we?

bill
 
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