Print Article for : Los Angeles High Schools

Your Online Guide » Education and Teaching » Articles on Education

[L551]Los Angeles High Schools

by Patricia Hawke, Pat

A long time ago, kids went to school in a one-room schoolhouse. Kids ranged in age from around 7 to 16, and were all taught by the same teacher. In the cities, schools were mostly run by religious organizations or sometimes the town's city council took over the responsibility of educating the young people.

As our population has increased, the need for more teachers and more classrooms and even more school buildings has grown exponentially. Nowhere is that more evident than in Los Angeles Schools.

Los Angeles Schools have seen a population explosion over the past few years. Higher birthrates as well as new residents moving to the city have led to Los Angeles Schools that are operating way over capacity. The overflow of students is spilling into portable classrooms, and at many Los Angeles Schools children share deteriorating bathrooms, a single eating area and an overcrowded playground.

Faced with the increasing challenge of getting Los Angeles Public Schools kids to lunch around lunchtime and making sure they are getting enough physical exercise throughout out the school day, Los Angeles Schools principals find themselves forced to cut special programs.

Another problem Los Angeles Schools are facing due to overcrowding is that schools don't have to capacity to house all those extra kids. Some Los Angeles Schools have a student population that is at least three times the size the building was designed to serve.

Because of these larger class sizes in the Los Angeles Schools, principals are finding that they also lack the necessary teachers needed to accommodate them. Other problems Los Angeles Schools students are facing in the classroom is that they can't get the proper attention they need from their teachers. Needing to spend a lot more time on discipline, teachers can't always get to each and everyone of their students each and every day. Los Angeles Schools teachers also have more papers to grade and more parents to conference with.

According to recent studies, being in an overcrowded class means that kids are performing at a lower achievement rate than they would in a normal-sized or even small-sized classroom. Kids that need help from their teacher may need to wait a long time before the teacher can get to them, since he or she is most likely working with another student at the time. This empty time can lead to bullying, disruptive behavior, or other nonproductive activities.

Some Los Angeles Schools teachers are reacting to the problems of overcrowding with morning demonstrations against the rising class sizes. They have been outside their school picketing for a few minutes each morning before class begins. They want to open the public's eyes to the fact that having too many kids in one class makes it nearly impossible to give each student the attention they deserve.

The teachers say that having too many students in one class makes it harder for them to spend enough time with each. They have been holding picket signs outside of the school this week for a few minutes before classes begin.

Overcrowding is definitely a big problem for Los Angeles Schools.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and the Los Angeles schools have had several run-ins over the past couple of years. Villaraigosa has been trying to gain control over the Los Angeles schools through both the legislature and the courts. Thus far, his efforts have been only marginally successful, having been given some control at the end of last summer. ```````

This latest drama has at its center a high school student called Zoner. This creative lad, who attends Santee High School, decorated a bus with graffiti in early March of this year. Unfortunately for Zoner, the mayor and Los Angeles schools Superintendent David Brewer were riding on the bus.

Villaraigosa's solution to the situation was that the boy needed mentoring — his mentoring. The mayor proceeded to apply to the Los Angeles schools as a mentor for Zoner.

The Los Angeles schools has a set procedure for potential mentors. They must first complete a one-page application. Then, they must submit to a tuberculosis test and fingerprinting. Finally, they are interviewed by the principal at the school in which they wish to mentor. The entire process can take up to a month to complete.

There currently are 2,000 mentors within the Los Angeles schools, offering a diverse background and experience to the students. Santee High School already has 40-50 mentors on campus at any given week. Movie stars and celebrities give drama and dance lessons. Financial gurus teach students about financial planning and business. Health professionals focus on nutrition and fitness. They have all followed the mentor application process with very little complaint.

Though it is obvious that the procedures have been created for the protection of the children, Villaraigosa has been very vocal about what he sees as jumping through too many hoops. He has publicly accused the Los Angeles schools of rejecting outside help, saying that the extensive procedures are more proof that the Los Angeles schools impede even the best intentions. In his frustration, the mayor has said they are doing everything possible to refuse his assistance with Zoner.

Santee Principal Vince Carbino and his supervisors at the Los Angeles schools, said the mayor must follow the same process as all the other mentor applicants. Carbino further stated that it is his responsibility to deal with Zoner by assisting him with any problems, educating him and focusing on behavioral change in order to ensure the teen graduates and is successful in life. It also is his responsibility to ensure the safety of all students in every area of their school life, including mentors. What Villaraigosa sees as politics, Carbino sees as simply protecting his students.

Additionally, Carbino stated that before the Los Angeles schools can approve the mayor as a mentor to Zoner, the boy must first work with the school's psychiatric social worker for several weeks. Then, the student and his family would decide if they want Villaraigosa's mentoring. He just cannot insinuate himself into Zoner's life without regard to the boy's feelings or his family's wishes.

Los Angeles schools' director of School Volunteer Program is Susan Snelgrove. She has offered to fast track the mayor's application, but she was adamant that he must follow the same procedures as everyone else.

What do Zoner's classmates think about the whole drama? They were not too thrilled about the mayor interfering with a student. They said he could do more good by focusing on making their neighborhoods safer and cleaner.

Article Source : Pg. 5

Patricia Hawke has sinced written about articles on various topics from Education, Food And Drink and Education Toys. Patricia Hawke is an expert researcher and writer on real estate topics such as economics, credit improvement tips, home selling advice and home buying preparations and education for relocating families. For more information please visit. Patricia Hawke's top article generates over 246000 views. to your Favourites.