From the PG:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10314/1102032-298.stm
From the article:
"At five Pittsburgh high schools next semester, students who are failing a core course will have a new way to catch up: two-hour, after-school classes, twice a week.... Students may enroll in one or two classes, Mondays and Wednesdays for one class and Tuesdays and Thursdays for the other."
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53 comments:
It sounds like the idea has potential, but will the same level of performance really be required in the makeup classes that was required to pass the original classes? Credit recovery and night school has been viewed as an easier alternative.
And, if classes are the real thing, imagine a student who failed 2 classes staying 2 extra hours M-Thur doing makeup work- will that student really have time to do current work? Or will he/she start a cyle of then having to make up second semester work the third semester, etc?
The program is being rolled out at 5 schools at once, without any sort of small pilot to work out the kinks.
The State required a plan for those schools identified for School Improvement. An independent outside consultant, Jeri Thompson, EdD was hired to write required "plan" to submit to the state . .The consultant state she was NOT hired to "evaluate" what was currently in place when questioned by Mr. Brentley.
The plan was very very general and did not contain a single specific detail about how the task would be accomplished. It was stated that the PSSA results for each student would be used to tailor the plan yet the PSSA results do not identify specific skills where students have weaknesses. Instead, it identifies merely two broad categories in Reading and five broad categories in Math. There were many questions left unanswered and many left unasked.
I wonder why an outside consultant was hired to write such a general plan. Is there no one in the District that can write a plan for PPS schools and students??? I wonder if the consultant is from out of state, also?
Is this plan for 9th and 10 grade part of a larger plan for school improvement? And have only these 5 high schools been identified for "School Improvement"? Is the state plan separate from the "turn around/ transform" requirements for applying for federal funds?
Reporters had left the Education Meeting last night when controversy broke out over what was required for students to be eligible for sports.
Are parents and others aware that currently the PPS practice is in place to allow any student who passes more courses than he/she FAILS is eligible for any team sport?
This was stated by the PPS Assistant Supt. of Secondary Schools and confirmed by the Deputy Superintendent.
The senior Board Members immediately expressed shock and dismay as Policy was legislated years ago that required students to have a "C" average to be eligible for sports. The current practice was hotly challenged.
It became apparent that the present practice is in direct violation of PPS Policy.
The Education Committee last night had three Agenda items for presentation:
1. CTE Elementary/Middle Level (3-8) Career Education and Work Standards Intengnration
2. School Improvement Grant: Period 10 (Spring Semester 2010-11)
3 East End Configuration Report (with the new as yet unreleased Feeder Pattern Map)
Legislative Action will be taken in two weeks at the November Legislative Meeting.
Again, many, many questions were left unanswered and unasked.
Questioner @ 9:20:
NONE of your questions were answered in the presentation nor asked by Board Members.
2 weeks seems to be a very short time for Board members to be presented with the proposal, ask questions, consult with constituents and make a decision. The approach to new programs is often very rushed, with references to looming deadlines and the need for immediate decisions.
Re: sports- can students staying after school for 2 hours for 2 or 4 days a week really fit a sport into their schedules anyway?
The Education Meeting was just short of three hours long. Lots of words and general outlines; but very few examples. NEVER are there details, specifics or examples that CONNECT to the much repeated word "Standards."
I often wonder if ANYONE at the table could cite a single "standard" and connect it to a teaching/learning/assessment situation.
The LACK of educational knowledge at the PPS table and administrative level is absolutely astounding ____as demonstrated at all PPS meetings ____and the outside consultants are generalists that NEVER specifically address a PPS educational issue.
PLEASE parents and community INSIST on a search for a SUPERINTENDENT with extensive Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh and PPS educational expertise and experience with corresponding commitment to our children.
The evidence is clear and abundant that the current group at PPS are definitively NOT QUALIFIED to LEAD this PPS District.
There are reportedly 20 current employees w/ credentials to be superintendent, from Dep Super LLane on down If the Board chooses one of them won't it be able to say it has selected a superintendent with "extensive Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh and PPS educational expertise and experience"?
NO, since at this point there is NO EVIDENCE that any of these potential candidates have stepped up to LEAD.
We need EXAMPLES of KNOWLEDGE, LEADERSHIP, COMMITMENT and RELEVANT SUCCESS!
There doesn't seem to be any evidence of a national search being conducted so far. Nothing yet on the process that will be followed in making a selection either.
What is evident, is that these credentialed people are FOLLOWERS of the BROAD philosophy. They (current administrators) have demonstrably stood behind every ACTION over the past five years that has led PPS to the WORST ACADEMIC STANDING/CONDITION in its history.
We need evidence of LEADERSHIP and EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS SUCCESS.
Is there evidence of any search anywhere state or national? Has anyone at PPS offered criteria for selection?
The question must be asked by the public: Why are PPS schools on a downward slide?
Where is the EVIDENCE of success system-wide? ____ that we should want to approve the continuation of the current rate of FAILURE?
PR on the Pittsburgh Promise is just that ___ PR.
We have 26,000 students___examples of 2 or 3 successful students (who would have been successful anywhere) is NOT EVIDENCE of success for a District this size.
Account for the OVERALL EVIDENCE of OVERALL DECLINE in the District!
Questioner asked:
Re: "sports- can students staying after school for 2 hours for 2 or 4 days a week really fit a sport into their schedules anyway?"
Sports reform and the newly proposed 10th period---another example of how at odds we are operationally. Not just here on pgh, but in most struggling school districts.
Who is staffing these classes?
How many adults respond well to 2 hour classes, twice a week after work? I'm thinking that kids who failed will be even less responsive to adding two more hours on to their days, let alone doing homework after that.
I'd have to agree that this sounds like a good idea without anywhere near enough planning or preparation or attention to realities of teenagers and high schools.
This is another way of enabling the students not to work hard in their day class.
Tribune article on this topic:
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_708562.html
Seriously, this has zero chance of working.
If a kid can't keep up during regular school hours, is not motivated, and does not have parental/peer support what is going to light a fire under his or her rear end?
Go to school after school? I am not an expert, but this is ridiculous, do they have the motivation? If they do, how do they fit in sports? Also, do they have safe transportation?
One program is based on the idea that a longer day is needed while another is based on the idea that a shorter day would help.
The fact that so many questions are on the table from just a few blog posts makes me wonder what the heck the consultant was doing. Transportation? Sports?
Although I only have a parent's ecperience, it seem possible this would push more kids toward dropping out. The EAP programs are underutilized now. Obviously, education is a big industry, a job creator.
This isn't a job creation idea, however. This is yet another method to get kids onto the pathway to the promise, the district's public relations cash cow and its continued endeavor to fool all of the people all of the time. I am sure teachers are only getting workshop rate to run these classes and as such, have to wonder who in their right mind would do so.
We lost all semblance of academic integrity when the 50% grading policy came down the pike. Just talk to a college admissions rep. Now, we're going to empower the kid who either can't get to class very often or who larks about during assignments and tests.
Good grief! Why don't we just start handing out free 'A; grades?
Another way to look at this is that they are telling kids that "if they don't get their grades up now, then they will have a longer day." Some students will respond to this by working harder now. If it works, isn't that a good thing?
Some of the students would blow this off for sure, just like they blow off class now. But it will get to others
Anon 12:10
That would be nice, but I think "some kids" would be very few and ineffective. Those kids would already have enough self worth and strive to up their grades. Those kids can be reached with a properly staffed counseling department. This does not address the big issue. Some kids simply don't care, don't give a ch*t, have no support, live in poverty and have crummy parents or minimal parental support.
If they don't have the support or drive, what would light a
fire for these kids to spend 6 hours or so a week after school? Will McDonald's (insert part time job here) understand they can't work? Does the district realize that some of these kids bring in enough of an income to help
their families.
I can only imagine how many of these kids have seen violence, endured/lived in poverty and harbor resentment due to a life they did not choose. It is their parent's choice. It is what they know.
It does not matter what race a child is. It is unfair for any child to live in a pressure cooker. School should be a soft place kids to fall and learn.
The hot topic at a "fire" last night was the 10th period plan and why it might not work. The parents mentioned several things covered in one of the more recent comments by anon 3:07. Several years ago a small group of parents involved with Title I met with a now retired PPS administrator. This happened in the summer and we tossed around thoughts on an "EAP during the day" idea. Exploring this and its viability should be revisited. Bottom line is that it would require more bodies in buildings and with the fincancial fate of education it seems nobody is adding to staff when this is exactly the time we should.
The NEW parent engagement: backyard campfires.
What if my child is attending a school not having these make-ups? That doesn't seem fair...
Yeah, guess he'll have to do things the old fashioned way. You know, come to class. Study. Poor kid.
Some teachers say that the documentation and meetings required to give an E are such a hassle they are just giving Ds, so there may not be too many kids in the classes anyway.
That's because we want to have everyone of the pathway to the promise, even if they don't really belong there. Hey, the kid might be a 'D' average student, but the prevailing wisdom from one assistant superintendent is, hey, let's do some sprucing here, some tweaking there, so he can drink from the fountain, too.
Sound thinking, huh?
If a C is the new D, it doesn't seem to be what the contributors to the Pittsburgh Promise had in mind. If they had wanted to offer scholarships to everyone no matter what their grades, or to everyone with D averages, they could have made that the threshhold.
REMINDER:
There is a prevailing tendency to blame, first, the students, the parents and community; however, it is the RESPONSIBILITY of EDUCATORS to EDUCATE ALL STUDENTS_____let's advocate for a "whatever it takes" approach to educate_____as opposed to excuses why not.
Where on this thread did someone make an excuse for not educating students?
Everywhere_____again and again and again. How can you not see it???
Sorry_____the again and again____is more precisely a reference to the "blogging" as a whole (not just this thread) on the PURE Reform site.
If this thread is about the pros and cons of a particular makeup program, and no one has made any excuses, it would be better to put a complaint about excuses on a different thread where someone has recently made an excuse. That way we can have a more orderly discussion.
In an effort to educate, then_______tell me why you insist on writing____with all of these dramatic pauses.
Secondly, you're pounding the war drums again about teachers. Let's be clear, shall we? Academic achievement begins at home. It always did, it always will. I consider myself and what's left of our teaching staff the best anywhere in the region.
Let me reiterate that for you______the best.
I can inspire any child to put forth at the very least a negligible amount of effort and can find the right buttons to push in any getting through to any child, from any background. But at the end of the day, it is you dear parent that will play the largest role in whether the child reaches academic heights.
(Please note,I enjoy this blog but printed words cannot make up for conversation. I am hopeful you won't take my sense of sarcastic humor as being condescending. That was not the intent)
Questioner @7:38:
Out of the 35 'comments' on this thread, there are seven (7) instances of "excuses."
Also, I noticed in counting that in addition, there are 11 comments that are mine. (I will, stop as it appears to be counterproductive in your estimation.)
Seven "excuses" out of the remaining 24 comments constitutes nearly 1/3 of the comments, excluding mine. Quite a few, don't you think?
I honestly can't tell which things you count as excuses - could you please give a hint?
Yes, please cite which comments are excuses for not doing whatever it takes to educate?
Why does one anon poster put ______in all if their posts?
Just become anon___mouse, and let the ____ go.
EXCUSE me, I just caught on.
Why the _____? Write on the blog without shooting blanks.
I am anon because I am in the Witless Protection Program!
"Whatever it takes to educate students"? We are devaluing the Pittsburgh high school diploma by giving students too many opportunities to make up classes and get passing grades. Night school, summer school, Student Achievement Center credit recovery, Special 12 (5th year seniors), and now 10th period. Enough already! And are drop out rates decreasing because of all this??? NO. We need to put the value back in earning a diploma. Go to class on time each and every day, bring a pencil or pen, bring your book and homework, pay attention, work hard. No excuses! We need to stop enabling students to not work hard and not be accountable. They are smart enough to know we are watering down the value of the Pittsburgh high school diploma.
Should every classroom have big bucket of pens and pencils so no one has to remember them? How about an extra set of books, since books for a lot of classes can be really heavy? Maybe the pens and pencils would be coddlng, but the set of books would be reasonable.
My son started private school this year. It is the first time he has ever had a textbook.
Even at private schools, it's more at the high school level when they start accumulating multiple heavy textbooks.
Two sets of books, one for the classroom one for each student to have at home has been a practice in some buildings/subjects. Physics and math (if I recall correctly) for my kid when she was a PPS student. I am sure this carries and enormous cost and I don't know how successful the school was is recovering all copies at year's end.
The cost isn't that much greater -- it's one classroom set more, so an extra 30 books. My kids have always had this as well. I think that it's more an issue as you mention of the books being returned each year. I have heard tales of books that were on their way home at the beginning of they year being pitched out of bus windows.
Some classes also give the kids access to an online version of the textbook. That wouldn't help kids that don't have a computer at home, but certainly makes it easier for those that do.
In line with the idea of figuring out what it takes to help students succeed, it sounds like books in the classroom are worth considering. But probably it should be on a class by class basis- if some teachers rarely use the book in classes students should be able to just leave their books at home. The idea would be to really look into what is a reasonable accomodation (are students staggering on along walk home with 4 large textbooks plus binders, etc) and what students should reasonably be responsible for (maybe there is only one book that needs to to home and back on a regular basis and that is something students should learn to be responsible for).
Many of us were told to send these books home a couple of years ago. Administrators recommended it. Principals endorsed it. And then the curriculum would come around and we'd see that these big books hardly were being utilized.
Hey, at least it looked good to send them home. They make great end tables.
That's the thing about PPS. So much wasted money that it's mind boggling.
At the high school level, the science, math, language and in for some classes history books seem to be getting a lot of use. In English it's lots of smaller books rather than one big book.
I simply think it is strange that my son never had a textbook until (this year) 6th grade. He just started private school this year, he may have had textbooks if we hung in there with PPS, I don't know. He is struggling with organization and remembering to bring everything home. I am afraid he inherited that from me.
He generally only has to lug 1 textbook home, math, (which he had to be retaught) on most days, and possibly his science book a few times a week. Textbooks are part of college and universities. I feel if a kid is going to succeed in college they need to understand textbook 101,and learn
how to lug what books when and where.
I think middle school is the right time for having a textbook. Just because you're going to have do something when you're older doesn't mean that you should start doing it before that!
Also at many colleges textbooks are going online, although some students really prefer traditional textbooks. It would be a good experience to get used to an online textbook, at least at the schools providing laptops.
Stand outside any of our high schools and see how many PPS students carry no backpacks, no books, etc. to and from school. They come day in and day out empty handed to school. What does that tell you?
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