Posts
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Monday, February 16, 2009
Schools too broken to fix?
After reading the article How the “Cons” Are Destroying Public Education written by Thom Hartmann, http://www.ednews.org/articles/2609/1/How-the-quotConsquot-Are--Destroying-Public-Education/Page1.html, I was alarmed and appalled at the statistics regarding adult literacy. It is hard to imagine that 5% of adults are not literate in English, 14% of the population have “below basic” reading skills, and 44% have “intermediate” prose skills. The cons’ solution to all of this is to privatize education; that the public school system is too broken to fix. I beg to differ.
We need to radically and drastically change the way we are teaching, and do it fast. I agree that education is an investment; and we need to start investing local, state, and federal monies today. Pre-K programs are essential, as well as literacy programs for our adults and youth. One size certainly does not fit all. Why aren’t we examining demographics, cultural, and ethnocentrism's when we are examining standardized exams and differentiating based on the data and feedback we receive? How are we measuring 21st Century Skills our students must acquire? How are schools using technology to reach ALL learners? How do teachers engage their students and create a love and passion for learning? How are we breaking down the digital divide? There are many more measures that nobody is discussing….
I’m not sure what the exact formula or solution is for this huge dilemma our country is faced with; however, I do know that we need to work together. Collaboration and communication is key. Inquiry-based, student-centered, and project-based learning activities, enriched with technology, all have to be present in our schools. Teachers who motivate and engage our students, along with parents and community who consistently support them have to be present in our successful education institutions.
Friday, February 13, 2009
STOP House Bill 363
If you haven’t heard about this yet, please read more about HB 363 below.
There is a Bill in the House of Representatives prohibiting possession of telephone pagers and certain electronic devices in all schools. It was referred to the Committee on Wednesday. This has educators and parents up in arms, as it should. I understand there is a time and place for iPods, handhelds, cell phones, etc. in the educational setting, but I feel that a formal bill coming from the State is ridiculous!
As you clearly realize, a bill that bans such a technological device with great potential will not only stipend connectivity, but the possibilities of using the device for digital creation/content (podcasts, iTunesU) or engagement (student response systems) will be decapitated.
Many have signed the petition against HB 363. If you feel passionate about this, as I do, please sign the petition.
http://www.petitiononline.com/HB363/petition.html
I think the article below is timely. It’s an article about the potential release of a $99 iPhone and an upgraded version of the current 3G iPhone in June or July. Can you imagine how many MORE students will own a tool like this? And we should ask them to “power down?”