The Death of the Public Schools
The Chicago Reader published a story by Ben Joravsky, Do as We Say, Not as We Do about how the fat cats in Central Office led by Chicago Public Schools' new CEO, Ron Huberman (Arne Duncan's successor), is asking for teachers to increase class size, coaches to work for free, sophomores sports to be eliminated, and other belt tightening measures, while increasing salaries for management and other bureaucrats. You won't read this in the Dailies in Chicago, because the press wants the nation to think the Chicago Public Schools is the school system that works, that makes tough decisions, even displacing entire faculties in the name of school improvement and reform.
A few days earlier, a short article in the Chicago Tribune mentioned that Barbara Eason-Watkins, Chief Education Officer of the Chicago Public Schools, is leaving her position to become Superintendent of
Michigan City, IN., public schools. "Her absence will bring to zero the number of top-ranking officials at CPS with classroom experience."
(I've posted this to a couple more educational Nings, because it is important for educators to know how
Chicago style politics works, because it has been exported to the Dept. of Education).
A few days earlier, a short article in the Chicago Tribune mentioned that Barbara Eason-Watkins, Chief Education Officer of the Chicago Public Schools, is leaving her position to become Superintendent of
Michigan City, IN., public schools. "Her absence will bring to zero the number of top-ranking officials at CPS with classroom experience."
(I've posted this to a couple more educational Nings, because it is important for educators to know how
Chicago style politics works, because it has been exported to the Dept. of Education).
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by John J Caprice on
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Hey Gary!
Take a look at this young lady's comments. "Athena Ayres's" blog post 'Teaching to the “low” kids and making labeling a sin'
I really think that your advice and guidence will help her.
She impressed me!
JJC
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Permalink Reply by Nellie Makarova-Cross on
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Hi, Gary !
The same story is in Rhode Island and Massachusetts to my knowledge. I miss the name of this game. I guess this is how incompetent politicians, who do not rely on any research data try to show that they try to improve the education.
In my classes majority of kids work after school and do not do any homework. Their memory is also very limited, probably for the reason that they do not study. My class starts with the question "What did we learn yesterday ?" I am very bold, because the answer is that we are trying to learn, we did not learn yet. Very few students remember what they did yesterday. The lack of learning practice through the years leads to a certain physiological phenomenon. After school training with the credit recovery did not show being effective. Teachers have no students in their after school classrooms. The neighboring school with admission testing has an after school detention with the homework, if a student did not do his homework. Imagine the difference in the outcome? I guess, as my mentor once said "It's a free country and everyone has a right to fail."
I wonder if the popular theme on How the Brain Works has an answer on what happens when brain is not trained for years and there is no support in the family and what happens if former promoted students become politicians ?
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Dear Nellie,
I guess that I had the honor to be educated in a negative reinforcement system, sometimes physical.
In Grammar school, the Nuns had their ridicule, and writting punishments. " I will do my homework" 500 times during recess was fairly effective. If you did not know your multiplication table or list of Presidents, the whole class knew that you messed up as you faced the corner in the standing position.
In High School I had Priests and Lay Teachers. Some priests were inspirational, others were certifably insane.
I would stuff my shirt sleeves with hankerchefs in the event I was called on in Biology. The Father had a 3 foot pointer that he rapidly applied to your upper arms when answers were not forthcoming. GEEZ!
Thank God! This method is over.
BUT! The real dilemma is "How do we motivate children to learn?" Do we expect them to learn too much in K-8?
In College and in some HS classes, I had inspirational teachers. Men and Women whom loved their subjects and cared about sharing that Love of knowledge.
Take a look at this young lady's entry "Athena Ayres's" blog post 'Teaching to the “low” kids and making labeling a sin'
This kid is going to be one of those that INSPIRE!
Nellie and David,
As I have looked around and reviewed many blog links, I see a "Soft" Massive educational industry: consisting of methods, lecturers, psycology, neurology and numerous other analysis. All having the intent of improving educatioanl outcomes.
I think that it may all boil down to that one person. That one teacher that shares and inspires the students.
The one that has that positive impact, that will carry the student through into adulthood.
JJC
JJC
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Dear John,
I had two new kids from Haiti two weeks ago, straight "A". They told me that their teacher made them draw the optics diagrams 50 times. I had beautifully bright and human kids from Africa, who were the best and on
the good "European" level of education.
The demographics of kids in the school where I am has changed and the level of education too.My kids are
"the best" , but statistically they are not. There are two different things:labeling and telling the truth.
The truth is undeniable and no one has a right to hide it from teachers. Students also know where they are- SAT scores are self evident.
The solution to my mind is not in a Teacher, but in a system. We live happy by changing at least something in the kids life- I love my students and hope that they will remember what I was teaching them,
but the "disease" is social. As one of teachers' aids told me , in families parents do not know how to love, and how to treat one another well.
"Massive educational industry: consisting of methods, lecturers, psycology, neurology and numerous other analysis" did not produce a system. There is an analysis, components are tackled separately from one another. The whole systems is not clear to all teachers. European middle class culture exported to America works, those who mastered it succeed, the culture of deceits and laziness won't.
NMC
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I read a "Secretary of Education " Arne Duncan discussion http://www.futureofeducation.com/forum/topics/secretary-of-educatio....
It is unbelievable what a difference between a thinking community of teachers and a Secretary of Education.
However, there is the same theme. Teachers are responsible for the failure. There is a system:Teacher-Parent-Student-Society. We are looking at a student . Who can prioritize what is a major contributing factor to a failure? I think nobody can.
There are no simple answers to complex problems. There are no solutions not based on educational research. And this to my understanding is a role of Educational Authorities, to bring all specialists, create a model , implement it in practice and stop lying to all of us. That would be great!
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OH NELLIE!
Lying is so much fun!
That's why they do it so much!
JJC
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Yup, But we, for some reason, do not buy it. By the way, did you hear that Andrew Sullivan on Cris Mathew,s
show said that "they " should stop Glen Beck, calling talk show hosts names. Some people just do not like freedom!
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