School Pushouts: A Plague of
Hopelessness Perpetrated by Zombie Schools
By
Dr. Armand A.
Fusco
This is
the most serious socio-economic problem facing the nation and the state
For over 50 years this shame of the
nation and education has remained as a plague upon its most vulnerable
children. All reform efforts involving billions of dollars have not alleviated
this scourge in our public schools. The rhetoric has been profound, but it has
been immune to any antidote or action and it is getting worse; but it doesn’t
have to be!
The 500 page book documents the
dysfunctional educational conditions typically found in urban
schools—deplorable low achievement, huge attainment gaps, and extremely high
dropout rates (7,200 per day). The schools seem impotent in solving these
problems that have existed for decades, and it is getting worse despite
numerous and expensive reforms.
In essence, the Cotton Plantations (families
held in bondage) have been replaced with School Plantations (children held in
the bondage of failing schools with no way out except to dropout), and then the
dropout crop is harvested by the Prison Plantations (80% of the inmates are
school dropouts).
Yet, the solutions are simple and
inexpensive as demonstrated by turnaround schools that defy the excuses that
money and socio-economic conditions are the culprits. The resources needed are
all available; however, what is missing is competent and courageous leadership.
In the meantime, the plague of hopelessness remains to infect millions of children
every year.
Governor Malloy's reform agenda,
although well intended, can best be described as the —Brutality of False Hopes. Every reform effort over the
past 60 years has failed to live up to the promises made and his reform agenda
will follow the same worn path because it fails to identify the real problems
with realistic solutions. This is the reason why there is reform after reform
after reform.
Chapter 8 of the book describes the Connecticut Enigma. Since it went to
press before the Governor's agenda was announced, an 11 page addendum has been
added to respond to each of the reform proposals, and there is a huge caution
sign for everyone. Unfortunately, the rush to pass the agenda fails to head the
cautions because research evidence was not used to prepare the 163 page
legislative bill created in less than 30 days; it can best be summarized as a
tortuous task of reading a language foreign to any readers of the English
language.
The
book will be available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble within the next 2-3
weeks. It retails for $27.99, plus shipping, but copies can be purchased from
Dr. Fusco (1563 Durham Rd,
Guilford, CT 06437) for $25.00 including shipping;
it will also be made available at the FCTO annual conference).
Read more on Dr. Armand
Fusco, his books, and success…..
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The Connecticut Enigma
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Chapter 8 of soon to be released book titled School Pushouts A Plague of Hopelessness Perpetrated by Zombie
Schools.
Dr. Armand A. Fusco - Former
Superintendent of Schools - Aug 2011
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WELCOMING ARMAND FUSCO
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To The Board of Directors of the Federation of Connecticut
Taxpayer Organizations, Inc.
The Federation of - Connecticut Taxpayer Organzations - August, 2008
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