Education in New York State has gone through some serious changes over the last 10+ years. The Common Core is a new term describing what each grade level & subject gets taught so as to assure that all children are getting what they need. Not a bad idea. Teacher evaluations have a new look. Evaluating teachers is a good thing but the process needs some serious tweeking since the new procedure is very time & labor consuming. the High Stake's Testing though needs serious revamping, maybe even elimination.
The rally being held in Albany of those opposed to High Stake's Testing on June 8 has a real point. Currently, students in all grades are subject to these tests. SLO's or Subject Learning Objectives are determined for all things taught. Students are then given pre-tests of materials they should know after somethings taught & post-test after it's taught to see what they actually did learn. Even with their teachers telling them not to worry on the pre-tests, imagine the stress this causes on 6 and 7 year olds? All students are subjected to this testing, periodically, all year long. Teachers are pulled out of their classes to administer and grade tests. I know a teacher who missed parts or all of almost 20 days just to do school related business which includes testing & grading these tests. Can this be good? Teachers not teaching but testing & grading?
The people making these decisions are usually far -removed from the classroom. What they are missing is really the obvious. If you want to improve achievement, you need to guarantee that each child comes from an educationally nurturing home and gets the same kind of pre-schooling. It's really that simple.
First grade is where many children learn to read. Many readiness activities are started at home and pre-schools, while some reading is being taught in Kindergarten. Teaching Reading is all about Readiness and not all children are READY at the same time. Some come from a nurturing home and begin to learn reading at home while some get little or no educational nurturing. Some get one or two years of pre-school while many don't. Until we can guarantee that every child gets the same nurturing at home and same pre-school opportunities,things will NOT improve. Schools are asked to do more and more every day, but they cannot make up for a less then adequate start or for a lack of interest in the home. There is NO substitute for a good Home Nurturing of Education. If the gap between success & failure is wide in first grade, imagine that gap in high school.
High Stakes testing is not an answer. It steals valuable learning time, stresses students and educators, and does little to improve opportunities for success.
Saturday, June 8, 2013
Anonymity or Just the Facts?
Who are these people speaking "on condition of Anonymity?" The information they are giving ESPN & other New?Sources is either unconfirmed or unauthorized. They can't be doing it for notoriety since they remain anonymous. Are they being paid for this information in the hopes that it's true? Is ESPN & the other News?sources that desperate to break a story...any story that they don't care if it's true or not as long as it is tantalizing enough to draw substantial attention? Is THIS what news reporting has come to? Well, with News? 24/7 I suppose it has. They need to fill their slots & pages with something. Shame on US for accepting this kind of News? Reporting. Did you realize that the most read papers in this country are the Tabloids where Truth & Fiction are interchangeable? What does that say about the American Public? And is it too late to ever go back to just reporting , as Joe Gannon always said, " Just the Facts Mame"?
Monday, April 15, 2013
Who's Watching?
So, you're running a practice & things get heated. Your players aren't working very hard. Mistake after mistake is occuring. Everything they do is "flat" with no emotion or real attempt. Maybe you're getting 50% effort. So...you decide to liven things up. You usually yell but today, you throw a ball at a player to get their attention. Not hard & not somewhere on their bodies where they will be hurt. You get in a players face. You scream. You call them a name. An insensitive name. Practice intensity improves and effort rises.
Someone is filming practice. They share their film with the powers that be. Long story short. The film gets u-tubed out of context with no supporting facts. When viewed it is outrageous. There is a nationwide uproar. Why wasn't this coach fired? Eventually Public Opinion wins out or at least the opinion of those outraged by it, and the coach is fired. Later on the AD who had viewed the tape earlier & decided to fine & suspend the coach instead of firing, resigns under public pressure.
This type of conduct should not be tolerated. Coaches & anyone working with students should be expected to conduct themselves in a respectful manner. But, when you talk to players, most just say that the actions are motovational & not personal. That after practice, everyone leaves friends. Yet a man has lost his livelyhood & another is forced to resign because he didn't do enough. Heck, even the college president is be called out. All because a camera was at practice and the tape U-tubed nationwide.
Shouldn't the people involved be allowed to decide what should be done without all the public pressure ? Do we get a second chance? Do we get a chance to fix things? And if we lose our jobs anyway, don't we deserve a chance to move on? In today's world of high tech & the time it seems so many have to keep an eye on things, we aren't given that chance. The coach fired due to his poor conduct is still being hounded as he coaches his 12 year old daughter's AAU team this spring despite the fact that he has total support of players & parents.
The message here is simple........watch out. You never know who may be watching....& filming!!!!! If public opinion gets involved, forget any second chance.
Someone is filming practice. They share their film with the powers that be. Long story short. The film gets u-tubed out of context with no supporting facts. When viewed it is outrageous. There is a nationwide uproar. Why wasn't this coach fired? Eventually Public Opinion wins out or at least the opinion of those outraged by it, and the coach is fired. Later on the AD who had viewed the tape earlier & decided to fine & suspend the coach instead of firing, resigns under public pressure.
This type of conduct should not be tolerated. Coaches & anyone working with students should be expected to conduct themselves in a respectful manner. But, when you talk to players, most just say that the actions are motovational & not personal. That after practice, everyone leaves friends. Yet a man has lost his livelyhood & another is forced to resign because he didn't do enough. Heck, even the college president is be called out. All because a camera was at practice and the tape U-tubed nationwide.
Shouldn't the people involved be allowed to decide what should be done without all the public pressure ? Do we get a second chance? Do we get a chance to fix things? And if we lose our jobs anyway, don't we deserve a chance to move on? In today's world of high tech & the time it seems so many have to keep an eye on things, we aren't given that chance. The coach fired due to his poor conduct is still being hounded as he coaches his 12 year old daughter's AAU team this spring despite the fact that he has total support of players & parents.
The message here is simple........watch out. You never know who may be watching....& filming!!!!! If public opinion gets involved, forget any second chance.
Thursday, April 4, 2013
What's this world coming to?
Today I woke up a sunny sky & the first real look of Spring. I was so excited I cleaned house & went to the gym for the first time since last fall. I started out doing my 35 minutes on the elyptical. I brought my Book Club Book, "Look Again" to read & had the TV on in front of me on CNN 24/7 News.
What a world we live in. First I listened to a recount of the story on the former Rutger's Mens' Basketball Coach who was video taped physically & verbally abusing his players in practice. I watched it & was taken aback. I have coached basketball for over 30 years & had thousands of inspired practices. I would never think of using that tactic to motivate youths. I might yell. Heck I might throw a ball in frustration. But never at a player . He wasn't winning so I guess it wasn't working.
Then there was a story on the 28 year old president of North Korea & his hate of the United states. Apparently he has given his army permission to attack the United States with a nuclear warhead if they felt it necessary. Why would any country put that kind of power in the hands of a 28 year old, let alone one so unstable. It's scary to think what he might do & cause.
Next was a story on three murders in Texas & one in Colorado where law enforcement officials were killed in , what looks like, revenge for doing their job. There was a sheriff, two district attorneys, & a wife of one killed. Why would anyone want any of those jobs now?
Finally, they broke into the news cast to deliver "Breaking News". Their was an armed gunman walking around the University of Rhode Island putting the school in lockdown & cancelling all classes. Are any of our campusses or schools safe any more?
I used to watch sports to get away from all this but even the sports world is full of this lack of moral fiber. I have two grandchildren & I wonder just what kind of world we are bringing them in to? Lots of plusses with the advances n technology & medicine . But wow, also some serious Nut Cases out there. Oh well I'm sure my grandparents & parents thought the same thing at one time......& asked that same question....What's this world coming to?
What a world we live in. First I listened to a recount of the story on the former Rutger's Mens' Basketball Coach who was video taped physically & verbally abusing his players in practice. I watched it & was taken aback. I have coached basketball for over 30 years & had thousands of inspired practices. I would never think of using that tactic to motivate youths. I might yell. Heck I might throw a ball in frustration. But never at a player . He wasn't winning so I guess it wasn't working.
Then there was a story on the 28 year old president of North Korea & his hate of the United states. Apparently he has given his army permission to attack the United States with a nuclear warhead if they felt it necessary. Why would any country put that kind of power in the hands of a 28 year old, let alone one so unstable. It's scary to think what he might do & cause.
Next was a story on three murders in Texas & one in Colorado where law enforcement officials were killed in , what looks like, revenge for doing their job. There was a sheriff, two district attorneys, & a wife of one killed. Why would anyone want any of those jobs now?
Finally, they broke into the news cast to deliver "Breaking News". Their was an armed gunman walking around the University of Rhode Island putting the school in lockdown & cancelling all classes. Are any of our campusses or schools safe any more?
I used to watch sports to get away from all this but even the sports world is full of this lack of moral fiber. I have two grandchildren & I wonder just what kind of world we are bringing them in to? Lots of plusses with the advances n technology & medicine . But wow, also some serious Nut Cases out there. Oh well I'm sure my grandparents & parents thought the same thing at one time......& asked that same question....What's this world coming to?
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Yellow Journalism is Alive .........Unfortunately
Todays news seems to be full of half truths, no truths, and sensationalism, and it's delivered to us by unnamed sources, sources guaranteed their anonymity, and rags.
The latest is a reopening of the Steroid/PED wound in professional sports. The timing is always the best. This report coming out just after the Hall of Fame voters decided against allowing any player linked to their possible usage into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
The much heralded & popular Yellow Rag known as the, Miami New Times , an alternative weekly has reported that they have gotten their hot little hands on proof that some professional baseball players including Alex Rodriguez purchased PED's & HGH's from a clinic in Miami that has been connected to the sales of such products.
Of course all involved have denied the allegations and no proof has been shared yet. But the "Media" in all its wisdom or lack of any, has decided to "Make " a Story & sell some papers. Don't they understand that there is always going to be someone out there willing to say anything to make a buck!!!!
I think the thing that bothers me the most is the lack of integrity by these rags and the lack of compassion. Maybe not in this case but so often, if you are a person of "interest" and you make a mistake. They give you no second chances. They jump on it , all to say they "Got" the story.
Yes, I'm not sure where this "story" will go. With 24/7 news, the millions of news sites, and the need to grab your attention,Yellow News sells? Maybe it's more a reflection on Society's Core Values!!!!
And with the events that have grabbed the headlines over the past few months, isn't that sad!
The latest is a reopening of the Steroid/PED wound in professional sports. The timing is always the best. This report coming out just after the Hall of Fame voters decided against allowing any player linked to their possible usage into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
The much heralded & popular Yellow Rag known as the, Miami New Times , an alternative weekly has reported that they have gotten their hot little hands on proof that some professional baseball players including Alex Rodriguez purchased PED's & HGH's from a clinic in Miami that has been connected to the sales of such products.
Of course all involved have denied the allegations and no proof has been shared yet. But the "Media" in all its wisdom or lack of any, has decided to "Make " a Story & sell some papers. Don't they understand that there is always going to be someone out there willing to say anything to make a buck!!!!
I think the thing that bothers me the most is the lack of integrity by these rags and the lack of compassion. Maybe not in this case but so often, if you are a person of "interest" and you make a mistake. They give you no second chances. They jump on it , all to say they "Got" the story.
Yes, I'm not sure where this "story" will go. With 24/7 news, the millions of news sites, and the need to grab your attention,Yellow News sells? Maybe it's more a reflection on Society's Core Values!!!!
And with the events that have grabbed the headlines over the past few months, isn't that sad!
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Monday, December 17, 2012
Needs and Wants
Today I subbed in a second grade classroom. When I entered the school, I was buzzed in by someone who knew me. As I looked up at the camera I thought, " What an important job the person buzzing me in has". So many thoughts ran through my head the rest of the day as I worked with those little children. Their parents sent them to school & intrusted their safety in others. It IS a big deal!
Earlier this year, I was in a first grade classroom teaching the 6 and 7 year olds about 'Needs & Wants". You NEED air, water, food, shelter, certain medicines, etc. You may WANT chocolate milk, candy, an I-Phone, a bike, etc.
I read this morning, that the shooter had enough ammunition to kill every child and adult in that school three times over. I guess he felt he needed an assault rifle.
However we , as a nation, address this problem, it must include a way to keep these types of weapons out of the hands of people who might do this. There are billions of people in our world. How do we know who will do something like this? Putting armed weapons in everyone's hands will create a potentially explosive situation everywhere.Putting armed guards in all our schools, malls, sporting facilities, etc is a maybe. I just don't know. The solution can't be a debate about rights because the Right To Life supercedes it all. We can't waste time arguing who is right & who is wrong. While we do, Kids are being killed. Ask the questions: Why are Assault Weapons made? And Who really needs one? Again I don't know the solution but I do know Something Needs doing & after it's done, we all need to work together as a Nation to see that it works because if we don't....More Kids will be killed. So please don't get defensive.....instead find a way to keep our kids safe.
I don't Want our Kids to be Safe......I NEED them to be. Actually I both Want & Need that.
Earlier this year, I was in a first grade classroom teaching the 6 and 7 year olds about 'Needs & Wants". You NEED air, water, food, shelter, certain medicines, etc. You may WANT chocolate milk, candy, an I-Phone, a bike, etc.
I read this morning, that the shooter had enough ammunition to kill every child and adult in that school three times over. I guess he felt he needed an assault rifle.
However we , as a nation, address this problem, it must include a way to keep these types of weapons out of the hands of people who might do this. There are billions of people in our world. How do we know who will do something like this? Putting armed weapons in everyone's hands will create a potentially explosive situation everywhere.Putting armed guards in all our schools, malls, sporting facilities, etc is a maybe. I just don't know. The solution can't be a debate about rights because the Right To Life supercedes it all. We can't waste time arguing who is right & who is wrong. While we do, Kids are being killed. Ask the questions: Why are Assault Weapons made? And Who really needs one? Again I don't know the solution but I do know Something Needs doing & after it's done, we all need to work together as a Nation to see that it works because if we don't....More Kids will be killed. So please don't get defensive.....instead find a way to keep our kids safe.
I don't Want our Kids to be Safe......I NEED them to be. Actually I both Want & Need that.
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