An archived stack of papers: 'education-needs'

Your New Job

In a stack of papers called Legislation.

  • Aug
  • 11
  • 2009

You are probably going to be asked to do a lot of things this year. Last year, those things would have been done by someone else. This year, you’ll be expected to do them. You’ll be asked to take more students in your classroom. You’ll be asked to volunteer at this event. You’ll be asked to watch the library one day a week. You’ll be asked to supervise a few more hours.... read more

What’s New?

In a stack of papers called Instruction.

  • Jul
  • 21
  • 2009

Stopping by summer school a few times has lead me to the irrefutable conclusion that a resource teacher for summer school English 1 was a colossal waste of district money (roughly three-thousand dollars of a waste). I have yet to contact other resource teachers (a huge failing on my part), but I would imagine their experience to be similar to mine: no one wants the help. I’m basically just going... read more

An Unsolved Problem

In a stack of papers called Connections.

  • May
  • 24
  • 2009

Out for a run yesterday, I listened to Act One of a deeply disturbing episode of This American Life. In New York, there’s apparently a place called the Rubber Room. Essentially, teachers report there when the board decides that they shouldn’t be in the classroom.... read more

Preparing For The Role

In a stack of papers called Instruction.

  • Aug
  • 22
  • 2008

I filled the last few days with trips to the dumpster and at least eight hours per in my classroom. From cleaning out a colleague’s room (nice guy and pack rat par excellence) to sifting through my own cupboards (a fine hoarder in my own right), our trash compactor is working overtime.

I’m getting over my concern about throwing away books. Your dusty class set of anthologies from two... read more

Mind That Gap

In a stack of papers called Instruction.

  • Aug
  • 06
  • 2008

Watching some Ted videos several weeks back, I came across a Hans Rosling presentation. This guy is bristling with energy, obviously excited about his topic. That’s how I want to be every day in the classroom because that’s contagious. Gotta keep up the... read more

Am I Dreaming?

In a stack of papers called Personal.

  • Apr
  • 14
  • 2008

I can’t believe it. Yet, I also can believe it at the same time.

Last Thursday

We have a special schedule on Tuesday and Wednesday! Because we want to drive up to Sacramento and hold a rally opposing the Governor’s 10% cut in the education budget, we’re letting school out at 11:30! This means a block schedule with periods 1-3 meeting on Tuesday and periods 4-7... read more

Get Down With The Sickness

In a stack of papers called Reform.

  • Nov
  • 10
  • 2007

We’re all sick, aren’t we? It’s a green monster that sits in our pockets, wallets, purses, and cars. Money makes us more ill than healthy. Schools are no exception. If they could be healed of the need for money, so much would be different, so much would be better. But schools don’t need more money, they just need to learn to manage their addiction and stop asking the public to... read more

Take Back Your School: Part 1

In a stack of papers called Reform.

  • Mar
  • 25
  • 2007

“If my child was in a classroom with a bad teacher, one who is a painful and obvious discredit to the profession, one who isn’t actually teaching the students, what steps would I go through to get that teacher removed?” In the coming weeks, I will ask a few parents, teachers, administrators, and union representatives. If you have had success in kicking out a bad teacher in the past or... read more

ESEA/NCLB Reauthorization Suggestions

In a stack of papers called Legislation.

  • Feb
  • 15
  • 2007

I received email from NEA, the head of the local union, and the union vice president, all decrying the latest suggested changes to ESEA (NCLB). Even though many ideas expressed in the Aspen Institute report would go a long way to move teaching toward an actual “profession,” one requirement lead my union... read more

Why We Need Realistic Education

In a stack of papers called Reform.

  • Dec
  • 17
  • 2006

College isn’t for everyone. Going to college simply because you feel like you should is possibly one of the biggest mistakes you will make in your life.

College should be a means to an end, not an end in itself.

It’s a nice dream that no child will be left behind, all students will be ready and willing to go to college, and all citizens will be well educated and care about... read more