Why Are We Letting This Happen

I was going to make a conviction to write weekly but as usual it takes me longer to find a relevant topic and then to collect thoughts about it to put down in this blog.  I will still try to write weekly but that is a goal and not a promise.

I had a great holiday weekend last weekend, we got to spend some great time with family and that is so enjoyable.  The food was wonderful and no pressure in gift buying and did I get the right stuff for someone, I think thats why I like Thanksgiving, plus never ending football games.

I can't figure out why in the world of education we let politicians dictate our fate, when most of them don't know a thing about our world.  In fact I'm not real sure they a thing about anything but they make us and adhere to policies no other profession has to.  We can no longer be politically bystanders or they will ruin our profession.

Lets look at what has happened:
Common Core-I do like parts of this, and like that we can teach deeper and not a mile wide and an inch deep.  I do, however, question why we are virtually allowing the reduction of our curriculum to reading and math.  We have so many students that excel in other areas such as the arts, vocational training, and/or physical tasks.  We treat areas that aren't tested as less important and thats just not the case.

Evaluations-These have become beyond ridiculous.  In Kansas we are looking at several models and both are a minimum of 30 pages in length, our legislature wants our building administrators to spend at least 75% of their time with evaluation.  Yeah thats reality, I'm sure none of them have sat in the office of a building administrator to see this is an impossible goal.  Thats exactly what we need is more paperwork to take us away from the reason we got in this profession, the kids.  Any administrator I've been around knows when there is quality instruction going on, we don't need a book of evaluation processes to tell us.  Its like us doing PD on bullying, thinking that will stop the problem.

More Tests-Once again politicians think we will test our way into educational excellence.  What a dopey thought this is.  My goodness we are killing our young kids with tests.  No wonder they have distain for school, make it fun again.  My fondest memories of school had nothing to do with standardized tests.

I know we have to have accountability and I am not opposed to that, but you know what Mr./Mrs. Politician involve us before you make these requests that will not improve our craft.  I think there needs to be changes in the way we do business but they are focused on classroom instruction and delivery and not on mandates set forth by politicians or others that have spent not time in our profession.

My rant is over, thank you for listening.

Take Your Own Advice

At the start of the week I was asked by a neighboring school district to come over and visit with them about educational technology, which both flattered me and pleased me.  One thing that helped me look forward to it was they are good friends as well as professional friends.  We spent about 2 1/2 hours visiting and I showed them my favorite tools that are available and free.

They are considering an iPad 1:1 initiative and wanted to know what tools they should start their teachers with.  The superintendent kept saying we need a plan to implement, so we discussed that, since I had been at a school that had a 1:1 laptop program.  To be honest we had taken a "Ready, Fire, Aim" approach, but things turned out very well for us, even though we probably could have provided more PD than we did.  Our teachers really came on board, and it proved to be a great initiative.

I got to thinking about a plan for them later that day and into the night.  So the next morning I sent them an email detailing what I would do if I were them.  Then it hit me, at my current district our sophomores have been given laptops, because we are using an ebook for biology.  I have thought this is step one for us to become a 1:1 school.  So why don't I implement my plan in my district?  I then came under the thought that sometimes you need to take your own advice.

Really looking forward to EdCampKC next weekend and reconnecting with friends that teach me so much about this ever changing world of education.  It will be a great time, thanks to all that have a hand in putting this on.