TEACHERS HAVE A VOICE TOO!

Amidst the daily issues and controversy that currently overshadows education the Teachers' voice gets loss in the shuffle. It is true that while more accountability is being placed on the teacher there is still no system of support for teachers in the inner city that is truly meaningful.

It can be argued that accountability is needed but for whom? Is it for the inadequacy in some of our peers that makes it difficult for the rest of us? How about scapegoating others because of a difference in opinions and practices? How can teachers be held accountable ....... is it through the pay, loss of licensure or student performance? What about those teachers who go above and beyond yet the data measures are poor? Should we rely on bureaucratic definition of what constitutes student performance or growth? What is accountability?

These are all logical questions that are so profound I believe that can only be answered through a thorough and honest introspection of self, systems, and processes. While the public is clamoring for more accountability there are teachers who are working under extreme conditions to get their jobs done let alone survive! 

There are teachers who have no resources and are continuously faced with a multitude of adverse conditions that impact instruction in the classroom. These range from the inability to get help for students who are consistently disrupting the educational process and the procurement of appropriate programs for helping the lower level students because of budgetary constraints. Additionally, there are the hungry students, the student who has to work to take care of their family and was unable to complete homework, students who cannot stay after school or take advantage of other programs that will help improve their academic performance which will ultimately contribute to student growth. 

Will these hard working  teachers be penalized by the system? When will the voices of these teachers be brought to the fore? How will our inner city schools survive if teachers are unable to do their jobs the best way they know to produce results? Under the current accountability climate will there be a max exodus of teachers to schools where there is an abundance of resources and a strong parental support system as well as all the other conditions that are imperative for "student achievement"? Conversely, would these high performing schools hire these teachers?

Where do you stand?

Petreno

YOUR SCHOOL IS EXCEPTIONAL!!!

Why do some schools fail? Is it because of a lack in instructional leadership? What role does teacher quality play? How about students' demographic status, parental support, school culture, and politics?

There are many literature and articles that have been written on this subject. There are also numerous researches that have shown that irrespective of the factors schools can be exceptional. Is it an easy task? I suppose not! However, it is worthwhile trying since the alternative is unthinkable.

Douglas B. Reeves has published several articles over the years about  90/90/90  schools which in recent times have been updated to 100/100/100. The 90/90/90 schools have population of students that receive reduced or free lunches, represent ethnic minorities, and have met or exceeded standards of achievements based on defined standards set by the researcher. The 100/100/100 schools are also based on the above criteria. Though this is not without its critics including Justin Baeder who believes this is all a myth, the study highlights some plausible approaches to student achievement and ultimately an exceptional school. 

What exactly is academic success? Does it have a singular universal meaning? What are some of the parameters that should be taken into consideration when comparing schools to ensure fairness? How do we truly determine the academic superior schools?

The answer may perhaps lie in Edward L. Vockell's paper: Why Schools Fail and What We Can Do about It.

Have a Great Week!

Petreno

Let the Students' Voices Be Heard!

Isn't it interesting to hear students' views outside of the classroom?

I recently had a conversation with a student that was rather thought-provoking and somewhat disturbing.

I have always seen this particular student around school but have never had the opportunity of teaching in my courses.  Further, the student was always in and out of school because of behavioral issues. None-the-less I was impressed of how well informed and passionate the expressed views were about what was happening in the school.

The student was able to accurately describe the school environment and culture as well as the existing dynamics which was excruciatingly blunt. I could not help but think to myself Wow! How many other students are there in the school with similar views? Have we failed in engaging them appropriately in the teaching learning process? How can we effectively utilize the views of these students in school improvement?

Usually in any school improvement initiative the students' voices are often left out in this process yet it is often about them! Have we been getting this wrong? We have always thought that we know what's best for students often imposing rules, best practices, new curricula, and social services that we think will benefit them based on the research. Though these are all good........should we rethink based on the evolution of our student population of today? Are we truly addressing their needs?

The student disclosed during our conversation the need to pass required examinations which meant that there is an issue of being under-credited. Additionally, the hope that teachers can look beyond faults and provide what is truly desired ......... an education was aggressively demanded. If we are to successfully close the achievement gap we need to seriously listen to our students.

There are many articulate and brilliant students who are caught in this dilemma. How can we help them?

Have an Extraordinary Week!

Petreno

HOW WAS YOUR WEEK?

How was your week? Did it live up to your expectations? How could it have been different?

I had an interesting week. Though excited to be back at school, the reality of the magnitude of work to be done seems overwhelming! During our teachers' conferences, the faculty was asked three simple questions:-

1. Where are we?
2. Where should we be?
3. How do we get there?

These three profound questions invite us to deeply reflect on the current situation that will impact the future based on what we do now.

Amidst getting back into the daily school routine and figuring out how best to maximize our time both inside and outside of the classroom, let us keep the needs of the children who sit before us as our top priority. I strongly believe that if we are able to do this, we will find the answers and more to the questions above. They may not be easy ones and will ultimately require hard work, patience, and perseverance.

What will you do today?

Sometimes it takes a radical action of just one person to initiate change. Think of our leaders both past and present. They made an unwavering decision to fight for the greater good. Just like Marva Collins and Ron Clark, let us never give up hope especially when hope seems elusive but persevere like Mr. Cohen in Front of the Class despite the odds.

Have yourselves a FABULOUS week!

Petreno

Now's The Time To Act!

It's the first day of school! We have spent months, weeks, days, and hours preparing for this moment. The syllabi have been written or updated. Lesson plans, materials needed for the first few days, worksheets, handouts are all copied and packed in neat piles to be distributed. The seating arrangement has been changed approximately several times! Tables and chairs cleaned. Books counted and dusted. Now's the time to act!

There is this nervous feeling in the bottom of your stomach. Though you have done this many times before, the feeling is still the same. Who are my students? What type of learners will I have? Have I successfully planned to accommodate the different types of learners? How will they react towards me? Will they like the classroom? How receptive and appreciative will they be of the lessons I diligently and painstakingly prepared for them? Most importantly, will they enjoy and learn what I have planned? There will be so much to do and say...... will I have enough time?

As I mused over these questions, its hard to ignore the rising excitement....... this is it! Now is the time to act! Now is the time to put into action all the plans, dreams, and aspirations for our children. Irrespective of the challenges that lurk in the future we must persist and keep moving because our children need us!

Moving forward, I want us to think about the lessons to be learnt from these two great people: Ron Clark and Marva Collins. 

Have a great week!