Raleigh Schools, in the Wake County district of North Carolina, have been praised for doing a lot of things right. This is especially true in the area of diversity. In 2000 the Raleigh Schools' goal has been to limit the number of students receiving reduced lunches to 40% per school. Many studies have shown that large amounts of poverty negatively affect all students, and Raleigh Schools were praised for this racially blind method of ensuring diversity. Organizations as diverse as the Civil Rights Project at Harvard University, the Bush administration and many educational organizations commended the move.
That's not to stay that Raleigh Schools have not had some struggles. 30 of the 143 Raleigh Schools currently exceed the 40% goal. Still, most board members and educators have been pleased with the results. Another initiative, which has garnered both praise and criticism, may put the diversity gains of Raleigh Schools at risk.
Back in 1989 Raleigh Schools first implemented voluntary year round schools. Year round schools make better use of facilities, and help students retain more knowledge by giving many shorter 3-week breaks as opposed to the traditional summer vacation. Mainly affluent families signed up for those voluntary schools, as childcare is hard to come by during those 3-week breaks for financially strapped working families. The Raleigh Schools' Board responded by assigning specific neighborhoods to each year round school, and involuntarily assigning children to schools. Here's the problem.
Some parents don't want their children bussed to schools on the year round calendar, in neighborhoods where they were not comfortable socially, or that were too far from their homes. Recently, those parents of Raleigh Schools won a court ruling that requires parental consent to send children to year round and modified calendar schools. While parents may see this as a win, civil rights advocates and Raleigh Schools' educators in favor of diversity are very concerned.
African American community leaders, including Raleigh School Board vice chairman Rosa Gill, are urging parents to consent to keep their children in the year round school to strengthen both diversity and academic strength. Many of the children opting out of the year round school option do so because their parents say that they don't fit into that more affluent environment. On the reverse side, some better-off families want to opt out in order to attend traditional or more desirable schools as well. Either scenario threatens the balance of diversity for which Raleigh Schools have received great acclaim.
Do parents know what's best, or are they unintentionally contributing to academic struggles at Raleigh Schools? The court has ruled, and the nation will watch Raleigh Schools closely for the outcome.
Against Year Round School
Outdoor recreation is the standard for vacations in the Lake Michigan area of the Great Lakes. There are endless opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors, including biking, hunting, camping, bird watching and water activities such as boating, fishing, scuba diving and swimming. The lake itself is enough of a reason to start your search for vacation rentals- as it is the largest freshwater lake within the United States, as well as the largest lake that is completely located within a single country. It is a sight to behold- and its' 22,300 square miles makes it the fifth largest lake in all the world.
Lake Michigan vacationing is a pleasure regardless of whether you go during the summer season or the winter months- there are advantages to each of the seasons! In the fall, you can enjoy vibrant colors as the leaves change, and enjoy many festivals that celebrate the changing of seasons during the fall. There are several options for Lake Michigan vacation rentals. For the true outdoorsmen, camping might be your perfect choice, particularly in the warmer months. If you're planning to stay in one of the many vacation rentals over the winter months, you'll enjoy snowmobiling and skiing, as well as many of the indoor activities. Museums, wineries, casinos, zoos and planetariums make up some of the many indoor opportunities for recreation in Michigan, perfect for when the weather isn't perfect or for the cold winter months. Lake Michigan is a family destination. Enjoy an afternoon in one of the many state parks, or enjoying the water's edge. There are indoor and outdoor miniature golf centers, go-carts, water parks, amusement parks and several paintball opportunities.
Ludington: Known for being one of Lake Michigan's popular beach towns, Ludington sits along the eastern shore. The vacation rentals of Ludington consist of full homes for rent, furnished apartments and condos, and the standard hotel rooms. While staying in Ludington, be sure to visit Historic One Pine Village, for signs, artifacts and archives of the area's history.
Saugatuck: On the south eastern shore lies a small, rural community known as Saugatuck, known as the "Art Coast of Michigan". It is here that students from The Art Institute of Chicago come each year to study on a lagoon. The areas incredible natural beauty has resulting in many artists taking up residence year round. Visiting Saugatuck is a pleasure and plenty of attractions to keep tourists entertained.
Manistique: The name reminds people of "magnificent", and for a very good reason. Manistique is located on the upper peninsula and offers the community and tourists state parks, lighthouses, historical attractions, a boardwalk where hundreds of unique shops gather to sell their wares, and "Big Springs" in Palms Book State Park. Big Springs is the largest spring, and a site to behold. Be sure your Lake Michigan vacation rentals are within traveling distance to Big Springs, so you can enjoy the 10,000 gallons per minute gushing from limestone fissures underground. The springs are forty feet deep, and two hundred feet wide!
Regardless of where you decide to visit, you can enjoy outstanding accommodations and attractions to make you want to take every vacation in the area. Rustic cabins or high class, modern resorts, bed and breakfasts or camping- whatever your preference, Lake Michigan has it.
Both Patricia Hawke & Matthew Kekelis are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Patricia Hawke has sinced written about articles on various topics from Education, Food And Drink and Education Toys. Patricia Hawke is a staff writer for Schools K-12, providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and private K-12 schools. For more information please visit. Patricia Hawke's top article generates over 246000 views. to your Favourites.
Cost Of Maid Service After all, this is the person who sees your home at its worst each week and helps it regain its sparkle and polish so that you can be proud of the way it looks