An archived stack of papers: 'education-needs'
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
Gone: Professional Development Requirement
In a stack of papers called Legislation.
- Nov
- 20
- 2006
In years past, renewing a teaching credential involved 150 hours of professional development every 5 years. This worked out to 30 hours every year. Broken down further, observing the 10-month school calendar, teachers should have been exposed to 3 hours of professional development each month. Considering that there’s always more to learn about how/what to teach, that never seemed like a lot of... read more
A Diploma’s Significance
In a stack of papers called Reform.
- Sep
- 11
- 2006
What does a diploma mean? Is it such a huge accomplishment to graduate from high school? Upon graduation, does anyone really care what your GPA was or how many AP classes you took or how often you cut 6th and 7th periods? Is high school simply a gateway to college? Or should high school be about preparation for any kind of life beyond the world of education? How does a diploma fit into that scheme of... read more
Passion Is Contagious
In a stack of papers called Instruction.
- Jun
- 11
- 2006
I’m headed out to Japan again. This time, I’ll be with folks from my school; last time, I was with a group from another school where a friend works. Now that I think about it, my two friends who teach Japanese have more than the language in common.
Both Japanese teachers that I’ve gone on this trip with are... read more
Get Rid Of Bad Teachers
In a stack of papers called Reform.
- Apr
- 01
- 2006
Teachers know who the bad teachers are. So do students. So do administrators. So do parents. So do union officials.
But year after year, those bad teachers remain in the classroom. Teachers, students, administrators, parents, and union officials moan the same complaints and hold the same wishes of retirement. The bad teacher is still there and nothing changes.
The other teachers on campus... read more
Connected
In a stack of papers called Connections.
- Mar
- 16
- 2006
I just got home from a choir and band performance at a local mall. There were lots of parents, students, teachers, and administrators there and it was, indeed, a very good thing. They performed just outside a Barnes & Noble store, where I met the manager and my friend said that he would work with our English department for fund raising, summer reading lists, whatever we need. We made a nice contact... 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