What Do We Want Our Schools To Be?

As submitted to the Idaho State Journal, 05-22-2011

It was good for The ISJ to editorialize last week about the failure of supplemental levy efforts in Meridian and several other communities. Certainly these failures will present those districts with great challenges. As an example the editorial offered up the chance that some schools might not be able to afford to send teams to the state playoffs. In my opinion, with that example lies the problem.

Might I sarcastically say, “Oh, woe is me.” The fact that some schools might not be able to participate in a post-season athletic competition should pale in comparison with the fact that Meridian could consider laying off as many as 100 teachers, eliminating some “academic” programs, increasing class sizes, cutting back on supplies, textbooks, the list of effects is endless. Yet what garners the attention? Athletics and whether or not we will “go to State” Does no one understand what the prefix word “extra” in extracurricular really means? Does no one see the irony? Where are our priorities?

Here in Pocatello, our elementary students will do without the services of trained library specialist next year. Our middle schools will have only one counselor to serve the 800-900 students in each school. How well is that going to work? Programs have been eliminated. In a time when China has become our biggest business competitor and partner, we have eliminated the Chinese language classes offered at Highland High School. The district is behind the schedule on upgrading and replacing outdated textbooks. Given Mr. Luna’s brave new world of technology, we are woefully under-prepared and lack the finances to create the infrastructure that will be needed to implement his vision. Our own legislators have told us that we have to turn to the community. Fortunately, in Pocatello we have been blessed with voters who support the supplemental levies and understand the necessity. Still, we are facing these cuts in programs and positions while still playing a full schedule of sports and extracurricular activities, so I again ask, “where are our priorities?”

Lest one think that I discount the good things that extracurriculars do for our students be assured that I do not. My own children benefited from these programs, as did I when I was young. However, given the obvious fact that he State of Idaho, for the foreseeable future, is going to continue to underfund education, do we not need to engage in a public conversation about what we want or schools to do? A community wide public conversation not directed by either the educational establishment or any political party. A real conversation. And should that conversation begin sooner, rather than later?

We could start with a discussion of what public schools are supposed to do. In many of the countries who consistently outscore the U.S. in academic endeavors, sports and other extras are a function of the community as a whole, not the schools. The purpose of the schools remains academic in nature. Games, concerts, plays, competitions occur apart from the schools and are supported by those who wish to support those activities. Perhaps we could start there and ask ourselves how we might move forward in this time of shifting paradigms and politically inspired austerity.

Perhaps the Idaho State Journal, possibly with the assistance of the League of Women Voters or some other neutral party, could take the lead in creating this conversation through a series of public forums in which a cross-section of the stakeholders in our public schools participates. Possibly, there may be a better way to approach it. In any case, we are all stakeholders in our public schools and these decisions are too important to leave to a small cadre of people on Poleline rd. or to the tender ministrations of our State Superintendent and his legislature.

Related articles

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• Can High School Extracurriculars Get You Into College? (education.com)

A Michigan Teacher shares 8 Teacher Truths

8 TEACHER TRUTHS…

by Amanda Krempa Schripsema on Saturday, March 12, 2011 at 7:13am

Blame the fact that I am looney these days.  Maybe the lack of sleep or the amount of stress I’m under is forcing my fingers to strike the keys of this computer right now.  Whatever it is that is making me do this, there is a desperate fire in my heart that needs to be released.  Right here.  Right now.  I, Amanda Jeanette Schripsema, am about to go political.

I am as moderate as they get.  Every “political” test I have taken places me smack-dab in the center of the chaos.  I have voted for people, not parties.  With that in mind as my little disclaimer, I am ready to unleash…

I have compiled a list of “myths” that I have seen floating around the media lately, and I am noticing these myths gaining popularity and support on Facebook.  These myths must be exposed for what they are: lies.  I am a fan of celebrating positive myths like unicorns, fairies, and toy-loving-elves…but not this negative garbage:

1.  “Teaching is a part-time job.”  If you say that to me, be prepared for me to let you have it.  When it comes to planning, grading, meetings, curriculum mapping, all of it: I am at the school from 7a.m. to  5 every single day.  I could stay much longer.  I always have to leave when I still have a million more things to do.  I work weekends.  I go into my class and start setting up and preparing in July (school is out mid-June).  As soon as school is out in June, I begin taking classes to keep my certification updated.  I pay for these classes out of my salary.  Let’s not forget what we take home every single day.  This does not only include paperwork, this includes students who weigh heavy on our hearts and minds.  When one of my students was taken away from her parents and put into foster care, I legitimately and desperately tried to find a way to adopt her.  We love our students with an unconditional heart.  Part-time?  Hardly.

2.  “Teachers have PAID summers!”   People!  Here is the truth: We have a salary.  That amount is the fixed payment alloted for the school year.  If we choose, we can get paid that amount while school is in session, or we can choose to get it spread out all year long (throughout the summer).  We are paid workers with a salary.  There are no “paid vacations.”  Ugh.

3.   “If we get rid of teaching bargaining rights, the students will benefit and we’ll see improvements in their test scores.”  Hmmmm… Let’s look at the facts on that one, shall we?  There are only 5 states in the country that do not have collective bargaining rights for teachers.  Below are their ranking based on ACT/SAT performance (UPDATED to 2010 results):

34. Virginia

38. North Carolina

45. Texas

48. Georgia

49.  South Carolina

Thanks to my elementary music teacher, I know that there are “Fifty, Nifty United States…”  So, those numbers do not portray how taking away collective bargaining will “help” our students.  Looks to me, on this stat alone, it actually is hurting them.

4.  “We should pay teachers based on performance.”  This is the most horrible idea I have ever heard.  Texas does this (45th in ranking…hmmm…).  If we want our children to grow to be adults who only know how to answer in multiple choice fashion, deplete their brain cells, and not have other NEEDED skills such as debate, problem solving, collaboration with peers (to name a few), we will crumble.   Where does music fit in?  Art?  Ingenuity?  Weren’t we the country founded on principles of discovery and technological advances?  These ideals will be gone as teachers will be forced to “teach to the test” in order to get paid.  Where do lab studies/experiments in science fit in?  Teachers will covet “advanced” students while those who struggle will be left in the dust.  Differentiating the classroom to teach to the specific needs of a child will be abandoned.  I could go on forever about why this is an awful idea.

5.  “Teacher Unions are for whiney teachers who demand more, more, more!  They never put students first.”  There is a common misconception that unions only bargain for pay.  This is not true.  Bargaining is involved with class size, calendar dates, sick days, etc.  So, if a union is bargaining for lower class sizes in order to better reach each individual child, how is this NOT putting students first?  Also, there is not one teacher who goes into the profession for pay.  Period.  Let’s lay that one to rest.  If you even try to call teachers “glorified babysitters,” please be prepared to hear how that pay would be much heftier if we were paid even 3 dollars an hour per student (less than any babysitter I’ve ever hired).  In essence, that is just plain ignorant… Unfortunately, I have seen that several times in “status updates” and I feel ill from it every time.

6.  “Teachers work for ME!  I’m the taxpayer!”  Ahem.  I am also a tax payer and a teacher… Hmmm, this one is a brain-drainer that just circles itself, isn’t it?

7.  “Teachers are paid much more than the majority of the public sector.”  This one is quoted on certain news programs quite often.  If this quote is unsheathed for what it is, it comes down to this: They are comparing teachers pay with the entire public, most of those without a college education.  After four years of college, teachers begin teaching in Michigan for a starting pay of about 35,000 a year.  It takes awhile to start earning 50,000.   I would like to hear the logic behind the fact that it is unfair for a teacher to be making more than someone without a degree.  Oh, yeah.  There is no logic.

8.  “Collective bargaining doesn’t really help individual teachers, it just takes away from everyone’s pay.  They really aren’t concerned with individual matters, so teachers shouldn’t pay dues to the union.”  Okay, this is the one, I think, that has caused me to pen this rant in the first place.  I have never been overly pro-union before, I will admit.  Nine years ago, as a first year teacher, I would look longingly at that amount of money that was “wasted” towards my dues when I just wanted to pay my bills. Now, I will tell you something the union has done for me: it has enabled me to stay home with my son as soon as he was diagnosed with cancer. Did the school lose money? No. Actually, the teachers “bargained” to allow other employees to donate their sick days to me. A teacher in Wisconsin is NO LONGER able to bargain with sick days/vacation days…nothing.  Those rights have now been officially stripped.  If I  were a teacher in Wisconsin, I would have had to go back to work or go bankrupt from medical bills.  Am I willing to pay the union now? Absolutely and enthusiastically. It saved my son’s life, I am convinced.  I am case in point in how the Union helps the “little guy” — more accurately, a little fuzzy-headed three-year-old.

I am not saying that this is a battle between parties: Democrat versus Republican.  I am saying that having a voice in our working environment is essential in keeping a Democratic country.  Employers aren’t always voluntarily generous.  There are exceptions, like in the case of my employers at Mattawan, but I realize how rare they are and how most employers focus more on the bottom line (and who can blame them?).  Why do we have a five-day work week?  Why is the workday capped at eight-hours?  Why is there a minimum wage?  Why are there children labor laws?  Why are we able to have pension funds?  It’s all because of labor unions.

Please don’t simply drink the Kool-aid just because of your political party affiliation (or the news program you choose to watch).  Educate yourself…or, you could have a teacher help you.

Next Season On “Survivor”

A retired educator friend sent this. It is a true picture.  Luna, Otter, Nonini, couldn’t do this.

Have you heard about the next planned “Survivor” show?

Three businessmen and three businesswomen will be dropped in an elementary

school classroom for 1 school year.  Each business person will be provided

with a copy of his/her school district’s curriculum, and a class of 25-30 students.

Each class will have a minimum of five learning-disabled children, three

with A.D.H.D., one gifted child, and two who speak limited English. Three

students will be labeled with severe behavior problems.

Each business person must complete lesson plans at least 3 days in advance,

with annotations for curriculum objectives and modify, organize, or create

their materials accordingly. They will be required to teach students, handle

misconduct, implement technology, document attendance, write referrals,

correct homework, make bulletin boards, compute grades, complete report

cards, document benchmarks, communicate with parents, and arrange parent

conferences. They must also stand in their doorway between class changes to

monitor the hallways.

In addition, they will complete fire drills, tornado drills, and [Code Red]

drills for shooting attacks each month.

They must attend workshops, faculty meetings, and attend curriculum

development meetings. They must also tutor students who are behind and

strive to get their two non-English speaking children proficient enough to

take the ISAT tests.  If they are sick or having a bad day they must not let

it show.

Each day they must incorporate reading, writing, math, science, and social

studies into the program. They must maintain discipline and provide an

educationally stimulating environment to motivate students at all times.

If all students do not wish to cooperate, work, or learn, the teacher will

be held responsible.

The business people will only have access to the public golf course on the

weekends, but with their new salary, they will not be able to afford it.

There will be no access to vendors who want to take them out to lunch, and

lunch will be limited to thirty minutes, which is not counted as part of

their work day.

The business people will be permitted to use a student restroom, as long as another

survival candidate can supervise their class.

If the copier is operable, they may make copies of necessary materials

before, or after, school. However, they cannot surpass their monthly limit

of copies.  The business people must continually advance their education, at

their expense, and on their own time.

The winner of this Season of Survivor will be allowed to return to their

job.

Just One More Tug

Another Bob Beason Original

RECALL: The Wrong Tool at the Right Time?

I’m not sure how I feel about this. On one hand we have a “Recall Luna” Movement that is picking up steam and certainly seeing Tommy and his  corporate overlords put on the defensive  provides a visceral satisfaction. However, gutting Tom Luna, no matter how good it might feel, doesn’t rid the state and our students and teachers of this extremely bad legislation. Even if Luna is recalled, admittedly a long-shot, Governor “tight-jeans” Otter gets to appoint his replacement. How will that result in change? Read and consider.

Originally posted at http://www.lmtribune.com/story/opinion/527184/

Recall is the wrong tool but not the only one

Marty Trillhaase
March 10, 2011
Lewiston Morning Tribune


Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna perpetrated a fraud on the people who returned him to office last fall.
He campaigned as a defender of the public school system.
He expressed optimism about the public schools’ ability to prepare your children for the new century.
He talked about the need to restore the cuts lawmakers made in public education budgets.
He even parted ways with his own Republican Party by outlining where to find more dollars.
Never once during his campaign did Luna express support for – or even hint at – his plan to radically transform the public school system.
Never did you hear Luna talk about gutting collective bargaining rights for the state’s public school teachers.
Never did he talk about killing off 770 teaching jobs, crowding more kids in cramped classes and using the savings to create a market for his friends in the for-profit online education industry.
Never did he engage the educators his legislation would affect.
Nor the students.
Nor their parents.
Now, much of that agenda is a fait accompli, enacted by a Republican legislative majority that is either too politically protected or out of touch to believe that the voices of protest out there reflect the majority view.
For this, retired Mountain Home Air Force Secretary Nancy Berto of Boise thinks Luna should be recalled from office.
Idaho’s equivalent of impeachment, recall, should be reserved for the most egregious public misconduct.
Judge for yourself: How close does Luna’s behavior waltz toward malfeasance in office? As defined, malfeasance is “hostile, aggressive action taken to injure the client’s interests.”
Luna’s actions certainly have been hostile.
So says Rep. Leon Smith, R-Twin Falls, who voted against Luna’s bill to gut the Idaho Education Association. “This is a mean-spirited bill. It goes beyond bashing unions, it bashes teachers. . . . It turns teachers into powerless pawns of the political system.”
Aggressive? How else would you describe Luna’s blitzkrieg-like tactic of seeking a massive overhaul of your child’s public schools without first asking your opinion?
No less than Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels refused to play this game when members of his party promoted right to work legislation. Said Daniels: If Republicans didn’t raise the issue with voters during the campaign, they shouldn’t spring it on them now.
The problem with recalling Luna isn’t whether he deserves it.
The problem is it won’t work.
Just to force a recall election, you need to round up 20 percent of the 790,531 people who were registered to vote last year – or at least 158,107.
You get 75 days to collect them.
If that isn’t tough enough, then look at the next hurdle. In what is guaranteed to be a low-turnout special election – either Aug. 30 or Nov. 8 – you have to mobilize at least 268,853 people to vote for removing Luna from office. That’s one more vote than the number that re-elected him last year.
And what if you succeed?
Luna’s collaborator in the school overhaul, Gov. C.L. (Butch) Otter, appoints Luna’s successor.
And the people who endorsed Luna’s package in the Senate will vote to confirm.
The overhaul package? What happens to that if Luna is deposed?
It remains on the books.
You need a better tool.
And you’ve got one.
Sixty days after this dreadful legislative session ends, round up at least 47,432 signatures from registered voters – or 6 percent of the electorate – and demand a referendum on Luna’s legislation.
That would provide what Luna denied you – empowerment. A chance to be heard.
It would be only the fifth time that the voters could repudiate or sustain the actions of their Legislature – the others being sales taxes (1936 and 1966), right to work (1986) and term limits (2002).
This would become the defining issue of the 2012 state election. The GOP legislative majority and its agenda would be on trial.
Majority vote wins.
For weeks now, we’ve been told Luna’s union-busting bill means the demise of the IEA and its friends in Idaho’s Democratic Party. If the IEA’s 13,000 members can’t organize a referendum campaign and engage an Idaho electorate that has awakened from its complacency, then it deserves what Luna has delivered.

---

Originally posted at http://www.lmtribune.com/story/opinion/527184/
The editorial posted here is provided by permission of its original publisher and does not necessarily reflect the views of Idaho Public Television.

http://www.idptv.state.id.us/idreports/showEditorial.cfm?StoryId=50768&refer=newsmai

What Now? Keep Up The Fight!

“It ain’t over till it’s over.”  Yogi Berra

A comment today  from the ordinarily conservative Dave Oliveria at the Spokesman-Review‘s Huckleberries blog:

“If Idahoans let the GOP get away with its trashing of public education, then all those polls that show that this state cherishes education are nonsense.”

First, you can attend the Pocatello Day of Action Rally for Public Education, Teachers, Kids and Unions on Wednesday, 3:30 until 6:30 at the intersection of Alameda and Yellowstone, Pocatello’s busiest intersection. Wear Black  to indicate mourning for Education in Idaho.  Come to the Old Fred Meyer’s parking lot where sign making material will be available. Bring Family, Friends and stay for an hour at some time during that three-hour period. Hawthorne teachers are starting us off at 3:30. Have your school come as a group if you can. There will be other union folks and some retired teachers on hand too. Come and let folks know that  we are still strong.

Second, the next stop for the bills is  the Governor’s Desk. E-mail and Call Otter and ask him to listen to the people of Idaho and kill this legislation. It can’t hurt.  you can Contact the Governor here.

Third, be prepared to travel to Boise and testify or contact Senators and try to defeat  the Technology bill in whatever disguise it reincarnates. It is still insidious and ill-conceived. Teachers for Laptops can’t be the answer. A change of three votes in the senate would have  brought all of this to an end.

The Recall Luna Campaign is starting to gain steam. the official kickoff is April 16th. you can get involved, volunteer, donate, spread the word.  If you’re on Facebook, here’s The Official Recall Tom Luna page They’re in the process of creating a web page.

Finally, we can look ahead to 2012. No legislation is forever. Luna isn’t Moses come down from the mount with stone tablets. We can elect a few more friendly legislators and work on repealing and redoing.  As Yogi said, “It ain’t over till it’s over.”

Keep on Keepin’ On

Courage and Solidarity

 

Related Articles

• Blunt force (ridenbaugh.com)

Attend a “Rally For Public Education” today

Around the state people are holding rallies today.  Here in Pocatello we will rally at 11:00 am at the corner of Oak and Yellowstone,  in the park next to the Reel theater. Dress warm, bring signs, you kids, your friends and neighbors and show your support for Public Ed and you opposition to Luna’s ‘Race to the Bottom’ approach.

If you are  somewhere other  than Pocatello, there are rallies around the state; Here’s  a partial list.

Idaho Falls – Sportsmans Park  (next to Key Bank) – 11 a.m.

Pocatello – Corner of  Oak and Yellowstone – 11 a.m.

Blackfoot – Cammack Park – 11:30 a.m.

Boise – Capitol Park  – Noon

Moscow – Friendship Square – Noon

Twin Falls – Twin Falls City Park – 2 p.m.

Coeur d’Alene – City Hall – 4 p.m.

Hailey – Along Main Street – 4 p.m.

Nampa –  Lakeview Park – 4:30 p.m.

Payette – Payette Community Center – 6 p.m.

A Shout-out to the Luna-tics Among Us

Hey,  all of you teacher’s and nominal  educators  who voted for Luna ! (You know who you are.) How’s that working out for you?  You’re about to get what you deserve. Unfortunately, the rest of us are about to get what YOU deserve too.

Public Schools Move Closer to the Scrap Heap

Thew following editorial appeared in this morning’s Idaho State Journal and was reposted on their political blog

Idaho State Journal Editorial

Conservative politicians are not shy about telling us the public school system in this country and state is broken. They say it has become an unreliable used car that requires prohibitively expensive repairs to keep it going.

Is it time to put our public schools up on blocks and pull that state license plate off?

Voters would have to amend Article IX of the Idaho Constitution, but given the climate in Idaho’s legislature and moves being orchestrated by state superintendent Tom Luna, maybe that’s the more honest thing to do.

It would be more honest than drying up state funds, cutting teachers, hamstringing local funding efforts and mandating outsourced instruction. All of these moves seemed designed with one goal in mind: drive the public school system into the ground. Once it’s truly inoperable, the public will have no choice but to accept a ride from private enterprise.

This transition from public to private seems to be a legislative goal.

Last year, Idaho’s legislature allocated 7.5 percent less money for K-12 public instruction. Local schools turned to local property taxpayers for help and received it, but cuts were still made to programs and personnel. Special levy elections to mitigate losses could be set whenever an Idaho district faced a financial crisis.

The legislature closed that option last session when it mandated two spring election dates only for school districts. And these elections now have to be done by county, not school officials. The first date arrives March 8 and many southeast Idaho districts, including Pocatello will go to the voters for supplemental funds. Because the date is mandatory, they will do it without knowing what the legislature will ultimately do to reduce state funding.

Limiting the dates for school funding elections runs school districts into a wall.

This year, without input from local school boards, parents, students and especially teachers, Luna offered legislation to drastically revamp Idaho’s school system. The plan was never revealed during his re-election bid last fall.

The scheme has two parts: strip employment rights from teacher contracts to reduce the number of teachers and use the money to buy laptop computers to help meet new mandatory requirements for on-line course work. With this move, the state is essentially removing the steering wheel from local districts and cutting discretionary funds even further.

Some conservatives also want to knock first gear out of the public school transmission and eliminate state funding for kindergarten.

The last stage of converting public education to private is to convince the public the old heap just isn’t worth saving. School reformers say a newer model based on free enterprise would be more efficient and cheaper to maintain. They point out that foreign education models are kicking America’s butt. For example, eighth graders in tiny Singapore are ranked first in math and science exams while American kids are chugging in at 17th to 28th.

Reformers are less likely to reveal Singapore spends more than 16 percent of its GDP (Gross Domestic Product) on public education while the U.S. spends 5.7 percent.

How much are we willing to spend on education in Idaho? If the answer is as little as possible, lawmakers may offer us SchoolMart.

More Following of the Money

I am re-posting this here in its entirety because of its significance. It was researched and prepared by Boise writer Grove Koger and Published in http://www.ridenbaugh.com/index.php/2011/02/15/following-the-ed-money/

Following the ed money

Published by Randy Stapilus at 10:36 am under Idaho

Another piece to consider when reviewing the details of how and why the education program offered this year from Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna – a plan now being retooled – was submitted for prime time.

Often, it helps to check the personal ties and connections – who is being listened to, who is working with and talking with whom.

Consider this, a timeline developed by Boise writer Grove Koger:

1993 Thomas J. Wilford becomes President of Alscott
1995-2003 Wilford President of J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation
1999 VA-based K12 founded by former U.S. Secretary of Ed. Bill Bennett
1999-2001 Wilford a Director of Albertson’s Inc.
2002 Idaho Virtual Academy created in cooperation with K12

Nov Wilford becomes a Director of K12
2003 Wilford becomes CEO of J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation
2004 Wilford becomes a Director of IDACORP
Wilford becomes a Director of Idaho Power, an IDACORP subsidiary
2005 J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation give grants to several charter schools, including Idaho Virtual Academy
2006 08/10 Maryland-based Connections Academy contributes $500 to Luna’s campaign
09/29 K12 donates $5,000 to Luna’s campaign
12/19 K12 donates $891.29 to help retire Luna’s Primary ’06 debt
12/19 K12 donates $4108.71 toward Luna’s Primary 2010 fund
2007 Wilford’s total compensation from K12 for 2007: $354
2008 Wilford’s total compensation from K12 for 2008: $28,578
2009 Wilford’s total compensation from K12 for 2009: $55,829
2010 04/30 TN-based Education Networks of America contributes $1,000 to Luna’s Campaign
05/11 PA-based Apangea Learning donates $1,000 to Luna’s campaign

07/02 Education Networks of America contributes $1,500 to Luna’s campaign

07/26 Wilford sells 5,000 shares of K12 stock; retains at least 3,041 shares Wilford donates $250 to Luna’s campaign

09/20 Apangea Learning donates $2,500 to Luna’s campaign

09/28 AZ-based Apollo Group donates $2,500 to Luna’s campaign

10/20 K12, whose curriculum is used by the Idaho Virtual Academy (largest Idaho online public charter school), donates $25,000 to Idahoans for Choice in Education. Almost immediately Idahoans for Choice gives $25,000 to Arizona firm for broadcast advertising and production in an independent campaign supporting Luna’s re-election

12/16 Wilford ceases to be a Director of K12; not clear whether he is still a stockholder. Wilford’s total compensation from K12 for 2010: $107,114
2011 01/29 J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation takes out ad in Idaho Statesman supporting Tom Luna’s education plan

When the Luna-Otter plan emerged seemingly out of nowhere a month ago, in other words, it didn’t really emerge out of nowhere.