Get Schooled

By V for Vendetta

March 18, 2008 9:13 AM | Link to this

I’ll let good old Mark Twain answer for me:

“Facts are stubborn things, but statistics are more pliable.”

He also said, “In the first place, God made idiots. That was for practice. Then He made school boards.”

Looks like old Sam was right on both accounts!

By Jeff

March 18, 2008 9:19 AM | Link to this

Number one thing to make informed decision about schools:

Keep your ear to the ground and trust your gut.

Most of these ‘studies’ aren’t worth the paper they are printed on, much less the salaries of the people that did them.

For example: These studies will tell you that schools are safer when no one is armed. Yet logic dictates that if you declare schools to be weapon-free, all you’ve done is make them enticing targets to attack. After all, the attacker knows that basic military law: He who has the better weapon generally has the upper hand. And if he has superior weapons AND superior tactics, he is almost GARAUNTEED victory. So schools being ‘weapon free’ actually makes them far LESS safe. And I point to Columbine, UT-Austin (back in the 60’s, tower sniper), VT, and even ATL’s own Heritage High.

By JustMe

March 18, 2008 10:30 AM | Link to this

One major problem is that most people do not know how to properly interpret data, much less statistics.

For example, a recent article in the ajc said that research shows that 25% of teenage girls in the US have or have had an STD. Immediately, a peer of mine said that she found it hard to believe that 1 in 4 girls in her room had an STD. Her statement clearly shows that she doesn’t understand how to interpret this information. The same can be said for the vast majority of folks.

Translating this to the ‘research’ that shows some new fad in education works - first the research is likely biased because it is funded by the people selling the fad (High Schools That Work, Reading First, etc.). Second, the people doing the research certainly want the outcome to be newsworthy - why do all of this work if it turns out to mean nothing? Third, many people have a job that depends on publishing - who will publish an article if the research means nothing?

All of this is true in all fields, not just education. Remember the old saying? I think it goes, “Believe half of what you read and none of what you hear.”

The sad part is that with NCLB, administrators and politicans are desparate to show the public that they are “trying” to improve education. This “show” is jumping on every bandwagon that comes along which ends up jerking schools first one way and then another - accomplishing nothing.

By Dan Chance

March 18, 2008 11:15 AM | Link to this

It is time for America to admit the truth about why our children are not acquiring productive skills in school. There is plenty of blame to go around. The schools themselves need major realignment but if absolutely nothing is done by or to the schools we… the people… can achieve astonishing results by changes in the attitudes we bring to the enterprise of education for our own children.

Let’s say the instructor is explaining the structure of a properly put together sentence but the student’s FOCUS is on texting a friend with her cell phone. Is the student going to absorb the content of the teacher’s lecture? Hardly. In fact it may be necessary to use measures like those required to break a trance in order to change her FOCUS from the keypad of her mobile device to the larger reality of the classroom and the business of learning.

Let’s say the instructor confiscates the student’s phone in accordance with school policy and the parents storm the school spewing threats and demanding everything from immediate return of the cell phone to the firing of a teacher or the principal. The parent’s FOCUS may be on 1) loss of property that has both monetary and utilitarian value even though the property will surely be returned when there is no longer any way it can be used to disrupt the process of learning or 2) what they see as unreasonable limitation of their child’s right to do whatever that child wants to do or 3) the angry tantrum the child will exhibit if the parent fails to take their side.

Whatever their reason, the parent’s FOCUS is NOT on LEARNING. Learning is where the FOCUS should have been for the student and where the FOCUS should be for the parent as well.

Confrontational rather than supportive parental involvement has become so common that students have become emboldened to disregard school rules because they are fairly certain they can do so with impunity. No punishment at home for losing a cell phone or for failing to pay attention in class, in fact their parents will assault the school and the school will probably cave in to the parent’s demands. Other students will see that the school backed down and disruptions will multiply exponentially.

Most teachers and administrators have become traumatized by unceasing challenges and threats from parents that often find misguided support from courts moved to action by attorneys hungry for fees and greedy for shares of huge awards. Too bad that whole communities have to pay higher taxes to fatten their accounts. As a result, school administrators rarely support the classroom teacher who has a problem student. County administrators are even less likely to support school administration in maintaining discipline.

Yes the system is structured to almost guarantee that schools will be a three ring circus of 1) teachers trying to pass on the seeds of knowledge and skills to 2) students who choose to ignore the naïve barbarians who do not know that life will SOON demand of them what they never acquired though it was free for the taking, and 3) administration and the surrounding community and legal system that refuses to allow the FOCUS to return to the PURPOSE of public schools, LEARNING.

In the current climate, the only solution lies in the hands of parents. Parents who are willing to FOCUS on learning. When a child comes home and says he was sent to the office • for fighting or • for not being in the classroom to which he was assigned or • for using a cell phone during class, or • for failing to be properly dressed, or • for any other infraction of the code of conduct, this should not be an opportunity to challenge the school but rather to reFOCUS the child’s attention to the purpose of school, LEARNING. If he was fighting, not in class, or using a cell phone, he was NOT learning. If he was improperly dressed he obviously had his mind on something else and was also NOT learning.

How can we encourage parents to take responsibility for their children? Many of them may be carrying a lot of baggage in the form of resentment against schools where they themselves failed. They may be subconsciously reinforcing their own negative assessments of the need for structure and limitations in the process of learning when they challenge the school’s response to misbehavior from their children. Sad to say, but some of them may be afraid that their children will do better than they did and that would be a pill too bitter to swallow so they reinforce poisonous ideas that insure their failure.

Without casting blame on anyone, can’t we just agree to change our FOCUS to LEARNING?

By Joy in Teaching

March 18, 2008 11:28 AM | Link to this

Dan Chance…here’s a hearty *AMEN.

NCLB SAYS that the responsibility for learning should be placed upon the student.

But lets face it: school admininstrators have placed the responsibility for students FAILING to learn or CHOOSING to NOT learn on the backs of teachers.

By V for Vendetta

March 18, 2008 11:56 AM | Link to this

Wow, Dan. That was interesting, accurate, and well-informed. We need more of you around here!

Thanks for the good read. Glad to have yet another reasonable and knowledgeable voice on this blog!

By jim d

March 18, 2008 12:04 PM | Link to this

Laura,

It’s any easy matter.

Just do as many “professional educators” do— disregard any study that disagrees with what you may believe. Or if that fails go ahead and attack the intelligence of the people doing the study.

By Joy in Teaching

March 18, 2008 12:04 PM | Link to this

Dan Chance…here’s a hearty *AMEN.

NCLB SAYS that the responsibility for learning should be placed upon the student.

But lets face it: school admininstrators have placed the responsibility for students FAILING to learn or CHOOSING to NOT learn on the backs of teachers.

By jim d

March 18, 2008 12:33 PM | Link to this

Joy,

While the responsibility for learning most assuredly rests with each student, we must first provide an environment conducive to learning and quit pointing fingers. In that regard I agree with Dan.

By JustMe

March 18, 2008 12:58 PM | Link to this

jim d - More of your combative style of posting, I see (your post of 12:04). I just don’t think you can help yourself.

By Sam

March 18, 2008 1:36 PM | Link to this

Laura, RE: your receipt of mail claiming that “this new study provides all the proof for why the nation or Georgia or Gwinnett County should try the latest education fad”

Even the most basic course in research/statistics emphasizes repeatedly that [1]CORRELATION DOES NOT MEAN CAUSATION and **[2]that one can find research/statistics to support or contradict any position one wishes to take.

These people from whom you receive this info are SELLING something…for BUCKS..for their pockets! Unfortunately, they are quite successful in their efforts to con those in the EDU-OCRACY who have no business being in charge of something they know little about.

By Tater

March 18, 2008 1:46 PM | Link to this

Sam Thanks for the basic course in any research project. You are right on target.

By jim d

March 18, 2008 2:46 PM | Link to this

JM,

Could be, but then again perhaps it is in the eye of the beholder?

My 12:04? What did i say that was combative? I challenge you to go find a report or a study on education that hasn’t been disputed to the point of name calling. They may exist but it would be the exception and not the rule.

By JustMe

March 18, 2008 2:53 PM | Link to this

Sam - yep! And the reason that there are so many people selling these products is because of NCLB. NCLB created this market.

NCLB is created/designed such that all schools will eventually be considered ‘failures’ and so all administrators scramble to ‘prove’ that they are trying to improve by purchasing these useless and harmful products.

By Dr. Craig Spinks

March 18, 2008 2:53 PM | Link to this

Dan Chance’s comments are well-put and congruent with my experiences gained during a 32+-year education career.” Dan asks, “…can’t WE just agree to change our focus to learning?” Among Dan’s “we” I’d include members of all parts of our society. Straightening out our kids and schools will require nothing less than the transformations of our popular culture and of our family life. That’ll take folks of good will from both genders, all races, all SESs, all religious sects,etc.

By JustMe

March 18, 2008 3:07 PM | Link to this

jim d- LOL. Even your last post (2:46) is combative! You just cannot help yourself! You “challenge me?” Too funny!

By jim d

March 18, 2008 3:28 PM | Link to this

JM,

who’s combative now?

By JustMe

March 18, 2008 3:57 PM | Link to this

Dr. Spinks I agree completely. Everyone needs to focus on learning the content.

In my world, this means that teachers should focus on creating great lessons for their students. There shouldn’t be hall duty, lunch duty, bus duty, proctoring standardized tests, and so on (the list is endless). Please, please, let the teachers focus on doing their job - teach!

Stop with the special programs (Reading First, High Schools That Work, etc.). They are way over priced and simply don’t help. If teachers know their job, they don’t need some goofy program to force them to do things, and the money can be better spent. Teachers really are trained professionals that should be able to assess their particular class/mix of students and do what is necessary to help them learn the content.

In my world, parents should also focus on learning for their child. Ensure that the child has a place to study and do homework. Ensure that appropriate time is set aside for learning EVERY night. Check the students work (at least for completion if not for accuracy). Take your child to learning places such as the zoo and to science museums. Even when you go to places like the beach, use it as a learning opportunity for your child.

Teaching and learning requires assistance from EVERYONE, not just teachers. This is not a race thing, it is not a religious thing, or even a culture thing. It is a learning thing.

By jim d

March 18, 2008 4:20 PM | Link to this

JM,

who’s combative now?

By don

March 18, 2008 4:29 PM | Link to this

why can’t we have intelligent, open debates without name calling and saying “you’re an idiot” anytime you disagree with someone’s POV?

ok, now that i’ve said that, let me give my opinion :)

not sure if anyone here is familiar with the Anna Karenina principle, but basically it comes from the book’s line “every happy family is happy in the same way, but every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” I think that applies to school systems (public and private) as much as anything else. to have a successful school system you have to have: 1. parents who care and take pride in their child’s education, 2. teachers who care about the work they are doing in educating the kids, 3. administrators that support the teachers and kids in the pursuit of education, 4. adequate funding for the education system (i’m not proposing we keep throwing money into the fire, but there is a certain amount that is required and must be properly spent), 5. students that care about the education they recieve (this attitude is often, but not always, a reflection of the parental attitude). this list is not exhaustive of what is required, i’m sure more things could be listed to help improve education, but i think these are the paramount issues, listed in order of importance. if any one or more of these things are lacking, the whole system will eventually fail. the question, in my mind, becomes, how do you motivate parents who don’t care?

By JustMe

March 18, 2008 4:38 PM | Link to this

don To answer your question, I really don’t think someone is an idiot for having a POV, especially if they rationalize it and are able to explain it. However, there is idiotic behavior that is clearly exhibited, and I will call them out. An example? How about jim d repeating the same idiotic post directed at me at 3:28 and then again at 4:20?

To me, that is much, much more of a personal attack than me directly calling him like I see it - an idiot. His posts (such as this) contribute NOTHING to the topic at hand and are strictly intended to be irritating. Ergo, he is an idiot.

By don

March 18, 2008 4:54 PM | Link to this

oh, and to answer the questions in the blog originally posited, i put absolutely no stock in surveys or opinions of “experts”. surveys can be skewed to reflect any data you need to support any argument you want to make.

By catlady

March 18, 2008 5:17 PM | Link to this

I would suggest reading the research done of independent educational researchers. Bring with you a sense of questioning and skepticism, even for the work of independent researchers. Don’t bother reading research by anyone with a financial or political tie to the research (unless you want a sad, sarcastic laugh). Look at the methods of gathering the data (example: self-reporting is NOT a good method for much of anything). Look at and try to understand the methods of data analysis and why the method was chosen.

There are some independent researchers out there. They are individuals who, by dent of hard work and scrupulous morals, have risen to the top of the research food chain and do not have to be “sponsored” by interest groups or companies.

Trust little that you read from others, such as the Georgia DOE or groups such as Reading First. Suspend your willingness to believe based on how “authoritative” you think the promulgator is. Continually ask yourself what the researcher has to gain from the “findings”.

Question all assumptions made, and try to pick out the bias of the researcher or sponsoring group.

JMHO, but you asked.

By jim d

March 18, 2008 6:16 PM | Link to this

JM,

How amusing! You are now posting my messages a second time to support your own callowness. Now that is hilarious!!

By Autoteacherman

March 18, 2008 8:10 PM | Link to this

I am one of the many Teachers of the Year for my school system in the Georgia public system. I was also one in 2001. The cost of going to the Teacher’s of the Year celebration then was $25 for a ticket to take my also science teacher wife along with me. The cost this year is $55.00 for an extra ticket to the tables of ten for the Gala. More than doubled when our pay has not! I can’t afford that on 2% for the raise this year. When is Sonny going to understand? Teachers, police, firefighters and other public service workers need more than the cost of the increase of their insurance costs. I protest and ask that all teacher choose to avoid any usless expense that does not improve classroom instruction. Don’t go this year! Show Sonny who is in charge of teaching. Thank you, Autoteacherman

By Dr. Craig Spinks

March 18, 2008 8:49 PM | Link to this

So long as many kids are promoted even though they haven’t mastered designated content; so long as many teachers are paid and retained even though they don’t consistently employ proven methods and materials to help their students learn; so long as many administrators don’t offer competent, courageous leadership for their schools and school systems; so long as many school boards form too-cozy relationships with their central office staffs and hire effete attorneys to represent the board; and so long as we acquiesce in the above, the probability our state’s public school system will become effective approaches zero.

By WFC

March 19, 2008 8:48 AM | Link to this

Being a good student is HARD WORK. Almost all of the ed research of the past 40 years and the resulting fad curriculums have been aimed at reducing the amount of the necessary “grunt work” students have to do. For example, much has been made of “critical thinking” in history and this is important. However, I can think critically about historical topics ONLY because I was forced to learn the basic facts. Ed research would have you believe that this is possible otherwise (Edwin Fenton & the “inquiry method” for those of you old enough to remember.) Hogwash!

By Tater

March 19, 2008 8:55 AM | Link to this

Dr. Spinks

You are absolutely 100% correct. Our school systems (government) as destined to fail unless their is competition in the marketplace. Can you share with me your views on school choice and vouchers?

By Paris

March 22, 2008 9:46 AM | Link to this

Dan Chance, that was very well stated! Nice read.