tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post1957684287877652916..comments2023-08-24T05:24:51.011-04:00Comments on PURE Reform: Timeline for releasing PSSA scoresQuestionerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04349071186140766778noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-42099895493194566802014-07-01T17:54:35.686-04:002014-07-01T17:54:35.686-04:00Some teachers in PPS have every student's scor...Some teachers in PPS have every student's score on the PSSA. Some do not! Why? At whose discretion in PPS are the scores sent or not sent. PDE requires that they be sent to every parent. So what happens when some parents do not receive the scores. And just as importantly, what happens when some teachers do not receive their students scores. To whom do the protest without being castigated or FIRED?<br /><br />Something is very wrong at PPS? Who can be held accountable when teachers and parents and students do not have access to PSSA scores that have been sent to Districts by the state?<br /><br />Parents, please post here the school's name of any students whose scores have not been received by parents! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-77099763301431496482014-06-29T00:58:23.106-04:002014-06-29T00:58:23.106-04:00Parents and taxpayers need to insist that they are...Parents and taxpayers need to insist that they are given the same respect that parents of other municipalities are given.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-11339561160339890912014-06-27T08:28:53.217-04:002014-06-27T08:28:53.217-04:00Exactly how does white euro male culture impact al...Exactly how does white euro male culture impact algebra and biology test scores? What does that look like? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-17704206817157863722014-06-27T08:11:55.660-04:002014-06-27T08:11:55.660-04:00Check your kids tests scores. If they don't se...Check your kids tests scores. If they don't seem credible, call attention to it. Mistakes are made frequently.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-67532919811939126632014-06-25T12:00:51.658-04:002014-06-25T12:00:51.658-04:00If the problems and the solutions vary significant...If the problems and the solutions vary significantly from school to school, why would seeing one. (As yet unnamed) school where a solution has been found prove that we knew what to do in all the schools? MR Edmunds has some beautiful rhetoric but more explanation is needed if he is to go beyond "just trust me on this"Questionerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04349071186140766778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-7562570931289969382014-06-25T11:56:06.523-04:002014-06-25T11:56:06.523-04:00Why must the teacher always have to be everything ...Why must the teacher always have to be everything to the students? In every class, the most successful students are those that benefit from both an effective teacher AND effective parents! It takes both to make it happen for the child. There is no way to hold parents accountable, so teachers must make up for every deficit related to home life. We are headed toward a system in which we can lose our pay because of a child's home life or lack thereof, and the parent has zero accountability! That is scary.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-85976853974389926772014-06-25T11:48:58.800-04:002014-06-25T11:48:58.800-04:00Analyzing each of the blogs separately rather that...Analyzing each of the blogs separately rather that holistically does indeed lead to characterizing comments and responses as "polarizing" when in fact many of the comments, that differ substantially in remedies for the failure to educated certain children, were written by the same person.<br /><br />There is more than one problem that must be addressed and "poverty" is not the one that has the greatest impact on what a school, teacher and education strategy, philosophy, psychology can accomplish. It is also more that a "caring","competent" teacher can do in a given situation. Nor is this about "reform". We know enough, and it is being done, to educate all children but not with a single, isolated, or polarizing approach. The problems differ significantly, thus, so must the solutions.<br />Surely, we know that a one-size-fits-all approach to education serves no one.<br /><br />Inequality in achievement is the result of inequity in services. It is NOT about poverty, race, family, neighborhood of the children. It IS about the services provided by a school. <br /><br />“We can, whenever and wherever we choose, successfully teach all children whose schooling is of interest to us. We already know more than we need to do that. Whether or not we do it must finally depend on how we feel about the fact that we haven’t so far.”<br />Ron EdmondsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-57374147820368942152014-06-25T11:39:23.037-04:002014-06-25T11:39:23.037-04:00Well said 10:58. Anyone who actually spends time i...Well said 10:58. Anyone who actually spends time in our schools would agree. We've seen what our children go through. How could it not affect their performance? My job performance would be affected by these things. As a stable adult, teachers can do a lot, but we can't mitigate all of the outside factors that impact our high risk students.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-5989466128825112802014-06-25T11:31:58.173-04:002014-06-25T11:31:58.173-04:00There is a difference in many of these poverty str...There is a difference in many of these poverty stricken counties and the U.S., the parents and the children VALUE education and see it as a means to mobility. My students have parents who don't work and still have flat screen TV, iPhones, flashy clothes, etc.<br /><br />I doubt poverty stricken Ghana children play with their iPhones in class. In PPS you see it all the time, school is 95% free and reduced lunch but kids show up with an iPhone and get picked up in a Cadillac. You don't NEED education or a job is the message that sends.<br /><br />Other countries that don't pay people to have children that teachers end up responsible for raising, might actually view their education as a way to earn a living.<br /><br />As for white European centered education??!! I went to a suburban school that was predominantly white, but with a large number of children from India. They were over represented in Honor Societies, gifted, etc. I graduated in 1995 and it is still that way in that school now! Why do they outperform their white "euro" peers? Their parents place a high value on education and appreciate the opportunity for their children to be educated and make a successful life for themselves.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-34672121557848335432014-06-25T11:17:37.626-04:002014-06-25T11:17:37.626-04:0010:25 you hit the nail on the head! The best train...10:25 you hit the nail on the head! The best trained, most caring teacher can't make up for all that is missing in so many kids lives. That kind of thinking is how we got into this NCLB mess in the first place. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-9575503951372709302014-06-25T11:00:11.270-04:002014-06-25T11:00:11.270-04:00What I don't get is we tried the reform and it...What I don't get is we tried the reform and it didn't work. Roosevelt initially said it would take 3 years before we see positive results. Now 6 years later the only thing the reforms proved is that it's NOT ALL the teacher. If it was all the teacher scores should have improved. The only thing that the reforms proved here in Pittsburgh is that we have many greedy people in charge. I am embarrassed to say I teach in this district. Shame.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-36491450111026583942014-06-25T10:58:33.601-04:002014-06-25T10:58:33.601-04:00Discourse about achievement inequality in the US a...Discourse about achievement inequality in the US always seems to be presented in a polarized way.on one side there are people pointing to institutionalized racism. On the other people pointing out how the real impact of poverty hurts students and their education. These are not two opposing issues, they are both part of the same problem. Our schools and all of our big institutions are grounded in the culture of the dominant class. White European male middle - upper class. Anyone who does not fit into that group has been and continues to be marginalized and disenfranchised. Its also true that when you look at affluent students in the us they outperform students in other countries consistently. We cannot boil down the problems of our educational system by saying that when you have a competent, caring educator who believes students can achieve to high levels they will. It scapegoats the educators. It's an overly simplistic cop out. I have taught children who were homeless, who were recovering from abuse, dealing with drug addiction, who asked me how they could avoid getting shot, who were afraid to walk to school because they didn't feel safe, who were dealing with the trauma of just seeing a loved one murdered, who fell asleep sitting up because they worked late every night, who missed a lot of school because they had to provide childcare, who were consistently hungry and much more. Saying that these situations don't impact their learning is insane. The negative impact cannot be mediated just by providing "good teachers" and we don't have an epidemic of bad teachers. I fully agree that if gates wanted to have a real impact on the problem he would have spent his money in other ways. I am all for the comprehensive community school. So lets not act as if it's either racism or poverty, its both. And teaches cannot magically fix either of them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-58750627548328484792014-06-25T10:25:20.898-04:002014-06-25T10:25:20.898-04:00Hahaha. The premise is that if this person says t...Hahaha. The premise is that if this person says that 100% of something can be achieved easily and just by having the mindset, well, then, don't question it! <br /><br />It just means that if there is anything bad, if children don't perform, you should look no further than the teacher's heart. It's like magic! It's fairy dust! Don't question! Just believe! <br /><br />It also is the kind of thinking that has fueled so much of our reform. In the end it's ALL the teacher and nothing else. <br /><br />This doesn't say that the teacher's thoughts aren't important, but it does say that they aren't the sole motivating factor in educational success. Not by a long shot. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-9928807759873394992014-06-25T09:49:06.095-04:002014-06-25T09:49:06.095-04:00If the premise is that there is a problem with the...If the premise is that there is a problem with the American system or a European focus, outstanding performance under for example a Ghanian system would support that premise. Questionerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04349071186140766778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-59771904034490890102014-06-25T09:37:00.362-04:002014-06-25T09:37:00.362-04:00Where a nation stands is not relevant except to in...Where a nation stands is not relevant except to indicate that many (or perhaps only one) school, classroom, teacher in that nation has accomplished what is being claimed cannot be accomplished because of poverty<br /><br />Please do not, inadvertently or deliberately, miss the point. Please reread the Ron Edmonds quote!<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-9557576638673075432014-06-25T09:28:46.192-04:002014-06-25T09:28:46.192-04:00Again, why do you need to "point" to a s...Again, why do you need to "point" to a school.<br /><br />No two schools are the same, in this country or others.<br /><br />Those who insist on missing the point of the Ron Edmonds quote, will never venture forward to success.<br /><br />Thinking is definitely something missing in many who claim to be educated.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-5632639865945879472014-06-25T09:06:14.599-04:002014-06-25T09:06:14.599-04:00Also, if the problem is a European white centered ...Also, if the problem is a European white centered American education system why is it that so many Asian groups perform the best?Questionerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04349071186140766778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-39896607338038123712014-06-25T09:01:09.346-04:002014-06-25T09:01:09.346-04:00So where does Ghana stand in world education ranki...So where does Ghana stand in world education rankings? And does Mr edmunds point to any school is the US?Questionerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04349071186140766778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-20516009370262909812014-06-25T07:43:33.539-04:002014-06-25T07:43:33.539-04:00Pointing to a solution for one group does not equa...Pointing to a solution for one group does not equate to solving the problem for all groups. That should be obvious to anyone. Why isn't it?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-4533267826547319752014-06-25T07:25:47.438-04:002014-06-25T07:25:47.438-04:00Questioner: There are many, many schools, not jus...Questioner: There are many, many schools, not just one. More importantly, there is no single formula, script, etc. Those looking for a single prescription will never find it. Creative, thoughtful, knowledgeable, committed, caring, determined educators do this every day in classrooms (and schools) all over the world. <br /><br />Personally, I have seen it done in Ghana in classrooms and schools that quite literally are barren with children coming from poverty the likes of which we have never seen in this country. YET, the children read and write English (while speaking several other languages) at a level of learning not seen in our schools. <br /><br />Those who must seek formulas, prescriptions, and scripts, etc. are not educators and will never be successful at teaching all children. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-34262688112502197712014-06-25T06:59:40.554-04:002014-06-25T06:59:40.554-04:00So what is the name/ location of a school that he ...So what is the name/ location of a school that he points to?Questionerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04349071186140766778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-77009158897602790032014-06-25T06:58:13.339-04:002014-06-25T06:58:13.339-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Questionerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04349071186140766778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-79873241606247069772014-06-25T06:47:07.321-04:002014-06-25T06:47:07.321-04:00Here is the Ron Edmunds quote referenced in the pr...Here is the Ron Edmunds quote referenced in the previous post:<br />“How Many Do You Need to See? How many effective schools would you have to see to be persuaded of the educability of poor children? If your answer is more than one, then I submit that you have reasons of your own for preferring to believe that pupil performance derives from family background instead of school response to family background. Whether or not we will ever effectively teach the children of the poor is probably far more a matter of politics than of social science and this is as it should be.<br /><br />“We can, whenever and wherever we choose, successfully teach all children whose schooling is of interest to us. We already know more than we need to do that. Whether or not we do it must finally depend on how we feel about the fact that we haven’t so far.”<br />Ron EdmondsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-61541001342967013832014-06-25T06:42:29.131-04:002014-06-25T06:42:29.131-04:00Being "real" also means some people alwa...Being "real" also means some people always find "excuses" for failure to meet goals. Others find a way to reach and surpass them. Those determined to make a difference always do it.<br /><br />If another has to write the script for you, it will never happen. Paraphrasing Ron Edmunds, if it can be done in one instance, it can be done in others.<br /><br />Those who need excuses-- like poverty and all of its by-products--- need to move on to their life's work.<br /> Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-23783942322327678452014-06-25T00:20:12.616-04:002014-06-25T00:20:12.616-04:00The article also addresses the gap between U.S. &a...The article also addresses the gap between U.S. & other countries due to the amount of american children living in poverty.<br /><br />Let's be real. It has nothing to do with children wanting to learn or teachers believing they can. I know as an adult, I would not be able to function at my job if had to live the home life of many of my students. Not having steady meals, violence in neighborhood, not having glasses or medicine, etc, and it wouldn't matter how much I wanted it or how much anyone believed in me. Try performing at your job without your basic needs met.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com