I received an email today from the president of the Jordan Education Association (JEA). She sent a link to this article. (Please go read the article. It's really short and it will help you understand what I'm saying.)
First, most people in charge of school districts were, at one time or another, a teacher. What I don't understand is how these people could, in good conscience, constitute merit pay. Merit pay does nothing but create competition between teachers. Competition does not create a healthy school, let alone a healthy school district.
Second, as much as I want to say that all student learning depends on the teacher, much of student learning actually depends on home life. I can be the best teacher in the world but if my students come to school scared because of circumstances at home or with empty bellies or tired because mom and dad let them stay up all night playing video games or never do their homework or are constantly told (verbally or through parental actions) that school doesn't matter, my best teaching will do nothing. How am I supposed to raise test scores (and therefore, receive my raise) with things outside of my control? The school I work at has a quite low socioeconomic status. We have had horrible test scores in the past (I'm talking below 50%, people) but in the past three year we have worked incredibly hard to raise those scores. Still, after all this hard work (and getting parents involved) we are still only in the upper 70s. How can I compare with schools just down the street who have an advanced placement strand and 90% of their parents volunteering on a regular basis?
Third, this whole "sign or you're fired" thing? What the...? Since when do we live in a communist country?
Fourth, I'm not asking you to feel bad for teachers. I know there are plenty of people who have lost wages because of the difficult economic times. I know there are plenty of people who are not being paid for the huge amounts of work they do. What I'm asking you is to look out for students. All students, regardless of their parent's income, deserve an amazing free and public education.
Blerg.
Showing posts with label questions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label questions. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
There's a Lump in My Throat
Have you ever had one of those days were you realize that everything you're doing is wrong?
I had one today. I try my hardest to do everything to help everyone and I put every ounce of my being into what I do but was informed today that it's not good enough. I need to do more.
I'm at a loss. I don't know how I can put more into what I'm already doing. There is nothing left to give.
I just need a break. I need to rethink everything. I really just need to cry for about a day...and a half.
I had one today. I try my hardest to do everything to help everyone and I put every ounce of my being into what I do but was informed today that it's not good enough. I need to do more.
I'm at a loss. I don't know how I can put more into what I'm already doing. There is nothing left to give.
I just need a break. I need to rethink everything. I really just need to cry for about a day...and a half.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Up in the Air Future = Rambling Blog Post
I'm trying to go to sleep but I can't because I'm trying to mull over all the crap of the week. It's been a rough one at school. Yep, my students are being naughty but that's not what has made it so tough. What's made it tough is knowing that there are inevitably going to be many cuts at the end of this school year. If I'm lucky enough to still have a job next year, I know that I will loose many good friends and students will loose many great teachers.
No one feels safe. Our future as educators is up in the air. Maybe we (by we, I mean teachers with little seniority like me) will have jobs next year, maybe we won't. And let's say we are laid off by our district, it's not like other school districts have loads of jobs available. We're all scared, we're all angry and none of us know what to do.
You hear it in the hushed conversations in classrooms after school, you hear it in the lack of enthusiasm, you hear it in the lack of patience with students. What is it? Apathy. We are discouraged.
We love our jobs, we love our students, and all we want is what is best for the students. With class sizes creeping into the high 30s, how are we going to give each student the care and individualized instruction that he or she needs? We want our opinions to be heard. We want to be treated as the professional people we are. We want our expertise to be used to make decisions, not some politician who's last experience in a classroom was 30 years ago when he attended high school.
Teachers teach because they love it. But when year after year we are told that we aren't doing a good job, that we need to do more with less, that we need to make all the ills of society go away, and then we aren't given the professional respect we deserve by the public; we become angry. We become the teacher you complain about. The teacher who comes at 8am and leaves at 4pm...on the dot. The teacher who complains about any extra thing he or she has to do outside of contract hours. The teacher who pulls a lesson out of the file each week and teaches it in exactly the same way he or she has for the past 10 years, no matter how outdated it is or how much the students have changed or how much the curriculum has changed. The teacher who doesn't get to know your child on a personal level. The teacher who can't wait to retire. The teacher who does the bare minimum. And who would blame them with how teachers are treated?
How can one expect teachers to feel good about teaching your children if they are crapped on day after day by various groups of people?
No one feels safe. Our future as educators is up in the air. Maybe we (by we, I mean teachers with little seniority like me) will have jobs next year, maybe we won't. And let's say we are laid off by our district, it's not like other school districts have loads of jobs available. We're all scared, we're all angry and none of us know what to do.
You hear it in the hushed conversations in classrooms after school, you hear it in the lack of enthusiasm, you hear it in the lack of patience with students. What is it? Apathy. We are discouraged.
We love our jobs, we love our students, and all we want is what is best for the students. With class sizes creeping into the high 30s, how are we going to give each student the care and individualized instruction that he or she needs? We want our opinions to be heard. We want to be treated as the professional people we are. We want our expertise to be used to make decisions, not some politician who's last experience in a classroom was 30 years ago when he attended high school.
Teachers teach because they love it. But when year after year we are told that we aren't doing a good job, that we need to do more with less, that we need to make all the ills of society go away, and then we aren't given the professional respect we deserve by the public; we become angry. We become the teacher you complain about. The teacher who comes at 8am and leaves at 4pm...on the dot. The teacher who complains about any extra thing he or she has to do outside of contract hours. The teacher who pulls a lesson out of the file each week and teaches it in exactly the same way he or she has for the past 10 years, no matter how outdated it is or how much the students have changed or how much the curriculum has changed. The teacher who doesn't get to know your child on a personal level. The teacher who can't wait to retire. The teacher who does the bare minimum. And who would blame them with how teachers are treated?
How can one expect teachers to feel good about teaching your children if they are crapped on day after day by various groups of people?
"If a doctor, lawyer, or dentist had 40 people in his office at one time, all of whom had different needs, and some of whom didn't want to be there and were causing trouble, and the doctor, lawyer, or dentist, without assistance, had to treat them all with professional excellence for nine months, then he might have some conception of the classroom teacher's job."
~Donald D. Quinn
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Bruised and Broken Hearts
**My organization sucks in this post. I'm sorry. But I have a lot of things I need to get out. Maybe I'll come back and edit this later.**
If you know a teacher, you probably hear a lot about heart and how he or she teaches with his or her heart and does all the extra stuff because of that pesky heart. I know that's why I do it, because I love it. My heart is in it. But after the past few days, weeks, months (I can't keep track any more), my heart is bruised and broken. It makes me so sad to know that people don't care for ALL students as much as I do. Wow. That sounded like I think I'm Mother Teresa. I don't. I'm saying, all students deserve the same education regardless of how much money their parents make.
It's no secret. Teachers don't make much money. Don't believe me? Check the pay scale here. (then click licensed staff then salary schedule) Too lazy? I'll tell you. As a first year teacher with a Bachelor's Degree, I make $32, 899 a year. Not much, especially when you consider that there are not enough hours in our contract hours to go to all the meetings, contact parents, plan for the next day, help struggling students after school, and grade papers. I'm sorry but I can't get all that done in 1 hour. 1 hour is all the time I'm paid for to get all these things done. So, I, along with 99% of first year teachers and most other teachers, spend hours before and after "contract time" to get all these things done.
I am not telling you these things so you can say, "Oh, poor picked on teachers." I love my job. I wouldn't and couldn't do what I do every day if I didn't. I'm telling you these things because I'm annoyed. Annoyed with the fact that people voted to have 500 jobs cut and class sizes raised (even before this, we have the highest class sizes in the nation) instead of increasing taxes less than $10 a month. Are your children worth $10 a month?
We need to think about who is going to run this state and country in the next 20 years. An educated workforce is invaluable to the state. If we continue to "pack 'em deep and teach 'em cheap" we're going to get in trouble sooner rather than later.
I'm realizing this post is getting lengthy and is probably rambling. Go check out these news stories.
Here and here
Just as a note, I want to punch the lady in the red shirt from Canyons in the second video. I hope you don't know her. If so, I'm sorry but what she says makes me want to punch things (by things I mean her).
This is a letter to parents from Jordan District:
To Jordan District Parents:
Please tell the School Board to rescind their decision to increase class size and lay off 500 District employees.
The School Board can make a better choice to meet their budget: Furlough school days to protect the quality of our programs. Raise taxes to maintain the quality of our schools.
1. Recent Dan Jones and Jordan District survey results state that the public is willing to increase taxes for education. This tax increase would be under $10 a month ($9.40) for a $200,000 home.
2. The Jordan PTA has also called for a tax increase.
3. This large class size increase will force 250 teacher layoffs. Laying off a total of 500 District employees will slow down the economic recovery of our communities.
4. The Board decided to increase class size by an average of 4 students per class. Utah already has the highest class size in the U.S. Class size increases:
The Jordan Education Association encourages you to contact your Board member and tell them to make a better choice. You can also attend Tuesday night School Board Meetings (schedule at www.jordandistrict.org).
If you know a teacher, you probably hear a lot about heart and how he or she teaches with his or her heart and does all the extra stuff because of that pesky heart. I know that's why I do it, because I love it. My heart is in it. But after the past few days, weeks, months (I can't keep track any more), my heart is bruised and broken. It makes me so sad to know that people don't care for ALL students as much as I do. Wow. That sounded like I think I'm Mother Teresa. I don't. I'm saying, all students deserve the same education regardless of how much money their parents make.
It's no secret. Teachers don't make much money. Don't believe me? Check the pay scale here. (then click licensed staff then salary schedule) Too lazy? I'll tell you. As a first year teacher with a Bachelor's Degree, I make $32, 899 a year. Not much, especially when you consider that there are not enough hours in our contract hours to go to all the meetings, contact parents, plan for the next day, help struggling students after school, and grade papers. I'm sorry but I can't get all that done in 1 hour. 1 hour is all the time I'm paid for to get all these things done. So, I, along with 99% of first year teachers and most other teachers, spend hours before and after "contract time" to get all these things done.
I am not telling you these things so you can say, "Oh, poor picked on teachers." I love my job. I wouldn't and couldn't do what I do every day if I didn't. I'm telling you these things because I'm annoyed. Annoyed with the fact that people voted to have 500 jobs cut and class sizes raised (even before this, we have the highest class sizes in the nation) instead of increasing taxes less than $10 a month. Are your children worth $10 a month?
We need to think about who is going to run this state and country in the next 20 years. An educated workforce is invaluable to the state. If we continue to "pack 'em deep and teach 'em cheap" we're going to get in trouble sooner rather than later.
I'm realizing this post is getting lengthy and is probably rambling. Go check out these news stories.
Here and here
Just as a note, I want to punch the lady in the red shirt from Canyons in the second video. I hope you don't know her. If so, I'm sorry but what she says makes me want to punch things (by things I mean her).
This is a letter to parents from Jordan District:
To Jordan District Parents:
Please tell the School Board to rescind their decision to increase class size and lay off 500 District employees.
The School Board can make a better choice to meet their budget: Furlough school days to protect the quality of our programs. Raise taxes to maintain the quality of our schools.
1. Recent Dan Jones and Jordan District survey results state that the public is willing to increase taxes for education. This tax increase would be under $10 a month ($9.40) for a $200,000 home.
2. The Jordan PTA has also called for a tax increase.
3. This large class size increase will force 250 teacher layoffs. Laying off a total of 500 District employees will slow down the economic recovery of our communities.
4. The Board decided to increase class size by an average of 4 students per class. Utah already has the highest class size in the U.S. Class size increases:
- Keep students from receiving the individual attention they need.
- Force the cancellation of special programs that have benefited students at all grade levels.
- Limit teachers' ability to include higher level learning activities and assessments due to the additional preparation and grading time required.
- Risk all schools' ability to make AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress).
- Risk high schools' ability to maintain accreditation (as determined by Northwest Association of Accredited Schools) due to increased teacher class loads and significant loss of preparation time.
- Make teams and programs less competitive in statewide competitions due to inadequate preparation time.
- Lower property values as the school district loses its reputation of having great public schools.
- This School Board decision will lower the quality of education in our schools.
The Jordan Education Association encourages you to contact your Board member and tell them to make a better choice. You can also attend Tuesday night School Board Meetings (schedule at www.jordandistrict.org).
Who Would You Be?
I'm doing a biography unit with my students and as a culminating activity, we'll be having a "dinner party."
For the unit, each student has to learn about a historical figure, write a report, and lbe able to tell these facts to class members.
For the dinner party, my students will dress up as their historical figure, talk to each other (as the historical figure), and decide which historical figures they would want to come to their dinner party (everyone will be invited but they each have to synthesize information and realize that some people probably wouldn't work well together. I do have a Hitler and an Anne Frank.)
My question for you is who should I be? I'm wanting to do someone unexpected, someone who has an obvious style, someone who's not too wild (we're 6th graders remember) and someone who would be fun to walk around as for an hour or so.
Any ideas?
For the unit, each student has to learn about a historical figure, write a report, and lbe able to tell these facts to class members.
For the dinner party, my students will dress up as their historical figure, talk to each other (as the historical figure), and decide which historical figures they would want to come to their dinner party (everyone will be invited but they each have to synthesize information and realize that some people probably wouldn't work well together. I do have a Hitler and an Anne Frank.)
My question for you is who should I be? I'm wanting to do someone unexpected, someone who has an obvious style, someone who's not too wild (we're 6th graders remember) and someone who would be fun to walk around as for an hour or so.
Any ideas?
Sunday, January 31, 2010
We Will Be OK
I thought by now I would have a plan for tomorrow but I still have no idea how to proceed with my students.
I'm at a loss.
This post was going to be so much more but I just can't think of the words I need to express the sadness I feel for my students. I can't figure out how to say how hurt I am because my students chose to hurt each other. Am I a bad teacher? Did I neglect to show them that our classroom is our home for 8 hours every day? Did I do something to make them think this type of behavior is acceptable?
I can't help blaming myself, it's what I do. The more I think about it, the more I question. Was I always kind? Do I show respect to my students at all times? Do I accept my students for who they are and what they bring to the classroom? Am I rude or do I lose my temper at times?
I think I'll just go in with this attitude,
I'm at a loss.
This post was going to be so much more but I just can't think of the words I need to express the sadness I feel for my students. I can't figure out how to say how hurt I am because my students chose to hurt each other. Am I a bad teacher? Did I neglect to show them that our classroom is our home for 8 hours every day? Did I do something to make them think this type of behavior is acceptable?
I can't help blaming myself, it's what I do. The more I think about it, the more I question. Was I always kind? Do I show respect to my students at all times? Do I accept my students for who they are and what they bring to the classroom? Am I rude or do I lose my temper at times?
I think I'll just go in with this attitude,
and see where we get.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Head Sweaters
You've probably noticed these...
if you don't live under a rock. My question is "Why are they so cool?"
While shopping today I counted 26...26!...people wearing these things. I'm sure there were more but I was busy finding amazing deals on things people didn't want before Christmas.
Do you really want to cover your ears with a headband?
Why do you also cover your forehead with a headband?
While you're thinking about that, why do you cover your hair with a headband?
And what are they called? My sisters and I labeled them "Head Sweaters."
BTW, I'll probably be wearing one of these within a few months.
if you don't live under a rock. My question is "Why are they so cool?"
While shopping today I counted 26...26!...people wearing these things. I'm sure there were more but I was busy finding amazing deals on things people didn't want before Christmas.
Do you really want to cover your ears with a headband?
Why do you also cover your forehead with a headband?
While you're thinking about that, why do you cover your hair with a headband?
And what are they called? My sisters and I labeled them "Head Sweaters."
BTW, I'll probably be wearing one of these within a few months.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
The VMAs...Always a Good Time
Oh, wow. Those are the only words I have after watching the VMAs (in fast forward...I love Tivo!).
Here's a run down on me watching and my reaction to everything.
Me: "What?! Are those feathers? Who's wearing the other half of her mask?"
[Time frame and my reactions to the performance.]
A see-through, red lace dress with a mask, gloves and crown. Who saw that one coming? Really. No one.
Then you think it's over. She cannot get any better, right? WRONG!! Last wardrobe change.
I have no idea what that is...a wreath made of feathers...the left over hair from one of her many crazy hair styles...an old costume from Cats...trimmed and styled Santa Claus wig and beard? I don't know but I do know it's awesome and I'd like to know what Gaga was thinking through the night.
That was the last crazy thing the Gaga did. But Kanye West was a different story.
If you haven't heard...Kanye got on stage while Taylor Swift was accepting her award and said how Beyonce had the best video of all time (and implied that it was ridiculous that Taylor would have won.)
Look at her face...she's so confused.
But in the end Beyonce was a class act and let Taylor give her speech during the time Beyonce was supposed to give hers.
Kayne = word I don't use. Read Kelly Clarkson's blog about it. I think she sums it up nicely.
Here's a run down on me watching and my reaction to everything.
Show starts out with the host heckling Lady Gaga.
Host: 'Gaga is a hermaphrodite...' [Cut to Gaga]
Me: "What?! Are those feathers? Who's wearing the other half of her mask?"
More show happens...nothing involving The Gaga but I did get to try to find her in the audience. It was kinda like a game of Where's Waldo? but it was more like What's Gaga Wearing Now?
Lady Gaga performance--otherwise known as The Best 4 Minutes of the Show--
[Time frame and my reactions to the performance.]
0:04--"Wow. All white like angels."
0:10--"Nice Pierrot. This is obviously going to be amazing."
0:26--"Ok. She looks like the Easter Bunny's crazy uncle."
0:30--"Is that guy wearing underwear on his face?"
0:30--"Is that guy wearing underwear on his face?"
1:00--"Ooo...sparkles."
1:02--"Yes! She has a cape too!"
1:07--"Yes! Another costume change."
1:07--"Yes! Another costume change."
1:13--"Why is that guy still wearing underwear on his face?"
1:18-1:34--"Sweet choreography!"
2:16--"Bedazzled wheel chair...Why?"
2:16--"Bedazzled wheel chair...Why?"
2:22--"Cane...Why?"
2:31--"I think the cane made her very angry."
2:49--"That guy was on So You Think You Can Dance. I think his name is Mark. He has weird fingers."
3:05--"Playing the piano with your leg up = super classy."
3:21--"Is that blood?"
3:24--"Yep. It's blood. Why?"
3:34--"She should really go see a doctor. That's not just a paper cut."
4:00--"There is still underwear on your face, dude."
4:15--"Holy cow! Blood in your eye. Yuck."
{This section was at one time the video of Lady Gaga's performance. However, I keep putting up videos that the person doesn't own and MTV takes them down. If I ever find an "official" video I will put it back up. Until then, click here to watch it...it's classic.}
You think Lady has no more tricks up her sleeve? Oh, you are wrong...so wrong.
There is yet another wardrobe change (this one's the best...make sure you're sitting down before you look).
You think Lady has no more tricks up her sleeve? Oh, you are wrong...so wrong.
There is yet another wardrobe change (this one's the best...make sure you're sitting down before you look).
A see-through, red lace dress with a mask, gloves and crown. Who saw that one coming? Really. No one.
Then you think it's over. She cannot get any better, right? WRONG!! Last wardrobe change.
I have no idea what that is...a wreath made of feathers...the left over hair from one of her many crazy hair styles...an old costume from Cats...trimmed and styled Santa Claus wig and beard? I don't know but I do know it's awesome and I'd like to know what Gaga was thinking through the night.
That was the last crazy thing the Gaga did. But Kanye West was a different story.
If you haven't heard...Kanye got on stage while Taylor Swift was accepting her award and said how Beyonce had the best video of all time (and implied that it was ridiculous that Taylor would have won.)
Kanye: "Here. Hold this moonman while I take the microphone."
Taylor: "Ok but I thought I was supposed to talk."
Look at her face...she's so confused.But in the end Beyonce was a class act and let Taylor give her speech during the time Beyonce was supposed to give hers.Kayne = word I don't use. Read Kelly Clarkson's blog about it. I think she sums it up nicely.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Hope, Education and Trying Your Best = Something You Don't Want Your Kids to Hear?
Being a teacher I was given the opportunity to show today's presidential speech to my class. However, there were some hoops I had to jump through. First, I had to write a lesson plan (complete with pre and post activities) and submit it to my principal to be pre-approved. Second, I had to have a relevant tie to 6th grade core curriculum. Third, I had to prepare work for those students who don't have permission that would be equivalent to what we did with the video. And fourth, I had to send home letters to parents to get approval from them.
With what went on in my classroom last week and the fact that I was supposed to be off track today, I didn't have the energy to worry about it. Now that I've watched it online, I can't believe it was so controversial. I also fully plan on showing it when my class goes back on track. I'm writing my lesson plan now. Sure it's going to be a month later and some kids may have seen it already but I'm going to make sure that all kids have the opportunity to see it and talk about it.
Since when do we not want the leader of our country to encourage students to work hard in school?
I would love for someone to explain to me why this is a horrible thing. Seriously, I'll listen. I just want to know what the big deal was.
Here's some quotes from the speech that I enjoyed:
"I want to start with the responsibility you have to yourself. Every single one of you has something that you're good at. Every single one of you has something to offer. And you have a responsibility to yourself to discover what that is. That's the opportunity an education can provide."
"Don't be afraid to ask questions. Don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it. . .Asking for help isn't a sign of weakness, it's a sign of strength because it shows you have the courage to admit when you don't know something, and that then allows you to learn something new. So find an adult that you trust -- a parent, a grandparent or teacher, a coach or a counselor -- and ask them to help you stay on track to meet your goals."
"And even when you're struggling, even when you're discouraged, and you feel like other people have given up on you, don't ever give up on yourself, because when you give up on yourself, you give up on your country."
"Now, your families, your teachers, and I are doing everything we can to make sure you have the education you need to answer these questions. . . you've got to do your part, too. So I expect all of you to get serious this year. I expect you to put your best effort into everything you do. I expect great things from each of you. So don't let us down. Don't let your family down or your country down. Most of all, don't let yourself down. Make us all proud."
With what went on in my classroom last week and the fact that I was supposed to be off track today, I didn't have the energy to worry about it. Now that I've watched it online, I can't believe it was so controversial. I also fully plan on showing it when my class goes back on track. I'm writing my lesson plan now. Sure it's going to be a month later and some kids may have seen it already but I'm going to make sure that all kids have the opportunity to see it and talk about it.
Since when do we not want the leader of our country to encourage students to work hard in school?
I would love for someone to explain to me why this is a horrible thing. Seriously, I'll listen. I just want to know what the big deal was.
Here's some quotes from the speech that I enjoyed:
"I want to start with the responsibility you have to yourself. Every single one of you has something that you're good at. Every single one of you has something to offer. And you have a responsibility to yourself to discover what that is. That's the opportunity an education can provide."
"Don't be afraid to ask questions. Don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it. . .Asking for help isn't a sign of weakness, it's a sign of strength because it shows you have the courage to admit when you don't know something, and that then allows you to learn something new. So find an adult that you trust -- a parent, a grandparent or teacher, a coach or a counselor -- and ask them to help you stay on track to meet your goals."
"And even when you're struggling, even when you're discouraged, and you feel like other people have given up on you, don't ever give up on yourself, because when you give up on yourself, you give up on your country."
"Now, your families, your teachers, and I are doing everything we can to make sure you have the education you need to answer these questions. . . you've got to do your part, too. So I expect all of you to get serious this year. I expect you to put your best effort into everything you do. I expect great things from each of you. So don't let us down. Don't let your family down or your country down. Most of all, don't let yourself down. Make us all proud."
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