http://articles.latimes.com/2009/dec/20/local/la-me-teacher-tenure20-2009dec20?pg=7
I really think tenure in education is ridiculous. I think it would be better to raise the salaries of teachers and the expectations, as well. Teachers should never be immune to firing, because even a fifteen-years-in-a-row star teacher can fail. I wouldn't want to be allowed to stay if I'm not giving the students the best opportunities to learn and grow. Put the students first, make them your life, or you deserve to be dismissed.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Community Support vs. School Reform
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/class-struggle/2010/02/teachers_more_important_than_p.html
Great article. Jay Matthews makes a good argument about educational reform and community support; sometimes revolutionary change is met with negative sentiment, and the community likes what it doesn’t realize isn’t good for it. Quite often, things must get worse before they can get better. It also reminds me of the issue of doing what is right versus what people want. Not a native to this area, I have no idea what goes on in D.C. schools, but I do hope the schools have breakthroughs that turn the system’s reputation upside down.
Great article. Jay Matthews makes a good argument about educational reform and community support; sometimes revolutionary change is met with negative sentiment, and the community likes what it doesn’t realize isn’t good for it. Quite often, things must get worse before they can get better. It also reminds me of the issue of doing what is right versus what people want. Not a native to this area, I have no idea what goes on in D.C. schools, but I do hope the schools have breakthroughs that turn the system’s reputation upside down.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Mexican Students Denied Texas Schooling
www.cnn.com/2009/US/09/11/texas.border.schools/index.html
The above article reports how in states along the Mexican border, many hundreds of students cross the border to go to American schools -- in this case Texas. My first question was, "How are so many people getting through border patrol EVERY day?" After reading I guess it's the citizenship of the children that allows their freedom to enter. Still, hundreds of children whose families do not fund the schools with their taxes are attending these schools. If any of the students have special needs (a statistical likelihood), they're pulling quite a bit of money out of the school's budget. The law in Texas is that you can't go to a school in a county you don't share residence; U.S. citizenship is irrelevant.
The issue is that many children will be denied educational opportunity. (Surely there are schools south of the border...) The idea of having the parents pay for the tuition is a possibility, but it's said that doesn't work. The school fears that if they turn away so many students, they will get a budget cut, so the school can't win no matter what. I guess it's an ethical matter for the school board: "Can we use tax-payers' money to educate children whose parents aren't paying their share? Is keeping the students in school here more important?"
The above article reports how in states along the Mexican border, many hundreds of students cross the border to go to American schools -- in this case Texas. My first question was, "How are so many people getting through border patrol EVERY day?" After reading I guess it's the citizenship of the children that allows their freedom to enter. Still, hundreds of children whose families do not fund the schools with their taxes are attending these schools. If any of the students have special needs (a statistical likelihood), they're pulling quite a bit of money out of the school's budget. The law in Texas is that you can't go to a school in a county you don't share residence; U.S. citizenship is irrelevant.
The issue is that many children will be denied educational opportunity. (Surely there are schools south of the border...) The idea of having the parents pay for the tuition is a possibility, but it's said that doesn't work. The school fears that if they turn away so many students, they will get a budget cut, so the school can't win no matter what. I guess it's an ethical matter for the school board: "Can we use tax-payers' money to educate children whose parents aren't paying their share? Is keeping the students in school here more important?"
Friday, February 5, 2010
Surge in Homeless Students
www.nytimes.com/2009/09/06/education/06homeless.html?_r=2&ref=education
As my wife walked over to sit by me, I told her, "This article sucks!" I wasn't suggesting it was poorly written; the crisis about which it speaks is discouraging. The economic crunch has caused several hundreds of children to become homeless students, and schools (wealthy schools, I assume) are paying for transportation services to keep the students where they're familiar. Congress isn't providing any help, either. I can't understand why education's budget is so low and why it keeps getting divided. Unless I'm mistaken education is the most important investment a person/people can make.
The economy has improved since last September, so hopefully these children's parents are having luck finding jobs. Though rich school boards can afford transportation such as the two in the article, most schools can do little or nothing about the problem.
The author does a good job not pointing any fingers. She doesn't even seem to be making an argument -- just presenting some research. I fear opinions have too significant a role in articles (etc), so I enjoy reading material that lacks the reek of opinions.
As my wife walked over to sit by me, I told her, "This article sucks!" I wasn't suggesting it was poorly written; the crisis about which it speaks is discouraging. The economic crunch has caused several hundreds of children to become homeless students, and schools (wealthy schools, I assume) are paying for transportation services to keep the students where they're familiar. Congress isn't providing any help, either. I can't understand why education's budget is so low and why it keeps getting divided. Unless I'm mistaken education is the most important investment a person/people can make.
The economy has improved since last September, so hopefully these children's parents are having luck finding jobs. Though rich school boards can afford transportation such as the two in the article, most schools can do little or nothing about the problem.
The author does a good job not pointing any fingers. She doesn't even seem to be making an argument -- just presenting some research. I fear opinions have too significant a role in articles (etc), so I enjoy reading material that lacks the reek of opinions.
Monday, February 1, 2010
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