Today's Missoulian reported on the the International Baccalaureate Program expanding into the lower grades in Misosula's schools in a front page article titled, "Missoula's Lewis and Clark Elementary may adopt International Baccalaureate program" (online title) and "Holistic curriculum being mulled" with subtitle, "approach similar to Hellgate High's considered for elementary school" (newspaper copy). Already the International Baccalaureate Program (IB) is being implemented at Hellgate High School with a class starting in the fall. There have been Missoulian articles reporting that the IB program may also be implemented at other high schools in Missoula.
A statement in the article reads,"Unlike the program at Hellgate High School, all (emphasis by msw) of Lewis and Clark would be designated a Primary Years Programme institution. At Hellgate, students can choose whether to join the IB program." A whole school dedicated to the IB program - this is getting out of control. It seems that there is no end to spending on unneeded programs by this district.
Note: msw is unable to provide a link to the Missoulian article at this time - technology is not one of msw's strongest traits! msw will try again later.
missoulaschoolswatchdog (msw) has serious concerns regarding adding the IB program to any of our schools, at any level, from grade school to high school. In the past couple of years msw has been researching the IB program and has found many reasons why a school district needs to take a pass on IB.
One fairly recent article written exposing the IB program is, "International Baccalaureate Unraveled."
The link to this article is provided below. It is quite long, however, the IB issue needs a comprehensive and detailed study which Niva accomplishes beautifully.
This article was placed in a School Board packet this year so that School Board Trustees could read the information. To msw knowledge no Trustees have commented on the article; therefore it is unknown if any of them have read it.
International Baccalaureate Unraveled by Debra Niva
P.S. msw attended Lewis and Clark School from first through third grades. It saddens me to think of the changes that have taken place over the years at this school and other Missoula schools. It seems that life was simpler and more joyful for children back then. When children would arrive at Lewis and Clark early in the morning they could go to the gym and watch the cheerleaders practice their cheers - here is a long lost cheer from L&C from the '60's - "Thunder, Thunder, Thunderation, we're the Lewis and Clark congregation!" (Missoula had a K-8 school system until the early 1980's.) msw is a proponet of K-8 schools.
missoula schools watchdog is an advocate for neighborhood schools, district transparency and accountability, a basic education (the three R's), and a K-8 grade school configuration. missoula schools watchdog does not advocate closing or selling our schools, unnecessary busing, public schools helping private schools such as Missoula International School, irresponsible spending, and unnecessary and expensive programs such as the IB program. Now go to www.missoulaschoolwatchdog.blogspot.com
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The idea of school finances playing into this transformation of the MCPS is both intriguing and a compelling story. I am working on a news story currently, involving how the Health Sciences Academy and the IB program are impacting the MCPS. I would love to talk with you more about this topic, or anyone who think the finances of these programs are jeopardizing the future of the MCPS. Please feel free to email me at jacksonbolstad@gmail.com if you would like to talk with me.
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