Get Schooled

By Lisa B.

October 31, 2006 12:18 PM | Link to this

I am sure that as I work with the Lexile numbers, they will become meaningful. However, what’s wrong with simply telling parents their kids read on 3.6 (3rd grade, 6th month) or 7.4 (7th grade, 4th month)? After we test to determine student reading levels, I tell my 4th graders that at the beginning of the year, they should be at least at 4.0, and at the end of 4th grade, their reading levels should be 4.9. Some are already at 7.0 or higher, while some students still have reading levels in the 2.0 to 3.0 range. Parents know that their 4th graders should read better than on 2nd and 3rd grade levels, and know that anything above 4th grade levels are great.

Teachers have to spend loads of time becoming familiar with Lexile scores. Why not just use reading levels that parents understand. Parents need to know if their children perform below grade level.

Sometimes I think educrats confuse and change these numbers continually to keep parents in the dark about the performance of their children.

Ridiculous.

By em

October 31, 2006 12:31 PM | Link to this

I’ve been teaching for ten years and until this blog, I had never heard of a lexile either.

By catlady

October 31, 2006 12:50 PM | Link to this

I’ve been teaching 33 years and have never used that word! Another example of a career educrat trying to seem above the others. No eduspeak please! Good grief!

By JustMe

October 31, 2006 12:54 PM | Link to this

This was just an attempt by Cox to make her opponent appear unready for office. Cox reached deep into her files to find some obscure term that Majette won’t know.

One of many reasons that I would never vote for Cox.

By Teacher Teacher

October 31, 2006 12:59 PM | Link to this

I watched the debate and rolled my eyes when Cox asked that question. Who cares? All this emphasis on numbers and teaching to tests obfuscates the real problem….our students are learning info for use later on in life. They are learning test-taking skill (if that) and info included on the tests. A friend of mine who teaches American History was concerned that she was behind in coverage of the material this year. (Last year she taught ninth grade social studies.) She was on chapter 3 whereas the other teachers were on chapter 7. She inquired of another teacher who told her not to teach the text, but to teach the supplementary booklet that identifies what will be included on the EOCT. Much of American history is excluded. She has now caught up, much to her disgust.

Lexiles? How about exiles, all those educrats out of the DOE! I agree with the Libertarian. Make the office appointed and elect the State School Board!

By dragonlady

October 31, 2006 01:16 PM | Link to this

The reason I scoffed at lexiles when I saw a sample list was because the designation for reading levels was, in my opinion, ludicrous. The list had Faulkner’s The Sound and the Fury listed for the 8th grade reading level. Absurd! I’ve read it several times, including once in graduate school, and still am not sure what I read. This was the most egregious example but there were others. This approach to reading does not consider at all the emotional maturity needed for a reader to understand and appreciate fiction. So then what good is it?

By MMM

October 31, 2006 01:16 PM | Link to this

I noticed that that same “you don’t know the jargon so you must be stupid” question was lobbed by the Republican candidate during the other debate—-a coached strategy I would guess.

But to the subject, I just pulled out my kids two CRCT reports. Nowhere is this score on my 3rd grader’s report from June of 2006. In extremely small print under the big bar graph on my first grader’s report there is a statement:
“Lexile score that corresponds to this student’s reading score is 550L. Please visit www.public.k12.ga.us/lexile.aspx for more information.”

When I go to that site and then follow a link to the reading list, I find that the recommended book for a score of 530L is “It’s all Greek to Me”

I’m not sure if I should be excited that I’ve finally found something on the CRCT report that might be useful—or amused at the recommended title for my 6 year old son. The example text, does mesh pretty well with what I know he typically reads.

Patti, could you ask why the number showed on my son’s 1st grade report and not on my daughter’s 3rd grade report for testing done at the same school at the same sitting? Does anyone want to hazard a guess as to what my son’s Iowa test score was with at 550L at the end of 1st grade?

By Kat

October 31, 2006 01:17 PM | Link to this

Here’s a news flash: remember Accelerated Reader, which was supposed to be the best thing since crushed ice? It was going to motivate young readers and improve test scores. Now we’re being told AR is obsolete, and Lexile scores are the “in” thing. Here’s the news: it’s just another fad, and in a few years, after parents and edcucators have wasted massive amounts of time figuring it all out and pressuring kids to raise their Lexile scores, this system, too, will be obsolete. Parents, don’t buy into this hogwash the way you did with AR. I am familiar with Lexile scores, and I can tell you that they measure only the difficulty of the actual reading material, NOT THE CONTENT. According to the Lexile score alone, The Catcher in the Rye would be a children’s book. BEWARE! Instead, encourage your children to read what they enjoy, and watch their reading scores skyrocket.

By MMM

October 31, 2006 01:28 PM | Link to this

Amen Kat!

My daughter has a teacher that is from England and well read in the classics. She has been suggesting things like Anne of Green Gables to her and, because the content meshes with her 9 year old imagination, she is soaking up new vocabulary like a sponge. Many of these “pick it based on reading level” programs suggest things that aren’t developmentally appropriate in content for children who are either above or below average in their reading ability.

By teacher vocational

October 31, 2006 01:40 PM | Link to this

Nothing bad about reading books for fun. But you best begin teaching students that reading text books on eng. networking, computers, etc. (even low level books on these subjects in elementary) can be fun and needed also. We seem to be teaching our children to read more fiction than text. Nothing wrong with a little fiction for fun but believe me the children over in Japan and other countrys are reading the text books more than fiction books even at an early age. I know, I get some in my classroom from over there. They already know the stuff.

By chuck

October 31, 2006 01:49 PM | Link to this

The lexile measurement is used by most major publishers of novels and textbooks. It is also used for “millions of articles in newspapers and magazines” according to their website. When the lexile level of the student and textbook are matched, students are expected to comprehend at least 75% of what they read. This is the level we shoot for because it is “moderately difficult”. That really means that it is challenging for the reader, but not so much that it becomes frustrating trying to read the material.

That said, we all know that the question was designed to make Majette appear to out of her league, which by the way, she really is. Resigning from the House to run for the Senate and now an office she knows less than nothing about was a foolish move that caused us to have to relive the McKinney Madness in the House for another term. That by itself was unconscionable. Running for the State Superintendent of schools is just silly.

As a teacher of 17 years, I can tell you that the improvements being made at the state DOE are head and shoulders above any of our past supers. Even under the constraints of the lunacy that is NCLB, she has done a great job. She has my vote.

By mummy

October 31, 2006 01:58 PM | Link to this

MMM, you’re right on! My son loves baseball and so I search out books for him at his level because he will related. Last year, I asked his 2nd grade teacher to recommend material and she suggested the Treehouse series. He soaked them up. You have to grab children with something they are interested in and the best barometer is when they insist on retelling the story to you.

I can’t wait until next Tuesday because something needs to change. Unfortunately, many will see the Lexile bit and think Cox know what she’s talking about, forgetting the results they have been seeing.

By EW

October 31, 2006 01:58 PM | Link to this

Amen KAT, and MMM —

Here comes the next “boom” to help our students read on level. Well let’s address the fact that most students aren’t even on the correct grade level, does Cox haven’t something to help with that? What initiative has she started to move our students that we are responsible for getting on grade level to the appropriate reading level? While Majette is not the best person, has Cox proven she can be? Also I wonder what publisher/consultant who has ties with the DOE is getting paid off of this.

By Taxpayer

October 31, 2006 02:02 PM | Link to this

Cox’s edu-babble is an example of what’s wrong with education in this state: too much double-talk and not enough straightforward, clear communication. Before reading this blog, if you had come up to me and said “lexile,” I’d probably have said, “Gesundheit!”

By chuck

October 31, 2006 02:05 PM | Link to this

What results are you missing Mummy and EW? SAT scores are up, graduation rates are up. We are following the recommendations brought forth from the curriculum audit. The new GPS standards are being implemented, but it does take time.

By mummy

October 31, 2006 02:32 PM | Link to this

Chuck: From where I sit, the schools that have always succeeded still succeed, while the schools that have been failing continue to fail their student population. If the Super was so super, the improvements would be evident on the lower rung. If reading scores go up, math goes down. Science is a joke. How much time do we have before the bath water gets thrown out for the next latest “thing”?

By EW

October 31, 2006 02:46 PM | Link to this

Chuck, are you an imposter for the DOE? Ha-ha — I see the results, oh ring the bell were 48th! It still doesn’t change the fact that most students aren’t reading on grade level to begin with, Georgia has not aggressively attacked students not reading on grade level! Remember if you can’t read, you will not be successful in any other subject — reading is the nucleus of all subjects.

By chuck

October 31, 2006 03:05 PM | Link to this

So EW, you should be in favor of using lexile levels because they are a more specific measure of reading levels than the old “grade level”. One of the main problems with education is all of the “experts” out there who have all of the answers because, “Hey, I went to school for 12 years.” I couldn’t agree more about the latest “band wagon” that we always seem to be jumping on. What do you think got us into this mess? Under this superintendent, most of the changes I’ve seen have been research-based and well thought out. I understand the frustration with jargon, but as superintendent, shouldn’t you know the jargon if you are going to communicate in that community? Trust me on this…Majette is not the answer.

BTW, I am not connected in any way with the DOE.

By chuck

October 31, 2006 03:16 PM | Link to this

BTW, I hate to tell you this, but there is very little that ANYONE could do to fix the system in 4 years…or 10 years for that matter. We have a state law that prohibits “social promotion”. There is not a school in this state that follows that law in grades K-8. It isn’t possible. We placed close to 30 kids in 9th grade last year alone that failed 2 or more classes in the 8th grade. What is that but social promotion?

I’m in one of the top middle schools in the state and fully a third of our students don’t have a clue how to behave in school. In some schools it approaches 80-90%. What are we supposed to do with them. I have 3 students who have turned in less than one third of their assignments and 15 or so who have turned in half or fewer of their assignments. What are we supposed to do with them? I know what I’d LIKE to do with them, but that’s another story. I’m open to ideas. Tell me pray tell what Majette would do to improve education that is not being done now?

By thomas

October 31, 2006 04:07 PM | Link to this

Kat,

You hit it on the nail. I remember a few years ago, AR sweep our school like a storm. We were forced to attend a workshop led by our media specialist who swore up and down that AR was the greatest creation since the computer. It would revolutionize the teaching of reading. Children from all over the world would suddenly love to read and reading scores would skyrocket. It will change your children’s lives.

Now a teacher studying literacy in a master’s degree program tells me that AR is passe and only measures low level comprehension. I told her that I could have told you that for free. I knew that AR was overrated two years ago.

It’s the neverending problem education in America faces- catch phrases, “miracle” programs, and jargon. Now it’s Lexile scores. I have actually heard of the garbage. What’s the difference between Lexile, guided reading level, AR level, etc.? It’s all jargonese.

But the move Kathy Cox made was a typical politician move to show up her oppoenent. It scored no points from the people who really know what’s up.

By Taxpayer

October 31, 2006 04:18 PM | Link to this

Chuck, how “well thought out” were those expensive, wasteful, ridiculous stickers that Cox ordered to be put on all those textbooks in Cobb County? More time and money was then spent removing them. Perhaps if Cox had spent more time addressing your very real concerns — student apathy, discipline, social promotions — I would be willing to support her. I’m willing to give Majette a try, even if she didn’t know the definition of “lexile.” I doubt that Majette can be any worse than Kathy Cox. The reality, however, is that until parents in this state start being more responsible, we will continue to be at the bottom of the education scale by any measure.

By Betty B.

October 31, 2006 05:56 PM | Link to this

I can’t bring myself to vote for Majette after she gave diatribe after diatribe about her congressional experience and no real mention of how to improve education except for some open-ended generalities. It is obvious that change need to be made. Surprisingly, the only candidate I saw that had solid ideas was the Libertarian, Chastain. Chastain seemed to present his arguments well. Heck, I’ll vote for him. At least he cares about education not political popularity and test scores. I agree that the responsibility lies with the parents to see their children recieve a good education. The only candidate that has my children’s interests in mind is Chastain. On Tuesday, I’m voting on principle and I’m voting for David Chastain.

By holdingAJCaccountable

October 31, 2006 07:04 PM | Link to this

So Kathy Cox knows what a lexile is…fannnntastic. Does she know what a predator is? An anarchist? A sociopath? They are all synonyms for “students”, students who have been allowed to run wild, while this spineless, gutless, coward of a superintendent has done NOTHING about the discipline problems running rampant in this state. (No it’s not all students…not even close; but it only takes 1 or 2 chronically disruptive students to hijack the educational process. And, as we know, you can NOT negoiate with terrorists.)

We ALL know discipline is at the top of the list of our public schools’ woes; but does Cox do anything about school officials who outright LIE about discipline data? No, she’d rather squeal at the podium like “this little piggy who won the ‘all you can eat roast beef buffet’ at the market” about CRCT test scores, when the reality is Terry Schiavo could pass the CRCT with the bogus cut scores that Cox implemented.

All the “new and improved” curriculum in the world doesn’t mean squat, when the immates control the insane asylum. And you’d think curriculum would be the last thing Cox wants to brag about, given her attempts to replace science curriculum with dogma from the Christian Taliban.

And Majette?!…maybe she needs to fire Jesus as a campaign consultant, if “Jesus” told her to run for the office like he alledgedly told her to run for the Senate.

Maybe Wooten is right: abolish ALL the school systems and replace them with charter schools…the free market sure can’t make it any worse

PS Sorry for the “tempered” and “muted” response…next time I’ll just say what I really feel :)

By Molly

October 31, 2006 07:10 PM | Link to this

I don’t know any parent who finds a lexile useful. What we find useful is a grade level, a piece of information that immediately tells us whether our child is behind, on target, or ahead. With the exception of the ITBS scores, none of the test results I have received have provided me with useful information about my children’s strengths and weaknesses. AR is way too simplistic - asking for recall, not comprehension. The CRCT is so poorly written and geared to such a simple level that it is meaningless.

By Janine

October 31, 2006 07:40 PM | Link to this

Chuck@3:03. Under this superintendent, most of the changes I’ve seen have been research-based Get real , Chuck…..we all know that one can find research to support any position !!!!Accelerated Reader is “research based” as are all the other FAILED band wagons that the educrats have jumped on ! And as for your statement : but as superintendent, shouldn’t you know the jargon if you are going to communicate in that community? …Surely you don’t think the average parent or community actually knows or cares what a lexile is !!!!!

By KA

October 31, 2006 08:47 PM | Link to this

Chuck, You are a victim of your own hopeless view of teaching. Molly, Yes! to what you said. Janine, Keep on!

By KA

November 1, 2006 08:55 AM | Link to this

I agree that Cox was trying to make Majette look unprepared to take on the job with her inane Lexile question. If Cox wins she needs to focus on getting the schools back to basics, first making sure every student can read on grade level, something most parents understand, not the Lexile. Eduspeak alienates educators from parents. Shouldn’t the goal be clear communications? Plain language is in order.

By chuck

November 1, 2006 09:21 AM | Link to this

The role of the Super is to carry out BOARD policy.

The GPS that is currently being implemented is a result of an in-depth curriculum audit.

AR is NOT a replacement for teaching reading and is not used to ASSESS the reading level of students. It is designed to get children to READ MORE. A diagnostic test is used to determine reading level and students read books within a range from easier to challenging in that level.

I don’t have a “hopeless view of teaching”. What I have after 17 years doing what I love is the awareness that most people don’t have a clue what we do or about the constraints under which we operate. I have seen the band wagon mentality but using “lexile” is not one of them. It is simply a way to measure a child’s reading level more accurately and to match each child with books, articles and textbooks that will challenge him without frustrating him.

Discipline is a matter for LOCAL BOARDS OF EDUCATION. The superintendent of schools works with the board to devise policies concerning a variety of educational issues, but has little if ANY control over local school discipline issues. Half of the administrators are in administration for the money, NOT BECASE they are gifted in that area. They can be a principal for 2-3 years and significantly bump their retirement amounts up. About 35-40% are totally useless in the running of the school. Only 10-15% of the administrators that I have met are in a position to actually pull a total school community together to bring about real school improvement.

All the State School Superintendent can do is provide us with the TOOLS, i.e. curriculum and materials. It is up to each District, Administrator, and teacher to use those tools to bring about change in local schools. Majette is NOT CAPABLE of coming into that position and adding anything to it. The best case scenario for her as Superintendent would be to do as little harm as possible. I hope it won’t come to that. Cox has done an admirable job following in the footsteps of the nutjob Schrenko. She deserves reelection.

By chuck

November 1, 2006 09:23 AM | Link to this

Cox wasn’t trying to make Majette appear to be unprepared for the job. She was exposing the FACT that Majette is uprepared for the job. PLEASE KA, tell me what Majette’s qualifications are?

By chuck

November 1, 2006 09:25 AM | Link to this

OH, and about “band wagons”. It really doesn’t matter what band wagons administrators jump on. Good teachers usually ignore the hype and do what it takes to help their students be successful. Now if we could just get parents to do the same.

By chuck

November 1, 2006 10:09 AM | Link to this

From Education Week, a national education magazine:

Ms. Cox helped restore relations between the state education department and local districts after she succeeded fellow Republican Linda C. Schrenko, who is now serving time in federal prison for fraud and money laundering.

Ms. Cox has also overseen the implementation of a new statewide curriculum, which was recently ranked among the best in the nation by the Thomas B. Fordham Foundation.

By Janine

November 1, 2006 10:25 AM | Link to this

Chuck I agree that in the past a teacher could, how did you put it * Good teachers usually ignore the hype and do what it takes to help their students be successful. In fact,when new teachers joined the faculty and were questioning one remedy or another, successful veteran teachers would tell them not to panic… to just ignore the current balderdash, shut their door, and do what they knew to be right for their particular students..[which incidentally, might be different for each group of students, contrary to the current cookie cutter approach.]* THe current “remedy” would be gone in no more than 3 years and a new one would take it’s place….But now, with observers of one kind or another [either from the state, county, or local systems] popping into classrooms 3 to 4 times a week , it is impossible to ignore the bandwagons, or as long time teachers refer to them…CURES DU JOUR !!!** These people come in with little clipboards to evaluate and check off the current program’s requirements…i.e. Is there a WORD WALL… is the standard on the board…is the teacher implementing all of the procedures of the CURE. Lots of NI’s on these items could result in all kinds of consequences..up to and including losing one’s position.

By jim d

November 1, 2006 10:30 AM | Link to this

Dear Chuck,

Here’s a news flash for you.

GOOD PARENTS DO. Even a few bad parents do.

Now if only the bad teachers would do the same.

By Janine

November 1, 2006 10:34 AM | Link to this

By the way, Chuck..Do you work downtown at the State dept? I have never heard a classroom teacher defend her so vigorously and with such passion. Most are in the “she’s just another poli/educrat… we probably will never get anything better category” or they have their own particular issues with her actions as superintendent.

By jim d

November 1, 2006 10:38 AM | Link to this

Janine,

I think he must be working for her re-election campaign.

By mm

November 1, 2006 11:18 AM | Link to this

This is humorous to me. Some people have said that Cox was just throwing out “jargon” to make Majette look bad. Others have said she was trying to make her look unprepared. Well, guess what? She is unprepared. What is up with this lady? I think the bigger question is why does Denise Majette think she can run for ANY office she wants and be qualified to do so. Let’s see, I think I will run for house of reps. Oh, okay, I think I will run for senate. Oh, lost that…hmm, let’s see…oh I know, I’ll run for state superindendent! yeah! I would not begin to believe that I could just walk into any ol’ job and be qualified to do it. Why does she think this? What, exactly, are her qualifications. I’m not saying Cox is the answer, but at least she has some idea about education. The term lexile is not just obscure “jargon”. It is a term widely used in education and anyone with even an ounce of experience in education would at least be familiar with it.

By MMM

November 1, 2006 12:07 PM | Link to this

Alright regular bloggers, please don’t confuse me with “mm”.

mm-The reason Majette thinks she should be able to run for any public office is simply that elected offices are supposed to be filled by informed, intelligent, honest members of the public whom other voters believe will create rules and policies that are “in the public interest”. Governance is different than management.

The libertarian candidate was correct in that we have education backwards with the “policy creating” state board being appointed and the top “manager” being elected. IF THE SUPPERINTENDENT’s role were to set policy then Denise is a MORE appropriate person to represent the interest of the electorate because her loyalties are not compromised by having been a classroom teacher. Governance involves making sure management is responsive to the “ownership” not the “staff”.

It should be a appointed position.

By chuck

November 1, 2006 02:08 PM | Link to this

No Janine. I don’t work at the DOE. I teach 8th grade social studies. The truth is I have only met the Super one time at a GCSS meeting about 3 years ago. I was impressed then with her grasp of the problems we had with the overall curriculum K-12. I don’t work for her campaign. I just believe that when good people do a good job in public office, we ought to recognize and support that.

As far as the “requirements” of implementing the GPS that is a decision of individual administrators in the school. The state does not require all of those things, your principal does. We are going through the implementation process now and I can tell you that while I may have to jump through a couple of hoops here and there because somebody went to a conference and thinks something is a good idea, I am going to keep doing substantially what I have always done. The only thing that would make me change is if my test scores went down. What I am doing is successful for me and my students and someone is going to have to show me why I should change that.

By chuck

November 1, 2006 02:09 PM | Link to this

No disagreement there jim d

By Janine

November 1, 2006 02:21 PM | Link to this

Chuck You are an exceedingly lucky teacher if all you have to deal with is your local school administration….Most of us have coaches hired by the state who come to check off implementation…their visits are called “Focus Walks” in some schools….and they don’t even look at or care about individual teacher’s test scores in any useful way…i.e. they never look at the scores of individual students in the classroom from the beginning of the school year and compare them to the scores achieved after the teacher has had a school year with them.. If Cox would even suggest that as a way to look at teacher accountability and student achievement, I think we all would support her….or anyone who would use a little common sense..

By EducatorX3

November 1, 2006 02:42 PM | Link to this

Janine & others….Chuck couldn’t possibly work at the DOE and defend her. Most of us who have “been there, done that,” don’t have such a positive view.

I don’t know that Majette is the answer, but I know I will not vote for Cox.

Kathy Cox, the politician, is smart enough to surround herself with many good people who knew all the things she doesn’t know. However, if you look at the role call list at the DOE these days, you will see that many good folks have left in the last few months…and from what I understand, even more are leaving in the next few months.

And as for Lexiles….without much trouble, one could probably find out who explained them to Ms. Cox. She has never taught reading (which is where most of us learned about them). Don’t forget, she has a whole department at her beck and call. I would bet that many classroom teachers could ask her questions that she couldn’t answer. You have to remember she has experience teaching Social Studies to upper class high school students. She has probably never written an IEP or a 504 Plan or an SST report. She has probably never had to interpret ITBS scores (other than those of her children) or even CRCT scores for the purpose of planning instruction. I don’t know if she could write an assessment plan for a unit, or differentiate for different styles of learning, or manage to engage students, fill out reports, grade papers, and write a discipline referal all before the first cup of coffee is finished.

But then again, neither can any of her opposition. So what are we to do? A write-in candidate????? Which teacher on the blog can we nominate?

By EducatorX3

November 1, 2006 02:55 PM | Link to this

Janine…is your school in needs improvment? I am not aware of a state program that sends coaches into schools unless that is the situation. Could it be that your system is using coaches from the RESA? There are lots of school improvement folks from the state but they don’t come in unless the school either requests them or is in needs improvement.

You are more than right, however, about how teachers ought to be judged on the pre-test/post-test data. Wouldn’t that be wonderful? Let’s get a true measure of what the students have learned! Actually, there are some states piloting a program that will track the individual student scores from year to year rather than comparing the cohorts. What a concept!

By chuck

November 1, 2006 03:09 PM | Link to this

Janine, I agree. I am fortunate to be at a school that met AYP. I have heard about the focus walks, but what authority do these state department people have. Are they evaluating you? I may be mistaken, but I thought the only people allowed by Georgia law to evaluate teachers were the people IN THAT BUILDING…either the principal or his/her designees. If not, that is a truly sad situation.

Even here though we are not immune from stupidity. 95% of my students met or exceeded the standard on the CRCT. 57% exceeded the standard. That was almost double the percentage of the rest of the schools in the district. Do you think anybody told me I was doing a good job? NOPE. Instead what I got was that I need to have more students exceed the standard this year. We really can’t win in this climate. I’ve gotten to the point that I just ignore all of the policy dweebs and do what I want to do. I think I could win a lawsuit if I was fired for being successful.

By gateacher

November 2, 2006 08:56 AM | Link to this

I guess I’m lucky to work in a system, Gainesville City, that not only looks at pre/post-test results but they give teachers the support and encouragement needed to make those gains. Reading and writing is a requirement in every subject. Even math and science teachers must have reading and writing assignments. Thankfully, there are “coaches” whose job it is to make sure all the teachers have the means and support to do these. I plan to vote for Cox. At least she has some experience in the class room unlike Majette and she has the intellegence to surround herself with teachers that can help her know what is going on. (at least that is what others are saying) A good manager, for that is what the super is after all, knows what he/she knows and doesn’t know and who to turn to for answers. This philosophy works. If you doubt this, look at Gainesville City School, www.gcssk12.net, to see it first hand. As for Lexiles, if they can help me help my students, great. If they can’t, I’ll ignore them and use whatever it takes to raise my students reading abilities.

By KA

November 2, 2006 09:27 AM | Link to this

Chuck, I’d like to answer your question about Majette’s qualifications and comment on your comments. I’m not a teacher, but I am plenty educated, and reared 3 children and shepherded their education at home and through GA public schools. I come from a position of knowledge from a parent educator side. I think Majette possesses the intelligence, the experience of being educated and parenting, and as an attorney the experience and expertise to identify issues, apply laws and regulations and guide decision making. The State School Supt has the title CEO on the State website. A CEO position is often filled by a lawyer, a professional THINKER, who can successfully run a business despite a lack of experience in a specific industry. I think Majette is qualified in that manner. Your comments reveal that despite your support of CEO Cox, you have an UN-empowered view of your role as an educator while Cox has been “leading” the State. CEO Cox has had the authority to set the pace and empower you teachers. But, you lament the lack of appreciation for the good job you do, your advice is to ignore policies, to never expect change in 4 years, and frankly you sound sad. Why not vote for a change?

By chuck

November 2, 2006 02:19 PM | Link to this

KA, First, One of the biggest problems we have in education is INTERFERENCE from people who have no idea what is going on in education, what the problems are, or any inkling of what it will take to solve them. When I went through school the object was to give us a classical education. We learned the basics but we went well beyond those basics as well. Kids in vocational track learned specific skills that enabled them to leave high school and go directly into the workforce. The rest of us got a “college prep” curriculum that included courses in World Lit, Foreign Languages, Advanced courses in political thought, debate and many other useful courses that gave us a well rounded education.

Now EVERY special interest group in the world wants to add something to our curriculum. Got to teach this and got to teach that. Business wants work force training. They don’t care if they can think or not as long as they can read, write and do ‘rithmatic.

We are mandated to teach “character education”.

We now have “inclusion” where special ed kids are taught in the regular ed classrooms. Never mind that in the 8th grade they are reading at a 3rd grade level (330-700 lexile)and the book is written at 8th grade (1000 lexile)level. We owe the thanks for that to ADA.

Then we have the Exchange Club, Rotary Club, Velocity, Teen Advisors, and dozens of other groups that want to come in and do a “program” for our students. All of this comes out of class time.

In the 8th grade we have 23 days of standardized tests. YES 23 DAYS out of 180 days of instruction are set aside for testing. That is a minimum of 2 hours per day for those testing days.

My budget for my entire Social Studies Department for instructional supplies and materials this year was $300.00 for 6 teachers. Not PER TEACHER but $300.00 TOTAL.

Ever wonder where they find the stupid people that Jay Leno interviews and asks questions about history and current events? They find them right on the streets of “Lost” Angeles. All of us who were actually educated sit there and laugh at them, but when you think about it, it really isn’t funny.

No I am not satisfied with a system that shoots for mediocrity or parents who could care less about education but are REALLY concerned about GRADES. Yes it is a struggle every day to maintain HIGH STANDARDS and not give in to the quest for mediocrity. But I just refuse to allow myself to do that. MORE IMPORTANTLY I refuse to allow my students to SETTLE for that.

Am I sad? No, but I am pragmatic. I see the sytem for what it is and do what I have to do to get along, but when my students leave me they have received an education. I won’t have it any other way.

By KA

November 2, 2006 02:45 PM | Link to this

So Chuck, Would you agree with me that Georgia schools need a leader who will work to restore control of curriculum and discipline to the teachers in the classroom, and require that students and parents take responsibility for good attendance and diligence to their work? A leader who will stand up for the teachers and not bend to PC pressures? IMO it’s time to get back to the basics of good reading and math skills, and to add the ‘comprehensive’ back into the high schools, prepare those that will go into trades, agricutlure or to college. You sound frustrated enough to me to vote for a change in leadership.

By chuck

November 2, 2006 03:13 PM | Link to this

KA, you are really living in a fantasy world if you think that the State Superintendent of Schools has control over any of that (other than curriculum). The curriculum issues are already being addressed. We had an outside group do a complete curriculum audit about 5 years ago. The problem with the curriculum as they expressed it was that it was a mile wide and an inch deep. The implementation of the GPS is addressing that. It isn’t perfect, but no curriculum is. It will be tweaked by teachers and the changes will eventually become part of the written curriculum.

The legislature addressed the attendance problem. Students who miss more than 15 days don’t get credit for the courses. The problem is in the implementation. I had 11 students who missed more than 15 days last year, yet all of them were passed to the 9th grade. The law allows them to appeal to the local board and they have they know that there isn’t any place to put them. Instead of making examples of the ones who have missed, they pass them on to the next grade level. At least below grade 8. I don’t know for sure that they do that in high school because they have to earn credits. Again, the superintendent has no control over that. The law is in place but depends on LOCAL enforcement.

Any thing that would change ANY of the things that you mentioned would have to go through the legislative process. Who do you think is more likely to get changes through the REPUBLICAN controlled General Assembly. A PROVEN Republican leader like Cox, or an indecisive congresswoman/senator/judge/school super like Majette?

I like the job that Cox is doing. She is actually bringing some common sense back to that post. I think the problem you have with her is that she is a conservative Republican and you are a liberal democrat.

By holdingAJCaccountable

November 2, 2006 03:29 PM | Link to this

The superintendent has NO control over discipline chuck? That is a COMPLETE TOTAL LIE. She can do this: she can stand up at the podium (like she does when she brags about test scores with totally BOGUS cut scores) and say “Though I am not directly in charge of each local system, I am APPALLED at the individual systems that systematically FALSIFY discipline data. At the very least, I will use my office as a bully pulpit and PUBLICALLY call those who lie out”.

But no…she write potential voters saying that discipline is NOT an issue because “the laws are already in place”…a completely morally, and ethically bankrupt position

As for Majette; I wouldn’t vote for her to erase a chalkboard, much less run a state Board of Ed.

Cox however SHOULD no better…a Republican? Ha! Ever hear of “rule of law”…obviously not, considering how school system FLAGRANTLY violate the law in Georgia

By holdingAJCaccountable

November 2, 2006 03:32 PM | Link to this

Are there a LOT of typos in my last post? Yeah, I just wanted to reach the same level of competence as Cox…

By KA

November 2, 2006 03:34 PM | Link to this

chuck, The reality is that you appear to have surrendered your professional pride to a really faulty system. I watched the debates and there were questions to the candidates about discipline and parent and teacher responsibility. As you say, laws are in place to be enforced at the local level, but why can’t the State Super take the initiative, be a leader (for crying out loud!), ask for consensus from the systems and work to get the laws enforced statewide. What’s the point of a State leader if there is no leadership? LOL on your democratic crack. Even though I have voted Republican recently, my voting over the years is 50-50 between the parties. I vote for the person, not the party. Cox hasn’t proven anything to me and I am a concerned voter looking for excellence in our schools.