A Superintendent Writes... The Hidden Agenda of Choice - Part 8

In response to the 12/6/2012 post, “The Hidden Agenda of Choice – Part 3,” a Superintendent writes:

I feel that I would be remiss if I didn’t point out the following; Milton Friedman's beliefs about vouchers have proven to be nothing but a failed theory. In the real world when vouchers have been implemented, the results have been at best – neutral, and at worst - destructive (see Milwaukee and Washington DC) What is being proposed in Texas WILL have the same results if the level of accountability proposed during the Senate hearings recently held by Dan Patrick are put in place (or should I say the utter lack of accountability standards) IF you doubt this, look at the articles about the hearings and what was said to Mr. Patrick by proponents of choice when he asked about accountability. The accountability described was "if parents aren't happy, they can move their child to a different school" (close wording). NOTHING more was needed, certainly not the accountability that is in place for public schools (traditional and charters).

And to the author’s closing comment of, "As for me, I say let our schools be rich, competitive marketplaces of ideas and practice and then let the parents decide what is best for their children. We will all – students, parents, teachers, administrators, the rich, the poor, and society as a whole – be better off." I offer the following rebuttal.  The moneyed interest is only interested in making money.  That is the business (market) model.  If this is allowed to become the model for public education, there will be no educational interest.

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...

• Call Jo at (832) 477-LEAD to order your campus set of “The Fundamental 5: The Formula for Quality Instruction.” Individual copies available on Amazon.com!  http://tinyurl.com/Fundamental5 
• Call Jo at (832) 477-LEAD to order your campus set of “Look at Me: A Cautionary School Leadership Tale” Individual copies available on Amazon.com!  http://tinyurl.com/lookatmebook
• Now at the Apple App Store: Fun 5 Plans (Fundamental 5 Lesson Plan Tool); PW Lite (Basic PowerWalks Tool); PW Pro (Mid-level PowerWalks Tool)
• Upcoming Presentations: Texas Association of Secondary School Principals Conference (Multiple Presentations)
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook

The Hidden Agenda of Choice - Part 7

In response to the 12/6/2012 post, “The Hidden Agenda of Choice – Part 3,” a Superintendent writes:

SC,

Over the last six months I have spent a significant amount of time researching school reform issues across our country and I have been astounded at both the unethical practices and the downright corruption I have read about. From California, Arizona, Colorado, Indiana, Michigan, Louisiana, Tennessee, Florida, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and many more come stories that most people would have a hard time believing. Yet they are true, and more ominously, they are frighteningly similar in nature. The topics include (but are not limited to) school choice, charters, privatization, re-segregation, over-testing, private foundation funding, political influence, test cheating, the uber-wealthy's foray into school reform, hedge-fund managers with their eye on the $600 billion a year spent on education, elections attempted to be bought and paid for, VAM, money spent on testing, ALEC and its poetical agenda for school reform (did you know Florence Shapiro has been deeply tied to this organization), for profit education, and vouchers.

There are other topics, but let’s look at the first and last ones I mentioned; school choice and vouchers. For they are the ones we have to pay close attention to in Texas right now. Consider them synonymous. They are being used as the key to the door of privatization. These two terms have nothing to do with the claims the politicians make. It is, in the end, about the opportunity to take the school system into the world of for-profit.

As public school advocates we need better educate ourselves about the forces that are contrary to our calling: Ensuring a quality public education for the children in our charge and the continued existence of our democracy as we know it. A great place to start is the blog of Diane Ravitch. Whether or not you agree with her positions, the entrees she writes have links to hundreds of articles from across the country (and world) that paint what one person referred to as the "pattern of the rug". The links range from research, to news articles, to other blogs. All of it will give you pause.

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...

• Call Jo at (832) 477-LEAD to order your campus set of “The Fundamental 5: The Formula for Quality Instruction.” Individual copies available on Amazon.com!  http://tinyurl.com/Fundamental5 
• Call Jo at (832) 477-LEAD to order your campus set of “Look at Me: A Cautionary School Leadership Tale” Individual copies available on Amazon.com!  http://tinyurl.com/lookatmebook 
• Now at the Apple App Store: Fun 5 Plans (Fundamental 5 Lesson Plan Tool); PW Lite (Basic PowerWalks Tool); PW Pro (Mid-level PowerWalks Tool)
• Upcoming Presentations: Texas Association of Secondary School Principals Conference (Multiple Presentations)
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook

A Reader Writes... Getting Rid of ISS - Part 2

In response to the 1/16/2013 post, “Getting Rid of ISS – Part 1,” a long-time LYSer writes:

SC,

I love the idea in principle, but what kind of culture change is required for students and administrators that addresses dress code and non-compliance issues for students who use those tools to stay out of the classroom?  Do we just send them home for the day and enforce the After School Suspension the following day?  That would seem to defeat the "keep them in the classroom" intentionality.  

I too believe in keeping students and instruction in the classroom.  ISS is a waste of time and effort and is not under the supervision of a certified teacher who could assist with instruction more effectively.  Allowing students to continue to remain in the class due to non-compliance issues defeats the purpose of the policies and procedures.  What is the balance point and practice for this issue in maintaining discipline on the one hand and instruction on the other?

SC Response

You actually started to answer your first question yourself.  There are students who are looking for a reason to escape class.  What we have to ask ourselves is this, “Are we going to let children and adolescents to decide what is good for them or are we going to decide?”

If we are going to let students decide, then what exactly do we do? Just teach the easy to reach?  If we have students that are engaged in minor issues of defiance, we deal with that and put them back in class.  Out of dress code compliance, fix it and put them back in class.  Tardy, address it and put them back in class.  I know this may be crazy talk, but when I was an assistant principal in a 5A inner-city high school, I was able to solve most of my student consequence issues by having the student actually apologize to the teacher for acting like a (irresponsible, disrespectful, dumb) kid.

And yes, with some kids you will nag them seemingly daily. But here’s what I realized early on, those are the kids that often need you to nag them because their parents don’t do a good enough job of it at home.

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...

• Call Jo at (832) 477-LEAD to order your campus set of “The Fundamental 5: The Formula for Quality Instruction.” Individual copies available on Amazon.com!  http://tinyurl.com/Fundamental5 
• Call Jo at (832) 477-LEAD to order your campus set of “Look at Me: A Cautionary School Leadership Tale” Individual copies available on Amazon.com!  http://tinyurl.com/lookatmebook
• Now at the Apple App Store: Fun 5 Plans (Fundamental 5 Lesson Plan Tool); PW Lite (Basic PowerWalks Tool); PW Pro (Mid-level PowerWalks Tool)
• Upcoming Presentations: Texas Association of Secondary School Principals Conference (Multiple Presentations)
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook

Top LYS Tweets From the Week of March 17, 2013

A number of you in the LYS Nation are now Twitter users.  If you haven’t done so yet, we want you to join us.  To let you see what you are missing, here are the Top 10 LYS Tweets from the week of March 17, 2013.

1. Ms. Pape at RFJH was 5 for 5 on the Fundamental 5 when I was in her classroom today! It was a beautiful sight!

2. It’s amazing what happens to rigor when you let students just talk and write.

3. Odds of a high school football player making it to NFL - 6,000 to 1! 0.1% of kids who participate in sports receive a college scholarship! Change priorities! (By @CaochB1963)

4. Visited Vanston Middle School and saw multiple examples of the Fundamental 5. Also observed dissection of chicken leg. Nice job Vikings. (By @LindaHenrie1)

5. Ms. Sullivan at RFJH is a Recognition & Reinforcement machine. Her hard work is rewarded by even harder work by her students.

6. Ms. Chancellor's (RFJH) secret for closing her lessons - she actually checks her watch to keep track of time. How crazy is that?

7. Had my monthly faculty meeting during planning times today.  Great way to hear from teachers!  Smaller numbers = great, purposeful talk. (By @hola_alfredo)

8. Mr. Byrom (RFJH) is letting his 8th grade students research their discussion topics on their cell phones. And the class didn't turn into a riot.

9. Texas schools have lost almost 1/3 of funding since 2009, although growing about 80,000 kids a year. Manufactured crisis with austerity. (By @TXKidsCantWait)

10. Arguing not to fund struggling schools is like saying, "Why fund the police, there is still so much crime." (By @GeneforTexas)

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...

• Call Jo at (832) 477-LEAD to order your campus set of “The Fundamental 5: The Formula for Quality Instruction.” Individual copies available on Amazon.com!  http://tinyurl.com/Fundamental5 
• Call Jo at (832) 477-LEAD to order your campus set of “Look at Me: A Cautionary School Leadership Tale” Individual copies available on Amazon.com!  http://tinyurl.com/lookatmebook 
• Now at the Apple App Store: Fun 5 Plans (Fundamental 5 Lesson Plan Tool); PW Lite (Basic PowerWalks Tool); PW Pro (Mid-level PowerWalks Tool) 
• Upcoming Presentations: Texas Association of Secondary School Principals Conference (Multiple Presentations) 
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook