Okay, so the Street publication isn't on the radar for most Americans. However, that doesn't mean that its reporting is without merit and importance. Just last week the newspaper/newsletter carried an important piece of research put out by the Southern Education Foundation.
The report, sadly, reported the growing epidemic of poverty among public school students in America. Tragically, 48% of all American public school students (there are 50 million of them) are considered low income. The poverty levels for the hardest hit states, 17 of them were in the south (13 states) and in the West (4 states). As one might expect, cities were high on the poverty chart. 60% of all public school students in 2011 were considered low income.
Having written at length in this blog about both the implications of poverty on learning and teaching, this report is disheartening. Forget the computers, white boards and IPads for a moment. These students often don't have access to basic school supplies, proper clothing, nutritious food and a whole host of other daily essentials.
Unless and until there are real efforts to stem the tide of poverty the pressures on students, teachers, the community and the educational system, then we will have reached a bursting point.
Dick
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Monday, November 11, 2013
Some Juicy FACTS!
Yes, it's true. Paul Vallas is on the ticket, running as Lt. Governor, with Pat Quinn. This is indeed the same Paul Vallas who once ran CPS and then sent to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina to run the Recovery School District. I have run into plenty of people in NOLA who dealt with Mr. Vallas and many of them resented the heavy hand he imposed on the district. Yes, he also went on to serve in other school districts in the U.S. as well as being an education advisor in Haiti and Chile.
Want more? Do you know what Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, Bill Gates, Rupert Murdock, Michael Bloomberg, Tom Harkin Chair of Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee) and Cory Booker have in common? Yes, they have a heavy influence on schools and the reform movement. All of these people also happen to have never taught before!! And they are telling the education community how to run itself? UGH!!!
Like I said, some juicy facts. They also don't sit very well in my stomach.
Dick
Want more? Do you know what Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, Bill Gates, Rupert Murdock, Michael Bloomberg, Tom Harkin Chair of Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee) and Cory Booker have in common? Yes, they have a heavy influence on schools and the reform movement. All of these people also happen to have never taught before!! And they are telling the education community how to run itself? UGH!!!
Like I said, some juicy facts. They also don't sit very well in my stomach.
Dick
Friday, November 8, 2013
Democracy in Education Needs Unions
Over the past couple of days I have raised concerns over the fact that the democratic process is slowly (or rapidly) being eroded within the enterprise of education. On this point I believe there should be no disagreement. I've pointed out the heavy requirements made through standardized testing, schools boards being appointed rather than being elected, school board handing down edicts with too little teacher input and more.
This is exactly why unions serve a useful purpose in education. They are one more useful tool in the process of arriving at developing a strong school where richness is embedded in the curriculum.
I am sure some people think that the NEA, AFT and local affiliations are a pain in the butt. When it gets right down to it, though, unions often provide the lead in arriving at thoughtful decision-making which profoundly impacts students. I am certain that reasonable class sizes, alternative teaching methods, the advanced use of technology and much more is due, in large part, because of teacher innovation.
Let's not kid ourselves...many of the improvements in learning and assisting children in a variety of ways relative to their maturation would not have taken place without the assistance of unions. They are a positive force in the democratization of education.
Dick
This is exactly why unions serve a useful purpose in education. They are one more useful tool in the process of arriving at developing a strong school where richness is embedded in the curriculum.
I am sure some people think that the NEA, AFT and local affiliations are a pain in the butt. When it gets right down to it, though, unions often provide the lead in arriving at thoughtful decision-making which profoundly impacts students. I am certain that reasonable class sizes, alternative teaching methods, the advanced use of technology and much more is due, in large part, because of teacher innovation.
Let's not kid ourselves...many of the improvements in learning and assisting children in a variety of ways relative to their maturation would not have taken place without the assistance of unions. They are a positive force in the democratization of education.
Dick
Thursday, November 7, 2013
Don't Take Democracy out of Education
A school board that is appointed by a single person is a far cry from a democratic process. Mandating that a school not be allowed to unionize is simply wrong and it smacks in the face of free speech. The federal government deciding what subjects will be emphasized, scrutinized and tested in a school's curriculum while largely ignoring large swaths of learning and instruction flies in the face of democracy.
Yes, school boards and departments within a school building may argue, debate and move more slowly than an authoritative figure or body but the former groups are more akin to how the democratic process should play out. You see, disagreement, debate, compromise and consensus building are all critical to making democracy come alive and function in the institution of education.
A top-down, authoritarian model such as No Child Left Behind, Common Core State Standards and A Race to the Top dilute the democratic process so vital to the well being of education.
Think about this if you would. How on earth can we expect our students to learn and use the real merits of democracy if we don't model them? This isn't merely a rhetorical question. It deserves an answer.
Dick
Yes, school boards and departments within a school building may argue, debate and move more slowly than an authoritative figure or body but the former groups are more akin to how the democratic process should play out. You see, disagreement, debate, compromise and consensus building are all critical to making democracy come alive and function in the institution of education.
A top-down, authoritarian model such as No Child Left Behind, Common Core State Standards and A Race to the Top dilute the democratic process so vital to the well being of education.
Think about this if you would. How on earth can we expect our students to learn and use the real merits of democracy if we don't model them? This isn't merely a rhetorical question. It deserves an answer.
Dick
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Democracy in Peril in Schools
Ames Middle School in the Logan Square neighborhood isn't on the chopping for underenrollment. It's on the hit list because CPS has decided to put a military academy at the high school and middle school levels while closing Ames as it is currently constituted.
Yes, democracy is in peril at Ames. You see, the local school council (LSC) and other members of the community are opposed to making Ames a military academy.
Jose Jaramillo, of the LSC, summed it up best when he said, "We are tired of trying to fight a battle [with] people making decisions for our school when we are the ones [who] are vested and give all our time for the excellence of our community and our school."
The true stake holders; the community, children, LSC and parents are being told what will happen. Quite honestly, their voices aren't being heard, their wishes ignored, and their right to stand for something being taken away. The institution of education in this country is under assault on a number of fronts. The democratic process is truly in peril in our public schools.
The unelected CPS school board and decisions like the one involving Ames are but one of many such examples.
Dick
Yes, democracy is in peril at Ames. You see, the local school council (LSC) and other members of the community are opposed to making Ames a military academy.
Jose Jaramillo, of the LSC, summed it up best when he said, "We are tired of trying to fight a battle [with] people making decisions for our school when we are the ones [who] are vested and give all our time for the excellence of our community and our school."
The true stake holders; the community, children, LSC and parents are being told what will happen. Quite honestly, their voices aren't being heard, their wishes ignored, and their right to stand for something being taken away. The institution of education in this country is under assault on a number of fronts. The democratic process is truly in peril in our public schools.
The unelected CPS school board and decisions like the one involving Ames are but one of many such examples.
Dick
Monday, November 4, 2013
Real Pro's
The top professionals and those who provide the best service to a profession come from that profession. Surgeons don't get advice on surgery from janitors. Firefighters don't get advice from pipefighters. The best people to advise teachers are those who come from the profession.
It is time that state legislators, who likely never taught students in a school setting, stop advising educators on how to operate the profession and teach our nation's children. It is time that the typical layperson, though having attended schools, stop advising principals and teachers about how to run a classroom. It is way past time for media pundits to stop telling educators how to handle education.
What these groups can do is reinforce and support what educators do with our nation's students. As citizens of this country we ought to stand up and support our teachers and staff personnel just as we would, rightly, support our military in the line of duty.
Dick
It is time that state legislators, who likely never taught students in a school setting, stop advising educators on how to operate the profession and teach our nation's children. It is time that the typical layperson, though having attended schools, stop advising principals and teachers about how to run a classroom. It is way past time for media pundits to stop telling educators how to handle education.
What these groups can do is reinforce and support what educators do with our nation's students. As citizens of this country we ought to stand up and support our teachers and staff personnel just as we would, rightly, support our military in the line of duty.
Dick
Friday, November 1, 2013
Class Size DOES Matter
It is quite true that many years ago a good number of us attended classes with 33, 35 or more students. It seemed to work. If we examine those 'good ole days' we'd find that some elements of the classes we attended then aren't the same as today...by a long shot.
Years ago, classes were largely homogeneous in nature. Segregation existed, the number of non-English speaking students was minimal as compared to today, and the number of disabled/autistic/learning behavior children was small when thinking of these students in our classrooms in 2013. By the way, years ago, the dropout rate was higher than it is today.
Given the above conditions, the pressure on students and teachers to perform relative to standardized testing, the push for nearly everyone to attend college, legal requirements and MORE, is it any wonder that teachers, parents, and others in the field of education are pushing for smaller class sizes.
The research on smaller class sizes is extensive and conclusive. Smaller class sizes DO make a different in both cognitive and non-cognitive skill development. If the so called 'reformers' thought about it, they would actually see improvements in test scores and other performance skills among students by reducing class sizes. They would really get 'more bang for the buck.'
Dick
Years ago, classes were largely homogeneous in nature. Segregation existed, the number of non-English speaking students was minimal as compared to today, and the number of disabled/autistic/learning behavior children was small when thinking of these students in our classrooms in 2013. By the way, years ago, the dropout rate was higher than it is today.
Given the above conditions, the pressure on students and teachers to perform relative to standardized testing, the push for nearly everyone to attend college, legal requirements and MORE, is it any wonder that teachers, parents, and others in the field of education are pushing for smaller class sizes.
The research on smaller class sizes is extensive and conclusive. Smaller class sizes DO make a different in both cognitive and non-cognitive skill development. If the so called 'reformers' thought about it, they would actually see improvements in test scores and other performance skills among students by reducing class sizes. They would really get 'more bang for the buck.'
Dick
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