This guest article, by George Wood, states cogently and compellingly the issues with the current pattern of "reform" being touted by President Obama and Secretary Duncan. With respect to the office of the POTUS and the Secretary, they are resorting to something only just shy of extortion to push an agenda of failed tactics to "reform" our public schools.
Sort of like trying all the same techniques to deal with the oil spill that DIDN'T work in 1979.
With all the rain we’ve had, we’ve got a new pond across the street. And it does not appear it will be going away. It has slowly been getting bigger with each new storm.
You could say I am not in waterfront property, but there are trees in the pond if you get far enough into it. Not sure if we should try slalom-water-skiing.
These shots don’t exactly do it justice.
Yesterday (March 18, 2010) through a set of circumstances, I ended up with a drama class in my band room. A couple of them had asked if they could come to my room instead of sit in the cafeteria with 5 or 6 other classes, and so I said yes. I figured they’d come and do some work, chat, maybe even turn on some music on my classroom stereo.
I was sitting in my office slowly working through the pile on my desk, and I began to realize that I was hearing them read a script. After they finished, they engaged in a sensitive, thoughtful, and thorough critique about what they’d read, and where it could go. No voices got raised, nobody’s feelings got hurt. They just talked about the script.
Which, it turns out, one of them had written.
It takes guts to put yourself out there, but with this group it is obviously safe to do that. They showed independence, self-motivation, creativity, and kindness. They talked through issues in the story, and found their way through them, solving little plot problems here and there. They worked as a team.
This is not just about drama. The skills employed by these students are the kinds of skills being sought by business leaders, college admissions officers, and society at large, which seems to be losing the civility these young people showed one another. This arts thing is no frill – this is central to everything we are trying to do.
I was so impressed I emailed Sha Riordan, the teacher who was out sick, and copied the principal and assistant principals. What a great group of students!
And what a way to be reminded why I went into this business in the first place.
So perhaps you have heard about the development of a national common core of education standards for our country. On the surface, it seems like a great idea.
The problem is that, as usual, the wrong people are doing the work. Governors are deciding. With state school chiefs they appointed.
Let's see. What analogy can I draw that would properly communicate the absurdity of this whole thing?
Oh - I know. I will put myself in charge of drafting national standards and codes for new home construction. Wouldn't that be awesome? I will decide what kind of wood you can use, how thick the foundation will be, what kind of land on which you can build. And I will get a bunch of my teacher friends to form the committee to help me.
Think that would work? We would end up with some beautiful and stable houses, right? I have no knowledge of anything related to construction beyond the 10th grade geometry and 11th grade trigonometry I took almost 30 years ago.
Would you live in a house I built?
But these people, who are NOT doing the work of educating the kids, who do NOT know anything about carrying out this sacred task, are going to decide what every child across the country should be reading.
And if we refuse to follow, we don't get the money Obama has set aside to assist education. In my book, that's extortion.
Take a look at this article for more information. It will blow your mind.
I guess when a guy makes his living in the public eye, his life naturally becomes fodder for our conversation. It's normal curiosity, and to some extent, these public figures do live "in public."
So Tiger Woods has done some things he is not proud of, and which has diminished his image and lessened his worthiness as a role model. And for this, he was right to apologize.
So he did.
Now, why do so many people then have to spend hours - and likely days - dissecting what he said, trying to decide whether it was sincere, and all that? Sheesh! Accept it and leave it alone.
But we won't.
Because it is always easier to dwell on someone else's sin than on our own.
Friends, once again music is proved to have a positive effect on the learning capabilities, self-confidence, and academic achievement of children. A study in the UK is outlined in the article to which the link is posted below. I encourage you to read it and share it!
I am so tired of people talking about ed reform that have no clue about education. And I am so tired of people assuming that teachers wanting to be involved in the process means that they are against reform.
OMG. We want reform so bad we can taste it. We have TONS of good ideas.
But we’re the only voice not heeded.
Illogical.
The link below leads to an article which is an apt take on how education policy is made in this country. Take a look – I bet you’ll agree how silly it is!
This link - http://www.wbjournal.com/news45295.html# - should take you to a hopeful op-ed piece by Governor Deval Patrick in the Worcester Business Journal. It’s got an optimistic tone. I was particularly encouraged to read about the educational achievements – that MA students are third in the world on international math and science tests. I still want to know where that data comes from and who takes those tests!
And I hope he’s right, and that recovery comes not only to MA, but the whole region. It would be nice to have some good predictions come true.
Emergent gives faith a fighting chance against certainty.
I enjoyed this post about the "Emergent Church" and wanted to share it. I think it sums up some of the thoughts I have had, wondering about believing vs. behaving, and "churchianity" vs. Christianity. Thanks to Todd Thomas (@Swirlyfoot) for the original post.
Usually, you’re dead before anyone gives you a glimpse into the difference you make. And at that point, let’s face it, can you really care? But tonight, the arts family showed its “familyness” by showing up in force on short notice to support our arts program, and me.
I am so humbled by this kindness, and by the way these marvelous people spoke about me and about the program I am so passionate about. For them to stand up – on an evening they could have been home watching Glee – to give their time and their voices in an effort to convince the powers that be to hold on to the music program, is a gift I can never repay. I could not be at the meeting myself, but have heard of their eloquence. Maybe I’ll have a chance to watch the rebroadcast.
I can never thank them enough. I can only say thank you for speaking the words, for sharing what the program has meant.
Our arts program might have an effect on them, and make their lives better. But these precious people can never fully know what a difference they make for me every day, and how grateful I am to have them in my life.
Here's a picture of the moon peeking through the trees at my house this morning. There's something really beautiful about the first snow. And the fact that it didn't come until now, when we're full on into the holiday season, is an extra special bonus. As I pulled into my driveway last night, Harry Connick, Jr. was singing "Let it Snow!"
I love the freshness, and, as always, the "whiter than snow" metaphor comes to mind, and I am given one more reason to be grateful. I hope you are, too.
And this article highlights the confusion we all have about what school is for, and why some people think we need more resources and some people don't. If we could get together on what the main purpose is, we'd have a way better chance at not fighting about it so much and being able to focus on what we want to accomplish.
Oh, and we should add college admissions people into the discussion, because they have another whole set of expectations.
OK -
This story is about an example of the kind of stuff we could do with kids if we had the tech resources we needed.
When did we ever get it into our heads that serving others would always be convenient, fitting tidily into our schedules, and requiring nothing in the way of sacrifice? Sometimes it isn’t convenient at all. Sometimes we have to go out of our way, drive an extra mile or two, go to the mall when we would not otherwise, carry a few extra pounds of food to the car, or meet someone at a time when we’d rather not.
One of the side effects of living as we do, where we do too much, say yes to too many, and take on that “one more thing,” is that we have less breathability in our calendars, less money in the bank, and less ability to reach out.
Or maybe it’s just me feeling the need to cut down someplace.
