California May Mandate Inclusion of Gay History in Curricula

From April 27th issue: "Public schools in California would be required to incorporate the history of homosexuals into social studies classes if the state Assembly and Governor Jerry Brown embrace a plan approved by the Senate". Advocates are saying that if it was added to the curricula as black history and womens history was that it would help to curb stereotypes of Gay and Lesbians. Opponents are asking...what will be taken out of the curricula in order to add this information in? Although I believe that there needs to be some sort of teaching/learning of acceptance for LGBT, I think maybe one extra class or a small portion on acceptance of human beings in general would be better. Your not losing curriculum but getting the word out.

Optomitrist Groups Urge Comprehensive Eye exams for Schoolchildren

From April 27th issue. Interesting article. Optometrists and ophthalmologists in Florida are pushing to make comprehensive eye exams a must in order to get into school. They claim that it is important to get the comprehensive exam because the "free" less intensive screenings are missing some issues for some students. However, one doctor is an opponent of the required exam. He feels there are alterier motives to making it a must. He believes that most eye doctors are just out for the extra money in their pockets instead of having the students best interest in mind. I tend to agree. Maybe more doctors should be helping out in free clinics and offereing help with the cost of getting the exams and or glasses.

Budget Crunch Spurs Expectations of Increase in Pink Slips

From the April 6th issue. This really hit home hard. I hear about this everywhere. Even in Corvallis, Albany and Salem schools. This is going on everywhere and it really brings on low morale for teachers. At Monica Iniguez' Elementary school in Los Angeles, 52 teachers were given pink slips. That is almost half of the teachers. The scary part is no one knows who is going to really get the boot. The article suggests that pink slips are supposed to give teachers adequate notice so they can find other employment. However, Mrs. Iniquez tells us that it is damaging for teacher morale and also for the relationship between teachers and their administrators, As she put it, "this is ridiculous...we are putting out lives on hold". Makes me wonder...will it always be like this....will I too have to endure yearly pink slips and the unending uneasiness of not knowing if I will be working the following year and if so where?

Reexaming the Relationsip Between Academic Achievement and Social Behavior

This article is from April 6th issue. This article examines the link between students who behave badly and getting bad grades...or a lack of a link. This article reminded me that we as teachers have to be careful not to pigeonhole students into stereotypes. The article found that teachers automatically think that students who are well-behaved are probably getting good grades and students who act up are not succeeding academically. The article reminds us that we have to watch out for both behavior and academics...don't just think that a student who doesn't act up doesn't need help.

US House Votes to Reinstate DC School Voucher Program

This article is from April 6th issue. I am conflicted about State and Federal funding going towards private school tuition. However, I lean really far over towards...I do not think its right. When you start taking funding away from the already underfunded public schools to send students to a privileged private school its not right. That is funding that could be used towards teachers salaries or fixing up the schools or bringing updated technologies into Title 1 schools. The article said that the new bill will cost $300 million over five years. That is a lot of money that could be going to public schools. Every dollar helps.

High court cases focus on Police questionings at school

From February 23rd issue. When it comes to the case of possible sexual abuse I think that it is ok for them to come to the school and ask questions. However, I think that two hours of questioning is a little ridiculous. The child is tired and probably scared and most likely just wants to go back to class and therefore she just tells them what they want to know. If you ask me it sounds more like an interrogation instead of "questioning". As for the other case in which the 13 year old boy was accused of burglary, yes I believe that for one his parent/s should have been there and that he should have his Miranda Rights read to him.

U.S. Teachers seize teachable moments in Egypt's revolution

From February 23rd issue. This particular article relates to what we are learning in our classes about cross-curriculum lesson plans. Using current events and learning different aspects of the situation is a great idea to get the students critically thinking about the world. Ms. Pellam said that her students who had stereotypes of this particular area now had a better understanding of this country and this area. "Having one discussion can completely change their frame of mind". Paul Beran from Harvards Middle Eastern Studies program said, "There's this notion that if students have studied Islam, they've studied the Middle East". Not so, There has to be in-depth discussions and the students have to make connections between the lives of the Egyptian peoples and with themselves. I think that for a social studies/history teacher it could be an awesome thing to have students from America become "Pen-Pals" with students from Egypt (if its possible due to language barriers) over the internet. They could gain a much better understand of each others' countries from each other.

Educations budget issues are becoming personal issues

From February 23rd issue. This is not exactly an article but I could not resist commenting on it since these kinds of thing, I believe, will be happening more and more as the Education system is becoming more and more sliced apart. There is a picture of a Truck in this issue that has been vandalized due to anger over Mr. Luna (it is his truck), Idaho Department of Education Superintendent, wanting to "add merit pay, eliminate tenure for new teachers, expand online courses and increase class size". Wow, Again I say, I get depressed every time I read these magazines. I know I need to understand issues and know whats going on but it is a little scary whats going on. On one hand I think its not right of Mr. Luna to make those changes but what is the answer? I for one do not know.

High unemployment imperils pell grant program funds

From March 16th, 2011 issue. Wow! Reading the Education Week magazine is a little depressing. There are so many cuts financially that are already occurring or are going to occur in the near future. First there isn't enough funding to keep teachers, they are closing schools left and right and now they want to take away Pell Grant funding for students who only want to better their quality of life. I know several people, including myself that would not or will not be able to achieve this with out the help of Pell Grants. What is this world coming to! It makes sense that with so many people out of work that more and more people are attending school. What else is there to do but educate yourself and hope that when the economy turns upwards again that there will be something better to turn to career wise.

Head Start supporters fear impact of threatened cutbacks

From March 16th issue. Head start is an early health, nutrition and education program for low income family pre-schoolers and is in fear of losing billions of funding. "Head start and Early Head Start programs together enroll 965,000 children". This is an important program to raise academic achievement for low-income children who without this "head start" will most likely have a very difficult time in school. Marci Young, project director of Pre-K Now warned that "Head Start cuts would have an impact beyond the children immediately affected". That it most likely would affect Pre-K programs as well. I have seen first hand what Head Start can do for families. The program can make a big difference in how a child does in school. It gives children of disadvantaged famalies a "leg-up" so to speak. This program needs to be saved.

Cyber students facing barriers to enlistment in military services

From March 16th issue. If students are gaining the necessary education to graduate with a diploma that the Department of Education recognizes as a "real" diploma, then the Military should HAVE to enlist them with the Tier 1 status. I think this is simple. It is either a GED or it is a diploma.

students' stress linked to class environments

From March 16th, issue. I have previously read articles about this very thing. If the school/class environment is lacking adequate supplies or the building is dilapidated or if the teacher or curriculum is appropriate this can cause added stress to students who, for many, already have stressful home lives. Everything I have read on this subject supports what this article states, "students in these kind of learning environments are more likely to have; learning, externalizing, interpersonal, and internalizing problems which translate to problems with attentiveness, arguing, acting impulsively, forming friendships, low self-esteem, and sadness". Basically students feel helpless and hopeless and they will give up. There needs to be some sort of measures taken so that schools are brought up to par.

Ok, I believe that catches me up and will post at least two more by the end of the month...probably even more. There are some good articles in the other Ed. Week Magazines I want to talk about.

Ed. Week post (catch up #6)

In the Ed. Week January 12 issue the article, “Tucson District Holds Firm Despite State Ultimatum On ethnic-Studies Classes” discusses the issue of Tucsons’ forcing schools to stop teaching ethnic studies. I really don’t understand how this became an issue. It doesn’t seem equitable to tell schools they cannot teach this. I would think that the United States Government would intercede on the basis that it is discriminatory. Mr. Horne, Arizona’s schools chief said, “It is fundamentally wrong to divide students up according to their racial group and teach them separately”. Furthermore, Mr. Huppenthal, a former state legislator and Mr. Horne’s replacement said his classroom encounter “clearly revealed an unbalanced, politicized and historically inaccurate view of American history being taught”. In my undergraduate history and anthropology classes, as well as my upbringing, I was taught that there are two sides to every story and that each side has value and some truth to it. Therefore, I think it is unconstitutional to tell these schools that they cannot teach this “different” point of view as long as they are teaching both sides. One thought I had was, If they teach these classes as an extracurricular class or elective class then there should be no dilemma.

Ed. Week post (catch up #5)

In the Ed. Week January 12 issue the article, “Simulations Helping Novices Hone Skills” talks about the TeachMe program that the University of Central Florida created. Using online technology teacher candidates can practice real life classroom issues in a virtual classroom. I love this idea, it may not be perfect but it would help teachers in training to be better at anticipating certain situations and how to deal with them, kinda like in our classroom management class. The simulations are not to take the place of face-to-face student teaching but hone our classroom management skills.

Ed. Week post (catch up #4)

In the Ed. Week December 8th issue the article, “Volunteers Are Ready—All Schools Need to Do Is Ask”, Mr. Tully suggests that there is a plethora of volunteers just waiting and ready to be asked. I beg to differ. Although the story was heartwarming I believe that this was an unusual case. I have seen this first hand in the schools in Corvallis. You will see a lot more volunteers in the higher socio-economic districts but it is hard to get parent or otherwise volunteers in the lower socio-economic areas. Having said that, I could not say if they have tried to call on businesses or churches etc. but I can’t imagine this not being done. The author wrote that “Retirees, alumni, parents who may or may not have students in the schools and a long list of others—understand the issues facing struggling schools and are looking for more ways to get involved”. Again, I disagree. If people really truly understood and wanted to help then they would pass the necessary measures that would increase education budgets instead of decrease them. My feeling is that most people feel that once their children are out of the school system, or if their children go to a private school, or if they have never had children in schools, then they do not want to “pour” money into the educational system. Just my opinion.

Ed. Week post (catch up #3)

In the December 8th issue of Ed. Week, the article, “Elementary Students Encouraged to Raise College Expectations”, talked about getting students as early as Elementary school excited about the idea of going to college. I love the quote “Waiting until they are in high school for college readiness is as crazy as starting parenting when a kid is 13. You miss the opportunity”, so true. Having the students learn early on about colleges is valuable. The article states that “By creating a college going culture, they hope to inspire students towards a lifelong path of deeper learning that will end with a degree”. Mr. Lopez, a former principal, acknowledges that “for kids who live in poverty, it will take a childhood to break down myths about college and get the child to the place where they can see college in their future”. I came from a family where college was just not done and therefore didn’t seem like a possibility for me. I somehow overcame those thoughts to become the first college graduate in my family but not until I was an adult. If something like this would have been in place who knows, I might have done it earlier. The article goes on to say that they try to get the community involved by using volunteers from universities, businesses and other organizations (who will be trained) to inspire students to “aim high”. There is also a New Haven Promise Scholarship that will give $2,500 annually towards college tuition to qualifying students (positive disciplinary records, 20 hours of community service, 90 percent attendance rate and a 3.0 gpa). They are even trying to get the parents more involved, which I think will be the hardest to accomplish in the lower socio-economic areas. Ms. Cargile, Principal at Rio Grande Elementary School said, “By the time they leave elementary school those patterns and habits are set” and I agree that starting young is the key.

Ed. Week post (catch up #2)

In the December 1st issue of Ed. Week, the article, “New Vigor Propelling Training” talked about an NCATE study about how best to revamp teacher prep. I am very excited about this one because they are trying to determine if changing the teacher prep to a yearlong apprenticeship would be better and I certainly agree. First of all it would give new teachers a huge benefit to be under the guidance of a veteran teacher for an entire year! What a huge educational experience that would be! New teachers could enter the field with more knowledge and confidence. Also, I know first-hand how hard it is going to be on me financially to not be able to work. I believe it is one of the reasons that some people do not go for an education degree. The amount of time you have to take off from work to do the student teaching, FOR FREE, is tough. If it were set up as a “residency” like doctors, or an apprenticeship and we were actually paid, more “qualified” people would become teachers.

Ed. Week post (catch up #1)

In the December 1st issue of Ed. Week, there was an article about how Chicago has put into place the “nation’s first state mandate for providing bilingual education to preschoolers”. The new rule states that if there are at least 20 students who speak the same language, then the preschool center must offer bilingual education and that ALL lead teachers have to have an ESOL endorsement. So my thoughts are, really? HAVE to? I believe, and maybe as I go through this program I may change my mind, that having your children learn a second language, while valuable, should be a personal choice. Furthermore, this means that preschool teachers will have to spend more money on their education which some may not be able to do or want to do. I guess this article boils down, for me, to administrations/governments TELLING me what I have to do and I am kinda a rebel that way…this should be a personal choice for the preschools and the teachers. I just want to reiterate that I do think learning a second language is valuable, it should just be a choice.

Updating Ed Week Blogs

It has been a while since I have been on here so therefore I have A LOT of catching up to do. By my calculations (two postings per issue/two issues a month) I need to do 6 Ed. Week postings to catch up and then 2 more by the end of the month. Is that correct? I know that some of the article blogs will be old news but the point of this blog is to talk about education issues that are of importance to us so some of the article posts are from the December issues. I WILL be doing a better job of getting these posts up. I have had a few family/personal issues happen these past couple of months but my head is now back in the game….promise.