Fourth: Focus on what is important. The curriculum focus needs to be on subjects that are vital for survival and provide and encourage advancement for those who can handle it. Everyone needs to know the basics of such subjects, but not exclusively, as math, reading, writing, civics, history, science, physical education, health and finances. There should be no comprise on such subjects, and by the time a kid exits high school they should have mastered these subjects. No more social promotion, and there should be tutor services for those that fall behind on these subjects and hold kids back if needed. Educators do more for a kid if held back than to just them advance without the understanding of the subject matter.
There should be access to advanced classes in math, science, and engineering. For those who are seen as ripe to take advantage of these classes should be strongly encouraged to attend.
Mar 29, 2008
Where is the Shadow #5
Last week: St. Anthony parkway along the river facing North Minneapolis looking southwest.Mar 27, 2008
Fixing Education #3..Rave on
Third: Prepare for the math and science revolution. If the United States is going to be able to compete in the world economy in the near future we need to focus on math, physical science, bioscience, and engineering. Bioscience needs to be applied to scanning equipment, detectors, and other concepts to meet the needs of areas such as the War On Terrorism. The final frontier places great demands on all of the subjects. What better way for inner city kids to get a meal ticket for a great future then to get a focused education on the sciences? Just think of all the applications for the electrical and mechanical engineering fields.
Instead of focusing on taking a “get them by” approach, the administrators need to figure out how to transform the education system into a “pick them up and dust them off” human equity building system. The current system focuses too much on lower class size, marketing programs, reacting, tenured teachers, and slipping things under the carpet. They are completely missing the point! What is needed is more tutors to pickup those behind, more professionals teaching, more challenge, and focus on the benefits that a pro-active education system can bring.
There are some major cultural problems that we are being faced with, especially in the inner city. In some circles a good and successful education is considered a sell out of the culture. Society is afraid to be honest about that and therefore unable to deal with that issue. This issue must be addressed and turned around. There is way too much good talent out there that is losing out, and our society is losing out on, because of this dim view of the world. We either all win or lose together. There is no good reason for this dim view on success and hard work. Just from my observations it comes down to a matter of guilt, remorse, a sense of hopelessness, and a general distrust of those in charge of the system. We can turn that all around with a focus on the job of getting people on the right track in life, and having been shown the benefits thereof. Too often people make it to easy for us to make excuses for not doing what is human nature, and that is the pursuit of happiness. It all starts with education!
Instead of focusing on taking a “get them by” approach, the administrators need to figure out how to transform the education system into a “pick them up and dust them off” human equity building system. The current system focuses too much on lower class size, marketing programs, reacting, tenured teachers, and slipping things under the carpet. They are completely missing the point! What is needed is more tutors to pickup those behind, more professionals teaching, more challenge, and focus on the benefits that a pro-active education system can bring.
There are some major cultural problems that we are being faced with, especially in the inner city. In some circles a good and successful education is considered a sell out of the culture. Society is afraid to be honest about that and therefore unable to deal with that issue. This issue must be addressed and turned around. There is way too much good talent out there that is losing out, and our society is losing out on, because of this dim view of the world. We either all win or lose together. There is no good reason for this dim view on success and hard work. Just from my observations it comes down to a matter of guilt, remorse, a sense of hopelessness, and a general distrust of those in charge of the system. We can turn that all around with a focus on the job of getting people on the right track in life, and having been shown the benefits thereof. Too often people make it to easy for us to make excuses for not doing what is human nature, and that is the pursuit of happiness. It all starts with education!
Mar 25, 2008
Fixing Education #2...rant on
One of biggest huddles that education reform faces is the bloated bureaucratic monstrosity that is the school system administration. There is too much of it and not enough people focused on delivery of high quality education. There are a lot of well meaning people involved in the administration, however there is too much nepotism and political hackery.
Second: Clear out the administration. The “lean and mean principle” has been a foreign concept in the schools for far too long. It’s not just a problem of money, but decision-making ability. The principals of each site need to be charged with the responsible for each school site and treated as such. They are the academic leaders of the school and need to have the ability to enact changes to better the school within the broader vision of the district. In my experiences and discussions with lots of teachers and principals it seems like they can’t do anything without having their pulse taken by “807” [the school administration for those unfamiliar with the street address]. As just one example, is there really a need for three area associate superintendents and three principals on special assignment to cover the district?
Second: Clear out the administration. The “lean and mean principle” has been a foreign concept in the schools for far too long. It’s not just a problem of money, but decision-making ability. The principals of each site need to be charged with the responsible for each school site and treated as such. They are the academic leaders of the school and need to have the ability to enact changes to better the school within the broader vision of the district. In my experiences and discussions with lots of teachers and principals it seems like they can’t do anything without having their pulse taken by “807” [the school administration for those unfamiliar with the street address]. As just one example, is there really a need for three area associate superintendents and three principals on special assignment to cover the district?
Mar 24, 2008
Fixing Education
I have received a number of emails from people who know me asking when the Minneapolis Shadow will start focusing on education. Just so everyone knows that my background on this subject comes from at least 5 years serving on site issues boards, district advisory councils, and my interaction with kids, teachers, and administrators at all levels. Well hold on because here we go!!!
In a state where over 45% of the state expenditures go toward K12 education the largest city in having major problems with getting children properly educated. Two more high schools in Minneapolis are required to do thru “reorganization”, and having to hire all new teachers. I don’t agree with this method of addressing the issue, because it goes deeper than just hiring all new teachers. God bless these teachers because I don’t think I’d want their jobs. They take a lot of crap from kids, don’t get paid enough, and work within a bureaucratic quagmire. There are a lot rewards that do come with teaching, but we need to fix the system and the players. The problems require a great deal of overhauling not patch work fixes that already have proven not to work. I’m going to create a series of posts regarding this because the subject is too in depth for just one post.
First: Disciple in the classroom. The teacher needs to run a classroom that is orderly, and fosters learning instead of chaos. Most of the problems that are in education are from the kids that come from broken homes. This issue requires a balance between understanding and disciple. Parents and children need to be held accountable for their children’s actions in the classroom. Parents need to be told and contacts signed that there is a strict behavior code at the school, and punishment will be carried out upon infringement of the code. This must be done in order to give these children a chance at learning. The concept is that the school has these kids for 6-8 hours a day, and during that time they are required and allowed to focus on their work and forget about the problems at home. Without a good education they are left with a sense of hopelessness, which is the fault of the parents and school. The only way out of a bad situation is by demonstrating that there is something better and proving that education is the key to that path.
In a state where over 45% of the state expenditures go toward K12 education the largest city in having major problems with getting children properly educated. Two more high schools in Minneapolis are required to do thru “reorganization”, and having to hire all new teachers. I don’t agree with this method of addressing the issue, because it goes deeper than just hiring all new teachers. God bless these teachers because I don’t think I’d want their jobs. They take a lot of crap from kids, don’t get paid enough, and work within a bureaucratic quagmire. There are a lot rewards that do come with teaching, but we need to fix the system and the players. The problems require a great deal of overhauling not patch work fixes that already have proven not to work. I’m going to create a series of posts regarding this because the subject is too in depth for just one post.
First: Disciple in the classroom. The teacher needs to run a classroom that is orderly, and fosters learning instead of chaos. Most of the problems that are in education are from the kids that come from broken homes. This issue requires a balance between understanding and disciple. Parents and children need to be held accountable for their children’s actions in the classroom. Parents need to be told and contacts signed that there is a strict behavior code at the school, and punishment will be carried out upon infringement of the code. This must be done in order to give these children a chance at learning. The concept is that the school has these kids for 6-8 hours a day, and during that time they are required and allowed to focus on their work and forget about the problems at home. Without a good education they are left with a sense of hopelessness, which is the fault of the parents and school. The only way out of a bad situation is by demonstrating that there is something better and proving that education is the key to that path.
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