Friday Open Thread
The Friday before Spring Break - the calm before the testing.
Two animal stories connected with education.
One is about a cat, Simba, who visits Westbrook high school in Maine every school day and the other one is about a program where elementary students read to dogs. Turns out the high school kids love the cat (and the place seems calmer because of it) and the little kids love to read to non-judgmental dogs (and their scores seem to show it).
Simba has gone to the high school for 13 years but still hasn't graduated (damn those standardized tests!).
Just saw this and it may appeal to teens in your household who (1) love Macklemore and (2) have an artistic bent. Thrift Shop is so catchy it feels like the ultimate ear worm.
The BEST video about overcoming bullying from a remarkable young man in Canada. Inspiring and (big sap that I am) a really tear-jerker. We should all start a "Be Kind" campaign.
Threads to come:
- Charter Commission meeting, part two
- Equitable Access Work Session, part two
- SPS school leaving the PTA?
What's on your mind?
Two animal stories connected with education.
One is about a cat, Simba, who visits Westbrook high school in Maine every school day and the other one is about a program where elementary students read to dogs. Turns out the high school kids love the cat (and the place seems calmer because of it) and the little kids love to read to non-judgmental dogs (and their scores seem to show it).
Simba has gone to the high school for 13 years but still hasn't graduated (damn those standardized tests!).
Just saw this and it may appeal to teens in your household who (1) love Macklemore and (2) have an artistic bent. Thrift Shop is so catchy it feels like the ultimate ear worm.
The BEST video about overcoming bullying from a remarkable young man in Canada. Inspiring and (big sap that I am) a really tear-jerker. We should all start a "Be Kind" campaign.
Threads to come:
- Charter Commission meeting, part two
- Equitable Access Work Session, part two
- SPS school leaving the PTA?
What's on your mind?
Comments
Here is a riddle:
What do you get when you add:
Tim Burgess desire for mayoral control of our schools + Nick Hanauer + Lisa McFarland (DFER)=
Memo alerted Rhee in 2009 that DC cheating could be widespread:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/04/11/memo-washington-dc-schools-cheating/2074473/
"The USA TODAY investigation found that, as far back as 2008, the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), D.C.'s equivalent of a state education department, asked for an erasure analysis. Among the 96 schools flagged for wrong-to-right erasures were eight of the 10 campuses where Rhee handed out so-called TEAM awards "to recognize, reward and retain high-performing educators and support staff." In all, Rhee bestowed more than $1.5 million in bonuses based on increases in 2007 and 2008 test scores."
I've said it at several places (the Crosscut article and the Publicola one) - Burgess supports takeover of school districts AND school boards. He is now getting money from local ed reformers.
If he clears the primary, expect to see what we saw in just the school board races in LA - namely, out-of-state ed reform money.
Do we want the Waltons to decide who is mayor? Bloomberg?
I don't.
New Jersey! We wanna be just like New Jersey!
SavvyVoter
HP
What should I ask?
HP, are you being told why this is happening?
Janis
HP
HP
Make sure that the grade/percent ties out with all the listed tests and homework grades.
Watching closely
With Hanauer and McFarland's support, I'm sure Burgess would get plenty of logistical, financial and other support to get mayoral control.
F
There should be a number of teams working in the R.E.A.D. or Reading with Rover programs if you want to get some to come to your school (K–12). They also set up programs at libraries.
SolvayGirl
According to the recently revamped Gates Foundation web site, Crosscut has in fact received $800,000 from Gates -- an increase from the $400,000 that has been originally posted on the site's grants database these past three years.
It would appear that the amount has been updated retroactively, or slipped into the earlier grant on the site.
That's a nice chunk of change, and may help explain the pro-corp-ed-reform slant of much of Crosscut's education coverage. It also makes it highly unlikely we'll read much reporting on Crosscut that is critical of Gates and his unelected influence on public education.
Crosscut Public Media
Date: April 2010
Purpose: for general operating support
Amount: $800,000
Term: 57
Topic: Not Available
Regions Served: GLOBAL|NORTH AMERICA
Program: Foundation
Grantee Location: Seattle, Washington
Grantee Website: http://crosscut.com
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Grants-2010/Pages/Crosscut-Public-Media-OPP1016563.aspx
Crosscut Public Media
Date: April 2010
Purpose: for general operating support
Amount: $400,000
Term: 1 year and 11 months
Topic: Not available
Region Served: North America, Global
Program: Foundation
Grantee Location: Seattle, Washington
Grantee Web site: http://crosscut.com
Thoughts?
When I was a kid, I rarely saw anyone do this, but now it seems to be the norm especially around the Fridays and Mondays bookending breaks.
--wondering
very upset mom
I'm sorry to hear the fundraising is so hardcore. I believe for JSIS it ended today.
Betty and Kay are both running to hold their seats and I have no doubt they will get challengers.
DeBell says he is leaving (and I believe him). A big ed reform seat.
I predict a LOT of money spent (with some coming in from out-of-state) and at least one exTFAer.
If you know anyone who wants to run (or you think would be good) for DeBell's seat, let me know. I'd be happy to talk to them about running, etc.
About Immersion
I see a disconnect here. Northgate Elementary touts an immersion program on their school website. I doubt with an 80+ FRL population that hey have much money derived from fundraising. What gives?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/randy-turner/a-warning-to-young-people_b_3033304.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000009
FirstHiller
Northgate has a high ELL population. Here is an instance where those "out-of-the box" thinkers downtown look to "leverage" those IAs who are supposed to help ELL students reach/stay at grade level while learning English. Now they reduce ratios so that english-speakers can learn a new language. More diversion of restricted-use funds.
http://bgfay750.blogspot.com/2013/04/i-am-teacher-and-i-am-tired.html
-dismayed teacher
I have (had) been a teacher for all of my adult life. Until these last few years of ed deform I loved every minute of it. Yes, it is a stressful and demanding career but it was what I was called to do. Daily I received love and kudos from my students and parents. I found joy in the high level of work and success reached by even the most challenged of my kids.
I would give the same advice to young people who are called: Do not become a teacher. You will be harassed and intimidated by administrators in their efforts to force out creativity and innovation and diversity all in the name of chasing dollars from the billionaire boys club.
Salander
After a full year of jumping through every arbitrary and capricious hoop administration pushed in front of me I discovered that I was no longer the same teacher who I had been for over two decades. I did not have time to actually by a teacher, which means much more that the proper method of the day. I made the decision that come what may I would devote the balance of my time, thoughts, energy and heart to my students. As a result I was forced out on "administrative leave" a punishment reserved for teachers who are a danger to their students. Just after this particular purgatory began I received charges in the mail that I was going to be fired for probably cause- "retaliation against students". I was also threatened that if I did not respond to this charge I would immediately be fired with no hearing. Although I would rather have not had to lower myself to a defense of things I did not do. I had no choice. I am now out of the hoops and into the ring of fire.
Salander
reluctant reader
In fact the teacher has both eyes open, and has more courage and stamina than others who have been similarly mistreated.
Melissa, I don't know why your removed my post. This is what principals, assistant principals, HR and their investigators do. Yes, even at Roosevelt. The investigator's report and invoices can be found on SPSLeaks.
--SPS assignments
-8th grade parent
I have no idea if any of this is true. It may be that all these people are really that evil, that incompetent or that conniving, but wow is right. Lots of rambling second and third-hand reports of who said or didn't say what or who told who this or that. And then there are the students out to get her. YIKES.
No one comes out of this looking good, including the teacher, even in her own words.
HOLY COW
Back then they called it a nervous breakdown, at least, that's what the rumors were. All I know is that we learned nothing of use for an entire quarter, and having the department head come fill in for the rest of the year was the best thing that ever happened to us.
I hope that isn't what happened to Salander
HOLY COW
No. I did not have a "nervous breakdown". Nor did the dozens and dozens of teachers in SPS who have been treated in the same way using the same tactics. Several teachers, parents, and community members have posted on this blog in regard to the harassment and intimidation they have experienced. Hundreds of teachers across the nation have endured exactly the same experiences.
Yes, sadly, there are students who cheat and manipulate the system to get what they want. You apparently have not read the data gathered over several years that proves this point.
Fortunately, they are not the majority. Over the years I have taught thousands of wonderful, bright, capable and honest students. These are the same students who thank me each day after class. These are the students who sit be my desk as we go over their work, listen to my comments and then revise for a better grade- a grade they have earned by their hard work and diligence.
Yes, there are administrators who believe it is their job to harass, intimidate and bully teachers in order to ruin their reputations. This is not new information.
You are correct, no one comes out of this looking good. That is not the goal of the process. The goal is to rid the district of any teacher who might do their own thinking. This opens up positions for the bots of TFA and other ed reform trainers. This community bemoans these "teachers" being foisted upon their students while at the same time sticking their heads in the sand and the fingers over their ears unwilling to help and support the qualified and competent teachers who daily motivate, guide and, yes, teacher their students.
I will leave you to it.
Salander
How is that "support for struggling teachers", "working with labor partners" yada yada? How are principals who have never taught 150 high schoolers, better able to devise lessons and differentiate instruction? And how does micromanagement and constant moving of the goalposts help the teacher or the students?
There are always two sides to these things. In my experience fighting some sleazy slimy $%#&! in this district, you can bet the district will win at all costs. Ron English will stand there and lie to your face. Superintendents will evade, deny or ignore. HR will stick it to you. Principals will bar you from buildings. Legal will tell families go ahead and sue us.
The Framework for Teaching
fyi
There comes a time when some must take a stand. Not necessarily for their own benefit, but on behalf of those who have legitimate reason to fear retaliation.
I identify with the workers who have the guts to confront those in control who, while wallowing in the slime, claim the moral high ground.
How many lies and distortions does $13K of your child's education buy? Apparently enough to allow an administrator to feel he has exerted his authority as the "educational leader" of teachers, who have much more knowledge and experience than he has.
Again, this is comparable to what HR pays people like Curman Sebree to write one-sided, character assassinations of teachers and staff.
Keep writing those checks...
Having been here under 9 superintendents and numerous regimes in HR, I can testify that the current cast is by far the most disfunctional group of cronies ever.
Employee can not seem to get any support from that Department which appears to percieve its mission as "principal enforcers" regardless of facts.
And then the hiring of outside "shills" to parrot the party line as "investigations" is simply too "Animal Farm" to believe.
HR investigations costs have doubled and (last year) even tripled in each of the last four years.
Every person in HR gets a pay increase and other do the "work".
http://www.seattleschools.org/modules/cms/pages.phtml?sessionid=fcb774dbb031312c8d85935ebf41d5b4&sessionid=b823dc3f3d46f791d0a1eccace573319&pageid=172239&sessionid=