On another post Anonymous wrote:
"
http://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/2014/02/23/Kids-in-crisis-need-help-from-effective-teachers/stories/201402230023
Tim
Stevens, a member of the new task force, commented in today's P-G. And
once again we have someone talking about effective teachers. He states
that, "too many of our African American children come from broken homes
and broken environments where education may not be valued. Their only
hope may be "effective teachers"!"
Bill Gates' millions of
dollars would have been more "effective" and useful if the money was
spent on pre-school programs, after-school programs, tutoring, community
programs, recreation centers, parental support, etc. instead of
focusing on "effective teachers." Think of what all that money could
have done for our students and communities."
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
34 comments:
What we need are a few public education boarding schools where our students would live 24-7 and only go home for the holidays and summers. And during the summer vacation, provide jobs for them.
Typical baloney from Mr.Stevens. It is far better to play the blame game than providing the spark that will inspire those whom he leads with the impetus to look within themselves for answers. The local branch of the NAACP is no different than any other organization in that regard. Blame, blame, blame and never, ever take ownership.
There is no leadership within our country today, only cowardice.
Mr. Stevens says that the PPS needs more "effective teachers." Which of course implies that the current PPS teachers are not good enough. So once again, it's the fault of the teachers. Got it.
I would suggest to Mr. Stevens that blaming the teachers for the PPS mess would be like blaming the French infantrymen for the loss at Waterloo, while giving Napoleon and his generals a complete pass.
It has now been 9 years since the start of Roosevelt/ Lane, with significant teacher turnover. It would be interesting to know what % of current teachers were hired since that time, and what % was in place prior to Roosevelt/ Lane. And then to know the average value added score for each group. One thing is clear, performance has gone down since the start of Broad superintendents, while the number of teachers hired and trained using Broad/Gates methods has of course increased greatly.
The truth and honesty in Mr. Stevens' comments are refreshing! He captures the situation in Pittsburgh succinctly
"Not one of the participating groups or individuals in the Feb. 17 press conference would disagree with the goal of parents being intimately involved in strongly encouraging their children to succeed in school."
"The two goals of having “effective teachers” and “involved parents” are not mutually exclusive."
ABSOLUTELY! Success for children in our schools is optimal when they have BOTH "effective teachers" and "involved" parents.
HOWEVER, children can and will be successful with one or the other! Without either there is no chance. Just saying that to say "effective teachers" do NOT depend on involved parents to be successful! Nor should "involved parents" who find that teachers are not effective keep children in such schools. To be "involved" means that a parent DEMANDS an "effective teacher" OR takes their child OUT of that school. That's what being involved means. Parents are not "teachers".
They are not responsible for doing the work of the schools; but, they must FIND for their child, schools and teachers that are effective---and they DO.
In the final analysis, "teachers" who are really "effective" are experienced, committed and caring. They do not fail with any child, whether or not parents are involved.
“The Role of the Family,” to promote the need for both the community and families to instill positive values in our children, including the value of education. Unfortunately, too many of our African-American children come from broken homes and broken environments where education may not be valued." "
Their only hope may be “effective teachers”!
THANK YOU MR. STEVENS and the NAACP!
Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/2014/02/23/Kids-in-crisis-need-help-from-effective-teachers/stories/201402230023#ixzz2uAgAlMUJ
Obama is widely regarded as among the best in the district, and yet it was recently revealed that at least 60 students do not have the credits to graduate (the class size at Obama is about 120 students). Most likely some form of credit recovery will be found, but are we to conclude that the teachers at Obama are not effective? Or are ingredients outside the teachers' control necessary to combine with good teaching to make that teaching "effective"?
It is not the fault of students, effective teachers, nor involved parents that "60 students did not have enough credits to graduate".
That responsibility falls elsewhere. Counselors, administration, technology or a mismanaged system.
It is unconscionable that administration, school and district, do not have in place WHATEVER is needed to prevent that from happening in this day and age!
If effective teachers are the only means to high achieving students then the assumption must be that the suburban schools are the only places hiring effective teachers. Somehow PPS has mostly hired ineffective teachers and has sent the least effective to their poorest performing schools. If this were indeed the case then PPS Human Resources would be doing a very ineffective job. But for argument's sake lets say that this is indeed the case. So what is PPS doing to attract effective teachers? What kind of retraining has it offered all these ineffective teachers? Are PELAs, who often have less experience in the classroom than the teachers they are rating, going to show the way to high achieving students? Do they really believe that effective teachers will be attracted by being held to a higher standard than all other Pennsylvania teachers?
Just as we meed highly effective teachers (as defined by the performance of their students) we need highly effective administrators (as defined by the performance of their teachers and students). And just as teachers are expected to perform effectively despite any obstacle (including students who are troubled,frequently absent, dealing with traumatic life events, etc) administrators must be able to perform despite any obstacle (union contracts, funding cutbacks, etc). And finally we need highly effective school boards that will hire highly effective administrators.
I always love when 1:50 posts her drivel. She would not know an "effective teacher" if one jumped and bit her in the backside. It's no surprise that she salutes a cowardly letter as she herself has posted myriad such letters here over the last couple of years.
Blame, blame, blame. This is the tactic of Tim Stevens and the NAACP. This is the tactic of our jolly poster. At no time does Stevens ever take the time to talk about what good parenting is, what the responsibility of adults that have children is, about what the value of education is, about the idea of perseverance and self-respect of adults and students.
Where are you, Mr.Stevens? At what point do you have the guts to tell it like it is before blaming it on someone else? At what point do you, members of the African American Coalition, community activists and foundations leaders begin to identify where the problem is---in the home.
Someone said it again recently---behind every good student is a parent that values education. Behind most under-performing student is an absent parent, or one who does not value education, or one who wishes the school to raise his or her child.
It's clear to me what category the poster is in.
Questioner, I want to thank you. For a long time, I thought you wanted to appear 'fair and balanced.' But you certainly have seen the light about this district, this "superintendent" and her agenda.
That she has spent so much time trying to martial her forces in a media blitz and provided so much misinformation for the public to chew upon should tell you all you need to know.
Tim Stevens did say that parents who do not value education sufficiently is a real problem. However, he does not offer suggestions on how to help more parents to value education.
6:20 - Why would truly "effective teachers" NOT want to apply to Pittsburgh and be held to a "higher standard" than any teacher anywhere (not just PA)?
We'd like to see an answer from teachers in Pittsburgh or those who want to teach here or does 6:20 speak for the majority of teachers?
We need teachers who believe and take pride in the fact that that they are good enough to teach any child successfully!
Questioner, surely you are not acquiescing to the general attitude here that STUDENTS whose parents do not value education (or seem not to for a variety of reasons) CANNOT be successfully educated by "effective teachers"?
Well despite a huge oversupply of teachers in western pa it has been very difficult for administration to attract and train enough teachers who can effectively educate children who arrive with extra challenges. So instead of focusing just on the teachers we should also focus on easing the extra challenges.
Or choose more effective administrators.
YES! to 7:45!
PPS had those once upon a time---now too long ago and far away!
The shame of all of this is that instead of putting all heads together to find an answer that will result in a better future for the kids, it all comes down to politics. I'm sure all of the people who voiced an opinion in print or on camera are good people, but its clear that they are entrenched in the Bellefield Avenue dogma, which all comes down to dollars. Shame.
has any other city resident gotten the call from david (recorded voice) of elkhurst communications? it is a survey about pps/effective teaching.
is anyone feeling like he might lose his mind if he hears the "effective teacher" words one more time? how about we ask the ineffective to voluntarily leave the classroom? there really aren't that many based on the numbers reported from the admin and it seems so much ink and airtime is being spent on so few individuals. it seems like there might be other subjects to talk about and you have to wonder who might be talking about those topics. will we eventually see an A++ organization emerge after the task force completes it's work? remember A+ was an outgrowth of Mayor Murphy's education task force. some of our schools are setting records for parent engagement; others, while maybe offering opportunities are not attracting much action. you can only imagine that they do not know how to apply a stickiness factor
(h/t to Malcolm Gladwell). let's start a new thread and ask posters to make one random comment or suggestion.
http://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/2014/02/26/Vulnerable-students-need-high-quality-teachers/stories/201402260012
This letter to the editor in today's P-G was written by 2 Pitt professors. They take issue with Tony Norman's views.
Interestingly enough, Amanda Godley is on the Board of Directors for A+ Schools. When looking at the list of Board members, I noticed Kevin Ackin's name, and Sharene Shealey's name. Acklin is also on the mayor's new task force. Is the deck stacked?
Acklin is not on the new task force - just on A+ schools.
A+ might as well move into the empty apace in the admin building and just become a pps department.
if you are the parent of a high school student, particularly a senior, please note the task force's work should be done before the start of the 2014-15 school year.
http://pittsburghpa.gov/mayor/education-task-force
encourage your student to apply for one of the spots available.
tippy, 10am. Amen!
suggestion 1: teachers need more time not less. Good planing, individualization, real feed-back, building relationships, all of these things take time and teachers have almost NO TIME!
suggestion 2: for staffing our most challenging, struggling schools
1. offer increased pay. Forget the career ladder positions, it's not that they were such a horrible idea but that they just don't have enough impact to justify the financial investment.
Give those teachers a reduced teaching schedule because teachers in struggling schools need the time and support more than anyone else. Make those class sizes smaller. It is so important with our most disadvantaged students. The teacher is able to give them more help and attention and it's easier to form relationships. The behavior issues that are detrimental to teaching and learning are also easier to address with smaller class sizes. Realize that experience matters and value it. We desperately need our veteran teachers.
Finally support and trust teachers. It is a very small percentage that are not dedicated and competent professionals. Ask THEM what they need in order to be effective. Value them, they are incredibly dedicated to the students and deserve respect.
The suggestions 6:21 made seem so simple!! I bet the Gates people would stand up and applaud. We parents have been clamoring for small class sizes for all of the dozen years I have had kids in school. The career ladder method has always been as clear as mud to those of us who don't spend our day in a classroom and frankly, we are suspicious about how people get picked to get on a ladder.
Today's P-G has a letter to the editor from Judy Johnston of A+ Schools. It is titled, "Good teachers are critical for kids without involved parents." She refers to Tony Norman's article and his views.
Nobody is denying that we need "good," "highly effective teachers." The issue is the convoluted evaluation system Lane/Gates wants to use and its real agenda.
As a teacher- I cheer Tony Norman- in fact I was the person who first referenced the article here. Yes parents are important and so are g good teachers. But I totally RESENT Judy Johnson's comment--" parents have to earn a living"-- gee REALLY? I am a SEVENTH generation Pittsburgher- in America that means many different tasks in family life- from farmers to Railroad strikes to Victorian huge families etc. They ALL earned a living and fed their kids! Yes they had troubles- parents died, siblings died- times were hard! Was it a struggle? Of course. Were they interesting in their children's education-- well they moved TO Pittsburgh for better schools than rural schools. And today as I see my neighbors' cars pulling out to work at 6 a.m.-- yup they care about their kids enough to live far out and commute.
Tony talks about it being more than parent/teacher's night- Yes-- guess how I know "vacation is over- back to school?" Because all the kids disappear and the neighborhood gets silent as homework begins!
We all know the tales of people who didn't speak English and yet sat with their children through homework etc.
So let's all stop whining about how our struggle is the worst- and sit down and help a kid with homework, projects etc.
Link to the letter mentioned above
Good teachers are critical for kids without involved parents
February 26, 2014 7:01
Post
3 Comments
Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/2014/02/27/Good-teachers-are-critical-for-kids-without-involved-parents/stories/201402270136#ixzz2uYdaxhn8
I find it interesting that Kevin Acklin, Peduto's chief of staff, is on the A+ Schools board and A+ also gets Gates' money. Then Peduto travelled to Seattle to vist the Gates people. What a tangled web we weave. I can't wait to see what comes out of this task force.
6:42: "I can't wait to see what comes out of this task force."
Please permit me to make a few predictions. Here's what they will say:
1. The PPS central administrators are all brilliant visionaries. But they are being thwarted by lazy and ineffective teachers.
2. Every last PPS student comes to school motivated and ready to learn. But they are being thwarted by lazy and ineffective teachers.
3. Every last PPS school has a wonderful curriculum in place. But these curriculums are being thwarted by lazy and ineffective teachers.
Do you see a pattern here? Let's get rid of all those lazy and ineffective teachers! You know, they're the ones with seniority, the ones who seem resistant to the Gates' BS. let's get rid of those old (and very experienced) dinosaurs!
There are parents like Questioner who understand what is going on here. They understand corruption and collusion and they recognize the fact that Linda Lane and PPS continue to conduct business that is not in the best interests of students and taxpayers of Pittsburgh.
There are new parents who ask honest questions here, and were inclined to believe the hype coming from PPS PR and the PG, and were inclined to believe the op ed writers and letter writers. But the smell of napalm has awakened many and as such, Promise money just can't disguise the stench coming out of Bellefield Avenue.
Then there are those like the parent who trumpets the pronouncements of Tim Stevens and the African American Coalition. This is the type of parent Lane adores, the one who seeks to obfuscate her own shortcomings as a parent...and the one who embraces the race card as the reason for all problems. That kind of parent would have teachers actually raising the students in short order, all the better to live a carefree, no questions asked life.
Unfortunately for Pittsburgh teachers, there is a perfect storm of the corrupt, power hungry and inept all in one place at this time. There is no white knight who will save the day. Lane's administration is easily the worst group to run a major metropolitan school district since what we saw in Detroit a few years ago. There simply is no one within the inner circle who will come to the aid of students and teachers and to a great degree, shouting over true facts about Gates is much more advantageous than admitting mistakes.
At the end of the day, here are the simple facts for parents of all kinds in PPS:
-we have lost countless families to private and charter schools
-our standardized test scores continue to be at the bottom of the barrel statewide
-numerous teachers--teachers of honor and integrity--have either been terminated or forced to resign under the RISE evaluation system. Most of these teachers had over 25 years experience and were dedicated individuals
-Linda Lane not only continues to keep her job, she has had raises and has managed to keep the vast majority of her administration--numbering around 600 individuals who are NOT in the classroom--intact through budget cuts.
-Most principals have received raises during these harsh budgetary times, despite failing scores
-PFT president Nina Visgitis has done NOTHING for those being targeted by principals. Indeed, the union is powerless thanks to the efforts of John Tarka and she herself, giving back all that had been negotiated over the past 3-plus decades.
Now, Peduto will add to that perfect storm. The biggest losers continue to be the students and teachers of PPS. It is too bad that there is no voice of reason within PPS and no courageous soul within the PFT.
Some facts for thought. Students spend the equivalent of 60 to 65 days a year with teachers. That leaves 300 days with parents.
No the only hope is effective employees! The teachers are not the only ones that make a difference in these kids lives! Look at the Paraprofessionals that do a lot of work in the class room and make little money and are treated as they are stupid! How about the Security in these buildings that keep everyone safe that we call on for everything and they make a pay that is a joke! How about lets pay people what they deserve. Look at School Police they are not in the schools and these poor security officers make nothing compared to them! The paraprofessionals are treated like uneducated babysitters and at times they teach the class room! For a school to be successful it takes every employee to be happy! How about these lunch ladies making $8 really? Teachers, teachers, teachers... First the school has to have discipline then curriculum! It takes a lot more than the teachers!
Post a Comment