Sunday, December 30, 2012

Common core

On another post Anonymous wrote:

NEW POST for Parents' FYI:


"Pennsylvania on board with Common Core standards for students."

"Starting next school year, public schools in Pennsylvania and in much of the country will use a more rigorous curriculum aimed at unifying educational standards."

"The Common Core Standards seek to make U.S. students more competitive with increasingly proficient students from other countries."

"These standards emphasize teaching math more in-depth, and teaching English and language arts through not just classic books but also historical documents and technical manuals."

"States and school districts can decide specifics."

"Pennsylvania State Board of Education, . . . approved their adoption in 2010.

“That‘s because the standards are not really in any conflict with standards that Pennsylvania already has,” said Ron Cowell, president of the nonprofit Education Policy and Leadership Center in Harrisburg."

Read more: http://triblive.com/state/pennsylvania/3165276-74/standards-education-state#ixzz2GYUaUF9t

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Certain PPS teachers reprimanded for cheating

On another post Anonymous wrote:

NEW POST on CHEATING in PPS
Pittsburgh teachers reprimanded for 'testing irregularities'
“The investigation focused on excessive erasures that changed wrong answers to right ones.
In the letter, Ms. Dumaresq named 11 schools for which the department found at least one grade had "a high number of students with a high number of wrong-to-right erasures in at least one of the identified years."
The schools are Pittsburgh Arsenal PreK-5 in Lawrenceville, Arsenal 6-8 in Lawrenceville, Dilworth PreK-5 in East Liberty, Faison PreK-5 in Homewood, Fort Pitt PreK-5 in Garfield, Fulton PreK-5 in Highland Park, Liberty K-5 in Shadyside, Montessori PreK-8 in Friendship, Roosevelt PreK-5 in Carrick, Schiller 6-8 on the North Side and Stevens K-8 in Elliott.
Ms. Dumaresq's letter did not say how many teachers were investigated nor how many would receive training . . . . .”

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-city/2-pittsburgh-teachers-reprimanded-for-testing-irregularities-668216/#ixzz2GRy0ZeKW

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Get involved

On another post Anonymous wrote:

New Post?

The holidays are almost over and now might be the time for parents to start paying attention. Oh, I know there is a lot to absorb and picking and choosing areas of pps that deserve your focus alone sounds like a big job. If in fact your taxes go up to support the district might that be an incentive to sit up and take notice of all that is happening? Starting small could work, go to a PTO meeting with just one question about a program. Go to a PSCC meeting and ask if the same discipline standards apply at all high schools? Take your A+ Report to the Community and pick one topic for deeper discussion. If there was a teacher or staff member who made a difference for your kid in the first half of the school year, tell the principal now either in an email or in a note. Don't stand at the bus stop with the other parents complaining when they can't do anything about it. Take your issues to those who can. Contact your board member or the board office (be sure to track response time). If your on-line staff list for your school hasn't been updated in 5 years and you do not know who your FACE person is, call the office. Make 2013 better than 2012.

Monday, December 24, 2012

Grading parents

On another post Anonymous said:

I'm unsure where I should post this editorial. BRAVO to the retired teacher who wrote it!

Parents should be graded on home support...

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/opinion/letters/parents-should-be-graded-on-home-support-for-education-667644/

Monday, December 17, 2012

PPS seeking consultants for academic, financial issues

On another post Anonymous wrote:


New post please:
Pittsburgh schools seek advisers for planning
December 17, 2012 12:09 am

By Eleanor Chute / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
If Pittsburgh Public Schools keeps doing what it's doing, officials expect it will run out of money in 2015.


Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-city/pittsburgh-schools-seek-advisers-for-planning-666675/#ixzz2FJr1tg8U

Sunday, December 16, 2012

PPS grads/Pittsburgh Promise/ catching up

On another post Anonymous wrote:\


This editorial written to the PG is very eye opening and sad. No graduate of PPS should have to attend community college for 3 years to catch up. So much for their "promse" money, it isn't being used for the degree they want to get, just preparing them to get into a 4 yr college. I thought that was what high school was for. Very few kids are as determined as this one. Great kid.

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/opinion/letters/help-the-students-666089/

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

"When foundations go bad"

On another post Anonymous wrote:

"Maybe another blog entry-this article is a must-read!

"When foundations go bad"
Philadelphia Daily News


... in corporate-style management practices) as well as the Gates Foundation (which has given Pittsburgh Public Schools $40 million for teacher evaluation ...

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/attytood/When-foundations-go-bad.html "

Monday, December 10, 2012

Principal/ bully

On the may 2012 post on this topic Anonymous wrote:

I am a first year teacher, and both the vp and prinicipals are bullies. I thought teaching was suppose to be about the success of the students! I was told today to either resign or apply for a transfer, not because I am doing a horrible job but because I am not doing what they want me to do. I stay for study hall on my own time but I was given a bad report because I don't stay the days they want me to. Also they pick at teachers for no reason.. I was told to our my data one place only to be told now its in the wrong location. I am sooooo stressed. It's not healthy and everyone is talking about transferring I hope something happens soon because I love my students. 

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Administrator's classroom experience

On another post Anonymous wrote:

new post:

today's P-G:
http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/opinion/letters/school-officials-dont-lack-classroom-experience-665631/

Barbara Rudiak: School officials don't lack classroom experience

section B-2 

Pps responses to state of the district questions



New post please:
http://www.stateofthedistrict.org/domain/189

Here is a link to the District answers to questions asked at the State of the District. You have to open several PDF's so it's not very convenient. 

Friday, December 7, 2012

Blog's page views

Almost at 400,000 page views for the blog!  So, we are averaging about 100,000 a year or 2,000 a week.

Plan to publicize school level data

On another post Anonymous wrote:


New topic please:
If you attended the EFA meeting last night.....I'm curious to know what you think of the District's plan to publicize school level data.

Self directed learning

Sure enough, just google this term and a slew of links come up.  Maybe someone will have time to sort through them and see if any controlled studies have been done on the outcomes  of this approach.  In terms of PPPS there  does not seem to have been any input obtained in advance from parents. From teachers? From students?  Does anyone know?

Monday, December 3, 2012

New school board president

On another post Anonymous wrote:

New post please…...Pittsburgh Public Schools vote Sharene Shealey to be new president


Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-city/pittsburgh-public-schools-vote-sharene-shealey-to-be-new-president-664766/#ixzz2E2fnPOm8

I'm very disappointed. As a parent that either attends every board meeting or watches them on PPS Tube, I believe Dr. Holley would have been a much better choice.

My question: Since Ms. Sheeley's term is up, if someone new is elected in her place, what happens? Does the Board vote again or does one of the vice president's step up? 

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Principal bonuses

From the PG:

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-city/city-school-principals-get-109000-in-bonuses-664460/