Missouri State Teachers Association

More Hours = Better Education?

     For years we've known the United States requires students to attend school far fewer hours/days than most other industrialized nations.  And for years we've been told this has been to our students' collective detriment.  But once again the topic has surfaced.

     Although I'm tempted to say "more is better," I have some reservations about endorsing a longer school day/year.

• How will this differ from what's occurring in an informal fashion in schools across America?  Schools are feeding students breakfast, after-school programs abound, and teachers volunteer tutoring services as soon as the last bell rings.  Aren't we already serving students for 8 or more hours a day?
• Shouldn't we resolve problems with public school education before tackling a longer day/year?  The No Child Left Behind Act and accountability, school violence and at-risk students, character education vs. parental involvement. . .  It stands to reason that more minutes at a desk won't cure what ails us.
• How will this be funded?  Teachers, counselors, paraprofessionals all need to be paid accordingly.  Haven't we been told there isn't enough money for the current system?

     I am certain there are other concerns to address in the debate over our 1044 hours/174 days of student attendance in Missouri.  Please feel free to share them here.

Submissions Needed!

     We need your help!  We're calling the summer issue of the magazine "The Summer Fun issue," and we need your stories for our special "Believe It or Not!" feature.  Send us your story of 200-300 words about something funny, outrageous or weird that happened to you or your students.  We want to hear about your field-trip follies, lunchroom lulus and school-bus blunders.

     Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Wacky things I (or my school or my students) have won in contests
• My most embarrassing moment at school
• Funny things overheard in the classroom

     Well, you get the picture.

     Each member who sends in a story that we print will get a check for $25, so you can begin creating your own summer fun!  Send your stories to Letha Albright, School & Community, P.O. Box 458, Columbia, MO 65205 or email them to lalbright@msta.org.

     Deadline (believe it or not):  April 1st.

Teachers and the First Amendment

     How closely can a teacher's private life be linked to his or her career?  The answer may be surfacing soon, as educators are being called on the carpet for their personal internet activities.  The same sites that have wreaked havoc with students' lives (online bullying, sexual predators, etc.) are causing school districts concern for another reason.  Teachers are posting information, activities, and opinions that aren't to the liking of members of the community.

     Let's face it.  Educators are held to a high standard.  And if their behavior away from school is deemed inappropriate by the local school board, and if it interrupts the flow of instruction and student discipline at school, they should expect consequences.  This isn't a new scenario.  The tie to the internet just makes it seem as if it is.

An Offer From 'The Clicker Guys'

     I've given The Clicker Guys a thumbs up before.  (See post from January 9, 2007.)  It's time to give them kudos again.  This is a great offer:

HERE IS A GREAT WAY FOR YOU TO GET OUR SYSTEM VERY INEXPENSIVELY!!!

eInstruction has purchased FSCreations and their product ExamView.  With this acquisition, the integration of content and engagement has been made complete.   Your instructors can now provide very high level, quality questions for your students, tied to the Missouri Standards, to learning objectives and to depth of knowledge (Bloom’s), with the click of a button.  This service is a $3.50 per student annual cost, (minimum cost of $995.00 per building).   We are so sure of your satisfaction with this product, that if you will try it for one year, we will give you a $2,000.00 eInstruction Infrared 32 pad CPS system free.  In order to get the free system, at least one of your instructors needs to sit through a 90 minute webinar.   This promotion is a win/win situation for the schools, the instructors and the students.   

The promotion ends March 31st so give us a call and we will try to answer any and all questions you may have.

Thank you!

“The Clicker Guys”    

Lyle and Larry

Lyle   316-650-2720 or 877-254-2531 toll free cell number

Larry 316-992-0600

St. Louis Public Schools v. The State of Missouri

One of the biggest events in Missouri education occurred today, as the State Board of Education began the takeover process of the St. Louis Public Schools. http://dese.mo.gov/news/2007/SLPStransition.htm

I have had a front row seat at State Board meetings for just about a decade, and I can tell you that this was by far the ugliest meeting I've ever seen. I have seen busloads of constituents before, but not shouting and protesting. I've seen the State Board on the brink of large-urban district takeover, but never actually do it (Wellston is quite small). I've seen police protection before, but not AT the meetings, and not hovering around or escorting Board members in and out of the room through meeting interruptions.  And I don't think I've ever seen so many union lapel buttons--at least not at these monthly meetings, nor have I ever heard them threaten a district shutdown in this state where strikes, sickouts, etc are illegal. I hardly know how else to paint the picture, except to add that viewpoints are so varied that I literally didn't know what several observers wanted; takeover or not.

Truthfully, these Board meetings are not public testimony-type events. All speakers and presenters are invited, without exception. There are no questions or comments from the audience, ever. And although I have always found these meetings interesting (even a DESE employee has good-naturedly poked fun at me for that), the meetings are essentially bureaucratic updates and decisions. For me, that's what makes the contrast between today's meeting and the others so striking.

The Board agreed on two points: that they each believe in doing what's best for the students, and that something needs to happen. They disagreed on the process and its immediacy, but the 5-2 decision was clear and respectful of each other's opinions, and that will continue after the meeting ends. The ugliness was not between the State Board members, but between them and the audience, who left after the vote to head a few blocks north to the capitol building.

About 5 years ago, when the State Board almost took over the Kansas City district, their accreditation data looked favorable, and so the State Board was able to wait to take action, because they knew they wouldn't have any action to take. But today, it's obvious that the data due from St. Louis is not good, and that they will lose their accreditation in the next few months, giving the State Board ample opportunities for intervention. Today's action was actually based on statute that came out of the 1998 desegregation settlement and is specific only to SLPS, while actions based on accreditation status applies to all unaccredited school districts in Missouri.

Today is the beginning of a very long legal and political road for the State Board and the St. Louis Public Schools, not to mention legislators, parents, employees, district constituents and taxpayers. But mostly, my heart goes out to the kids, and to the teachers who remain in their classrooms to teach and protect them.

Tech Trends in Education

     Are you ready for the next wave of educational technology?  A report from New Media Consortium and EDUCAUSE pinpoints six trends to watch over the next five years:

• user-created content;
• social networking;
• mobile phones;
• virtual worlds
• new scholarship and emerging forms of publication; and
• massively multiplayer educational gaming.

     There seems to be a "love-hate" relationship between education and a number of the items mentioned above - specifically, social networking and mobile phones.  Recent media reports show growing concern about cell phone use during instructional time.  In fact, I've written about the issue ("Students May be Fined for Ringing Cell Phones"  September 13, 2006).  And although I've attended networking opportunities at conventions and seminars, who knew a parallel would be drawn between them and My Space?

     The good news is that some teachers and administrators are embracing technology that seems second nature to kids today.  If they can harness the energy spent on gaming and make it relevant to curriculum, there's no telling what students may achieve!

IM Lingo Concerns Teachers

     It makes sense to keep instant messages and text messages brief.  These forms of communication are conversational in most cases.  Long pauses in the midst of these exchanges would ruin the flow. . .  However, some teachers are concerned that the techno language students use informally is infiltrating formal writing assignments.

     In my opinion, students know the difference between their shorthand and what is acceptable in the classroom.  I encountered a bit of it while I was teaching, but when called on it - students knew how to "fix" their essays to appease me.  My advice to teachers is to have children read, read, and then read some more.  The best way to become a strong writer is to read good writing.  Modeling works wonders!

www.litplans.com

     A fair number of authors are represented at this site for communication arts, literature, and reading teachers.  Although the lesson plans, unit plans, and teaching kits are not free, the site seems to be a fairly comprehensive list of what instructional aids are available for a large number of novels.  All major educational publishing companies appear to be included in this one-stop shopping venue.

     The homepage is not pretty, but it is user-friendly.  I recommend Literature Lesson Plans for anyone beginning their 07-08 purchase orders.

Daytime Curfews for Children

     Have you seen them when you take that random day off from work?  They lurk in Macy's department store, Applebee's, and Walgreens.  You see them at the bank, the dry cleaners, and the car wash.  School-aged children out and about during the week!

     When I was a classroom teacher, I had no idea how many kids were not in school during regular school hours.  After all, I was sequestered for eight or more hours a day along with the majority of students.  Now that I have a career with a flexible schedule, I notice every child who is tagging along with his or her mother at Kohl's, the grocery store, and even the hair salon.  It nearly ruins my vacation day!

     A police chief in Ohio wants to remedy this situation by enacting an ordinance that would make it illegal for children between ages 6 and 17 to be anywhere but school during the work week.  Homeschoolers protested the measure, claiming there are academic reasons for their children's "field trips."  But others support what's been deemed a daytime curfew for minors.

     Perhaps the police are seeing what I notice when heading out for lunch each day:  a plethora of kids having a grand old time at Taco Bell.  It doesn't surprise me the issue is divided.

P/T Conferences Worth $500

     A Texas politician wants to insure parental involvement in education.  He has introduced a bill that would institute fines for parents who ditch conferences with teachers.  Even more shocking - a criminal record would accompany the monetary penalty.

     Delegates to the Missouri State Teachers Association's annual convention confronted the issue of parental involvement in education at its 2005 assembly.  The association's adopted resolutions state:

"The MSTA supports legislation to stimulate increased involvement and responsibility by parents for their children's attendance and performance in public schools until completion of the academic program as outlined by the local school-district policy.

The MSTA supports communication that increases parental involvement and accountability in their children's education; however, parental involvement in evaluation, assessment and curriculum should be through the local board of education."

Food for thought, delegates:  Should we consider the plan from the lone star state?