Once Again, Image Is Everything

If I lived in the Middleton area and had a kid in that school, I can only imagine how I would feel.

I have often written about how I think the school systems see image as a factor to be manipulated, not as a factor derived from reality or substance.

It is my understanding that Middleton has had several D ratings already, so they can't say this one is an isolated incident.

I was under the impression that several D ratings would sort of signify a poor reputation, independent of media reports. If fact, the negative media coverage would seem to be derived from the reality or substance of the several D ratings. Apparently, this year's D rating has a lot more positive with it.

If we can get the media to write a lot of good articles, we could submit them next year to the state. I never realized how much influence the local media has on the state grade.

Apparently, the Middleton community just needs to learn to trust. What else could it be?

Trust that the money is well spent.

Trust that there is some substance to the fact that the number of students enrolled in at least one AP class has tripled. Once again, I point out that the system deals with numbers, not people. Parents that care usually care about their child, not statistics. Spitting out numbers to parents concerned about their kid has a way of seeming to be dismissive. How callous would it seem if a hospital touted their low death rate to a family whose kid just died?


It appears a few people blame the students, the parents and even the culture of the community. Is this a fact, or are they guessing or hoping? There must be a slew of sociologists involved in this endeavor. A million dollars is a lot of money to just be throwing up against the wall of education just to hope it sticks.




Middleton group urges improvement:

"Middleton received another D rating from state officials this year, landing it on the list of schools at risk of state intervention. The only other school on that list this year is in Miami.


Elia spelled out the situation in two broad strokes: things are better at Middleton than many people know; the school's poor reputation is a result of negative media coverage.
'They don't want you to see the positive,' Elia said of the media."

SCHOOL POSITIVES

Hillsborough schools Superintendent MaryEllen Elia said Middleton High School is doing better than its portrayal in the media suggests. Among the positives she highlighted Saturday:

•The school district has spent more than $1 million at Middleton on new staff and training for current teachers aimed at improving students' performance.

•The number of students taking at least one Advanced Placement class has nearly tripled in the past three years.

•The number of students referred for disciplinary action has dropped 60 percent in the past three years. The school's population fell by 37 percent in the same period.

•Students have won recognition for activities from Japanese language classes to math to rocketry