The article was published at Real Clear Wire. By Adam Ellwanger Imagine these words as the first speech delivered by the incoming Secretary of Education. Today, I am here to deliver bitter medicine: American education has failed. Teachers and parents, administrators and government—and even students—all bear some responsibility. The most common explanations for our educational crisis are inadequate funding, overuse of standardized testing, and systemic prejudice. They are false. Our schools do not lack funding—no country spends more on public education. The poor results of standardized tests indicate our failures; they are not the cause. Our schools are not … [Read more...]
Camas School District – Views of a previous resident
Kat Greenwell shares her thoughts about her past life living in the Camas School district. It's heartfelt and worth reading. I have gone back and forth between posting this or not for a few weeks. But maybe my observations working for CSD can help parents. I’ve worked in many positions at several schools. First of all, there are many stellar teachers and staff in CSD. As a parent and as a para educator, I will confidently say that Camas elementary schools are top notch. Secondary schools... That being said, the recent politics, lack of transparency, and bureaucratic sludge led me to move my family out of state. Having worked in school districts in Utah, Mississippi, and … [Read more...]
Social Emotional Learning Benchmarks – Washington State
In the 2015 Operational Budget, ESSB 6052 Sec 501 (34) directed OSPI to convene a work group to recommend comprehensive benchmarks for developmentally appropriate interpersonal and decision-making knowledge and skills of social and emotional learning for grades kindergarten through high school that build upon what is being done in early learning. (Here is the legislation: http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2015-16/Pdf/Bills/Senate%20Passed%20Legislature/6052-S.PL.pdf) The workgroup will submit recommendations to the education committees of the legislature, and the office of the governor by October 1, 2016. Here are their … [Read more...]
Dump the PTA?
For those who have followed the slow decline of the PTA here's a bit more information which may accelerate that death. The PTA has claimed that it is neutral regarding Common Core. However, the only information the PTA hosts is information supporting Common Core. In Facebook postings as well as email exchanges with Washington State PTA personnel they continue to claim their neutrality while REFUSING to allow any disagreement or materials pointing out the many flaws of Common Core. Now, the PTA has taken an official stand IN FAVOR of high stakes testing. Here is the information from their press release: ALEXANDRIA, Va., (Jan. 21, 2016) — As movements to opt children out of … [Read more...]
The Tentacles Of Corporate Education Reform And How They Pull Parents Down The Rabbit Hole
Reposted from Exceptional Delaware **************************************** Embedded in the latest Elementary/Secondary Education Act reauthorization are initiatives and agendas that will transform education as we know it. This is not a good thing. Nothing in Delaware currently going on (WEIC, Student Success 2025, Statewide Review of Educational Opportunities) is original. This is happening across the country. The result: students plugged in to computers all the time who will only advance once they have gained proficiency in the Common Core-infused personalized learning technology. The benefits will not be for the students. They come in the form of financial benefits which will … [Read more...]
Don’t Help Your Kids With Their Homework?
From the April 2014 edition of The Atlantic there was an article with the headline of this blog post without the ? As I read it I started to wonder if the author was being provocative or honest in their assertion. Give it a read and share your thoughts with me? http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2014/04/and-dont-help-your-kids-with-their-homework/358636/ Here's the article in its entirety if you don't want to click the link: One of the central tenets of raising kids in America is that parents should be actively involved in their children’s education: meeting with teachers, volunteering at school, helping with homework, and doing a hundred other things that few working … [Read more...]