More Info on the Student Loan Crisis

Because I'm on the topic of the impending student loan debt crisis, here's a really informative, in-depth article on the details.  As usual, it seems like Congress is deeply involved.

http://www.eastbayexpress.com/gyrobase/top-ramen-for-life-the-student-loan-crisis/Content?oid=2186386&storyPage=1

Head Start Program for Kids of Incarcerated Moms

This is the type of article I like to read -- one in which people are being educated which contributes to a better society as a whole.  (http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/11/29/mich.headstart.prison/index.html)  In Pontiac, Michigan, a prison-based Head Start programs was launched for incarcerated mothers.  Lynn Crotty, the director of the Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency, knew that research showed that a stable home life and parental involvement in childrens' lives were key to a child's success in school.  She thought that combining the two and educating incarcerated women to be better, more involved parents could keep them out of future trouble with the law and prevent their children from becoming at-risk.  While in jail, the moms set personal goals, learn ways to get involved in their childrens' education.   Other subjects, such as mmedical needs and age-appropriate discipline are also covered.  Prisoners practice life and family skills they may not have known before.   Crotty said since the program was launched in 2004, "We've really seen incredible growth in our parents, and we've seen them rise above whatever their current situation is and become active, engaged and empowered individuals.  That hopefully will stick with them for good."  This aligns with my personal belief that all parents should be involved in some sort of parenting class.  Kudos to Lynn Crotty and her agency for thinking outside the box and making an impact on society.

For-Profit College Shake-Up

Today's Detroit Free Press has a story about the University of Phoenix laying off 700 people -- mostly admissions personnel -- in an attempt to "to better align our operations with our business strategy, refined business model and outlook."   This is of great interest to me because I work for CMU's Off-Campus Programs in one of the metro Detroit centers and Phoenix is considered one of our "competitors" (for lack of a better word).  There has been a lot in the press recently about how the federal government is starting to look more closely at for-profit schools in terms of their marketing and graduation rates.  The majority of these schools, Phoenix being the biggest offender, are targeting low-income people in depressed areas and are paying them a stipend to attend school.  Some also pay transportation costs and food money.  The goal is to get these people enrolled and signed up for financial aid, even though some do not even have a GED or high school diploma.  Most of these people drop out after the first semester because they are not equipped for the college experience.  By that time, the school has already received their financial aid money and moves on to new prospects.  The students are then liable to the federal government for their loans.  There is talk that this student loan crisis will rival the banking debacle.  My job is also to recruit new students; however, I don't get paid a bonus or have a quota for new enrollees, and my primary goal is to ensure a quality learning experience that will be recognized throughout the U.S. and other countries. 

Read more: University of Phoenix lays off 700 nationwide | freep.com | Detroit Free Press http://www.freep.com/article/20101130/BUSINESS07/101130017/University-of-Phoenix-lays-off-700-nationwide#ixzz16mt92SUY

Education Reform Starts at Home

Dr. Jim Taylor suggests some interesting ideas on education reform.  (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-jim-taylor/real-public-education-ref_b_786627.html).   He agrees, as do I, that until greater parental involvement is achieved, we will not be able to solve the perceived education crisis.  His idea is to create the "American Good Parent Initiative", a five-pronged approach to increasing parenting skills, placing more importance on reading and improved daycare.  He suggests that this initiative be funded by the federal government, foundations, hedge fund managers and others with deep pockets.  I totally agree that if parents do not make education a priority, then neither will their children.  I especially like the idea of parenting classes and think that anyone who has a child should be required to participate in ongoing training on raising children.  Don't you think that it would be good for society in general, and not just education?

Does Social Networking Cause Antisocial Behavior?

In his New York Times article, "Antisocial Networking", (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/02/fashion/02BEST.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1), author Hilary Stout addresses concerns about teenagers' constant use of electronics and the impact on their social behavior.  The most shocking part of the article to me was the fact that "Americans between the ages of 8 and 18 spend on average 7 1/2 hours a day using some sort of electronic device, from smart phones to MP3 players to computers."  Kids, mine included, would rather use their cellphones to text a friend rather than just call them to talk.  One mother in the article actually texts her kids from her bed to tell them to get off the computer.  The author brings up the point that this plugged-in behavior is affecting the ability of kids to read facial expressions, voice intonations and body language.  I think that to some extent, this behavior is "impersonalizing" society -- that people will not know how to behave in face-to-face interactions because they are so used to having an electronic device between them.  Any thoughts?

Is Master's Pay Going Away

Check out the article, "Economists Take Aim At Bonuses For Teachers With Master's Degreeshttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/20/teachers-bonuses-masters-degrees-_n_786449.html.  U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan is citing figures from studies showing that teachers with master's degrees are not more effective than educators with only an undergrad degree.  Duncan suggests that a way to trim the education budget would be to do away with master's bonuses because they are not justified.  Apparently, Bill Gates feels the same way, stating "My own state of Washington has an average salary bump of nearly $11,000 for a master's degree – and more than half of our teachers get it. That's more than $300 million every year that doesn't help kids."  Suggestions include increasing starting salaries and the ever-popular tying compensation to student achievement gains.  I am of the firm opinion that education is never wasted and provides benefits in some way.  Why shouldn't a person be rewarded if they make the time and effort to improve their job skills?  I'm worried that education reform is the topic du jour and people just want change for the sake of change (e.g., the most current election) without truly examining the long term effects.  Does that mean all of us in EDU 653 are wasting our time and money? 

As if Teaching Weren't Difficult Enough

Wow.  Check out this article about Holly Winter, a Colorado teacher who suffers from "visual amnesia."  (http://www.usatoday.com/yourlife/health/medical/2010-11-15-visual-amnesia_N.htm?csp=34news&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+usatoday-NewsTopStories+%28News+-+Top+Stories%29&utm_content=Google+Reader)   Holly was in a car accident 21 years ago and suffered permanent brain damage.  She has no visual memory -- sort of like the main character in the movie, "Memento."  She teaches 6th grade and keeps track of her students with a list of their physical characteristics and has photos of the students around the classroom and on their journals and has devised a system to deal with daily life.   Holly considers herself to be a good example to others as to how to live with a permanent disability and does not allow her students to make excuses for their physical ailments.  I cannot imagine how difficult it would be to get through a teaching day (let alone any day) with that type of disability.  I would love to have cameras follow her in the classroom for a day.  I'm sure that any teacher and any human being would find inspiration in her story.

You Are What You Read

I came across this Scholastic website "You Are What You Read" and had to share it (http://youarewhatyouread.scholastic.com/).   I have been a voracious reader my entire life and became a teacher to encourage children to develop a love of reading.  The year I taught supplemental reading was one of the most fulfilling of my life.  I'm one of those people who walks through the airport or around a hotel pool and checks out what books other passengers have in their hands!  This website allows me to do that without having to go through airport security!  People (famous and not-so-famous) contribute a list of their favorite books.  It's fun to check out others' favorites and compare them to mine.  This site would be a good start for a book club or reading discussion.  Hope you get a chance to check it out!

Father Sues School Over Slavery Reading

A Sterling Heights, MI (Detroit suburb) elementary school has been sued by the father of a fifth-grader claiming that the reading of a book on black slavery during Black History Month has caused his daughter harm and specifically alleges that the reading "affected the conditions of learning duties and the advantages of her further education, and seriously affected her mental and emotional well-being, past, present and future."   http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/11/father-sues-detroit-district-over-slavery-reading_n_782174.html.   Passages from the book, Julius Lester's "From Slave Ship to Freedom Road",  were read and a "positive" discussion was held afterwards.  What is interesting about this lawsuit is that the father did not contact the school with his objections until three months after the passages were read.  Does anyone believe that the child was truly damaged or that the father is looking for an easy payday?   Has he ever had an intelligent discussion with his daughter about the horrors of slavery and other atrocities of world history?  If the reading was so disturbing, how come no other complaints have come forward?  Teachers, please let me know your thoughts.

Ball Chairs in the Classroom

A fourth grade class at St. Simons Elementary School has traded in their standard classroom chairs for "ball chairs."  Ball chairs are similar to rubber exercise balls, but have prongs on the bottom to help keep them in place when not being used.  The classroom teacher, Jacqueline Tyre, reports that the balls have been a big hit with the students.  The balls have eliminated the problem of keeping feet off the chairs and allow the kids to have movement and flexibility during the day.  She allows the students to bounce on the balls during morning announcements, probably to get the "bouncing urge" out of the way.  Elementary kids are not made to sit still on chairs for most of the day and this seems like a good alternative to the stiff-backed chairs that I grew up with.  http://www.edweek.org/tm/articles/2010/11/03/mct_gaballchairs.html?utm_source=fb&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=mrss

8 Things that Couldn't Survive Without Colleges

If you need a break and a good laugh, check out the article "8 Things that Couldn't Survive Without Colleges."  My personal favorite is slide number 3, "The People Who Make Women’s Sportswear with Words Across the Butt."  I took my son on a college campus tour last Friday and lost count of how many girls were using their derrieres as billboards!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/liz-oneill/8-things-that-couldnt-survive-without-colleges_b_780333.html#s171060)

Inappropriate Backpack

I came across this article about a fourth grade boy whose backpack was deemed inappropriate for school and banned by the principal (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/08/students-racy-backpack-ca_n_780490.html).  The artwork on the backpack features a scantily-clad woman wrapped around a snake -- artwork more fitting for a tattoo than an elementary school backpack.  The father of the boy is arguing censorship and has taken the matter to the school board, who declined to intervene.  The father says that the "boy loves his backpack" and would be disappointed if it were taken away.  Of course the boy loves the backpack-- look at all the attention it's getting him and his father!  The problem seems to be that this generation of parents doesn't know the difference between appropriate and inappropriate, and don't want to upset their babies by telling them no.  Just walk down the hallway of a high school and see the clothing that the teenage girls are wearing.  My son's high school marketing teacher gave the students a very interesting assignment.  They were given a stack of magazines and a piece of poster board, and told to cut out at least five outfits that were appropriate for a corporate work environment.  Most of the boys were on track with a button-down shirt and khakis, but a few selected Ed Hardy shirts, hoodies and athletic wear.  Most of the girls' posters were filled with evening wear, tank tops and sweats with the word "Pink" emblazoned across the posterior.   The teacher made a point of displaying the posters and showing them to the parents on conference night.  The parents who saw the posters were shocked and dismayed at the clothing choices shown.  Most of them vowed to speak with their kids about appropriate dress.  My guess is that the parents who would have agreed with the choices never came to conferences!  Which group do you think that backpack boy's father would have been in?

Parenting for Pay

Paying parents to come to parent-teacher conferences.  Giving away gift certificates to attend PTO meetings.  This is what it's come to.  Parents not fulfilling their parental duties unless they are compensated.  Never mind that it's the best thing for your child.  It's the selfish, "what's in it for me" mentality.  The article "Schools Pull Out All the Stops to Get Parents Involved" gives examples of lures that  Detroit schools are using to get parents involved in their child's education (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/01/schools-pull-out-all-the-_n_777379.html).  When my husband and I attended my son's high school open house this past September and the parent-teacher conferences in October, we were appalled at the poor turnout.  Just six years earlier, when our oldest started at the same high school, many parents had to stand during open house presentations because there weren't enough seats.  We had to go to conferences both nights because the wait times to see the teachers were so long we couldn't do it in two hours.    This year, we visited with five teachers in an hour, and had meaningful, ten minute discussions with each.  You can throw all the money you want at public schools, demand better teacher preparation and more rigorous state standards, but if the parent doesn't care about his child's education, then the child won't either.  What has caused this change in attitude?

Video Assessments for Teaching Candidates

Very interesting article from Teacher Magazine, published online: November 2, 2010, "States Turning to Video Assessments of Teacher Candidates"
(http://www.edweek.org/tm/articles/2010/11/02/videoassessment_ap.html?utm_source=fb&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=mrss).  Currently used in two states (AZ and CA), and being tested in 19 states, in addition to passing the written certification test, a video of student teachers in their classroom will be evaluated and student teachers must demonstrate that they can prepare a lesson, tailor it to various students  and present it effectively.  As of this date, around 12,000 teaching candidates have used this method.  Once more states adopt this new method of evaluation, a study is planned to track the performance of teachers who passed the video assessment to see if they perform better than teachers who went through the old licensing process.  Proponents believe that this will help weed out those teachers who will succeed in the classroom.  Also, the video evaluators will be people who do not have a vested interest in the evaluation results, i.e., outside evaluators, not the education department at the college who would like high percentages of teacher certifications to bolster their program.   This may prove to be an important step in education reform. 

College Education for Undocumented Immigrants

Okay - this topic is bound to start a heated discussion. I read the article "Illegal students struggle for higher education" (http://dukechronicle.com/article/illegal-students-struggle-higher-education)   The article speaks of various groups who believe that undocumented (or illegal) immigrants should have the same right to a college education (and grants, scholarships and other forms of financial aid) as legal citizens of the United States.  Proponents argue that allowing illegals into state universities under the same conditions as legal citizens will help illegals to better themselves and their communities.  Illegals are admitted to certain state universities; however, they must pay out-of-state tuition rates and all aid comes solely from the university itself -- not from any state or federal money.  Proponents also argue that barring these individuals from equal opportunity to higher education is bringing this nation back to a time when students were prohibited from certain institutions based on skin color and race (i.e. Jim Crow laws).  Opponents argue that illegals are taking seats away from qualified U.S. citizens and are putting a drain on the our already dwindling resources.   What do you think?  Do you agree with the opponents that if you enter a country illegally, you should not be entitled to the same rights and resources as the citizens of the country who are contributing to those resources?    If U.S. citizens went to another country and demanded the same rights and privileges as those residents, would we be accommodated, or would we be told to leave the country?  Critics opine that the U.S. seems to be the only country in the world that has legal immigration laws, but doesn't bother to uphold them and that we're so concerned with looking like the bad guys that we bend over backwards to accommodate everyone in the world.  Common sense says to take care of your own house before you try to take care of others.  The U.S. cannot afford to support its own citizens (New Orleans, for example), yet we continue to take on additional burdens.   Let the debate begin!