tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post6912201562323066911..comments2023-08-24T05:24:51.011-04:00Comments on PURE Reform: Leaders of the "reform movement" at odds w/ parents, studies about class sizeQuestionerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04349071186140766778noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-12808486942582492082011-06-28T15:02:28.812-04:002011-06-28T15:02:28.812-04:00**Was most of this shuffling due to requirements f...**Was most of this shuffling due to requirements for federal funding where there needs to be a staff turnover of more than 50% in schools not doing well? **<br /><br />No. It was because of closing Faison and Lincoln 6th to 8th grades, reconfiguring Westinghouse, coming up with a new model for Faison K-5 (that move of trying a new model may have had something to do with scores) redoing Brashear (and King? Did they have to reapply as well?) for the Teacher's Academy and the influx of kids to Milliones due to closing Peabody and the unappealing W'house single gender option. <br /><br />If Brashear kept 30% of its teachers, that means 70% are moving to new schools, W'house required applications for its staffing, so all of the teachers not rehired? Out on the market, teachers from the closed schools, teachers who couldn't stand their PELA, teachers who wanted to move, teachers who were at Schenley only and moved to new positions, it's crazy out there!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-59324643172287445312011-06-28T14:25:31.354-04:002011-06-28T14:25:31.354-04:00Administrators should also be asked about previous...Administrators should also be asked about previous responsibilities, certifications, experience, expertise, school level (if any) before they are put in positions for which they have no qualifications.<br /><br />Moving 50% of the staff may meet state or federal requirements; but, how does that improve the quality of education? It will take a lot more than moving the demoralized, the incompetent, the frustrated, the disenfranchised, the overworked, the underworked, the dispirited, etc. from building to building.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-20447229913227767482011-06-28T14:04:38.729-04:002011-06-28T14:04:38.729-04:00Was most of this shuffling due to requirements for...Was most of this shuffling due to requirements for federal funding where there needs to be a staff turnover of more than 50% in schools not doing well?Questionerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04349071186140766778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-2018560582409484812011-06-28T13:54:16.939-04:002011-06-28T13:54:16.939-04:00Parents-- if a teacher is new to your school-- ask...Parents-- if a teacher is new to your school-- ask them what they taught the year before-- please note through the shinanigans, 200 teachers were displaced--much of the plot was to divide teachers, place people at different levels and tell parents- this was "getting the best" for their students- just like a teacher getting the kids to spout the RISE script was best for your child's learning===dont drink the kool-aid , parents!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-60486959543108813782011-06-28T12:52:05.136-04:002011-06-28T12:52:05.136-04:00Obama has a wonderful online newspaper, the best a...Obama has a wonderful online newspaper, the best anywhere that I have seen. That makes the yearbook issue even more curious. I know it was a weird situation, with Schenley closing, its seniors leaving and Obama not really being a total high school yet, but I agree that some foresight should have gone into the decision. After all, they have had yearbooks at the middle school level in the past. It's a nice keepsake for parents and students.A parentnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-87929032081302302352011-06-28T11:43:54.270-04:002011-06-28T11:43:54.270-04:00This year at Obama there was also no soft-covered ...This year at Obama there was also no soft-covered yearbook. The yearbook helps parents tell who is who and gives kids a good activity to work on. Maybe cost IS the reason behind cutbacks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-88045893588758791272011-06-28T08:27:17.642-04:002011-06-28T08:27:17.642-04:00Anonymous 10:16, the IB exam grading is done by in...Anonymous 10:16, the IB exam grading is done by international examiners and are graded anonymously along with students from IB programs all over the world. Ridiculous or not, the students are held to an international standard, hence the name International Baccalaureate.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-17495318031297842072011-06-28T07:03:20.671-04:002011-06-28T07:03:20.671-04:00To Disappointed who says she sees class sizes of 3...To Disappointed who says she sees class sizes of 30 in the future.... South Brook Middle this year had class sizes of 36 (in the past it was more like 24 average), and 3 to 4 kids sharing lockers. This is because SBM was the only non-magnet middle school to make AYP in 2010 so they had to accept any and every student who wanted to go there. Not likely to make AYP this year, that's for sure. It was a great time for principals in other middle schools to dump their most difficult students on to South Brook...and the district did nothing but let it happen. For the first two months all kids would have a seat in classes ONLY IF 5 or 6 kids were absent. I don't know how they finally solved that problem, but my son said they figured out how to put more desks into each classroom around November. It is not appropriate to have such large class sizes at any grade level in this day and age, but most certainly not at Middle School.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-6507507313697665282011-06-28T06:51:42.270-04:002011-06-28T06:51:42.270-04:00I don't think our school is "perfect"...I don't think our school is "perfect", but I know that our teachers don't "drink the Kool Aid" you speak of, friend. Perhaps it was the late hour which led you to write in such a manner, but it seems that you are unaware that both IBDP and IBMYP teachers have the responsibility of teaching the IB curriculum. In IBDP, it means that IBDP curriculum alone is followed. In everything else, it means PPS curriculum also has us adding IBMYP curriculum, as well.<br />I'm disappointed that you are sad and depressed and perhaps you wish your misery to have some company. I'm disappointed that you would equate teachers who understand their responsibilities, make comment, and then move on to their work as being somehow 'complicit' with people like Gates and Broad.<br />Nothing could be further from the truth.<br />As for year end activities like a field trip and/or cook out, I'm not sure such things were actually scheduled, so I can't comment about cancellations with certainty. <br />I don't think you denigrate an entire school because of hearsay associated with either, to the truth.Another Obama Teachernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-80466886660811515952011-06-28T00:39:25.925-04:002011-06-28T00:39:25.925-04:00My class sizes were the largest they have ever bee...My class sizes were the largest they have ever been last year. All my classes were 33-35 students. Displine from administration was weak to non-exsistent.<br /> Lets increase class sizes to save money because strong teachers can do it. Kiss my Barney Stone. Everybody knows the smaller classes are better. Lets put even more on teachers. Do not piss down my back and tell me it's raining. <br />The PPS is getting rid of Vice Principals who disipline students. They bring in Pela's as Principals on Special Assignment and Directors to watch and nit pick teachers (Rise) while the schools displine goes to hell. That is what is going on in the PPS. <br />The teachers from perfect Obama need to stick their fingers down their throats and through up the Kool Aide. <br />Look at what these private school coporate scumbags (Eli Broad & Others) have done in Detriot & Chicago alone and you will see what is instore for the PPS.<br /><br />John Tarka was such a complete idiot or so stupid. Not to know that Broad controlled Detriot School District, when he kept threating us with doomsday senerios from other School Districts before the last contract. Or did he? Why did he sell us out?<br /><br />It's only going to get worse before it gets better.<br /><br />This was never a reform, it is a hostile take over of public education by corporate America. <br /><br /><br />Sad & Depressed TeacherAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-52482060261332306092011-06-28T00:21:16.530-04:002011-06-28T00:21:16.530-04:00They will buy a new roof regardless.They will buy a new roof regardless.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-807967016935300742011-06-28T00:03:46.106-04:002011-06-28T00:03:46.106-04:00Next year, 2011-12, the Pgh Obama stays at Reizens...Next year, 2011-12, the Pgh Obama stays at Reizenstein. Then in the fall of 2012, the school should move to Peabody, all grades, 6-12.Mark Rauterkushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17157914569686528007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-25667346847847851532011-06-28T00:03:22.931-04:002011-06-28T00:03:22.931-04:00The bigger question is how many schools are 100% s...The bigger question is how many schools are 100% safe, as in going to exsist next year? Off the top of my head I can think of Squirrel Hill, Brashear, Capa..most if not all magnets & westinghouse. What schools could be on the chopping block? <br /><br />I have no idea but maybe Greenfield as an example? It would be PCish since it is near Squirrel Hill. I think a lot of parents may be shocked by late summer and have little or no information since the technology department will be unable to imput data to reassign students in time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-59817031066315151032011-06-27T23:49:46.722-04:002011-06-27T23:49:46.722-04:00The last word was Reizenstein for one more year, a...The last word was Reizenstein for one more year, and the district put out a bid for a new roof. But given financial problems the response may be to move to Peabody sooner rather than spend money on a roof.Questionerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04349071186140766778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-33396212451807844922011-06-27T23:33:16.728-04:002011-06-27T23:33:16.728-04:00I don't know why this thread turned into the O...I don't know why this thread turned into the Obama thread, but since it did, where is Obama going to be next year?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-35763222855978389502011-06-27T22:57:09.107-04:002011-06-27T22:57:09.107-04:00Better communication would help because I just ass...Better communication would help because I just assumed events were missing this year to save money.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-33302832774700484942011-06-27T22:48:36.204-04:002011-06-27T22:48:36.204-04:00Of course, it may be that it was a quite a few mor...Of course, it may be that it was a quite a few more than a handful and a bit more than horseplay. <br /><br />Although, again, if it was truly fewer than about 10 kids, why not just leave those kids out? That seems the clearest, easiest, most understandable consequence and a lesson both to them and the rest of the class.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-79394994537992856432011-06-27T22:36:00.817-04:002011-06-27T22:36:00.817-04:00At my Catholic HS way back, after someone put on a...At my Catholic HS way back, after someone put on a Richard Pryor record the senior lounge was closed for the rest of the year. It was the kind of reaction that made me say I would choose public schools for my kids.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-44037435408859461502011-06-27T22:32:18.155-04:002011-06-27T22:32:18.155-04:00**perhaps the reasons mentioned were what some of ...**perhaps the reasons mentioned were what some of the kids surmised.**<br /><br />I don't have a child affected by this, but if kids have to "surmise" why a field trip was cancelled, then that's pretty poor management/discipline. <br /><br />The kids should know exactly what the consequences and at least an outline of why if those consequences are to be of any use. Otherwise, what's the lesson learned? Don't expect a promised trip, because it may be cancelled for no reason that you know of is a much different message than "a handful of kids indulging in horseplay ruined it for everyone." <br /><br />As a parent, I honestly have no problem with the latter (though I know many would), but a big problem with the former.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-15762637755605568352011-06-27T22:30:17.793-04:002011-06-27T22:30:17.793-04:00It's not so much being owed something (althoug...It's not so much being owed something (although IB students have long noticed that they have more work than students at other comparable schools), but that at magnets students are more dependent on school activities. School friends are not a few blocks away as they are at neighborhood schools. And, small magnets have fewer activities to provide social opportunities.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-2724094575129300312011-06-27T22:27:56.117-04:002011-06-27T22:27:56.117-04:00"If class sizes jump/double the year that my ..."If class sizes jump/double the year that my son starts kindergarten, PPS will have lost us. We'll bite the bullet and send our kid to private school. I never would have considered this five years ago, but I never imagined how bad things could get" ~anon 5:20<br /><br />Hurry up and start looking now, many private schools are filled.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-34136918689433724242011-06-27T22:23:12.003-04:002011-06-27T22:23:12.003-04:00That may or may not be an example of "ridicul...That may or may not be an example of "ridiculous" grading. It may mean that the teacher didn't understand the requirements of the exam and wasn't able to prepare the student well enough. <br /><br />It's common enough in schools that tout their high AP enrollment that there are kids who get high Bs and As and end up with only a 1 or 2 on the exam. <br /><br />How many of the IBDP teachers will have been trained for next year? This year's seniors had a lot of teachers teaching classes for the first time (though they may have taught a different IBDP class before). Obviously the first time through is going to be more of a learning experience for the teacher.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-85705468508854032092011-06-27T22:23:10.889-04:002011-06-27T22:23:10.889-04:00I have enjoyed this thread, although it has straye...I have enjoyed this thread, although it has strayed from the sobering note associated with the title. That should give any teacher great pause.<br />I agree with everything my colleague has said about Obama. It's a wonderful school. I'm not so sure about the end of the year festivities, the whys and what for's and perhaps the reasons mentioned were what some of the kids surmised.<br />Still, I'm wondering what the bottom line is, too. I've been at numerous other schools and never sensed any entitlement there where field trips or activities were concerned. Perhaps the parent feels students are owed something?Another Obama Teachernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-60875791536944337732011-06-27T22:16:38.306-04:002011-06-27T22:16:38.306-04:00Some of the IB diploma exam grading is ridiculous,...Some of the IB diploma exam grading is ridiculous, with motivated students who are organized and got straight A's in a subject getting low grades on the diploma exam. At least parents don't have to pay for it any more.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-26277198033243391032011-06-27T22:06:27.320-04:002011-06-27T22:06:27.320-04:009:19, yes I was there. I was out in the halls moni...9:19, yes I was there. I was out in the halls monitoring the kids coming and going as I have for all these years. I didn't see you there. "Papers all over the halls"??? This is indicative of total chaos to you? If so, might I suggest a nice private school for you, circa 1950. For the record, there was little paper in my hallways, as locker clean out was the day before.<br />I can't speak for Penn Avenue although I heard that the one fight that was there concerned a kid who was not one of ours.<br />Again, you seem to have some 'thing' about Obama that drives you to provide hearsay as fact. Truly, this is going nowhere as you have a bone to pick.<br />9:23, I would not glean from my postings that one school is "better than" another in our building. On the numerous occasions in which I have seen middle school kids in class, I have noticed that they are on task, attentive, respectful and learning in every classroom. I am sure 9:19 would look at middle schoolers in the hallways as being out of control, but not from my vantage point.<br />As for kids leaving, this has always been a 'problem' at the end of 8th grade, dating back to the Frick days. Some kids choose to go to Allderdice. Some to CAPA. I don't see this as reflective of dissatisfaction with the HS program and IB but rather, that the family sees different opportunities for myriad reasons at one of the other two schools. Certainly, retaining kids must be a focus in years to come.<br />As for the diploma, it is hard for me to get a read on the number of kids who will opt for it next year or in subsequent years. Yes, IBDP carries rigor, but it carries much more in the way of personal organization and I know the coordinator is looking to make that message clear--prioritize studies, understand the requirements, plan for them accordingly and be ready well in advance of target dates.Obama Teachernoreply@blogger.com