Failure...Check this Out

When Davis Guggenheim's film Waiting for Superman hit the theaters it caused a real stir.   One problem with part of the film, the NAEP achievement levels were incorrectly stated.   Yes, they got it wrong.   The film claimed that 70% of 8th graders did not read at grade level.   Interesting enough, the NAEP does not even report grade levels!   Actually, NAEP reports that 76% of 8th graders are considered as "basic or above" in achievement levels.

Plenty of Americans have made the same assumptions as the film.   They think American schools are failing.   You will be surprised to learn that this assertion is false.   The only real authoritative measure, over time, is the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP).   Here are some of the results.

- In 1992 29% of the 4th graders, measured in reading, were rated as "proficient or advanced" while in 2011 34% were rated as "proficient or advanced."  (This is a good trend)

- The same exact percentages, in 1992 and 2011, were reported for 8th graders (Again, a good trend).

Tomorrow I'll report on math scores.
In the end, you can be the judge!

Dick

More Ravitch and Common Sense

One of the reasons I find the recent Ravitch publication, "Reign of Error" so thoughtful, insightful and on target is because it not only uncovers some of the many 'errors' in thinking on the part of the corporate reformers but it also divulges ways in which real improvements can be made in today's schools.

As Ravitch points out, noted author Russell Rumberger - who heads the Dropout Research Project - says that what discourages students is not a college preparatory curriculum but; rather, a curriculum that develops their vocational and academic interests.   What dropout students and those on their way to such a path need is an education that promotes motivation, perseverance and self esteem according to Rumberger.

Come to think of it, any student, college bound or not, needs are the above qualities.   This is nothing new, just plain common sense. 

Teachers, staff and, certainly, students who are 'dropping out' could well use an alteration in the curriculum being offered to them.   Making students take A.P. courses, standardized testing, Honors courses, and hounding kids about attending college are not a prescription for preventing kids from dropping out.   More importantly these aren't a prescription for aiding students in the best possible tradition of public education.

Dick

Rather Perplexing

The latest critic of American education is a man who I admired for many of his progressive and thoughtful ideas on a whole host of issues.   His name is Thom Hartmann.   He hasn't criticized teachers or the idea of public education but he sure is lamenting its condition.

I would submit to you, as I did in part yesterday, that nothing today is as it was in the 'good old days.'   A parent was often home when a child came to and from school, there were no inclusion children labeled as such, Special Education did not exist in the curriculum, many students did not opt to attend college, and the population was rather homogeneous for the most part.

I am not criticizing the changes at all.   In fact, in the long run, they will lead to improvements in the field of education.  I am simply stating that the conditions under which we educate children today is vastly different than years ago.   It is also a fact that government mandates have much to do with teaching and learning.   In large part, the top educators of our day have too little power and sway when it comes to input on teaching and learning.

Thom has always been a champion of public education.   Perhaps he still is but when one of our own is left perplexed and bewildered about the state of American education then we had better get to work.

Dick

More Ravitch

Diane makes a profound point in her book, "Reign of Error," about what corporate America - in terms of education - dislikes about our contemporary schools.   They don't like unions, they say we are failing, our kids are behind those of other countries and more.   So they have a whole shopping list of what is wrong with schools.

Ms. Ravitch also notes that there are other concerns that corporate America neglects to comment on.   Those so called reformers rarely protest budget cuts to education nor do they weigh in on the growing influence of poverty on children and families living in such dire straits.   They do not complain about increased class sizes faced by the students and teachers nor do they complain about the budget slashing that cuts art, shop, physical education, music, FACS programs.

These reformers close their eyes to for-profit charters that siphon funds from the classroom and they don't voice any concern about the idea of testing pre-kindergarten or kindergarten children.   I have rarely heard complaints coming from 'reformers' concerning the fact that Education Service students are often disproportionately excluded from a good number of charters compared to the regular neighborhood public school.

So take it with a grain of salt.   The next time you hear 'reformers' talk about what they dislike about American schools, check to see if they also dislike some of the above.

Thanks,
Dick

Ravitch on Reform

Diane Ravitch has it right when she comments on the belief system of far too many of the so called reformers!!   As Ms. Ravitch points out in "Reign of Error," many of these believers say that today's public schools are failing our children.

What the author points out is a historical perspective (truth) that escapes much of the public. 

It has been an age old argument that our schools are failing.   It is a belief steeped in myth.  By the way, all of those who long for 'the good ole days,' need some schooling.  In the past most of the children didn't even go to college and a fair number of students 'back then' didn't even attend school and a good number of them didn't even go on to graduate from high school.

In the past, children who are today labeled as disabled or Special Education more often than not didn't attend school, certainly if they did, it was rare that they graduated.   40, 500 or 60 years ago there were far fewer immigrants coming to the U.S.   Not so today!!!

Before you drink the 'reformers' koolade that says todays schools 'aren't what they used to be,' some real fact checking needs to occur.

Dick

Well Done HC Varsity Boys Soccer!!

Take five senior Hinsdale Central varsity soccer players; Manos Proussaloglou, JD Garnett, Christian Meyer, TJ Schmidt and Max Krohn and give them a fundraiser and watch come through in a big way.  That's just what they did at yesterday's KICK event.

These five boys coordinated a soccer-tennis tourney for 69 players, sought out corporate monetary donations, garnered gift certificates and secured plenty of refreshments for the participants.   This effort was terrific in all regards.

The result, on a bright, sunny Sunday, was some great fun, fast action on the courts and a wonderful response in terms of raising funds.   Because of the efforts of the boys, the players, parents and local community the seniors noted above raised over $8,000.00!!   This is an all time record for KICK!

I want to thank the five boys who organized the event - along with their Mom's - and all the participants for making the day such a monumental success.   Your efforts will surely allow many CPS children to obtain the necessary daily supplies they might otherwise go without.

Great stuff!!
Coach Flesher

Today's School Reformers

It is clear that the current message of the vast majority of corporate school 'reformers' is based on a whole host of issues.  Most favor vouchers, support for-profit and not for-profit charters, back standardized testing, desire to see student test results mirrored in teacher evaluations and wish to see you unions limited or eliminated.   By the way, they want to make cuts to various programs and are not hesistant about slashing budgets.  These are but some ways reformers want to go about the business of public education.

This isn't reform, my friends, this is an attempt to lay the blame for alleged school failure (notice I said alleged) at the footsteps of the schools and America's public school teachers.  If you don't think it's a blame game just look at some of the stories or editorials in major media outlets.  By the way, just because a radio station, blog, tv network or cable station says education is broken doesn't mean it's so.  How many people who castigate education rally understand the ins and outs of teaching and learning in the 21st century?   Not that many.

A fair number of the so called 'reformers' do have a stake in the game.   Some of them stand to make money through testing, preparing testing assessments, establishing corporate organizations to run various non-traditional public schools or by selling various ancillary services and products connected to these, and other, initiatives.   Many have much to gain.

Take a closer look at these 'reformers.'   Are they truly interested in helping a young person grow, mature and be the beneficiary of a well rounded education?   Are their motives designed to allow young people to be exposed to new ideas?   Do they really have the best interests of everyone in mind?  You be the judge.

Dick

More for the Have's

For the fourth day, in the past week, Mayor Emanuel announced plans to provide more funding to a school in very good shape.   Walter Payton College Prep High School will receive $17 million in order to expand.  The school is bursting at the seams and had to turn away many applicants this year.   Building a new annex will increase enrollment.

That's good news for the Payton folks and another poke in the eye of schools and communities still lacking toilet paper, air conditioning, daily supplies and teachers.   I am aware of many schools that face such daily difficulties.   Of course you can imagine how people feel who saw their neighborhood schools shut down this past spring.

By the way, anyone who thinks that the spring closing were strictly about the space being underutilized are sadly mistaken.  The closings had just as much to do with money as how many students were attending the various shuttered schools.

As I said the other day, whether intended or not, the perception is that the 'have's' continue to be well taken care of while the 'have not's' are largely (or completely) ignored.   Put yourself in the place of a disadvantaged school and community - if possible - and it's hard not to see why people feel the way they do about what is taking place.

Dick

More Schools, More Labs - More Money?

I can admit I don't know the 'ins and outs' of where, and how,  Mayor Emanuel is coming up with the TIF and state capital funding to undertake all the work he has announced over the past several days.   Obviously, Emanuel has the funds at his disposal or he wouldn't have made these declarations.

Yesterday the mayor announced a $24 million tax increment financing for three schools.   On Monday the city chief said that an addition would be made to Wildwood Elementary and on Sunday he stated that a new school would be erected on 104th and Indianapolis.  Ambitious plans to be sure.

This is likely to be on the 'up and up' and positive for these schools.

Problem is...there is a perception issue.   Can you imagine what the kids, staff and parents of schools closed this spring think of this?   No doubt they are dismayed, angry and puzzled.  Why shouldn't they?   When they see these building plans and think of the fact that their neighborhood schools were shut down while being told of a money crunch, they can rightfully believe they were shortchanged in a big way.

Perception for these folks is reality!

Dick

Ravtich's "Reign of Error"

Granted, I just picked up Diane Ravitch's new book but I am fascinated by her ability to clearly enumerate the many subtle and not so subtle ways that public education is under assault, largely due to the private sector getting into the field.  True, I'm but 30 pages into the text but there are plenty of juicy details concerning the various 'errors' taking place.

In general, Ravtich sees the private sector and the so called 'reformers' moving in the wrong direction.   According to Ravitch too many assumptions about the quality of schools, the testing agenda, accountability and the possibilities that the private sector offers are simply wrong.  I could agree with her more.

Let me point out a couple of ways that the privatizing craze is in full force.   Testing is but one of the vehicles where the privatizing forces are at work.   First is was the 'No Child Left Behind' legislation of 2002.   In order to get schools to meet their unrealistic goals of 'progess' a whole plethora of for-profit publications, think tanks and tutors blossomed.   Lots of money to be made here.

Now, almost every state has signed on to the Common Core Standard testing initiative.   Ravitch points out that this is going to be quite an expense as the states and districts are going to find that the CCSS is going online.   Some say that the estimate of the cost will run as much as $13 billion.   I wonder who will pick up the tab?   You can be sure that for-profit establishments will want a piece of that pie.

I look forward to sharing more of this book with you in the coming weeks.

Lots of errors being made!
Dick

Building New Schools? Amazing!

Michael Sneed's Chicago Sun-Times column had quite a 'scoop' on Mayor Emanuel's plans to open, yes open, new selective-enrollment high schools.   According to a Sneed source, Emanuel will solve elementary school overcrowding in a manner much like the plan to deal with the high schools.

In terms of the elementary schools, new buildings may be constructed or ones currently open may be expanded but Emanuel does not plan to reopen any of the schools that were closed this past spring.

What comes to mind are a few troubling thoughts.  First, I thought there was a shortfall of funds.   How can CPS afford possible new buildings while a budget crunch exists?  I'm not sure TIF funds can cover 100% of the construction.

Also, I have the very real sense that some of the elementary schools (almost 50 of them) shuttered this spring could well be used for either of these projects.   Building anew gives the appearnace, should any of the closed schools be reopened, that the mayor and the CPS brass made mistakes by closing so many at one time.   Good gosh, we wouldn't want to be seen in that manner, now would we?

Dick

More on Core

A whopping 45 states are now commited to the Common Core State Standards testing.   The whole idea is to provide a consistent, clear understanding of what students are expected to learn without regard to where they live.   It is hope that parents, teachers and others associated with the field would then be able to help them get where they need to be.

I take issue with a number of the above theories or premises.   First, the idea of what a student is expected to learn is a real whopper in my view.   Teaching and learning goes way beyond the mere fact that Student A should learn content X and that's that.   Say a student knows that the Pearl Harbor attack took place on Dec. 7, 1941.   I want them to know so much more than this.   It would be worth students understanding our preparedness on that day, how people handled the attack, the impact on the island for years to come and so very much more.

I have no qualms with the idea that what is taught must be consistent and clear.   But this idea that 'what is expected to be learned' is real dicey.   Everyone can differ on what MUST be learned.   The beauty of the history of education is that what must be learned has been determined by experts...people in the business of understanding children and education, the people in the classrooms.

Teachers and students have different backgrounds, learning styles, and quite different skill sets and these should be at the 'core' of the process of teaching and learning.

Dick

Reign of Error

As Diane Ravitch says, "I try to stand up for the weak and powerless and voiceless, and some people don't like that." Some of her critics accuse her of being too close to unions, others believe she picks fights, and still others believe she cherry picks information to lambast charter schools or to assail test based accountability.

One of the reasons I enjoy Ravitch's books and journal writings is that she has seen all sides of education. Ms. Ravitch has worked in the Dept. of Education, has studied the history of the field, and once backed tying test scores to school performance. Not exactly a background that one would think would make teachers her best friend.

Today Ms. Ravitch assails the reformers in her new book "Reign of Error: The Hoax of the Privatization Movement and the Danger to America's Public Schools." The book comes out next week and one of its major points is that the problem of race and income inequality is largely ignored.

I'll be sure to pick up the book, dig into it and share many of its ideas and concerns.

Dick

Common Core is Here

Step aside ISAT and 'No Child Left Behind,' there is a new kid on the block and it's called Common Core.  Illinois joined with some 40 other states in 2010, declaring it would institute the Common Core in the 2013-14 school year followed by Common Core assessment implementation the following year.

I'm not completely schooled on Common Core but the idea is the depth in learning is now to be emphasized over breadth.   For my money both depth and breadth have always been critical in the process of educating a student.

A new emphasis is to be put on critical thinking and concept mastery in the English language arts and expanding academic vocabulary in Math.   These are among some of the highlights of the CCSS reforms.  Of course, once the standards are in place relative to what is being taught, then assessments will be implemented to determine the extent to which the standards are being achieved.

My sense is that the nation's schools are going to find it difficult to sort through everything to implement these standards by next fall.   I don't know of too many schools who have really got the ball rolling on this as of yet.   From what I hear, the standards will be pretty darn tough and the kids scores are likely to hit the skids.  I'm sure the press will be all over this and declare that the education system is failing the students.  

I'll have more to say on this in the coming days.

Dick

Well Isn't that just Great

Now there's a great idea...NOT!!

CPS is now determining exactly how many children are attending each school within the system on the 10th day of school.   That 10th day just happens to be today.   CPS is counting heads on the 10th day rather than the 20th day as in the past.   In turn, the principals of the schools will know how much money they will have to work with for the remainder of the school year based on an equal amount of dollars doled out for each child..

Prior to the start of the school year principals were handed funds based on student enrollment projections.  As of today, if the projections come up short then principals will have to make cuts.   If a school has more students than originally anticipated then they will receive additional funds.

This is crazy!   Okay, a school needs more staff as they have more students.   That makes sense.   But to trim more staff after the school year has commenced is senseless and wrong.   This scenario, potentially, means that a second grader, who is already accustomed to his/her teacher, may one day soon see that he/she won't have that teacher.

You also might, likely, have a situation in which there are two classes of 22 students in third grade.   A principal, because total enrollment is less than projected, could well have to cut one of the third grade teachers.   Yes, that means that 44 students would be in one classroom.

It seems as though the cuts and decisions made by the CPS brass are never ending.   That's too bad as it's the students and teachers who suffer.

Dick

That Just Beats All!

Public hearings are again underway within the various communities across Chicago with respect to...what else, facilities!!   The 2011 law passed by the State of Illinois requires that CPS must come up with a 10 year facilities plan and they have to have it ready by Oct. 1st.

One of the things most troubling about part of the contents of the 10 year plan is the fact that CPS has already recognized - are you ready for this? - that some schools are overcrowded.  Yes, overcrowded.   Worse yet, CPS will put out the word for those to come forward with proposals for charter schools in these overcrowded schools.

More charters?   I am tired of CPS simply giving over more of its responsibility to run public education within the city.   We are coming to the point where 'true' public schooling will no longer take place within inner cities in this country.  

Everyone seems to want to fault the kids or teachers if a school 'fails.'   It is time to hold public officials accountable for failing the students, their families and the staffs who run the schools.

Dick

The Have's and Have Nots

I have a fairly simple question I would like to pose for the CPS brass. The question goes like this..."Why is it that 'receiving' or 'welcoming' schools got ipads and air conditioning while those non welcoming schools (is that what they are?) were largely ignored?"

No, this is not a rhetorical question nor is it one asked in jest. It's a serious question - which deserves a serious and thoughtful answer - because there are thousands upon thousands of students and their families who despite giving their best are left out in the cold simply because they weren't a welcoming school.

How tragic!! If it is hot, humid and sweaty in the classroom, ALL students and staff deserve the same treatment. To reward a school with ipads and a/c simply because it is welcoming students from a school that was shuttered while denying a school the same resources is wrong on many counts. Talk about bad policy, poor politics and lousy PR!

Like the expression goes, there are have's and have not's in the world.

Dick

A Huge Help

There are plenty of wonderful charitable organizations that conduct terrific work here in the states and, for that matter, around the world. Doctors Without Borders, the United Way, Lions Clubs, Habitat for Humanity, the March of Dimes are but some of the more well know organizations out there. Many philanthropic organizations often fly below the radar when it comes to the good that they do for others.

One such organization of this caliber that assists Schools Count is Kid4Good. Just last week this group donated 200 new spiral notebooks to our cause which seeks to provide students, who often go without essential classroom supplies, with these critical resources as the school year has commenced in the Chicagoland area.

Kids4Good is a huge supporter of our 'Go Green' endeavor which provides recycled student supplies to CPS schools. This organization often provides volunteers for many of our initiatives throughout the year. To this end they have been by our side these past years.

Kids4Good is also fundamentally responsible for helping to rebuild the IMN School in Haiti following the 2010 earthquake. Over the years Kids4Good has provided school resources, medical supplies and clean water to the children. Recently, Kids4Good just raised $10,000 to provide IMN with a brand new toilet system.

A new school, clean water, medical supplies, school resources and a modern toilet system...pretty incredible. Talk about a charity that makes a difference. Kids4Good may not attract international attention and dollars but its work sure merits our heartfelt thanks. Thank you Cynthia McGann and Mary Beth Owano!!

Dick