Comments on: This week’s web reading (quick links)

By: Dana

Dana — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 15:09:38 +0000

And more evidence that the real problems with education have to do with parents and not the system on its own. We get frustrated with universal preschool programs, all-day kindergarten and other evidence that our children are spending all their time institutionalized.

But then it seems that is what parents want. Because they look at these programs as good alternative to paying for childcare.

By: Mrs. C

Mrs. C — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 12:12:35 +0000

Our public school district has had this “school choice” thing at least since my 15-y-o has been in kindergarten. Unfortunately, they are careful to make all the schools similar in the student body makeup, teacher ratio, etc. You’d really just be switching for sentimental reasons (I went to X school and loved it, or X school is a smaller school, etc.) rather than any good, concrete reason like a newer computer lab and specialized classes.

One *bad* thing that happened as a result of this “school choice” is that when the district was implementing all-day kindergarten over a period of a few years, almost all the parents opted for that, leaving our half-day school with only ONE CLASS of kindergarten. So I guess if you don’t like the teacher you can change schools or be stuck.

By: Dana

Dana — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 04:32:52 +0000

Hmm…good question. I think I was actually empathizing with my brain at the time of writing.

By: April

April — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 17:58:29 +0000

Query: Which is the “poor thing” McCain or Clinton?

By: Dana

Dana — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 17:14:54 +0000

Most definitely. That is why I found the testimony of the NSEA (our state branch of the NEA) last week interesting. They are currently fighting other legislation that would take away local control and our current system of testing which is developed at the district level with the input of teachers and replace it with a single statewide test. Mr. Sears used the opportunity to state that the results of such testing should not be used to close schools or negatively affect teachers or students, including homeschools.

It would be interesting in the current testing frenzy if the homeschoolers and the NEA could find some common ground. Other than protecting the jobs of certified teachers, we really do have some similar philosophies about who should be in control of decisions made in the classroom, ie., the home if we are talking about homeschools.

Thanks for the link!

By: Michele

Michele — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 12:10:50 +0000

Dana,

Here is a link to an article that was just posted yesterday that I thought you might find interesting. It goes more with your proposed bill post, so I apologize for being late to the party.

http://www.educationreport.org/pubs/mer/article.aspx?ID=9289

It seems that when the shoe is on the other foot, the powers that be are opposed to the testing and tracking of teachers.