From Our Readers

Thank you to all who responded to last month’s interactive questions:

Q:  “If you had $1 million dollars to spend, what would you do to help fix the education system in central Ohio?”

A:  Some thoughtful responses were:

“I would focus on implementing more music and arts education, which increases right-brain activity.”

“I would identify the 1,000 kids who are at the greatest risk for failure and invest $1,000 each in an account that could be accessed by teachers and administrators to pay for the extra help they need to succeed -- whether that be tutors, iPads, tactile learning aids, or other effective interventions.”

“I would put the money into early childhood and use it to create a data system that links data from early childhood with K-12 schools. Then I would develop training for early childhood educators and primary teachers so they can use the data to help children be prepared to do well in kindergarten and the early grades.”

“I'd put the money into helping teachers to learn how to differentiate instruction so that fewer children fall through the cracks. One-size-fits-all doesn't work very well when it comes to educating children. The money would soon be gone but the impact would have a ripple effect as more teachers help more students year after year.”

“I would open an alternative preschool that utilizes Montessori methods and teachers.”

“I'd build a support system for school/home engagement. There is a big gulf between many parents and educators and, too often, that gulf is never bridged. Children achieve more and behave better when the adults in their life are connected and working together.”

 Q:  As we approach our 200Columbus Bicentennial year, and reflect on the fact that the first kindergarten in the nation began here in Columbus, we asked readers if they knew of any people or events in the Columbus area that were education firsts.

A:  Columbus also launched the nation’s first Junior High School (Indianola Junior High School), founded in 1909.  The Junior High was a real innovation, assisting in educational transition for youth at a time when 52% of Columbus students dropped out of school before the tenth grade.

Your feedback is very important to us.  Be sure to give us your thoughts on this month's interactive question, and stay tuned for another question in our next edition!