"That's unacceptable," Alonso said. "It represents a lack of accountability on the part of the school given the fact that they begin with students who by definition are the most academically able students in the city. My expectation is that they succeed with them, that they put in place not only extraordinary educational programs but also the interventions that are necessary."
I tend to get woozy when I hear academic types use words like "interventions." I got even woozier when I read the paragraph in Neufeld's story that followed Alonso's quote:
"From now on, high schools with academic entrance requirements must demonstrate that they are providing struggling students with academic and behavioral interventions, such as tutoring or mentoring."
Anybody notice something missing here? Anyone? Anyone? Sergeant Tidwell, where are you now that you're really needed?
I can't imagine the sarge telling me, "Airman Basic Kane, you've displayed conduct that shows you're in desperate need of a behavioral intervention." I can imagine him saying "Kane, mess up one more time and you're gone from here to a motivation platoon."
In basic training, recruits are expected to meet basic requirements. In elite city schools, apparently nothing will be required of students. Did the student flunk the test? Must be the school's fault. Student goofed off and didn't get that paper in on time? Clearly the school didn't provide enough academic intervention.
What's so egregious is that Alonso acts as if those interventions he's talking about weren't happening before he got here. I know of at least one case in which they were. My oldest grandchild is a City College sophomore. During his freshman year, he struggled with algebra. His parents and grandparents still bear the psychological scars to prove it.
His algebra teacher did everything but bend over backward to help him. He eventually muddled his way through and is doing fine now. But I'm sure that algebra teacher isn't an isolated case at City College, Poly or Western. In many cases academic interventions are already in place.
When it comes to behavioral interventions, Alonso and I are clearly in alternate universes. There was a time when the blame for students who engaged in misconduct was placed on the students. Now it's placed on everyone but the students. Anyone looking for reasons why teachers in Baltimore schools get their clocks cleaned by students needs to look no farther than the system's "behavioral intervention" policy.
greg.kane@baltsun.com
