The Tenure Debate Heats Up

A study completed three years ago indicated that by “replacing a poor teacher with an excellent one could increase students’ lifetime earnings by $250,000 per classroom.” Armed with ammunition like that, it is easy to see that there is a growing list of advocates who would like to see an end to teacher tenure in America’s public schools. With the jaw-dropping decision in Los Angeles by Judge Rolf True, California’s teacher tenure laws, in place for decades, were struck down. (See Vergara v. California)  The judge reasoned that having poor teachers in the classroom were detrimental to students’ education and thus unconstitutional. At the forefront of this effort that is gaining traction nationally, is David Welch who developed an interest through his involvement in the NewSchoolsVenture Fund.

It is true that removing a tenured teacher from the classroom is a costly and time- consuming undertaking. It is also true that much of the original intent of teacher tenure laws was to protect teachers from indiscriminate dismissal for political or other reasons and was inherent in the collective bargaining process.

The question that has been raised for many years and is still the overriding issue is what makes an excellent teacher? Is it content knowledge or is it compassion? Is it classroom management skills or is it student performance on standardized test? With the imposition of Common Core State Standards which are linked to state curriculums and standardized tests, it seems that the federal government along with other education reformer have the selected the last question as the one top answer.

The American Federation of Teachers, a broad umbrella organization for many teachers unions across the country has yet to be heard.  AFT President Randi Weingarten indicated that the Vergara court decision would be appealed. There is a great deal at stake with this issue. Has teacher tenure become obsolete? Have financial juggernauts like David Welch and Bill Gates become the new faces of the direction of public education in America? Don’t look for this issue to go away any time soon and be aware of the possibility that this may become a campaign issue in the 2016 Presidential Election.

See the article “Taking on Teacher Tenure” in Time Magazine, November 3^rd issue pp.36-39.

c.2014 J. Margolis

COURSERA For Teachers

Chalk up another change in technology. In a major paradigm shift in way education course modules are provided, a relatively new idea had entered the education scene. It is called Coursera (coursera.org). It is basically a consortium of colleges and organizations offering free online courses to anyone. World-renowned professors in their respective fields often teach these courses.

While most “students” are basically auditing the course, many institutions offer an option where a student can take an exam or complete a project and receive academic credit for their work.

A recent web search of the Coursera site found these offerings that are relevant for teachers.

“Foundations of Teaching for Learning 2- Being a Teacher.”

This programs runs from Oct 20-Dec.1^st. It is offered by the Commonwealth Education Trust. The course syllabus is available on the website. If you wish to obtain a  “Verified Certificate” there is a fee of $29.00

Another course that should prove helpful to classroom teachers is

“ Common Core ion Action. Literacy in the Content Areas.” This course is being offered by the New Teacher Center and runs from October 20- until December 5^th.

In addition to providing syllabus information, many of the course offerings have a statement of suitability so you can determine if there are prerequisites and if the courses are specifically designed for a particular audience.

There are also courses offered in specific content areas like mathematics or chemistry. Many of the course offerings are available in multiple languages.

Take advantage of this opportunity to enhance your knowledge base for free.

C.2014 J. Margolis

Do Students Get Enough Sleep?

The American Academy of Pediatrics has been continually monitoring sleep habits of students during the school year, They believe that local school districts  need to be mindful of what constitutes the optimum number of hours  required for a “ good night’s sleep” and to adjust school starting times  to reflect the needs of the students. The Academy’s information is directed on the number of hours of sleep, 8.5-9.5 hours per night. The report also stresses the importance of physical activity which will aid in reducing student obesity (a major problem in America’s schools). Adequate sleep can also help improve a stu8dent mental health as well as academic performance. According to the Academy, “insufficient sleep in adolescents [is] an important public health issue that significantly affects the health and safety, as well as the academic success, of our nation’s middle and high school students.” Middle and high school starting time s should be around 8:30

“According to the National Sleep Foundation, teenagers need at least nine and a half hours of sleep every night. However, the National Sleep Foundation reports that less than half of American children get at least nine hours of sleep each night, and 58 percent of 15- to 17-year-olds regularly sleep fewer than seven hours each night. (From Atlantic Magazine online, August 25, 2014.)”

Often, because of the scheduling and busing logistics, it is difficult to juggle appropriate school starting times. However, school administrators need to be mindful of these facts.  Teachers and parents can obtain more about this subject as well other topics relating to student health and academic achievement by going to the website http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/

For additional reading you may wish to view http://newsfeed.time.com/2013/05/09/u-s-students-rank-worst-in-new-sleep-study/(from Time Magazine online (May 9, 2013)

C.2014 J. Margolis

Polictically Correct School Calendars

A recent article in the Trenton Times newspaper noted that the State of New Jersey State Board of Education  has officially recognized and approved a list of 120 religious holidays. This means that children observing these holidays must be given the day as an excused holiday and they must also be permitted to make up any missed work. While trying the acknowledge the cultural diversity  of the school children in the state, school district administrators are hard pressed to determine which days to close school and how to” “celebrate” this wide array of holidays in the classrooms. Christmas is celebrated universally in America’s schools. I am not aware of any public in this country school that is open on Christmas Day. But what is to be done with Diwali or Rosh Hashanah? School districts must learn to walk a fine line the parents in the decision making process allowing parents to vote on holiday acknowledgments. As the population of the United States becomes more diverse, the issue of holidays will continue to play an important part of what happens in schools. As is often the case, all of the stakeholders- teachers, administrators, parents, students and community leaders must participate in the process to equitable to all.

C. 2014 J. Margolis

Public Vs. Private Schools

I recently picked up a copy of Princeton Magazine. Within the covers I counted at least10 advertisements for private schools in the area. It’s not that the local public schools are poorly rated- quite the contrary. Students in the Princeton and adjacent area West Windsor Public schools continually perform well on Advanced Placement test and get admitted the nation’s most prestigious colleges and universities. The schools’ athletic programs are also highly regarded. So why are parents willing to spend the equivalent of undergraduate tuition at a private university to send their children to a private day or live away school? One of the ads had a clue. The copy read, “ …offers an exceptional educational opportunity, free from the Common Core standardized testing.” Private schools do not have to adhere to the 180 days of school requirements, nor are they subject to state or national testing programs. So parents are opting out of having their children “over-tested.” Another ad read ‘Experience a dynamic community where learning is a passion and each day is infused with a spirit of joy.” Parents are looking for small classes, more personal attention and wish to be selective with their children’s peers. A third ad proclaimed, “ Our challenging college-preparatory curriculum gives every student the opportunity to achieve success in college and in life.”

Many children who attend public schools do so because they HAVE to. Their parents cannot afford to send them to the elite private academies. They have to deal with overcrowded classes, textbook shortages and violence in the hallways. They have to deal with the issues of Race to the Top and Common Core. For those of us who work in the public sector have a mission. We must make public schools attractive and competitive. We need to have to the best teachers and to make public education a non-political entity. Keep this in mind as you approach the new school year.

c.2014 J. Margolis