An archived stack of papers: February 2006
Conclusions: Faulty Comparison 4
In a stack of papers called Reform.
- Feb
- 28
- 2006
The roles of parents, money, and school focus are terribly important and horribly absent from today’s average public school. Parents influence behavior on campus; money influences decisions on campus; school focus influences quality on campus.
Home Is Where The Heart Is
The role parents play has an even more profound impact on a student’s academic development than the role... read more
Charter Me This, Batman: Faulty Comparison 3
In a stack of papers called Reform.
- Feb
- 27
- 2006
School systems in other countries are better than that in America. That is spoken without due consideration to the myriad of other things that are different in a student’s life overseas and that may impact academic performance. Private schools perform better on standardized tests that public schools do. But with the ability to cherry pick students and refuse an education to those who do not want... read more
Looking Back At Winter Break
In a stack of papers called Unorganized.
- Feb
- 26
- 2006
And now it’s over.
On the verge of returning to work, this Sunday evening is spent in quiet reflection… and frantic scrambling to gather plans underneath me in anticipation of the week. The grade period ends on Friday and I simply must grade at least one more set of essays and collect all of the work we’ve completed in class. Here’s what I’ve done:
During... read more
Public Is Not Private: Faulty Comparison 2
In a stack of papers called Reform.
- Feb
- 25
- 2006
American Public Schools Versus Private Schools
The big problem with any kind of comparison between public and private school systems is that public schools have to take any student living in the attendance area. There are no tests to take, no essays to write. If you live within the marked area, you go to School X. Private schools only have to take those students they want to.
The Escape... read more
America And Europe: Faulty Comparison 1
In a stack of papers called Reform.
- Feb
- 24
- 2006
American Public Schools Versus The World
Many times, I’ve read or seen or heard comparisons between America’s public schools and a few other education systems. Comparing America’s public schools to other countries, private schools, and charter schools are the most common things I’ve seen, though comparisons to homeschooling are on the rise.
I do not believe the... read more
What Schools Need, But Don’t Get
In a stack of papers called Reform.
- Feb
- 23
- 2006
Schools need dedicated staff to make sure its halls retain a hallowed sense. Students need their school to be a safe place. Teachers need their school to have the facilities necessary to teach in the 21st century. Parents need an easily navigated school, one that looks striking from the outside and can be a source of pride in the community. Schools need visitors to make all these things... read more
What We All Need, But Don’t Get
In a stack of papers called Reform.
- Feb
- 22
- 2006
We all need breaks from our job, time to do other things or to do nothing at all. The job of a teenager is to be a student and, I’ll say again, we all need breaks from our job.
I’d really be upset if my principal gave work to complete over the vacation (in fact, when grades are due the day we return from a 4-day weekend, that’s exactly how many teachers feel). You’d be... read more
What Education Needs, But Doesn’t Get
In a stack of papers called Reform.
- Feb
- 21
- 2006
Talking with a friend and fellow teacher today, I realize that education needs a fair. I’m not talking Tilt-A-Whirls, cotton candy, and Ring Toss games, but a place where people involved in education get together and talk about our work, perhaps serving as a catalyst for real reform by those people who know directly what needs to change. From sharing concerns about the job to working toward... read more
What Parents Need, But Don’t Get
In a stack of papers called Reform.
- Feb
- 20
- 2006
Students need power; teachers need support; parents need communication. Schools need to establish an open-door policy early in the academic year. Teachers need to work with parents to raise students’ awareness. Students need to respect the authority their parents bring to the equation. Everyone needs to be prepared to sit down at one big table to discuss issues from time to time. To do that,... read more
What Teachers Need, But Don’t Get
In a stack of papers called Reform.
- Feb
- 19
- 2006
Teachers need support from fellow teachers, parents, and administration. Students need to realize that (most) teachers are really just trying to help. Everyone needs to recognize the complexity of the seemingly simple system in which we all work. Schools need to value the tasks teachers perform and make that value obvious to all. Teachers need respect, not lip service.
Peer... read more