No CHild Left Behind's Tenth Anniversary

Happy Birthday NCLB

This year marks the tenth anniversary of the No Child Left Behind law. It was the cornerstone of President George Bush’s education platform.  It was supposed to increase teacher accountability in the classroom. It was also supposed to raise the level of achievement for America’s public school children. It was supposed to help America “Catch up” with the education systems in other western nations after falling behind for many years. So if NCLB was supposed to be the greatest educational development since the McGuffey Reader, how come there are so many people against it? How come Congress has been reluctant to reauthorize the law?

The No Child Left Behind Law was modeled after a simpler program introduced in Texas when George Bush was governor.

One of the positive platforms to come out of the law was the notion of “highly qualified” teachers. This meant that all teachers had to prove proficiency in the subject that they taught. This required that a teacher complete an appropriate amount of course work in a specific subject area (like mathematics or English), and pass a standardized written examination ( in New Jersey, for example, the approved examination is the Praxis Series).

One of the controversial parts of the law dealt with adequate yearly progress and student performance on standardized test. Essentially this meant that a school’s grade relied on how the students performed on one written test. There are way too many variables to place so much weight on one day of testing out of an entire academic year. Both teachers and students were concerned about factors beyond their control that were impacting the education process.

In an era where there is a public clamor for less government intrusion, there is great deal of discussion as to whether the bill should be reauthorized. Under the 10^th Amendment to the Constitution, anything not specifically delegated to the federal government becomes the purview of the states. So it has been that state government controlled public education in their states- setting standards for both students as well as teachers.

In 2011 President Barak Obama authorized states that they could seek waivers around certain proficiency requirements in exchange for changes favored by the administration.

We truly don’t know where this will all end. It is a sensitive political issue, especially in an election year. Every candidate desires to be the “Education President.”

As always, your comments and input are welcome.

Summer Programs for Teachers

 Summer Study – Make your New Year’s resolutions now.

With holidays approaching, it might just be the time for giving yourself a gift for next summer- the opportunity to attend a stimulating summer institute or seminar to sharpen your classroom teaching skills, obtain new useful teaching information or even earn a stipend. There are even some opportunities to earn graduate credit for completing one of these institutes that could even lead to a pay raise. Many of the applications are quite detailed and may take some time to complete. It might be a good idea to start looking and gathering materials just after New Years as the application deadlines tend to sneak up on you.

Government Agencies and Organizations

There are a number of government agencies that offer summer programs for teachers. Many offers stipends to write curriculum after the program’s completion. Some offer the option to obtain graduate credit. Since these programs are offered at a wide variety of locations, they may provide you with the opportunity to  travel to parts of the US  where you  have not previously been. You will also get the opportunity to network with other teachers and share ideas and strategies that have worked for you in the classroom.

The Library of Congress offers numerous opportunities for teachers. There are typically several five day programs offered in Washington, DC.  At these workshops classroom teachers learn how to utilize primary sources in the classroom. They then develop teaching strategies to utilize these documents and generate student interest and enthusiasm. http://www.loc.gov/teachers/professionaldevelopment/teacherinstitute/

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is another government agency that offers summer ;programs for teachers utilizing primary source documnet6s. Last summer programs were held in Washington, DC, Kansas City, MO, Chicago, Il, Abilene, KS and Austin TX. The 2012 programs have not been released yet. Check back to the web site periodically to see when the programs are announced. These programs fill up quickly and the application process may be competitive.

http://www.archives.gov/press/press-releases/2011/nr11-97.html

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) summer program for 2012 has already been announced. The programs span a vast range of  topics from the Abolitionist Movement in the US, Berlin’s Cultural Diversity ( Program is in Germany) and Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales ( in London).These programs are open al K-12 school teachers in public, private, parochial and charter schools as well as home school teachers. Some of these seminars and institutes last from 4 to five weeks.  Successful applicants do receive a stipend which can go to defray the cost of travel and books, etc. The deadline is March 1, 2012. Don’t wait!  Go to http://www.neh.gov/projects/si-school.html

The National Constitution Center in Philadelphia also  several great programs for teachers that include a stipend. They have not announced their 2012 programs yet but they also have a March 1 deadline. Take a look at http://constitutioncenter.org/ncc_edu_Summer_Workshops.aspx

There are hundreds of other programs offered by organizations, colleges and universities and institutions. Here are  just a few. We will add additional programs as they become known to us.

The Ashbrook Center of Ashland University in Ohio is offering as many as 30 one week courses that are free for social studies teachers. These seminars include room, meals, and a $500 stipend. The application deadline is usually March 1^st of each year. For more specific information and applications check out the site at www.teachingamericanhistory.org/institutes

The Exploratorium Museum of  Science, Art and Human Perception, located in San Francisco, CA  has offered summer programs for science and math teachers since the  1980s. Their 2012 applications will be posted this week with a March 1, 2012 deadline. You can learn more about their offerings as well as information about the museum it itself by going to http://www.exploratorium.edu/teacher_institute/summer/

Some final tips before applying.

1)      Be sure that your resume is up to date.

2)      If you need to secure administration approval in writing, get it in advance of your application.

3)      You may be asked as to how the program will impact your classroom teaching or how you will use the material and knowledge you learned.

4)      Be aware of the application deadlines.

5)      If the program you have selected is in another country, be sure that your passport is up to date and that you have obtained any required visas.

6)      If you are applying for graduate credits, be sure to turn in all required assignments in a complete and timely manner.

As always, your comment and additions  are appreciated.

Teachers Occupy Wall Street

Teachers and the “Occupy Wall Street” Movement

The thought occurred to me the other day while I was watching the national news on network television that there might be teachers participating in the demonstrations. The more I thought about it, the more it made sense. Teachers are among the 99% that the protestors are talking about. You never hear the words “millionaire” and “educator” in the same sentence. Teachers are one of the groups that have been targeted and vilified by the governors and legislators as taking too big a drink from the public trough. In states like Wisconsin, Ohio, and New Jersey, teachers and other public employees are losing their collective bargaining rights, their tenure rights, and their pension benefits. During this current recession, teachers have lost a great deal. Many have lost their jobs due to budget cuts. The “steady dime vs. a seldom dollar” axiom no longer applies to the teaching profession.

Whether the Wall Street movement takes wings remained to be seen but this has the essence of a growing demand for social change rather that political overthrow of the government, which makes this unlike the “Arab Spring” in the Middle East. It will be interesting to see how this movement reacts to changes in weather as winter begins across the country.( It snowed in New York City on Saturday, Oct.28th !)

Apparently the message of occupy Wall Street is resonating beyond Zuccotti Park. The New York City teachers union has agreed to store some of the Occupy Wall Street protesters' gear. The union began taking in excess storage items from protesters, stashing them at a vacant first floor storefront at its   Broadway building, a space that protesters have dubbed the "Occupy Wall Street Coat Check” . Several union officials have met with protestors and have offered their support.

The California Federation of Teachers and a coalition of allies want to place a measure on the November 2012 ballot to hike taxes to people with annual incomes of more than $1 million.
At this point it is difficult to determine if the unions are just jumping on the bandwagon to gain media exposure or if they are sincere in their efforts to be an integral part of the movement.
Teachers are agents of social change. That is evident in those educators who go the extra mile (or further) on behalf of their students. At the very least, trying to educate the population of America so that young people can have a productive and rewarding future is a daunting task but should be at the forefront of any effort for equity in the workplace.

Congratulations New Teachers !

Graduation Time

May is the time for college graduations.  Students have turned their final term papers and have taken their last exams. After the celebrations and good wishes are over, it is time to get serious about entering the adult world and find a job- not an easy task in this economic environment. For many students who are liberal arts graduates, they may be no defined career path. For teachers it is different. Educators have spent four (or more) years preparing for a specific occupation.  For the most part they are focused on a specific career path.

This past week I had the honor of attending the commencements ceremonies for the Graduate School of Education of the University of Pennsylvania.  Dozens of newly minted doctorates and over a hundred Masters Degree candidates are about to enter the job market, many look for public school teaching jobs. This is what they are about to face. According an article that appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer (May 15^th, 2011) as many as 5000 teachers in the Los Angeles School district may lose their jobs at the end of the current academic year. The Pennsylvania State Education Association, the union that represents over 190,000 teachers in that state, has indicated that as many as 9000 teachers may lose their jobs. Budget cuts and the economy have wrecked havoc with the teaching profession. However that should not deter those truly committed to educating America’s youth from seeking their place in the profession. There are jobs out there, but you need to think outside the box.

Lest this blog seem too depressing, please allow me to share some of the comments made by Dr. Ramon Cortines, Superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District and lifelong educator. Cortines was the keynote speaker at the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School commencement.  He remarked that as a teacher you are always a teacher as well as always a learner. Cortines also went on to say that that by becoming a teacher you are making a commitment to improve they quality of life for your students. Teachers are agents of social change. He encourages teacher to be the “guide on the side” rather than the “sage on the stage.”

Dr. Cortines went on to make several recommendations to the teaching profession.

1)      Teacher Preparation- Teachers need to be trained as leaders as well as educators. Many of today’s teachers are not prepared to deal with the mutual partnerships required. Teachers need to constantly refining their practices to keep up with current trends.

2)      Teacher Recruitment- While Tech for America and the National Teaching Project have helped recruit college graduates into the profession. There need to be a more concerted effort. To find a train excellent teachers.  Cortines believes that we need to look at alternate pathways to the classroom.

3)      Evaluation and Review- Today’s methods of teacher evaluation are obsolete and very subjective. There needs to be multiple measures of teacher effectiveness. Teachers should not solely be evaluated on student performance on standardized tests but a set of multiple measures need to be developed, including a peer review process.

4)      Seniority- Just because a teacher has been on the job a long time does not necessarily mean that they are an excellent teacher. Many of the veteran teachers in the classroom today are lacking in technology skills as well as new innovations in science. Seniority is not the best way to evaluate teacher effectiveness.

Dr. Cortines believes as did Nelson Mandela that “Education is the most powerful weapon to change the world. Best wishes for much success to all of you have graduated this year. I hope that if you are a first timer, you will check back to this blog often to help with your chosen profession.