tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post6370925565965487024..comments2024-03-28T02:21:17.452-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Food for Thought - Talking About TeachersMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-45229158830946018152016-01-29T15:30:09.820-08:002016-01-29T15:30:09.820-08:00I read Mr. Gibbs-Bowling's essay in today'...I read Mr. Gibbs-Bowling's essay in today's Seattle Times and liked it. He teaches in Tacoma. He mixed with a different crew at the Teacher of the Year convention. Seattle's Teacher of the Year was Mr. green, guitar strumming, walking school bus, save the earth and take the CC test kind of guy. That's cool too and a good reflection of Seattle. <br /><br />cat nip<br /><br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-66386668419179520942016-01-29T10:41:32.690-08:002016-01-29T10:41:32.690-08:00If, high poverty schools get higher per pupil spen...If, high poverty schools get higher per pupil spending, then, where does all the money go?<br /><br />High poverty schools have facilities like Bellevue or Mercer? Small class size? The most experienced and respected teachers in the district? The highest in seniority, the most nationally board certified, the most stability with the lowest turnover rates? No.<br /><br />Where's the money go? It's not resulting in the metrics that matter.<br /><br />-NNNCrAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-26369537954856853132016-01-28T12:56:13.138-08:002016-01-28T12:56:13.138-08:00I am sure Mr. Bowling is a great guy, but he gets ...I am sure Mr. Bowling is a great guy, but he gets away with saying a lot of loose and unhelpful things because no one would dare challenge him. OK, fine, I'll be the bad guy.<br /><br /><b>"... much of white and wealthy America is perfectly happy with segregated schools and inequity in funding."</b><br /><br />He totally misses what is going on in our society. <br /><br />First of all, most whites, working class as well as wealthy, desperately want segregated schools. They are very afraid (not without reason) that their children would not be well served in integrated schools. The greatest stress on middle class white families is trying to afford a house in a neighborhood with a mostly white (A.K.A. highly rated) school. "Perfectly happy" doesn't even begin to capture the emotions. A lot of PC cowards and Lexus liberals won't admit this without help of a waterboard, but it's true. Real estate prices tell the tale clearly enough. It's a long discussion, but this also isn't going to change.<br /><br />Second of all, where is the inequity in funding? The essence of McCleary is to fund schools equitably by separating funding from property taxes. It's a long political slog to get there, but it represents a social consensus. Ultimately, the state formula will provide higher funding to high-poverty schools, won't it? The emerging de facto political consensus is somewhat separate (based on residential patterns) and unequal (higher funding to minority schools). Ultimately, the lowest per-student funding will be in white middle class schools, with rich white (Bellevue, Mercer Island) and majority-minority schools better funded. Does Mr. Bowling have any numbers or evidence to the contrary? I am all ears. Already in Seattle, a large diverse district, the per-student budgets of high poverty schools are much higher, often double, compared to mostly white schools, no? Why is this discussion so evidence-free?<br /><br /><b>"Advocating for the creation of systems that encourage our most effective and passionate teachers to stay in the profession and supporting them in working with our most needy schools."</b><br /><br />1) Doesn't the state already top up teacher salaries by $10K to work in high poverty schools? That's a non-trivial 10-20% bonus. If that is not enough, can Mr. Bowling please say what is enough, rather than making vague statements that ignore programs in place.<br /><br />2) If the bureaucrats at SPS aren't already doing what Mr. Bowling says, what do we pay them for? Whenever someone talks about "creating systems" they are saying nothing, and actually undermining the conversation. What systems? Aren't the bureaucrats already creating systems by the score? If those systems are no good, why are they no good?<br /><br /><b>"A lot of accountability measures introduced in the last several years, the system we have right now that is intended to identify low-performing teachers actually makes the work of high-performing teachers more difficult and more time-consuming. The evaluation packet between teacher and principal can go to 60 pages."</b><br /><br />Probably everyone agrees with this. But the teachers' union would have a major say in how to separate high performing teachers who would get autonomy and be exempt from evaluation vs. ordinary teachers who are hyper-evaluated and micromanaged. What is the union position on this?<br />Outsidernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-28850377667210895042016-01-28T08:43:27.606-08:002016-01-28T08:43:27.606-08:00Josh, YOU are a shining example of what alt routes...Josh, YOU are a shining example of what alt routes was intended. Clearly not TFA. My child's outstanding, experienced IA used Route 2 to get her teaching cert. Terrific!mirmac1https://www.blogger.com/profile/10183460709639638172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-7279271948627032022016-01-27T17:46:39.285-08:002016-01-27T17:46:39.285-08:00Just FYI, there is at least one program, and proba...Just FYI, there is at least one program, and probably others, that would get an otherwise-qualified individual a teaching certificate in 12 months: the "alternate routes to certification" (ARC) program at Seattle Pacific University. I entered that program in July of 2013, took a fairly hefty courseload while doing my internship at Roosevelt HS (a full year: first day of school to the last), and in Summer 2014, got my residency teaching certificate.<br /><br />It's not cheap. It's a HELL of a lot of work. But it got this fifty-something Ph.D. a teaching cert in Biology, Chemistry, and General Science, and into a job this year that I love. (And, I think I'm pretty darn good at it!)<br /><br />This doesn't address the issue of the vast differences between wealthy largely-white schools and less well provisioned largely-kids of color schools. But if there are mature folks with college degrees who'd like to get a teaching cert and make a difference, there are ways to do that!Josh Hayeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17242600011474990770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-53005238421904358192016-01-27T15:56:56.815-08:002016-01-27T15:56:56.815-08:00"I want to tell you a secret: America really ..."I want to tell you a secret: America really doesn’t care what happens to poor people and most black people. There I said it"<br /><br />It's been my experience that the only people really cared about are those who are particularly wealthy, famous, or intelligent. Everyone else is on their own. Not sure if this is different in other countries.<br /><br />-realistic cynicAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com