A Reader Responds... Transforming Schools - Part 1

In response to the 2/11/14 post, “Nelson Coulter Writes... Transforming Schools 2.0,” a reader responds with the following:

In other words, Texas school administrators in the South Plains are dead-set on further implementing Common Core practices and repackaged/renamed outcomes-based methodologies which have consistently failed for the last 45 years.

SC Response

Thank you for not sending this in anonymously, which I take to mean that you are serious in your convictions.  Which is why I am bumping up the posting of our exchange.

I’m going to start with this. We are not going to agree to disagree.  You are just wrong.

1. Texas schools are not dead set on implementing the Common Core, and to insist otherwise is either delusional, ignorant, or duplicitous.  Texas schools are accountable to teaching the TEKS which predate the Common Core by at least 10 years.  Why the Conspiracy Theorists can squint their eyes and see a connection is that the TEKS were held up as a model for what other states should adopt, by Texas Republican politicians.  You may remember them, George Bush and Margaret Spellings being early, extremely powerful advocates/examples.  Additionally, the sanctions for not teaching the TEKS to a sufficient level of competence (a level that has increased at a pace dramatically greater than resources) lead to destroyed careers.  And trust me, when the choice is feeding your family or teaching what is not mandated, feeding your family takes precedence.

2. "Texas schools are using repackaged/renamed outcomes based methodologies." And your point is?  As an educator you can focus on inputs (what you do as a teacher and the resources you provide to a student) or you can focus on outcomes (student performance based on a mix of inputs).  The current school focus on outcomes, which you seemingly do not agree with, is driven by political structures and mandates that have been orchestrated by a Republican Governor, Republican Lt. Governor and Republican Legislature.  When it comes to schools policy, Accountability, Testing, Standards, Sanctions, and Inadequate Funding have been the hallmarks of the Republican Politician in Texas for the past 15 years.  Are you surprised that schools have evolved to meet these ever increasing operational parameters?  And for the record, as an educator, I do believe that we (schools and teachers) should be accountable for the performance of our students.  And I do believe that we (schools and teachers) have been lacking in embracing this fact.  And I also believe that just because someone ONCE attended school, this does NOT qualify that person to accurately weigh the complex variables that determine student performance for the purpose of rating a school successful or unsuccessful. 

3. "Texas schools have consistently failed for the last 45 years." All I can surmise is that we have different rubrics for success.  Here is what I know Texas Public Schools now accomplish compared to  what they did 45 years ago.

• Educate more students than ever before.
• Graduate more students than every before, both in raw numbers and percentages.
• Serve more special education students than ever before, both in raw numbers and percentages.
• Serve more limited English proficient students that ever before, both in raw numbers and percentages.
• Serve more economically disadvantaged students than ever before, both in raw numbers and percentages.
• Serve more GT students than ever before, both in raw numbers and percentages.
• Offer more course/theme/degree options than ever before.
• Provide more social services than ever before.
• Teach at higher levels of Instructional Rigor, for longer periods of time, than ever before.
• Teach at higher levels of Instructional Relevance, for longer periods of time, than ever before.
• Face higher levels of performance accountability than ever before.
• And all in the face of increasingly inadequate funding and resources.

The quality of education provided to a random student today is significantly better than what was provided to a random student 30, 20, 10 and even 5 years ago.  So where is the school failure?  Or are you angry at the failure of agenda driven politics and the purposeful dismantling of public infrastructure?

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: TASSP Summer Conference (Multiple Presentations); NEASP National Conference; The Fundamental 5 National Summit (Keynote Presentation) 
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook

Top Tweets From the Week of June 24, 2012

Here’s an idea for next year.  Direct marketers know that when it comes to response rate vs. cost, e-mail is the way to go.  So drop the snail mail, at least initially. Start e-mailing progress reports, discipline notices, reports cards, newsletters, etc.  For anything that requires a piece of paper, stamp, or hand delivery by a student, e-mail it instead. If you are worried about people not reading the e-mails, you can easily set up a notification system when the e-mail is opened. If you are worried about students intercepting the e-mails, intercepting teachers notes and schools letters has been a rite of passage for delinquent children for as long as educators have put quill to papyrus. On the other hand, the upside includes reduced cost, reduced labor, and improved school/home communication. So all and all, the pros significantly outweigh the cons.

A number of you in the LYS Nation are now using your own bootleg technology devices to follow Twitter.  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 June 24, 2012.

1. Adequacy is based on the standards of a society. Motel 6 is adequate. We invest in the things we value. (By @DrJerryRBurkett)

2. It's my view that our language of "giftedness" is wrongheaded—intelligence is malleable and can be expanded, cultivated. (By anniemurphypaul)

3. Big difference between testing and accountability. These two issues, although related, should not be confused and addressed separately. (By @DrJerryRBurkett)

4. Why is it difficult to teach at high rigor? Because teachers have to give up control of some of the process and a lot of the outcome.

5. What's more important? Learning the content? Or learning the content first? What does your grading system actually measure and reward?

6. Grades are a convenient fiction. The most invalid of classroom data sources.

7. It's funny to see how people react to checks and balances when they don't work in their favor. (By @DrJerryRBurkett)

8. A Texas Business Coalition threatens to not support school funding increases if accountability is weakened. Funny, didn't they support the current funding decrease?

9. Based on the Texas Republican Party education platform, I have a student management question? Should we beat the kids who aren't abstinent?

10. Educators... We have a lot of voting to do this November! (By @cheadhorn)

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)
• Confirmed 2012 Presentations: Channelview ISD Leadership Team Kickoff, Bushland ISD Staff Kickoff, Canadian ISD Staff Kickoff, Highland Park ISD Staff Kickoff, Sunray ISD Staff Kickoff, Region 10 ESC Fall Leadership Conference (Keynote) 

Top LYS Tweets from the Week of March 25, 2012

More schools are considering the move to e-readers over textbooks. The benefits are many. Less weight, less cost, convenience, just to name a few. But I have been trying to come up with a reason why this shift would not be a good idea. And then it hit me. With an e-book you can’t highlight passages or write notes in the book. But then I realized this is wrong on two fronts. First, you can write notes and highlight passages with many e-readers. Second, we fine and punish students for damaging school property if they mark a single page in a traditional textbook. Oops.

So e-readers are cheaper, lighter and offer a more interactive reading experience (without fear of punishment). And to top it off, due to e-reader apps most of your students have one in their pocket, purse, backpack or locker right now. It’s just that most schools make their students hide them during the day.

A number of you in the LYS Nation are now using your own bootleg technology devices to follow Twitter. 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 25, 2012.

1. The "genius" of the Texas Legislature: Make students take a high stakes “End of Course” exam with two months left in the course.

2. The RTI success formula: 1. Teach the right thing (Foundation Trinity) 2. Teach it better (Fundamental 5) 3. Teach it longer (Tri-mester)

3. The GT success formula: 1. Teach the right thing (Foundation Trinity) 2. Teach it better (Fundamental 5) 3. Teach it at depth (Tri-mester)

4. North Forest ISD will not have to close and merge with Houston ISD. Education commissioner changes mind and grants reprieve. (By @e_mellon)

5. NFISD remaining open is bad news for kids but great news for incompetent education leaders across the state.

6. If North Forest ISD gets to survive there is no meaningful consequences in Chapter 39 of the Texas Education Code. It’s over. (By @txschoolsupe)

7. We all agree that the quality of educators varies. So why do we fight to maintain a system that allows a poor teacher to decide what is taught?

8. A college student costs the state $8,667 per year; a prisoner costs it $45,006 a year. (By @FareedZakaria)

9. Our choice in the voting booth is pro-public education or anti-public education. The choice is that clear.

10. I am a public school guy.

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/4ydqd4t
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation
• 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)
• Confirmed 2012 Presentations: NASB Conference; TASSP Conference (multiple sessions); Region 10 ESC Fall Leadership Conference (Keynote)

Top LYS Tweets from the Week of January 8, 2012

Even though I am an advocate for bootleg technology and computer assisted instruction, I do think it is important to remind everyone (especially educators) that technology is simply a tool that amplifies teacher effectiveness. Technology is not a teacher replacement. You would think that would be obvious to everyone, but it is not. Many non-educators see technology as a way to drastically cut education costs. Many sub-par education leaders see technology as a way to counteract the effect of poor teachers. And many poor teachers see technology as a way to manage “hard to teach” students. We in the profession must guard against these misconceptions and work to ensure that the following is never an option.

~ If the answer is put the student in front of the computer, then why do we need a highly trained, moderately paid professional in the classroom? ~

A number of you in the LYS Nation are now using your own bootleg technology devices to follow Twitter. 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 January 8, 2012, as tabulated by the accountants at Price Waterhouse.

1. In a math class with too few graphing calculators. Teacher compensating by letting kids use their smart phones. 100% student engagement. Bootleg technology rules.

2. Any educators out there? Buy this book: The Fundamental 5, at Amazon.com. A must read by @LYSNation (By @mike_metz)

3. To not use the Fundamental 5 because you don't agree with them is convenience driven ignorance.

4. The constant introduction of the "new" without implementing the "old" perpetuates the misperception that awareness equals professional growth.

5. Gates Report: “Up to 6 teacher observations a year may be necessary.” LYS campuses average over 30 coaching observations per teacher. Still wonder why LYS campuses improve?

6. Best reason for campus standardized dress - increasing esprit de corp.

7. Worst reason for campus standardized dress - punishment.

8. When most of your GT students are white and/or affluent, you probably have some significant flaws in your selection process.

9. If you are concerned about student performance and student attendance, but use suspension for discipline, your concern is suspect.

10. Remember the E Don Brown lesson, "There is no such thing as a rational parent. It's our job to be the rational party."

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/4ydqd4t
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation
• Get the Fundamental 5 Lesson Plan App at the App Store – Fun 5 Plans
• Confirmed 2012 Presentations: Oklahoma Association of Elementary School Principal’s Mid-Winter Conference; Region 16 ESC Leadership Academy (Keynote Address); NASSP Conference; NASB Conference

A Reader Writes...

In regards to the post on Primary GT classes, a reader writes,

"Honest teachers know the truth, and the truth is GT, Honors, "advanced", and other such terms are merely ways to track, which often leads to segregation. During my first year teaching I questioned the department chair about the "honors" and advanced courses at our high school. He responded, "you haven't figured it out yet? Its our districts way of segregation." The sad part is the department chair not only supported the process, but was instrumental in its ongoing implementation. "

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...

Primary Gifted and Talented Classes: A Contrary View

I have recently finished reading “Outliers”, by Malcolm Gladwell. By page 30, I had an “I told you so moment.” Here goes, since my first AP job, I have not been a proponent of primary grade Gifted and Talented programs and classes. When I tell people this, most just chalk it up to the idea that I am being contrary. However, that is not the case. My opinion is based on four critical points.

Point 1: There is research that shows that there is little correlation between early childhood IQ and adolescent IQ. So who exactly are we identifying?

Point 2: Primary gifted classes are predominantly made up middle and high SES students. I have a hard time believing that poor and minority children are not gifted.

Point 3: The biggest proponents for primary gifted programs seem to always be the parents of high SES students and GT teachers. I have noticed that these people generally have an agenda that is not exactly inclusionary.

Point 4: I believe that all students should have access to high quality instruction, engaging lessons and enriching activities. Call me crazy.

So up until last night, in GT discussions, I generally serve as the counter point.

But to channel Gladwell’s train of thought, primary GT programs may be causing more harm than good. By creating a program based on arbitrary criteria (essentially life experiences and relative maturity), you end up creating a self fulfilling prophesy. The “gifted” stay gifted due to accumulated better instruction, experiences and access. This is bad because we end up squandering the unrecognized talents and skills that are prevalent in the larger group.

So the “I told you so” moment is this, teach all students at high levels with high expectations and the “gifted” population could increase dramatically across the entire population.

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...