6-11-12-reflection

Reflection on class EDSA 535- School and Community Relations 6/11/12   I learned about the connection between drop-out rates, politics, and incidence of incarceration. It was discussed that politicians have to be convinced that schools are doing a good job. The class wondered why schools have to present themselves as benefiting the public and why politicians may take an interest in schools in their voting districts. One reason is that if they learn that schools are doing a good job in their next budgeting meeting they might organize their budgets to allocate more money to support schools. Another reason is that it costs society and taxpayers more to keep a criminal in jail each year than to educate a student and support them in reaching high school graduation. The research states that the higher level of education one attains, the less likely a person will turn to criminal activities. So, if costs associated with incarceration is decreased conjunction with increases in graduation rate. The politicians now might have larger budgets and can decrease taxes or use the money for other projects, such as good schools which have decreased the politicians expenses, making the constituents happy and they now have a reason to help the politician get re-elected to the office that he is working in. This then helps the politician to get what he/she wants. From these areas I have learned why schools' need to present a good faces publicly. Another thing that I learned and would like to use with middle scholars, was that  creativity and collaboration needs to occur to enforce rules and support the students. The discussion about the problems occurring with crossing schools and floors within the same building throughout the scheduled day and its effect on discipline and structure within your school/academy, demonstrated  your collaboration and ingenuity in resolving this issue and preventing cutting and skipping of classes.