Comments about ‘Granite launches innovative programs school’

We will be watching the test score for the Singapore math kids with a magnifying glass.

So far everything Stephenson has done to public education in Utah has been horrible. Maybe this may be a small chance for some redemption.

Maybe.

This is what public school is all about. Having a great school right in the neighborhood. Lucky Utah to have so many of them. Have a great year.

" "I know money is tight but I think it's important to make sure you fund a program that has the potential of changing math for hundreds of kids.""

What is the potential of knowing FRENCH? Chinese, I can understand. Spanish, I can understand, but FRENCH? Let's see, France, parts of Africa and parts of indochina. Hmmm... Seems like a waste to me.

Diamond Ridge is located at 6034 West 6365. The address given in the story is Silver Hills.

I live IN SCHOOL BOUNDARIES but was unable to get my son in the dual immersion program. Why? Because half the program is filled with kids from OUTSIDE the school boundaries. Where is the fairness in that? Sure, it's a beautiful, state-of-the art school but why can't the kids who actually LIVE in the boundaries get first dibs on the programs the school has to offer? I wanted my son in that program but I am simply out of luck. So what happens in third grade when that out-of-boundary parent is sick of driving their kid to school every day and enrolls them in their local school? It's too late then for my son to join the class because he would be too behind. It's not right!

Studies have shown that learning any foreign language is benefical in learning other languages. Also, nowdays if you plan to get into any major college or university you have to have classes in a foreign language or they will skip right over your application. Starting so young to learn such a life skill is an awesome idea!

You will find that you may have more failures with the Singapore math because the rigors are such that it takes actual learning and a deeper understanding in order to master as opposed to Investigations that takes no learning to master thereby letting everybody succeed to a lower level.

Wait just a minute--I can't believe my eyes--it must be a typo! Does the headline really use the word "innovative" to describe a regular public school and not a charter? I had been led to believe by many who post comments on the DN (and by President Obama and his Secretary of Education) that ONLY charters were innovative.

All temporary sarcasm aside, I hope for the sake of the students and parents that this school (and all public schools both regular and charter) and their "innovative" programs are a phenomenal success.

Good Luck in teaching the next Greatest Generation.

Good point about "innovative". I am also growing weary of the charter school kool aid. The charter by me is sitting half full. Parents are very disillusioned and are now moving back to the regular school.

I also find it funny that someone is already making excuses about why Singapore math is going to fail so many of our students.

If more public schools were innovative, maybe we wouldn't need the charters. But I wonder, would regular public schools try to be innovative, if we'd never had charters?

Every kid I know that goes to a charter school is weird. But I'm sure yours aren't.

Charter schools for those people who just can't stand the thought of sending their children with anyone who doesn't think or act exactly like they do.

Mine is weird - Asperger's, health issues, etc. First day of school, he came home excited about his new friend, who wants to start a chess club with him. My husband said "Oh no..." I told him not to worry, I've seen the kids down there, and his social life won't suffer for being in the chess club. One of my son's favorite things about this school, was the lack of a sports program - no jocks to worry about.

But, what would happen to these kids in traditional public schools? Mocked, ridiculed, or worse. Someday, they'll all be in occupations where their workmates will also be somewhat geeky. They'll marry spouses, who love to read and understand a computer. And they'll be without all the bad memories that those of us who were just like them, but of a generation or two earlier, do our best to forget and move past.

Someone that thinks public schools aren't being innovative probably hasn't set foot in a public school in years.

BTW, uniforms and helicopter parents aren't innovative.

To: Lol

I'm glad that your son has found a place where he can be successful and feels right at home. Every student deserves a GREAT education like that.

I wonder, however, if you are misinformed about some traditional public schools. In mine, we have many students with special needs and they are NOT "mocked, ridiculed, or worse." We have a wonderful student who was born with Down Syndrome who is Studentbody Vice President. Last year, I taught a student with Asperger's who was the star of the class. Other students were in awe of his special abilities. He was the first one picked every single time we were in groups for projects!

I truely believe that each school should be judged on an individual basis. You have found the perfect place for your son. That is great. Please don't assume, however, that all traditional public schools would leave special needs students with bad memories. That just isn't true. Many will also provide a GREAT education to all students.

Glad to hear that some schools have improved greatly since I was in school. And since this son of mine was in 3rd/4th grade, when he was tied up on the playground with jump ropes, in full view of the playground monitor. Unfortunately, not all have.

Our local public high school is huge, class sizes are double the charter he'll be in, and the overall enrollment is more than 5 times bigger. Good things can happen there, I'm sure - but I have never had a good feeling about sending him there. It will be much harder for him to fall through the cracks where he's at.

I teach 9 turning 10 year olds in primary. Last year 1/2 of my class went to Enthios a charter school. Of the kids in the class, the kids attending Enthios could barely read as where the kids attending public school read great. Its the same story this year. Public schools are much more beneficial. Not to mention the kids that went to Enthios reminded me of a home schooled child, socially backwards!!

My daughter attended Silver Hills and has moved to Diamond Ridge. I have been happy with the Principal (Koji) and staff. Everybody who criticizes the education system should ask what they could do to improve their public school. My husband and I volunteer our time with PTA and I help out whenever the school needs volunteers. We invest our time ensuring that our daughter receives a good education. We are also teachers at home. We support teachers by reinforcing what was taught in class. Our daughter is a good student. During the break we took her to museums, art classes, parks, recreation center, Hogle Zoo and teach her about her surrounding like plants, rocks, and the importance of recycling. It's all individual. You get what you put into it. We can't expect teachers to do everything that we could be doing at home. Thanks Diamond Ridge & Silver Hills for your great work!

Parents do have to accept some level of responsibility when it comes to educating your children. All things considered, our Utah public school teachers do amazing things with what they have. Don't believe me? Volunteer in your child's classroom! Spend sometime getting to know what's really going on and you will be amazed. Ask your child's teacher questions about what they are teaching and why they are teaching it... they will be able to tell you! Charter Schools may be the answer for some kids, but I wish that people would stop complaining about what is going on in public school classrooms. Stop complaining and become an advocate for your school!