More than 500 students at Maria Saucedo Elementary School have submitted letters stating that they want to opt out of the ISAT test that will be given commencing in the week of March 3rd. 40 teachers earlier in the week agreed they would all refuse to administer the test! Their reason for refusing? They claim that the test "is not used for any gainful purpose within the district."
For her part CPS chief Barbara Byrd-Bennett has come down strong on the teachers who refuse to administer the test. She said that if teachers won't give the exam then the teachers will be ordered to leave the school building. She went on say, in a letter sent out to principals, that teachers who boycott the test could even face losing their state education certification.
This is a pretty big deal!! Where this ends up, I have no idea but this will be an interesting situation to follow in the coming days.
There are plenty of concerns and issues pending but one that I find to be at the heart of the struggle is the one that centers on whether the test is a meaningful/significant device and whether it is a really wise use of teaching/learning time.
Stay tuned!!
Dick
Friday, February 28, 2014
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Charter Watch
Whether the issues deal with admissions, the establishment of policies/bylaws, standardized testing, the existence of teacher unions, pay and a whole host of other concerns, we are constantly learning, day by day, more about the operation of charter schools.
Today's Chicago Sun Times reported on charter school expulsion rates within the CPS system. CPS released some pretty staggering data on this issue. The bottom line is this...charter students are 11 times more likely to be expelled than students who attend traditional neighborhood schools.
Poor behavior or inappropriate conduct needs to be dealt with but, to think that charter school students are kicked out at such an alarming rate makes one wonder. Lots of questions should be raised and answered.
Do charter operators have consistent guidelines to follow on this matter? In fact, are guidelines even in existence when the charter is granted permission to establish a school? Does the charter operator have to get the guidelines approved by the CPS brass? What steps are taken by charters which lead to expulsion?
These are but some fundamental questions that parents and CPS, among others, deserve to have answered.
Dick
Today's Chicago Sun Times reported on charter school expulsion rates within the CPS system. CPS released some pretty staggering data on this issue. The bottom line is this...charter students are 11 times more likely to be expelled than students who attend traditional neighborhood schools.
Poor behavior or inappropriate conduct needs to be dealt with but, to think that charter school students are kicked out at such an alarming rate makes one wonder. Lots of questions should be raised and answered.
Do charter operators have consistent guidelines to follow on this matter? In fact, are guidelines even in existence when the charter is granted permission to establish a school? Does the charter operator have to get the guidelines approved by the CPS brass? What steps are taken by charters which lead to expulsion?
These are but some fundamental questions that parents and CPS, among others, deserve to have answered.
Dick
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Teachers Relish the Challenge
Autistic students, special needs children, AP/gifted kids...you name them and teachers take on the responsibility for teaching these students. Allow me to say this, the teachers are at the forefront of making consequential curriculum and assessment decisions.
Make no mistake, teachers often work in a collegial manner to make the necessary adjustments. These changes are often done in preparation periods, after school or during the summer months. Quite honestly, no mandate, no law and no politician has to tell these folks what to do. My point is a simple one; when confronted with the need to make various alterations teachers step forward to do the right thing.
My advice to my teaching colleagues...keep up the great work. To the so called 'experts,' take notice of what teachers do to help your child and the students across America. The vast, vast majority of teaching professionals roll up their sleeves, no matter the challenges and they get the job done.
Dick
Make no mistake, teachers often work in a collegial manner to make the necessary adjustments. These changes are often done in preparation periods, after school or during the summer months. Quite honestly, no mandate, no law and no politician has to tell these folks what to do. My point is a simple one; when confronted with the need to make various alterations teachers step forward to do the right thing.
My advice to my teaching colleagues...keep up the great work. To the so called 'experts,' take notice of what teachers do to help your child and the students across America. The vast, vast majority of teaching professionals roll up their sleeves, no matter the challenges and they get the job done.
Dick
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
What you May Not Know
Don't be fooled for one minute. When you hear so called 'reformers' complain about union bosses and teacher unions in general, you may be surprised that there is much good that these groups do to help children.
There are a good number of locals as well as the AFT (American Federation of Teachers), NEA (National Education Assn.), and IEA (Illinois Educators Assn.) who participate in raising funds to provide scholarships to students in need. It is a longstanding tradition of many of these groups to provide assistance to those who want to continue their education.
You might also be surprised to learn that a good number of unions are already doing their own form of peer review (teacher evaluation) in order to help their fellow colleagues improve their teaching.
Beyond the scholarships and peer review one will find that a good number of teacher unions are engaged in their own mentoring programs. This is a wonderful opportunity for those new to the profession to gain some valuable insights from experienced and seasoned professionals.
Yes, unions engage in collective bargaining but they perform many other services in the name of educating America's youth.
Dick
There are a good number of locals as well as the AFT (American Federation of Teachers), NEA (National Education Assn.), and IEA (Illinois Educators Assn.) who participate in raising funds to provide scholarships to students in need. It is a longstanding tradition of many of these groups to provide assistance to those who want to continue their education.
You might also be surprised to learn that a good number of unions are already doing their own form of peer review (teacher evaluation) in order to help their fellow colleagues improve their teaching.
Beyond the scholarships and peer review one will find that a good number of teacher unions are engaged in their own mentoring programs. This is a wonderful opportunity for those new to the profession to gain some valuable insights from experienced and seasoned professionals.
Yes, unions engage in collective bargaining but they perform many other services in the name of educating America's youth.
Dick
Monday, February 24, 2014
We're In Charge
As NEA President Dennis Van Roekel put it, "It is time for us [educators] to transform public education by taking charge of our profession." I couldn't agree more with Mr. Van Roekel's assessment.
Teachers understand students, their behaviors and what makes them tick. Teachers have specialized training in their subject area(s) and know how to connect subject matter to students needs. But something is missing in the profession where novices, so called 'reformers' and those who run government see themselves as self annointed or self appointed educational professionals.
I'm not going to spend this space, today, discrediting such people; rather, I want to make a plea for those of us who have taught and are still involved in the profession to take charge.
Taking charge has many meanings and the possibilities are endless but, the bottom line is that teachers and our unions need to get back out in front of the pack when it comes to taking responsibility for what takes place within those four walls called the classroom. Don't get me wrong, this isn't about a dictatorship run by union bosses; rather, it is a profound collaborative process that involves many constituents. The point is that teachers need to come to the fore to organize such partnerships.
Over the next couple of days, I will lay out some ideas, some already in practice and others that need to be considered as the real professionals lay the groundwork for leading education into the future.
Dick
Teachers understand students, their behaviors and what makes them tick. Teachers have specialized training in their subject area(s) and know how to connect subject matter to students needs. But something is missing in the profession where novices, so called 'reformers' and those who run government see themselves as self annointed or self appointed educational professionals.
I'm not going to spend this space, today, discrediting such people; rather, I want to make a plea for those of us who have taught and are still involved in the profession to take charge.
Taking charge has many meanings and the possibilities are endless but, the bottom line is that teachers and our unions need to get back out in front of the pack when it comes to taking responsibility for what takes place within those four walls called the classroom. Don't get me wrong, this isn't about a dictatorship run by union bosses; rather, it is a profound collaborative process that involves many constituents. The point is that teachers need to come to the fore to organize such partnerships.
Over the next couple of days, I will lay out some ideas, some already in practice and others that need to be considered as the real professionals lay the groundwork for leading education into the future.
Dick
Friday, February 21, 2014
Some Final Thoughts on Vouchers
Vouchers and tax credit scholarships are not prevalent in America though roughly about 20% to 25% of the states have one of these two programs. Before others get on the bandwagon here are some facts to consider.
First, there is no link between using vouchers and gains in student achievement and there certainly is no conclusive evidence that students who use vouchers to attend private schools perform better. The evidence on improved student performance, where it does exist in various states and communities, is largely focused on teacher quality and getting extra help for those students who need it.
Another one of my main concerns with vouchers is that the low income, low achieving student typically is not afforded the opportunity to participate in this program.
Aside from these concerns, the church-state issue needs to be resolved in the courts. Unless, and until, this takes place it really doesn't make sense to forge ahead on vouchers.
Finally, given the research I have conducted on vouchers and other so called 'reform' ideas, I have the very real sense that vouchers are another way for some people to undercut public education. I refer to this as 'off loading' or government agencies ridding themselves of the responsibility for educating the public.
Dick
First, there is no link between using vouchers and gains in student achievement and there certainly is no conclusive evidence that students who use vouchers to attend private schools perform better. The evidence on improved student performance, where it does exist in various states and communities, is largely focused on teacher quality and getting extra help for those students who need it.
Another one of my main concerns with vouchers is that the low income, low achieving student typically is not afforded the opportunity to participate in this program.
Aside from these concerns, the church-state issue needs to be resolved in the courts. Unless, and until, this takes place it really doesn't make sense to forge ahead on vouchers.
Finally, given the research I have conducted on vouchers and other so called 'reform' ideas, I have the very real sense that vouchers are another way for some people to undercut public education. I refer to this as 'off loading' or government agencies ridding themselves of the responsibility for educating the public.
Dick
Thursday, February 20, 2014
Some Snags with Vouchers
Vouchers seem to be somewhat in vogue with the so called 'reformers' these days. Upon closer inspection, the use of vouchers presents some meaningful issues. Rita Zeidner of the NEA Today reports on some of these concerns.
In some cases, according to the Washington Post "hundreds of students use their voucher dollars to attend schools that are unaccredited or are in unconventional settings." The report goes on to note that they found one voucher approved school that was family run and doing so out of a store front.
Of course another issue concerns whether the private school is affiliated with religion. There is nothing wrong with a private school that has such an affiliation. There have been concerns raised in a number of states where people challenge using public funds for such purposes. This gets into the separation of church - state. This typically ends up in the courts.
In Louisiana if a private school has less than 40 voucher students then that school doesn't have to demonstrate basic competency among the students who are enrolled in math, reading, social studies and science. My guess is that most parents would not find this acceptable.
As you can see, there are some real concerns, problems and issues regarding the effective use of public funds to underwrite vouchers for private schools. Unless these problems, real ones, are rectified then the widespread use of vouchers in the American education system seems questionable.
Dick
In some cases, according to the Washington Post "hundreds of students use their voucher dollars to attend schools that are unaccredited or are in unconventional settings." The report goes on to note that they found one voucher approved school that was family run and doing so out of a store front.
Of course another issue concerns whether the private school is affiliated with religion. There is nothing wrong with a private school that has such an affiliation. There have been concerns raised in a number of states where people challenge using public funds for such purposes. This gets into the separation of church - state. This typically ends up in the courts.
In Louisiana if a private school has less than 40 voucher students then that school doesn't have to demonstrate basic competency among the students who are enrolled in math, reading, social studies and science. My guess is that most parents would not find this acceptable.
As you can see, there are some real concerns, problems and issues regarding the effective use of public funds to underwrite vouchers for private schools. Unless these problems, real ones, are rectified then the widespread use of vouchers in the American education system seems questionable.
Dick
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