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CathyB
Member since 5/05 19403 total posts
Name:
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If your school district has a Princeton Plan
Can you let me know if you have any thoughts about it, both positive and negative? And if you don't mind, which district you are in?
I'm on a committee that's starting up in our district to discuss declining enrollment and this is one idea that's up for discussion. I just wanted to see what people thought about it in action.
A Princeton plan is when all of the kids in a certain grade go to one elementary school, and each elementary school houses only a few grades.
Thanks!
Cathy
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Posted 4/12/11 9:52 PM  |
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PatsBrat
LIF Adult
Member since 10/06 2326 total posts
Name:
Ms. Brat
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Re: If your school district has a Princeton Plan
I work in a district that functions on the Princeton model. I have worked here since the mid 90s and it has been this way for as long as
I've been here. I love it. I think it's great that my school only goes up to second grade. It's a very close knit, homey atmosphere and there is no intimidation factor that you sometimes get when there are kindergartners and 5th graders in the same school.
My one and only dislike is the pressure that is put on second graders moving to third grade at the intermediate school to "get ready" to go there. For some kids it's the great unknown and they have a lot of anxiety regarding the switch. Over the past few years we've been bringing the second graders to the intermediate school on field trips to tour the school, see the holiday concert and see the science fair projects. I think that's helped a lot.
From a different perspective, when you break the district down according to the Princetom model, there are more sections of each great in the school and it makes it easier to play with class size if there are budget problems. If your school has 3 sections of a grade with 18 kids in each class you can't disolve one class and bump the numbers up in the other 2. The remaining classes would be way too big. BUT, if you have 8 sections of 18 kids and you need to disolve a class, it can be done without exceeding the maximium amount of students in each class.
The district my kids go to is considering moving to the Princeton model in 2 years. I am crossing my fingers and hoping they do!
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| Posted 4/13/11 8:54 AM |
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CathyB
Member since 5/05 19403 total posts
Name:
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Re: If your school district has a Princeton Plan
Thanks! This is helpful.
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| Posted 4/13/11 3:01 PM |
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Erica
LIF Adult
Member since 5/05 11767 total posts
Name:
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Re: If your school district has a Princeton Plan
I live in a small district, so I like that our schools are set up this way.
It also makes sense in regards to resources. You don't need multiple copies of the same book in all the different libraries, the support staff can specialize in grade levels, grade level teachers can collaborate, etc.
The district I work in is small and partially like this (2 intermediate schools) and I wish they would fully commit, but b/c of school sizes, logistically it's difficult.
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| Posted 4/13/11 6:13 PM |
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ChrisDee
My Girls
Member since 11/06 9543 total posts
Name:
Christine
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Re: If your school district has a Princeton Plan
I can tell you that they just tried to do this in my district(comsewogue) and it went over like a lead balloon. People came out in droves to make sure this did not happen. I am not exactly sure why. I heard LOTS of complaints at these meeting but still could really fully understand why people thought it was soooo bad.
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| Posted 4/13/11 10:14 PM |
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tourist
Member since 5/05 10425 total posts
Name:
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Re: If your school district has a Princeton Plan
Posted by ChrisDee
I heard LOTS of complaints at these meeting but still could really fully understand why people thought it was soooo bad.
I don't have kids, but I live in a district that has Princeton Plan & not the best reputation. in general, not b/c of this structure)
I think one of the issues here, is that the district is spread out, so if you have more than one kid you are driving them all over the place, or dealing with different bus times. You'd have that anyway, when one entered MS, but you could have 6 kids in 6 schools now.
It is also a lot of change for little kids to get used to.
Another complaint is that you lose the "neighborhood" feel of the school, but knowing how my district is laid out, I think that is probably snobbery & racist bs.
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| Posted 4/14/11 1:05 PM |
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pamster99
LIF Zygote
Member since 6/11 1 total post
Name:
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Re: If your school district has a Princeton Plan
Truly I can't describe to you all the possible downfalls to a princeton plan. The biggest problem is that there aren't many school districts that use it, so there isn't much evidence in either direction for the model. Let me tell you some of the issues our district faces. Personally the continuety is a huge issue. Much bigger than you think now from the point of view of not having a broken up district.
You think you will save money, but in fact there will be more administrators trying to bring continuity back to the school that will actually cost you money.
Your PTAs will be broken up in to two or three grades you will not have the power you had as a group.
The school superintendant will not know how to implement this structure for the first 5 - 10 years, because there is no data and by the time they figure out how is really works they will also figure out it's time to change the structure.
It's costly, it's divisive and it's confusing...I don't think anyone should go to that system ever.
If you want me or anyone from our district to speak on the topic I am available to come and speak to the district.
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| Posted 6/24/11 4:29 PM |
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Erica
LIF Adult
Member since 5/05 11767 total posts
Name:
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Re: If your school district has a Princeton Plan
Posted by pamster99
The school superintendant will not know how to implement this structure for the first 5 - 10 years, because there is no data and by the time they figure out how is really works they will also figure out it's time to change the structure.
I'm not sure what you mean about no data. This plan has been around since the 60's and I know that my district started this in 1983.
I can see some downfalls in big districts, but I think it's great for small districts.
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| Posted 6/24/11 5:15 PM |
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PatsBrat
LIF Adult
Member since 10/06 2326 total posts
Name:
Ms. Brat
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Re: If your school district has a Princeton Plan
Posted by Erica
Posted by pamster99
The school superintendant will not know how to implement this structure for the first 5 - 10 years, because there is no data and by the time they figure out how is really works they will also figure out it's time to change the structure.
I'm not sure what you mean about no data. This plan has been around since the 60's and I know that my district started this in 1983.
I can see some downfalls in big districts, but I think it's great for small districts.
I work in a very large district and we love it. The parents were given the option to move back to a k-5 ementary structure several years ago and the vote was overwhelmingly to stay with Princeton. We have none of the problems Pamster mentioned.
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| Posted 6/24/11 5:59 PM |
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CathyB
Member since 5/05 19403 total posts
Name:
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Re: If your school district has a Princeton Plan
Posted by pamster99
Truly I can't describe to you all the possible downfalls to a princeton plan. The biggest problem is that there aren't many school districts that use it, so there isn't much evidence in either direction for the model. Let me tell you some of the issues our district faces. Personally the continuety is a huge issue. Much bigger than you think now from the point of view of not having a broken up district.
You think you will save money, but in fact there will be more administrators trying to bring continuity back to the school that will actually cost you money.
Your PTAs will be broken up in to two or three grades you will not have the power you had as a group.
The school superintendant will not know how to implement this structure for the first 5 - 10 years, because there is no data and by the time they figure out how is really works they will also figure out it's time to change the structure.
It's costly, it's divisive and it's confusing...I don't think anyone should go to that system ever.
If you want me or anyone from our district to speak on the topic I am available to come and speak to the district.
Thanks for your input. Do you mind FM'ing me which district you are in?
We are still doing research for the board and make our presentation early in the '11-'12 school year. We have looked into some of these things, but maybe you can add some input we can include to help the board decide what to do.
An elementary and a middle school psychologist in our district both think that bringing the children together as a cohort in elementary school would be an easier transition and more productive than the current system which is in 6th grade. Where is the lack of continuity, just being housed in one building for the entire elementary career?
We were leaning toward recommending a combined PTA like Bellmore has.
Why are there more administrators than a traditional school set-up?
Thank you for your input!
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| Posted 6/25/11 12:37 AM |
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