Really!!

A recent Time magazine article

When It Comes To Class Size, Smaller Isn't Always Betterhttp://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2056571,00.html?artId=2056571?contType=article?chn=us

proclaimed that smaller class sizes aren't always better. I'm paraphrasing but the author of the article stated that a class small in size won't perform better with a lousy teacher. No kidding!! This isn't a revelation by any stretch. A poor teacher is likely to be of little help if he/she has ten students in class.

Sadly, too many readers, given some of the current anti-teacher sentiment, are likely to jump in and advocate for larger class sizes, taking the misguided information in the article to say 'it doesn't matter how many are in the class.'

It's always been known that a great teacher performs well in lots of situations. However, when a terrific teacher has a reasonable number of students in class the research has shown that students perform best under those conditions.

No doubt, obtaining and nurturing teachers to become top-notch is the top priority of administration and it ought to be a major concern of parents. But don't allow the generalized argument that smaller class sizes don't always matter. If people stick to such a short sighted point of view, it's just a matter of time before a vast pool of people demand larger class sizes throughout the country. That is indeed ill advised.

Many thanks,
Dick

How Did We Ever Manage?

Yes, I'm quite serious about the title of this blog. Isn't it amazing that we were able to teach children and keep the country afoot for all these decades without state testing?! How on earth were we able to do it? It really must have been a stroke of luck that we made such progress, for millions of citizens, without state exams.

I'll tell you how we managed. Teachers and schools managed because they knew how to educate children, plain and simple. Whether 100 years ago, 50 years ago, or 20 years ago educators did what we know, right now, works in the classroom today.

Here's what works (in no special order since they are equally important): setting high standards for students and teachers to strive for and meet, teaching of the highest quality, providing a well rounded curriculum (forget cores somehow being more important then electives), and developing students to their fullest potential. That doesn't mean we prepare them for college or work per say. It means we prepare them for the challenges they face, college and work, perhaps, those being two possible challenges.

It worked then and it will work today.

I am tired of test scores somehow being equated to a teacher and/or child's success or failure. The day a test score, essentially in an of itself, dictates such success or failure is more than a sad day.

It's time we stopped looking for a 'fix' or simple explanation of how schools (educators and students) perform. It's way more complicated than that...it always has been. The factors I discussed above are far more critical in determining successes than test scores. Quit being told differently!

How did we ever manage? Well, quite well thank you!

Thanks,
Dick

Help Banneker, Help the Girl Scouts

I have another way that people eager to help children can assist us. I have a group of three 8th grade junior high school students who are eager to get some girl scout uniforms to young girls who attend Banneker Elementary in Chicago. They are collecting uniforms to fulfill their Silver Award Project requirements.

There are approximately 35 girls in the Banneker girl scout troop and each one is in desperate need of a uniform. The age of the girls range from 6 to 13. As Ms. Lee, the Asst. Principal as Banneker says, "the girls have worked extremely hard to earn merit badges but they have nothing to place them on." Let's see if we can give them a bit of help!!

Here's how you can help. If you have a daughter who is no longer in the girl scouts and you are willing to part with the uniform, you can donate it to our cause. I will either pick it up (if you live within 25-30 miles) at a time that is mutually convenient or you can mail it to me. I will gladly pay the mailing cost. Just let me know that you want to send one our way. My email is rich219@comcast.net.

Just another way to help a group of our volunteers willing to step up and assist students in need. What better way for you to pitch in and help!!!

Many thanks,

Dick

Making Progress

As many of you know, our goal for our annual donation program called 'Drive to Thrive' has made great strides during the first three weeks of the program. The goal for 2011 is $10,000 and we are well on our way towards meeting that amount.

As of today, March 1st, Schools Count Corp has raised $3,800. Quite a total indeed!

Remember, your donations will provide all sorts of school supplies to over 30 schools in New Orleans and Chicago for the 2011-12 school year. The vast majority of the schools we will assist in the coming year are Chicago Public Schools.

Given the terrific discounts we receive at Kits4Kidz, along with supplies we collect in our 'Go Green' program, we are able to provide binders, notebooks, pencils, colored markets, filler paper, folders, pens, and more for just $6!! Remarkable indeed.

We are always welcoming new partners and volunteers to our charity. To be a part of our annual drive please let me know and I will be sure to get our charity information to you. Simply email me with your name and address and I will get our most recent newsletter to you today. My email is rich219@comcast.net.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Many thanks,
Dick

Bowling Benefit Challenge!!

Yes, this is a direct challenge to all prospective bowlers and those willing to make a difference in the lives of school children who are in desperate need of various supplies and materials that can enable many Chicago Public School students to be successful in the classroom.

As you know, from reading the blog, we have a huge bowling benefit planned for Friday, March 18th at the Willowbrook Lanes on Plainfield Rd. in Willowbrook. The three game bowling extravaganza will run from 3:45 to 6:00 pm.

For just $25 you get to bowl three games in addition to partaking in some prizes, great fun, and refreshments! Here's the challenge part: You will not be the only person bowling. I will also bowl three games. For every person who gets a score higher than me, in each game, I will donate $10!

Just think...if 7 bowlers beat me in game one I have to contribute $70 to SCC. Let's say I tire out in game three and 13 bowlers beat my score!! You've got it...I will contribute $130 to the charity.

Let me know if you can make it. Simply email me at rich219@comcast.net and tell me you're in. You can pay now or wait until March 18th. But by all means, let me know if you are in and up to the challenge!!

Thanks,

Dick

March 18th Bowling Benefit

The Future Educators of America and the Family Career and Community Leaders of America (two student groups) at Hinsdale Central High School are sponsoring the Second Annual Bowling Bash to support Schools Count Corp. Last year this group raised, are you ready for this, a staggering $1200.00!!!

Both groups are again sponsoring this wonderful event. For $25, per person, every participant will get the use of a pair of bowling shoes, three games, and plenty of refreshments! $10 of the entrance fee pays for your bowling while the other $15 goes directly to Schools Count Corp to purchase sorely needed school supplies. Watch out...there are some great prizes for those of you who are experts on the lanes!!

By the way, there is an added incentive this year. I will bowl three games, just like everyone else, and for each person that beats my score in each of the three games I bowl, I will contribute $10 towards the total donation. Think you can beat me? Well, you won't have a chance unless you join in on the fun!!

You can pay the $25 at the door or ahead of time, your choice. However, if you are bowling please let me know no later than March 14th. Create your own team of four!! Why not bring your family and friends? It's bound to be a blast. You can pay by cash or check. If you pay by check, make it out to Schools Count Corp.

This bowling benefit will take place at Willowbrook Lanes on Plainfield Rd. in Willowbrook on Friday, March 18th from 3:45 to 6:00 pm. Get in on the action, hang out with some friends, and help a worthy cause.

I'm looking forward to seeing you!

Thanks,
Dick

The Scoop

Plenty of people weigh-in on some of the failings of schools, teachers, and students. Recognizing that there are plenty of struggles, particularly in inner city schools, let me offer a view that is often not used in the discourse on why some schools don't measure up. The real causes of difficulties, more often than not, lie outside of the building.

To be clear, state testing (not the best measure for student success, that's for sure) makes clear that deficiencies are present. What the test results don't reveal, and that the general public doesn't realize, is that most schools aren't causing such failures.

To be perfectly candid, the deficiencies in math, reading, science, and other subjects are due to multiple factors beyond the control of students and teachers. There is no one cause of such problems.

Just take a ride, as I have often done, through a number of inner city neighborhoods and you'll witness the real reasons for a lack of success among so many. Factories are locked up, abandoned and the parents of students are left without decent wages, wages which are critical in terms of raising children.

As a result of job loss, property values have plummeted resulting in fewer tax dollars for schools. I don't want to skirt the next issue. Students too often don't receive enough parental support and guidance. There are plenty of causes for this but the bottom line is, students everywhere deserve such assistance.

There's also a very real condition, in too many neighborhoods, where the opportunities for advancement simply don't exist. That vacuum is sometimes filled with gangs. Safety then becomes a monumental issue in raising young people. As a result of such environmental factors there is a good deal of despair and a lack of hope, hardly the conditions which foster success in the classroom.

Given all of these conditions, and more, how on earth would anyone expect a 5 year-old or an 8 year-old to be successful? I am often amazed at how well teachers and students perform in spite of all of these handicaps. More often than not, I find these same teachers and students to be giving their very best. That, and that alone, is sufficient reason to offer all the help we can provide.

Thanks for all your help!
Dick