Education Issues

[AtLast]

But eliminating due process is not the way to attract and retain the best and brightest. Stronger professional development, better mentoring, and more useful teacher evaluation-all of which NEA locals are working to strengthen-are better ideas.

Totally agree with this- and every emplyee/worker must have due process- public or private. I have concerns, however, about the deluge of administrators without prior classroom experience evaluating teachers as well as how the process is constructed.

It feels like graduate programs in counseling and psychotherapy that license clinicians from programs in which they are not required to be in therapy themselves for a period of time or are required to process record their work.

To be fair, school administrators are often locked into the politics of districts and end up with very little time spent with their faculty as well as observing them in the classroom.

[blush]

The problem with approaching education "like a business" is we are dealing with children, not "products."

As far as I'm aware, other professions that deal exclusively with humans are not monitored and evaluated based on the performance of their human. Doctors are not hired/fired based on how many people they cure. Psychologists' jobs do not depend solely on the progress of their patients. Yet we, as a nation, are demanding that teachers "fix" students by tying the student's performance to the teacher. And we give less and less and less personal responsibility to the students themselves.

If you (collective you) want to know what teachers do, go sit in a classroom. Walk through a school. See how many teachers have their feet propped up on a desk with the paper while the class runs amuck. Yes, those teachers need to be fired. As should a doctor who is killing patients.

We are not dealing with boxes of Cheerios that need new marketing. We are dealing with children. Children who come to us with all different levels of experiences and backgrounds. Children who sometimes don't have breakfast. Or a bed. Or sometimes have too much breakfast and beds. To expect ANYONE to level that playing field in a year for high stakes testing is ridiculous. Would we expect a disease to be cured after one visit?

Students should be progress monitored using multiple modes of assessments. If a pattern emerges that students in a class are rarely or never making progress, someone should start stopping by the damn classroom and find out what's going on. Not a Dog and Pony Show evaluation, but several unannounced visits. No teacher's success should ever be linked to 1 test on 1 day.

[Soon]

Why Is Arkansas Christian School Harding University Telling Gay Students They Must Turn Straight?

Read more: http://www.queerty.com/why-is-arkans...#ixzz1Fb0ewG6K

[AtLast]

Originally Posted by blush

The problem with approaching education "like a business" is we are dealing with children, not "products."

As far as I'm aware, other professions that deal exclusively with humans are not monitored and evaluated based on the performance of their human. Doctors are not hired/fired based on how many people they cure. Psychologists' jobs do not depend solely on the progress of their patients. Yet we, as a nation, are demanding that teachers "fix" students by tying the student's performance to the teacher. And we give less and less and less personal responsibility to the students themselves.

If you (collective you) want to know what teachers do, go sit in a classroom. Walk through a school. See how many teachers have their feet propped up on a desk with the paper while the class runs amuck. Yes, those teachers need to be fired. As should a doctor who is killing patients.

We are not dealing with boxes of Cheerios that need new marketing. We are dealing with children. Children who come to us with all different levels of experiences and backgrounds. Children who sometimes don't have breakfast. Or a bed. Or sometimes have too much breakfast and beds. To expect ANYONE to level that playing field in a year for high stakes testing is ridiculous. Would we expect a disease to be cured after one visit?

Students should be progress monitored using multiple modes of assessments. If a pattern emerges that students in a class are rarely or never making progress, someone should start stopping by the damn classroom and find out what's going on. Not a Dog and Pony Show evaluation, but several unannounced visits. No teacher's success should ever be linked to 1 test on 1 day.

Thinking of major districts (like DC and NYC) in which the whole "run it like a business" concept was adopted. And in some cases, 100s of teachers were simply fired. All based upon test results. Boards across the US are aiming for this kind of action.

I am and always have been an advocate for public schools. I don't know if my kid were in school, today, if I would move him into a private school- mainly because of testing. Or, I would opt him out of taking these tests. A child is not a robot. Nor are teachers. (Which does not mean I do not want measurable outcomes of learning- but this is not the way).

Frankly, I am glad I taught in a very different era. I actually felt joy teaching. Demanding, but rewarding- and I felt supported by administration and parents. I don't hear this much anymore from teachers.

[Soon]

Let Nikki Peet Start A Gay-Straight Alliance in Corpus Christi, Texas

When Nikki Peet recently asked for a safe space for students to meet and discuss issues like anti-gay bullying at Flour Bluff High School in Corpus Christi, Texas, she expected the support of her school district.

But instead, Dr. Julia Carbajal -- Flour Bluff's Superintendent -- decided to cancel all extra-curricular clubs in order to prevent Nikki’s "Gay Straight Alliance" (GSA) student group from forming. It's her way of getting around the federal "Equal Access Act" law mandating simliar access on school grounds to student groups, regardless of their politics or philosophy.

We know what happens when schools fail to address the bullying of LGBT kids: depression, isolation, and suicide. So we need to help.

Please click here to sign the petition to Nikki’s school administrators, calling on them to approve her Gay Straight Alliance group -- and reinstate all extra-curricular groups.

http://www.change.org/petitions/let-...new=f&opt_fb=f

Nine out of ten LGBT students experience harassment in school because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. At least two-thirds feel unsafe in the classroom. LGBT teens can be up to four times more likely to commit suicide than their heterosexual peers.

In just a few days, nearly 4,000 Change.org members have signed the petition supporting Nikki, sharing the story on Facebook and forwarding emails like this to their friends.

This Friday, Nikki and members of the Corpus Christi community are organizing a major demonstration outside Flour Bluff High School. At the protest, Nikki and her supporters will be delivering petition signatures to Flour Bluff administrators, sending a strong message that it’s time to provide a safe, caring and effective learning environment for all students -- including LGBT youth.

The superintendent's outrageous actions have garnered attention throughout the U.S. Students, parents, and school officials everywhere are watching to see what happens -- and the outcome in Corpus Christi will have reverberations across the country.

Sign our petition today, so Nikki can deliver the signatures of as many people as possible this Friday in Texas:

http://www.change.org/petitions/let-...new=f&opt_fb=f

[Soon]

Coming Out on a Christian Campus, Then and Now

[Melissa]

Originally Posted by HowSoonIsNow

Let Nikki Peet Start A Gay-Straight Alliance in Corpus Christi, Texas

When Nikki Peet recently asked for a safe space for students to meet and discuss issues like anti-gay bullying at Flour Bluff High School in Corpus Christi, Texas, she expected the support of her school district.

But instead, Dr. Julia Carbajal -- Flour Bluff's Superintendent -- decided to cancel all extra-curricular clubs in order to prevent Nikki’s "Gay Straight Alliance" (GSA) student group from forming. It's her way of getting around the federal "Equal Access Act" law mandating simliar access on school grounds to student groups, regardless of their politics or philosophy.

We know what happens when schools fail to address the bullying of LGBT kids: depression, isolation, and suicide. So we need to help.

Please click here to sign the petition to Nikki’s school administrators, calling on them to approve her Gay Straight Alliance group -- and reinstate all extra-curricular groups.

http://www.change.org/petitions/let-...new=f&opt_fb=f

Nine out of ten LGBT students experience harassment in school because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. At least two-thirds feel unsafe in the classroom. LGBT teens can be up to four times more likely to commit suicide than their heterosexual peers.

In just a few days, nearly 4,000 Change.org members have signed the petition supporting Nikki, sharing the story on Facebook and forwarding emails like this to their friends.

This Friday, Nikki and members of the Corpus Christi community are organizing a major demonstration outside Flour Bluff High School. At the protest, Nikki and her supporters will be delivering petition signatures to Flour Bluff administrators, sending a strong message that it’s time to provide a safe, caring and effective learning environment for all students -- including LGBT youth.

The superintendent's outrageous actions have garnered attention throughout the U.S. Students, parents, and school officials everywhere are watching to see what happens -- and the outcome in Corpus Christi will have reverberations across the country.

Sign our petition today, so Nikki can deliver the signatures of as many people as possible this Friday in Texas:

http://www.change.org/petitions/let-...new=f&opt_fb=f

Nikki was successful and the organization now meets on campus!

[Toughy]

Originally Posted by HowSoonIsNow

Let Nikki Peet Start A Gay-Straight Alliance in Corpus Christi, Texas

When Nikki Peet recently asked for a safe space for students to meet and discuss issues like anti-gay bullying at Flour Bluff High School in Corpus Christi, Texas, she expected the support of her school district.

But instead, Dr. Julia Carbajal -- Flour Bluff's Superintendent -- decided to cancel all extra-curricular clubs in order to prevent Nikki’s "Gay Straight Alliance" (GSA) student group from forming. It's her way of getting around the federal "Equal Access Act" law mandating simliar access on school grounds to student groups, regardless of their politics or philosophy.

We know what happens when schools fail to address the bullying of LGBT kids: depression, isolation, and suicide. So we need to help.

Please click here to sign the petition to Nikki’s school administrators, calling on them to approve her Gay Straight Alliance group -- and reinstate all extra-curricular groups.

http://www.change.org/petitions/let-...new=f&opt_fb=f

Nine out of ten LGBT students experience harassment in school because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. At least two-thirds feel unsafe in the classroom. LGBT teens can be up to four times more likely to commit suicide than their heterosexual peers.

In just a few days, nearly 4,000 Change.org members have signed the petition supporting Nikki, sharing the story on Facebook and forwarding emails like this to their friends.

This Friday, Nikki and members of the Corpus Christi community are organizing a major demonstration outside Flour Bluff High School. At the protest, Nikki and her supporters will be delivering petition signatures to Flour Bluff administrators, sending a strong message that it’s time to provide a safe, caring and effective learning environment for all students -- including LGBT youth.

The superintendent's outrageous actions have garnered attention throughout the U.S. Students, parents, and school officials everywhere are watching to see what happens -- and the outcome in Corpus Christi will have reverberations across the country.

Sign our petition today, so Nikki can deliver the signatures of as many people as possible this Friday in Texas:

http://www.change.org/petitions/let-...new=f&opt_fb=f

I wish folks would get as pissed off and upset about the 'new and improved' curriculum that is resulting in new textbooks being written courtesy of the Texas State School Board. The effects of these new textbooks will be felt across the nation. And in my mind is far more important.

[AtLast]

Originally Posted by Toughy

I wish folks would get as pissed off and upset about what the 'new and improved' curriculum that is resulting in new textbooks being written courtesy of the Texas State School Board. The effects of these new textbooks will be felt across the nation. And in my mind is far more important.

In other states, too. All with the "pages to copy" workbooks that take creativity out of teaching. We are in a mess with education in the US on many fronts. And it is going to bite us in the ass.

When I think about this, I see why so many Republi-Cons want to do away with the federal Department of Education. I don't want to rely on "states rights" mentality in curriculum development. Think about all of the historical facts that could be wiped-out or re-interpreted without some kind of federal intervention.

[Soon]

'Don't say gay' bill clears Senate panel
By Tom Humphrey

Thursday, April 21, 2011

NASHVILLE - After some convoluted maneuvers, a Senate committee Wednesday approved a bill that will prohibit teachers from discussing homosexuality in kindergarten through eighth-grade classrooms.

The measure (SB49) is sponsored by Sen. Stacey Campfield, R-Knoxville, who unsuccessfully pushed the same idea - nicknamed the "don't say gay" bill - for six years as a member of the state House before he was elected to the Senate.

As introduced, the bill would have put into law a declaration that it is illegal to discuss any sexual behavior other than heterosexuality prior to the ninth grade.

But when it came before the Senate Education Committee, Sen. Jim Tracy, R-Shelbyville, contended current law already prohibits such instruction by deeming it a misdemeanor to teach any sex education that is not part of the "family life curriculum" adopted by the state Board of Education.

Tracy proposed an amendment to rewrite Campfield's bill to require the Board of Education to study the issue and determine whether any teaching about homosexuality is occurring and, if so, recommend what should be done about it.

Campfield contends homosexuality is being discussed in classrooms. Spokesmen for the Board of Education and the state Department of Education told the committee they are unaware of any such activity.

The Tracy amendment passed over Campfield's objections.

But then Sen. Brian Kelsey, R-Germantown, proposed to change the Tracy amendment. The revision declares that, after its study to be completed by Feb. 1 of next year, the Board of Education "shall adopt" - as part of the family life curriculum - a ban on discussion of homosexuality in the same language used in Campfield's bill.

That amendment was adopted, too, and the revised bill was then approved 6-3 and sent to the Senate floor. All no votes came from Democrats.

--

Campfield has been criticized on some blogs this week for seeking a $1,000 "retainer" fee to debate the "don't say gay" bill with Del Shores, a Texas-based movie producer and director who has made films on homosexuality.

State law includes prohibitions on a legislator taking compensation for work related to legislative duties except for his or her salary and expense payments due from the state. Another statute prohibits legislators from accepting an honorarium except for travel expenses.

Campfield said his request, which came in an exchange of messages with Shores, was simply for a deposit to guarantee that his travel expenses would be paid.

"I'm not going to pay air fare to Texas and a hotel, then have the guy stiff me," he said, adding the retainer request came when he understood the debate would be in Texas.

Drew Rawlins, executive director of the Bureau of Ethics and Campaign Finance, said he did not believe the ban on extra compensation for legislative duties would apply in this case because a debate in Texas is "probably not part of his legislative duties."

Rawlins said there was a "potential violation" of the honorarium ban in the situation as he understood it, but that someone would have to file a formal complaint to trigger a formal investigation into that question.

Tom Humphrey may be reached at 615-242-7782.

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/ap...panel/?print=1

[blush]

Originally Posted by Toughy

I wish folks would get as pissed off and upset about the 'new and improved' curriculum that is resulting in new textbooks being written courtesy of the Texas State School Board. The effects of these new textbooks will be felt across the nation. And in my mind is far more important.

I totally agree with you. And this is an issue most folks don't know much about. But most of what we know about history comes from these textbooks. They are the source of our culture's working knowledge. It is where censorship and cultural agendas are played out. Columbus is the classic example of this. Curriculum still states that he is taught as an explorer looking for spices. In the spite of autobiographical diaries in which he describes his quest for gold and methods for enslaving native Americans.

[AtLast]

Originally Posted by blush

I totally agree with you. And this is an issue most folks don't know much about. But most of what we know about history comes from these textbooks. They are the source of our culture's working knowledge. It is where censorship and cultural agendas are played out. Columbus is the classic example of this. Curriculum still states that he is taught as an explorer looking for spices. In the spite of autobiographical diaries in which he describes his quest for gold and methods for enslaving native Americans.

This really is something that awareness needs to raised about. Has to be extremely frustrating for teachers pouring themselves into their work. And with the shift to the "testing" in public schools.

My late partner taught elementary grades and she and a team teacher (a Native American) gave their 5th grade class the "real" history of the slaughter of Native Americans within the California Mission system. This was before the curriculum and testing requirements were in place as they are today.

The class was taken to a Mission on a field trip wherein one little girl asked the Mission guide at one point- "Where are the mass Indian graves." He said- "We don't talk much about those much."

Out of the mouths of babes...

[Soon]

Anti-gay teachers and the limits of the First Amendment

[tapu]

Originally Posted by Toughy

I wish folks would get as pissed off and upset about the 'new and improved' curriculum that is resulting in new textbooks being written courtesy of the Texas State School Board. The effects of these new textbooks will be felt across the nation. And in my mind is far more important.

Ah! Indeed. I've worked in textbook publishing for more than 20 years. At a major house, such as Houghton Mifflin, Harcourt, Silver Burdett, the process with Texas is this:

They deliver late the info we need to get started, having lost time that could go into fact-checking and proofreading, because they've argued and argued over mundane points. It is completely political. Every bit of pedagogy is deliberated based on who it will make angry.

We start developing a textbook series, usually K-6 for me, which to give an idea of scope can have a budget of several million dollars. Several meaning, like, 20,000,000.

We race through prototyping and development, sending each stage to Texas for them to review. If one person says, gosh, I think this should be more neutral, or more "determined," or the sun on that page should "look sunnier," we run through the books again and check that the point doesn't influence anything else. Then they send it back, after the deadline we say we needed it to assure QA. (every deadline to us is missed, no question)

Then they say, No, not sunnier that way.

Okay, I've really gone on here, but the point is that the basic problems in the process reside with the political nature of state curriculum and instruction being overseen by people who need to meet political expectations.


And besides that (!!!), every frigging book ever printed has mistakes in it. These are books that have to be broken into multiple volumes, they're so long. Page counts reach over a thousand. Yes, big errors will be found.


Sheesh, I didn't even hit Toughy's point about how TX is determining what students in NY learn, and most other places, too. TX and California are all that count in the market. You don't want to know some of the "philosophies" they wish to push forward. As TX goes, so goes the nation, in textbooks.

[tapu]

.

Textbooks are like hotdogs -- If you knew what went into it, you wouldn't want to eat one.