Losing HOPE...

Thinking back almost a year and a half ago it seemed like there was "hope" on the horizon. Phone calls, text messages, tweets and facebook posts were being made about how things were going to change. Sitting here, a year and a half later, what has changed for us in education? We are continually hearing the same rhetoric about "accountability, rigor, and relevance." The promise was a focus on listening to teachers and their ideas for accountability, now we have the divisive Race to the Top (RTTT).

This idea is pitting States in competition for creating the most innovative plans. Let it be noted that this is Round Two of RTTT. The focus of RTTT innovative means include accountability, charter schools, increasing beginning teachers and accepting the common core standards.

Accountability is not a terrible idea. We all need to be held accountable for our actions and the product we produce. In this case, the product being the students; but here is the kicker linking student performance to teacher and principal evaluation? No, absolutely not as the end all be all! The teachers and the principals cannot be held accountable for how a student achieves on a standardized tests. These methods have been the standard for over ten years and teachers are merely teaching test taking skills and how to pass these tests for fear of their jobs due to "accountability".

Before November 2008 and on that election night, educators were promised reform in schools. Educators were promised formative assessments that challenged the student on many levels. What are we getting? More of the same. Not only more of the same, but teachers are starting to truly fear for their jobs due to the possibility of getting fired based on these assessments much like the school in Rhode Island, and here in Guilford County the same has happened.

RTTT is dividing and divisive. It is excluding the ability to collaborate with each other and pitting us against each other for how much money? $250 million dollars. That is it! There is more money in the Education Jobs bill to save jobs than there is in RTTT. More over, the stipulations are not as stringent. The bill wants to keep educators in the schools. RTTT is dividing our schools across the nation.

For more information about RTTT and a small break down link to the article in the Baltimore Sun by Jeff Passe.

North Carolina is once again a finalist in RTTT round two. Are we happy? Well, I'll say this: it is fun to win. Maybe that is what life is supposed to be about?

Democrat Senators Caucus

The Democrat Senators are caucusing in order to reintroduce the Education Jobs bill that was thrown out by Minority Leader Sen. McConnell. Please call your Senator in your state! These funds will help bail out our struggling education system. This bill will help keep class sizes down and ALL educators in the classroom.

The Senate Stifles Education

I read in my NEA Today online that Minority Leader Senator Mitch McConnell has blocked the revisions in the education jobs bill that has moved from the floor of the House. I would first like to thank the members of the House for investing in education over big banks and automobiles. I am not saying those bail outs were not necessary; I will leave that aside because the focus of this blog is education, but I am saying that investing in our future will pay larger dividends.

Senator McConnell has placed many bills on the Senate floor requesting minority party privileges and placement on committees, as well as backed the bail outs of the banks. This raises a question for me, why bail out the banks, but leave the blue collar workers within education without a rope to hang on to. Or perhaps I should say, he tossed us the rope by which we will hang ourselves this year. The education system of America is facing a crisis and this "bail out" is what we need to keep class sizes down so that our students are able to get the individualized attention they need. More over, it will help many students simply get to school by keeping the bus driver on his/her route.

I wonder whether or not the Senator's grandchildren, if he has any, are in public schools. I also know that many independent and private sector schools are facing huge cuts sending some of these children to public schools. Is he thinking about his grandchildren while he cuts the legs out from under the American education system? Will they be in an overcrowded classroom? Will they have to take extra bus routes to get to school? Will there be enough staff in the cafeteria to prepare the number of meals needed?

I know that the bill may not have passed in the Senate, but to not even let it be brought to the table? This completely shocks me. We are in the country where we once could dream and do anything. It seems like we are willing to sacrifice that dream in these times.

I wonder what our President Dennis Van Roeckel is saying about the class of 2020 now? I implore the other Senators to reconsider the jobs bill and defeat the motion by Senator McConnell.

Common Core Standards

I recently read the headline for the NY Times stating that 27 states have adopted the National Standards for education. What troubled me is that the true name for the standards is "The Common Core Standards". When the Board of Governors developed these standards they were searching for common threads in learning. It was not until the third paragraph that The Times referenced the standards by the proper name.

The president of the AFT is wary about what she calls, "The Race to Adopt". Sec. Duncan was quoted as being "ecstatic". I saw no mention of our own Pres. Van Roeckel.and NEA's stance on the matter. As for me, having had the opportunity to discuss the common standars with NC's Governor Perdue and NCAE's President Strickland, this is a positive move. Understand, unlike what the article portrayed, the standards serve as a guideline for career and college readiness in the country. The BOG still fully believe states have specific needs for their students. Be careful what "the news" might infer.

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