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April 2008
Fourth-grade slump
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
DeKalb County school leaders are discussing putting fourth- and fifth-graders from three different elementary schools together in just one school. School officials say the change will relieve overcrowding.
But the design may have some academic benefits. It might fix the “fourth-grade slump.”
Researchers and teachers use the phrase to describe the struggles many older elementary students have with reading. Starting in fourth-grade, kids go from learning to read to reading to learn. Textbooks become more difficult. Students must be able to explain what they read and make inferences about what the author is trying to say.
Many children struggle with this. Check out the reading scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress for proof.
Some say this happens because teachers spend so much time teaching children how to read; they spend little time emphasizing reading comprehension skills.
Others say elementary schools focus too much on the needs of younger children at the expense of older students. They might argue that could be avoided in a school with just fourth- and fifth-graders.
And then there are people who blame outside distractions - like videogames, sports and other activities - that lessen the amount of time students have to read outside of school.
Have you come across the fourth-grade slump with your children or students? What do you think can be done to reverse it?
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Are you buying a gift?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
There are several signs the school year is almost over. There’s warmer weather. There’s the release of some test scores. And there are emails from parents asking if they need to buy a gift for their child’s teachers.
I’ve had many teachers tell me they don’t expect presents. When the wrapped gifts and shiny bags arrive, teachers say they think of the items as polite gestures. Many list homemade knickknacks or hand-written cards from students as their favorite gifts.
But I’ve also visited schools where PTA leaders put together lists of teachers’ favorite colors, foods and places to shop. I’ve heard of parents who ask other parents to give $50 a year to buy presents for teachers. Teachers told me about receiving cashmere scarves and other extravagant gifts.
Does it make sense to buy presents for the teacher? If, so what’s the appropriate gift?
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Who should pick the leader?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Clayton school board members hired a temporary superintendent Saturday during an unruly meeting. Audience members tried to voice their opposition to the hire but board members refused to listen.
Little more can be said about the tragic and depressing situation in Clayton. But the board’s actions do raise the question: How much say should the public have in who runs the schools?
One would expect parents, teachers and taxpayers to at least get to voice their opinions as to who board members pick to be the superintendent. But what role should the public get when the system picks other positions, such as school principals?
How much say do you want in who gets to sit in the front office? What do you expect board members to do with the community’s concerns?
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What would you put in the budget?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s budget time for area school districts. Regardless of the size of the system, leaders are stressing over the same problems: cuts in state funding, increased expenses and more students.
School leaders are making cuts as they try to balance their budgets without tax hikes. DeKalb County proposed giving all employees a 2.5 percent raise, but teachers would not get their customary step salary increases based on experience. Gwinnett County put off hiring additional school police officers.
Everyone has ideas on how to divvy up the pot of money. Teachers want their step salary increases. Some parents and teachers want more money for remedial math and reading programs. Others say schools need more security officers, more library books and smaller class sizes.
All these wishes can’t be granted. So let me ask you this: How would you spend the money? What would you protect and what would you cut?
NOTE: Statewide scores on the Georgia High School Graduation Test are out. Read the report here.
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How important is P.E.?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Gwinnett County school leaders are considering allowing middle school students to spend less time in gym and health classes so kidscan have more time in electives like art and band.
The school district currently requires middle school students to take nine weeks of health and nine weeks of physical education each year, according to a story by Aileen Dodd. The state doesn’t have these requirements and some Gwinnett parents have asked for their kids to have the freedom to take other classes.
Meanwhile there’s been some national debate to make physical education a part of No Child Left Behind. Richards Simmons talked about it recently on the Today show. The American Heart Association has suggested a bill that would require states to include physical education in their NCLB plans.
Does gym belong on the same level of importance as math or reading? The argument can be made that physical health is important, but are we willing to let students have fewer gym classes if it means they can have more arts classes? What classes do we value more than physical education?
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Violence against teachers
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Teachers have long swapped stories about violent students and disruptive classes. But this one is something different.
Atlanta police arrested a mother and daughter after the girl’s teacher was brutally attacked.
Police said the pair attacked the Southside High teacher. The mother pulled the teacher’s hair and knocked her to the ground, police said. Then the pair stomped on the teacher, police said.
The girl has been expelled from Atlanta schools. School officials say the teacher may sue the district.
We’re hearing more about these attacks. In January, Gwinnett school police said a seventh-grader beat a teacher so hard she broke the woman’s glasses and bloodied her lip. There’s talk in south Fulton about some incidents at Paul West Middle.
What should a teacher do when a student (or parent) acts out? A teacher can call for help but these situations escalate so quickly there often isn’t time for that. How can schools protect teachers and students from these attacks?
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Bumping into teachers
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I was waiting for my flight at the airport when I bumped into a teacher I know.
While we were talking one of her students walked by and said hello. Then the boy’s parents came by. The mother immediately questioned why the teacher marked an answer wrong on a recent test. The mom asked whether there would be a pop quiz this week. She also questioned why the teacher doesn’t assign more homework.
The teacher explained the airport wasn’t the proper place to discuss these issues and suggested the mother call or come by the school. But the mother kept asking her questions.
I walked away wondering how often something like this happens. Is it acceptable for parents to talk with teachers about students outside of school? Should these conversations only take place in a classroom?
Cross Blog Alert: Today’s topic on MOMania is about schools teaching students about the environment.
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Are we still A Nation At Risk?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“Our nation is at risk … the educational foundations of our society are presently being eroded by a rising tide of mediocrity that threatens our very future as a Nation and a people.”
These lines come from A Nation At Risk, the groundbreaking report full of disturbing facts about education in this country. When the report came out 25 years ago it triggered a state of emergency.
The report highlighted declining test scores in English, math and science. It worried about America’s ability to compete with other nations. It talked about the demand for highly skilled workers and wondered whether the country’s students could handle these jobs.
Let’s look at where we are today. While SAT scores have gone up, scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress aren’t as high as many would expect. High schools struggle to make sure students graduate on time. There are constant reports that American students can’t hold their own against kids from other countries.
But there are improvements. Research and technology have led to better teaching methods. There’s been more attention paid to basic reading skills and more programs to support students who struggle in school. Some say we have a stronger pool of teachers.
Still, one must wonder: Are our schools better than they were 25 years ago? What lessons do we still need to learn?
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The future of Catholic schools
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
With Pope Benedict XVI visiting the United States there’s been a lot of talk about Catholic education in this country.
About 5.2 million children attended Catholic school in the early 1960s. Now enrollment is about 2.3 million. More than 1,300 Catholic schools have closed since 1990, with many of them in cities, according to a new study from the Thomas B. Fordham Institute. The Washington think tank promotes the benefits of Catholic schooling.
Why the national decline? Experts debate the answer. The Alliance for Catholic Education has said the growth of charter schools in urban areas is one cause.
There is still a strong demand for Catholic schools, particularly in the Southeast as more families move here, according to the National Catholic Educational Association.
More than 11,000 students attend Catholic school in the Atlanta area, according to the Archdiocese of Atlanta.
The archdiocese has opened six schools since 1999. The Notre Dame Academy, an independent Catholic school, opened in Duluth in 2005. (Of the 24 Catholic schools in the metro area, Notre Dame is among six that operate independently and receive no financial support from the archdiocese.)
Do you think we will see more Catholic schools in the Atlanta area? How do Catholic schools remain competitive with the variety of public and private school programs we have today?
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Test-taking time
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
When will metro Atlanta students take the CRCT? The answer depends on where they go to school.
Kids in Gwinnett started taking the state tests Tuesday. Fulton kids begin today. Clayton, Cobb and DeKalb won’t start until next week.
Why is it like this? Turns out choosing the days to give these tests is left up to local school officials. Of course they have differing ideas on when students will perform best.
Fulton and Gwinnett give the test this week because students are relaxed after spring break and so their schools get the results back earlier. Cobb and DeKalb pick the end of the testing window to give students and teachers more time to prepare.
These multiple-choice tests are critical. Some students must pass parts of the exam to move on the next grade. Scores will help determine whether schools made the testing goals required through No Child Left Behind.
Should school districts have the freedom to decide when their students take these tests? Do the different testing dates put some students at a disadvantage?
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Higher price for higher education
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
People are paying more at the gas pump and the grocery, so should we be surprised that parents and students will soon pay more for college?
The Board of Regents Tuesday approved tuition increases at the state’s public colleges and universities. Incoming freshmen will pay 5 percent to 8 percent more than last year’s freshman class.
Few are surprised anymore when college tuition goes up. But with other rising expenses, I wonder how this increase will affect families.
So many students already use scholarships, grants and loans to pay for college. More than $17 billion in private student loans were issued in 2006, up from $4 billion in 2001, according to national studies on student lending. Many also work part-time jobs. Still, they spend years after graduation paying off college debt.
How worried are you about paying for college? What arrangements are you making with your kids about who will pay for higher education?
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Getting people involved
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I covered the Atlanta Public Schools board meeting Monday night and was surprised by how many community people showed up.
Several people from Grant Park spoke to the board about ways to improve their local middle school. They talked about the lessons they’d like students to learn. They talked about building a community and neighborhood environment.
Their comments made me think about how unpredictable community involvement can be. Within the same district you could find one elementary school PTA with over 100 members, while another elementary school may have none.
Teachers, principals and other school leaders have said how difficult it can be to get people involved. Gwinnett Superintendent J. Alvin Wilbanks said his system will start a program called Be There to encourage parents to get more involved in their kids’ studies.
Of course some parents can be too involved in their local schools. But it seems like having too many volunteers is better than having none.
What do your schools do to get parents and community members involved? Is there something you wish they would do to boost involvement?
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Is it an excuse or explanation?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A student walks into class and tells the teacher she didn’t finish her paper. The student explains the computer broke. Maybe she says she was too busy helping her parents with her siblings. Or maybe the student says her mom forgot to pay the electricity bill.
The student thinks she’s explaining why she couldn’t do the work. All the teacher hears are excuses.
The same conversation has been taking place with school leaders across the area.
Teachers, principals and school board members all say many students struggle in school because of off-campus problems. They cite problems of violence, family crises, financial difficulties, health issues and much more. They discuss these issues during community meetings and in letters to the editor.
Countless studies show these home issues affect student learning. How can they not?
Educators have long argued the public needs to know the challenges students and schools face. That’s true. But at what point do these explanations become excuses? How important are the reasons when what we care about are results?
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Finding a spot in pre-K
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
There are a couple of spring rituals you expect in Georgia. There’s the yellow blanket of pollen everywhere. There’s the lighter traffic during spring break. And there’s the mad dash to register for the state’s free pre-kindergarten program.
These pre-k classes are funded by the Georgia Lottery. During the 2006-07 school year the state spent more than $300 million to provide more than 75,000 children with pre-k, according to Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning.
The classes are open to all 4-year-olds, regardless of their parents’ income. The program is extremely popular, with demand often exceeding available space.
Some school systems hold lotteries to fill their open seats. Others don’t. I’ve heard of parents camping out in front of some programs four days before registration to guarantee a spot for their child.
Few could blame parents for going all out to help their children. But what about parents who can’t go to those extremes? I don’t know of many low-income parents who can afford to take four days off from work to stand in a line to get their kid into a good program.
How far would you go to get a spot for your child in a free pre-k program?
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Options for Clayton students
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It would seem Clayton County students and their families would have several options if their school district loses accreditation. Students could attend private school. Families could pitch in and home school groups of children together. Or they could enroll in a neighboring school system.
Today’s story by John Hollis shows those options really don’t exist.
Families and educators in nearby public school districts — including Fayette and Henry — have said they don’t want Clayton’s children. Some Clayton parents can’t afford to take time off from work to teach their children at home. Private schools are too expensive, charging more than $10,000 a year.
The problems the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools cited with Clayton schools have little to do with the quality of education students receive or the talent level of the system’s teachers. Still, many parents worry about their children attending the school district if its accreditation is revoked.
What options are really left for Clayton students? Can anything else be done to help these children?
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What makes a good college town?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
George Chidi wrote a fun story looking at how Lawrenceville could become a quintessential college town.
The city is home to Georgia Gwinnett College, the state’s new four-year public university. The campus has students, professors and a mascot but little else. There’s no football team, no stadium and no dorms. It’ll be a long time before Lawrenceville becomes Athens.
There’s been talking about building student housing near campus. Some say a shuttle or trolley should take students from campus to downtown Lawrenceville where there are restaurants and bars. Others say the campus needs to offer more activities for students and others in the community.
Students aren’t the only ones who benefit from living in college towns. The entire community can get something out of the art and culture many college towns offer.
What do you expect from a college town? How would you transform your community into one?
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Spring break for all?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Some Clayton County parents and others are questioning why the school district’s administrative offices shut down for spring break.
Yes, some school districts close their central offices for all or part of spring break. But some say it’s inappropriate for Clayton school leaders to take a five-day vacation when the system has yet to meet the mandates required to keep its accreditation. The district’s deadline is Sept. 1.
Administrators from other districts have said they use spring break week to work on next year’s budget.
Parents in many metro school systems have said they use the break to get answers about their child’s school. Some call the district the get information about special programs or to find answers about upcoming tests.
What do you think, should district administrative offices be closed for spring break?
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Who can be a teacher?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Some of you have heard about a California appellate court ruling over home schooling. The judges basically ruled parents who lack teaching credentials can’t teach their children at home.
The three-judge panel ruled children must attend a public school unless they’re enrolled in a private school or are taught by someone with a valid teaching license. Many legal experts have said they expect this ruling will be overturned.
Still, the ruling raises some interesting questions. Experts say parents are a child’s first teacher. At what point should a parent stop being a child’s only teacher?
When it comes to schools, classroom teachers aren’t created equal. I’ve observed teachers who had degrees in the subject area they teach but never learned classroom management skills. They couldn’t control the class, making it impossible to actually teach. What makes someone a teacher?
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Study over spring break
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
You’re not imagining things if students seem a little happier than usual for a Friday. Today is the last day of school before spring break for many metro school systems.
Many people imagine spring break as a week of fun, sun and relaxation. But it’s not that way for everyone.
A lot of families say the break isn’t as relaxing as it used to be. Their kids spend the days off finishing projects and writing papers. Others say their kids will be getting ready for important state exams, like the CRCT.
What will you be doing over spring break? Will you get to relax or will this be a working vacation?
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How do you stop a bully?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I’ve been getting a lot more calls from parents worried about bullying at their kids’ schools. They say their child is getting picked on and the teacher and principal won’t do anything about it.
Bullying has always existed. Schools already have discipline codes and rules to fight this problem, but many people say it isn’t enough.
Some legislators support a bill that would require school systems to develop additional policies against bullies and give immunity to those who report them. Taking a different approach, more than 100 DeKalb schools pledged their campuses are “No Place for Hate” and promised to reject bullying.
These different approaches are noble, but will they work? How can schools realistically stop bullying?
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What makes a superintendent a good superintendent?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
There’s been a lot of talk about superintendents lately. Fulton County swore in a new superintendent Tuesday. Clayton County has yet to find someone to lead them.
We’ve blogged about searching for a superintendent and how much to pay one, but we haven’t discussed what makes someone an effective school leader.
Many would say a superintendent’s most important job is to make sure students are learning and achieving. A superintendent needs to be a good manager and carry out the board’s decisions and mission for the school district.
The superintendent should be a good listener - taking in opinions from teachers, parents, students and others in the community before making the best decision. Then there are the fiscal responsibilities and let’s not forget about hiring the right people.
What do you think is a superintendent’s job? How do you measure whether the superintendent is effective?
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Fixing high schools
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A national study released today says students in big city schools have about a 50-50 shot of graduating from high school on time.
The report included Atlanta in its list of the 50 largest cities. The data is about four years old and puts the Atlanta Public Schools graduation rate at 46 percent. The district has since started new programs to help students and its graduation rate has increased to about 68 percent.
For too long most school districts — urban, suburban and rural — have struggled over how to improve high schools. Many say the schools are too large and too impersonal. Atlanta’s big push was to create smaller communities for high school students. They also provide more tutoring, offer Saturday school classes and give students more one-on-one time with teachers and other adults.
How would you improve high schools? What can parents, business leaders, church groups and other community agencies do to help more kids graduate on time?
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