Milder tells Mexiaites to focus on good done by public schools

By Bob Wright-Editor
Published: January 03, 2007 12:32 pm

Scott Milder, President and CEO of the Friends of Texas Public Schools, brought his message about the good done by public schools, during a speech before some Mexiaites yesterday.

His forum was the Mexia Lions Club, and his video/audible presentation was introduced by local educator Bill Matthews. Milder is also Vice-president of Communications for SHW Group Architects, which has done work for the Mexia Independent School District, as well as other jobs in other school districts.

Milder and his wife, Leslie, were featured in a Dallas Morning News column written by regular columnist Steve Blow. The speaker is upset about the constant bashing of public schools, citing the main culprits as large daily newspapers, television programs and radio. The Milders have started a grassroots, multi-million-dollar campaign to set the record straight.

As stated in the column, Scott Milder says his organization is out to “unleash the power of the truth about our schools - that they are doing remarkably well.”

Citing campuses which gain Exemplary and Recognized status in annual ratings of Texas schools, Scott also told how Texas ranks much higher than portrayed in the metropolitan media, and cited the tremendous gains being made on TAKS scores by students throughout the state. He knows schools pretty well, too. His wife teaches at a Mesquite high school, while Scott is a former public information officer for school districts. He now works for a school-design firm - the SHW Architects Group.

He alluded to people wanting to “get back to the Golden Age of education.” The truth is that there never was such a time - unless it’s today.” He cited some figures - a century ago the school graduation rate in this country was only three percent. It exceeded 50 percent after World War II. “Today, the graduation rate is 94.7 percent, including our GEDs, etc.” Exclusive of GEDs, it’s 84 percent. He cited Mexia’s McBay Elementary, a “Recognized” campus. The Daily News has had at least two stories about this, as well as a story about the Gold Performance ratings on various other campuses, along with weekly photos of Classrooms of the Week and Teachers of the Week, as well as positive spins put on Mexia athletic events - win or lose.

Milder said positive outlooks concerning public schools are for one reason: “It’s good for the kids.” That echoes administrators and school board trustees, who take their actions “all for the kids.”

While dwelling upon the good done in our public schools, Milder said, “It’s also our job to highlight problems, but we must also convey the bigger picture - the overall success story of public schools.”

One thing that’s true - In Blow’s column, he quoted Scott Milder are saying that “happy school stories are soon forgotten. The outrageous ones linger and linger.”

He also was quoted: “The reality is this - Most of our public schools are doing great. Test scores are high. Teachers are dedicated. And students succeed.” He had high praise for administrators. Looking at Matthews, Milder said, “They re dedicated and work hard...they work their fingers to the bone. We must respect our educators. He praised Matthews’ anti-bullying program he instituted at Sims Intermediate School where he serves as Principal. We must quit attacking our educators.”

He also said that public schools “outperform their peers in private schools,” and noted that “Texas students rank first, second and third in the nation - Texas fourth and eighth graders - on the National Assessment of Education Progress math exam.

Article originally published by The Mexia Deaily News at http://www.mexiadailynews.com/homepage/local_story_003123758.html?keyword=leadpicturestory

Photos

Scott Milder, right, heads a statewide organization that backs public schools with positive approaches in telling success stories and accentuating the positive about the schools. He revealed figures which show that Texas students and teachers, along with administrators, are performing well. His wife is a school teacher in Mesquite and he is with an architectural firm which helps schools in their plans for building projects. The firm with which he is employed has done work for the Mexia Independent School District. Joining him at the Lions luncheon table is program director Bill Matthews, Principal at Sims Intermediate School. He praised administrators for their consistently hard work and dedication. Bob Wright photos