Hindrance or Helpful - Part 3

I believe that those who institute policies and/or programs that impact students and teachers do so not to harm the quality of education of students but to be of benefit.    Often what happens is that these policies and programs are put in place without fully thinking through ALL of the possible outcomes...the positive and negative ones 

So, for example, let's say that a state government wants to have ALL public school students take various tests.   Okay, are they thinking through the impact on the daily schedule?   Are they aware of the impact on the amount time lost for teaching and learning?   Are they sure that the tests are valuable?     Have they taken into account the input of school districts?    There are other concerns that should be weighed.

There are any number of programs and policies that, again might be well intentioned and even might be helpful, but, sadly, are fully vetted or thought through.    And we end up where we're at.

Dick 

A Hindrance or Helpful?

 In the past I have made my point that the so called 'reformers' might be less inclined to reform in the name of strengthening public education.    In short, I have seen enough 'reform' that seems to indicate that harm has been rendered to public education.

Of course any changes in public education, either from within or without, can be seen as being a hindrance or helpful to teaching and learning.    So, that being said, changes should be viewed not as purely as a hindrance or helpful to teaching and learning.    There is always nuance.

My intent in this series of blogs is to try to make sense of what is taking place in public education where teachers are feeling beat up, parents are raising mayhem at school board meetings and the proliferation of edicts from on high knows no bounds.  

And the changes we'll look at aren't simply involved in the structuring of public schools.   The changes are many and run deep.

Dick

Equality or Equity?

The issue of equality and equity has been a long debated issue in education.    It still seems as though there are many still clamoring for equality as if that assures a school and, in turn, the students that they will make it.

The idea of being equal largely means that a classroom or school is provided with the same supplies or resources as another class or another school.   So, in the CPS system, for example, one school in North Lawndale has the same student to teacher ratio as a school in the Pullman neighborhood.

Equity, on the other hand, realizes that the classrooms and students in North Lawndale have different needs, backgrounds and circumstances that are different from those of the Pullman neighborhood schools.    That in turn would dictate which resources/supplies should be afforded to each to hopefully arrive at a relatively equal outcome.

My simple point is this...equity is what is worth striving for.    Making something, in this case a classroom or school equal to another doesn't assure one of quality.

Dick

Shed Winter and 'Celebrate' Spring

 The sun is up earlier these days and here in the northern part of the country we are occasionally getting some warmer (50's) days.    So goodbye winter and hello spring.   That is one of the beautiful parts of living up north...the changing seasons!

Not only can you celebrate the arrival of spring but what better way to do it than to join with others in the '15 Year Celebration' of the founding of Schools Count Corp.    That's right, we've assisted children and their families in over 100 schools (and 4 countries including the U.S.) during that period of time..

The celebration is bound to be exciting.   The festivities include; a short recap of our work, a delicious dinner and a keynote address by Rob Stafford of NBC News.    One of the other significant parts of the evening is that you get to share it with like minded volunteers, donors, and those who have benefitted from so many generous individuals.

The 'Celebration' will be held on Tuesday, April 12th in the student cafeteria at Hinsdale Central High School (55th and Grant Streets).   The doors will open at 5:45 and dinner will be served at 6:15.   All to be followed by the program.    The evening's program should conclude around 8:00 pm.    

So it's my privilege to invite you to our 'Celebration.'    You and any guests are certainly welcome.  All you have to do is email me at rich219@comcast.net with your reservation.    You won't want to miss this great occasion.

I'm looking forward to hearing from you!

Have a great weekend, 

Dick

The War and Education in Ukraine

 As I looked on in horror at the bombing of Kharkiv University (home to in excess of 24,000 students), which was established in 1804, I thought about the connection between the very fabric of a nation and the importance of education at all levels.

Think of that...1804.   That's just a bit after the birth of our own nation, just a few decades after the American Revolution.   Heck, the ink was barely dry on our very own Constitution!!

There is little doubt that the quality of any nation's existence is based in large part upon the quality of the education of the population.    Just take a look at nations that seem to succeed and those teetering on the edge.    I think you will find that in places where education is vibrant you will also find a flourishing country.

So, the Putin regime may bomb schools, universities, hospitals, homes and other buildings, but somehow I believe that the quality of education, among other strengths of Ukrainian society, will prevail in the long run.

Have a good day, Dick

IL Senate Bill 4179 - Education

 Let me share with you a proposed piece of legislation (word for word) from the IL Senate Republicans.  Yes, either party can propose legislation but I think that any such legislation solely proposed by one party is ill advised.

Here is Senate Bill 4179 - "The legislation requires school districts to publicly post on the districts website, at least twice per year, all of the learning materials and activities used for student instruction, as well as the policies and procedures for review and approval of the materials and activities."

On the surface this appears to be a rather benign bill; perhaps even a positive one.    I'm wary of this proposed piece of legislation for a number of reasons.

- First, as I alluded to, above, a bill crafted by one party is often ill fated

- Second, the bill seems to assume that teachers aren't already sharing learning materials and activities as part of their every day work.    Teachers have always done this.

-Third, excellent teachers, for a variety of reasons (sometimes out of their control) must by necessity or choice alter learning materials and activities.   When this takes place are they then suppose to make the changes on the website?

-Fourth, making the above Senate Bill 4179 law simply adds another responsibility to a teacher's workload; a workload already often too burdensome.

-And fifth, though there are other reasons to oppose this bill, we already have principals, assistant principals, dept. chairs and district curriculum coordinators who are in charge of seeing to it that teachers are making clear to students and parents what is taking place with regard to learning materials and activities.   Bottom line...does the legislature trust these individuals, along with the teachers in the state, to do their jobs?

Thanks and have a good day, Dick

Punishing for What's Taught

So we have some new and possible state laws dealing with what is taught or not and the possible ramifications if a school, and by extension its teachers, don't heed the law.

Here's why I think this is an important issue to examine.

Students, like all of us, are different from one another.    We have different sexes, different facial appearances, different cultural/race backgrounds along with a whole bunch of other differences.  Heck, we cut our hair and dress differently.

This young and untested first year teacher (me) simply assumed a quiet, long haired student who sat in the back of the room in what 'seemed' a sullen matter assumed that this boy didn't care.   Turned out he was quite bright and was a positive force in the class.    Lesson learned!

Was he different?   Yes!  But there is nothing to fear if a transgender or LGBTQ is in school.    They are students who need to be treated properly like any other student.    The people in these state legislatures  passing these laws need to get over their fear of others because the students are somehow different.

Have a good weekend

Dick

States Dictating What is Taught in Schools

Below is a portion of an article entitled 'Changing America' which was posted on The Hill.    It is instructive in terms of what states are TELLING teachers, and by extension education what can and can't be taught.

These are important events that may well portend not just what can and can't be taught but will likely have implications what books can be used, curriculum design, funding and more.   I'm sure it will have much to do with the possible harm to students and teachers.

A House bill in Tennessee would ban textbook and instructional materials that “promote, normalize, support, or address lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) lifestyles” in K-12 schools. Another, in Kansas, seeks to amend the state’s obscenity law to make using classroom materials depicting “homosexuality” a Class B misdemeanor. Legislators in Indiana are working to bar educators from discussing in any context “sexual orientation,” “transgenderism” or “gender identity” without permission from parents.

Florida’s House committee passed Thursday an updated version of its Parental Rights in Education bill, HB 1557, to specifically prohibit “classroom instruction” on sexual orientation or gender identity for kindergarten and third grade classes, as well as in older grades if deemed inappropriate for students. Parents could also sue schools if they believe the school violated these laws, under the House and accompanying Senate bill. 

While Florida is currently a poster state for anti-LGBTQ+ curriculum laws, others are proposing and moving faster on farther-reaching bills. Oklahoma legislators have put five measures before its Congress that regulate how schools from K-12 to higher education teach LGBTQ+ issues. Two bills, SB 1142 and SB 1654, would prohibit librarians and teachers from distributing materials on or outright discussing “any form of non-procreative sex,” gender identity and “lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender issues.” ng “homosexuality” a Class B misdemeanor. Legislators in Indiana are working to bar educators from discussing in any context “sexual orientation,” “transgenderism” or “gender identity” without permission from parents.

A Couple of More CPS Names

Just a couple of more names of schools to aid to the thumbnail sketches I have presented over the past  couple of days.

Arthur Ashe - Mr. Ashe was a prominent professional tennis player who blazed a trail for black athletes particularly in tennis.   He won three grand slam titles and was the first black to win the Wimbledon, the U.S. Open and Australian Open titles.   He contracted HIV in the early 1990's and prior to his death set up a foundation to combat AIDS.

Pilsen Community Academy - Actually this school is NOT named after an individual.   The only Pilsen I'm familiar with is a city in the Czech Republic!!    So in all probability it is called Pilsen (around 17th and 18th Streets) as Bohemians settled here in the 1870's.  By the end of WW I many Mexicans came to live for employment opportunities.    Today this is a thriving Latino neighborhood.

Over the next few days I'll provide some additional insights into what is taking place in the schools and I want to tackle some of the degrading education bills in various states.

Have a good day,

Dick

More Names of Interest

As you can see over these past few days our charity works with a good number of CPS schools.   Here are two more that we are pleased to assist.

Chopin Elementary - Is named after Frederic Chopin a Polish composer and pianist of the Romantic Age.  He made few public appearance and most of them were in the small salons of Paris.   His style was twofold; first, based on Polish folk music and of the classical in the tradition of Bach and Mozart.

Fuller Elementary - Is named after Melville Fuller who was a lawyer and for a good period of time in the late 1800's/early 1900's was the 8th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.    He believed strongly in states rights and a very limited national government.    He sided with the majority in the historic Plessy v Ferguson case of 'separate but equal.'

As I often think of schools and the names ascribed to them, whether in Chicago or elsewhere in the United States, I often wonder if the students and larger community are aware of the people who have their names on the entrance to the various schools.

Have a good day,

Dick

What's in a CPS Name

 Here are a couple of additional schools we are honored to serve in Chicago:

Johnson School - This school is named after James Weldon Johnson who was known during the Harlem Renaissance for his poems, novel and anthologies.   President T. Roosevelt appointed him as the U. S. Consul to Venezuela.    Later on Johnson would serve as a professor at both New York University and Fisk University.

Jensen School - Is named after Jens Jensen who was born in Denmark and came to the U.S. in his late teens.  He was a prominent landscape artist who had much to do with designing such Chicago Parks as Garfield Park, Humboldt Park, Garfield Park, Douglas Park and others.   Later in life he worked closed with Henry Ford on numerous projects.

Just two giants with their names attached to CPS schools.

Dick

What's in a CPS Name?

 Happy Valentine's Day and the morning after the Super Bowl!!!

I have a couple of additional names of people who have their names attached to schools with the Chicago Public School system.

Pickard Elementary - Is named after Josiah Pickard who was involved in education his entire life.  Initially he was Principal of Platteville Academy in WI and then he became the Superintendent of Pubic Instruction in WI.   Later in life Josiah became the 3rd Supt. of Chicago followed by becoming the 6th President of the University of Iowa.   Quite a career!!

Curtis School of Excellence got its name from George Curtis who was a prolific writer and orator.   Mr. Curtis became the political editor of Harper's Weekly.   Curtis was involved in education as he was one of the original members of the New York City Board of Education.    Curtis often spoke out in favor of African-American equality throughout the 1800's.

Have a great day!

Dick

Part 3 - What's in a Name (CPS Schools)

 I have a full day today...don't we all!!

So, I will pass along two names of CPS schools and the names of the noteworthy individuals.

Metcalfe Elementary is named after Ralph Metcalfe.   Mr. Metcalfe held world records at various times in the 100 and 200.   He finished second in the '32 Olympics and took 2nd in the 1936 Olympics behind Jesse Owens.   He was a Chicago alderman for a number of years and served five terms in the United States House of Representatives.

Sherwood Elementary is named after Jesse Sherwood.   Jesse Sherwood was a surgeon in the Civl War and served on the USS Somerset which saw many battles.   After his service he was a live stock commissioner at the Chicago Stock Yards.    Later in life he served for 3 years on the Chicago Board of Education.

Thank you for reading, Dick

What's in a CPS Name? - Part 2

 Yesterday we started chatting about the various names of people who have had their names ascribed to the elementary schools in the CPS system.   These are some names you may recognize, others not so much.  Here are a few more...enjoy!!

James Russell Lowell  Mr. Lowell was an American Romantic poet, critic and editor not to mention an ambassador.   Mr. Lowell was an editor of a Philadelphia abolitionist newspaper, later becoming editor of the Atlantic Monthly.   In his later years Mr. Lowell was a Minister to England.

Alex Haley   Mr. Haley was a noted writer and author perhaps most known for the book Roots which later became a noteworthy TV miniseries.  Even before his writing days Mr. Haley had served in the U.S. Coast Guard for nearly two decades.   Through various interviews with Malcolm X, Mr. Haley authored The Autobiography of Malcolm X.

Scott Joplin   Mr. Joplin was a composer and pianist most noted for his 40 ragtime pieces.    The movie The Sting included a number of pieces of Mr. Joplin.   Aside from ragtime, which kicked off a new wave of other musicians following suit, Mr. Joplin produced two operas.   Posthumously awarded a Pulitzer Prize.

Have a good day!!

Dick

What's in a Name?

 Schools Count has served the Chicago Public Schools in a variety of ways over the past ten years.    Many of you have made donations to support the students attending the schools or you have helped to deliver supplies during this time.

There are a number of school names that you may not be familiar with so I thought I'd give a brief description of the person whose name is synonymous with the building.

John Hay  Mr. Hay was the personal secretary of Abraham Lincoln and he would go on to become Secretary of State under President McKinley.    He is largely responsible for the 'Open Door' policy on trade with China.

Harriet Beecher Stowe  Ms. Stowe perhaps is most famous for the novel Uncle Tom's Cabin which, among other things, depicts the harsh conditions of slavery.   Ms. Stowe was a strong abolitionist and she did hide a few runaways on the Underground Railroad.   She was one of the founders of the Hartford Art School.

Salmon Chase  He was a Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court and also served as the 23rd Governor of Ohio in addition to being a United States Senator.   He is the only person to ever have held these three positions!!!

Over the next few days I'll introduce some additional CPS school namesakes to you.

Dick

A Desperate Need for Teachers

 This morning I'm going to depart from some of my typical comments about books, events taking place in the various schools we work with and concentrate on a vital concern...the need for more teachers in our classrooms.

I'm providing you with the names and addresses of the leaders of the nation's two largest teacher unions, the NEA and AFT.    I'd like to respectfully ask you to shoot off a short note to both if you have the time.   As soon as I finish this short blog I'll do the same.

The short note/letter would simply ask the respective unions to look at the long game and fund/prioritize developing high school programs/courses that would inspire young people to enter the teaching profession.    There's a smattering of such courses in the nation and they are highly successful at providing real classroom instruction relative to teaching and serve as a pathway to pursuing such a career at the university level.   I've seen these work!!!

Here you go!!   The National Education Association President is Ms. Becky Pringle and the mailing address is 1201 16th St. NW, Washington, DC 20036-3290.   The American Federation of Teachers is led by Randi Weingarten and the mailing address is 555 New Jersey Ave. N.W., Washington, DC 20001.

If you are able to shoot off a letter or two I'd be pleased if you would send me a note simply saying 'mission complete.'    My email is rich219@comcast.net  

Thanks and have a good day, Dick

Have We Lost our Way?

 With all that takes place in education, it still stands to reason, at least to me, that though time passes it is still important to take stock of one question.    What is the one overarching goal of public education?

It's true that public education helps one move forward on a career/job path.    It's also true that the enterprise of public education provides knowledge and that it helps to open up one to the world at large. Public education also spurs creativity, curiousity and understanding.

George Washington in his farewell address suggested the need for a public education system.   Among the goals, Washington said that public education would be needed to create a well-informed populace to participate in America's newly founded democracy.   

Thomas Jefferson stated that public education "should be rendered by liberal (don't confuse the use of this term back then with its use today) education worthy to receive, and able to guard the sacred deposit of the rights and liberties of their fellow citizens."

As I reflect on what these two men said of public education I'm left with the idea that this enterprise should see to it that we are to serve our nation and the common good.    If that is the case, have we lost our way?

Have a good weekend,

Dick

CPS Success

 There are many, many ingredients that go into making a school, and in turn, the students successful.    Yes, money makes a difference.   Certainly terrific teachers are crucial.    Parent involvement has been proven to be critical.

When it comes to CPS I have found that a couple of other elements that help to make a positive impact on student learning.    Over these recent years I have witnessed successful CPS schools which have a strong LSC presence and stability in the building administration to be the ones most prone to having a direct bearing on the success of the students.

No, I don't have scientific data to back this up but I have witnessed progress in other ways; students being content, test scores holding or improving, attendance rates rising, and students engaging in a variety of other activities.

Just some observations!!

Dick

Dripping Funds - Supreme Court

 I have two or three major concerns about the Carson v Makin Supreme Court Case should the justices render an opinion in favor of the plaintiffs...Carson.    As I've said on many other occasions, people absolutely have a right to educate their children as they see fit.    That being said, public funds are to be used for public entities.   In this case for public education.

This leads to one of my concerns.   Let's say Carson wins the case and has access to public funds for private schooling.    Will these schools, now that they have state funds, also have to follow other state mandates?   Will they limit who can attend and who can teach at the school?  It seems reasonable that if they have state funds then they ought to follow all state rules.

Of course another concern is this...If a good number of private schools tap state public funds (previouly allocated for public schools) won't public school funding provided by the states suffer to a degree?   To me, it seems quite probable.

Finally, if Carson wins the case in Maine I see other states following suit.   That concerns me for the same reasons I've outlined in the previous two paragraphs.

Stay tuned and thanks for reading!

Dick

Dripping of funds & U. S. Supreme Court - Part 2

 Yesterday I started to delve into the Carson v Makin case before the Supreme Court that has to do with the granting of public funds for education in Maine.   At issue is whether the plaintiffs (Carson) have the right to public funds for private education.

Let's back up a bit.   Just who is Carson?   Carson is one of three families who are arguing that Maine provide funds for their student's private education.    Ms. Makin is the Commissioner of the Maine Department of Education and she/the state don't want this to happen.

A bit of background.    This case has been in two lower courts.    Both courts sided with Makin and the state.   So now, being dissatisfied, Carson has taken the case all the way up to the United States Supreme Court.

Carson's argument is this...They feel that their 1st Amendment right has been infringed upon.    Specifically, they argue, that their right to the 'Free Exercise Clause' has been violated.    Makin maintains that Carson has no standing based on current law.    That's the short jist of it.

I'm eager to see what happens as the composition of the Supreme Court has changed a great deal in the past couple of years.  

Dick 

The Slow Drip and the Supreme Court

 As is often the case in almost an enterprise that is significant in scope the move to enact something often is slow, tedious and may very well seem imperceptible to the public given these very qualities.   Added to those traits is the fact that often Americans don't follow many of the actions of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Well, there is a drip, drip taking place with regard to the public and private funding of education in the United States.    In recent times much has been made of funding of private education through vouchers, semi vouchers, tax credits and the like.    There is more and more talk now of using tax dollars which have financed public education to divert some of those funds to private schools.

Last month, Dec. 8th, the U. S. Supreme Court heard a case, Carson v Makin, that may very well shape the funding of both public and private schools in the years ahead.    The court will render a decision on this case in June of 2022.   

So the drip, drip of funding private schools will soon have a more definitive look to it.   Over the next few days I will talk about the case, the background to it and the implications likely to follow.

Just to be clear, I am covering this as best as I can.    My bias is in favor of public education though I believe that people have a right to a private education.  There are great private education opportunities and I certainly understand why people make this choice for their children.   I simply think that tax dollars should go toward public education.

Dick

Strains on Public Education

 The strains today on public education come from many sides.   We're all sadly too familar with the issues caused by the pandemic, grumbling from some quarters of the public, and the seemingly endless stream of reformers.

But there's far more to the hit that public education has taken over a period of time that many other delivery systems of education are less likely to have to deal with.    In fact, on some issues they don't have to deal with them particularly when it comes to various state mandates (I'm not by the way suggesting all the mandates are helpful).

I'd be interested to know how many charter schools, private and selective ones take on the load of Education Services students compared to the neighborhood public school.   And if they enroll Education Services students do they provide top flight services?   Do those schools, as a group, have to live up to the expectations of the neighborhood schools when it comes to disclosing finances and their manner of operation.

And then (perhaps an elephant in the room) do some of the selective and private for-profit schools entertain enrolling those from poverty striken backgrounds or those who have 'low' test scores?

My point is this...the traditional neighborhood public school and their respective staffs have plenty thrown at them that other education delivery systems can and do avoid.   So, let's not be quite so quick to be critical of our neighborhood schools.   We might just want to be a bit more supportive!

Thanks and have a good weekend,

Dick

A Perspective on CPS

For those of you who follow my blog/facebook posts, yesterday I mentioned some of the many positive programs in the Chicago Public Schools system.   Terry Meyers, one of the many excellent colleagues I taught with at Hinsdale Central, after reading my post, had this to say about her experience as a substitute teacher.   It gets to the core of point that many wonderful things are taking place in the classroom.   This is Terry's own words...

 Terry Meyers

After I retired I subbed in CPS for 11 years, working in over a dozen schools. I was blown away by the consistent quality of instruction, the dedication of the teachers and administrators, and the wonderful kids. Stereotypes of poor schools are misleading at best.

Before You Criticize

 There are plenty of naysayers and critics of the Chicago Public Schools.    Some of it may be warranted but a good deal of the criticism is ill placed and not true.   At the very least the general public should better understand what is taking place.

For starters it ought to be noted that many children in some of the various neighborhoods come from poverty.    That sadly is a fact and it is not a reflection of the child.   Poverty anywhere puts people behind on so many fronts and that's true in urban and rural areas.

More to my point about understanding what takes place in the various public school buildings in the city.  Many of the schools, certainly a majority, have great programs beyond the traditional curriculum.    These include Headstart, Dual Language, STEM, after school activities, various Arts programs, STEAM and more.

I'd venture to say that most people would have no idea that the various CPS schools offered such  extensive and rich programs.   In most instances the reason these programs exist is because of the building principals, assistant principals and teachers.    And isn't that often the case...the building personnel make the school all the better.

Thanks, Dick

Numbers and Learning

 To those of you curious enough to read today's blog I have a question for you.    If you recall going to school, at any level, do you suppose that testing - whatever the results - really indicated the extent of your learning?    And when I use the term 'results' I'm referring to a percentage or letter grade.

And of course there's that word 'learning.'   Is learning the ability to recall some fact, date, event or number?   Of course learning is much, much more than recitation.   Learning encompasses ones ability to adapt.   It necessarily involves research and that also calls upon one to be curious (since I alluded to that in the above paragraph).   Learning also asks us to 'stick with it' if we somehow don't get it 'the first time around.    

And, yes, learning involves picking up facts, ideas, events and the like.   But that, in and of itself, doesn't means that one has a full understanding of the meaning of those facts, ideas, events and the like.

My point is pretty simple.    'Judging' what one has learned is not something as simple as giving it a number.    And I do believe we have moved to far to the extreme of believing that numbers are proof that something is learned or not.

Thanks, Dick

A Call to Arms

Shortages in the workforce abound.   The nation is seeking retail worker of all sorts, truck and bus drivers as well as teachers.    And we are just talking regular full time classroom instructors.   One of the biggest voids which exists right now is in the area of substitute teachers.

Some states are going to extraordinary lengths.   Last week the Washington Post ran a piece on who states are turning to with regard to finding subs.   New Mexico is asking for volunteers from state employees and the National Guard.   Yes, the National Guard!!!   In Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker made 250 National Guard personnel available to drive school buses.

That's not all.    Some schools are using principals, parents and school board members to fill shortages in the classroom, lunch line along with performing janitorial duties.

There may ultimately be an upside to all of this.    Down the line maybe the personnel shortages in all aspects of education will prove beneficial.   Perhaps, and just perhaps, others will witness the dedication and background needed to be a great educator and do something about inspiring others to become teachers.

Thanks, Dick

Don't let the Schoolhouse Wolves Win!

 Over the past couple of weeks I have tried to lay out the attempt by the 'wolves,' better known in their inner circles as reformers, to disassemble public education.   The wolves are numerous; think tanks, politicians, administration officials, and some in the public.   

Their agenda is multi-pronged.   To some they want more money spent on private and charter schools.  Others still want simply to strip power from unions.  Some wolves think the money spent on public education is wasteful.  A good number of the naysayers claim that public education isn't working and there are better ways to deliver on this front.   Still others want to find ways to game the system.

Let me leave you with this.    The damage done by the 'wolves' is real.   To a certain degree there is an erosion of confidence in public education.   There is sharp criticism of teachers by a fair number of 'wolves' and the trust - fundamental to making any enterprise function - in those who are the frontline workers is taking a real hit.  

Yes, we have to call off the 'wolves.'   That means making sure teachers are treated as professionals just as we treat dentists, doctors and others as professionals.   It means that 'We the People' have to tell various officials who aren't in the classroom to listen to their frontline workers and to lay off with putting more on the backs of teachers.    We each have to find a way to help make public education all it has been, is and can be going forward.

Thanks, Dick

Willing to Bet

 While still teaching in 2003 I decided I wanted to hear from students.    It was a wide ranging survery where I contacted 1,052 students at a variety of grade levels in 7 states.   Student and teacher names were withheld and I had a high degree of certainty that I was getting some valuable feedback.  I found the results instructive and I wish I could give the same survery to the very same students today.

I hit them on a number of topics and issues.   I asked them how they best learned, their overall concerns, their interests, and what courses most liked and disliked.   The survey asked them to rate the value of teachers, projects, styles of teaching and the importance of computers.

By far, when it came to rating of how students best learned and the value of the various resources/tools, students overwhelmingly said that a good teacher was the most important element in their learning.    Some 72% of students said that the teacher was most vital to their learning.

You know what?    I'd be willing to venture that the results would hold true for the most part in 2022!!

Thanks, Dick

Teacher Crisis - Wake Up!!

Yes, there is a teacher shortage nationwide.   And yes the shortage harms the students.   And yes, as the supply of competent teachers continues to diminish, the courses offered will be cut by school administration.   That's just a portion of the crisis.

Now, too often we can complain about a problem.    Well, I'm not about to leave it at that.    Here's what needs to take place and I mean NOW.    High schools need to implement a type of course called 'Invitation to Teach.'    There are a few of these nationwide and they ARE successful in terms of providing a pathway to get a degree in education followed by finding a job in teaching.

 In the words of a person I long respected [who only swore once in all the time I knew her] "people need to get off their asses."   Yes, high school boards of education and building administration need to make this a part of the curriculum if students decide to pursue such a career.

So, to anyone who follows my blogs, posts or tweets feel free to get this out to others.   BTW, feel free to use my name.   I'd love to have some dialogue with 'the powers that be.'

Thanks, Dick

Celebrating 15 Years!!!

 The journey of Schools Count Corp started in July of 2007 and has continued to this very day!!    Our donors and volunteers have provided well over $2,000,000 worth of school supplies, food, medicines, copy machines, athletic gear, art supplies, winter coats and so much more.   We have worked in nine states, serving over 100 schools, and three Caribbean countries during this fifteen year period of time.

On behalf of the Schools Count Corp. Board of Directors it is my pleasure to invite you to our 'Celebration of 15 Years' Dinner on Tuesday, April 12, 2022.    This wonderful event will be held at Hinsdale Central High School in the student cafe.    The doors will open at 5:45 pm with dinner at 6:15 to be followed by a program featuring a keynote address by NBC Anchor Rob Stafford.

Simply email Dick Flesher at rich219@comcast.net with the names of those attending.    Why note bring family members or friends?!   The night will surely be one you won't want to miss!!

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Thank you, Dick Flesher

The Wolf at the Schoolhouse Door - ALEC

 There are plenty of wolves at the nation's schoolhouse doors.   I've mentioned a few names of individuals.  One organization, ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council) is but another wolf in my view.  And that wolf is powerful in many elements and aspects of American society including education.

ALEC has pushed something called an "Alternative Certification Act."   In essence this idea, which has turned into legislative action in some states, says that no teaching degree is required to become a teacher.  Versions of this bill have been introduced in Michigan (home state of former Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos), New Mexico, Wisconsin, West Virginia and Kansas.

Has this taken hold you might ask?   Well, yes!  For example, between 2015 and 2018, the number of licenses the Arizona Department of Education issued to untrained teachers soared by more than 400%.

What strikes me most and bothers me most is the idea being perpetuated that 'anyone can teach.'   Well, to all those who praise this mantra...have at it!!!

Dick

'UNeducating' in America 2022

Yes, I do believe the American education system is under a harmful attack.   It might not be evident to all as it seems to be a slow trickle.   And if it is a slow trickle, it is surely picking up steam in lots of ways.

Take Indiana Senate Bill 167 for example.   One portion of the legislation dictates that a group of people will determine curriculum for each school.    60% of the group MUST be comprised of community members.    The remaining 40% of the group are to be educators.   Be careful of this last one.   The various boards of education must approve those who are to come from the education group.

What does this mean?   The school board may well [likely] decide that the educators are the curriculum director, principal, assistant principal, athletic director and other building non-teaching administrators.  Roughly translated...there may be no teachers, certainly teachers deemed not worthy by the board.

Here's another way to think about this particular aspect of legislation.   Since when do airline passengers determine how to fly a plane?    Since when do patients determine how to perform a surgery?   The answer to each of these questions holds true for learning/designing curriculum and teaching.

Yes, a move is afoot to 'un'educate our students.

Dick

Education under siege!! IN Senate Bill 167

 I want to share a piece of legislation under consideration in Indiana.   It's Senate bill 167.    It makes clear that, though in one state, our system of public education IS under siege.   Here are but a few of the portions of the bill (likely to pass!!).

* parents can opt out their child from any part of the curriculum and the teacher will have to provide a different lesson plan for that child.

* that the curriculum of the district will be determined by a committee composed of 60% parents and community members and 40% educators and all members of the committee must be school board approved but no requirement that a teacher be on the committee

* bans educators from repeatedly interacting with students on social-emotional issues without prior parental consent (example, an educator would be forbidden from responding to a student who discloses they're having suicidal thoughts if the student has disclosed this before and the teacher doesn't have the parent's permission to respond)

* as was discussed during this week's hearing on the bill, bans teaching the Nazi's and similar political parties were of low moral character

These are but a few of the provisions of Indiana SB 167.   The bill is called Education Matters 184.175.130.101.

For now let me say this.    This shows a lack of respect and trust in educators and it flies in the face of providing a healthy, comprehensive and fact based public education for children, to the detriment of their growth.

Dick

Wolf at the Schoolhouse Door - Unions and Assns.

 In recent times the word union/association as it pertains to public schools has evoked, among many, a negative connotation.    Whether the naysayers think that unions/associations are simply out to make big bucks or that they are merely protecting union/association members they haven't been paying attention to events in the past three years in West Virginia, Oklahoma and Arizona.

The strikes in the above three states have proven that public school unions/associations are more concerned with other teacher and student issues beyond pay.   Yes, some of the issues do involve pay and benefits but a closer examination of these strikes is warranted.

Class size, types of teacher assignments (ie assigning a person to a subject area they aren't qualified to teach), curriculum development, tying teacher pay to test scores, and the incursion of charter schools into the areas served by the neighborhood schools are all current issues that unions/associations see as impacting them.    Guess what?   They should be concerned!!

Administrators and school boards, if they were to function without union/association input and influence, would likely move in a negative direction with regard to the issues in the previous paragraph.

As a person who has negotiated in good faith with school boards and their attorneys, cooperation to the benefit of all can be achieved.   

Dick

The Wolf is 'Still' at the Schoolhouse Door!!

 The Supreme Court's 2018 ruling in Janus v. AFSCME said that public employees do not have to pay fees to unions to cover the cost of the union undertaking collective bargaining.   And yes, this decision has led to a decline in union membership in schools.

What is the real reason for those siding with and funding the above endeavor?   Was it really going after tenured teachers?    Was it meant simply to lower the number of public employees (in this case public school teachers) who participate in unions?    The answer to these questions and others is simple...NO!    

The real reason people wanted the outcome they desired is that they wanted unions to collect less money so that the unions wouldn't be able to fund political activities...traditionally Democratic candidates.    Now, I must say this is rich given the fact that we now have a Citizens United case settled by the Supreme Court that essentially says that there is an open faucet on the money that can flow to politicans, lobby groups, PAC's and the like.

I'll have more to say on this in tomorrow's posting.

Stay well, Dick