Cape Gazette School Journal Column  – Education Better Off?

1-9-09

Vice President Dick Cheney was on Face the Nation this past Sunday morning and was asked by host Bob Schieffer the standard presidential exit interview question posed originally by Ronald Regan, “Are we better off now than we were eight years ago?”

Cheney responded, “I think we’ve done some very good things over the course of the last eight years. Defending the country against further terrorist attacks like 9/11, I think, is a major accomplishment, for example. I think we made progress on education with No Child Left Behind and prescription drug benefits for seniors, and so forth. I can point to tax policies, a series of policies and actions that were put in place that were significant progress.”

Progress in education Mr. Vice President? With all due respect – where? Never mind that the No Child Left Behind legislation has forced many teachers to teach to the test, reduce their classroom curriculum and for some, leave the profession entirely. Never mind that every day we see the stress in our students that comes from one-shot high stakes testing and the label of being a failure. Never mind that our whole thinking about what we do in the classroom has been altered and instead of reaching for the highest standards and promoting excellence, we are stuck in neutral, fending off mediocrity.

Are you referring to the fact that scores on state tests have risen on your watch? Is that what you mean? Reduce the entire nation’s education policy to the progress demonstrated on your test scores?

Test scores alone are not enough. Research from Harvard University Professor Daniel Koretz has shown that scores always rise when you put high stakes on a specific test but this does not necessarily prove that the students know more. Focus on the test and you get test takers who get better at it. Focus on content knowledge and the learning across the board increases.

Koretz created an experiment that tested his ideas. He found that when students were tested in a high stakes setting, their test scores steadily increased. When students were given a test without the high stakes consequences, their scores plummeted. He concluded that rising scores do not reflect real achievement.

Almost one year ago in his State of the Union Address, President Bush said, “On education, we must trust students to learn if given the chance, and empower parents to demand results from our schools. In neighborhoods across our country, there are boys and girls with dreams — and a decent education is their only hope of achieving them.

Six years ago, we came together to pass the No Child Left Behind Act, and today no one can deny its results. Last year, fourth and eighth graders achieved the highest math scores on record. Reading scores are on the rise. African American and Hispanic students posted all-time highs. Now we must work together to increase accountability, add flexibility for states and districts, reduce the number of high school dropouts, provide extra help for struggling schools.”

Bush and Cheney are united in their belief that education has improved on their watch. Researchers, skeptics and practitioners, those of us that teach every day, know better and we await the new beginning that our children deserve.

The good folks at NEA found out that I did radio commentary on our local public radio station WSCL and that I write an education column each week for the Cape Gazette. They were curious as to the content. 

I write about life and since my life is two thirds teaching, I write about the students I encounter and the meaning that they bring to my life.  The news column is a great start and the radio is a perfect medium for getting teacher stories across to a wide range of unindoctrinated public.

I have heard many times that most people have no idea what goes on in schools. The newspaper and radio commentary is my attempt to change that. 

So NEA found me out and featured me on page 50. I am grateful for the opportunity to face a camera and smile and accept what the camera gives me back all in the name of teaching, a profession that I am proud to say that I love.

DSEA Leadership Weekend Report“A Child is MORE than a Test Score – So is a Teacher”  

NEW! DSEA website coming this week at  http://www.dsea.org/ 

ESEA or NCLB – reauthorization. Your help urgently needed now (before Oct 26)

• This law will affect our work and lives for the next 6 years
• Our congressmen need to hear our views
• We want what is right for public schools
• SEND MESSAGES to our congressional delegation at www.nes.org/lac

• Focus on these issues: oppose any inclusion of pay-for-test score programs that mandate teacher pay based on student performance or test scores.
• Ensure that a single state-wide standardized assessment in reading and math are not the primary measures of student learning.
• See your handout for other ideas.

Alternative Compensation – “paying people more for performance increases their creativity and productivity: people are primarily motivated by money.” Myth Types

• Knowledge and skill bases (competency pay)
• Market based (pay more because of demand)- NEA does not support this – it devalues some fields
• Group based pay (all teachers receive pay)
• Career ladder (phases, beg, mid, master so that teacher do not have to leave the classroom to receive pay increases)
• Extra duty pay (coaching, clubs)

Offer enough base pay to attract talented and dedicated people. Education professionals do not control student learning capabilities and the environment outside of school. Merit pay systems force teachers to compete rather than cooperate. PFP- not effective 

Who is supporting PFP?

1. Teacher Incentive Fund – grants to districts
2. The Bush Administration – their goal is to eliminate the federal government’s single salary schedule and collective bargaining rights and weaken due process
3. Governors and Legislators
4. Milken – Teacher Advancement Program
5. Gates
6. Broad – Vision 2015

Possible vote on ESEA as early as Oct 15 contact congress now!www.nea.org/eseawww.nes/org/lac

NEA ·         Opposes a pay system that mandates teacher pay based in whole or part on test scores·         In collective bargaining states – must be agreed to though CB. 

DSEA Resolution Criteria for PFP

1. All are eligible

2. Not linked to student performance or attendance

3. collective

4.clearly stated criteria

5. sustainable

6. does not diminish professional status 

We have a state compensation task force which worked on para (ESP) salaries this year in addition to increasing the base pay to 40K with a 10 year salary scale (less steps to get to the top) 

Cape – There will be a drive on to encourage all CHEA/DSEA members to participate in the Children’s Fund. This is a state and national PAC (political action committee) fund that allows us to help get people elected who are friends of education. This is especially important in this year – we elect a new governor and this is a KEY position with regard to educational decisions and funding.  

This is most difficult. I get to experience the joy of students being more competent than just nine months. They walk across our stage and receive their certificates. But there is also the sadness that comes when I realize that they will never be here in my classroom again. I always want to hang on for just another lesson even as I close the textbooks, cut off the computers and pack everything away.

As they are turning to leave I am still reaching saying, “Wait, just one more thing!” But in an instant they are gone. I take my bruised heart and weary body to the beach to rest and refresh and make plans for next year.

Words to describe the Big Cape Ball Bash that took place Friday at the Cape Henlopen High School Gym. Teachers, staff, students and administrators came together to have fun and raise money for scholarships. The Big House was rocking with basketball, volleyball and the rock and roll sounds of Cape’s own band Hindsight 20/20 led by our own Dr. George Stone! A tremendous effort made for great results, we managed to make over $1,700 for our scholarship fund!

Thanks to everyone who worked or contributed to the theme baskets, the concession stand, the music, the set up and take down, the free throw contest and the communication. Cape rocks!

The theme basket winner was Milton Elementary with their colorful Fiesta Basket!

The winner of the volleyball games was Rehoboth Elementary School!

The winner of the third annual Basketball game was The Sussex Consortium!

The real winners were the children who will be helped achieve their educational dreams with these scholarships!

Click on the comment button to tell us what your thoughts are about the Big Cape Ball Bash!

There are three main places we are using to run the class and save their work. Feel free to visit these sites and leave comments. The work my students have done this year is chronicled on the class wiki called Bliptop .

The fun stuff they did this year is on our electronic bulletin board called Wikmasters’ Protopage .

I also have a school blog called… Mrs. Albanese’s School Blog.

The pride was unabashedly for my state of Delaware and all the fine things that my DSEA had done to represent teachers and keep public schools thriving here. Even more pride spilled out into the hallways of my school throughout the next few days as I talked to other teachers about my fabulous DSEA weekend refocusing on education. The pride came from just being a teacher and choosing a tough job for all the right reasons: children should come first and education was too important to leave to the politicians. We needed a voice. I felt that DSEA through NEA was providing us with that voice.

At the Mid-Atlantic Regional National Education Association conference we were treated to a whole host of speakers talk about children, teaching and the future of education. Teachers from a seven state area listened to Senator Joe Biden tell us about the national initiative to improve our schools. We heard from Terry Spence, Speaker of the House talk about the bipartisan support in our state for education. Teachers from surrounding states oohed and ahhed over the 12% incentive that Delaware gave its National Board Certified Teachers, the promise to raise teacher salaries, and the focus continued support for classroom teachers. 

Governor Ruth Ann Minner stole the show. She described her education initiatives including full day kindergarten, reading specialists in elementary schools and math specialists in middle schools.  Her support and leadership enabled all Delaware children to attend college for two years and she announced her plans to extend that program to a four-year ride.   The enthusiastic crowd cheered liberally.

I couldn’t help but wonder what other states were doing for their students and schools but I am sure that my Delaware pride will keep me busy for some time just thinking about the next initiative right here at home. 

(This post to also appear in the DSEA Action, Winter 2007 )