Byline
Peter Downs
27 stories in the archive
Where are they now
Founder and editor of the St. Louis Schools Watch, the education-watchdog sister site of PubDef. A veteran St. Louis journalist, Downs was elected to the St. Louis Board of Education in April 2006 — during the very months covered in this archive — and went on to serve as board president. He later drew on those years inside the district for his book Schoolhouse Shams: Myths and Misinformation in School Reform (2012).
by Peter DownsJanuary 25, 2006 -- The audience at Tuesday's St. Louis Board of Education meeting were treated to two shows in one: posturing from school board members desperately trying to show that they are…
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by Peter DownsJanuary 18, 2006 -- An ambitious private plan to build a sports stadium to serve St. Louis Public Schools and St. Louis City residents has ground to halt.The Community Stadium Project, the nonprofit…
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by Peter DownsThe St. Louis Board of Education on January 17 approved a fundamental change in the way students are admitted to magnet schools. The board voted 4-1 to give preference for admission to magnet…
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The State Board of Education Thursday approved new standards for the expanded Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) tests so that more students score at the "proficient" and "advanced" levels this year.The board unanimously approved the new…
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CNN reports it. BBC reports it. It is even confirmed by recent academic studies. Home buyers will pay extra for a house near a schools that has a reputation as a "good" school. More than…
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by Disgusted teachers who must remain anonymousThe word is out in many of the St. Louis Public Schools! "Make sure your closet is clean and ALL children's coats and book bags are hung on hooks".…
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by Peter DownsJanuary 8, 2006 –– St. Louis Board of Education is moving quickly to neighborhood children preference for admission to the magnet school in their neighborhood. A proposal to set aside 35% of seats…
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by Another ParentIt is interesting that the district is closing down magnet rooms, if not entire schools, citing lack of enrollment. As a parent I received my brochure in the mail announcing the Dec. 6th…
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by A Roosevelt Teacher January 3, 2006 –– On the last Friday before Christmas break, Superintendent Williams sent a letter home to parents of Roosevelt students detailing sweeping changes that would take place in the…
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by Peter DownsJanuary 1, 2006 –– As the year 2005 wound to an end, the culture of deception at the top of St. Louis Public Schools continued. On December 23, 2005, St. Louis Public Schools…
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