"Teacher Protest" Great picture" Arresting teachers for exercising their rights guaranteed in the Constitution. It's bad enough that they're underpaid, have difficult working conditions, and no job security--let's abuse them some more. I'll bet those police could be out arresting "real criminals" instead of harassing teachers. A sorry commentary on life in the "best country in the world". Maybe we need to teach students that this country needs some serious improvements and a shift in priorities, instead of preaching how superior this country is to the rest of the world.
"Beyond Schools" I love this quote "If you were a healthy, self-actualizing young person, in which environment would you choose to spend most of your time?" First of all how many "self-actualizing" kids or adults do any of us know not many--any? But I'll bet we know lots if kids and adults who would rather spend their time unsupervised on a computer exploring what ever we'd like than in a classroom having to learn what's being taught. Finally, the best outcome for the future, according to this article would be for schools to "cease to play a determining role in what constitutes knowledge and learning". Yeah, I'm sure that will a great day! Then we will truly have a generation educated exclusively be the media.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Ed Week April 27
"School Shooter Web Video Game Raises Concerns" is another example of how our unconditional surrender to the First Amendment instead of holding people accountable when they produce something that is clearly harmful to society and has no redeeming value is destroying the fabric of our society. The First Amendment was clearly written to protect political discourse and expression not as a license to do and say what ever you want. The fact that we have allowed some of our Supreme Court justices to expand the intent of the First Amendment to include allowing people to produce a product that might incite some to commit violent acts is just plain stupid.
"College Help for Immigrants Passes" A bill in Maryland that allows undocumented (illegal) immigrant to get in-state tuition rates seems to be missing the point illegal immigrant shouldn't even be in this country let alone attending our schools. Instead of looking for ways to give them special breaks we should deport them. As long as long as we continue one segment of our population to ignore our laws we can't very well expect anyone to obey the law. I believe a version of this bill was passed by the Oregon Legistature just recently.
"College Help for Immigrants Passes" A bill in Maryland that allows undocumented (illegal) immigrant to get in-state tuition rates seems to be missing the point illegal immigrant shouldn't even be in this country let alone attending our schools. Instead of looking for ways to give them special breaks we should deport them. As long as long as we continue one segment of our population to ignore our laws we can't very well expect anyone to obey the law. I believe a version of this bill was passed by the Oregon Legistature just recently.
Ed Week April 20
"Special Schools for Homeless Students Bursting at the Seams" This article grabbed me because of course we need to educate our homeless students. I think we need to accommodate this population as well as the rest of the student population. It is ridiculous that our country with it's tremendous resources can't afford to educate all of our students. Of course we have plenty if money to throw away in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Monarch School Program in San Diego is doing a good job of meeting the needs of these kids. It looks this kind of model that includes a health clinic would be great if it were used to include all Tittle I schools. We as a society need to change our priorities to taking care of our own people instead spending our money on useless wars overseas.
"More Argument, Fewer Standards" I like this idea! Dialogue, discussion, argument, questioning, debate are all wonderful tools for stretching the mind. This is dynamic thinking at work, instead of the static thinking of remembering facts. We spend so much of our time trying to fill our students minds with facts--many of which they will forget anyway, instead of challenging them to think and acquire facts for a purpose--like supporting and argument. However as long as we continue to "teach to the test" because that's what we have to do to survive in the current "No Child Left Behind" climate we are not going to have the time to do this.
"More Argument, Fewer Standards" I like this idea! Dialogue, discussion, argument, questioning, debate are all wonderful tools for stretching the mind. This is dynamic thinking at work, instead of the static thinking of remembering facts. We spend so much of our time trying to fill our students minds with facts--many of which they will forget anyway, instead of challenging them to think and acquire facts for a purpose--like supporting and argument. However as long as we continue to "teach to the test" because that's what we have to do to survive in the current "No Child Left Behind" climate we are not going to have the time to do this.
Monday, April 18, 2011
April 6th Ed Week
"School-Meals Makeover Stirs Pot", Once again self-interest seems to be in charge. Never-the-less it is interesting that just because we want the food in schools to be healthier isn't necessarily going go translate into food that the kids are willing to eat. Especially if they have been brought up on junk food and fast food. It seems that a transition needs to made that will be more gradual and subtle if it is going to be effective. Along with a serious effort to educate parents.
"The time is Right to End 'Zero Tolerence', it's sad but true that some students really don't belong in any public school but reform school. Once again the tired cliches about how badly minority student have it how when they threaten and cuss out their teachers they get kicked out of school. Yeah, so what sometimes they deserve it. No teacher wants to teach kids that don't want to be in school, are disrespectful and threatening.
What happens in schools where nothing is done about that kind of behavior--it gets worse and it burns out teachers. I'm sorry I don't feel story for students that want to act like "punks"--let'em get kicked out. Maybe the remaining students will get a chance to learn and the teachers might even want to come to work.
"The time is Right to End 'Zero Tolerence', it's sad but true that some students really don't belong in any public school but reform school. Once again the tired cliches about how badly minority student have it how when they threaten and cuss out their teachers they get kicked out of school. Yeah, so what sometimes they deserve it. No teacher wants to teach kids that don't want to be in school, are disrespectful and threatening.
What happens in schools where nothing is done about that kind of behavior--it gets worse and it burns out teachers. I'm sorry I don't feel story for students that want to act like "punks"--let'em get kicked out. Maybe the remaining students will get a chance to learn and the teachers might even want to come to work.
March 30th Ed Week
"Students Shed Light On How Cheating Impedes Learning" was an enlightening article. I never realized that one of the out comes of cheating would be that one would fool themselves into believing they really are performing at the higher level that cheating seems to elevate them to. It certainly sound like as teachers we need to stress the importance of academic integrity and now that I know about the self-deception students engage in, I will make a point of telling them about the negative side-effects of cheating. Having a false sense of capability as a result of cheating is an unexpected outcome.
"Key Elements of Title I Program Broken, Researchers Say", this article brought up issues that pertain to Title I that I had previously been unaware of. I didn't realize that Federal funds that are supposed to go to add to local and state money for schools could allow schools to simply underfund schools by that amount. I was aware that most state lottery funding for education was treated this way. Once again seemingly well meaning people are trying to get away with not doing the right thing. Education, especially for those who are disadvantaged seems to be elusive. Unfortunately, the reasons are complicated and sometimes unpleasant--therefore easy to dismiss. Teaching in a Title I environment requires a "social worker" mentality on the part of the teachers and administrators. Not all teachers or administrators feel called to be "social workers".
"Key Elements of Title I Program Broken, Researchers Say", this article brought up issues that pertain to Title I that I had previously been unaware of. I didn't realize that Federal funds that are supposed to go to add to local and state money for schools could allow schools to simply underfund schools by that amount. I was aware that most state lottery funding for education was treated this way. Once again seemingly well meaning people are trying to get away with not doing the right thing. Education, especially for those who are disadvantaged seems to be elusive. Unfortunately, the reasons are complicated and sometimes unpleasant--therefore easy to dismiss. Teaching in a Title I environment requires a "social worker" mentality on the part of the teachers and administrators. Not all teachers or administrators feel called to be "social workers".
Sunday, March 27, 2011
March 16th Ed Week
"Teachers Seek Ways to Gauge Rigor of Texts" This was amazing, a bunch of teachers sitting around trying to figure out at what grade level it might be appropriate to let students read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. One teacher opined that it would be alright for 8th graders and another that it wouldn't be appropriate before college. What a joke, when you consider the education level of the readers in Mark Twain's time. I think that the education field is has more than its share of "over educated under common sensed" professionals. If we are doing such a poor job of teaching that Huck Finn can't be read and understood by students till they are in college--our educational system is a lot worse off than I realized.
"Teacher Preparation: Build on What Works" I like the idea of "free teaching training".I think it is outrageous what we have to pay (go into debt)--so we can have the privilege of working in an underpaid under appreciated profession. I think it interesting that people expect that there is going to be an abundance of highly qualified teachers that want to live and work in our inner city schools. Unless one feels a true calling to work in that environment--it's probably not going to happen and if it does it's not going to last. If I were a young teacher with small children the last thing I'm going to want to do is move them into a gang infested, drive by, crack cocaine using, housing project kind of a neighborhood. Unfortunate for the kids that live there, yes but reality--yes. So that means the only way children living in those neighborhoods can get a better education taught by better teachers is to bus them to the suburbs and teach them there. Will the kids like spending a couple of hours on a bus away from their familiar neighborhoods--probably not. So what's it going to take to put highly qualified teachers into urban schools--money. Tuition remission, extra pay(combat pay) for teaching in difficult and dangerous environments, relocation help and money when the tour of duty(no more than 4 years) is over.
"Teacher Preparation: Build on What Works" I like the idea of "free teaching training".I think it is outrageous what we have to pay (go into debt)--so we can have the privilege of working in an underpaid under appreciated profession. I think it interesting that people expect that there is going to be an abundance of highly qualified teachers that want to live and work in our inner city schools. Unless one feels a true calling to work in that environment--it's probably not going to happen and if it does it's not going to last. If I were a young teacher with small children the last thing I'm going to want to do is move them into a gang infested, drive by, crack cocaine using, housing project kind of a neighborhood. Unfortunate for the kids that live there, yes but reality--yes. So that means the only way children living in those neighborhoods can get a better education taught by better teachers is to bus them to the suburbs and teach them there. Will the kids like spending a couple of hours on a bus away from their familiar neighborhoods--probably not. So what's it going to take to put highly qualified teachers into urban schools--money. Tuition remission, extra pay(combat pay) for teaching in difficult and dangerous environments, relocation help and money when the tour of duty(no more than 4 years) is over.
March 9th Ed Week
"The High Stakes of Standards Based Accountability" article brought out some interesting points. The writer assumed that since students were having trouble on tests, going all the way back to 1983 when Nation at Risk was published, then it made no sense to raise the standards and tests because students are just continuing to fail at greater rates. Instead we should scrap the high stakes testing and go with something he calls "personalized education" Some suggestions he made were good like getting to know your students and universal preschool education, then he ventured into areas that are a little abstract like: "Each student would play a significant role in designing the curriculum, which would be anchored in the real world, not in the abstractions of most classrooms." Also, he offers that there should be no such thing as a "core curriculum. "classroom instruction would be minimal, teachers would become advisers who would guide students in educating themselves. They would tutor students and help them manage their time and energy"etc. All this would begin in middle school.
All I can say is your would have a hard time making this work with the top twenty percent of students, let alone with the struggling and underachieving students. And what kind of money would be required to provide this type of personalized instruction? This concept is pretty far out and impractical as far as I can tell.
"An Educator's Role in a Pop-Culture World" I certainly agree with his premise that pop-culture is an utterly corrupting influence on our society and children especially. It is unfortunate that greed fuels almost every aspect of our society. There is no level we will not stoop to for a buck. The problem is that we cannot stop the flow of garbage that the medial sends our way--anymore than we can sweep back the tide with a broom. As the author suggest with his "stone cutter" story all we can do is try to make an impact recognizing that we may only reach a few but that is better than reaching none. I like the way George Orwell put it in 1984: "How far away the future is no one can say--all we can do is try to expand the frontier of sanity one person at a time.
All I can say is your would have a hard time making this work with the top twenty percent of students, let alone with the struggling and underachieving students. And what kind of money would be required to provide this type of personalized instruction? This concept is pretty far out and impractical as far as I can tell.
"An Educator's Role in a Pop-Culture World" I certainly agree with his premise that pop-culture is an utterly corrupting influence on our society and children especially. It is unfortunate that greed fuels almost every aspect of our society. There is no level we will not stoop to for a buck. The problem is that we cannot stop the flow of garbage that the medial sends our way--anymore than we can sweep back the tide with a broom. As the author suggest with his "stone cutter" story all we can do is try to make an impact recognizing that we may only reach a few but that is better than reaching none. I like the way George Orwell put it in 1984: "How far away the future is no one can say--all we can do is try to expand the frontier of sanity one person at a time.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
February 23 Ed Week
"Ky. School Ratchets Up Improvement" This article deals with the "turn-around" of a failed high school I found it to be a fascinating article. I had no idea how the process works. It certainly proves that it is possible to fix failing schools--even in with "challenging" demographics. However, the amount of money and oversight required is hard to understand. If this is the model of what it takes it probably isn't going to be done very often. So how do schools get so bad that they need this kind of reconstruction?
"Study Punctures Stereotypes About Social Status of Bullies" I didn't think this article was particularly helpful or even on track. Rather than clarifying who is likely to bully it did more to muddy the waters. Sure, it may be possible that any child in a certain situation may exhibit some bullying behavior most of the serious bullying including physical violence is done by the kids with more sociopathic tendencies--just like in the adult world.
Children with capacities for compassion and empathy are less like likely to be bullies.
"Study Punctures Stereotypes About Social Status of Bullies" I didn't think this article was particularly helpful or even on track. Rather than clarifying who is likely to bully it did more to muddy the waters. Sure, it may be possible that any child in a certain situation may exhibit some bullying behavior most of the serious bullying including physical violence is done by the kids with more sociopathic tendencies--just like in the adult world.
Children with capacities for compassion and empathy are less like likely to be bullies.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
February 9 Ed Week
"States Eye Curbs on Collective Bargaining by Teachers" What good timing for this article--just as teachers are protesting Wisconsin over this very thing. Pretty similar to the "pension grab" from a Feb 2 Ed Week Blog. The same players are once again trying to "steal" from the public--this time it's "rights" that are being stolen. Once again when will we wake up to the fact that Republicans do not have the welfare of the American people in their agenda. They continue to represent the interests of the rich and corporations. They will stop at nothing to bring back the "golden age of sweat shops" that collective bargaining put an end to.
February 9 Ed Week
The "College For All Confronted" article did a good job of exposing the everybody needs to go to college myth. I think this myth has been fostered by colleges and universities to fatten their enrollments and bank accounts. Unfortunately, our colleges and universities have fallen victim to the same parasitic greed that the rest of corporate America has. Clearly, when you look at what our education costs and what we are getting for it--we are being "ripped off" in the same way we are being ripped off by our health care system. In the case of health care insurance companies play a large role. In the case of higher education it's this artificial value of the "sheep skin". The ridiculously high costs of tuition skids are being greased by the ease of student loans. "Ease" that is until it's time to start pay them off.
February 2 Ed Week
"The General's Lament" another great blog! Yeah, it really makes me sad that the generals can't find enough qualified recruits to make "canon fodder" out of. It's to bad that is their only interest in education. They should worry that kids are so well educated that they can see through the military's appeals to patriotism--so they will put their lives on the line to promote corporate and wealthy interests around the world. Then they would be like the kids of the wealthy and politicians who know better than to enlist in the military. It's funny that the very people who try to send other people's kids off to war make sure their own don't.
February 2 Ed Week
"They Are Coming for our Pensions" I enjoy some of the blogs. This one regarding the desire to steal the money states have set aside for duly earned pensions and still preserve bond holder equities through some state bankruptcy scheme is classic. Although it sounds like "conspiracy theory" it wouldn't surprise me. The Republicans have long been front men for the rich and corporate interests in this country. What always amazes me is how they can convince a the gullible public they're trying to fleece to vote for them.
Friday, February 18, 2011
January 26 Ed Week
"School Breakfasts Move From Cafeteria to Class" I think this is an example of really reaching! Classrooms are for learning not eating. I think it would be a distraction to learning to allow food into the classroom not to mention the mess it creates. I think there are more good reasons to move school starting times back and hour. It would provide time for kids to not only get more sleep but give them time to have breakfast in the cafeteria. The only reason this program is getting any interest at all, in my opinion, is because it involves a grant--which means another source of revenue. Bad idea!
January 26 Ed Week
"No-Pass, No-Drive Laws Spreading", personally, I'm in favor of this. There is no doubt that not being able to get and keep a driver's licences is going to get high schoolers attention. As far as "it may get them in the building but it doesn't mean they'll learn" goes--if grades are attached to it they will learn. Sure, it doesn't mean that we shouldn't make schools place they will want to go to but that has to do with providing programs that will be meaningful to these kids. The kids that are dropping out and getting bad grades aren't the ones in AP classes--they're the kids that might benefit from trade and technology classes that will help them get into the work place when they graduate. Provide the courses and penalize them if they don't stay in school seems like a good "carrot and a stick".
Jan 19 Ed Week
"Teachers Feeling Chill On State Capital Front" is another article talking about how politicians are trying to devalue the work of teachers. If it wasn't for collective bargaining teachers would be making less money and have less benefits. Teachers are already making less money than most professionals that have a masters degree. And they are definitely making less money than the politicians that are trying to make teacher accept less than what they are worth. It has been proven in the past that when teaching is not valued teachers leave the profession. Most teacher can get jobs in the private sector in middle management and make more money. Yet most teachers go into the profession because they care about kids and they want to make a difference. Lack of support and appreciation make teachers want to quit teaching. Lack of income and reduced benefits will only make things worse.
Jan 19 Ed Week
"Toward Greater, More Equitable Access To an Excellent Education" focuses on the need to continue to give our students a "liberal arts" education. The article made some good points about the art of teaching and providing "space" for learning to go on. It reminded me of the book by Parker Palmer "The Courage To Teach", which I think is an excellent book about teaching and should be required reading for anyone entering the teaching profession.
I have been recently observing high school social studies classes and I've been pretty impressed by what I'm seeing--good teaching, attentive students--very encouraging!
I have been recently observing high school social studies classes and I've been pretty impressed by what I'm seeing--good teaching, attentive students--very encouraging!
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Jan 12 Ed Week
Richard DuFour's article "Which Students Warrant Our Attention" interested me because of course it would seem that the question shouldn't have to be asked. But apparently there are administrators and teachers that are willing to sacrifice some students in order to do better on tests. That would be like doctors trying to save on the patients that had the highest probability of surviving. I like Richard's answer that "the school must focus on each and every student who demonstrates he or she is not learning." However, as he point out that might involve re-scheduling and extra effort on the students part.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Jan 12 Ed Week
"Simulations Helping Novices Hone Skills" Hey, I thought this is really cool! They have developed computer programs that simulate real student behaviors in response to teaching techniques that provide real feed back.I wish we had the option of computer simulated practice teaching. I think "all the practice we can get" should be the philosophy of teacher education. Theory is fine but it isn't going to help you teach difficult students. We should be practicing teaching lessons in front of our peers right now to help us get ready. We get very little time speaking in front of class. But it's a skill that can only developed by practice.
December 8, ed.
"Elementary Students Encouraged to Raise College Expectations" Here we go again--let's push college on everyone as early we possibly can. Ridiculous! College isn't the "be all and end all", there are plenty of valid career paths that don't require college, ie. the trades. Sure we should encourage kids to do well in school, but for its own sake not just so they can get into college. Besides, getting into college isn't all that difficult anyway. Most colleges are so money hungry they'll take anybody whose check doesn't bounce. Yeah, to get into some of the top colleges may be tough but the kids that make it are usually pretty self motivated and/or have parents pushing them all the way. I think college should be an option but not one that should be crammed down every ones throat. Besides, if we were doing a better job of educating kids so they can actually read, write and do math when they graduate from high school--college wouldn't be necessary for a lot of jobs. Employers require college now just because people are graduating high school lacking basic skills.
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