Teacher Warranties- Are They Worthwhile ?

Did your teaching degree come with a warranty? You may not know if it did but some universities particularly in Louisiana and Tennessee have been working on such programs with local school districts.  The central concern that led to this idea centers on the issue of teacher preparation. Since student performance in schools around the United States is lower than that of peer groups in other countries, colleges of education have been challenged to assess their teacher preparation programs to see if there are flaws in the way college students are prepared to become teachers. One of the central themes is the importance in content knowledge vs. the importance of pedagogical theory.

The Essential Components of a Teacher Warranty.

The primary focus of a teacher warranty program is an assurance on the part of a university that a graduate has met the requirement to become a certified teacher, completed a rigorous teacher preparation program and is a competent teacher- a finished product if you were- ready to assume duties as a successful classroom educator.  The college further “certifies” that the graduate meets the requirements for state licensure, has a satisfactory mastery of the subject matter, is competent in the use of current technology, and provides ongoing support of some kind after graduation. If there is some “defect” in the performance of the teacher, then intervention is provided at no cost to the school district. This intervention can include mentoring or requiring the teacher to take additional course work.

It should be noted that all of the responsibility does not fall solely on the shoulders of the college. The school district must also agree to meet certain specific criteria. These criteria include using an approved rubric for teacher evaluation, assigning the teacher to only teach classes that he or she is certified in and to make assurances that the teacher will not be exposed to excessive class sizes, or be assigned extensive or unusual duties not assigned to the rest of the staff.

The length of the warranty varies from place to place. In most instances the term includes the year directly following graduation plus an additional one to two years. In some places where such program are being implemented, teachers unions have also been asked to be involved and the participating universities are encouraged to visit the schools and be involved in the planning process.

Due to the lack of statistical information, the jury is still out on these projects and it is too early to ascertain if this is the wave of the future. However the concept of a university providing adequate training for a teacher to be successful and competent in the classroom is a valid and critical piece in the ultimate strategy to have a positive impact on student success in in the classroom and in life.

Graduation Speeches -Do they Matter?

It is a ritual of spring every year. College and many high schools go in search of inspiration and thought provoking speakers as a capstone to an important life cycle ceremony. Some choose sports figures, others select celebrities. A number of institutions choose political figures. The President and the Vice President of the United States, for example take turns speaking at our nation’s military academies. Often their speeches leave little impression and are soon forgotten. I do not remember the speech given at my college graduation in 1970. I knew that the speaker was Gunnar Myrdal, but I looked that up recently in my commencement program. He was a sociologist and economist from Sweden who ended up receiving the Nobel Prize f our years after my graduation. I am sure that what he said was important but I have no memory of his words.

Recently, Condoleezza Rice withdrew from speaking at the Commencement at Rutgers University in New Jersey. There were several protests from student groups and faculty member that led to her withdrawal. Across the state, Governor Chris Christie was the featured speaker and received an honorary doctorate from Rowan University. This  in spite of the fact that Rowan has been since  1923 most well known as a teacher preparation institution and the speaker  during  his administration, has  reneged on payments to the teachers’ pension fund and combated teacher tenure laws and school standards.

If we are truly a democratic society and in the academic world encourage debate, discussion and opposing points of view, then we must be open minded in the selection of commencement speakers.

As a speaker you do not know who is in the audience and what positive impression and take away message you send will have a future impact.

C.2014 J. Margolis

Children and the Media- Where do we Draw the Line ?

A number of significant statistics have recently been released pertaining to young children’s exposure to the media. While one stat in and of itself may not be earth shattering, couples together, they indicate the continuation of a disturbing trend.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics report in 2011, as many as 29% of children between the ages of 2 and 3 have a television in their bedroom. While some parents feel that “white noise” may have a calming effect on children, the unintended exposure to media violence has as a consequence an increase in violent behavior. There have also been studies conducted by the AAP that point to the fact that excessive background television can interfere with a child’s ability to focus.

With regards to teenagers the focus of the issues is texting. In their 2013 policy statement, the American Academy of Pediatrics observed that 88% of teens use text messaging.

I have noticed that in many restaurants there is little conversation among family members while dining out. Everyone is either texting or talking to some one on the phone. This does little to improve family dynamics and conversations. I have also noted that parents are more than ready to shove a tablet, Ipad or game in front of a youngster to keep him or her quiet while waiting for a meal to be served.

By the same logic of those who show disdain for home-schooling because of lack of socialization, the jump to use media in the classroom and at home as a proxy for other teaching techniques, is basically yielding the same result, that is a reduction in social interaction that it importance to socialization skills and personal growth.

We should be carful what we wish for.

c.2014 J. Margolis

Brown V. Board of Education- 60 Years Later

 On May 17, 1954 the United States Supreme Court issued a landmark decision regarding Public education in America. The case Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, reversed the 1896 decision Plessey V. Ferguson. The decision eliminated the “separate but equal clause in the law. The Court’s opinion stated, “ Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal.” NAACP attorney Thurgood Marshall, who in 1967 was appointed to the United States Supreme Court, argued the case.

It has been sixty years since that momentous decision but in many urban areas in this country de facto segregation still exists in public schools. Families who could afford it have moved to more affluent suburbs with better schools. Others have chosen to send their children to expensive private schools. According to a recent article in NEA Today magazine, nearly 50% of school students in this country are from low- income families. In many cities public schools in high- minority areas are being closed due to budget constraints and old buildings. In a city like Detroit, which has recently declared bankruptcy, there are little funds to improve public schools- schools with a high percentage of minority students. These students are often forced to travel long distances to get to school. Recently reports have indicated that the chasm between have and have-nots has grown and that family income, more than race, is a major predictor of a student’s academic achievement.

 It should also be noted that in 2001 the US Supreme court overturned school bussing policies and d in 2007 the court invalidated school desegregation plans.

The National Education Association (NEA) has created a web site with information and stories about the struggle to school equality. You can access that information by going to www.nea.org/schoolequity.

The History Channel web site also has information and links regarding the 6oth anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education Decision.

We as educators must never forget the purpose of public education in the United States. ALL students deserve the best education possible to help them strive to become good employees and entrepreneurs and good and productive citizens.

c.2014  J. Margolis