Nepotism

Nepotism is ruining American education.  

Trade journals such as the English Journal, Phi Delta Kappa and Educational Leadership make a living publishing research about what works in schools.  We have a problem in this country with education, and there is a real interest in finding what works in schools.  Unfortunately, no one has taken the time to uncover how administrators fill open positions with former school graduates without understanding what makes learning work.  I recognize that this would be difficult to truly uncover, but I have heard some stories in the past week that make me feel as though my chances of finding a job, despite my qualifications, are slim to none.

The first example is of a 3rd grade teacher who was recently hired in the local school district.  When I ran into her this summer, I congratulated her on her new job (she had previously been working in the Bronx).  She told me she was surprised she was hired in front of leave replacement teachers in the district.  In fact, the only reason she went on the interview was to get practice with her interview skills.  She is from this community; she was hired by her former teacher.  Perhaps she was the best candidate, but I have suspicions about how this hiring works.

The second example is even more damning.  Again, this took place in my home district.  A special educator was "let go" because the position was no longer available.  Then, when the special educator found a new job, the position was magically available again and a local girl was hired without an interview.  The local girl in question was a recent college graduate who had told her supervising teacher that she had the job.  No calls were made regarding the girl's qualifications either.  This is fishy.

I live in a community that generally does not have good test scores.  The focus here is on sports. Why, then, hire the same people that we are trying to rise above?  

Do you want the secretary's niece getting a job in front of a teacher with a more proven track record?

Test Preparation

As a former middle school teacher, I know that many students do not know how to study for tests.  The schools where I worked required me to distribute test outlines to allow students to know what material will be on the test.  This was a good step for me as teacher because it helped me frame what the test would look like.

Public schools, however, have their stance off balance.  My son knows quite a bit about the New York State ELA test (which he has been taking this week); however, he does not possess the skill necessary to study for a simple health test.  I suspect something has gone terribly wrong in public education when the student knows about the state test but does not carry away any knowledge that will help him in the future.

State tests have their place.  Still, it's the skills that need drilling, not the test itself.  Students lose about a week a year to tests.  Wouldn't it be nice to simply give the test and not have to prepare for it?  Or, if schools are concerned about the success of their students, shouldn't a more broad and applicable method of study be used? 

If a student has trouble with the ELA test because he needs help with writing, then more work on writing should be done.  This work should focus on and be framed by the skills needed to succeed as a writer: organization, spelling, depth, focus, audience, voice.  The information I receive as a parent is that my son may not receive as score of 3 as a result of his written performance.  That is meaningless information.  Further, it does not address my child's abilities head on. 

It's time to prepare students for real situations and get the tests aligned to skills.  When the test drives the curriculum, we all lose.

Bailouts

I feel bad for the people who were duped by the Madoff ponzi scheme.  However, I don't feel bad enough for them to consider using the billions for bailouts to help them.  Many people lost a significant amount of money, but they were taking risks -- as we all do when we invest our money -- and stood to earn quite a bit of cash in the transaction.  As it is, I have lost a significant portion of my 401K due to the drop in the Dow averages, but I don't hear anyone shouting to help me.

We are in this together but the government should only be using the money to keep the economy going.  I don't see how giving money back to those who lost big would even support the economy.  It's not as if those people, once they receive their million or so back, would then go out in a fit of joy and spend it all.  The money is going to be invested elsewhere.

Yes, I do understand that when big business has the money from those investments they will generate the economy.  Still, it's just white collar money.  Where this country is hurting is in the blue collar sector.  Sure the auto workers have to tighten their belts, but they also represent what makes this a good country.  I would like to be rich, but I don't necessarily want that to be what defines this country.  

We need to get back to basics.  Support the mom and pop shops if there are any left.  Buy a house to live in and have a vested interest in improving your neighborhood.  What the hell, take the time to know your neighbors.  We've allowed ourselves to be defined by the car in the driveway for too long.  It's time to define ourselves by the character of the people who live in the houses where those cars are parked.

We need to bailout with caution and care.  And try to be kind to one another.  In the crash of 1929 it wasn't the poor people who committed suicide; it was the rich as they contemplated life without money.  The poor just continued on and made a nation that many felt proud of.  Times are tough; they will get tougher.  We need to put individual interests aside and hope that those in charge will do what is necessary for the greatest number not just those with the greatest number of assets.

Snow

When everyone is home and safe, I love a good snow storm.  We just took the dog for a walk up the street and it was peaceful.  Snow is quiet; rain is loud.  There are even fewer people out when it's snowing.  I heard some people discussing their sadness that this storm has come on a weekend when there will be no school day, but I figure we are all safer this way.  Less people have to go to work and the roads are less congested.

When I was younger, I enjoyed snow regardless of whether or not I had to drive in it.  Now, I do not drive in snow.  In fact, when we were in Germany I was a little scared when we had to drive on slushy roads.  I have no idea what made me so paranoid about driving in the snow.  There was one episode when I thought the clutch of my car was going and I still drove home (it took 2 hours).  That was a hair raising experience but I got home with no harm done.  Why then can't I simply get a charge out of it?

Last year, due to my light schedule and the snow, I left work 15 minutes early.  I figured if the snow was beginning to accumulate there, my drive would be bad since I lived 36 miles north.  It's a good thing that I left.  Fifteen minutes later the road became quite slick and there were something like 70 car accidents on the street.  If I were a fearless driver, I might have been one of those accidents.  I guess my gut instincts are on target.

And the snow is really pretty when it's new and I don't have to worry about my family getting anywhere safely.

Go enjoy!