Well done!!
Coach Flesher
Monday, September 29, 2014
Amazing Work
Well done!!
Coach Flesher
Friday, September 26, 2014
Another Myth
Among the many myths perpetuated by the so called 'education reformers' is the notion that a Degree in Education 'isn't worth the paper it's written on.' That couldn't be further from the truth and it does a disservice to the students, teachers and the entire field of education.
A Degree in Education has much to do with studying how to 'reach' students, the means to motivate them and simply studying what makes them tick. Without an understanding of the psychology of young people and developing an awareness to various cues as to behavioral concerns/issues, a teacher is in deep trouble. Developing a keen appreciation and understanding of the social and academic needs of young people is best fostered by a strong background in education.
Beyond the above, an Education Degree is fundamental to good lesson preparation, understanding how schools/staff/departments function, developing a sound approach to conducting ones class, and properly assessing what has been taught.
The truth be known, there isn't enough room in today's blog to assert all of the merits of a Degree in Education.
A Degree in Education is worth much more than the paper it's written on!!
Dick
A Degree in Education has much to do with studying how to 'reach' students, the means to motivate them and simply studying what makes them tick. Without an understanding of the psychology of young people and developing an awareness to various cues as to behavioral concerns/issues, a teacher is in deep trouble. Developing a keen appreciation and understanding of the social and academic needs of young people is best fostered by a strong background in education.
Beyond the above, an Education Degree is fundamental to good lesson preparation, understanding how schools/staff/departments function, developing a sound approach to conducting ones class, and properly assessing what has been taught.
The truth be known, there isn't enough room in today's blog to assert all of the merits of a Degree in Education.
A Degree in Education is worth much more than the paper it's written on!!
Dick
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
A Picture is Worth a Thousands Words!
What a wonderful event...Music abounds in the hallways at Hay
Many thanks,
Dick
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
School Fair...Is it?
Parent Power is hosting a school fair. Okay, I suppose any group can hold a 'fair.' But let's look at the details. The group is hosting the fair for 7th and 8th grade students as they ready to go into high school next year and the year after. Parent Power is working in conjunction with CPS, the Archdiocese of Chicago and the Illinois Network of Charter Schools.
Parent Power was founded by Tom Hurvis who use to serve on the board of New Schools for Chicago. New Schools is a charter organization. Though he no longer serves on the board of New Schools and denies that Parent Power has a pro charter agenda, one has to wonder.
What I wonder is this...how did CPS and its CEO, Barbara Byrd-Bennett, decide that Parent Power would host this? Who took the initiative to ask Parent Power to host? From my vantage point CPS should be hosting the fair and paying for it. When it comes to public education then the agency, the board, should be in charge. This is the best way to insure a degree of 'fairness' prevails.
Dick
Parent Power was founded by Tom Hurvis who use to serve on the board of New Schools for Chicago. New Schools is a charter organization. Though he no longer serves on the board of New Schools and denies that Parent Power has a pro charter agenda, one has to wonder.
What I wonder is this...how did CPS and its CEO, Barbara Byrd-Bennett, decide that Parent Power would host this? Who took the initiative to ask Parent Power to host? From my vantage point CPS should be hosting the fair and paying for it. When it comes to public education then the agency, the board, should be in charge. This is the best way to insure a degree of 'fairness' prevails.
Dick
Monday, September 22, 2014
A Day Late and a Dollar Short
Sunday's Chicago Tribune carried an editorial piece called "A new Plan of Chicago: 12 ways to heal our city." Well, wouldn't you know it, the first 'way' to heal the city dealt with schools. Actually, I found the argument to have some merit but I mostly came away from reading about 'schools as tools' laughing. A lamentable laugh have you.
The editorial calls for the recently closed public schools to be revived as community centers. Here's why it's laughable. First, CPS didn't put the money into keeping these schools going in the first place. Just who does the Tribune see as putting in the massive funding to revive the buildings as community centers? That's just pie in the sky.
Laughable because the schools shouldn't have been closed in the first place. Many were functioning quite well at the time of closing. Had the buildings remained open then adding a community center within the schools would likely have been smoother and more likely to happen with the building already in use.
All the reasons for having a community center have merit. No argument here. Why on earth did the powers that be in City Hall and at CPS as well as within the school communities - not to mention the editorial board at the Trib - put forth the idea when the schools were humming with activity.
Your guess is as good as mine!!
Dick
The editorial calls for the recently closed public schools to be revived as community centers. Here's why it's laughable. First, CPS didn't put the money into keeping these schools going in the first place. Just who does the Tribune see as putting in the massive funding to revive the buildings as community centers? That's just pie in the sky.
Laughable because the schools shouldn't have been closed in the first place. Many were functioning quite well at the time of closing. Had the buildings remained open then adding a community center within the schools would likely have been smoother and more likely to happen with the building already in use.
All the reasons for having a community center have merit. No argument here. Why on earth did the powers that be in City Hall and at CPS as well as within the school communities - not to mention the editorial board at the Trib - put forth the idea when the schools were humming with activity.
Your guess is as good as mine!!
Dick
Friday, September 19, 2014
Funding
The Illinois Senate passed SB 16 the other day though the House is yet to act on it. In short, the bill will redirect money from some areas, typically ones in better shape financially, to areas where funding is a problem. Yes, that means some of the wealthier collar counties will get less funding than areas with greater poverty.
Understandably, some will lament the loss of state funding while others will heave a sigh of relief if the House passes the bill and Governor Quinn signs it.
From my perspective, there are far too many inner city children (not just Chicago) and numerous rural areas that surely need an infusion of funds. I realize that it is asking some to give up some dollars but I hope they see the larger picture and heed the call for help in these areas of need.
The point is this...if education is critical then it is critical for ALL children. This is a plea for those areas who will lose funding to realize the benefit gained by all of us in terms of reaching out to those with greater needs.
Dick
Understandably, some will lament the loss of state funding while others will heave a sigh of relief if the House passes the bill and Governor Quinn signs it.
From my perspective, there are far too many inner city children (not just Chicago) and numerous rural areas that surely need an infusion of funds. I realize that it is asking some to give up some dollars but I hope they see the larger picture and heed the call for help in these areas of need.
The point is this...if education is critical then it is critical for ALL children. This is a plea for those areas who will lose funding to realize the benefit gained by all of us in terms of reaching out to those with greater needs.
Dick
Thursday, September 18, 2014
All in a Day's Work
The next time you hear a citizen complain about teachers or education here are a few things to let them know.
Teachers plan and grade many hours each night and over weekends. The various majority of teachers are constantly being in-serviced or taking graduate courses so that they can stay current and, more importantly, make the classroom experience all the more richer. Summers off! Again, you would be stunned to see how teachers are planning, revising and writing curriculum during the summer.
The school day. It is often crazy. Attend to parent emails, respond to Administration requests, attend IEP meetings, and make classroom adjustments in curriculum as you have to respond to the 'special need's of certain students. What this latter point signifies is the fact that it is really two or three classes going on at one time in one room!!
Grading, planning, running activities or clubs (the community wants more kids involved), coaching and more takes time before, during and after school.
Oh, sorry, I forgot one important thing. The teachers have to teach their classes One other admission...this brief synopsis doesn't even come close to describing what is meant by "All in a Day's Work."
Dick
Teachers plan and grade many hours each night and over weekends. The various majority of teachers are constantly being in-serviced or taking graduate courses so that they can stay current and, more importantly, make the classroom experience all the more richer. Summers off! Again, you would be stunned to see how teachers are planning, revising and writing curriculum during the summer.
The school day. It is often crazy. Attend to parent emails, respond to Administration requests, attend IEP meetings, and make classroom adjustments in curriculum as you have to respond to the 'special need's of certain students. What this latter point signifies is the fact that it is really two or three classes going on at one time in one room!!
Grading, planning, running activities or clubs (the community wants more kids involved), coaching and more takes time before, during and after school.
Oh, sorry, I forgot one important thing. The teachers have to teach their classes One other admission...this brief synopsis doesn't even come close to describing what is meant by "All in a Day's Work."
Dick
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
Musical Chairs
If memory serves me somewhat correctly, musical chairs is something we played when we attended kindergarten, 1st grade or 2nd grade. I may be off but those sound about right. Yes, everyone scrambled for a chair (more like a mad crush) when the music ended.
A version, sadly, of musical chairs too often takes place in terms of moving principals around. They are here one day, gone the next. Here one year then they disappear. It's as if the music has ended and so has their worth and employment.
Just the other day, as reported in today's Chicago Sun Times, the Principal of Marshall High School was terminated. That's right. Some two weeks into the new school year and she is gone. If you are going to change leaders why do it part way through the year? Has she done something so egregious in the first two weeks of the semester to warrant removal? Hmmm...I doubt it.
This brings up a larger point. As our charity goes into many of the same schools year after year I too often see the above trend. I know of one school that has had three principals in each of the past three years. That is not an uncommon occurrence at a number of CPS schools. The last thing struggling students and schools need is a lack of stability.
I don't care how it is spun, constantly changing principals, asst. principals and other staff just isn't in the best interests of the students.
Dick
A version, sadly, of musical chairs too often takes place in terms of moving principals around. They are here one day, gone the next. Here one year then they disappear. It's as if the music has ended and so has their worth and employment.
Just the other day, as reported in today's Chicago Sun Times, the Principal of Marshall High School was terminated. That's right. Some two weeks into the new school year and she is gone. If you are going to change leaders why do it part way through the year? Has she done something so egregious in the first two weeks of the semester to warrant removal? Hmmm...I doubt it.
This brings up a larger point. As our charity goes into many of the same schools year after year I too often see the above trend. I know of one school that has had three principals in each of the past three years. That is not an uncommon occurrence at a number of CPS schools. The last thing struggling students and schools need is a lack of stability.
I don't care how it is spun, constantly changing principals, asst. principals and other staff just isn't in the best interests of the students.
Dick
Monday, September 15, 2014
For Profit Companies in Schools? NO!
Privatize, privatize, privatize. Whether it's for-profit charters schools or outside firms coming into the schools, the result is often the same. Too frequently the outcome is lacking in quality or not getting the job done the right way
The Chicago Sun Times reported on Saturday that numerous CPS schools had "filthy conditions after janitorial services were privatized." The result, aside from dirty schools, means that principals are often dealing with this serious issue rather than the more critical dual task of assisting teachers and students in the classroom. As one principal of a South Side elementary school put it, "I have hardworking janitors, but they can't keep up, since several were cut."
There you have it. Going on the cheap. It works like this. Your goal is to 'save money.' First, you let some of the staff go (a bad idea since most are committed workers) since they are too expensive. Next you hire outsiders at a cheaper rate. Finally, you're likely see a decrease in job quality.
Cutting corners in public education is wrong.
By the way, the amount paid to the outside janitorial service was a cool $340 million!!! Not such a good return on their investment.
Dick
The Chicago Sun Times reported on Saturday that numerous CPS schools had "filthy conditions after janitorial services were privatized." The result, aside from dirty schools, means that principals are often dealing with this serious issue rather than the more critical dual task of assisting teachers and students in the classroom. As one principal of a South Side elementary school put it, "I have hardworking janitors, but they can't keep up, since several were cut."
There you have it. Going on the cheap. It works like this. Your goal is to 'save money.' First, you let some of the staff go (a bad idea since most are committed workers) since they are too expensive. Next you hire outsiders at a cheaper rate. Finally, you're likely see a decrease in job quality.
Cutting corners in public education is wrong.
By the way, the amount paid to the outside janitorial service was a cool $340 million!!! Not such a good return on their investment.
Dick
Thursday, September 11, 2014
Lots to Learning
There is much more to learning than one may think. The University of Chicago's Consortium on Chicago School Research made that point very clear in some research done through surveying 98 CPS high schools.
The report, thorough indeed, found that having a challenging and rigorous class and material was not enough to insure learning and advancement on standardized tests. When a class was both challenging and it was orderly then significant gains were made. To those of us who have taught, this doesn't come as a revelation. However, among many in the public this information is critical to understand from a standpoint of how we get students to learn and the daunting tasks faced by teachers.
By the way, a course rich in content doesn't insure success and orderliness. The skills that a teacher must possess to obtain and maintain order is no easy task. That's just a start if one can pull it off. Teachers then have to stimulate interest, keep students on task, determine who needs help and what type, make learning meaningful and much more. All of these qualities help lead to a classroom and students who 'keep it together.'
Dick
The report, thorough indeed, found that having a challenging and rigorous class and material was not enough to insure learning and advancement on standardized tests. When a class was both challenging and it was orderly then significant gains were made. To those of us who have taught, this doesn't come as a revelation. However, among many in the public this information is critical to understand from a standpoint of how we get students to learn and the daunting tasks faced by teachers.
By the way, a course rich in content doesn't insure success and orderliness. The skills that a teacher must possess to obtain and maintain order is no easy task. That's just a start if one can pull it off. Teachers then have to stimulate interest, keep students on task, determine who needs help and what type, make learning meaningful and much more. All of these qualities help lead to a classroom and students who 'keep it together.'
Dick
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
Say Yes to Neighborhood Schools
The so called 'school reform' movement pushes selective schools, school choice, charters, 'new and improved standardized testing,' and so much more. Along the way, not coincidentally, the traditional neighborhood public school is seen as being disposable.
For anyone who feels that way about neighborhood schools I have a few things to say about the matter. The very term 'neighborhood' is more than a namesake. It gets to the very essence of the meaning of a community. A neighborhood public school is one of the elements that binds people together. People living in a geographic area tend to have common interests and shared experiences.
Ask any child why they like their school and they will comment that it is where they have their best friends. True, one can find other friends in other locations but the very fact that someone across the street or down the block goes to the same school is most significant.
A school, like a grocery store or religious organization, binds people together. Close or shutter any of these and the ties that bind people together are severed. If not severed then they are certainly torn. Take a look at a vibrant community, maybe yours, and you'll see businesses in full operation, a public school(s), a library, a fire department, a post office, or other such body.
Close the neighborhood public school and you've hurt the kids and the very essence of that town, community or village. Neighborhood public schools are a must.
Dick
For anyone who feels that way about neighborhood schools I have a few things to say about the matter. The very term 'neighborhood' is more than a namesake. It gets to the very essence of the meaning of a community. A neighborhood public school is one of the elements that binds people together. People living in a geographic area tend to have common interests and shared experiences.
Ask any child why they like their school and they will comment that it is where they have their best friends. True, one can find other friends in other locations but the very fact that someone across the street or down the block goes to the same school is most significant.
A school, like a grocery store or religious organization, binds people together. Close or shutter any of these and the ties that bind people together are severed. If not severed then they are certainly torn. Take a look at a vibrant community, maybe yours, and you'll see businesses in full operation, a public school(s), a library, a fire department, a post office, or other such body.
Close the neighborhood public school and you've hurt the kids and the very essence of that town, community or village. Neighborhood public schools are a must.
Dick
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
Music Aiding the Disadvantaged
Nina Kraus of Northwestern University has some great news surrounding the value of music related to learning for those children who come from disadvantaged areas. Ms. Kraus studied the impact of music education on children living in gang areas of Los Angeles and found that those who received free music instruction were all the better for it.
Ms. Kraus had a group of 44 young students, 18 who received two years of free music instruction while the other 26 received but one year. Her findings noted that the children were able to process the sound of syllables more rapidly than those who didn't receive the instruction. Her work also found that those with two years of instruction outpaced those with one year of music under their belts.
As Ms. Kraus noted, "this could lead to better learning and skills." That being the case, the more music instruction for these kids, all the better.
Our charity is pleased to be able to help build band programs and, given the Northwestern University study results, are all the more eager to help bring music education to those most in need of all that the world of music offers them.
Dick
Ms. Kraus had a group of 44 young students, 18 who received two years of free music instruction while the other 26 received but one year. Her findings noted that the children were able to process the sound of syllables more rapidly than those who didn't receive the instruction. Her work also found that those with two years of instruction outpaced those with one year of music under their belts.
As Ms. Kraus noted, "this could lead to better learning and skills." That being the case, the more music instruction for these kids, all the better.
Our charity is pleased to be able to help build band programs and, given the Northwestern University study results, are all the more eager to help bring music education to those most in need of all that the world of music offers them.
Dick
Monday, September 8, 2014
Starving Schools
Over one year ago Tim Meegan, a nationally board certified teacher at Roosevelt H. S. in Chicago wrote an interesting piece that warrants our attention. The piece was posted online and was titled 'CPS starving its schools to justify privatization." It is hard to argue that this isn't exactly what is taking place.
Let me give you a couple of examples of how this is taking place as outlined by Meegan. CPS is spending millions of dollars to finance Teach for America and the principal academy used by the school district. While the funds were being spent on these initiatives, and other sorts of programs, many principals were taking big hits relative to the school budgets.
As Meegan said, "The formula for privatizing district is the same all over the country: Open charters operated by private organizations. Simultaneously defund neighborhood schools, declare them "failing," and then close them. Fire certified professional teachers and replace them with temporary unskilled Teach for America recruits."
Tomorrow I will get into where some of the outside financing comes from that supports the charter and non-neighborhood school movement.
Dick
Let me give you a couple of examples of how this is taking place as outlined by Meegan. CPS is spending millions of dollars to finance Teach for America and the principal academy used by the school district. While the funds were being spent on these initiatives, and other sorts of programs, many principals were taking big hits relative to the school budgets.
As Meegan said, "The formula for privatizing district is the same all over the country: Open charters operated by private organizations. Simultaneously defund neighborhood schools, declare them "failing," and then close them. Fire certified professional teachers and replace them with temporary unskilled Teach for America recruits."
Tomorrow I will get into where some of the outside financing comes from that supports the charter and non-neighborhood school movement.
Dick
Friday, September 5, 2014
Local Control Works
The history of education from the days of the earliest, rural, one-room school house until recent times (so called reform movement) has been one full of many successes. It was left to the locality and the educators within that locality to take care of the schools and the students. Was in perfect (nothing is), no, that's not the point or goal. Things worked well for the most part.
The infusion of non-educators, all-stakes testing, legislatures, and naysayers of public education have taken a toll on the system of public education and the students and teachers. This isn't conjecture this is based on eye-witness accounts of events and hearing from top professionals.
The list of transgressions against public education is so long that it boggles the mind. Let me put it this way. Leave the local public schools to those in the classroom and the residents served by the schools. Those outside of the local units need to quit telling them how to teach, what to teach, how to treat kids, why they should do this, and more. Enough is enough; well, actually its gone beyond this point.
Don't allow excellence and the good being done to be outdone by the perfect.
Dick
The infusion of non-educators, all-stakes testing, legislatures, and naysayers of public education have taken a toll on the system of public education and the students and teachers. This isn't conjecture this is based on eye-witness accounts of events and hearing from top professionals.
The list of transgressions against public education is so long that it boggles the mind. Let me put it this way. Leave the local public schools to those in the classroom and the residents served by the schools. Those outside of the local units need to quit telling them how to teach, what to teach, how to treat kids, why they should do this, and more. Enough is enough; well, actually its gone beyond this point.
Don't allow excellence and the good being done to be outdone by the perfect.
Dick
Thursday, September 4, 2014
We Do Make a Difference
Step by step, one day at a time, one school at a time. Our charity, with each of you pitching in, is making a significant difference in the lives of many children. Just yesterday we delivered 30 trumpets, clarinet, flutes, trombones and saxophones to John Hay Elementary School. Band lessons will commence next Monday. Mr. Williams, the Principal and Ms. Chicoine, the Music Teacher, are hoping to put on a Spring Concert. I will keep you posted on the details.
Last year we helped Pilsen Elementary by providing band instruments to the school. During the past school year Pilsen had a wonderfully successful after school band program. Due to the popularity of the program, music will now be a part of the every day curriculum for the coming year!!
Whether its school supplies, art resources, band instruments, winter clothing or athletic/recreation gear, your hard work, and that of the students and staff at our partner schools, is paying off in a big way. We certainly appreciate the funding of our various projects and want to keep you in the loop!
Dick
Last year we helped Pilsen Elementary by providing band instruments to the school. During the past school year Pilsen had a wonderfully successful after school band program. Due to the popularity of the program, music will now be a part of the every day curriculum for the coming year!!
Whether its school supplies, art resources, band instruments, winter clothing or athletic/recreation gear, your hard work, and that of the students and staff at our partner schools, is paying off in a big way. We certainly appreciate the funding of our various projects and want to keep you in the loop!
Dick
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
Yes, there are Challenges at CPS
Todays Chicago Sun Times Editorial entitled 'CPS Can Cheer, but Challenges Remain' is right on target. Yes, graduation rates are up as are ACT scores in addition to some other gains. Also, the rate of adding charter to the system has slowed considerably during the upcoming school year.
What is most troubling, at least to me, are two factors. Neighborhood schools took another hit on funding for the coming year. In addition to taking a massive drop in funding last year the traditional public schools will take another knock, losing an additional $67 million. This is at a time when individual principals at the various schools can barely find the funds to continue various programs, get substitute teachers and, yes, even find enough funding for simple things like supplies and toilet paper.
Related to the funding is a second issue. There are still simply too few professionals in the buildings to deal with the social and emotional woes that children bring to the classroom. Make no mistake about it, these are very critical concerns and have an enormous impact on the ability of students to learn let alone with simply trying to enable them to cope with the various issues and problems.
When one gets right down to it, unless these mental-health concerns are properly addressed then the advances will slow to a trickle.
Thanks,
Dick
What is most troubling, at least to me, are two factors. Neighborhood schools took another hit on funding for the coming year. In addition to taking a massive drop in funding last year the traditional public schools will take another knock, losing an additional $67 million. This is at a time when individual principals at the various schools can barely find the funds to continue various programs, get substitute teachers and, yes, even find enough funding for simple things like supplies and toilet paper.
Related to the funding is a second issue. There are still simply too few professionals in the buildings to deal with the social and emotional woes that children bring to the classroom. Make no mistake about it, these are very critical concerns and have an enormous impact on the ability of students to learn let alone with simply trying to enable them to cope with the various issues and problems.
When one gets right down to it, unless these mental-health concerns are properly addressed then the advances will slow to a trickle.
Thanks,
Dick
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
