tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76339358803227942832024-03-13T00:05:17.998-05:00Fourth Generation TeacherTeaching is my family's business. I'm the fourth generation teacher in the family. I hope I honor all my teachers with my words. Fourth Generation Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16700328444005416956noreply@blogger.comBlogger255125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633935880322794283.post-33154378211938646952023-02-23T18:31:00.003-06:002023-02-24T07:50:22.609-06:00February OSDE School Board – “Where WOKE Will go to Die.”<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ88eTpkQCkuAgJyE4GR0YJa8D2lVMkLzrlUc-UM7W5gUV-1fF6cMln9EnpFnB5nGioJH12Vb4JzcSxt8of7Izw4WSWVpRypM35ZaqWI9hHfEAd9JCA5ARcMNPn3IidwRycuJSeRC_Rykj9e6Hb8C3Pf5vUowG_z7h8ODlHBKLamhbXUYgAt4X64eXDw/s1008/O%20Hodge.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="538" data-original-width="1008" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ88eTpkQCkuAgJyE4GR0YJa8D2lVMkLzrlUc-UM7W5gUV-1fF6cMln9EnpFnB5nGioJH12Vb4JzcSxt8of7Izw4WSWVpRypM35ZaqWI9hHfEAd9JCA5ARcMNPn3IidwRycuJSeRC_Rykj9e6Hb8C3Pf5vUowG_z7h8ODlHBKLamhbXUYgAt4X64eXDw/s320/O%20Hodge.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span id="docs-internal-guid-d18a092a-7fff-1bf3-35a5-14999ce41e6a"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://nondoc.com/2023/02/23/woke-language-removed-from-academic-standards-marla-hill-still-absent-at-state-board-of-ed-meeting/?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=facebook_page&utm_medium=NonDoc&utm_content=%27Woke%20language%27%20removed%20from%20academic%20standards,%20Marla%20Hill%20still%20absent%20at%20State%20Board%20of%20Ed%20meeting&fbclid=IwAR1Du65uPNV8N6AGPQlldTUK_XPBA-gYNuncOPDBa6aO4rsQzpVVnE1AKr4" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today’s Board meeting</span></a><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> started just a few minutes late, with Pledges and Sec/Supt Walters leading a prayer. I must say I was not the only person watching on </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/OklaSDE" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FB Live</span></a><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> that was put off by the prayer…Why not, instead of a Christian prayer, have a </span><a href="https://law.justia.com/codes/oklahoma/2014/title-70/section-70-11-101.2/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">moment of silence</span></a><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, like all schools are mandated to have, ‘to pray, meditate, or engage in any other silent activity?’ Much more inclusive…Ooooh. That’s why!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Supt opened the meeting talking about how happy he was that </span><a href="http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=HB1935" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">HB 1935</span></a><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, to provide a $5000 per child tax credit to private school parents, and a $2500 tax credit per child for home-school parents; and </span><a href="http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=HB2775" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">HB2775</span></a><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, which creates a $2500 raise for teachers and an extra appropriation for schools on a sliding scale…smaller schools will receive much larger per-pupil allocations than the larger schools. Not a surprise that he’s a fan…may be as close to the universal vouchers he really wants. Or maybe he sees this as step one toward vouchers. Sidebar: these bills give educators a raise of about $1 an hour, which is taxable income, and private school parents a $5000 per child tax break. Excuse me if I’m not over the moon with delight.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He then announced the formation of a Blue Ribbon Committee of pastors and community leaders to look at prayer in the schools, “and the role of faith in our K-12 schools.” (see above: Prayer in the OSDE). He wants “to make schools as good as possible,” and thinks this is all that’s necessary. Upon hearing this, one parent online suggested it was about time. Their child’s prayers for a B in math class have, so far, gone unanswered. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He will also create a Teacher Advisory Committee…more details to come.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He addressed the “fake outrage” over the removal of Oklahoma Educators Hall of Fame portraits from the hallway leading to the very Board Room in which he was sitting. He said “wonderful parents and kids” would be at the center of his State Department. Sidenote: </span><a href="https://fourthgenerationteacher.blogspot.com/2014/10/where-are-my-hall-of-fame-friends-where.html?fbclid=IwAR1RHuYN1QVQUPC0gNAR_IJ-Q4u7Fzjgqbf30EFGNhr-e8aa5p20eBKNHb4" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My anger is not fake</span></a><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. The symbolism of walking to the Board Room, to do the business of #oklaed, and looking into these leaders’ faces reminds us of our huge responsibilities to every student and every parent and guardian. I have heard that the Supt’s advisor suggested the portraits all go in a dumpster outside. Another Sidenote: These portraits are not the property of the OSDE. Anything that happens to them must be done in cooperation with the </span><a href="https://www.oklaedhof.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ok Educators Hall of Fame.</span></a><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Keep them safe. They will be back. Sidenote #3: The addition of pictures of and by students is a terrific idea. Including pictures of parents participating in public education activities are a terrific idea. Sidenote #4: Does the Superintendent know many of the members of the Hall of Fame are…parents? And he removed pictures of parents and grandparents of public school students?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He wants to study whether </span><a href="https://tulsaworld.com/news/local/education/state-superintendent-questions-whether-oklahoma-students-should-attend-state-colleges-and-universities/article_7f16cf36-b3cb-11ed-bd84-2be83caa0d43.html?utm_source=tulsaworld.com&utm_campaign=%2Fnewsletter-templates%2Fbreaking&utm_medium=PostUp&lctg=5199516&tn_email_eh1=4fd6d1f8e6d33dc3619c2508ddb34851ebcaa051" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">college is the best course for our students</span></a><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">…are we “setting them up for success” by recommending higher education? His hostility to higher education and their “WOKE agenda” permeated the room. Now, schools have been told to push all students into ‘college ready’ curriculum, with that expectation for decades. Many of us educators pushed back and said that a college degree is not the only path to a fulfilling life, to a contributing career. But our pushback on this college-for-all expectation was not rooted in culture-wars ideology, but in our years of experience with students, seeing there are so many ways for young people to find that success that Supt Walters mentioned. He will return to this theme later. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Open Comments showed a huge weakness in the sound system in the Board Room. I know those in the room could hear names and messages so much better than we at home could. So I missed speakers’ names, and many of their words. Three speakers stood out, and I could hear applause in the room as they returned to their seats.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6MaO7SheJMhqFAKHAd2Q-htfYE_q0zItGwxJjXXOhbfSAi6dwTJN2eWpQrDoZ3B8JJDdlSRcnkaGMSZ95ZBnpJuCcDrWKiVmvCLnEArT38d5Ntdxp2UCRPgRqM9rRWvlyQ6pdCQtNUXgHRR_hEJcWdJXCdH8y_pp15C733wdhDsgiBok0YjomDrpjTA/s344/ashley%20osde.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="323" data-original-width="344" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6MaO7SheJMhqFAKHAd2Q-htfYE_q0zItGwxJjXXOhbfSAi6dwTJN2eWpQrDoZ3B8JJDdlSRcnkaGMSZ95ZBnpJuCcDrWKiVmvCLnEArT38d5Ntdxp2UCRPgRqM9rRWvlyQ6pdCQtNUXgHRR_hEJcWdJXCdH8y_pp15C733wdhDsgiBok0YjomDrpjTA/s320/ashley%20osde.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Ashley Daly spoke again…her comments last month were in support of public schools, parents, students, and teachers. Again today, she brought facts and research to what she hoped OSDE’s mission will be: to support public schools, the 700,000 students attending public schools, and the 33,000 students in her home district of Tulsa. She called for smaller classrooms, higher teacher pay, and addressing the high ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) our students bring with them to school every day. "...you're not making a good faith effort until those have been tried." She is authentic and inspiring.<br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Another speaker pointed about the irony of the Superintendent celebrating an employee for their ‘teamwork’(that happened when I was collecting my notebook and pen, so I cannot share the employee’s name, but good on them!) while attacking diversity and teamwork in our schools. He said that corporations are looking for employees who can work with diverse colleagues…team players. I wish I’d gotten his name. I’d like to thank him personally.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIYp_xpMPJbUT2msuOspneLzOBLgMQ58_sGRU6vp9DqBkbkaGtn5yAx5mkdTqntkOJnpY98jSqueKrEUQKYQ7bi4pBWQ_Cjj6xvDpq3Zm2jENUrC3fF--fsLoVpZPOeqkVteYz15iZydOV17bmK48Mjv-lKpElsRH4Bb2XqJ0ZrdJVOMvOCAkZj024YQ/s637/osde%20standards.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="637" data-original-width="233" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIYp_xpMPJbUT2msuOspneLzOBLgMQ58_sGRU6vp9DqBkbkaGtn5yAx5mkdTqntkOJnpY98jSqueKrEUQKYQ7bi4pBWQ_Cjj6xvDpq3Zm2jENUrC3fF--fsLoVpZPOeqkVteYz15iZydOV17bmK48Mjv-lKpElsRH4Bb2XqJ0ZrdJVOMvOCAkZj024YQ/s320/osde%20standards.jpg" width="117" /></a></div><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Levi Patrick, one of the authors of the Computer Science standards, gave a scathing statement, alerting us all that the standards had been revised, without input from the authors. His concerns were the fact that the standards the committee approved were not the standards under consideration today. </span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“So, whenever we submit a letter of support for this work and sign off on the final product, it’s a product that we have a lot of confidence in,” Patrick said. “I am afraid today that the document in front of you is not the one that we submitted to you. Perhaps you already know that.”<br /><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 18pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Patrick said that in the computer science standards, state board members changed the word “culture” to “environment” throughout the standards and changed instances of the term “diverse” users to “different” users when discussing the need to build programs that a “diverse” group of users can operate. The Supt will respond below.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 18pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The business of the Board today was not earth-shattering…addressing nine districts who turned in financial paperwork late, and the adoption of academic standards for Computer Science, Fine Arts, and Health and Physical Education. Each curriculum leader gave a short presentation talking about how the previous standards were revised, and asked for approval from the Board. One friend pointed out that having OSDE possibly sanction districts for missing deadlines is ironic, when compared to the Superintendent's first <a href="https://kfor.com/news/oklahoma-legislature/state-education-leader-met-with-the-house-budget-committee-lawmakers-left-confused/">appearance before the House Appropriations Committee</a>...he didn't seem to even understand his job!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now, our Board is a group of non-educators who may or may not have vast experience in the workings of schools. One new member, in acknowledging that, asked how teachers would know how to take those standards and teach them. Several of us on the Facebook Live conversation knew the answer…that’s our job! And the curriculum leaders were very patient and respectful. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCklinq9wJ-H4i5QUCzHC5ZcwGhcIVa17tVrI1JHyqiQ7scQj5ecQhRL-nUjn7ms62P3MRJEHT9sCo29M4W-LXVzhRGKjbnC7BnzKaqRw2plpIqQnu0HU0DH9pdTKHgWxvofBLnMt8TA0_uzm5CsG3MsyzENEQnO7dCgffkWFRbaUYV4ZuWLQRiDmsBg/s343/woke%20osde.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="290" data-original-width="343" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCklinq9wJ-H4i5QUCzHC5ZcwGhcIVa17tVrI1JHyqiQ7scQj5ecQhRL-nUjn7ms62P3MRJEHT9sCo29M4W-LXVzhRGKjbnC7BnzKaqRw2plpIqQnu0HU0DH9pdTKHgWxvofBLnMt8TA0_uzm5CsG3MsyzENEQnO7dCgffkWFRbaUYV4ZuWLQRiDmsBg/w200-h169/woke%20osde.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Supt took this opportunity to address Patrick’s concerns above, to say that all WOKE language was scrubbed from the new standards. Walters said we want “students who are ready for the workforce, not social warriors.” Because, “This is an agency where WOKE will go to die.” He seems proud of the changes he made. He seemed to imply that now critical thinking skills would address only workforce readiness, and not life…for computer science, fine arts, and health. Certainly not life skills at all, right? All standards were adopted by the Board…</span><a href="https://tulsaworld.com/news/local/education/state-board-approves-new-academic-standards-with-ryan-walters-last-minute-revisions/article_686be40e-b3be-11ed-af8c-ebaeefb42988.html?utm_source=tulsaworld.com&utm_campaign=%2Fnewsletter-templates%2Fbreaking&utm_medium=PostUp&lctg=5199516&tn_email_eh1=4fd6d1f8e6d33dc3619c2508ddb34851ebcaa051" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">with Walters’ changes</span></a><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, without questions, discussion, debate, and over Patrick’s objections. "Thank you for your input."</span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Board then met in Executive Session to address one other item on the agenda.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Superintendent seemed quieter,</span><a href="https://okcfox.com/news/local/republican-house-leadership-aims-to-take-power-away-from-state-supt-ryan-walters-mcbride-department-of-education-board-oklaed-oklahoma-representatives" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> ‘boxed in,’</span></a><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to an extent, but from several of his comments sprinkled throughout the meeting, he made it clear HE is still fighting imaginary culture wars. We must stay vigilant. And not allow him to troll. And remember we are professionals and the grownups in the room. </span></p><div><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>Fourth Generation Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16700328444005416956noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633935880322794283.post-19580190890539180002021-04-24T20:15:00.002-05:002021-04-24T20:16:49.802-05:00Oklahoma Broke its Promise to Francisca: One of 3000 Broken Promises<p><i>Francisca and I have been friends since before she started her own NB journey. I've watched her fall in love, marry, become a mother. I've seen her grow as a professional, leading from the classroom. This post grew out of a passionate FaceBook post she wrote about our frustration in #oklaed at again losing our bill to restore stipends. I asked her to expand and post here. Francisca is <b>exactly</b> the teacher we are losing because of the state's neglect of the once national-leading NB program. We have not lost her because of her deep commitment to her students. My question is, does #oklaed deserve her? And other NBCTs like her, who stay in the classroom? What will it take for policymakers to wake up and truly see and recognize our NBCTs?</i></p><p><br /></p><p> <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;">As a Mexican-American child, growing up in Lubbock, Texas, I experienced great benefits from having a strong school community. It was through my teachers and school community that my family and I received resources and support to thrive. As I watched my teachers do everything they did to take care of my family and me, I realized that I wanted to educate and help children and families, as well. </span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-8cadb619-7fff-fa17-262b-1473d5739c63"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My parents, both, emigrated from Mexico and held jobs as farm-hands throughout many states to provide for my family. My parents only spoke Spanish in the home, so when I entered elementary school, I had many language needs. Many of my teachers embraced my differences and helped challenge me beyond what others thought was possible. I remember telling my father, one day, that I wanted to be a teacher when I grew up. He was excited that I had a vision for my future, but very torn about the career choice I made. He knew how little teachers were paid and worried that I would struggle financially trying to live my dream. He would encourage me to continue learning, but I knew that he always worried about me living in poverty, like we did, because of pursuing my passion for teaching.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Growing up in poverty and lacking those resources was hard. The struggle was real and sometimes we didn’t know where our next meal would come from. Those experiences made me a strong, resilient young lady who was ready to help people in situations like mine. Therefore, I chose to be my best self as a teacher to provide for others like my teachers had for me.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I knew it wouldn’t be easy. I knew it would take long, hard hours of studying, preparing, planning, collaborating, etc. to learn, engage, and succeed in the field of education because my student’s future was at stake. At the end of the day, I wanted to understand the students I taught, know their families, and how to best meet their learning needs to grow and develop. I knew that the mission I accepted would be filled with challenges and obstacles, but that I would need to do as my former teachers did and ask for guidance, support, or assistance to help my students.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, as I began my career in education, I knew that it wouldn’t be easy, but that I had the heart to do it. I started teaching in 2004 and realized that there were many needs in my classroom so I wanted to research, learn, and pursue professional development that would transform my teaching practices to reach and understand my children and families. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW3ir5n5SxPEdqbj8pSe90JypVaGkMDYgXb9TtqRMNTLyCsKdivxYRtaK-o12t6DzMl7mZx_Lw0VlV6elgiR0tH2ZQex5bYM8HQmkFgXANBWed3ONAeKPUYV3CmavLqOyswA4-vZD3e165/s519/FJ1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="519" data-original-width="471" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW3ir5n5SxPEdqbj8pSe90JypVaGkMDYgXb9TtqRMNTLyCsKdivxYRtaK-o12t6DzMl7mZx_Lw0VlV6elgiR0tH2ZQex5bYM8HQmkFgXANBWed3ONAeKPUYV3CmavLqOyswA4-vZD3e165/w181-h200/FJ1.jpg" width="181" /></a></div><br /></span><p></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In 2008, I embarked on the National Board Certification process and earned it. I renewed in 2018. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was in my 4</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;">th</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> year of teaching at a Title I school in Norman, Oklahoma when my friend asked me to do this process with her. I had earned my master’s in Education (ILAC) with an emphasis on Diversity in Education from my alma mater, The University of Oklahoma, during my first two years of teaching and wanted to keep learning and becoming better for my students and families. She knew that I hadn’t worked my way through my master’s program for the money because, face it…getting a master’s degree in my district doesn’t give you much incentive. I completed my master’s program to grow as a professional and to become the best teacher I could be for the students that were placed in my class. That’s why it wasn’t a surprise when my friend asked me to engage in this process with her. She knew my heart and that I wanted to always strive to be better. Yet, I had high reverence towards the National Board process and thought, “Whoa. I have heard that doing the NB process is a lot more challenging than completing a master’s program. There is NO way I can achieve this status. This process is so rigorous! I can only admire those who receive it!” </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But, my curiosity got the best of me and I decided to attend the informational meeting to learn more about what becoming a NBCT was about and how it would change my teaching from that point on. I learned that I would need lots of support, to collaborate beyond my school and classroom walls, and to reflect on best practices. My husband and I had committed to funding my way through this process because we fully believed in what it would do for my teaching practice. I decided to embark on this journey and do my best to succeed. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">During this time, the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Oklahoma State Department of Education and the Education Leadership Oklahoma</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> provided scholarships for people to go through the NBCT process, candidate support meetings, and a 2-day workshop to share insights on how to begin preparing for the process in Durant, Oklahoma. I applied for the scholarship and received full funding! Then, my friend and I sat through the 2-day candidate retreat to learn about the process, the rigor, and how to begin looking at our teaching practice through a very different lens. We would head back to our hotel and start highlighting, reading, and organizing our binders with the information we printed or received throughout our meetings and began typing or writing some ideas or thoughts about our teaching, strategies, projects, etc. that we knew were best practices. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To say it was the TOUGHEST year of my professional life would be an understatement! I worked hard to reflect, analyze, collaborate, work with children, families, and teachers, video myself, and write! I looked deep into my teaching strategies and researched, read books, worked with colleagues, and wrote activities and lessons that would reflect best practices. It took GREAT support from my husband, family, friends, and the National Board Certified Teachers at our support meetings. It blew my mind to engage in this process because it challenged me, but ultimately it changed me into a teacher who is always reflecting and looking for better ways to impact and teach my students. I wanted to find ways to captivate my children’s interests, engage them in activities that extend their thoughts, and find ways to get them excited about their learning. This process transformed me to always strive for best practices, to continue to collaborate with my colleagues, to have student knowledge about their families and their background, and to always seek partnerships with families. I thought about those first years in my classroom and how much I tried my best, but knew something was missing. I found “that something” by doing the National Board Process. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDZpieCGjPHcMIHrEGRP5epFdcOta18dphHGjp7DHyuyN4c1j1kMpjhcY20Ms1KH3KLPDqaAB8voLB84uOkegjk7A9-Gq1cdTUgk8kWEAK1Tqjy8WmW1KfIgVdGdHYuAe22EEuWcdJAsCV/s200/fj2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="169" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDZpieCGjPHcMIHrEGRP5epFdcOta18dphHGjp7DHyuyN4c1j1kMpjhcY20Ms1KH3KLPDqaAB8voLB84uOkegjk7A9-Gq1cdTUgk8kWEAK1Tqjy8WmW1KfIgVdGdHYuAe22EEuWcdJAsCV/s0/fj2.jpg" /></a></div>During my first 10 years as a NBCT, I applied and was asked to serve on many National committees to provide my insight, my knowledge, and my experiences in Early Childhood education from the state of Oklahoma. I helped revise the National Board Early Childhood Generalist standards and I helped create standards for Educators Rising, a program for high school students who want to go into education. This work also encouraged me to go back and do my Masters in Early Childhood Education. So, I am “doubled mastered.” <span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <br /></span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then came the time to decide to renew.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was </span><a href="https://fourthgenerationteacher.blogspot.com/2021/04/the-sound-you-hearbroken-promises-to.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">hesitant and frustrated by the broken promises</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> from the Legislators and Oklahoma State Department of Education. I couldn’t believe that it had been 10 years since I certified and that the National Board program in Oklahoma had gone through so many financial cuts and had eliminated most of the support to help elevate our profession. During that time, I had served on an Oklahoma Education Association Salary Ad-Hoc committee and through this work, I learned that we were trying to reach a “regional average” in salary to stay competitive in keeping teachers in our state instead of continuously losing GOOD teachers to surrounding states (uh, hem…Texas…). </span><p></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One of the ways the Legislators had thought of staying competitive was to offer the $5,000 National Board Certification stipend to those who certified. That was lost real quickly. I received my stipend (minus FICA and taxes) of $2,900 for the 10 years of my original certificate. Then, when I renewed, I didn’t qualify because my district paid above the state salary schedule and were exempt from doing so. Like I had stated, earlier, I wasn’t in it for the money, but it was getting really hard to pay off my student loans (which, 17 years later, I still am paying off) and keep up with financial responsibilities to prepare for a family. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All I kept thinking was…I kept my promise to teach our students in the National Board way; connect, support, and reach out to families; collaborate with my colleagues and other professionals; and to continue developing as a teacher because THAT’s what makes the biggest impact in our classrooms. I have worked tirelessly around the clock to find resources for my students; work with families to guide and lead them through their children’s experiences; translate for my school’s Spanish-speaking families; build positive, long-lasting relationships with children and families; collaborate with my colleagues, administrators, and professors; continue to attend professional development; serve on committees; work with interns and Universities to help future educators; and the list goes on and on. This is what I know NOW. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, I was down to the last minute to think about renewal and I finally decided to. It had nothing to do with the NBCT process, but it had a lot to do with fighting against the state of Oklahoma and how they have let many children and families down with their budget cuts, cutting programs like the NBCT program, cutting resources and funding, etc. And, now, it has an impact on not only my husband and I, but our two adopted boys. My salary is still low for working 17 years in a public school system, having two masters in Education, and being Nationally-Board Certified. Still, as I thought about not doing renewal, I was reminded about my students, their families, their situations, and the school community I promised to change for the better that I had to continue to develop in best practices, reflect, connect, make changes, advocate, etc. for them and those who would come later.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I renewed my National Board Certification as an Early Childhood Generalist. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM5vdVgi40wobumsyfTfP8RPNtmCILHXZ2l_RosOmy-_FPxVlRWJrFHT2TRiDZQJ71_AJLC9Hj5TuwMG48pJWhxA5JHddI5jgFMENQ1x50envA083Y1LRYbQZrKiNDEy-e5Z4rOiKdiVQ7/s547/fj3.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="547" data-original-width="368" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM5vdVgi40wobumsyfTfP8RPNtmCILHXZ2l_RosOmy-_FPxVlRWJrFHT2TRiDZQJ71_AJLC9Hj5TuwMG48pJWhxA5JHddI5jgFMENQ1x50envA083Y1LRYbQZrKiNDEy-e5Z4rOiKdiVQ7/s320/fj3.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am a National Board Certified teacher who couldn’t teach in any other way, now, because this is now a part of my being</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. My husband and I adopted two young boys 2 years ago. They see how hard I work and how my husband (and now they) are a part of my teaching life. They understand that this career is not just a “job,” but a “lifestyle” that is a part of me and them. That being an National Board Certified Teacher means that I spend time planning, preparing, reading, and collaborating with my colleagues. They offer to help me with ideas or sharing what they have done in the classroom. It is fun sharing my dream with them because they have told me that without teachers like me, many students wouldn’t be able to achieve their dream. They get it. </span><p></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am a fierce advocate for my families, students, colleagues, and site administrators. I loathe that the State of Oklahoma keeps knocking us down and that they don’t see, hear, or value the people who work directly with our children and families. I will keep fighting by becoming better for my family, students, and community even when they don’t respect what I do. My parents always taught me to do this. But, I need more people to join this fight and to keep elevating our profession because the work we do MATTERS, IMPACTS, and CHANGES our communities for the better. Oklahoma children and families deserve better. Long before I was thinking about my own family, I knew that I needed to start advocating for what was best for children. The National Board Certification process changes the teacher, children, families, school, and community and it is what’s BEST for children.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-f5971119-7fff-bf84-bb4c-6d1b925b98d5"></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Francisca Martinez Jensen is a wife, mother, and exemplary National Board Certified teacher in an Oklahoma suburban school district. She holds two masters degrees from the University of Oklahoma and the University of Central Oklahoma in Instructional Leadership and Academic Curriculum with an emphasis in Diversity in Education and one in Early Childhood Education. She has taught in a Title I school for 17 years and has served on many national, state, and local committees. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcLPBqGRoCPFSp9EuFxv-X7lkI5bswaaVMzRUbHtuCJihhrBeMNVTHZiF5O1B9b85vjVFLRxGcyNbT53x8S4RSbI1rZLbafqFE8-BQY2IXHzJCKh_XkfSRwg1yfEkOUV00I3wjvFYPV7eu/s468/fj4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="468" data-original-width="378" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcLPBqGRoCPFSp9EuFxv-X7lkI5bswaaVMzRUbHtuCJihhrBeMNVTHZiF5O1B9b85vjVFLRxGcyNbT53x8S4RSbI1rZLbafqFE8-BQY2IXHzJCKh_XkfSRwg1yfEkOUV00I3wjvFYPV7eu/s320/fj4.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>Fourth Generation Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16700328444005416956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633935880322794283.post-89601681473648878572021-04-14T12:19:00.006-05:002021-04-14T20:55:41.900-05:00The Sound You Hear...Broken Promises to National Board Certified Teachers in #oklaed<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SlX8-lmxL5A" width="320" youtube-src-id="SlX8-lmxL5A"></iframe></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p>Hear that? Broken promises, broken covenants. National Board Certified Teachers in Oklahoma have been waiting nigh onto 10 years for the promise of a stipend is realized for all NBCTs. We have worked to live up to the covenant written by the State of Oklahoma to support NBCT candidates, and to provide stipends (renewable stipends) for all NBCTs teaching full-time in classrooms in Oklahoma. WE have done the work. Applied for the scholarships. Doing the work. Taking the tests. Videoing in their classrooms. Deeply analyzing our assignments for individual students, and for the class. Reflecting on our assessment practices and on our growth as professionals. This could potentially take one school year, or up to five years. This is NOT A TEST. I repeat: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0EmzEGQgN_51oGGlKP2a_rh_doIy68zW07pXAq63KgehMdglDnU_JZ6O7eiGd5T3BFteraoARLGwQsz_4epea1V4frxfMvdvcyUbRMOol76tvMc1Up3bMN9uUknWZcCh6l4zXd1QD-p5T/s525/ThisIsNotATest_web.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="417" data-original-width="525" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0EmzEGQgN_51oGGlKP2a_rh_doIy68zW07pXAq63KgehMdglDnU_JZ6O7eiGd5T3BFteraoARLGwQsz_4epea1V4frxfMvdvcyUbRMOol76tvMc1Up3bMN9uUknWZcCh6l4zXd1QD-p5T/w200-h159/ThisIsNotATest_web.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p></p><p>Achieving NBCT status means you have held yourself up to the highest voluntary standards in our profession...written by teachers, for teachers. You have deeply examined your practice. Your students. Your professional development. It usually takes upwards of 200 hours of work, preparing and revising lessons, delivering them, analyzing student work, giving feedback, reflecting, and more often than not, starting all over again with a better, stronger lesson based on what you've learned. And that's before the one testing component. This is rigorous and challenging. This is NOT a gimme. A slam-dunk. A box to check.</p><p>So, the history of the promise, and the myriad ways the promise has been shattered.</p><p>1997--SB770 -- authored by <a href="https://www.ardmoreite.com/news/20170704/darryl-roberts-shares-his-keys-to-success-with-ardmore-tigers">Senator Darryl Roberts</a>, whose sister, <a href="https://www.oklahoman.com/article/2232674/kyle-dahlem-sound-the-alarm-for-state-schools">Kyle Dahlem,</a> was currently on the board of National Board of Professional Teaching Standards. She encouraged him to bring a program to Oklahoma, to find and reward teachers willing to take the challenge of NB. It established scholarships for 200 (up to 400!) teachers to go through the process (<i>broken promise</i>), a 2-day retreat for intensive training with NBCTs (<i>broken promise</i>), support from NBCTs throughout the process free of charge, and a $5000 (<i>broken promise</i>) lump sum (<i>broken promise</i>) payment for all NBCTs for the life of their certificate, including renewing (<i>broken promise</i>) who stay in the classroom. It established a selection committee and process to choose those teachers receiving the scholarship. Teachers who paid their own way through the process were refunded that cost when they certified (<i>broken promise</i>). Teachers who did not complete the process repaid the state's investment.</p><p>So, our NBCT program was born...and we thrived for over a decade.</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: left;">1998 -- 100 candidates -- 37 NBCTs</p><p style="text-align: left;">1999 -- 200 candidates -- 108 NBCTs (including Advanced Candidates from 1998)</p><p style="text-align: left;">2000 -- 200 candidates --125 NBCTs</p><p style="text-align: left;">2001 -- 400 candidates --125 NBCTs (one was ME!)</p><p style="text-align: left;">2002-- 400 candidates -- 241 NBCTs</p><p style="text-align: left;">2003 -- 400 scholarships -- 229 NBCTs</p><p style="text-align: left;">2004 -- 400 candidates -- 231 NBCTs</p><p style="text-align: left;">2005 -- 400 candidates -- 216 NBCTs -- Oklahoma was #5 in the nation!</p><p style="text-align: left;">2006 -- 400 candidates -- 283 NBCTs</p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: center;">.....................................................................</p></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: left;">2010 -- 400 candidates -- 222 NBCTs -- 61 renewed -- #10 in the nation</p></blockquote><p> This was when the legislature decided the program of rewarding and supporting NBCTs and candidates was "too expensive" to sustain. Who needs accomplished teachers committed to staying in the classroom after all?</p><p><b>2011</b> -- Superintendent Barresi's first <a href="http://fourthgenerationteacher.blogspot.com/2014/06/?m=1">State School Board meeting</a>, in January, discovered that a line item in the budget to pay speech pathologists their $5000 stipend (speech pathology associations around the country copied our legislation and XXX equal stipends). With a speech-path in the audience, asked to speak to the group, she convinced the Board that it made complete sense to take the line item for NBCT stipends, and simply split that with speech pathologists. I'm not sure that 'missing' money was ever found. My stipend that year was $3600-ish before taxes. Thank you, Superindentist.</p><p><b>2011 -- HB3029</b> -- Forced a 2-year moratorium on all new scholarships. Candidates could go through the process, but they had to pay their own way. In 2011, the cost was over $3000. The state still provided support but the 2-day retreat was ended. The state no longer refunded the fee for the process to NBCTs who paid their own way</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p>2011 -- 9 candidates -- 175 NBCTs</p><p>2012 -- 9 candidates -- 73 NBCTs</p><p>2013 -- 10 candidates -- 20 NBCTs</p></blockquote><p><b>2013 -- HB1660 </b>-- Created an application date for new candidates and renewing NBCTs...after which the stipend was not available. 6/30/2013 became the arbitrary deadline for dividing candidates and renewing NBCTs. Established a new column in the state minimum teacher salary schedule, with $1000 for NBCTs who applied after 6/30/2013.</p><p>Restored the 100 scholarships...but it became a hard sell. Teachers were no longer sure the state was serious about support.</p><p>This new column was not funded adequately by the state...school districts did NOT receive an additional $1000 per new NBCTs and renewed NBCTs. </p><p>Districts who paid $1-$999 over the state minimum did not have to pay $1000 to an NBCT...they were required to match the new column in the state schedule.</p><p>Districts who paid $1000 (or more) over the minimum, were not obligated to pay anything to new NBCTs or newly-renewed NBCTs.</p><p>Now, we who were candidate supporters were forced to also support a horribly-inequitable system, where some NBCTs received their full $5000 (before taxes), some might receive $1-$999 a year, and some received nothing more than a handshake at the Board Office and a nice certificate. We pride our program on working with all students equitably and fairly, and the state was treating our certification arbitrarily and unfairly.</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p>2013 -- 10 candidates -- 20 NBCTs -- 9th in the nation</p><p>2014 -- 102 candidates -- 22 NBCTs</p><p>2015 -- 34 candidates -- 13 NBCTs</p><p>2016 -- 39 candidates -- 8 NBCTs</p><p>2017 -- 32 candidates -- 7 NBCTs -- 11th in the nation</p></blockquote><p>Through these years, we talked to legislators, who kept telling us the program was 'too expensive.' We told them they changed everything for school districts...now an NBCT was a financial liability, instead of an accomplished teacher to celebrate and brag about. We tried to find allies, to create coalitions, but there was little appetite at all to look again at the program. </p><p>In 2018, the <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/07/politics/oklahoma-teachers-election-trnd">'teacher caucus' </a>was elected -- educators from both parties, inspired by the recent Walk Out, to run for office. With these educators at the Capitol, we began to actively advocate for a full restoration of all aspects of our program...100 scholarships, and $5000 stipends (before taxes...and FICA payments that the state foisted off on us) for all new and renewing NBCTs...$5000 stipends for all NBCTs who certified or renewed under the old system, and were receiving nothing.</p><p><b>2018 -- HB1023XX</b> -- authored by Rep. Jacob Rosecrants D, one of my former students, newly-elected to the House. Restored the stipend, with an extra stipend for teachers who teach in hard-to-staff schools. Rosecrants was a teacher in such a school...he knows the need. Not heard in House Education Appropriations and Budget (A&B) Committee. Died for the Session</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;">2018 -- 131 candidates (and Advanced Candidates) 13th in the nation</p></blockquote><p><b>2019 -- HB1009</b> -- Also authored by Rosecrants, but co-authored by so many GOP members, that Legiscan coded it as a GOP-partisan bill. New Committee Chair in House Ed A&B. Passed the committee unanimously. I admit...I cried, sitting in the committee room, watching this support. But the bill did not reach the next step: a hearing in the House Full A&B Committee. </p><p><b>2020 -- HB1306</b> -- Authored by Rep Toni Hasenbeck R, a member of our Teacher Caucus. Passed House Ed A&B, House Full A&B, and the full House. We celebrated...and the celebration was strongly bipartisan. We have friends on both sides of the aisle, and in both houses of the legislature. </p><p>Then...COVID-19.</p><p><b>2021 -- <a href="http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=HB2693">HB2693</a> </b>-- also authored by Toni Hasenbeck. Restored the stipends. Added retroactive stipends for all NBCTs who certified since 2013. Added scholarships for renewing NBCTs (the cost of renewing had always been the NBCTs' responsibility. Passed House Ed A&B (they're old hands now...they understand the program and the benefits). Passed the House A&B...without a funding mechanism. An "untimely amendment" filed hours before it was heard on the House floor added an expansion to our charter laws, to allow charters in rural areas, a move that was strongly opposed by rural advocates. Somehow this amendment would provide that funding mechanism. After push-back, the amendment was withdrawn, and the bill passed the House...again. </p><p>Now, we faced the same path through the Senate...Senate Ed Committee, Senate Appropriations Committee, then Senate floor.</p><p>Deadline Week, and our bill didn't appear on the Senate Ed Committee agenda. Then the night before, it appeared....<a href="http://mccarvillereport.com/archives/55043">but it had been shucked</a> -- <a href="https://www.facebook.com/821411341308904/posts/3771120253004650/">stripped of all the original language</a>. All. The. Original. Language. Now it was a bill to provide training and micro-credentialing for teachers to get additional training in Civics...with, ironically, a stipend for teachers who participated. </p><p>We lost our language. We ran out of time. Our bill was dead. And since we lost the bill number to the new bill, we would not start next year (second of a two-year Session) in the Senate Ed Committee, we would start over. In the House. Our path was, again, House Ed A&B, House A&B, full House...then Senate Ed, Appropriations, full Senate. </p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;">2014-2020 -- 29-39 candidates a year -- 46 TOTAL new NBCTs</p></blockquote><p>At the height of our NBCT program, pre-2011, it was doing exactly what it was designed to do: keep teachers -- career teachers, mentor teachers -- in the classroom. there were over 3000 of us (I retired in 2013) teaching full-time in the classroom. Now, it's grim at a time when our state desperately needs career teachers, mentor teachers, in the classroom</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p><span> 2020 -- 1000 NBCTs in OK -- 800 receiving the stipend -- 120 on salary step -- 150 receive NOTHING: no stipend, no salary bump at all.</span></p><p><span>2021 -- 810 NBCTs in OK -- 247 NBCTs renewed, with the loss of their stipends</span></p></blockquote><p><b>2022</b> -- We start over. A new bill, new challenges. Fewer NBCTs in the classroom. More need for accomplished career teachers. Research that shows the benefits of NBCTs in the classroom: <a href="https://www.cerra.org/uploads/1/7/6/8/17684955/nbct_retention_paper_1.30.18.pdf">We stay in the classroom</a>, <a href="https://www.nbpts.org/wp-content/uploads/NBCT_MS_Report.pdf">we can raise literacy scores of our students,</a> <a href="https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED607261.pdf">we mentor new teachers whose students' scores can increase.</a> We can mentor student interns and alternative-certified teachers through the required PPAT process for their own teaching license. </p><p>For every $1 a state invests in an NBCT stipend program, the state will see an increased return on that investment...up to $30. We think that might be the savings of not having to replace a teacher, or the savings of not having to retain a third grader whose literacy scores on testing were low. Investment in NBCT stipends <a href="http://www.huntsvillecommitteeof100.org/board-certification-for-teachers-is-a-smart-investment-for-communities/">makes sense</a>.</p><p>What are the ramifications of this neglect of the NBCT program? Well, Southern Nazarene University had a fantastic masters program, designed around the Five Core Propositions of NB...we graduated cadres of educators who could earn their masters and their NBCT certification, with support from the state and from SNU. I taught in that program. Our graduates were top-notch. Oklahoma State University had a graduate course to support candidates. University of Oklahoma gave graduate credit for attending support meetings and doing additional paperwork. None of these programs and courses exist any more. Universities in Oklahoma do not believe the state will fully fund and support the NB candidate program. They see the broken promises.</p><p>After the recent failure of HB2693, teachers sounded off on social media. Teachers said this lack of faith in the legislature was why they left the state and teach in other states with stipends. Teachers left teaching completely rather than accept the loss of this program. NBCTs see no reason to spend their own money renewing, with no promise of a stipend. Current candidates say they will abandon the program all together. </p><p>A friend who is a current candidate said she got her masters degree recently, and the jump on the salary schedule isn't even enough to help pay down her student loans. </p><p>Educators have lost faith. We see the string of broken promises. We find it harder and harder to believe.</p><p>And those of us who have advocated this last ten years?<br /><br />We. Start. Over. Five years we will have worked to get legislation to the Governor's desk. </p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Al72JKJth2I" width="320" youtube-src-id="Al72JKJth2I"></iframe></div><br /> <p></p><p><br /></p>Fourth Generation Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16700328444005416956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633935880322794283.post-4761031490018347982021-02-26T16:18:00.006-06:002021-02-26T16:24:12.628-06:00Three Leaders Defending the Schoolhouse Door<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS_UI6yk6k8EKVfRk1g_Zbzl3LZy5mWAsulPwSTXj87eRZNrUKAEV-sgtxDycMwYcuDqnL1QI-FuBwA6lYRvS1fQATsKGJbt042m4AMFrK_1aTS2S3qjtgcdLdjS81RUvluecOsngw50I0/s2288/wolf+dis.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2288" data-original-width="2184" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS_UI6yk6k8EKVfRk1g_Zbzl3LZy5mWAsulPwSTXj87eRZNrUKAEV-sgtxDycMwYcuDqnL1QI-FuBwA6lYRvS1fQATsKGJbt042m4AMFrK_1aTS2S3qjtgcdLdjS81RUvluecOsngw50I0/s320/wolf+dis.jpg" /></a></div> Town Hall Seattle held a three-way conversation last night, with Diane Ravitch and the authors of<i> <a href="https://fourthgenerationteacher.blogspot.com/2021/02/a-wolf-at-schoolhouse-door-by-jack.html" target="_blank">A Wolf at the Schoolhouse Door</a></i>, Jack Schneider and Jennifer Berkshire. Best $5 I have spent...I got a ticket to listen, to watch, to take notes, to wish I could rewind and get the quotes right. It was an amazing hour for anyone who cares about public schools and the destructive reforms of the right...and the left. <p>These two education historians (Ravitch and Schneider), and education journalist (Berkshire) have a long view of school reform, as well as a broad view of the current legislation popping up around the country, and the connections among the efforts. </p><p>They began talking about Betsy Devos, who has a prominent position in <i>Wolf,</i> as, perhaps THE wolf at the door, but Schneider and Berkshire made the point that the real action, the real reform, happens at the state level. That is a lesson I've learned in the decade I've been paying close attention...</p><p>Berkshire, who crisscrosses the country as a journalist pointed out that proposed legislation at the state level is so similar. West Virginia has a bill to punish teachers for any kind of walk-out or strike. I know OK has a similar bill. So many state houses are now sitting on a GOP super-majority, and many of these legislators have identical ideologies and motivation. Choice. Vouchers. Attacks on unions. Defunding public schools. We public school advocates are facing the same attacks, no matter where we are. </p><p>Public education is the largest expenditure for every state in the union, and many on the right are obsessed with carving dollars away, to invest in their own pet projects. Even thought, as Berkshire and Schneider pointed out, over 90% of Republican parents' students as well as Democrat parents' students attend public schools.</p><p>One of the authors reminded Ravitch of one of her quotes in <i><a href="https://fourthgenerationteacher.blogspot.com/2013/10/reign-of-error-review-and-hearty-thank.html" target="_blank">Reign of Error</a></i>, paraphrased as, "The public good is not a consumer good." I had not initially made the connection between Ravitch's book and this until Berkshire reminded the audience of the four principles of conservative reformers:</p><p>1. Education is a personal good, not a collective one (almost the reverse of Ravitch's line!)</p><p>2. Schools belong to the domain of the free market, not the government</p><p>3. To the extent that they are able, the 'consumers' of education should pay for it themselves</p><p>4. Unions and other forms of collective power are economically inefficient and politically problematic</p><p>As I review my notes and memory, these principles really framed the conversation last night.</p><p>Berkshire pointed out that many of the conservatives who want to disrupt (my word) public schools are still angry about the New Deal...when unions grew in power and importance, and regulations complicated the free marketers. They never gave up their hatred of teachers' unions and a zealous belief that the free market is the only answer for this country in ever facet of our lives, including the solemn duty to educate every child in the nation.</p><p>Schneider and Berkshire show that the ideology of reform drives all the reforms we fight...a belief in markets, in choice, in no oversight and regulations, in breaking unions. Reformers are furious that public schools do no extoll the value of free markets...they believe teachers 'indoctrinate' students to be socialists. They reject accountability and transparency.</p><p>The three began riffing on these issues, and I wrote furiously...I'll share quotes (probably not word-for-word, but close) and phrases that reminded me so strongly why public education has my heart and soul. </p><p>School choice exacerbates inequities</p><p>"Free markets don't create equity. They create winners and losers" DR</p><p>Reformers degrade and defund our schools</p><p>Viewing schools as free markets creates competition...and competition creates, is grounded in, a zero-sum game. There will, by design, and deliberate actions, be winners and losers. (This year as I have listened to committee and floor discussions at the OK Capitol, I have gritted my teeth each and every year a non-educator-legislator has solemnly entoned how important competition is for schools. No. Competition ensures there will be losers. Public schools that will be losers. Children and families who will be losers!)</p><p>"There is a national myth that your education explains your station in life...this meritocracy is privilege-laundering." JS People who attend these elite, expensive schools, will succeed wherever they go...their education is not a factor.</p><p>No transparency. No oversight.</p><p>Ideologue reformers want to unmake schools...deliver a death blow...fracture us into an individualistic society.</p><p>Ravitch asked the poignant question I often wonder: "Why are they willing to destroy schools?" Why, indeed.</p><p>The conversation circled around ALEC and the Koch fingerprints on our education...</p><p>"According to Koch, schools don't prepare kids to be ardently free-market enough." JB</p><p>"Oligarchic tendencies are rampant in these ideological reformers: they think they're smarter than everyone else." JS</p><p>"This pandemic helps us remember what schools do, what a teacher does." JS</p><p>The three circled back to the difference in reform beliefs of conservatives and liberals. They all agreed that Arnie Duncan was just as harmful in his own way as Devos.</p><p>Liberal support of 'choice' gives legitimacy to the conservative war on public schools...Neo-liberal belief in choice and tests makes them just as dangerous as the ideologues who want to gut schools for their beloved free markets. They agreed that the left must come up with a new vision for our schools. </p><p>The conversation was not just a summarization of their excellent book. It was an hour with three brilliant thinkers and advocates. Fast-moving, exhilarating, and sometimes deeply depressing in the size of the task ahead of us. But they have given us the ability to understand who we're up against. It's time to come up with a new vision.</p><p>And it's this...do we as Americans see public education as a societal benefit, a collective good, a public good? </p><p>If we do, we have work to do, or we will be left as the losers in free-marketeers' zero-sum game. </p><p>A dynamic evening!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2czl3TkonrZhdhXBWttTpkPlDKfSTbHfPfq_RkLxK18vOzYDhgnYuNhovUpyhHGAJ4k0uZyxU5rt4iUnz2n22WU7xy0gfrtSprDduUGLmHFiBlZRemrBH7jLCmszfMlx7oQKGDDfATzYh/s4235/ravitch+disc.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2184" data-original-width="4235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2czl3TkonrZhdhXBWttTpkPlDKfSTbHfPfq_RkLxK18vOzYDhgnYuNhovUpyhHGAJ4k0uZyxU5rt4iUnz2n22WU7xy0gfrtSprDduUGLmHFiBlZRemrBH7jLCmszfMlx7oQKGDDfATzYh/s320/ravitch+disc.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>***********************************************************************************</p><p>Berkshire has offered to lead a ZOOM discussion for Oklahoma advocates! I'm working on a list of interested folks. So far, parents, grandparents, educators, legislators have told me they want to be included. Let me know if you want to join us. </p><p><br /></p>Fourth Generation Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16700328444005416956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633935880322794283.post-47669970483582625682021-02-07T12:48:00.000-06:002021-02-07T12:48:26.782-06:00<p> <b><i>A Wolf at the Schoolhouse Door</i></b> by Jack Schneider and Jennifer Berkshire. It's not<b> one</b> wolf. It's many wolves, working separately, and as a pack. Opportunists always ready to attack.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEIRQ-6PU_X0Co7s4FOcM4a7qMZZxVbT1D3DmRPGkmLoMsfRMYul1qiaNMh8AMVKaB_5OO0QEynuMzhbRw2r49rY0BOgaWlHWt-hbAwgngDMkz0jSN4oHmzBmaIBuIfRILk61H9mOGcC04/s952/wolves.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="412" data-original-width="952" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEIRQ-6PU_X0Co7s4FOcM4a7qMZZxVbT1D3DmRPGkmLoMsfRMYul1qiaNMh8AMVKaB_5OO0QEynuMzhbRw2r49rY0BOgaWlHWt-hbAwgngDMkz0jSN4oHmzBmaIBuIfRILk61H9mOGcC04/w400-h173/wolves.png" width="400" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>If you've spent any time in education, you recognize the many wolves Schneider and Berkshire describe here. None is especially new. What is so very valuable about this book is their compilation of all the conservative and libertarian strategies to weaken and defund (yes, I'm using that word deliberately) our public schools. I've already used the book as a reference when researching some of the new anti-public-education bills in the Oklahoma Legislature this Session. </p><p>Its power is in the clear examination of reforms we usually fight as separate issues, showing us they are not isolated ideas. They are part of the whole. And until we learn to fight the whole, we will exhaust ourselves fighting all these smaller battles...the new voucher bills in the legislature, the new alternative certification bills surfacing annually.</p><p>The wolves are those monied conservatives who will always have school for their children...private, exclusive, expensive schools. </p><p>It's <b>our</b> children they want to starve and cheat, our children who will suffer as they find ways to siphon public school funds to their toney private schools. </p><p><b>Our</b> children who go to those pesky public schools.</p><p>Reformers' basic premises, as seen by Schneider and Berkshire?<br /></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: left;">1. Education is a personal good, not a collective one</p><p style="text-align: left;">2. Schools belong in the domain of the free market, not the government (how many times have we heard the attack on 'government schools?'</p><p style="text-align: left;">3. To the extent they are able, "consumers" of education should pay for it themselves</p><p style="text-align: left;">4. Unions and other forms of collective power are economically inefficient and politically problematic.</p></blockquote><p>Now, look at your state legislature's agenda, your state legislature's current bills...most of them can neatly fit under one of these premises.</p><p>The book is organized into the values and goals of privatizers...a veritable encyclopedia for advocates of public schools:</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Private Values</li><li>Faith in Markets</li><li>The Cost-Cutting Crusade</li><li>The War on Labor</li><li>Neo-Vouchers</li><li>The Pursuit of Profit</li><li>Virtual Learning</li><li>The End of Regulations</li><li>Don't Forget to Leave Us a Review</li><li>Selling Schools</li><li>Teaching Gigs</li><li>Education, a la Carte</li></ul><p></p></blockquote><p>The authors give us the big players in this fight to gobble up the $50B public education funding pot. That's what it's all about...money privatizers don't have, and want. They want that money to educate their own privileged children in their private schools, with public school money.</p><p>In the 40-plus years I've been involved in public education, I've seen so many of these changes, attacks. </p><p>Oklahoma will be fighting off several voucher bills, filed, interestingly enough, by Senators who are term-limited and seem to be ready to leave it all on the track. <a href="http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=sb386&Session=2100" target="_blank">Here</a> (Education, a la Carte) and <a href="http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=SB221&Session=2100" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=SB222&Session=2100" target="_blank">here</a> (Neo-Vouchers).</p><p>We have a bill to punish teachers with the <a href="http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=hb2460&Session=2100" target="_blank">loss of their certificate </a>(War on Labor) f they participate in any walk-outs (OK is a right-to-work (for less) state, so strikes are already illegal...but even local school board support of a walk out would not protect teachers. And bills to <a href="http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=hb1985&Session=2100" target="_blank">attack education associations</a> (War on Labor).</p><p>We are currently locked in a controversy over <a href="http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=HJR1036&Session=2100" target="_blank">funding our virtual charter schools</a> (Virtual Learning), and the possibility of <a href="https://tulsaworld.com/news/local/education/epic-owes-oklahoma-8-9-million-improper-transfers-chronic-misreporting-found-by-state-auditors-investigation/article_f8a41072-01e2-11eb-9691-976475d9051b.html" target="_blank">misuse of public school funding</a> (I'm calling this one The End of Regulations).</p><p>Oklahoma had seen, before the walk out of 2018, <a href="https://tulsaworld.com/news/local/education/oklahoma-again-no-1-in-the-nation-for-funding-cuts-to-common-education/article_385a8778-3094-53b8-8f0f-e65cb87f8947.html" target="_blank">the largest cuts to public education</a> in the nation. This created the crisis that resulted in tens of thousands of marchers to the state Capitol.</p><p>The funding crisis led, perhaps, to the teacher-shortage crisis, and a record number of alternative-certified and emergency-certified teachers. There is a bill this year to allow <a href="http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=HB2748&Tab=0&Session=2100" target="_blank">early childhood teachers</a> (End of Regulations) to teach with alternative cert, coming into the classroom with no pedagogy training. </p><p>It's like Oklahoma is a proving ground for all the privatizing schemes. But, I'm guessing every state in the nation feels the exact same way. These legislators who are all-in with this privatizing reform rhetoric have the advantage of national leaders, like ALEC, who will write the model legislation for them to just copy and paste. It's always enlightening to Google the title of a bill and ALEC to see what pops up.</p><p>I think for me, a 4th-generation teacher, mother of a 5th-generation teacher, looking at my granddaughters, wondering who'll be the 6th, the attacks on teachers, on my family business, were the most horrifying. Privatizers would be more than happy with teachers as gig-workers. Part-time, paid by the class, with or without an actual teaching degree, or even a degree. Teachers who scramble to create a 'full time' job with multiple part-time jobs. Teachers, most importantly, with no benefits, no pension, no health insurance. Teachers with no protections. No unions. This view of the future of teaching just makes my stomach hurt. </p><p>I have one huge ask for the reprint...I needed an appendix listing all those foundations and committees and groups who appear to be working separately to destroy public education. I wanted a comprehensive list of our enemies. Remember, I'm using this book as a reference...a way to look up terms and organizations...and that list would really help me.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggAkhlPtfISYser1nAvTb0YmEV_Ke92nwOa2Menu54y05VD9J9YTNjd2iPFpsQYt6I-8FKNgzxgSBWvCz7zoSVAKgzgieoarGXiP4bJ55JYqtQ2yiF5DYm-3esej7iRdfchwx8TD1CPJgg/s434/wolf.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="330" data-original-width="434" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggAkhlPtfISYser1nAvTb0YmEV_Ke92nwOa2Menu54y05VD9J9YTNjd2iPFpsQYt6I-8FKNgzxgSBWvCz7zoSVAKgzgieoarGXiP4bJ55JYqtQ2yiF5DYm-3esej7iRdfchwx8TD1CPJgg/w200-h152/wolf.png" width="200" /></a></div>I plan to buy a copy of this book for both my state legislators. I want them to see the evidence of these efforts to dismantle and defund our schools. I want them to know we have information, all in one place, to counter reformers' plans and shed light on their strategies. <p></p><p>So, there are wolves. Wolves circling, watching, hunting. Looking for that sign of weakness. That opening. Wolves ready to devour public schools, clean the bones, and move onto their next target. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>Fourth Generation Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16700328444005416956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633935880322794283.post-58174718559304704202020-12-26T12:40:00.006-06:002020-12-26T13:13:41.507-06:00A Christmas Carol, Past, Present, and Yet to Come<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGywmSBJ00FoKpPK4JyklG8f4TRUfECzLwSt30ViB6XxfgjBMob_ZEVPtufVWN0UErrqdNQq91_VnpRZHhdgjNnV9j6cc5MihUvUbRECE-2IivcXzza7ZlOL0q7e2cc8ddydBomB1I_ImK/s1273/Carol+2016.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1273" data-original-width="970" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGywmSBJ00FoKpPK4JyklG8f4TRUfECzLwSt30ViB6XxfgjBMob_ZEVPtufVWN0UErrqdNQq91_VnpRZHhdgjNnV9j6cc5MihUvUbRECE-2IivcXzza7ZlOL0q7e2cc8ddydBomB1I_ImK/w153-h200/Carol+2016.jpg" width="153" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br />“Marley was dead: to begin with. There was no doubt whatever about
that…Old Marley was as dead as a doornail.” <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDzfnobmxLgWNXGAuU8Rfbv9Pmmv8bBDqxHvI79tdsOKb5cEj9iLJjAveHCx9nLQ_i8ZRr1ImLUjnSAF4Xxvcp03Rd3_fUx0kUbg31LhMyFe_96teGsLrmdjvzMK7oYNTWb4_yB1EGcK6s/s983/CC+Stave+one.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="617" data-original-width="983" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDzfnobmxLgWNXGAuU8Rfbv9Pmmv8bBDqxHvI79tdsOKb5cEj9iLJjAveHCx9nLQ_i8ZRr1ImLUjnSAF4Xxvcp03Rd3_fUx0kUbg31LhMyFe_96teGsLrmdjvzMK7oYNTWb4_yB1EGcK6s/w320-h202/CC+Stave+one.png" width="320" /></a></div><p></p></blockquote></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">What a jarring beginning to the beloved <i>A Christmas Carol</i>. This
was the beginning of several Christmas stories, written quickly for even quicker
cash. Dickens’ family was a growing one, and he always needed to earn more and
more to keep them all comfortable. He felt great pressure to be a provider his extended
family could rely on.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">There are several books I cannot remember reading for the first
time…they seem to have always been a part of me. <i>A Christmas Carol is</i>
one. The details are part of our world…the characters. We may not even
recognize the allusions’ origins, but we recognize the truth of the allusions,
the metaphors and symbols. That was one of Dickens’ skills – to create images
and characters we recognize in our own lives. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What makes Dickens important for every year
since 1843, is his surprise genius for staying relevant…no matter what year we
read, reread, or watch this story, we find the parallels to our own lives. We find
the words that resonate for our life. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">As a later side career, Dickens read his own books aloud, and this
one was especially popular. He both read and performed, editing for the
occasion. The New York Public Library has the book Dickens created as his
script, his own <a href="https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=121096020">prompt
copy</a>, for his performances, complete with stage directions and notes. It is
a treasure I’d love to see<a href="https://booksbird.wordpress.com/2018/12/19/175-years-of-a-christmas-carol/amp/?__twitter_impression=true">.
In this recording the wonderful Neil Gaiman performs <i>A Christmas Carol</i></a><i>
</i>from the prompt copy. Dickens reading his <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/dec/24/charles-dickens-reads-a-christmas-carol-to-audience-in-sheffield-1855">story
often</a> drew large, appreciative audiences. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><o:p> </o:p></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>A Christmas Carol</i> Past</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If I can’t remember the <i>first</i> time I read the book, I remember the
first time I read it to my own audience. My first year teaching. A tiny rural
elementary school. 12 classrooms…two for each grade. I taught 6<sup>th</sup>
grade, with an English Education degree. Out of my element in many ways, but
determined to broaden the world for my students. 24 sweet rural Indiana
students stared at me as I tried to figure out Base-Six math (my introduction
to misguided school reforms); but I killed it when we worked with grammar and
reading. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">One of my favorite parts of the day was the sacred
reading-after-recess. Hot, sweaty, odoriferous kids piled on the floor,
listening to whatever story I happened to be reading. It was clear my students
did not have a wide experience with good literature…so, for December, I decided
to read <i>A Christmas Carol</i>. I learned quickly I had to revise the story
on the fly. I didn’t have the benefit of Dickens’ prompt copy. I had to wing it.
The vocabulary and diction were well over the heads of my Martinsville kiddos.
So, I substituted words, rearranged sentences, even chose to omit some passages—Dickens’
lovely flights of fancy and descriptions that were timely for his time would
have flown over the heads of my students. So I cut them…much like the author
did in his own performance of the story. I’m sure I was not as artful…another
reason I’d love to get my hands on that prompt copy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUQLMZLcNiuSbp-VAOpQ-C9uT3Gw_d_uZ-ZjfAbxK-t9ZWrTXrc6FJdlQZ1WrryceQdJSuuOA-z5_oXSXBqrFus64xI8LjQNLpxj1-UGAYmXaJFHSylmGxCCj-HCTTJqaLDAgbgiXkPjnR/s640/scrooge.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUQLMZLcNiuSbp-VAOpQ-C9uT3Gw_d_uZ-ZjfAbxK-t9ZWrTXrc6FJdlQZ1WrryceQdJSuuOA-z5_oXSXBqrFus64xI8LjQNLpxj1-UGAYmXaJFHSylmGxCCj-HCTTJqaLDAgbgiXkPjnR/w320-h320/scrooge.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>My goal in reading to my young charges was to introduce the story…characters,
plot. I wanted them to recognize the story in the future. I was planting seeds
of literature, as their parents planted their crops. I wouldn’t be there to see
them nod in recognition years later when someone was called a, “Scrooge,” or
when someone piped up, “God Bless Us, Every One.” But I was there the first
time they heard. I would have helped them understand those references we all
nod sagely at. They could nod right along. They could get the jokes.<o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I overestimated our ability to get through the short book, so the
last day before Christmas Break (yes, we called it Christmas Break, and the skies
did not fall), as my students were finishing up their home-made presents to
their parents and family, I read…and read. The room was busy, friendly, quiet.
Students listened as they painted and drew, folded and wrapped. I read, “And
so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless Us, Every One,” and closed my book, savoring
that lovely moment of silence at the end of a wonderful story. My students
spontaneously began to clap, something they’d not done before. But there were
were, in the middle of the Indiana Uplands, at a school where we had no
library, where one girl lived in a house with dirt floors, where students worried
that using proper grammar would make them laughing stocks, where one boy couldn’t
come to school one day because his family couldn’t find his shoes, there they were--my
students felt the power of the story and they clapped. For the joy of Scrooge’s
change of heart, for the new, promising future for Tiny Tim. For having listened
to a classic tale. They clapped.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The combination of Dickens, Scrooge, Ebenezer, my students and I
created the kind of magic that’s possible with a shared experience of art…any
kind of art. But here it was great literature. That very first year of my
career I saw in front of me, as the gift it was, children transformed for just
a little while, connected to every other person who ever read or watched or
heard this tale. Fifty years later, I can still see their faces as they
realized we had, together, accomplished something special.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Since then, I’ve taught various adaptations of <i>A Christmas
Carol</i>. We’ve watched films and compare/contrasted the stories. One of my
personal favorites continues to be Bill Murray’s <i><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096061/">Scrooged</a></i>. #SorryNotSorry. Reading
it as often as I did, lines come to mind in totally unrelated situations. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most often, as I watch the news, listening for
subtext from leaders who too often seem to channel Old Ebenezer, before. I hear
fewer echoes of the redeemed Ebenezer…I wonder why. I don’t have to search far to
find those allusions in popular culture. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Five years ago, listening to the <a href="https://fourthgenerationteacher.blogspot.com/2015/12/ok-capitol-christmas-carol.html">OK
Legislature</a> talk about planned cuts to #oklaed in another lean year for the
OK budget, I could hear Scrooge whispering: “Are there no prisons…workhouses?”
Politicians seem to unknowingly mirror the very worst of our man. They seemed
more than willing to cut funding to schools, so they could prioritize their own
goals. They seemed content to ignore Ignorance and Want…even as Dickens warns
us of the dangers of an uneducated people: “The boy is Ignorance. This girl is
Want. Beware them both…but most of all beware the boy, for on his brow I have
seen that written which is Doom, unless the writing is erased.” The only way to
erase that Doom is with strong, well-funded schools. But we fight every year
for our students. We will fight the ghost of Scrooge next Session, too. Want
and Ignorance are always ignored, even when they’re right in front of us. Still.
Always. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>A Christmas Carol</i> Present</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I’ve now experienced 75 Christmas seasons, and seriously can’t
remember one that was as challenging, not even that year Santa brought me the
cheap knock-off dolly instead of the one I asked him for. Covid and politics
sucked out a whole lot of the joy of the season…and Scrooges abound. You can’t
open a newspaper (Yes, Virginia, there are newspapers), or more likely a new
link online, without learning more about our policy makers who seem horribly
disconnected to the real suffering Americans are feeling now. Watching a
journalist choke up on the air as he interview a couple in line at a food bank
for the first time in their lives, seeing the desperation of people whose
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/25/us/politics/unemployment-pandemic-aid-trump.html">federal unemployment benefits</a> will end soon, others who may be evicted with the
new year, we need a Christmas miracle. But all we seem to see are Scrooges,
coldly uninvolved in people’s lives and suffering. Going off to golf on
Christmas Day, tummies full, presents opened…Scrooge Lives…and <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/covid-relief-bill-trump-flown-florida-golfing/">he’s working inDC.</a> He’s working in State Capitols where <a href="https://okcfox.com/news/local/ok-reps-sign-texas-lawsuit-in-favor-of-invalidating-election-results">legislators sign onto</a> shenanigans that
would disenfranchise voters in other states. He’s working to turn communities
against each other. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Dan Patrick, the Lt Governor of Texas, earlier this year, as Covid
was first spreading across the country waxed poetic that <a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2020/03/dan-patrick-coronavirus-grandparents">older
Americans should be</a> happy to expose themselves to the virus and die, so his
beloved economy could open without impediment….and I heard Scrooge disdainly
pronouncing, </span><span style="background: white; color: #181818; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“If
they would rather die, . . . they had better do it, and decrease the surplus
population.”</span> Umm, I, personally, would rather NOT die. I’d like to see
my Grands marry and begin their adult life. The ugly heartlessness of Scrooge’s
words really strike a blow when we hear a vile politician echo the sentiment. And I'm not holding my breath for a Texas epiphany anytime soon.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Look anywhere during this season and you’ll see someone
referencing <i>Christmas Carol</i>…naming someone ‘Scrooge’. As I started
writing this, I found a reflection by a writer who proclaimed herself to be the
‘<a href="https://theweek.com/articles/814108/how-scrooge-learned-love-christmas-traditions">family
Scrooge.”</a> And, right on cue, Wall Street Journal Opinion Page struck again
with this beaut: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“In Defense of Scrooge,
Whose Thrift Blessed the World.” Hey, <i>WSJ</i>, you missed another one. May I
suggest you read the book again? You kinda missed the whole moral of the story.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This <a href="https://twitter.com/AlexandraErin/status/1342562686182293505?s=20">Twitter
thread</a> takes them to task better than I could. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A <i>Christmas Carol</i> is embedded into our culture. We need to know
the story to get the silly jokes and cartoons, to know when an editorial board makes
a huge mistake in referencing the characters. That was why I read it, 50 years
ago to my 11 year old students…who are now nearing retirement age! I wanted those
allusions and metaphors to make sense.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #181818; line-height: 107%;">The
book continues to be timely, sometimes sadly…and I keep asking why do our
policy makers forget early Ebenezer is NOT the role model for us to follow. Did
anyone tell politicians and <i>WSJ</i> and Patrick they are acting like the nasty
Scrooge, not the loving Scrooge we are supposed to admire? Or, did they NOT
read the last Stave of the story where Scrooge pleads for, and finds, a way to change the
trajectory of his life?<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #181818; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I often reread the novel during Christmas season when I need to
reconnect with this manipulative, sentimental, tale of redemption. Feel hope
that, like Scrooge, we can choose another path and make mankind our business. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Like this year.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVVKkdwW_fh_DJTM__RWafBUenp_6_KE4NXYZnxblFpBBb__SASphMWaGcZbzAqSVxizenCzx5WMI4-GnVkCe2o9XxU49SgKrP2h1InIrI63rPACJhRmCLTvVDo0JaOCFB3ghS0Exa3eZg/s230/Mr.+Dickens.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="230" data-original-width="152" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVVKkdwW_fh_DJTM__RWafBUenp_6_KE4NXYZnxblFpBBb__SASphMWaGcZbzAqSVxizenCzx5WMI4-GnVkCe2o9XxU49SgKrP2h1InIrI63rPACJhRmCLTvVDo0JaOCFB3ghS0Exa3eZg/w132-h200/Mr.+Dickens.png" width="132" /></a></div><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So, when two friends in our FB Book Challenge group talked about a
new book, <i>Mr. Dickens and his Carol,</i> by Samantha Silva, I got interested…A
perfect way to end the year…Mr. Dickens, and then Mr. Scrooge. <o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I DID say I had taught <i>A Christmas Carol</i>, right? Well, I
also taught <i>Great Expectations</i>, too…so I spent a lot of time with
biographical information about Charles Dickens…his sad childhood, his forced labor
when his family lived in debtor’s prison, his first love, his…complicated...marriage,
his desperation for money to keep his growing family satisfied, his love affair
with a glamorous actress, his second career as a performer of his own work…always
with an eye to profit. So, I approached Silva’s book with a prickly attitude of someone who knows a bit about the subject. She won me over! This book tells the story of those weeks while he is being
cajoled to write a ‘Christmas story’…for big bucks, money he and his family have
already spent with their excessive Christmas plans. Of course he has writer’s
block. He walks the streets of old London, looking for inspiration. He visits the old prison where his ne’er-do-well father lived for a few months, while young Charles was forced into child labor in a blacking factory. He meets a strange young
boy who walks with a limp, a mysterious woman who appears and disappears. We
hear lines from our novel used as dialogue, and we recognize settings and scenes.
We see him slowly, scene-by-scene, inventing the timeless tale. Silva does take
liberties with her story…how else could she add real Spirits? But she breathes
life into the author, into his and Scrooge’s London, and into the text. She uses
coincidences just like Dickens does. And she makes me cry ugly tears…just as manipulative
and sentimental, in her own fine way, as her subject.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Then, I spent a few wonderful days with Ebenezer himself, nasty,
hateful, and infinitely redeemable. Able to learn and grow…and change. With
Silva’s words still clear in my mind, I reread, and the experience was deeper,
more meaningful. Frankly, more fun. NOW I’m ready to listen to Gaiman read the
prompt copy as *I* read my copy…I plan to make my own notes from Dickens’ own.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>A Christmas Carol</i> Yet to Come</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Dicken’s preface is a short one: <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“I have endeavored in this Ghostly little book, to raise the Ghost
of an Idea, which shall not put my readers out of humour with themselves, with
each other, with the season, or with me. May it haunt their houses pleasantly, and
no one with to lay it.” December, 1843. What does that mean for me, for us,
going forward into 2021?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Covid and politics have made 2020 a tough year for us all.
We have lost friends and loved ones. There are empty chairs at the dinner
table, not unlike the empty corner of Tiny Tim in Christmas Yet to Come…Thanksgiving
and Christmas, sheltering at home, even from my family just around the corner.
Trading our signature dinner dishes in the garage, masked up. My granddaughters
and I are planning marathon hugs in the summer. I’ve mused about kidnapping
them all and running away. Eating in restaurants, shopping at the Mall. Seeing
strangers’ smiles, unmasked. Hugs. Hugs.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Going to the grocery stores now and seeing other shoppers
defiantly unmasked, or wearing their mask as an attractive chin strap. I find
myself trying to follow the direction arrows in the aisles, trying not to make
eye contact with others who are not masked properly, or blithely going the
wrong direction, muttering under my breath, “Grace, grace, grace.” And yes, when
I make a mistake and steer down the wrong way myself, I mutter, “Grace, please.
Grace, please.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Trying heartily to NOT participate in those online
conversations where we knowingly or unknowingly misunderstand and misinterpret,
where we jump to conclusions, make assumptions, see everything through our
political lens. Where we’ve stopped listening. Again, I’ve muttered, “Grace,
grace, grace.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Working to not need the
last word, to stop my teacher inclination to explain one more time what I
meant, what I think the misunderstanding has been. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It’s been hard. That’s another reason <i>A Christmas Carol </i>seems
important to me this season. We need to make some changes…each of us, and
collectively as communities. And I return, not to Scrooge, but to Marley. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I know the last line resonates with most people, but for me,
Marley delivers the words that bounce around in my soul. Words he learned the
truth of too late: he is “doomed to wander among men, and witness what it
cannot share, but might have shared on earth, and turned to happiness...no
rest, no peace. Incessant torture of remorse…no space of regret can make amends
for one life’s opportunity misused!” He sees too late. Seven years dead, and he
is impelled to at least attempt to save Scrooge his fate. Marley’s words should
challenge us all to reflect on our year, our years. To consider our misused
opportunities. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Marley continues with the lament that breaks my heart. “</span><span style="background: white; color: black; line-height: 107%;">Mankind was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and
benevolence, were, all, my business….” Marley doomed himself to carry those
chains-every mistake, every missed opportunity, every miserly decision, hateful
word. He saw too late he He so wants to warn his partner and give him a chance
to see the truth. We all wear the chains we forge in life. “…Link by link, and
yard by yard…” Marley desperately wants Scrooge and us to reflect on the chains
we are forging, and whether they support a life of charity, mercy, forbearance,
and benevolence…Or whether they will shackle us to an unhappy eternity. Each
link in a chain is a small thing…light, insubstantial. Each slight, each unkind
word. Each rebuff is a small thing. But when rebuff is linked to unkind work,
to slight, our burden grows. </span><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; line-height: 107%;">Scrooge does see a way</span><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #181818; line-height: 107%;">Do we
need a haunting, an epiphany also? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #181818; line-height: 107%;">I’m
left with a question…how do we take what
<i>A Christmas Carol</i> can teach us into the next year? How do we take
charity, merch, forbearance, benevolence with us?</span><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZU_7Hs_OrEAYPvvun1ZaGcVWNBu6AOPF5zUSGx3Sktk_nhS2PVSCZGGsWmHmhrwXVZL5hkMlV4uezd89AlOvnIIHAEPosc9i34juQ7lipyFVBKZkpTDadJcQnw2YNkLZSXr1OPuMCSxtH/s943/CC+prompt.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="604" data-original-width="943" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZU_7Hs_OrEAYPvvun1ZaGcVWNBu6AOPF5zUSGx3Sktk_nhS2PVSCZGGsWmHmhrwXVZL5hkMlV4uezd89AlOvnIIHAEPosc9i34juQ7lipyFVBKZkpTDadJcQnw2YNkLZSXr1OPuMCSxtH/w640-h410/CC+prompt.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="background: white; color: #181818; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p>Fourth Generation Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16700328444005416956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633935880322794283.post-90871598989141865432020-12-04T11:36:00.006-06:002020-12-05T08:56:32.194-06:00To the Superintendent and Board Members of Norman Public Schools<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #050505; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Letter to NPS Superintendent and Board
Members:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #050505; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> <br /></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #050505; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Here’s what I think I know about Covid today:</b><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #050505; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: red;"><i><a href="https://tulsaworld.com/news/local/kids-5-14-see-largest-increase-in-covid-19-case-rates-since-october-tulsa-world/article_cd0e8562-2f6b-11eb-adbf-83a045d3c002.amp.html?__twitter_impression=true&fbclid=IwAR1BZCGnDIsUx5d5Cxy0VahdOcLSNezshTaGCBTDp-SCsa7U5XUU6m4jYyA"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Children DO get</span></a></i><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Covid.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: red;"><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Children DO get Covid </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/OklaSDE/photos/a.389027551213244/3484312091684759/"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">here in Oklahoma</span></a></i><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: red;"><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It appears </span><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/28/health/coronavirus-children.html"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">young children</span></a></i><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> may be safer than
older children and teens.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/11/16/935559102/over-1-million-children-tested-positive-for-coronavirus-in-the-united-states?fbclid=IwAR3DNSyCkNnixEYsyAITg8W0iVqcvQWDghWgFWKmXzCd4P7G766FHfcpfLQ"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: red;">More kids get/have Covid</span></span></a></i><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: red;"> than we know.</span><span style="color: #050505;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #050505; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><ul><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7cTCfrPwiwSrZWfyf99baImLkCzwCcV7ST1Sn-i30-VxDTbJh-jP9Wlx3uJDEmrRtLeMEKNigQdsI3wnCmSdLNoEXW1Et98w_lJ6QdSwNi2naMU0BDSomDqICnmimwzYZ7Ww1MS6NQW-n/s1600/Ransome.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7cTCfrPwiwSrZWfyf99baImLkCzwCcV7ST1Sn-i30-VxDTbJh-jP9Wlx3uJDEmrRtLeMEKNigQdsI3wnCmSdLNoEXW1Et98w_lJ6QdSwNi2naMU0BDSomDqICnmimwzYZ7Ww1MS6NQW-n/w320-h147/Ransome.jpg" width="320" /></a><li></li></ul></div></blockquote>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #050505; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I’m speaking to you as a former teacher in
Norman, a parent of two NPS grads, grandmother to two more NPS grads, and
grandmother to one current NPS student, working remotely. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #050505; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #050505; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have much invested in Norman Schools, and I
still have dear friends who are teaching in our schools. That is why the anger
and conflicts I see among parents and teachers hurts my heart. We all have the
same ultimate goals: the best education possible for every student in Norman.
Safe schools. Accomplished teachers in every classroom. All of us feeling
supported by our administration, our Board, and our community.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #050505; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #050505; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I know your job right now is incredibly difficult and challenging. You must balance the needs of all stakeholders, as Rep. Ranson mentioned above. So, as a stakeholder, let me share what I think i know right now, and what I hope we will be able to accomplish together.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #050505; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #050505; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Covid has upended our country, our state, and our
community, in ways we could not have anticipated. We find ourselves divided by
masks and indoor gatherings, over Covid testing, and the expectations for our
schools. My friend, Jena, Oklahoma Teacher of the Year was <a href="https://www.readfrontier.org/stories/oklahomas-teacher-of-the-year-pleaded-for-patience-in-return-to-school-she-was-booed/" target="_blank">booed as she spoke</a> to her district School Board, asking for patience in starting in-person school this fall. A beloved teacher was booed. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #050505; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: red;"><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Kids are often
asymptomatic or have </span><a href="https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20201130/covid-in-kids-the-most-telling-symptoms"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">different symptoms</span></a></i><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> we may miss.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><a href="https://www.princeton.edu/news/2020/09/30/largest-covid-19-contact-tracing-study-date-finds-children-key-spread-evidence?fbclid=IwAR1rICI9eigZhlVXKo_X6ODHcPQvISlEjkR7D13Sw2eSkB4Mg0DhFA1AFns"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: red;">Kids are carriers.</span></span></a></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: red;">If we don't test
youngsters for Covid, we can pretend they're fine.</span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: red;"><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">If we use tests that
give </span><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/01/health/coronavirus-testing-children.html?smid=fb-nytimes&smtyp=cur&fbclid=IwAR12npQcWlolYMcAUzQELmAiQRx5iBEK7QbubhWh8Ngz3VgJoSwtNCpIW-Q"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">false-negatives,</span></a></i><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> we can pretend
they're fine.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><span style="color: red;"> </span></o:p></span></p></blockquote>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #050505; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In Oklahoma we have two vastly different
examples of leaders responding to a global pandemic: the </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://www.statnews.com/2020/11/17/how-covid19-has-been-curtailed-in-cherokee-nation/"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Cherokee Nation</span></a></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #050505; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/amp/health/how-the-cherokee-nation-has-curtailed-the-pandemic?__twitter_impression=true&fbclid=IwAR1fiYrSkNPJJOdTzl8cafOqAyi43Gj-Xi7zFb7LR7Kt_URG3FUh5a8uS6w"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">working together</span></a></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #050505; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, ‘following the science,’ and our Governor, calling for a day
of </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://oklahoman.com/article/5677312/stitt-declares-day-of-prayerand-fasting-for-oklahomans-affected-by-covid-19?fbclid=IwAR13DlRd7giIOAV55RXke2Heq44Zpve9-Ge2eYO35ij-zLF2a25NBCNfLFI"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">prayer and fasting</span></a></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #050505; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> – in a state where nearly one in four children are </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://hungerfreeok.org/theissueoklahomaishungry/"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">food-insecure</span></a></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #050505; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. These two extremes mirror what is happening in our
communities, in our schools. Some follow the science. Some pray and fast. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #050505; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: red;">If we send kids to
school while waiting for test results, we can pretend they're fine.</span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: red;">If we send kids to
school with coughs, or upset tummies, we can pretend they're fine.</span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: red;">If we send kids to
school, telling them not to talk about a Covid diagnosis in the home, we can pretend
they're fine.</span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: red;">If we pretend they're
fine, and lie, and don't test, we can cram kids and teachers together.</span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><span style="color: red;"> </span></o:p></span></p></blockquote>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #050505; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There are too many unknowns with this virus,
the research seems to be changing weekly (we are watching medical advances in
real time here), and there are precious few proactive steps schools can take to
keep our students, teachers, and all school personnel safe until a vaccine is
made available. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #050505; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: red;"><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">If we cram kids and
teachers together without testing, we have plausible deniability when </span><a href="https://apnews.com/article/teachers-coronavirus-300-dead-us-5473efa14f6b801bc16a0e6b5c094313"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">teachers get sick</span></a></i><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">, </span><a href="https://kfor.com/news/coronavirus/moore-teacher-fighting-covid-19-in-hospital-after-waiting-a-day-for-an-icu-bed/"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">more teachers,</span></a></i><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> or </span><a href="https://www.kshb.com/news/coronavirus/award-winning-olathe-west-assistant-baseball-coach-dies-from-covid-19"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">coaches</span></a></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: red;"><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Or </span><a href="https://kfor.com/news/local/she-was-just-an-inspiration-to-a-lot-of-people-beloved-mid-del-bus-driver-dies-of-covid-19/"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">bus drivers</span></a></i><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> or librarians or </span><a href="https://www.abc6.com/woonsocket-school-secretary-45-dies-from-covid-19-complications/"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">office personnel</span></a></i><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> or classroom aides or <a href="https://www.newson6.com/story/5fca82efdc5a0b0c154e64ed/tulsa-public-schools-support-professional-bus-driver-die-after-testing-positive-for-covid19?fbclid=IwAR3-v9PdZGcLfBq9jKAoUHiOqElPpgQZomPHz9CjsDQAcnT3QVTpyfhpJws" target="_blank">support personnel </a>or
cafeteria workers or custodians.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: red;">Or parents or
grandparents or daycare workers or Sunday school teachers or neighbors or
friends.</span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #050505; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p></blockquote>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #050505; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I’m not at all certain our state or district leaders
are making decisions based on the best science and research. And when the
decisions are not aligned with our goals, for education opportunities, safe
schools, and strong teachers, our district is weakened.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #050505; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: red;">But, hey! Schools are
open. </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: red;">Parents can go to work.
</span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: red;">Schools get their
Average Daily Attendance</span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: red;">"It's the
economy, Stupid. Right?"</span></span></i><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></p></blockquote>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>Here’s what else I know:</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Parents </span><a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/08/06/lack-of-school-and-child-care-may-push-some-parents-out-of-workforce.html"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">need
schools</span></a><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> to be open so they can go to work<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">For many reasons, parents may
feel unprepared, overwhelmed, or inadequate when faced with supervising
schoolwork for their children. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Schools depend on attendance
for funding from the state.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://sde.ok.gov/state-testing-resources"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Standardized testing</span></a><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> purports to measure the worth of a district.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">While Oklahoma received a
waiver for testing in 2019-20 school year, </span><a href="https://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/campaign-k-12/2020/09/betsy-devos-annual-tests-not-expect-waivers.html"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">no
such waiver</span></a><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> is an option for this school year.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">School administration must be
responsive to the community.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://nondoc.com/2020/09/22/teachers-express-covid-concerns-in-norman-public-schools/"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Any
community</span></a><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> will have </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/2872973212929621"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">competing goals and priorities</span></a><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This virus has deeply </span><a href="https://www.courthousenews.com/us-more-divided-over-covid-19-than-other-major-countries/"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">divided
our country</span></a><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> along ideological lines.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In Norman, wearing masks has
become a </span><a href="https://www.normantranscript.com/news/updated-unite-norman-files-challenge-to-mask-ordinance/article_b949abf4-0416-11eb-a312-ff8fc8c7fd9b.html"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">political
issue</span></a><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In Norman, outspoken teachers
were doxed and identified by their school.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Resources are always scarce,
and teachers often supply their own cleaning and disinfecting products.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Teachers are often teaching
in-person and virtually.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Teachers are burning out and </span><a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/video/an-impossible-choice-teachers-resign-amid-lack-of-covid-protections-96296517730?fbclid=IwAR2O6HqaewY8Enyq43ZhZnKaMz5uNJ5RIQjTfDNIltMBJtlh8EGGlSoQ-i8"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">leaving
the profession</span></a><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">…or leaving the districts to teach virtually
for other districts.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Oklahoma State School Board </span><a href="https://oklahoman.com/article/5676098/oklahoma-state-school-board-doesnt-budge-on-mask-policy"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">will
not lead the way</span></a><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> and mandate masks in schools.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So, that’s what I think I
know…today. Where do we go – together – from here? How do we respond to the science, to the realities of our setting, to the needs of all stakeholders? How do we stay united as a
community, as a school district? How to we acknowledge and honor the concerns
of all, and ground all decisions in the science we know today? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>What’s my pie-in-the-sky wish
list? Here’s a start.</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">No Covid. (pie-in-the-sky!)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">All teachers and parents
vaccinated. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Accurate Covid tests for
children. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">In-person school as our
ultimate goal for all students, when it is safe for everyone.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Equity of opportunity and
access for students – resources, wifi, books, laptops or tablets, someone to
answer questions and supervise learning. Hot meals.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Stability in our schools and
classrooms, interrupted right now by quarantines, substitutes, schools going
virtual.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Teachers supported as they
do their jobs, having adequate classroom resources, laptops and tablets, wifi,
collaboration and planning time. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Parents supported as they do
THEIR jobs, helping their students learn, knowing someone can answer their
questions, feeling that the district has the best interests of their family in
mind, transparency about Covid concerns<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> Full support to our
schools from the state and federal governments to provide services and
resources. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Funding to keep the schools
afloat thru this crisis.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTs98FpB4doU7qiq2uRXXr8EQmxx3QfwUTi-pYXTmSeGBriLR8vUvsCloBtQff_GHeoJvez9o9YT3FF-wnRZyH_SrqPX0BrKYAqL_t-nRyTorGQ5yGVJWTACIp9kEnN0xcHWF-huQcaI1g/s420/Dewey.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="231" data-original-width="420" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTs98FpB4doU7qiq2uRXXr8EQmxx3QfwUTi-pYXTmSeGBriLR8vUvsCloBtQff_GHeoJvez9o9YT3FF-wnRZyH_SrqPX0BrKYAqL_t-nRyTorGQ5yGVJWTACIp9kEnN0xcHWF-huQcaI1g/w320-h176/Dewey.png" width="320" /></a></div><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Trust in our schools
restored.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Schools and parents and community working together to make our schools work for us all. How can I help? </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">And until that vaccine is
rolled out for us all, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>#wearadamnmask</b></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> <br /></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Fourth Generation Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16700328444005416956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633935880322794283.post-60670495061428394162020-06-02T11:43:00.007-05:002020-08-17T15:55:05.971-05:00#Notary4Pleasure--have stamp will travel!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggrSlAg7_51z0vlhyyxVx3dVl-u0pScrLUNj1rqiBNwJJWsbifof9c4rpu9DIsyB0gy62wrUHjV6XfeX8xgrdVrzqcLO_B5CiVCNW1mY_Rhh26fC5ZdkV5RlLrr1Aym_e7CgNDw1BrbDke/s1600/vote.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="720" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggrSlAg7_51z0vlhyyxVx3dVl-u0pScrLUNj1rqiBNwJJWsbifof9c4rpu9DIsyB0gy62wrUHjV6XfeX8xgrdVrzqcLO_B5CiVCNW1mY_Rhh26fC5ZdkV5RlLrr1Aym_e7CgNDw1BrbDke/s320/vote.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Oklahoma’s law has required that absentee/mail-in ballots to
be notarized before mailing in. Only <a href="https://www.npr.org/2020/06/01/865043618/need-a-witness-for-your-mail-in-ballot-new-pandemic-lawsuits-challenge-old-rules"><b><i>THREE</i></b> states</a> in the nation do, so we are in a sad minority when it comes to making voting accessible for all.</div>
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Lots happened this legislative
session to bring this issue to our attention…including the <a href="https://www.courthousenews.com/oklahoma-high-court-strikes-down-notary-mandate-for-absentee-ballots/">Oklahoma
Supreme Court’s ruling,</a> striking down the notary requirement. We celebrated…for
about a day. Then our Republican-dominated state legislature rushed <a href="https://oklahoman.com/article/5661893/stitt-signs-bill-to-reinstate-notary-requirement-for-absentee-voting">SB810</a>
through both houses, and Governor Stitt signed in…three days after the Court’s
ruling. I agree with the <a href="https://www.tulsaworld.com/opinion/editorials/tulsa-world-editorial-in-a-covid-19-world-requiring-absentee-ballot-notarization-is-not-just/article_99656415-8f90-5196-92ef-fce559334580.html">Tulsa
World</a>, in these uncertain times, this requirement just adds a burden for
voters.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I’ve been watching the legislature closely for over ten
years…and I have<i> never </i>seen it move this quickly on an issue. Three.
Days. But with complicated differences for the upcoming June 30 primary. For
that day only, mail-in ballots can be notarized, or voters can enclose a copy
of their photo id, just another complication. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I remember the first time I tried to vote by mail, and the notary
requirement intimidated me…but, come to find out, Tag Agencies and banks are
required to notarize ballots for free. Easy…IF you have access to a notary. Voting
by mail is convenient, and what I appreciated the most is I could sit at home,
and research every candidate’s position on the issues I care about. I could
research every judge up for re-election. I could study every State Question on the
ballot. I have never felt so informed as a voter as when I vote by mail-in
ballot. I researched and voted, researched and voted.<o:p></o:p></div>
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There will be an important SQ on this ballot, and I really
hope Oklahoma approves the proposed expansion of Medicaid for our citizens who
lack access to affordable healthcare. Seems appropriate that we’re voting on this
issue in the middle of a global pandemic. So, vote on <a href="https://okpolicy.org/sq-802-information-and-resources/">SQ802.</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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After SB210 was signed, many of us looked for ways to be
helpful, and several of us decided to become notaries public…This is my
journey.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I started on the <a href="https://www.sos.ok.gov/">Oklahoma
State Department website</a> and clicked on “Notary Filing” on the right side
of the page. On the next page, I clicked on “New Commission” and saw the
initial charge was $25, for a four-year commission. Not bad. I filled in that
info and paid.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Next, I needed to buy a stamp, to sign the loyalty oath, and
pay for a surety bond. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I went to <a href="https://www.normanstampandseal.com/">Norman
Stamp and Seal</a> to complete my application, but I learned there, I could
have come to them from the beginning and they would have included that first
registration step with the State Department. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I really liked the embossing seal, but went with a small
round stamp. Folks at Stamp and Seal walked me next door to an insurance company
to finish the application process with my loyalty oath…which must be notarized…for
me to become a notary. I admit, we giggled just a bit at that bureaucracy. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Bond charge and stamp charge and filing charge to Stamp and
Seal came to $70.99. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Then, I waited for some kind of notification from the State
Department that my application had been filed and approved. And waited. And
waited.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today, I checked my ‘account’ on the State Department
website, actually looking for a phone number to call and ask, and saw I am now
considered an active notary!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With my new commission number, I need to contact my County
Election Board and request a waiver to notarize more than 20 ballots for any
one election (another sneaky roadblock our state sets for us…nothing’s easy
when it comes to exercising our right to vote, is it?). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The link to the Cleveland County <a href="https://www.clevelandcountyelectionboard.com/">Notary Limit Exemption
Request Form</a> 2020 is on the first page. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Notaries need to request that exemption for each county they
may notarize ballots. So, I will probably request an exemption for Oklahoma
County, also.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I believe these exemptions are good for one calendar year
and must be renewed. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So my journey: <br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7pt "times new roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Apply on the SOS website for a commission. Pay
$25.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7pt "times new roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Work with Norman Stamp and Seal for the stamp,
the loyalty oath, and the bond. Pay $71.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7pt "times new roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Norman Stamp and Seal filed my paperwork with
SOS.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7pt "times new roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Wait. And wait. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7pt "times new roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Apply for a limit exemption with the county
election board. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7pt "times new roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Let my friends know I’ll be available to
notarize ballots.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Other notaries skipped my step 1, and went straight to a
local company to do everything. Norman Stamp and Seal told me when I went in
with my commission papers that most do it that way. In fact, google ‘how to
become a notary,’ and <a href="https://www.oklahomanotary.com/how-to-become-an-oklahoma-notary?gclid=CjwKCAjw8df2BRA3EiwAvfZWaKt2njDA9tgqy0zMN9zt0yjn0bJ3NnjMoW_7ObXaLVJlFrxpFIOFCxoCnrcQAvD_BwE">here’s
another link.</a> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yay. I’m a Notary Public!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m currently printing and reading directions, collecting
supplies, and wrapping my head around how to help voters safely for this
election, and going forward. I need to create a log to keep track of my work
(not sure yet if I file that with anyone). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve joined the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/256746665528301/">Oklahoma Notaries
Public</a> Facebook group and have been learning from experts. I can ask my
questions there, no matter how silly they appear. I’ll rely on the experts to
help me. I’ll be extremely nervous notarizing my first ballot, but I’m eager to
make voting as easy and safe as I can for my neighbors.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And I have to make absolutely sure I’m following all the
rules: never look at a voter’s actual ballot. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Never volunteering to take a ballot and turn
it in myself, which is a form of fraud called vote harvesting. A no-no. I will
carry stamps for voters to put on their ballots and mail for themselves. But I
cannot take that step for voters. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I will put together a kit containing clean pens (blue or
black ballpoint), stamps (a ballot takes extra postage…yet another small speed
bump in our right to vote), wipes and sanitizer. I want to get ‘I Voted’
stickers for voters. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll wear my mask
and encourage voters to wear theirs. I’ll practice physical distancing and work
to keep us safe. I’ll encourage doing this process outside if at all possible. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ll learn as I go and make lots of mistakes. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I will make it clear I’m supporting <i>all</i> voters’ right to
cast a mail-in ballot…If you're wondering, the notary never sees the actual ballot. The packet you will receive from the Election Board contains three envelopes. The inner
envelope is where the voter deposits their ballot and then seals the envelope. Then, that envelope is placed in a yellow envelope. Notaries witness the voter’s signature on the outside of that envelope. When
notarized, the voter places the inner envelope in the self-addressed (not
stamped) envelope, places postage ($.85) on the envelope, and mails the ballot. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Don’t be intimidated like I was by the absentee/mail-in voting
procedure. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Friday is the deadline to register to vote if you are not a registered voter. <a href="https://www.ok.gov/elections/Voter_Info/Register_to_Vote/">Directions to register are here</a>. Applying for your mail-in ballot is easy! <a href="https://www.ok.gov/elections/Voter_Info/Absentee_Voting/index.html">You
can apply here</a>, receive your ballot and instructions, vote in the comfort
of your own home, researching as you go, and reach out to get the ballot
notarized. Stay safe this election cycle. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A former student came up with the perfect name for my new
endeavor: #Notary4Pleasure. We called my class at North #Reading4Pleasure, so
it’s a natural fit! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
#HaveStampWillTravel<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<br /></div>
Fourth Generation Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16700328444005416956noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633935880322794283.post-48602286126631769552020-02-15T09:38:00.000-06:002020-02-15T09:38:03.834-06:00Aggie, I'm Sorry.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Oh, Aggie…I’m sorry. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Senior year. Advanced English 4. My beloved English teacher,
Aggie Lynch. She wore killer high heels to school every day. Tight straight
skirts, and so much Estee Lauder “Youth Dew” to make you pause at the door to
her room and inhale deeply. She was a tough grader, a cheerleader for every one
of us. She demanded we rise to her expectations, and she cut you to the core
when you didn’t. And I idolized her.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We did two book reports a year, choosing from books on her ‘College
Bound Books’ handout. We chose a book, told her which book we were reading, and
on the day of the book report, she walked up and down the aisle, handing each
of us a 3x5 card, with our question to answer…we wrote for the entire hour…or
we didn’t.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I chose <i>Tess of the D’Urbervilles</i> by Thomas Hardy. It
was too challenging to me, but I was embarrassed to tell Aggie that. So, I
slogged on. And got behind, then behinder. Then that card was on my desk. I can’t
remember the question…I remember the hot shame of sitting there, unable to even
fake an answer. I didn’t know there was a murder…I knew there was a rape, but
didn’t know when it happened. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve read other Hardy, but never could get past my feeling of
failure over <i>Tess,</i> and never faced her again…until this month.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVexCogRs7BF9ONWdQpv0AYuyldLwkduxyLXMnpu3xXZuy2GYBtnZuQebBd1j3haL4MckSyp2CHtrC5IAjTTuHGJ3AzkOu6OSsnak6NDC_nv2HLp_2ckHdJmJ5f19WNW0rfYVp0ACkmQ8r/s1600/2020+reading+challenge.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="817" data-original-width="408" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVexCogRs7BF9ONWdQpv0AYuyldLwkduxyLXMnpu3xXZuy2GYBtnZuQebBd1j3haL4MckSyp2CHtrC5IAjTTuHGJ3AzkOu6OSsnak6NDC_nv2HLp_2ckHdJmJ5f19WNW0rfYVp0ACkmQ8r/s320/2020+reading+challenge.png" width="159" /></a>We have a 2020 FaceBook book club, following a suggested book list
I found on Pinterest…February’s book is “A book you wished you’d read in school.”
Tess’s face, and rich auburn hair (I remember that, since my mom had the same
beautiful hair…I did not and was envious). I certainly WISH I’d’ve read it. It would have saved my Eng 4 grade. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So
I did this month.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Oh, Aggie…I’m so sorry. I was easy to nail to the wall. I,
in my warm home in NW Indiana, was not ready to understand anything about Tess,
except maybe her younger sister…But the broader themes wrapped up in this sad,
sad, tale were completely inaccessible to my 1963 self. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tess Derbeyfield never had a chance. Between the three men
in her life, she was doomed from before the opening scenes of this book. Her
father, a fellow who gives n’er-do-well a whole new definition, is more than
willing to use her to further his own schemes of greatness…Alec D’Urbervilles
is a classic cad, with a streak of ugly meanness. And Angel Clare may think he’s
one, but he ain’t (Aggie said it was a word, just one not to use in formal writing)
anything resembling an angel. He’s a prig. So. Those are Tess’s men. My youthful,
idealistic blood should have been boiling as a teen…IF I’d’ve understood what
was going on.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The gender politics of <i>Tess </i>are oppressive, and Tess
will not escape…her father has been convinced he’s related to greatness, and as
such, work is beneath him…drinking and storytelling is his occupation. And making
babies. He blithely leaves the unpleasant job of supporting his family to the
women in the house. He’s a great man and can’t be bothered. He is more than
willing to ‘pimp out’ (would not have known that word as a senior—I was
sheltered!) his daughter, Tess, to a family purported to be the lofty D’Urbervilles
of HIS lineage. Enter the rapist. Alec and his mother have bought their family
name, and cannot be relatives, but Tess goes to work on their farm, with her
father’s admonition <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to catch the eye of
that ‘distant’ relative so she can marry him and bring her family (wouldn’t
THAT wedding be awkward?) the glory Daddy has decided they deserve, with NO
effort on his part! Alec isn’t the marrying kind. He’s the deflowering kind,
the predator kind. Because he has money and position (so she thinks) and
property, he takes what he wants. And he wants Tess. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbnyQ7NypWFgyZdpohzmKCoAa9jXXExT9VyPLfMV-418Hq-mLc_zMSw5cB5ntzChck7-Jf8WKI85ytbQssKlyaeWMFQoz83EL3sTPt8HoK8Z9Y9v47gBRFRimC19jYU9uvcBvyT7E44P-z/s1600/tess.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="259" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbnyQ7NypWFgyZdpohzmKCoAa9jXXExT9VyPLfMV-418Hq-mLc_zMSw5cB5ntzChck7-Jf8WKI85ytbQssKlyaeWMFQoz83EL3sTPt8HoK8Z9Y9v47gBRFRimC19jYU9uvcBvyT7E44P-z/s320/tess.jpg" width="197" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Returning home pregnant, abandoned, Tess has not showered
the family with wealth and position…she’s brought another mouth to feed.
Feckless father is deeper in drink, and Tess is forced to work in the fields,
dragging the poorly infant along with her. Father’s fine with that, because HE is
a D’Urbervilles, and can’t possibly be expected to *work*. But somehow his wife
and daughters? Well, a man’s gotta live? Things get worse. The baby dies but
not the social shame. Tess moves again…each move a step down (if possible) on
the agrarian ladder. And, let’s face it…they were near the bottom rung from the
beginning. Tess moves to a new area, where no one knows her shame. One thing
about sweet Tess is, she is willing to work hard. She doesn’t shy away from
pulling her weight.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There she meets Angel, but we know they’ve been in the same
scene before (well, I wouldn’t have…if I got this far). When they were both
young and beautiful and untouched and full of promise…Hardy hits us over the
head with the ‘what ifs’ of the moment. Angel Clare is the sort-of-aimless third
son of a rigid cleric. The older brothers are already established in the family
profession, but Angel wants…more, different. He wants to be a landowner and
gentleman farmer. To his credit, he’s spending time on different farms,
learning the ropes. Or is he slumming? </div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He pursues Tess, she tries to escape. She tries. When she
finally agrees to marry (Angel is a traditional guy), she begs her mom for
guidance about her secret…does she tell or not? Mom tells her not to, under any
circumstances. We know she will…we wait, and…she does. Angel abandons her.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And Tess, if nothing else, but willing to work hard at any
demeaning work, to stay alive, drifts farther and farther down into the pit of
despair. Her family might have once been companions of ‘The Conquerer’ in 1066,
but her circumstances are dire. Do the men who put her there care? Do they
know? Would they care if they knew? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Of course Hardy now drags her three men back into her
life..with final, tragic, consequences. Father dies. The family is kicked off
out of their hovel…someone else needs it. Alec returns and wants her again, and
Angel returns, not wiser, not better.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There is a murder…a violent one, with blood dripping from
the ceiling (Lordy, how did I miss that??). There is a strange scene at
Stonehenge. And there is what Hardy, ironically, calls “Justice”. I was totally
shattered at the last scene. I know I never got to it the first time I tried to
read this book.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Gender politics, power, the plight of the working class…the
rural workers who feed the nation…they’re all there. The criticism is fierce,
as fierce as anything Dickens would have written. But because Hardy ties his
characters to a place he knew well, loved, and to the creeping industrialization that
was destroying life for his neighbors, the criticism felt more oppressive to
me, more inevitable. More inexorable, more tragic.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was destroyed at the end of this book, with Tess. And full
of apologies to Aggie. She was right to flunk me on that ‘book report.’ And I
hope I redeemed myself in her eyes. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sorry, Aggie. Here’s my late assignment…almost 60 years
late. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br /></div>
Fourth Generation Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16700328444005416956noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633935880322794283.post-41960086118329394862020-01-13T11:28:00.002-06:002020-01-13T11:31:30.097-06:00Top 2019 Reads...Today<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I read…a lot. The last ten years of my teaching career, I read
for a living, surrounded by high school students also reading. It was heaven.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now, I read exclusively for myself, and my own goals. I used
to try to choose a Top Ten, but like <a href="https://teacherinastrangeland.blog/2020/01/08/top-reads-of-2019/?fbclid=IwAR2KLtByw7MsOiAavL2tQix3ARz3P-cWS0WSUZTRT9dkiynF-irrZZhWcbQ">Nancy
Flanagan, one of my favorite reading buddies</a>, I decided to do something different
this year. I gave out a lot of 5’s on Goodreads, where I keep track of my
reading…so I pulled out the titles I really, really loved and made categories.
Then, I went with my top several for each category…180 books in 2019, boiled
down to these. And I’m keeping Nancy’s blog close for recommendations for my
2020.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Individual
#1 Books</span></b> – After Obama was elected, sales of guns spiked. After
Trump, the sales of books increased. Books about this White House has become a
cottage industry, and I’m an enthusiastic consumer of many. I keep the books together in their own shelf. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0dT42AvsDMVhnCRIHhTly5L7KYfvCxXiofe1M7Ehvj2UXl4brEhKyNfnD25sv0MqhYCnA7KBHNepnVEQkQmzUeK0gynuD7H7EXsRogUO0us2pUryQ6vUjF61JTDQ3MRMo8A6oyf7Pyr-k/s1600/individual+1+books.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="1600" height="107" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0dT42AvsDMVhnCRIHhTly5L7KYfvCxXiofe1M7Ehvj2UXl4brEhKyNfnD25sv0MqhYCnA7KBHNepnVEQkQmzUeK0gynuD7H7EXsRogUO0us2pUryQ6vUjF61JTDQ3MRMo8A6oyf7Pyr-k/s320/individual+1+books.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
This year, I think
the best, most horrifying, most infuriating, books that are pointing out the
obvious are: <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect
Predators</i> by Ronan Farrow – the story of the Harvey Weinstein abuse stories
being covered up, caught and killed. The book qualifies for this shelf, because
Trump’s dalliances are also killed by the tabloid media. It’s almost
Gonzo-journalism, because Farrow chronicles his own struggles to get this story
written. I’m eager to read more from him. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century</i>
by Timothy Snyder – a tiny, dry tome with 20 rules for living in hard times,
based on the fact we’ve lived through tyranny before – be kind to our language,
contribute to good causes, be as courageous as you can…I have never actually
gotten a hard copy of this book, because it cannot be published fast enough.
But I have the audible and the ebook editions<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>It’s Even Worse Than You Think </i>by David Cay Johnson –
Johnson is an expert on DJT…has been watching him for years…and he can connect
the clues better than anyone. It IS worse than we think. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>The Fifth Risk: Undoing Democracy </i>by Michael Lewis –
be afraid! Be very afraid. We are being governed by people who know very little
and like it that way.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Mueller Report</i> – yes! I read it. More than most in
Congress. Read, annotated, highlighted. And wrote several bad words in the
margins.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Fiction</span></b>
– Of course I read novels!!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Testaments </i>by Margaret Atwood – The long awaited, and
for me totally satisfying sequel to Handmaid’s Tale. It was the book I needed
to read in these days when On Tyranny reminds us we are in hard times. I read
with friends who pushed my thinking and made the book even richer.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<i>Imaginary Friend</i> by Stephen Chbosky – another long-anticipated
book…the second novel by Stephen Chbosky. Totally NOT <i>Perks of Being a
Wallflower</i>…more early Stephen King – horror story reminding us children can
save the world if we allow.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Good Omens</i> by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett -- Speaking
of children saving the world: I love Gaiman, but had a bad experience with Pratchett,
so I’d avoided it…but what a delightful book, and Armageddon is thwarted again!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Illiad</i> by Homer – OK, so I never read <i>Illiad</i>, even
though I taught The Odyssey. Yes, I knew the bare bones of the story…but to
hear the words rolling over my ears was so moving. The ending…I was surprised
by the abruptness.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Memoir</span>
– </b>three total gems<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<i>Becoming </i>by Michelle Obama – I listened to Michelle
Obama reading her story to me. Honest, tender, loving. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Thick </i>– essays by Tressie McMillan Cottom, an African
American sociology professor. She writes a fascinating collection here…some
searingly personal, some deeply academic, some funny…she makes us face inequity,
and challenged me to follow more strong women of color on Twitter. Love the
changes.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Shout</i> by Laurie Halse Anderson – breathtaking memoir in
verse by the author of <i>Speak.</i> This book gives us the back story to her
amazing novel, and is a rallying cry for women and men who are victims of
sexual assault. I cried buckets. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Education
Nonfiction</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> – <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i>The Privatization of American Institutions</i> – written by
my friend Lawrence Baines…how industry has taken over the military, prison system,
K-12 education and higher education. Exhaustively researched (100+ sources for
each chapter, y’all!!), every sentence is deep and frightening.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Lost At School</i> by Ross Greene– an interesting look at
behavior. Do kids (and adults) behave because they choose to, or because they
don’t have the skills needed to mediate their words and actions? It reads like
an advertisement for the author’s ‘system’, but still important for anyone who
works with young people.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Nonfiction
</span></b>– Almost finished!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Women </i>by
Caroline Criado-Perez – Oh, my gosh! All the ways women’s lives, bodies, and
sexuality, are totally ignored by research. City planning. Snow removal, car
safety. Men do the planning and arrange the world (NOT maliciously) to fit
their bodies and their experiences. And that often makes the lives of women
much harder. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Democracy in Chains</i> by Nancy MacLean – The story of
how MacLean found this story is fascinating, as is the rise of the libertarian millionaires
who have used their money to quietly manipulate the levers of power. I did not
know much of this started in the 50’s, with segregation in the South. Vouchers
is not a new idea. Frightening, but we must read and learn.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Parkland</i> by Dave Cullen – after Columbine, Cullen
became the go-to author after any school shooting. In this book, he follows the
Parkland survivors as they used their anger and grief to mobilize others for workable
gun reform, and exciting young people to vote. This is the book Cullen needed
after the horrors of Columbine, and frankly, I needed it too.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Blowout</i> by Rachel Maddow – Another book I listened to
the author read to me. Maddow reading Maddow…a treat! She weaves the story of
Putin’s rise to power with oil and gas internationally, and in my home state,
Oklahoma! Chapters jump from Putin to events I know much better. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Picture
Book Biographies</span> </b>– volunteering in a school library let me to so many
wonderful biographies of women forgotten by history. These books inspired my videoed
lesson for my National Board re-renewal. Gems, every one.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Dreamers</i> by Yuyi Morales– a sweet memoir of a young
woman who immigrates to the US with her small child, and both discover the
beauty of books and libraries. Illustrated by the author! A beautiful book all
around.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Before She Was Harriet</i> by Lesa Cline-Ransome – there are
many good picture books about Harriet Tubman, but this one adds new information
for children to learn, and the lovely pattern of the words would give teachers
so many ways to use this as a mentor text for writing. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Hedy Lamarr’s Double Life: Hollywood Legend and Brilliant
Inventor</i> by Laurie Wallmark – a brilliant woman whose work is partly
responsible for the technology we use every day in our cell phones, but is
remembered only as a Hollywood movie star. Loved learning more about her!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Ada Lovelace: Poet of Science</i> by Diane Stanley – did you
know Lord Byron had a daughter? And that she was a brilliant scientist helped
invent the Analytical Engine that could do all kinds of mathematical functions…A
mighty girl! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisOrW40FFY9WDvHTxO8k3JfQut0zm1SRoPPQSiCGXvlITTkXJIGbjFbSBCo70xQafB02g0Dysf50uDYB1mwbwOC-KFWnF3urvk4_1J98AdwMNRU-wa3Gxf2tADB3PagSpey05ul1Iue8F4/s1600/2020+reading+challenge.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="817" data-original-width="408" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisOrW40FFY9WDvHTxO8k3JfQut0zm1SRoPPQSiCGXvlITTkXJIGbjFbSBCo70xQafB02g0Dysf50uDYB1mwbwOC-KFWnF3urvk4_1J98AdwMNRU-wa3Gxf2tADB3PagSpey05ul1Iue8F4/s320/2020+reading+challenge.png" width="159" /></a>Whew! 181 books, with lots of great ones I didn’t put on these
final lists…Right now I’m running a FB group of readers, <b>Yearly Reading Plan</b>, using this challenge
for 2020 – Lots of discussions about ‘a book you read in school,’ and I love seeing
what friends are choosing for each month. I’m rereading<i> Little Women</i> by Louisa
May Alcott for my January book. Eager to see what books this year brings. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br /></div>
Fourth Generation Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16700328444005416956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633935880322794283.post-60228473249639396852019-12-19T14:27:00.000-06:002019-12-19T14:44:07.602-06:00School Report Cards CAN Have a Happy Ending<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This year’s unveiling of the</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://oklaschools.com/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"> ‘new and improved’ school
report cards</span></a></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> always creates the same
knot in my stomach it has for nearly a decade. I understand some kind of school
measure is a federal requirement...but I hate all the metrics that rely on
testing data. And now the attendance measure has hit a special nerve. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2jC5oKj0lXf99FE94T9l5ofIjyBF2dCDyFpiqsPkL0MJ4VczQW9h_WYsO5_S0YBgVVPfSzpKGOE0nATl8CTuTzmGVBNT04Mwf7Q5VFN6GPFXRtPya2mrjRehXacf2pJLu89vWIwZAv-IV/s1600/a-f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2jC5oKj0lXf99FE94T9l5ofIjyBF2dCDyFpiqsPkL0MJ4VczQW9h_WYsO5_S0YBgVVPfSzpKGOE0nATl8CTuTzmGVBNT04Mwf7Q5VFN6GPFXRtPya2mrjRehXacf2pJLu89vWIwZAv-IV/s1600/a-f.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As I’ve said, I have history with this process. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://fourthgenerationteacher.blogspot.com/2012/03/fun-and-games-at-public-comments.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">March 19,
2012</span></a></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> found the Board Room at OSDE packed to the
gills. I saw a sign-in sheet and dutifully signed, then found a seat. The
Spring Break morning was blustery and we were there for public comments. Much
smarter folks than I shared their concerns and frustrations as a tape recorder
(I kid you not!) whirled. My name was called. Little did I know, the sign-in
sheet was a speaker’s list. I had written a message that I’d delivered to the
superintendent and any other office that was open, so I dragged up my last copy
and </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://fourthgenerationteacher.blogspot.com/2012/03/fun-and-games-at-public-comments.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">read</span></a></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. I used the name of the ancient heroine </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://www.greekmythology.com/Myths/Mortals/Cassandra/cassandra.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">Cassandra,
</span></a></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">who, according to Aeschulus, was cursed to
forever tell the truth and to never be believed. And here I am, seven years
later, stifling my ‘I told you so!!’</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So, this year, before I even studied the data
when it was released, I was upset. I wasn’t the only one. Responses from
educator leaders started pouring in.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://www.tulsaworld.com/opinion/columnists/rob-miller-school-accountability-yes-basing-it-on-a-once/article_9854813d-ecb0-56a4-9b77-110a7978d03e.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"> Rob
Miller,</span></a></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Superintendent of Bixby
Schools and </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://nondoc.com/2019/11/29/avoid-overreaction-oklahoma-school-report-cards/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">Dr. John
Thompson</span></a></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, retired teacher and
school historian, are much more analytic than I am, and spoke up. More response
in this </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://www.cnhinews.com/oklahoma/article_3647dadc-1619-11ea-b3e7-ef871209c149.html"><i><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">Daily
Oklahoman</span></i><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"> article</span></a></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. I will quote
Superintendent Joy Hofmeister below. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Teachers are, indeed, the most influential
factor of student learning IN SCHOOL. That still is a small percentage of
student learning. But we use test scores twice...one a straight achievement
number, and one a ‘growth’ number. From what I understand, at least the growth
measures the same students’ scores. But graduation (for secondary) and
postsecondary opportunities? Attendance? We cannot control those. I spent weeks
calling one student every morning to wake him up and get him to school. It
worked. Until it didn’t. And now my school would be graded on what? My efforts
to get my student up and dressed and to school? </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So, in this seething state, I browsed FaceBook
and saw a post by my friend, Sandra Valentine. I’d noticed her response was
more nuanced than my unfocused anger. Her question: </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhweCZgyUI3qHjZ6GJJzd3NB6okJimi0UsIk0h54Hj0pE1d4hLux4CWALrrLGPCAPMXt14ZNwZRJL5jRytJAgdTAHinI_5hZI_tcLJq9_m3tmHIA7vWGgVH9HptZbtiM3ej3zhQ0aIK46O2/s1600/SV+post.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="335" data-original-width="494" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhweCZgyUI3qHjZ6GJJzd3NB6okJimi0UsIk0h54Hj0pE1d4hLux4CWALrrLGPCAPMXt14ZNwZRJL5jRytJAgdTAHinI_5hZI_tcLJq9_m3tmHIA7vWGgVH9HptZbtiM3ej3zhQ0aIK46O2/s320/SV+post.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sandra works with schools and teachers to
finesse the data and make changes to their curriculum. I know from experience,
she understands our state standards and education issues. I was interested in
joining the conversation, sooo...</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I unloaded (shocking, I know). “</span><span style="background: #F2F3F5; color: #1c1e21; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Full funding. A revamped report card that
reflects those variables under schools' and teachers' control.” But, truly,
that is my wish list. I’ve talked about accountability and what is and is not
within the control of classroom teachers and schools before. Sandra, as is her
practice, asked probing questions to get me past that first anger...we had a spirited
back-and-forth until she wrote: </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background: #F2F3F5; color: #1c1e21; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“For example, if the community looked at the
chronic absenteeism and decided to say, like we have in Shawnee, more “Mom
Transits” that would be helpful.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
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<span style="background: #F2F3F5; color: #1c1e21; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Until then it looks like a big stain on our
schools. It doesn’t serve the purpose of here’s a problem, oh I didn’t know
this problem existed, let’s come up with ways to help instead of hinder,
brainstorm, brainstorm, bam, what once was a blemish is now a community
commitment to get things going in the right direction.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background: #F2F3F5; color: #1c1e21; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For me that was the nudge I
needed to totally pivot my thinking.” It came in a flash as I reflected on
Sandra’s words...we need to flip the entire conversation about school grades. <i>These
descriptions reflect the community in which schools are embedded</i>. Even test
scores are a community matter...what can families do to raise achievement? What
kind of community support do they need to accomplish it? Questions swirled in
my head.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="background: #F2F3F5; color: #1c1e21; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And that brings us to this
question...what if school report cards were straight descriptive, with no
evaluative grades? Just <i>statements of the needs</i> of a particular school?
And what if the next step was a community meeting with all stakeholders...to
investigate the needs and brainstorm ways they could address needs? Public
transportation routes? Public library access? More Big Brothers Big Sisters?
What do our schools need from their communities? What can communities offer to
their schools? </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background: #F2F3F5; color: #1c1e21; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That changes the
conversation from: Rotten schools. Rotten teachers.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background: #F2F3F5; color: #1c1e21; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Now the conversation could
be: Here are the needs. How can we contribute to addressing those needs with
the resources we have at hand?</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background: #F2F3F5; color: #1c1e21; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
Interestingly enough, we both saw a short op-ed in the </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://oklahoman.com/article/5649849/taking-a-reasoned-view-of-school-report-cards"><i><span style="background: #F2F3F5; color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">Daily Oklahoman</span></i><span style="background: #F2F3F5; color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"> by Mary Melon</span></a></span><span style="background: #F2F3F5; color: #1c1e21; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. She brings up in passing the same idea
we’re batting around...what if report cards were descriptive instruments, not
evaluative? “</span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Educators and the community
can use this tool as part of the evaluation, along with many other measures.
Knowing where you are is a critical part of determining the plan to get where
you want to be. Finding common ground and changing the narrative about public
education is the only way to truly make progressive change for our kids.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: #F2F3F5; color: #1c1e21; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So. Let’s flip this
conversation. There is descriptive data in the reports. Let’s use it...convene
groups of stakeholders. Let’s dig into the data and see, first what those
descriptions mean to us as a community, and then how can we bring resources to the
conversation?</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: #F2F3F5; color: #1c1e21; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Let’s ignore the letter
grade that is supposed to be so informative. It’s not. It’s pejorative. It’s
inflammatory. It’s abused by uninformed critics and reformers with their own
agenda.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: #F2F3F5; color: #1c1e21; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Let’s bring students and
parents and teachers and administrators, AND city council members, AND Chamber
of Commerce representatives. Let’s bring business owners, higher education
representatives, technology center educators. Let’s bring them together to
discuss the descriptions in the data. <br />
<br />
For example, one of my favorite schools, an alternative high school for
students who are struggling with many issues in their lives, got an “F” on
“Postsecondary Opportunities.” This is measured by the state of ‘beyond high
school’ resources available to high school students: industry certification,
college preparation coursework (including AP), dual/concurrent enrollment, or
work-based internships. Dimensions Academy ‘earned’ .2 points out of a possible
ten. My first thought was, “well, duh! Some of these kids are struggling to
stay warm and fed. Some have extra jobs to support a family. Some are working
to recover credits to graduate.” There are too many reasons Dimensions Academy
students might not be focused on POST graduation opportunities. That is a
description of the challenges...</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: #F2F3F5; color: #1c1e21; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But rather than rail
against the unfairness of the grade, what if that group of stakeholders could
look at the description: students at Dimensions Academy are surviving in the
moment -- how can WE support them and welcome them into the community of
post-high school? Could we offer job shadowing? Internships for credit? What
resources do we have to help? </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="background: #F2F3F5; color: #1c1e21; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What if the community
looked at attendance data and pooled resources...public transportation? Car
pooling? After school care? What other creative solutions could be discussed by
experts in their own fields, looking at ways they could contribute to their
neighborhood schools? One community discovered that </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://www.fox5vegas.com/news/us_world_news/high-school-adds-laundry-room-to-help-struggling-students-combat/article_53831c4e-f936-5294-ae86-f5ab0dacfae1.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=user-share"><span style="background: #F2F3F5; color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">installing washers and dryers</span></a></span><span style="background: #F2F3F5; color: #1c1e21; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> at school actually<i> improved student
attendance</i>. Kids didn’t have clean clothes to wear to school, so they
stayed home. But one community looked at that information and together found a
creative way to contribute!</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: #F2F3F5; color: #1c1e21; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That ought to be the
conversation. How can we help? Where can we fit our skills into the needs of
our community public schools? What do we, as a community, have to offer our
schools and students and teachers? How can we successfully partner to lift our
schools?</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: #F2F3F5; color: #1c1e21; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“</span><span style="background: #F2F3F5; color: #444444; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Each school’s story. Oklahoma’s indicators
and grades help tell each school’s story. More importantly, I think the
community needs to look at what those indicator scores tell in that story.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: #F2F3F5; color: #1c1e21; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Superintendent Joy
Hofmeister says it right there...Report cards are detailed, nuanced stories of
each school in Oklahoma. Its strengths, its needs. Not hammers to blame, judge,
attack. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: #F2F3F5; color: #1c1e21; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But for many the happy
ending is up to all of us working together.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Fourth Generation Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16700328444005416956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633935880322794283.post-5610703077816664202019-09-26T20:36:00.002-05:002019-09-26T20:37:00.398-05:00Interim Curmudgeons <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Yesterday I attended Interim Studies for the House Common
Education Committee. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Today, I visited with a mother who lost her daughter, my
former student. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Tomorrow, I will attend the funeral of that young woman I’ve
loved for nearly half of her short life. <o:p></o:p></div>
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How are these all connected? They are.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsXNsKd4B-KCOWDwASk1R2DhpLtAowWR36Qw-3eojBk7nM4nboNijyo14yCa4XrtmTG5mJXEWtK_5s6d1AykpKGdcFfuks7bk53bcaObW4FSCrr72dNmikgVZ7eYFTerGG02KVcBZx9zoX/s1600/bellmon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="185" data-original-width="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsXNsKd4B-KCOWDwASk1R2DhpLtAowWR36Qw-3eojBk7nM4nboNijyo14yCa4XrtmTG5mJXEWtK_5s6d1AykpKGdcFfuks7bk53bcaObW4FSCrr72dNmikgVZ7eYFTerGG02KVcBZx9zoX/s1600/bellmon.jpg" /></a>One of the Interim Studies by Representative Chad Caldwell, (R,
House District 40, Garfield County) looked at both the funding and the reforms
of a landmark bill, <a href="https://okeducationtruths.wordpress.com/2015/04/27/remembering-hb-1017/">HB1017</a>,
passed in 1990. The bill provided substantial raises for teachers, and required
access to early childhood programs. It also created a mechanism for school consolidation,
as well as requiring state standards for Oklahoma schools, reducing class sizes,
K-12, and added more testing for accountability. <o:p></o:p></div>
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This bill was a bipartisan effort, signed by Henry Bellmon,
R. Repeals were attempted, and failed. But the aftermath of HB1017 was a State
Question that now requires a vote of ¾ of the House and Senate to raise any
taxes. Since that time, our Legislature has repeatedly reduced taxes, but had
not, since this bill, raised taxes for schools until 2018's Session’s funding (and <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/education/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-oklahoma-teacher-walkout">Walk-Out</a>) drama that resulted in raises and a small increase in our per-pupil expenditure. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The first Study, hosted by member Caldwell, one of the few
non-educators on the Common Education Committee, purported to investigate the
reforms of 1017 – consolidation and <a href="https://www.publicradiotulsa.org/post/legislature-considers-whether-put-teeth-back-hb-1017">class
sizes</a> among other issues. In a far-ranging Study, speakers touched on the
reforms required by the bill. They talked about a provision of the bill that
never were fully implemented that dealt with incentive payment to teachers for
professional development and leadership. <o:p></o:p></div>
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We learned that the number of applications for <a href="https://www.publicradiotulsa.org/post/oklahoma-may-be-track-hit-another-record-emergency-certified-teachers">emergency
certified teachers</a> continues to grow every year. This year’s data is only
one month old, and right now, shows fewer applications than by the end of last
school year. Rep. Caldwell suggested that showed the recent teacher pay raise
was working, and that there will be fewer emergency certified teachers this
year. Other members pointed out that today’s State School Board meeting had
hundreds of requests for emergency teachers on the agenda. I have taught in two
states under emergency certification; but in both states, I had to have a
traditional teaching certificate. Since I couldn’t find a position in my
certificate area, I took other jobs, and had to secure an emergency certificate
in the meantime. In Oklahoma, though, emergency-certified teachers are required
to have a college degree, but not a degree in the area they will be teaching. Alternatively
certified teachers are required to have an undergraduate major that will
complement their teaching assignments…a history major teaching history, for
example.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Rep. Caldwell does not seem to be a fan of traditional
teacher programs. He inspired others to drag out calculators to add the current
number of emergencies to the number we had heard would be approved today by the
Oklahoma State School Board. The argument ended in a draw. But he berated
traditional teacher preparation with a story. He talked about a dinner he had
recently attended with “7 or 8 teachers.” He asked how many of them felt their teacher
preparation programs really prepared them to teach. He told us, with great solemnity,
that not one said their training prepared them.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Which brings me to today and tomorrow. No, teacher
preparation did not prepare me to hug a grieving mother, a stunned brother this
morning. No, teacher preparation did not train me to attend funerals for young
adult former students, gone too soon. You’re right, Rep. Caldwell. I wasn’t
prepared.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Neither did teacher preparation really get me ready for
being the sole responsibility, in 1967, of the health, welfare, and learning of
24 sixth-graders all day. Or how to learn from a principal who didn’t care about
anything but his own reputation. Or how to teach geography out of books that
highlighted countries that no longer existed the year I taught. Or how to
respond when one of my farm-reared students brought a pet white rat to class.
Or, later in the spring when someone else brought a snake in a Mason jar. On-the-job
learning went into high gear that year, and every year since. <o:p></o:p></div>
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NO academic training could adequately prepare me. And I knew
that. I knew the academics gave me the foundation. Academics gave me resources,
and the basics of what to do. I learned strategies to use. I learned that I was
expected that I would continue to learn and ask questions. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Does a doctor’s academic training adequately prepare them
for every patient they will meet in a career? Every emergency? Does an
architect’s academic training prepare them for every problem they will face in
a long career? Why is it only teacher preparation is questioned?<o:p></o:p></div>
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So, Representative Caldwell used this anecdote to dismiss
the necessity of a trained educator in each classroom…because he asked several
teachers if their academic training totally prepared them. This story served
his purpose. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Later in the same study, the focus shifted to class size,
one of the jewels of HB1017. Before deregulations by subsequent legislatures,
my high school classes were to be capped at 120 students a day. Not at all
unreasonable for five sections a day. Limits were even more strict at early
childhood and elementary levels. We were so proud of those limits. We saw them
as acknowledgement of the professionalism and effectiveness of educators. When
I retired in 2013, long after these deregulations had become the norm, I saw
160 students a day. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Representative Caldwell expressed his frustration with all
the anecdotal stories about how smaller class sizes are beneficial to learning,
and suggested that larger classes could lead to students learning more from each
other. He dismissed the ‘one study’ ‘everyone’ quotes to support smaller class
sizes, and waxed poetic about other studies that showed no benefits for smaller
classes. Made me think of Bill Gates’ <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2011/02/bill-gates-big-idea-to-fix-us-education-bigger-classes/71797/">suggestion</a>
that ‘master teachers’ could teach huge classes because…they were masters. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDJGf1eXonsQifuUOei2wgf4IIxxz0DV0UXtU_u5eV_oRIt6edYcC0Z2eCU5MaehED1oRMvyU7Rmyxd2HrsH1xEs4kDd5Jw0W_T_ONM26LLTDKiVUx775DjumEYVhvtfTQ4E6JiIFqnxUV/s1600/muppets-statler-and-waldorf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="332" data-original-width="697" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDJGf1eXonsQifuUOei2wgf4IIxxz0DV0UXtU_u5eV_oRIt6edYcC0Z2eCU5MaehED1oRMvyU7Rmyxd2HrsH1xEs4kDd5Jw0W_T_ONM26LLTDKiVUx775DjumEYVhvtfTQ4E6JiIFqnxUV/s320/muppets-statler-and-waldorf.jpg" width="320" /></a>So stories when they support his own opinions, and dismissal
of stories and demands for studies (and dismissal of research that conflicts
with his opinions) when that fits his point of view. The about-face was
frustrating to watch and not have an opportunity to comment. While Rep. Caldwell appeared curmudgeonly at his own Study, I was feeling decidedly grumpy sitting and listening.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I find Interim Studies informative. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I learn what legislation might be coming, or
what legislation might face strong opposition. I can predict, based on
yesterday’s meeting, that Rep. Caldwell will fight any legislation that would
require traditional teacher training and halt our state’s reliance on emergency
certification. He will not be a fan of any incentivization of traditional
teacher preparation (the subject of a later Interim Study). I can predict he
will fight any legislation that would reinstate smaller class sizes. He wants
longer school days. He appears happy with out Reading Sufficiency Act, which requires
all third graders to read ‘at level’ to become fourth graders. All this
information is good to know. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Tomorrow I will attend the funeral of a former student and
hope I can comfort her mother and her brothers, never having been trained in my
traditional teacher preparation program to do that. Tomorrow my friends in
classrooms will hear stories of neglect and abuse. They will deal with behavior
stemming from <a href="https://www.americashealthrankings.org/explore/health-of-women-and-children/measure/ACEs/state/OK">adverse
childhood experiences</a> and<a href="https://stateimpact.npr.org/oklahoma/2018/09/06/why-some-oklahoma-schools-are-shifting-the-way-they-respond-to-students-bad-behavior/">
trauma</a>. They will find a way to connect <i>Macbeth</i> with their students’
lives. They will defuse violent outbursts by students who have no coping
strategies. They will sponsor co-curricular clubs and activities. They will
consult and collaborate. They will participate in meetings where they create
relevant curriculum. All these were never covered in modules of our traditional
teacher training. But that training taught us to be responsive, creative,
collaborative. That training gave us tools and resources and allies in our
work. <o:p></o:p></div>
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As frustrated as I was in that Study yesterday, I felt sorry
for Rep Caldwell, showing his disdain and antipathy for educators and our world.
He doesn’t get it. He could, if he opened himself to doing more than talk to
teachers at dinner. If he combined empirical research with observations and
insights. If he trusted educators as the professionals we are. If he spent a
day, a week, shadowing a teacher in his district. Did cafeteria and recess
duty, went with a teacher to a football game, attended an advisory meeting.
Came with me to the funeral I’m attending tomorrow.<o:p></o:p></div>
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He could learn a lot…by watching us learn, day-by-day, to do
this job. Always learning.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Fourth Generation Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16700328444005416956noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633935880322794283.post-86844529456833344802019-08-11T17:29:00.001-05:002019-08-11T17:29:06.157-05:00Privatization of America's Public Institutions...a hopping-mad review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i>I seem to be using #FFS a lot recently...Well, if you know me, I am screaming it, with my face crimson, smoke coming out of my ears. We are in deep...doodoo. Buy this book and give it to every policy maker you know. Stand over them while they read it. And demand a book report. </i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcAlnp_gaZSoLlu7UOfR_28zfYRze62KMwxOy24D471gIhYDcQ0fO5SFhQotFKZNfpMbFVMmcKsFndwbFZ18vGIL-uVEQ8q9_qREKHh8HDD1P3yBUryG9yKVzf4WmX7D3FSlmx8Muji5kG/s1600/baines.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="267" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcAlnp_gaZSoLlu7UOfR_28zfYRze62KMwxOy24D471gIhYDcQ0fO5SFhQotFKZNfpMbFVMmcKsFndwbFZ18vGIL-uVEQ8q9_qREKHh8HDD1P3yBUryG9yKVzf4WmX7D3FSlmx8Muji5kG/s320/baines.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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Be afraid. Be very afraid. Our public life is being eroded
by privatizers right under our noses.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Lawrence is a friend, a fierce advocate for public schools,
their students and teachers. He can research a topic to get to the very essence
of the issue. This book is organized around four insidious efforts to privatize
American institutions…cornerstones of our democracy: the military, the corrections
system, PreK-12 schools, and higher education. Each chapter is exhaustively
researched, with over 100 citations for each chapter. Every statement in this
book is backed up by research!<br />
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What are the dangers to a democracy when our institutions are privatized? Turned
over to people with questionable motives beyond making as much money as
possible? Turns out the dangers are real, and they are here…looking us in the
eye.<o:p></o:p></div>
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A privatized military has no ultimate loyalty to our
country, to our elected leaders. Military contractors owe allegiance to their bosses…the
corporations taking over services in the military, to ‘free up’ our soldiers to
do the dirty work…for less money than the contractors who are cooking and doing
the laundry. These corporations raid the ranks of the military, hoping to buy
not only the expertise of these trained military, but also their secrets. ROTC
is now privatized. HALF of the military allocations our Congress sends off go
to PRIVATE CONTRACTORS. These corporations are under no obligation to train their
workers, to share intelligence, to offer the benefits available from the
military (this is a common thread through the book…these privatizers do not
offer job security, living wages, or benefits to their workers…that means more
profits for the stockholders, and questionable service to the public).<o:p></o:p></div>
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Private prisons and juvenile facilities and facilities
currently holding immigrants have been privatized for a while…on the cheap…with
no effort to provide a safe workplace for employees or for the detainees. When
a private prison contracts with a state to build a facility, part of the ‘deal’
is a occupancy guarantee. Usually 90% -- the state is obligated to pay for 90%
occupancy, whether or not the number of inmates equals that. Sweet deal for
contractors…Workers get less training, fewer benefits, and lower wages.
Injuries and abuse of both workers and inmates is not unknown. Baines points
out that crime rates are falling, but the number of private prisons and
incarceration at these facilities is rising. He discusses the specific dangers
to young people in these facilities…and says 21% of young inmates have
committed no crime, but they find themselves in the system.<o:p></o:p></div>
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PreK-12 schools have been fighting the effects of
privatization for a long time, and this was the chapter that I understood the
best, since the information was not new, but the facts, the research, the
figures, were astounding. Baines discusses various for-profit charters that
have been all the rage, and points out the appeal for parents: less bureaucracy,
self-segregation from ‘those kids (my words),’ and having the state help pay
for their religious education…must be nice! He explains the difference between
Education Savings Accounts (ESAs), which send state money as vouchers directly
to parents, and Tax Credit Scholarships (TCSs) which send money to a partner
institution that administers the funds…for a cut! The opportunities for fraud
and abuse when for-profits try to teach our children is sickening.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I attended the Save Our Schools March and Rally in DC years
ago, and met two teacher-prep professors from a nearby college…we all agreed
that when reformers and privatizers where finished picking the bones of public education
clean, they’d be coming after higher education. Privatizers didn’t wait. They are
now outsourcing services at universities, and outsourcing DEGREES. All of this
is made possible, as with public education, by the fact that state legislatures
have systematically cut funding to state and land-grant institutions. My state
is right there near the top of the culprits who cut funds, requiring colleges
to raise fees and tuition…The use of adjuncts who receive no benefits (I know…I
am one), reduction of major choices as departments are closed down, a
de-emphasis on services, and a de-emphasis on the ‘community of learners” that
on-campus college experience allows, all are results of the privatization of
our public higher education institutions.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Most heartbreaking was the discussion of how teacher preparation
is now outsourced…online classes that require NO field experience, no
internship…NO face-to-face work with young people at all. Just ‘write us a
check and click your mouse to your way to a teaching certificate.’ Texas, ABCTE,
and now in OK, Tulsa Schools, can ‘credential their own.’ For $5K-$10K, you
too, can become a teacher, sometimes without ever having to set eyes on a real child until you're hired. This will lead to more churn in our PreK-12 classes,
more calls for charters and Tax Credits and Ed Savings Accounts. More privatization.<o:p></o:p></div>
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If we don’t wake up NOW, our children and grandchildren will
be facing a world where soldiers-for-hire take orders from corporations, where
our prisons create the overcrowding, recidivism, self-fulfilling prophesy of failure,
where our children are taught by less-and-less qualified teachers coming out of
poor-quality but profitable teacher preparation companies whose entire goal is
profit. <o:p></o:p></div>
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We are selling not only our own souls…we are selling our
children’s future. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Fourth Generation Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16700328444005416956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633935880322794283.post-69604156595093366532019-01-22T19:56:00.000-06:002019-01-22T19:56:12.276-06:002018 -- My Top Ten --With Some Major Cheating<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: black;">I read a lot. For most of my career, I read for a living.
For the last ten years of that career, my bosses paid me to sit in a room,
surrounded by teen, and READ. Books covered every wall, and many horizontal
surfaces. Kids read. I read. It was grand. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Now since I've retired, ironically, there is
less time to read! I keep track of my books on a great website called
Goodreads.com. My students called it 'FaceBook for book nerds," and it is.
On Goodreads, I'm connected to some of my favorite authors, my favorite teacher
friends and favorite former students. If you're a reader, join and find me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Goodreads allows you to keep track of your
reading, set annual goals, create bookshelves that are searchable. I can
'shelve' books as I'm reading, and when I finish. I write reviews (left over
from my teaching days when I tried to model how to talk about books), and keep
count. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">My 2018 goal was 152 books. A strange
number, I know...Just a tad down from the 155 from the previous year, when I
didn't make my goal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">My first book of 2018 was <i>The Alchemist</i>, a
reread of a favorite, and the last book of the year was <i>Dear Martin,</i> a gritty
young adult.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">My friend and I do a summer classics project,
and this year we went for South American magic realism. We bailed on <i>100 Years
of Solitude</i>...might have actually been the edition of the book...print too tiny
and mashed together. Paper too thin. I revisited<i> Shadow of the Wind</i> and <i>Marina,</i>
and found a book, new for me, that made my list.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black;">I try to do a Top Ten, but I always cheat. This
year, I saw patterns in my favorite reads. I found international authors and
books, I found amazing YAL from some of my favorite authors. I read great
literary fiction, found new nonfiction, and read the entire Alphabet series by
the late Sue Grafton. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Inspired by my friend and long-distance reading
buddy, <a href="https://teacherinastrangeland.blog/2019/01/01/one-hundred-books/">Nancy Flanagan</a>, who always gets her list out super early, here is my, in
no particular order, favorite reads of 2018.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><b>YAL -- I revisited two favorites, friends, and
life-saving authors.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38355061-people-kill-people?from_search=true">People Kill People</a> </i>by Ellen Hopkins -- the
'biography' of a handgun and the havoc it wreaks. Hopkins actually writes in prose and poetry here, in the multiple voices that make her work so rich. Yes, people kill people....but...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51740.Staying_Fat_for_Sarah_Byrnes?from_search=true">Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes</a> </i>by Chris Crutcher
-- a reread, companion piece in my mind to Crutcher's new book,<i> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35068371-loser-s-bracket?from_search=true">Losers Bracket,</a></i>
which is just as good and could easily be in my top ten...but I've loved Sarah
for years so she got the nod.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><b>Nonfiction</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41012533-fear?from_search=true">Fear</a></span></i><span style="color: black;"> by
Bob Woodward -- that man can write and dig into a story. I'm beginning to amass
a full book shelf of 'books about Trump by people who see through the bluff<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10873538-dear-white-america?from_search=true">Dear
White Americans</a></span></i><span style="color: black;"> by Tim Wise --
subtitle: "Letter to a new minority." We can do better and must do
better. This short book can help<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<i><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39203790-almost-everything?from_search=true">Almost
Everything</a></span></i><span style="color: black;"> by Ann Lamott -- I
needed hope and she gave it to me. </span><span style="background: white; color: #181818;">“Love and goodness and the world’s beauty and humanity are
the reasons we have hope.”</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #181818;"><b>Alphabet Mysteries</b></span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #181818;">My mom and I started reading
Sue Grafton's mysteries together in the 1980's. But along the way I stopped
reading, maybe because Mom wasn't there to talk to. Grafton was not a fast
writer, and I just moved on to other books and other series. She recently died,
just having published <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31116293-y-is-for-yesterday?ac=1&from_search=true">Y
is for Yesterday</a></i>. In her will she made it clear, no one...NO
ONE...would write Z. So, I knew I was going to be able to read (with my ears)
all of the books and find a kind of closure. I believe Grafton knew Y would be
her last. She dedicated the book to her grandchildren, one named Kinsey!! So. I
read them all, and cried listening to the last one, knowing that smart-mouth
Kinsey Milhone would never make me laugh again. I miss Mom and Grafton and
Kinsey. And I'm counting these 25 books as one of my Top Ten. Try and stop me!</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #181818;"><b>International authors new to
me</b></span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="background: white; color: #181818;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12839869-do-a-barbara">Dona Barbara,</a></span></i><span style="background: white; color: #181818;"> by </span><span itemprop="name"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/506579.R_mulo_Gallegos" itemprop="url"><span style="color: #333333;">Rómulo Gallegos</span></a>, a
Venezulan politician and terrific novelist...This was the surprise of my summer
reading. It was on the list of 100 best novels compiled by PBS. So glad I found
it.magic, revenge, love, hate...and a beautiful, young country as the backdrop.
I was dazzled.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="background: white; color: #333333;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35412372-freshwater?ac=1&from_search=true">Freshwater</a></span></i><span style="background: white; color: #333333;"> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16944266.Akwaeke_Emezi" itemprop="url"><span itemprop="name"><span style="color: #333333;">Akwaeke Emezi</span></span></a> was
breathtaking...and I couldn't begin to tell you much about the plot...the book
was about letting a culture wash over me and simply experience. I read this
with my ears, and Emezi narrated it. She read it to me individually. </span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span itemprop="name"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--></span><span style="color: black;"></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span itemprop="name"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;"><b>Literary
Fiction -- both in Audible</b></span></span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span itemprop="name"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--></span><span style="color: black;"></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span itemprop="name"><i><span style="background: white; color: #333333;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29906980-lincoln-in-the-bardo?ac=1&from_search=true">Lincoln
in the Bardo</a></span></i><span style="background: white; color: #333333;"> by
George Saunders blew me away. In the audible version, there were over 50
voices, each portraying one character...you'd get a voice you recognized and
you'd just settle in...I was so intrigued by the voices and the multi-genre
elements of the narration that I bought the hardback, just to SEE...to see the
words on the pages. A tour de force. </span></span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span itemprop="name"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghmXc9r3qYjng0lrL9lNK30gavo62XZtqyXNWMs0Xv_f8XkNjjWp-gmiJ-aCmNd44i3Ghwx4E5joI_poiyfCsmU6HHz-dnRJVBXT911e7o-d1wQwjQXuvEAeKJt6YSCJDQDR0TFCXSOGWb/s1600/circe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghmXc9r3qYjng0lrL9lNK30gavo62XZtqyXNWMs0Xv_f8XkNjjWp-gmiJ-aCmNd44i3Ghwx4E5joI_poiyfCsmU6HHz-dnRJVBXT911e7o-d1wQwjQXuvEAeKJt6YSCJDQDR0TFCXSOGWb/s320/circe.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span itemprop="name"><i><span style="background: white; color: #333333;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35959740-circe?ac=1&from_search=true">Circe</a></span></i><span style="background: white; color: #333333;"> by Madeline Miller -- I read this
one and then immediately read Song of Achilles...but Circe claimed my
mythology-loving heart. I loved how Miller made Circe a witness to so
many mythical events. And the ending? I did not know her story circled around
to the characters in <i>The Odyssey</i>. If you twisted my arm behind my
back and demanded I name my FAVORITE, I think this is the one I'd name.</span></span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span itemprop="name"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span itemprop="name"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span itemprop="name"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]-->So, that's ten...or ten plus 24, but who's counting?<br /><br /><!--[endif]--></span><span style="color: black;"></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span itemprop="name"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;">So many
great books also earned five stars (I have always been a generous grader) --
Neal Shusterman's new series <i>Sythe...The Alchemist, Losers Bracket, Marina,
Braving the Wilderness. The Tao of Pooh...</i><br />
<br />
So many books. So little time. </span></span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p>Dare I ask you to suggest your favorite from last year?</o:p></div>
<br /></div>
Fourth Generation Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16700328444005416956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633935880322794283.post-2414641715414399742019-01-11T12:12:00.001-06:002019-01-11T13:27:54.203-06:00Time for the Hard Work<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
WE emailed. We wrote. We phoned. We visited.<br />
<br />
We walked. We chanted. We visited. We emailed. We wrote. We phoned. We told our stories, and we advocated for our classrooms.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj4-3pP_TmJh5UghzytElHi-AJqf14N0o4IM8JNW8LAAPeKA-x6I_pNPxUx4cXSI77uOo0fj2rSJmDJ8JS7P-DgyXrUlwXyCjxAo-0Ka4EMoSYkoz5rly6IQ_1yaORHI9vQZFvo2JwfOti/s1600/walkout.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj4-3pP_TmJh5UghzytElHi-AJqf14N0o4IM8JNW8LAAPeKA-x6I_pNPxUx4cXSI77uOo0fj2rSJmDJ8JS7P-DgyXrUlwXyCjxAo-0Ka4EMoSYkoz5rly6IQ_1yaORHI9vQZFvo2JwfOti/s320/walkout.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
We voted.<br />
<br />
AND NOW, if you haven't already, it's time for the hard part: building a lasting relationship with your legislators...whether you agree on every point or not.<br />
<br />
A positive relationship. One built on a sliver of agreement, on common values, common goals.<br />
<br />
Even if we fundamentally disagree with policymakers' stances on the issues we care about, we must FIRST create a space where we can smile, shake hands, and yes, even hug occasionally.<br />
<br />
And lucky for us, we teachers are masters of building positive, cordial relationships with people. People we sometimes deeply disagree with. People over whom we have the power of the grade, people over whom we have no power.<br />
<br />
Teachers are experts at creating positive, working relationships...with students (some of whom do not want to cooperate), with parents (some of whom are neglectful, disinterested, overwhelmed, defeated...some of whom are aggressive, interfering, meddling, pushy...some of whom are grateful, receptive, cooperative, helpful.), colleagues (some of whom...**see above), and administrators (some of whom are beaten down, fearful for their jobs, confused, overwhelmed, helpful, responsive, and just as confused as we often are). This is what we do. This is who we are.<br />
<br />
Now, it's time to work to create that same cordial, working relationship with your State Representative and Senator.<br />
<br />
To reach out. To introduce yourself. To share your issues, interests, goals.<br />
<br />
Now, it's time to find the time to LISTEN to your lawmakers' concerns, issues, interests, goals. Find out what their legislative passions are...their expertise. Find ways to find the intersections between your passions and goals, and theirs.<br />
<br />
But this is what we do every day, for a living. We use our skills to build community. We find ways to make misunderstandings and disagreements into opportunities for more talk, more listening. We find ways to ultimately put aside some of those disagreements for a time to find other common ground.<br />
<br />
We use our skills to confront disagreements when that's important to do...to confront with respect and assertiveness. We state our case with facts and, yes, stories. But we listen as well.<br />
<br />
For some, the experience during the Walk Out was the first time we'd actively advocated. We found there was a lot we had to learn...but we're teachers! We are life-long learners. We learned to navigate the OK Legislature site...we learned about deadlines and how to get to the Gallery. We learned that the Sergeants at Arms are friendly but firm. We learned how to find legislator's offices. We learned about Legislative Assistants and their power. We learned where the bathrooms were. We learned where to park. We learned about the power of our votes.<br />
<br />
We voted in the primary, and Platform Caucus members fell.<br />
<br />
We voted in the run-offs, and Platform Caucus members fell.<br />
<br />
We voted in the general election, and elected 57 new legislators.<br />
<br />
Now...it's time to turn from campaigning to advocacy. To informing and learning. To sharing and listening. To informing...and learning and listening.<br />
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How to start?<br />
<b><br /><i>Do you know the names of your State Rep and Senator? Do they know your name?</i></b><br />
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Have you ever met (outside the halls of the Capitol) face to face? Have you sat down in a coffee shop, or in their office in the district? Just to share and to learn?<br />
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<i><b>Do you know their Legislative Assistant?</b> </i>Have you introduced yourself to these gatekeepers? Think, 'principal's secretary' and you see the power of these devoted public servants. They are loyal to their bosses, and they know and understand the issues as well as many of their bosses. If we're rude to their bosses, they remember. They take that personally.<br />
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<i><b>Have you sent an email, congratulating your lawmakers on their election?</b></i> Have you asked for a short meeting one weekend, or a Friday afternoon when they're not in session?<br />
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<i><b>Have you called their office?</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i><b>Have you sent a personal, snail-mail letter? </b></i><br />
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If you haven't, could you find time between now and February when Session begins to make that first contact...low key, low-emotion. Just a friendly gesture.<br />
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Remind them you'll be paying attention during the Session...you'll be watching education bills. You'll be contacting them to advocate for or against certain legislation. Volunteer to be a contact for education policies and how they play out in the classroom...share your stories.<br />
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But do it now, before the Session revs up and there's little time for relationship-building. Think about the beginning of the year or semester...we invest time into creating the climate of our classroom, because we KNOW it will pay dividends in the future. We can count on those relationships when feelings are hurt, or misunderstandings arise. We've got that foundation of trust. This is what we do for a living.<br />
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All I'm suggesting to you now, is to turn your skills and talents and experience into the climate-building with your lawmakers.<br />
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Talk to them about what you care about...but listen. Listen to understand, not to refute or disagree, or to educate. Listen to start building the next conversation, and the next, and the next. Listen. Take notes.<br />
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Follow up.<br />
<br />
And assure them you will be paying attention and you'll be in contact with them.<br />
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<b><i>Aren't registered to vote?</i> </b>Shhh, don't tell me, and go to the <a href="https://www.ok.gov/elections/">OK Election Board </a>and take care of that right now. Lawmakers have access to voters rolls...NOT HOW we vote, but if we're registered. <a href="http://badvoter.org/">BadVoter.org</a> will let them (and all of us) know IF we vote, NOT HOW we vote. Lawmakers check to see if constituents who contact them are registered voters, and if we're regular voters. That makes sense, and it hurts our credibility if we aren't registered, or if we don't vote. SO, take care of that! Right away!<br />
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<i><b>Don't know your lawmakers?</b></i> That's OK...for now. Shhh, don't tell me you don't know, and quick, check <a href="http://www.oklegislature.gov/">this site</a>...type in your address and you'll find your Senator and Rep...right at the bottom of the page.<br />
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Click on their picture, and you'll go to their page. You'll find their office number, and a link to email. You'll see a link to their page...and on that page you'll find a biography and other information that will help you find those commonalities.<br />
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Call. Email.<br />
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Introduce yourself...ask for a quick meeting. Tell them your only agenda is to have the two of you get to know each other.<br />
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Then follow up with a quick note.<br />
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Check to see if they have a social media presence...FaceBook? Twitter? Follow them, like their pages. Some lawmakers are active on social media; some are not. But check.<br />
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Then, stay involved...Know you'll never agree on everything. But know your influence is more likely to matter if you've built that foundation first.<br />
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The work you've put in, to reaching out, to creating a relationship, to extending respect, to sharing your issues, will pay off.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtgTkbgt305hoDJ9od6CLunJ9h_G_nMZCqvl7ZbCexmO6oQvhxhfrlUUlX3W2mSxd9rSLDdBkDaeFQzCtgiyZgd5KRT77T8z_boFs5KEvbjlmRuHcFHFOaJG7ilQXL600s7yIrzzZdqeNq/s1600/Christie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtgTkbgt305hoDJ9od6CLunJ9h_G_nMZCqvl7ZbCexmO6oQvhxhfrlUUlX3W2mSxd9rSLDdBkDaeFQzCtgiyZgd5KRT77T8z_boFs5KEvbjlmRuHcFHFOaJG7ilQXL600s7yIrzzZdqeNq/s200/Christie.jpg" width="150" /></a>Need an example? Here's a note my friend, Christie, is sending to her legislators...Quick, positive, sharing something she values highly. Opening up the conversation...inviting participation.<br />
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We've got this.<br />
<br />
We're teachers and we build relationships for a living.<br />
<br /></div>
Fourth Generation Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16700328444005416956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633935880322794283.post-7580810112835520722018-09-24T20:09:00.000-05:002018-09-24T20:09:04.691-05:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg520PEA0_5Alw8eqnA0Kq3H61ggHFiQD1hG_BcC342fABuGFAGfGR1ywaoYD6znzkHFzLvtdG2gK6DyYYkGjWvVxjCH3FHWeLsCbp0rnMw-PDyfdlnYKi2eREDBL7a0j4A8mJ2HnR73mdh/s1600/schools+could.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="279" data-original-width="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg520PEA0_5Alw8eqnA0Kq3H61ggHFiQD1hG_BcC342fABuGFAGfGR1ywaoYD6znzkHFzLvtdG2gK6DyYYkGjWvVxjCH3FHWeLsCbp0rnMw-PDyfdlnYKi2eREDBL7a0j4A8mJ2HnR73mdh/s1600/schools+could.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i>What Schools Could Be </i>– if politicians and reformers and
profiteers didn’t get in the middle…schools could be student-driven,
teacher-constructed. </div>
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What if colleges didn’t set high school curriculum and
legislators didn’t set required classes? What if the experts were given free
rein to reinvent schools?<br />
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This is the premise of Dintersmith’s book…all from the point-of-view of the
outsider…someone who’s got more money and time than most of us, and the means
to travel and learn. He traveled to every state in the nation, and visited
exemplary schools. He saw innovations in action, and he watched…</div>
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He is enamored with tech and STEM, and occasionally STEAM.
He loves him some cool whiz-bang stuff. I tried to find myself in some of his enthusiasm
and I seldom did. He mentioned literacy once, and literature once, I think. One
school in North Carolina organized itself into fields of study:</div>
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I looked at his examples, and I could not find myself in
this organization…And that made me sad. </div>
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I appreciated his disdain for tests and test scores…he
reminded his readers that American schools teach that which is easy to test and
to measure, not what’s important to learn. I was cheering him along in these
sections of the book…He’s quick to point out that high school curriculum leads
to admissions tests for colleges, not for any life-long passions for learning
and doing, and we both mourn that. “College-ready content in our schools has
grown like Kudzu, with AP courses leading the way.” He wonders why our K12
experience is only to get us ready for the tests to get into college…and he
seriously questions the burdens many of us carry for our college experiences…he
says 2.8 million adults aged 60 or older are still paying off their college
loans. Does anyone need a college degree that badly? Truly?</div>
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So, it’s time for something new…something daring. Something counter-intuitive.
Like trusting students with their own learning. Letting their passions lead
learning. Trusting creativity. Finding internships and mentorships, apprenticeships,
job-shadowing. Finding passion in learning, not just filling in the blanks.</div>
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As someone outside of education, he can be outrageous…he
asks WHY we need calculus? Especially when our cell phones have the technology
to solve calculus problems faster than we can. </div>
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As someone outside of education, he can rake leaders over
the coals: Kansas’s Brownback, Wisconsin’s Scott Walker. Michelle Rhee…he is
not impressed with drill-and-test, or cut your way to prosperity schemes. Not a
fan of AP courses or tests. He wants real investments in education…but man,
does he love him some fancy technology.</div>
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In his visit to OK, he visits what he calls, Creative
Oklahoma, stateofcreatifity.com…a friend pointed out that’s the A+ Schools
model that incorporates the arts into all disciplines…</div>
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The book is worth the price if you care about education and
really DO want to help students learn to be passionate, confident adults. The
examples of innovations from around the country should inspire some deep
conversations about what schools could be…should be…can be. Are, in enlightened
pockets.</div>
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My favorite quote came from his visit to a school in Hawaii,
where the leaders constantly ask themselves, their faculty, and their students:
“What does quality look like in your discipline?” What if that was the mission
of every district, every school, every department in our country? What if that
drove our work in the classroom? Our students’ work? What does quality look
like?</div>
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BUT, I did not see myself in many of his cool schools with all
their technology. It makes me sad to think that schools NOW are not reaching
the needs and interests of our students, and I’m equally sad imagining a future
where schools ignore other groups of students…</div>
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I bought copies of this book for my two state legislators.
They’re more expensive than the legal limit to be considered as gifts. So, like
works of art in local museums, they will be on permanent loan. Truly, policy
makers could learn as much in this book as educators.</div>
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“Systems are hard to change. The model is entrenched.”</div>
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TFA “ recruit[s] people who excelled in conventional school
and want the same for their students…unquestioned commitment to academic
hoop-jumping.”</div>
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“If state legislators think test scores are so important,
they should release their own.”</div>
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“Test scores tell us little, charter schools are a mixed
bag, and college is a crap shoot. Doing obsolete things better will hardly
carry us over the water.”</div>
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“Our education system locks in cycles of privilege and
poverty/”</div>
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“Education should prepare children for life, but we have it
backward. We prepare children’s lives for school.”</div>
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“NCLB took away teachers’ confidence.”</div>
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Fourth Generation Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16700328444005416956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633935880322794283.post-3185881209479717372018-09-15T09:54:00.001-05:002018-09-15T09:54:10.335-05:00"THEY WILL TELL US" Another Interim. More Questions<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6eoRTiYUcsRfEXPLoiFc68ugXXtqdKzdFDNzSDYleuEu1tLV4jsML_pJV7vC4EJPfv5FL9jl9fQFOp96xzQGzMifkMH_B0ngdngk0PGAEWBxqaW88UDtbp_MGYlbt5CPYn0RtlEkTn8x7/s1600/ok+capitol.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="171" data-original-width="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6eoRTiYUcsRfEXPLoiFc68ugXXtqdKzdFDNzSDYleuEu1tLV4jsML_pJV7vC4EJPfv5FL9jl9fQFOp96xzQGzMifkMH_B0ngdngk0PGAEWBxqaW88UDtbp_MGYlbt5CPYn0RtlEkTn8x7/s1600/ok+capitol.jpg" /></a></div>
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Thursday’s Interim Study was collecting information about
the virtual charters in our state. This growth is interesting<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>development in #oklaed. We have a combination
of charters sponsored by K12 virtual charters, sponsored by the state virtual
charter board, and even at least one university in the state. All are ultimately run by a for-profit organization. </div>
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I still remember the first time I was made aware of virtual schools,
computer-driven…soon after her election to State Superintendent of Public (oh,
how she hated that!) Schools, Janet Barresi visited a K12 school…she came back
to Oklahoma and waxed poetic about how efficient they were – with their teacher
student ratio of 1:300 (OK, maybe I’m exaggerating…slightly). </div>
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Now, OK has four Virtual Charters:</div>
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<li>·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><a href="https://epiccharterschools.org/lp2?gclid=CjwKCAjw2_LcBRBYEiwA_XVBUyLkyjnXl0RK3-OuTDMGsXJbznKp-qb6hLUrciE0NhSwsRJOdxw6iRoC2McQAvD_BwE" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">EPIC</a><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">,
with two sponsors, Oklahoma and Rose State University, run by </span><a href="https://www.manta.com/c/mry4q32/epic-youth-services-llc" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Epic Youth
Services, LLC</a></li>
<li>·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><a href="https://ovca.k12.com/" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Oklahoma Virtual
Charter Academy,</a><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> run (‘powered’) by the Superindentist’s beloved</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K12_(company)" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> K12</a></li>
<li>·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><a href="https://ok.insightschools.net/" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Insight
School of Oklahoma</a><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">, also run (uh, ‘powered’) by K12</span></li>
<li>·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><a href="https://oklahoma.connectionsacademy.com/ppc-google?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_network=g&utm_campaign=%7bCampaign%7d&utm_term=oklahoma%20connections%20academy&utm_matchtype=e&utm_device=c&utm_creative=258669683244&utm_adposition=1t1&utm_content=%257" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Oklahoma
Connections Academy</a><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">, run by </span><a href="https://marketbrief.edweek.org/marketplace-k-12/pearson_faces_scrutiny_for_role_in_maines_new_virtual_charter_school_1/" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Connection
LLC</a><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> – or Pearson! Mega Ed Corporation</span></li>
</ul>
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So, it appears that for-profit charter schools are alive and
well in #oklaed…all our virtual charters are being run for profit. What could
possibly go wrong?</div>
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While these schools are classified as public schools, like
other charters in our state, they are driven for profit, for the bucks, and
their growth shows there is a lucrative market in our state. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are partially funded by state school
money…receiving the state aid, but not the local money…and they are hungry for
more. I’ll explain below.</div>
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Emily Wendler, reporter for KOSU, the local NPR station, has
written <a href="http://www.kosu.org/post/enrollment-virtual-schools-grows-some-question-their-effectiveness">two
pieces</a> about charters…good and <a href="http://www.kosu.org/post/weak-financial-accountability-charter-school-management-companies-get-millions">not
so good</a>. I recommend them both.</div>
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My reporting here may have holes, because the speakers moved
so fast through slides with lots of charts and graphs…just as I had my phone up
to snap a shot, we were off to the next slide. Senators at the study got
spiral-bound books with all the information. Old grannies in the audience were
trying to listen and take notes, and sometimes that didn’t work.</div>
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There is a state virtual schools board, with members appointed
by the Governor, Senate Pro Tem, and Speaker of the House…the purpose of the
Board is to bring accountability to this industry. And make no mistake, it is
an industry. I believe each school also has a local board, appointed in some
way. </div>
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The Interim, called by Chair Stanislawski, was to look at
performance data. And we got into the weeds almost immediately. </div>
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<a href="https://www.tulsaworld.com/news/education/epic-charter-school-now-recruiting-teachers-by-boasting-pay-as/article_02eb8b2c-9a60-5533-9045-f641a53ac588.html">EPIC
Charter,</a> our largest virtual charter in the state, has information about
why families leave the public school setting for virtuals…some reflect
negatively on schools: bullying, overcrowding, limited resources, and ‘problems’
with schools. Safety is an issue. There are also positive reasons for the
transfer: more parental involvement, the ability to accelerate instruction, or
receive intensive remediation, and individual needs that were not addressed in
the public schools.</div>
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Parents identified benefits: safety, engagement, quality of
the academics. And they identified challenges: social interaction, academic
struggles, lifestyle adjustments.</div>
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My heart will always be with public schools, so I look at
that list through the lens of the recent strangulation of schools…resources…overcrowded
classes…teacher shortage…individual attention that every child deserves. My question
from the start was, “How much of this need for an ‘alternative setting’ have we
manufactured by starving our schools, and what would happen if we were fully
funded?”</div>
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Virtual charters in OK are public schools—run by for-profit
corporations. But like other charters, they receive only a portion of the state
allotment. They do not receive local funding, or ad valorem funds, and they are
not able to bond, or piggy-back on public school bond elections. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because of the high mobility of student
enrollment, virtual charters typically get large ‘mid-term adjustments’ in
state funding. Virtual charters also have no brick-and-mortar upkeep,
transportation costs, or child nutrition costs. </div>
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Virtuals have a double management organization…a local board
(not elected as public districts have), and a for-profit management
organization. It was not said in the meeting, but I have heard others say the
board’s work is transparent and subject to all the same accountability as
public schools. The management organization is not as transparent, and it may
be difficult to identify accountability issues. </div>
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Students at virtuals are tested, just like all other
charters and public schools. They must bring students to regional centers to
test with the same safeguards as other schools. And scores are reported to the
state. </div>
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But here’s where it got sticky, and the meeting got testy. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All (or nearly all) students in a school must
be tested by state law. But for evaluation purposes, only certain student
scores are counted in this evaluation…students who are identified as Full
Academic Year…enrolled within the first 20 days of the school year, and not
absent for 10 consecutive days up to the testing window. </div>
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EPIC folks were sharing their test data, showing that for
most grades their students outperform public students…Two Senators, Smalley and
Pemberton, asked pointed questions about the number of FAY students at public
and virtual. A spokesperson from EPIC said he didn’t have the exact number, but
it was close to the public school rate. </div>
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OSDE folks in the back were able to access the information,
and it told a drastically different story. In public schools, 93% of students
are considered FAY, and their scores are combined for reporting purposes.
Virtual charters? The number was nowhere near that…so the spokesperson was
woefully misinformed. 31% of virtual charter students are considered FAY, and
their scores ‘count’ in the total. I understand that the 31% of virtual
students whose scores ‘count’ are not necessarily the highest-scoring, best
students…but, a comparison of 93% of one population and 31% of another cannot
be accepted as a fair measure.</div>
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The Senators present, all members of the Senate Education
Committee, seemed ready with their questions. </div>
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We moved on to graduation rates…also a source of great
differences. EPIC Charter’s graduation rate is computed at 36%. Again, that number
does not tell the whole story because of the way that number is computed. To be
counted in this number, a student must be a member of a four-year cohort…beginning
high school with his peers, and graduating on time four years later. This number
leaves little room for family catastrophes, health issues, developmental
differences, discipline. The state must count the students who entered high
school and graduated four years later.</div>
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<br /></div>
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This number would be lower for a population as mobile as
virtual charters. And I wanted to ask how many students entered a virtual as a
freshman, but went back to a brick-and-mortar sometime during those four years.
Or transferred TO a virtual, or took a year off, or, or. Or.</div>
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We understand the variables are too many to count. But that
is the bar we are all judged by. Speakers spun the data in so many different
directions, I , frankly, lost the thread. And Senator Stanislawski was quick to
jump in and tell the group that graduations numbers are meaningless to virtual
charters. Throwing shade much?</div>
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<br /></div>
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Attendance for charters has always been a big question. In
public high schools, students must attend all classes all day. They’re counted
absent or present for every class. If they miss 10 consecutive days in any
class, they automatically lose credit in that class, and if it’s a core course,
they’ll have to take the semester over. </div>
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<br /></div>
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For charters, the requirements are different…I think it used
to be a requirement that students ‘log on’ each day to be counted as present.
One log-in any time during the day. Speakers shared that now students must
complete 40 instructional activities in a nine-weeks to be considered ‘present’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Norman Schools, high school students would
take 6 classes, and teachers were required to log two grades each week. 18 as a
minimum for the quarter. Times 6 classes…</div>
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Another way virtual charter students can be considered
present is to complete instructional activities (I assume that means at least
one activity) for 90% of the school days. </div>
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There was an exchange between the CEO of EPIC and Senators
over funding. No charter in #oklaed receives local money. I can see with
virtuals it would be hard to apportion local property taxes to schools that
serve students from all over the state. Didn’t stop them from pushing again. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dr. Chaney is not happy that virtual charters
do not receive the same amount of funding as brick-and-mortar public schools…his
voice shook as he talked about ‘return on investment,’ with a chart and an
emotional line: “Are virtual students worth less?” Since we have no view of his
for-profit management, we must ask him, and no one did, “How much are you
paying yourself, where is the accountability for public funds the state HAS
given you to educate these students? Are funds being invested in students or in
your for-profit management?”</div>
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This is when Chairman Stanislawski said “They (public
schools) will tell us (virtual charters)…” I was highly troubled by his
aligning himself with virtuals, against public schools…the public schools he’s
responsible for overseeing and shepherding…crafting and advancing legislation
to protect and strengthen. I know he’s deeply involved in the virtual charter
world, but he seemed, in that one line, to make his loyalty clear. </div>
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At that point, I might have written a bad word in my notes….not
sure.</div>
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Interims are previews of possible legislation…so, I’m
predicting we’ll be seeing bills to change the funding formula for virtuals…and
even loosen regulations. Last Session there was a bill to allow charters to
share in public school bonding capacity, and I expect we’ll see that again. And
judging from the informed questions from other Senators, I wouldn’t be
surprised to see legislation requiring more accountability and transparency.</div>
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I have friends who work for virtual charters…they pay
infinitely better, and offer bonuses. I do not blame them for choosing to make
a living in the profession they love. I have friends who are using the
flexibility of virtual charter to educate their children. I do not begrudge
them that choice for their children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For
some students this is the best setting for them. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And there is funding available for families to
help with extra-curricular activities. One cheer team advertised that they are
now a vendor and accept those funds.</div>
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But there are issues with virtuals that must be addressed:
lack of transparency, recruiting bonuses, mobility, attendance, graduation…</div>
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<br /></div>
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In a perfect world brick-and-mortar public schools would be
fully funded, with an accomplished teacher certified in the subject in every
classroom, with all the resources and texts and technology needed to educate
our children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There would be public school
options – blended learning, emphasis on arts, music, humanities, STEM and
STEAM. Flexible hours for students. When those conditions are not met, and
other alternatives are offered, it’s no wonder we’ve set up this conflict. In a
perfect world, face-to-face classes, virtual classes, would be available to all
our students…and we’d make all our decisions based on what’s best for this
child now? </div>
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We are not there yet.</div>
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And, Senator S, you tried to ‘razzle-dazzle’ us. Didn’t
work.</div>
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Fourth Generation Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16700328444005416956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633935880322794283.post-80884556254192739402018-09-12T09:23:00.000-05:002018-09-12T09:23:30.643-05:00Studying Bullying <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBnR42ztfsRHyDh4PhdzRIcQSb6f4GJi9TC4ujtcCcZuDFkyMy8lGUQhpxP6mfqCSrsO8SlPfMpChMoWmYqyl908e79ySVKuUZg3iPjRMTaDSlWBPnUFdekAxe0b-hom3MdSUnzktObXij/s1600/bullyinh.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="159" data-original-width="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBnR42ztfsRHyDh4PhdzRIcQSb6f4GJi9TC4ujtcCcZuDFkyMy8lGUQhpxP6mfqCSrsO8SlPfMpChMoWmYqyl908e79ySVKuUZg3iPjRMTaDSlWBPnUFdekAxe0b-hom3MdSUnzktObXij/s1600/bullyinh.png" /></a></div>
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Legislative Interim Studies are so very interesting to
attend…the atmosphere is laid-back, everyone’s a bit more casual; and, in
advocacy, you can sit and watch and listen. Then you can predict what possible
legislation might come from the Studies…what the big ideas will be.</div>
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Today I attended my state Senator, Rob Standridge’s Interim
Study on Bullying in the Classroom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Speakers came from across the state, and represented private
organizations, universities, virtual charters, private schools. Students spoke
as their own best advocates. Steve Hahn, of the <a href="https://www.parentchildcenter.org/">Parent Child Center in Tulsa</a>
began the presentations with specific questions and recommendations. He had
worked with the legislature in the past on anti-bullying legislation, and
curates the website <a href="http://www.preventbullyingtulsa.org/">PreventBullyingTulsa.org</a>.
</div>
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A representative of <a href="https://www.anewleaf.org/">A
New Leaf</a> in Broken Arrow brought three clients, adults with disabilities,
who told their stories of overcoming childhood bullying. Their sponsor spoke
about the need for inclusion in schools, including in the lunchrooms. He also
spoke about crowded classrooms making it harder for teachers to be aware of
covert bullying. One client told the story of how Special Olympics gave her the
confidence to become her own advocate. I’ve worked with high school students as
we volunteered at <a href="https://www.sook.org/">Special Olympics Oklahoma</a>,
so I know first-hand how barriers and stereotypes can be smashed when disabled
and non-disabled students work together.</div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="https://www.trinityschoolokc.org/">Trinity private school</a> in OKC was
represented. Trinity works specifically with students with disabilities, and
typically these students have suffered some kind of bullying. As I browsed the
site, I found their tuitions and fees, but no mention of vouchers that could be
used. I’m certain the <a href="http://sde.ok.gov/sde/lindsey-nicole-henry-lnh-scholarship-program-children-disabilities">Lindsay
Nicole Henry Scholarships</a> are offered to families to offset the costs. The
speaker extolled their social skills curriculum, <a href="https://www.loveandlogic.com/educators/what-is-love-and-logic-for-teachers">Love
and Logic,</a> which is part of every class. </div>
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The superintendent from <a href="https://epiccharterschools.org/lp2?gclid=Cj0KCQjwz93cBRCrARIsAEFbWsh8ye3lfz-W4TZWuqRA-_BmVG-Rs0yjgB_A4_CCdg0frsi0G9cb8AwaAnOAEALw_wcB">EPIC
Charter School,</a> students, parents and educators spoke eloquently about what
drives some students out of the public schools into online charters. The
stories were heartbreaking, and hard to hear. I don’t want to make excuses for
us in the public schools…I want us to be more proactive about recognizing and
stopping bullying of all kinds. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Trish Hughes, a professor from OSU shared her research as
well. She was asked for her top recommendation for schools working to prevent
bullying. She enthusiastically suggested character education for all students.
She specifically spoke of <a href="http://www.greatexpectations.org/">Great
Expectations,</a> and told the story of visiting a Great Ex school and
witnessing the positive, accepting climate. She made the point that an entire
school needed to buy into the program for it to be successful. I have not gone
through this training, but I work with National Board Certified Teachers, and
candidates. They often tell me this training is the most profound work they’ve
participated in, for making an immediate difference in the climate of their
classrooms.</div>
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Parents and students told harrowing stories of systematic
bullying in schools, and inadequate responses, or disrespectful responses, or
NO responses from public school teachers and administrators. One high school
student created a presentation as part of a 4-H project. Students and parents
were clear…they did not feel supported by the public schools. That made me so
ashamed. 40 years I worked. 40 years I tried. But these students and parents
were not supported the way they deserved.</div>
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I’ve <a href="http://fourthgenerationteacher.blogspot.com/2014/12/i-couldnt-stop-bullying-my-biggest.html">written</a>
about <a href="http://fourthgenerationteacher.blogspot.com/2015/02/bullying-in-schools-oklaed-chat-3115.html">bullying</a>
and how I always felt recognizing and responding to bullying was my greatest failing
in the classroom. I hosted an #oklaed chat, and <a href="http://fourthgenerationteacher.blogspot.com/2015/03/oklaed-chat-resource-guide-to-address.html">compiled
the resources</a> we talked about. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
craved more information and read every book I could get my hands on. But…I
never felt I protected my most vulnerable students the way I should have. To
think they could have been talking about me, and that my response was not
supportive breaks my heart.</div>
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So, I approach every discussion about bullying from that
hollow space of, “did I do enough? Did I fail to notice? Did I communicate my
expectations? Were kids bullied in my classroom under my nose?”</div>
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Listening to the parents and students share their stories of
school responses reminded me there are some phrases that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">MUST MUST MUST</b> be removed from teachers’ lexicon. When a student
reports bullying, I want my teacher friends to never say: </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Just ignore them</span></li>
<li>·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Tell them to stop</span></li>
<li>·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Just walk away</span></li>
<li>·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Play somewhere else</span></li>
<li>·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Play with someone else</span></li>
<li>·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">We can’t do anything</span></li>
<li>·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">It’s his/her word against yours</span></li>
<li>·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">No one else witnessed it, so we can’t do
anything</span></li>
<li>·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Boys will be boys</span></li>
</ul>
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Any time professional educators use phrases like this, they
abdicate their professionalism, their authority. They reinforce the bully’s
power and the bullied student’s helplessness. Can we just stop? Yesterday?</div>
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<br /></div>
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That brings me to a disturbing stat from this morning…when
asked, 90% of school personnel said they responded to students’ reports of bullying.
But, when students were asked, only 5% FIVE PERCENT, said their teachers were
responsive. Is it because some teachers think they’ve done their job with,
“Well, just walk away”?</div>
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Steve Hahn, from Family Child Center, showed a moving video
of a dad who lost his 11-year old son to depression over being bullied beyond
endurance. In response to his story, high school students created <a href="https://standforthesilent.org/">Stand for the Silent</a>, an online
community whose mission is to bring awareness to bullying and the devastation
of families it causes. Perhaps it’s time to let the young people lead. I would
hope schools would tap into this resource. </div>
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The Senators who attended heard from experts…both
professionals who’ve studied, and families who have suffered. I’m going to
report what I heard, and how I sifted through my own lens of classroom teacher
and brought my own terminology to what I heard.</div>
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I heard the speakers recommend more <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">inclusion of students</i> who are different…disabled, on the autism
spectrum, kids who learn differently. Inclusion, especially at the secondary
level, could be a great project for a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">service
club or student council</i>. One speaker admitted this kind of project would
need teacher supervision and sponsorship; but teachers are already under such
stress and pressure during the school day, it would be one more responsibility.
Maybe using the resources from Stand for the Silent would be useful.</div>
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One speaker talked about <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">class
sizes</i>, and how larger classes in reality means less individual attention,
and more bullying…A student said <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">teachers
needed to know her</i>…but in large classes, it’s so much harder.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A teacher said that bullying does not start in the
schools…it starts at home and is brought into the schools. EPIC has an
emotional video sharing the hurtful things students were called by other
students, and it’s clear that some of those words and attitudes were modeled by
the adults in their lives and brought into the schools. True, but it affects
the lives of our students in our classes, in our schools.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Speakers mentioned <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">cyberbullying</i>,
but no concrete suggestions were given. I think this is a new area where
schools, communities, parents, and maybe law enforcement could work in partnership…It’s
the way much of the evilness is spread nowadays ,but I know it’s so hard to get
a grip on solutions. We must…but how? Speakers had no ideas.</div>
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So, speakers did mention some steps schools and teachers
could take: social inclusion of students, lowered class sizes, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">building trust</i> so students feel safe
reporting, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">social skills curriculum</i>,
even having a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">working definition of
bullying</i>…one we systematically teach to students and families. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What they did not mention, but I extrapolated from their
reports: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">teacher shortage</i> combined
with larger class sizes are giving bullies the advantage. I wonder if the high
number of alternative-and-emergency certified teachers <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">without formal teacher-preparation training</i> is making the issue
worse. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Building relationships</i> is
still the most important work in the classroom…it can break down the climate of
fear, giving bullied students the strength to come to their teacher; it can tell
everyone bullying does not happen in this classroom.</div>
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I think the issue of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ACEs
</i>– <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/acestudy/index.html">Adverse
Childhood Experiences</a> – was alluded to, but not by name. One mother told of
her son being diagnosed with PTSD after years of being bullied at school. ACEs
affect all our students, but I’m betting the bullies and the bullied experience
more. I’m grateful that our state is acknowledging and addressing this issue
with educators with trainings planned this fall on <a href="https://okeducationtruths.wordpress.com/">Trauma-Informed Instruction.</a></div>
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Would a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">community
school,</i> with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">wrap-around services</i>,
help students and families find new ways to interact? I think it’s worth a
look. <a href="https://newsok.com/article/5371641/oklahoma-city-districts-first-community-school-is-a-big-hit-with-parents">Edgemere
Elementary School</a> in OKC would be the perfect place to start. Such schools
could have social services, extra counselors, family counselors, parent
education classes, health care facilities, all as part of the physical school. When
someone makes the mistake of asking me what school reform I would support, they
get an earful about community, wrap-around schools. </div>
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School districts are hiring more counselors whose job
description includes being <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">student
advocates</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">crisis managers</i>. These
counselors could work with teachers, students, and parents, to address all the
issues that come along with bullying. Norman and Noble have done just this in
response to the need for more student support.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All this takes money. All this takes commitment. All this
takes the courage to stop doing what we’ve always done, and do something more. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was heartened by my Senator saying that even though
students and parents and administrators from EPIC Charter were allotted a large
chunk of time, he was not saying he sees online charters as the only answer to
bullying.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
But, Chairman Stanislawski responded at the end in an
emotional speech, talking about his own daughter’s struggles with bullies in
public schools, and his family’s decision to enroll her in a private school, at
personal expense for the family. He ended with his hope that all parents would
have the ‘right to choose where to send their students with state support.’ He
just upped the ante on the conversation to include more vouchers…for any
parent. Not one of the speakers had suggested vouchers as a solution. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I left the Study with a strange mix of feelings…rage, and
yes, guilt, that students were abused right under the noses of educators who
should be protecting them. Pride, as young people bravely stood up and told
their stories…and gave us ‘the rest of the story,’ overcoming adversity. Hope
at some ideas that could help us become proactive. And, frankly, defeated, that
it appeared the Chair’s idea is to take funding public schools desperately need
and divert it to more choice, instead of addressing the needs of public
schools. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I fear more voucher bills are in our future. But how does
that help the vast majority of students in our public schools, many of whom are
afraid to go to school? These students are OURS, ours to educate and protect.
We need support and tools and resources, and that all costs money. Will new
vouchers strip even more money from public schools in their efforts to address
bullying?</div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<o:p>Maybe the answer is to trust the kids...as then stand for the silent</o:p></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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Fourth Generation Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16700328444005416956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633935880322794283.post-44797817892962350482018-08-21T17:02:00.000-05:002018-08-21T20:59:52.125-05:00It's Time to Chalk the Vote!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
Runoff elections are in one week. Both the Democrat and Republican tickets have races for House, Senate, and state races. Libertarians have a runoff for the office of governor, and, Independents, remember you are welcome to vote in the Democrat's runoff.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwNzrYpmppkrRlCYlXgdyzcj9ByKb99NL1Y9uWdPLq98PNREBIbSHY1H9eoUE90ZBG-QD8eKTySOq57DtxrsDgIMeO32sPNEuSCA-t6AUiRykE9m3riCVdce5hpRIhFxsQ_YlTub7rTSlB/s1600/ChalkTheVote-360x270.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="360" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwNzrYpmppkrRlCYlXgdyzcj9ByKb99NL1Y9uWdPLq98PNREBIbSHY1H9eoUE90ZBG-QD8eKTySOq57DtxrsDgIMeO32sPNEuSCA-t6AUiRykE9m3riCVdce5hpRIhFxsQ_YlTub7rTSlB/s320/ChalkTheVote-360x270.jpg" width="320" /></a>I have harped on elections and voting before on my blog. I've pointed out that teachers are sometimes our worst enemy when it comes to voting, and voting for #oklaed. I may have used the term "shooting ourselves in the foot." I've pointed out the dismal numbers for teachers: former State Senator John Sparks told me 30% of teachers vote. The former Superintendent of Schools, and no fan of teachers, Janet Barresi, DDS, put the number closer to 18%. Former State Representative and governor candidate, and my friend Joe Dorman, says about 1 in 6 teachers are registered to vote, and vote.<br />
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<a href="https://oica.org/who-we-are/our-staff/">Joe, as Chief Executive Officer </a>of Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy, is fulfilling a dream to serve the children of our state, and to be a catalyst for educators to hold themselves and each other accountable on election day. He and I have talked about <a href="https://oica.org/events/chalk-up-the-vote/">Chalk the Vote</a>, a 'get out the vote' initiative aimed at teachers, since his own race for governor. Now we both have time to devote to this effort, and Tuesday the 28th is our first test. Can we encourage teachers to support each other's efforts to go to the polls? I hope so.<br />
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I hope we will continue the energy of our Chalk the Vote Meet-up at the Capitol during the second week of the Walk Out in April. It was cool and windy, but the enthusiasm was infectious. We were working together for a positive goal. We met old friends and made new friends as Joe spoke into a bullhorn, sharing his vision of educators working together in a totally nonpartisan way to brainstorm ideas for making it easier for teachers to vote.<br />
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We have a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/2188123941310064/">FaceBook page</a>, and teachers have volunteered to be Block Captains, being the point person at their school to share voting information...NOT WHOM to vote for, just HOW and WHEN and WHY to vote. We share resources, including the <a href="https://www.ok.gov/elections/index.html">Oklahoma Election Board</a> website, where you can see a sample ballot for the runoff, and check your voting precinct. We all have strong opinions, and I'm hoping that teachers saw first-hand which candidates were supportive and have earned their votes. Chalk The Vote is about getting us to the polls.<br />
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I was a teacher. I know what it's like to teach all day on a Tuesday, drive home, and then remember that it's election day. I know how hard it is to stay informed and feel like your votes reflect the attention you've paid to races. I know.<br />
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I know it's hard to stay informed as a teacher...our days and nights and weekends are filled with planning and grading, and family and children. So, Chalk the Vote is trying to be a clearing house of information on how and where to vote.<br />
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On our FB page, we've talked about mail-in voting...which requires notarization. We've talked about early voting in each county the Thursday, Friday and Saturday morning before election day. We've talked about strategies to help teachers slip out, as is legal, and vote while their classes are covered by subs or by colleagues. We've talked about having tables for voter registration at parent nights, and having forms in the teacher's lounges. We've talked about the deadlines for registering and requesting mail-in ballots. Our page has been a safe place for us to put aside our partisanship (and everyone KNOWS I'm partisan), to just celebrate our right to vote.<br />
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We are working on extending the concept of teacher support to parents and to high school students. Talks with PTA parents are beginning, and we are beginning to reach out to student civics groups to replicate our support system.<br />
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We want to inspire all citizens to fully participate in the electoral process. To proudly proclaim that we've voted. To wear those stickers proudly, to be a model for our students and our children of an active, interested citizen.<br />
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Chalk the Vote is actively seeking ideas for how to make voting easier for busy educators, parents, and students. We want to hear your thoughts.<br />
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There are plenty of places to learn about candidates. Social media is one. Connecting with candidates on FaceBook or Twitter can give you a sense of their issues and views. Attending community forums is another way to see and hear candidates in action. Several groups online have lists of recommended candidates and ones to avoid. I'm not going to tell you how to vote, but I hope if you're my friend, you are a voter, and #oklaed is a priority. Some candidates have stronger credibility with the education world than others. That's for you to learn about the candidates you'll be voting for.<br />
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After the runoff, and once we have a full slate of candidates for office, I'm hoping you'll find candidates you can support...donate time and money to. Put out a yard sign, share positive news about your candidates. Knock doors, attend fundraisers, write checks. Knock doors. Be vocal about whom you support and why. Talk to neighbors and family. Share why these candidates have earned your support.<br />
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And vote. And help friends to vote. And support colleagues as they vote. And stand a little taller, knowing you've done your part to make our state the best it can be.<br />
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So...Chalk the Vote. Join us.<br />
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Fourth Generation Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16700328444005416956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633935880322794283.post-54342209577251363402018-07-28T16:58:00.001-05:002018-07-28T16:58:12.425-05:00Brittani Pollock: "I Left Teaching. I Had To."<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background: white; color: #4b4f56;"><i> I'm donating my blog today to a former student, now friend, Brittani. She was my student and an officer in my club, Teen Volunteers, at Norman North. I always knew she wanted to be a teacher, you could see her deep love of children when she volunteered. I watched her get her teaching degree and watched as she began what we both thought would be a long career in the classroom. I planned to watch her become a National Board Certified Teacher. Things did not work out the way we hoped. And my heart is broken for every student who will never know Miss Pollock's love.</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdC-irRcE5dY3qYYfTxS0GG_bdKim34kMfhwaLWk3c6C9lR6hu7FCAFTM8fBG3h8D5Hd11Sk9ZJfea1UJ2spbpb7blYexbZiYodtadIWGq9RJtGfSpzygMSYsKFNE-fbYvVtQIRcTzmjD9/s1600/brittani+p.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdC-irRcE5dY3qYYfTxS0GG_bdKim34kMfhwaLWk3c6C9lR6hu7FCAFTM8fBG3h8D5Hd11Sk9ZJfea1UJ2spbpb7blYexbZiYodtadIWGq9RJtGfSpzygMSYsKFNE-fbYvVtQIRcTzmjD9/s320/brittani+p.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="background: white; color: #4b4f56;">In December of 2014 I graduated with my
degree in Early Childhood Education. I was so excited to finally be able to
have my dream job. I got a job offer for the 2015 school year, and boy was I
THRILLED. I got a job at an inner city school. My life was forever
changed. It was the most rewarding job I ever had. I learned SO much just in my
first week on the job. Coming from Norman, it was definitely a “culture shock”
but there was no where else I would rather be. I saw things in 1st graders I never
thought I would see in my life. Yet, I got to make a huge difference in their
lives. Discipline is an issue everywhere, and it was definitely an issue where
I was. Yet, these kids just needed love and guidance. Tough love? Oh yes, all
the time. I had students with all sorts of backgrounds and all kind of stories.
I loved my job. I left for the summer loving my job. These kids have touched my
heart, my life, and my soul. I began my second year. That had a lot of
challenges as well. However, at the end of the year I walked away LOVING my
job. My third and final year came along. I started the year with positivity and
I was so excited to meet my students. My students my final year were the same
as years before - just needing guidance and love. However, this last year
something had change. If anyone ever says I left because of the kids’ behavior,
it is a bold faced lie. They are first graders growing up in horrific
circumstances. It wasn’t their behavior that drove me away. My heart BLEEDS for
the children and it always will. Let me tell you why this was my final year. </span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background: white; color: #4b4f56;">It all boils down to Oklahoma needing to get their act together. Here are all of the ways Oklahoma and its school systems have failed their students.</span></span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background: white; color: #4b4f56;">I had a student who was supposed to be placed in a special ed classroom </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4b4f56; text-indent: 0.5in; white-space: pre-wrap;">in my classroom. I loved this child so so much. However, she couldn’t handle </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4b4f56; text-indent: 0.5in; white-space: pre-wrap;">the environment she was in with 26+ students. She would hit the students, pull </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4b4f56; text-indent: 0.5in; white-space: pre-wrap;">their hair, hit me, punch me, punch them, etc. Now, could she help it? Probably </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4b4f56; text-indent: 0.5in; white-space: pre-wrap;">not. However, if she was placed correctly it wouldn’t have been an issue. I </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4b4f56; text-indent: 0.5in; white-space: pre-wrap;">would call her guardian and let them know of her behavior, and because everyone </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4b4f56; text-indent: 0.5in; white-space: pre-wrap;">knew that she had psychological issues, nothing was done. She was still in my </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4b4f56; text-indent: 0.5in; white-space: pre-wrap;">classroom. Yes, it was her least restrictive environment. However, it was not </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4b4f56; text-indent: 0.5in; white-space: pre-wrap;">her safest environment. I would get phone calls every day from parents about </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4b4f56; text-indent: 0.5in; white-space: pre-wrap;">how much their kids were getting hurt by this little girl. Do I blame the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4b4f56; text-indent: 0.5in; white-space: pre-wrap;">little girl? Absolutely not. She is a child who is going through so much. Do I </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4b4f56; text-indent: 0.5in; white-space: pre-wrap;">blame the school system for letting that happen? Yes. This same girl one day </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4b4f56; text-indent: 0.5in; white-space: pre-wrap;">had a necklace around her neck in the gym in the morning she was “pretending” </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4b4f56; text-indent: 0.5in; white-space: pre-wrap;">to choke herself. Knowing that she has tantrums, I was told by an administrator </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4b4f56; text-indent: 0.5in; white-space: pre-wrap;">not to poke the bear and let her keep playing with it. Five minutes later I am </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4b4f56; text-indent: 0.5in; white-space: pre-wrap;">taking my class back to my room, and I see her turning blue with that necklace </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4b4f56; text-indent: 0.5in; white-space: pre-wrap;">wrapped around her neck and she can’t get it off. THANK GOD it had a snap and I </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4b4f56; text-indent: 0.5in; white-space: pre-wrap;">pulled and ripped it off of her. She finally got placed…in MARCH. She was safer </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4b4f56; text-indent: 0.5in; white-space: pre-wrap;">and she was happier. However, I saw our systems fail us when she was supposed </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4b4f56; text-indent: 0.5in; white-space: pre-wrap;">to be there to begin with and no one thought it was crucial enough to keep not </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4b4f56; text-indent: 0.5in; white-space: pre-wrap;">only her safe but my other students safe as well. I had another student. He was </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4b4f56; text-indent: 0.5in; white-space: pre-wrap;">in a different class to begin with, but he caused trouble. As a team player, I </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4b4f56; text-indent: 0.5in; white-space: pre-wrap;">volunteered to take him as my own kiddo. I was told if I did, I would have so </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4b4f56; text-indent: 0.5in; white-space: pre-wrap;">much support in helping with him. I never received it. Luckily, the person that </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4b4f56; text-indent: 0.5in; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am, I like to handle as much as I can on my own. However, this child - poor </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4b4f56; text-indent: 0.5in; white-space: pre-wrap;">thing was being abused at home, so of course I took him under my wing. Did he </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4b4f56; text-indent: 0.5in; white-space: pre-wrap;">pop my wrist and hit me every day? Yes. But I loved that child so much.</span></div>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background: white; color: #4b4f56;">I had another student. He came from a self-contained classroom in his other school, but like the other girl we were trying out his least restrictive environment. He obviously needed to be tested. We signed for consent in SEPTEMBER. He got placed with ONE MONTH LEFT OF SCHOOL. That boy, he grew on me so fast. However, the environment was not okay for where he was. He would kick, punch, choke, and hit students EVERY DAY. He would kick, push, and hit me most
of the time too. He would throw chairs around the classroom. I would have to evacuate my classroom because of his violence at least twice a month. Daily, he would run out of the classroom around our three story building. I would have to stop class to chase him and find him to keep him safe. Then I was told not to chase him, to let someone know. But even then, I’m worried for his safety. When
I’d chase him, I wasn’t supposed to. When I wouldn’t chase him. I was supposed to. It was a damned if ya do and damned if ya don’t situation.</span></span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background: white; color: #4b4f56;"> I had another student almost get kidnapped at my school. A coworker and I basically saved them, they were walking to a car with the wrong people. We got threatened by those people. Did anyone take it seriously? No. That same girl held scissors to her throat in the middle of class one day trying to cutmherself. My class was in tears scared. That poor girl. She’s a first grader and
feeling the need to do that.</span></span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background: white; color: #4b4f56;">I had a fight every day between students. All of those kids I have mentioned above, I love with EVERY PART OF ME. What they did/didn’t do isn’t why I left. They are kids. They have been through situations I wouldn’t wish on anyone. So what made me leave? As much as people and our state want to say it, THEY ARE NOT HAVING THE KIDDOS’ BEST INTEREST AT HEART. I totally understand where these students are coming from, I know why they are the way they are. HOWEVER, not placing a student where they should be placed is FAILING them. Acting like
their behavior is “justified” is FAILING them. Whenever fights, or hitting, or any of the behaviors happened listed above, I would do ALL I COULD in a classroom setting. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #4b4f56;">However, they’d be sent back to my
classroom with Takis or food. No discipline. I’m not saying to suspend these
kids, but discipline is needed. We are FAILING our kids EVERY DAY when we don’t
hold them to the same standard as everybody else. How will they become
successful adults? TOUGH LOVE. LOVE THEM WITH ALL YOU HAVE, but loving them
also means looking out for what will benefit them in the long run. My duty as a
teacher was to PROTECT MY STUDENTS AND LOVE THEM ALL. I loved them all. And, my
God, I wanted to protect them all. I was always told that the kids I had
problems with, we are just giving them a chance (duh, they deserve all the
chances. No matter what the student did I ALWAYS treated them fairly). BUT WHAT
ABOUT THE OTHER STUDENTS? The other 24 that are in the class? The ones that get
hit everyday, are scared everyday, cry everyday because their stuff is being
thrown around by the other children who should have been in a classroom better
fit their needs?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #4b4f56;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
was shocked at the end of the year how much my class had grown in academics,
because this last year of teaching I felt all I was doing was chasing children,
evacuating my classroom, trying to shield other kids from children. I am so
proud of every child in my class. EVERY SINGLE ONE. Male or female. White,
Hispanic, or African American. Tall or short. Good behavior or bad behavior.
THEY ALL GREW ACADEMICALLY AND WORKED SO HARD. I will always love them, they
will always be my kids. HOWEVER, I REFUSE TO SPEND ANOTHER YEAR WATCHING MY
STUDENTS BE SCARED OR HURT ALL THE TIME. I REFUSE TO SPEND ANOTHER YEAR WITH
KIDDOS WHO NEED TO BE PLACED CORRECTLY (FOR THEIR OWN SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS) -
the problems they gave were because the environment was overwhelming. I REFUSE
TO SPEND ANOTHER YEAR BEING TOLD BY THE STATE THAT WE ARE DOING WHAT IS BEST
FOR THE KIDS. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #4b4f56;">January, 2018, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was already feeling disheartened about
teaching. It wasn’t that I didn’t love teaching. It wasn’t that I was stressed
because of the kids. It wasn’t because of any of the reasons people like
saying. It’s because I was so tired of seeing the children I love in situations
they do not deserve, and not being able to do anything about it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #4b4f56;">Then in the spring, the Oklahoma Walkout
happened. It became clear our legislators don’t care about the students either.
Having very little curriculum is ruining the chance these students have to
succeed. Not having money to keep teachers around is failing the students, not
so much the teachers. We all know the politics of this. So after the walkout it
was clear to me that if I stayed in the profession I would continue to see the
demise of our current situation with public schools. There were already so many
other things that teachers have to deal with, funding the classrooms shouldn’t
be one of them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #4b4f56;">Legislators being condescending
shouldn’t be one of them. I may not be a teacher anymore, but I am still in
this fight with all teachers FOR THE KIDS. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #4b4f56;">I applaud every single teacher out
there. You are all heroes. I left teaching. I had to. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #4b4f56;">I couldn’t witness some of those things
anymore and not be able to do anything about it. I had to do it for my mental
health and happiness, and those who understand - thank you from the bottom of
my heart. Those who don’t, it’s okay - but you are not me. I will not feel
guilty for the choice I made. My heart and soul are still with every student in
America. I just have to take care of me. I will be at the polls in November. I
will forever support public education. I will rally any day for public
education. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #4b4f56;">Teachers, you are heroes. Keep fighting
the good fight. For the kids.</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #4b4f56;"><br /></span></div>
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<i>Brittani Pollock graduated from Norman North High School in 2010, and majored in Early Childhood Education at East Central University. After graduation, she taught for three years in an urban school in Oklahoma. She is now a federal employee.</i></div>
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Fourth Generation Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16700328444005416956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633935880322794283.post-45070205825514594882018-07-19T20:25:00.003-05:002018-07-25T22:20:42.397-05:00Students Deserve Accomplished Teachers<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div>
I love students...I've often told my classes that my mission in life is to show the world how brilliant they are. I saw this brilliance on display last week, and I was reminded of the humble joy it is to spend time with young people in the classroom. </div>
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"Every student deserves an accomplished teacher." That statement reflects on the bedrock values of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, and the <a href="https://www.nbpts.org/standards-five-core-propositions/">Five Core Proposition</a>s of accomplished teaching. Everything starts with these Core Propositions. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><b>Teachers are committed to their students.</b></li>
<li><b>Teachers know their subjects, and how to teach those subjects to students.</b></li>
<li><b>Teachers manage and monitor student learning.</b></li>
<li><b>Teachers think systematically about their practice and learn from experience.</b></li>
<li><b>Teachers are members of learning communities.</b></li>
</ol>
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I am a proud National Board Certified Teacher and I see life through the lens of the Propositions. So, it wasn't a surprise that I found them in a recent panel discussion.</div>
</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaUOtqNVZRJ8_HTDCRTSg1WqrZr0-5Q1f6mVifTj2TSeeDDhNrRCHx9uAlJwsm3R5mAbtpPLRnbmI5FH-daXNbUcBytfu7hRoVxWh9sD4mGnWIZPCxS78LuAHaN95IjJpjARJM7Ea84g1p/s1600/engage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1009" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaUOtqNVZRJ8_HTDCRTSg1WqrZr0-5Q1f6mVifTj2TSeeDDhNrRCHx9uAlJwsm3R5mAbtpPLRnbmI5FH-daXNbUcBytfu7hRoVxWh9sD4mGnWIZPCxS78LuAHaN95IjJpjARJM7Ea84g1p/s320/engage.jpg" width="201" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: OSDE</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I participated in the <a href="http://engage.ok.gov/">EngageOK</a> Conference, the traveling summer professional development hosted by the Oklahoma State Department of Education. I attended the meeting held in Norman -- at my old school, Norman North High School. <a href="https://newsok.com/article/5601298/students-talk-openly-about-their-teachers">One presentation was a student panel,</a> moderated by Superintendent Joy Hofmeister. At North, the students were from big schools and small, and had a variety of experiences in school. They were brilliant, just as my students had been. The questions were thoughtful, and the answers were eloquent.<br />
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I was sitting with my Oklahoma House Representative, Jacob Rosecrants, a former teacher, and even earlier, a former student in my English 1 class. We both agreed this group of students made us deeply miss being in the classroom.</div>
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As they answered questions, I became aware of how the students' answers reflected the Five Core Propositions. When asked what makes an exceptional teacher, and what advice they'd give to new teachers, they used examples that could be organized under four of the five Propositions. The only Proposition that students did not articulate was the one they would probably never see in the classroom, Proposition 5: Teachers are members of learning communities, but I could make a strong case for their creation of a learning community. The space and time students are with teachers in the classrooms...that's a learning community.</div>
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Without knowing anything about the Propositions, students could and did articulate descriptions of them in their answers. They said more, but these are the responses that spoke to me and the Core Propositions.</div>
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<div>
<i>How would you describe an exceptional teacher?</i></div>
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<b>Core Proposition 1 -- Teachers are committed to their students</b></div>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Helps us engage</li>
<li>Sets the climate</li>
<li>Is understanding</li>
<li>Has unfailing respect</li>
<li>Brings me into the school</li>
<li>Asks me how I am</li>
<li>Invests in students</li>
<li>Says we're in this together</li>
<li>Expands our vision of what we can be and do in the future</li>
</ul>
</div>
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<b>Core Proposition 2 -- Teachers know their subjects and how to teach those subject...</b></div>
<div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Engages us in the subject, not just teaches for the next test</li>
<li>Cares about what they're teaching</li>
<li>Connects the class to our lives</li>
<li>Takes something they're passionate about and uses it to help us learn</li>
<li>Shares how their subject connects to our future.</li>
<li>Boring teachers don't connect their subject to us</li>
</ul>
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Core Proposition 3 -- Teachers manage and monitor student learning</b></div>
<div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Adds physical activity when we're tired and distracted</li>
<li>Keeps us off our cell phones</li>
<li>Uses voice tone and pitch to hold our interest</li>
<li>Moves around the room to keep us on task</li>
<li>Has consistent procedures</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<i>What advice do you have for new teachers?</i></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>Core Proposition 4 -- Teachers think systematically about their practice and learn from experience:</b></div>
<div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Show us you're learning too</li>
<li>Build to be that veteran teacher</li>
<li>Know you won't be perfect all the time</li>
<li>Don't try to please everyone</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
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<div>
Representative Rosecrants asked the students to speak to us about the effects of class size...and here, also, I heard them talk about the first three Core Propositions...</div>
<div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>It's hard for teachers to invest in 40 kids in one room (1)</li>
<li>Small classes let teachers know me (1)</li>
<li>In small classes, there are more opportunities for attention and participation (1, 2)</li>
<li>Small classes let teachers individualize the curriculum (2)</li>
<li>Small classes let teachers give more and better explanations of the material (2, 3)</li>
<li>Teachers can see what kids need and give us that in small classes (2, 3)</li>
</ul>
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One student said, and I agree, "Teachers deserve smaller classes." I'd add, "STUDENTS deserve smaller classes."</div>
</div>
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Students watch teachers all day long. They understand more than we know. They know what works and what doesn't. Without even knowing there are these Five Core Propositions, they can describe what four of the five look like in the classroom, and know teachers who live these Propositions are more effective...are exceptional. They want to help new teachers learn and develop into exceptional teachers.</div>
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Students deserve accomplished teachers. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjirz8ilzW1_Cu04vTCMieyCREVm_Y8Zx75lpVyFuz_NH5BdbD9DK7X80H-sfGvUAzoT6nBDMlY2e_SMb4mtzOGM6qj87quvoj_nJrGvgIOjUjvYsQWbC7F9EmPvvfr5AVvo_8llUpp2Dx1/s1600/five+core.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="177" data-original-width="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjirz8ilzW1_Cu04vTCMieyCREVm_Y8Zx75lpVyFuz_NH5BdbD9DK7X80H-sfGvUAzoT6nBDMlY2e_SMb4mtzOGM6qj87quvoj_nJrGvgIOjUjvYsQWbC7F9EmPvvfr5AVvo_8llUpp2Dx1/s1600/five+core.png" /></a></div>
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Teachers deserve the opportunity to pursue National Board Certification, and to be rewarded for measuring their practice against the highest voluntary standards in our profession. </div>
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If you're interested in finding out more about the program in #oklaed, ask me! I love to talk about this transformative learning experience.</div>
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Fourth Generation Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16700328444005416956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633935880322794283.post-53381224158205890742018-06-22T11:40:00.002-05:002018-06-22T11:40:19.303-05:00Primary Elections Matter-Vote for our Kids<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9y5qNxqZQk9e5F22T1Ng0zPXzfnuXURan-PTUFAi5uAYVS-M2IAXLpba0c1dE5VEKs4Dsv36_z7R61Roe6KIm-UXRipjD9zZzKLBCIChTlT7yJf5Yar06rxO_fXZsq-e3ch1sxB1D1OT5/s1600/vote+here.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="503" data-original-width="960" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9y5qNxqZQk9e5F22T1Ng0zPXzfnuXURan-PTUFAi5uAYVS-M2IAXLpba0c1dE5VEKs4Dsv36_z7R61Roe6KIm-UXRipjD9zZzKLBCIChTlT7yJf5Yar06rxO_fXZsq-e3ch1sxB1D1OT5/s320/vote+here.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Hi! Remember me? Your neighborhood nagging granny. I'm here to beat the drum for voting Tuesday. <a href="http://fourthgenerationteacher.blogspot.com/2016/06/why-do-you-vote.html">It's not like I haven't talked</a> about voting before...<a href="http://fourthgenerationteacher.blogspot.com/2012/09/self-inflicted-woundteachers-we-have.html">One of my first posts </a>was about voting...and the fact teachers DON'T.<br />
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One example of our power as voters was the <a href="http://fourthgenerationteacher.blogspot.com/2014/06/vote-today-and-thank-superintendent-b.html">State Superintendent</a> race in 2014. We (actually, the GOP in their primary) did send a loud message to the <a href="http://fourthgenerationteacher.blogspot.com/2014/04/surprise-your-elected-officials-vote.html">SuperinDentist</a>, when she came in third in a three-person race.We can make a difference when we vote.<br /><br />I wrote passionately about the <a href="http://fourthgenerationteacher.blogspot.com/2016/08/teacher-caucus-is-set-for-november.html">Teacher Caucus</a> in 2016 -- this amazing group of educators who took the risk of<a href="http://fourthgenerationteacher.blogspot.com/2016/10/vote-dammit.html"> running for office</a>. I wrote. I cheered. And I watched nearly every candidate go down in flames. We didn't vote. And the past two years of legislative inaction is a direct result of our neglect.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Speaking of VOTING: Tuesday!!</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoM_pSbdk55b1MutaD99JvntF9siigy2NF2EqdDDKyjSCGWPbeOfoKCu4I0f2JgTS5l_7FCCHbcYWBFTZDyJD2FRJUha2Of128p2J-jJpCLMsCBYBmC3YIWZ7UjDeF84sPlppvlP9g4d0I/s1600/vote-voice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="1024" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoM_pSbdk55b1MutaD99JvntF9siigy2NF2EqdDDKyjSCGWPbeOfoKCu4I0f2JgTS5l_7FCCHbcYWBFTZDyJD2FRJUha2Of128p2J-jJpCLMsCBYBmC3YIWZ7UjDeF84sPlppvlP9g4d0I/s320/vote-voice.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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So, Tuesday we have another opportunity to vote. To vote #oklaed. To tell our students how much we care about their future. To tell the new teachers I've watched do their interning in Oklahoma classrooms, who choose to move to TX to teach, "Stay. We need you and we will pay you."<br />
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There are several lists of recommendations out there and by all means, look at them all. Oklahoma Parents and Educators publish their Apple list. Start there. And then, as a responsible citizen, do your own research.<br />
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Here is a new site I really like, <a href="https://www.voteok.info/">VoteOK</a>. They have guides that include all candidates' websites. One page guides you though listing and prioritizing your issues, so you can look at candidates through that lens.<br />
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Educators can join <a href="https://oica.org/events/chalk-up-the-vote/">Chalk the Vote</a> and stay up-to-date on election information...we hope to also encourage each other to VOTE. Chalk the Vote is sponsored by Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy, and is the brain-child of Joe Dorman. I highly recommend book-marking <a href="http://oica.org/legislation/">OICA's legislative page</a>. Lots of great information about advocacy.<br />
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All the information you need about elections is on the <a href="https://oica.org/events/chalk-up-the-vote/">Election Board</a> website. I've printed out a sample ballot and used that to search the candidates. You'll find all the information you need to be ready to vote.<br />
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Candidates DID pay attention to the Teacher WalkOut, and all candidates remind us they're related to someone who taught once. They all tell you they care deeply. Education is their top priority. But...we must be informed voters to see beyond their heart-felt commercials set in an empty classroom. We must be careful readers and voters...<br />
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What follows is my list...a list of words to search for on candidates' webpages, FaceBook pages, and listen for in their statements. With the help of the smartest friends in the world, I've put together a list of <span style="color: red;">RED FLAG</span> words that might mean a candidate is not as education-friendly as they are trying to tell us. These words should give you pause as you visit their pages. And they should encourage you to keep looking for that candidate.<br />
<br />DISCLAIMER: Yes, you will see a bias in my list. The bias is in favor of fully-funded and supported public schools in Oklahoma.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Not-so-subtle attacks on #oklaed that should worry voters:</span></b></div>
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<i>Accountability for schools</i></div>
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<i>Audit school districts</i></div>
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<i>Big government</i></div>
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<i>Business-friendly</i></div>
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<i>Car allowance</i></div>
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<i>Competition is good for schools</i></div>
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<i>Conservative values</i></div>
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<i>Consolidate schools</i></div>
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<i>Corporate investment</i></div>
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<i>Education gets more than half the budget</i></div>
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<i>Education Options</i></div>
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<i>Entitlement programs</i></div>
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<i>Extreme liberal as an attack</i></div>
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<i>Failing schools</i></div>
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<i>Fraud in schools</i></div>
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<i>Free market</i></div>
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<i>Government bloat</i></div>
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<i>“I’m a businessman, not a politician.”</i></div>
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<i>Increase testing</i></div>
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<i>Inefficiencies</i></div>
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<i>Job creators</i></div>
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<i>Job-killing regulations</i></div>
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<i>Job-killing taxes</i></div>
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<i>Local control</i></div>
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<i>No new taxes</i></div>
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<i>Parental choice</i></div>
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<i>Principled conservatism</i></div>
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<i>Privatization</i></div>
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<i>Refers to any human as ‘illegal’</i></div>
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<i>Reform</i></div>
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<i>Religious freedom</i></div>
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<i>Remote classrooms</i></div>
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<i>Rigor</i></div>
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<i>Run government like a business</i></div>
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<i>School administrators’ salaries are the problem</i></div>
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<i>School choice</i></div>
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<i>School competition</i></div>
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<i>School Funding Abuse</i></div>
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<i>Spending problem, not a revenue problem</i></div>
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<i>“State budget is just like a family budget”</i></div>
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<i>Status quo</i></div>
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<i>Taxes are theft</i></div>
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<i>Total education funding is increased</i></div>
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<i>Traditional family values</i></div>
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<i>Trim the fat</i></div>
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<i>Use money from Office of Land Management</i></div>
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<i>Waste</i></div>
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<i>Where’s the money from the lottery?</i></div>
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<i>Workers Comp abuse</i></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<o:p>What other words and phrases (yes, clauses too) set off alarm bells in your head?<br /><br />I'm off to go vote early. If you have never done that, try! It's fast and fun. And you still get a sticker!! </o:p></div>
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Fourth Generation Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16700328444005416956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633935880322794283.post-32580452756126542162018-04-09T19:33:00.007-05:002018-04-09T19:36:05.644-05:00"Waste! Fraud! Abuse!" Aysha Prather's Guest Blog<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>One of the joys of my advocacy journey is meeting other people who care about public schools, who sit with me during boring committee meetings, and floor debates. Who inform themselves and ask tough questions. My friend Aysha is one of those friends. We were recently sitting at a coffee shop, having just listened to Representative Emily Virgin talk to teachers and citizens about the Teacher Walk-out when we began laughing about the legislators we can always count on debating about the waste, fraud, and abuse in education...Aysha made a leap I expect from her to the REAL waste, fraud, and abuse in education: required standardized testing. I begged her to write this and here is her response to the real waste, fraud, and abuse in our schools. Enjoy...or don't enjoy. Get mad and write to your legislator.</i></span></div>
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WASTE, FRAUD, AND ABUSE</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRKuJPEsq2xyUTsNtDC065Rpb788IfK9jc82y5ZPl7UH2xYPGTG3FD0RoiXzXJ3aaQ4dZWQM-1uBm2z9isrsbsbm3fy4JFRL0WIi6o2YhmHaqOKilkgJRZtJdzY_eh6n9EpCKAVGc7ir1k/s1600/testing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="522" data-original-width="631" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRKuJPEsq2xyUTsNtDC065Rpb788IfK9jc82y5ZPl7UH2xYPGTG3FD0RoiXzXJ3aaQ4dZWQM-1uBm2z9isrsbsbm3fy4JFRL0WIi6o2YhmHaqOKilkgJRZtJdzY_eh6n9EpCKAVGc7ir1k/s200/testing.jpg" width="200" /></a>Those of us who watch the Oklahoma Legislature regularly
hear certain legislators sing the refrain of <a href="http://bit.ly/2GGJraK">Waste,
Fraud, and Abuse</a>. It’s their answer to any suggestion that an agency or
program isn’t properly funded by the state. And we heard it again this past
week during debate about bills that would have raised revenue to fund Common
Education. We can argue all day long about just how significant waste, fraud,
and abuse are in state agencies, but there is one area where millions of
dollars are wasted in schools, resulting in fraud and abuse that cheats
students of their education for weeks or months of the school year.</div>
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We’ve also heard elected officials say that teachers should
be in the classroom, rather than at the Capitol demonstrating for more funds in
their classrooms. I support teachers’ continued action at the Capitol, and one
reason is that during the month of April, my children do precious little
learning in the classroom, anyway, due to the waste, fraud, and abuse that is
state testing.</div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>WASTE</b></div>
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Every April, every public school student in grades 3-8 takes
state tests. They are administered under high security, with test booklets and
answer sheets sealed until they are passed out to students, and every testing
room having both a certified teacher and an independent monitor to watch for
any irregularities. Testing in every grade takes multiple days, with each
testing session lasting two or three hours. During those hours, the teacher in
the room is not allowed to do anything but watch the students complete their
tests (or solve technical problems for testing on computers). Not grading, not
preparing lessons, not doing any useful work. Those hours are WASTED. The
volunteer monitor isn’t as restricted—they’re allowed to read or write (I
usually bring paper and write long letters to my legislators), as long as it’s
not on an electronic device, but it’s time WASTED that volunteers would rather
spend helping the teacher in the classroom or doing any of the other tasks that
parent volunteers do in schools every day.</div>
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When my children were in elementary school, they often spent
the rest of testing days watching videos, because going out to the playground
would have made too much noise for students who needed extra time on tests or
those in other grades who were testing on a different schedule. In middle
school, they test with their language arts classes, but test sessions take
longer than a single class period, so every other class that day will have
students missing. Those class periods are WASTED, as far as learning goes,
because teachers are reluctant to introduce new material while some of the
class is absent. </div>
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At my children’s middle school, tests are administered on
computers, but there isn’t enough equipment for every student to test at once,
so students rotate through the testing rooms. School staff have to move every
computer into those rooms, remove or cover every bit of written material on the
walls, connect the computers to the internet, and test to make sure each
machine will work properly with the state testing system when a student is sitting
in front of it. So much staff time and effort WASTED, and computers tied up for
testing instead of being available for students to use for research, or
writing, or learning skills necessary to 21<sup>st</sup> century workers.</div>
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<br /></div>
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In my children’s district, the counselor is also the test
coordinator at each school site. She spends April making sure every batch of
tests stays secure and gets to the right room at the right time, rounding up
parents and community members to serve as test monitors, walking the halls
during testing in case a student, teacher, or monitor needs to use the rest
room (or to help an anxious 3<sup>rd</sup> grader who’s vomited on their test
paper), and then collecting completed tests and keeping them secure until they
are returned to the state department of education for scoring. She’s not
spending those weeks counseling, or doing any of the other jobs that school
counselors take on. When my children were in elementary school, that meant
their weekly Gifted and Talented enrichment session was canceled for a month or
two. So much counselor time WASTED and student needs not met. </div>
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<br /></div>
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The State Department of Education pays <a href="https://www.measuredprogress.org/large-scale-assessment/">Measured
Progress</a>, the company that prepares our tests and scores them, <a href="http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/education/oklahoma-standardized-testing-to-continue-under-same-vendor-with-million/article_efeb0ff3-02b8-5503-96c3-aff6cfc41982.html">millions
of dollars</a> per year. Last year, because state tests and score categories
were revised to align with new standards in math and language arts, scores were
returned to districts much later than usual. 3<sup>rd</sup> graders got their
language arts scores first, in mid-summer, because the the Oklahoma <a href="http://sde.ok.gov/sde/rsa-legislation">Reading Sufficiency Act</a>
requires 3<sup>rd</sup> graders pass the state test in order to be promoted to
4<sup>th</sup> grade. Other students were well into the next grade before they
or their teachers saw their scores. I finally saw my middle schoolers’ scores
in November or December. They were no help to their teachers in revising instruction,
or to my children in identifying areas of weakness. More than half a year
later, they had moved on, and those weeks of testing last April were a WASTE.</div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>FRAUD</b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Federal law requires annual testing by states in language
arts and math, and testing in science once each in elementary, middle, and high
school. Oklahoma state law reflects this, but adds the requirement that 3<sup>rd</sup>
graders achieve a certain reading score in order to be promoted, and requires 8<sup>th</sup>
graders to achieve a certain reading score in order to get a driver’s permit. Also,
despite the state legislature repealing the requirement for 5<sup>th</sup> and
8<sup>th</sup> graders to take a writing test (after the writing test scores
were <a href="http://www.news9.com/story/29230267/oklahoma-fifth-eighth-grade-writing-test-scores-tossed">thrown
out two years in a row</a>), there is a writing section in the language arts
tests for those grades. My 8<sup>th</sup> grader’s language arts teacher told
me that when she finally saw the scores from last year, they were absolutely
meaningless. Administering a writing test is both contrary to the will of the
Legislature and a FRAUD perpetrated on the students who spend hours composing
written responses. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Annual testing is supposed to provide <a href="http://sde.ok.gov/sde/accountability-assessments">accountability</a>, and
the state turns a school’s test scores, along with other school information,
into an A-F grade. How that grade is calculated has been <a href="http://oklahomawatch.org/2016/12/06/state-unveils-plan-for-new-a-f-school-report-cards-keeping-single-overall-grade/">revised</a>,
and may be a more sensitive measure of performance than in previous years, but
it is still <a href="https://www.okpolicy.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Oklahoma-A-F-Hiding-Poor-Achievement-.pdf">FRAUD</a>
to try to capture a school’s performance in a single letter grade, and it is
FRAUD to tell parents that these tests tell them how well their children’s
schools are performing.</div>
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<br /></div>
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The FRAUD is also perpetrated directly on students. Because
school accountability measures are based on test scores, school administrators
and teachers are under a lot of pressure to get high test scores. So they tell
students that the tests measure what they’ve learned over the year, or that
they may be used for placement in advanced classes next year. <a href="https://oklahoma.onlinehelp.measuredprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2018/01/OSTP_2017-18_PSTG_G7_web.pdf">Here</a>
are practice questions for my 7<sup>th</sup> grader. The only thing this test
would measure is her ability to stay on task when given passages to read that
are as boring as writers can make them.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I usually browse through the sample test questions every
year. I have yet to see them acknowledge that 21<sup>st</sup> century students
go to google to answer all kinds of questions, and that kids need tools for
evaluating which online sources are useful and factual.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTgi9hUHIvgpwSz6Jq69arraorZEjafc8UMZyeideYUDq2rn8O8gUET_N7ZODcudL0rMI_SbiD2onfvVvGufc7rPdz_nzd0S5LI_Q0ochAKUU_OCjl9g5CIcXHv_y5Cu-i_v26Wa4Yp8jZ/s1600/testquestion.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="353" data-original-width="1370" height="101" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTgi9hUHIvgpwSz6Jq69arraorZEjafc8UMZyeideYUDq2rn8O8gUET_N7ZODcudL0rMI_SbiD2onfvVvGufc7rPdz_nzd0S5LI_Q0ochAKUU_OCjl9g5CIcXHv_y5Cu-i_v26Wa4Yp8jZ/s400/testquestion.webp" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>ABUSE</b></div>
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When my children are spending their time on state tests
instead of learning, and their learning time is disrupted because of the
logistics of administering tests, that is ABUSE. </div>
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<br /></div>
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The worst ABUSE, however, is what we do to 3<sup>rd</sup>
graders. The Reading Sufficiency Act requires that all 3<sup>rd</sup> graders
receive a passing score on the reading portion of the state test in order to be
promoted to 4<sup>th</sup> grade. Parents and teachers and Representative Katie
Henke fought hard in <a href="http://sde.ok.gov/sde/sites/ok.gov.sde/files/documents/files/RSA-HB2625.pdf">2014</a>
to add parent and teacher team input to the decision of whether or not to
promote based on test scores, and we’ve had to fight every year since to keep
that team involved. What 3<sup>rd</sup> graders hear, though, is that if they
don’t pass the test, they won’t go to 4<sup>th</sup> grade, period. In many
schools, they spend weeks drilling on practice questions and worrying about
their performance. Parents complain that the anxiety makes their children
physically sick. Inflicting test anxiety on eight- and nine-year-olds is child
ABUSE.</div>
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<br /></div>
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The other ABUSE is of the professionalism of teachers. All
teachers give assessments—to find out what their students already know, to determine
whether students have mastered the course content and concepts, to assess
whether their own instructional methods are working. They have training and
experience to prepare their own assessments and evaluate the results. The state
assessments could be an objective reflection of how well students are mastering
state standards, and provide useful feedback to teachers. But they would have
to receive the results in a timely fashion, not half a year after the tests
were administered, when they’ve already mapped out their lessons for the year.
And they would have to have confidence that the test results were meaningful,
and score ranks represented their own objectives for students. I trust my kids’
teachers to assess whether their instructional methods are effective--and
whether my kids are doing the work required to learn the material--because
their teachers are highly trained professionals. The state should treat them as
such.</div>
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There are so many educational activities I would rather see
my children doing in their classrooms than sitting for state tests. There are
so many things their teachers would rather be doing. There are so many parent
volunteers who would rather be helping teachers and students to stay focused on
and enjoying learning. Everyone I talk to in their school seems to recognize that
state testing is WASTE, FRAUD, and ABUSE. Wouldn’t it be great if we could get
state officials to understand that?<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJvCihgMtcjBVHTFvzGPpI9TqtaJ9a1v7g_5gThMJt_7QpSpRBRi-vhdh6K9Hb8exqOnOSTSAUnR8rPIFukz6ohyphenhyphene7yNIU47MW81frXuHPT7PTTs_OTZFvxmQo9bLMCmt_S8KGcCkmkdT/s1600/aysha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJvCihgMtcjBVHTFvzGPpI9TqtaJ9a1v7g_5gThMJt_7QpSpRBRi-vhdh6K9Hb8exqOnOSTSAUnR8rPIFukz6ohyphenhyphene7yNIU47MW81frXuHPT7PTTs_OTZFvxmQo9bLMCmt_S8KGcCkmkdT/s320/aysha.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><i>Aysha Prather is an entomologist, a graduate of public schools and three public universities, the mother of two middle school students in Noble Public Schools, a gardener, goatherd, chicken keeper, and an accidental advocate for public schools and science education.</i></span></div>
<br /></div>
Fourth Generation Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16700328444005416956noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633935880322794283.post-15611582542712401032018-04-06T16:31:00.000-05:002018-04-08T15:32:24.108-05:00Danger, #oklaed!! SB1015 and SB1398<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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“Danger, Will Robinson!” I remember that cheesy television
series, produced long before believable special effects, <i>Lost in Space</i>, about
the family adrift in the universe with their trusty robot, Robot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Will, the son of the intrepid travelers, was
a bright if mischievous, young man who often needed Robot to pull him back from
the brink of disaster. For people my age, the phrase, yelling, “Danger, Will Robinson" in your best robotic voice is shorthand for “Look out! Pitfalls ahead.”</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkecE3I6HjuB-T-4d51ip1Y1w06PMUL0NRFgHULzYXYth1IWuy_E7bBgu8uji8qxVXFgv9-IpNYdDOMxOXubWqwl6GB-aUxUDGj-Po68Gnovad6tEpGnNJqXRPvp2rUNM0sZ9QAFJpw2Nr/s1600/will.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkecE3I6HjuB-T-4d51ip1Y1w06PMUL0NRFgHULzYXYth1IWuy_E7bBgu8uji8qxVXFgv9-IpNYdDOMxOXubWqwl6GB-aUxUDGj-Po68Gnovad6tEpGnNJqXRPvp2rUNM0sZ9QAFJpw2Nr/s320/will.jpg" width="320" /></a>As we have seen a huge (and getting larger every day)
demonstration of educators, parents, students, and community, for <a href="http://newsok.com/oklahoma-house-passes-tax-bill-teacher-raise/article/5588485">more
school funding</a> and more funding for vital state services, I learned about
two bills that will be on the House agenda for Monday, ready to be voted on by
the full House. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Both are probably going to be sold as ‘helping’ #oklaed, but
Robot is screaming in my ears, waving his mechanical arms wildly. I am asking
you to write to your House Representative and </div>
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ask for NO votes on both
measures.</div>
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<a href="http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=SB1015">SB 1015</a> will,
if I read it right, add “employees of an educational service provider
contracted with a school district pursuant to subsection G of Section 5-117 of
this title who perform functions that would otherwise be performed by a school
district employee…” to the <a href="http://sde.ok.gov/sde/sites/ok.gov.sde/files/documents/files/Q%20%26%20A%20-%20Revised%20Sept%202017%20WEB_0.pdf">Flexible
Benefits Allowance</a> program for teachers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This will include any “teacher, principal, supervisor, administrator,
counselor, librarian, or certified or registered nurse” now employed by a
charter school in our state, who will be added to the pool for state-paid ‘statutory’
health insurance coverage. I will be totally supportive of such a move, IF (and
it’s a huge IF) the state, who pays for the flex benefit program, adds funds to
the current allocation to cover the new employees. I see nothing in the bill as
currently written that addresses adding funds. <br />
<br />
The flex benefit allocation is always on the brink of disaster, as health-care
costs rise and state school budgets dwindle. A large number of our new dollars
we’re seeing slowly and grudgingly added to the school budget will be
immediately claimed to cover flex benefits.</div>
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SO, add more employees to this coverage…but also add ALL the
new money to fund the employees. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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I’m going to ask my Rep for a no on this…I want that
assurance before I’m supportive.</div>
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The other bill that makes me shiver also has the awful
potential to actually create more trouble for schools, even as it appears to be
supportive and helpful.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=SB1398">SB1398</a> will
give districts the ‘discretion’ to use bonding funds (you know, those elections
we beg everyone to vote yes for?) for day-to-day ‘operations’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, on the surface, this could be sold as
a way to allow schools to ‘free up’ some cash without the strict restrictions
of traditional bonding funds. Quoting from the original bill, ‘erecting,
remodeling, repairing, or maintaining school buildings, for purchasing
furniture, equipment and computer software…for repairing and maintaining
computer systems and equipment, for paying energy and utility costs, for
purchasing telecommunications utilities and services, for paying fire and
casualty insurance premiums…for purchasing security systems, for paying
salaries of security personnel…’ all can be paid for with bonded funds…loans
the local voters agree to take on for the schools. These bond elections must
pass with a super-majority, 60%, rather than the 51% for most elections because
they are serious obligations and investments that the local community takes on
for schools.</div>
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Remember all those public school critics who complain about rich
schools that build a brand new football stadium, or a new science building? Or
districts who buy intelligent classroom technology, and provide laptops or
tablets to students? Those investments are secured through <a href="https://ballotpedia.org/School_bond_and_tax_elections_in_Oklahoma">bonding</a>…the
local community agreeing to invest in the schools. Their property tax (<a href="https://okpolicy.org/ad-valorem-tax-property-tax/">ad valorem</a>) assessment
determines the bonding capacity for each district. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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SB1398 will ‘free up’ those funds secured through bond
elections for…anything. For copy paper. For office supplies. For teacher
salaries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would be the equivalent of
our paying our mortgage with a credit card…it is not something that makes good
fiscal sense. It’s the act of a desperate person trying to survive until the
next paycheck and hope he can pay down that balance.</div>
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But to me there’s a much bigger problem with this bill, and
it comes down to the <a href="https://ballotpedia.org/Article_XIII,_Oklahoma_Constitution">Constitutional</a>
right to a free education for every child in our state. Not just the rich kids
who live in expensive homes that drive up the ability of school districts to
incur these bond obligations. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If this
bill passes, zip code will determine a student’s access to schools that are
well-equipped, buildings that are not falling apart (since some desperate
districts will STOP using bonded funds for the capital improvements they need
and use those funds to support the day-to-day operations of their schools – on credit),
to well-paid teachers. Now the accident of a child’s address will lead to the
loss of opportunities or the expansion of opportunities. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQantPAScLNys0u_3VfKTeNaP1beHFN_ndT4Umcz9chCTfGIIrvvuAgE-cpuupv9PQokYhgHEO2q-dssuIuV2ZqeUPpK_VMyu9ygbKlyqz5jrgWkvlI516UPcM7Y51jp1dCRE8DNVgCwDt/s1600/textbooks-cnn-jpg-.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="508" data-original-width="900" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQantPAScLNys0u_3VfKTeNaP1beHFN_ndT4Umcz9chCTfGIIrvvuAgE-cpuupv9PQokYhgHEO2q-dssuIuV2ZqeUPpK_VMyu9ygbKlyqz5jrgWkvlI516UPcM7Y51jp1dCRE8DNVgCwDt/s320/textbooks-cnn-jpg-.jpg" width="320" /></a>This bill also gives
me flashbacks to another time when the legislature ‘freed up’ districts from
some of the regulations to provide textbooks to schools, and follow strict
guidelines for <a href="http://fourthgenerationteacher.blogspot.com/2017/12/the-dirtiest-word-in-oklaed-school.html">library
services and librarians to schools.</a> Years ago another legislature ‘deregulated’
all these rules…told districts IF they wanted, they could spend that money the
state sent for ‘other’ necessities. And what is the result of that
deregulation? Tattered textbooks and school libraries that are closed, with no
new books for years, and no library media professional to support students and
teachers.</div>
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Robot’s arms are flailing! </div>
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We’ve tried this
kind of deregulation before. While it might allow a district to survive another
year, it does NOT address issues of inequity and student need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve seen the devastating results of
deregulation in school libraries, and I know the cause is that previous
legislature’s unwillingness to do the right thing and fully fund schools.</div>
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The potential results of SB1398 will follow that same path
to limited opportunities for students and </div>
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fewer resources for their students. </div>
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<br /></div>
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The potential results of SB1015 (unless it’s fully funded)
will be a depletion of the <a href="http://sde.ok.gov/sde/newsblog/2016-06-10/state-board-education-approves-nearly-39-million-cuts-public-school-activities">Oklahoma
State Department of Education’s Activity Fund</a>…the fund that had been
shorted more than once in recent years, leading to unexpected cuts to programs
across the state. </div>
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The potential results of both these bills will be to cut
funding from the fragile budget the legislature is trying to cobble together as
I write.</div>
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Until my concerns are addressed, and my fears proved wrong,
I must fight these two bills. I hope you’ll join me and write to YOUR
Representative and ask for that NO vote on Monday.</div>
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And you might also ask, pretty-please, for a vote on <a href="https://okpolicy.org/the-real-cost-of-the-capital-gains-deduction-could-be-much-more-than-100-million-but-we-have-good-options-for-reform/">capital
gains</a>…</div>
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And I’ll see you at the Capitol Monday, continuing to press
for fully-funded classrooms, and raises for our support personnel and state
workers. This is NOT the time to add to the inequity in our state. </div>
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Fourth Generation Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16700328444005416956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633935880322794283.post-47796563967297138532018-04-01T17:40:00.002-05:002018-04-01T17:45:36.392-05:00NOW Our Hard Work Begins...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Monday we will, once again, descend on the Capitol Building
at 23<sup>rd</sup> and Lincoln to express our frustrations about school funding…and
state funding. And, yes, we can thank legislators for finally, finally, finding
75% of the House and Senate to vote for revenue-raising, tax-raising measures.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKwz3lHaxtRjymhDqHV1YPj8fi9OX3a1igZdiigAnUB00UOien0YKqq-YvUgMdbBxFXO4466RFVUYnBIIgFnVKaNlcR_KJDeWrsfXUgQ0F2x4IunIll3PNCxqMu4UD8sRgYkMgNrMIB_fB/s1600/1990.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="960" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKwz3lHaxtRjymhDqHV1YPj8fi9OX3a1igZdiigAnUB00UOien0YKqq-YvUgMdbBxFXO4466RFVUYnBIIgFnVKaNlcR_KJDeWrsfXUgQ0F2x4IunIll3PNCxqMu4UD8sRgYkMgNrMIB_fB/s320/1990.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">I’ve said it before, but when I marched in support of HB1017
in 1990, my daughter was in 5<sup>th</sup> grade. NOW, tomorrow, I’ll be
marching WITH her daughter, a senior in high school. All the gains from HB1017
have been lost, and the state has the dubious distinction of cutting education
funding more deeply than any other state in the union in the last ten years.
So, I’m going back to the Capitol with my Grand. Who will be voting in the June
primaries. </span><br />
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I’ll be trying to develop genuine lines of communication…with my own
legislators (actually, I’ve already been working on that). </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">
I’ll be working to develop lines of combination with the Education Committee in
the Senate and the Common Education Committee in the House</span><br />
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I’m going to be an informed voter…I’m going to help inform others about
candidates’ position on MY issues (see above).</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">
Our work STARTS on Monday and continues every day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">To remind others of what we were fighting for in 1990, here
is <a href="http://fourthgenerationteacher.blogspot.com/2015/05/dan-nolans-remarks-on-25th-anniversary.html">Dan
Nolan’s post,</a> and <a href="http://fourthgenerationteacher.blogspot.com/2015/04/unhappy-birthday-hb1017.html">my
own.</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Yes, we watched an historic vote last week…both houses passing
a budget that required raising taxes at the nearly-impossible threshold of 75%.
Yes, it’s the first time this state has raised taxes since the 1990’s, after
the revolt against HB1017. Lots to celebrate. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And almost no time to celebrate before we watched a chunk of
that funding disappear in a totally bizarre bit of theater in the House on
Thursday. I sat there. I watched, and I couldn’t accurately describe what
happened, except that $50m of our new revenue was gone. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Along with our hope and budding confidence. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Right now, the tax bill, <a href="http://kfor.com/2018/03/29/fallin-signs-447-million-tax-increase-package-teacher-pay-legislation/">HB1010XX
(second extraordinary session) has been signed</a>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So was HB1011XX, which will cap itemized
deductions on income tax. <a href="http://kgou.org/post/teacher-pay-raise-plan-what-we-know-right-now">This
link</a> to a KGOU article shows the chaos that was last week…Read to the end. That
new revenue will fund teacher raises, and some funding for per pupil
investment, which has fallen as drastically as teacher salaries. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The teacher pay-schedule bill is on her desk,
as are the bills for support raises and state raises.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The need is still great…support personnel raises should not
be subject to the legislature, I understand…those raises should be part of the
per-pupil investment…which right now does not cover. State workers, who also
have not seen a raise in 10 years…and <a href="http://newsok.com/article/4866816">lost their defined-benefit pensions</a>
for the promise (broken) for a raise. These folks also support our students. We
are a team with a common goal: help families raise healthy children who come to
school ready and able to learn. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">When I describe myself as an education voter, I am quick to
explain that, in my mind, includes prenatal care, adequate nutrition, a living
wage for parents, housing, health insurance and health care, social services,
public libraries…you get the picture. To me, these are all education issues.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So that means I’m going Monday with some specific ‘asks’
that will raise revenue to help cover more per-pupil, and state workers’
raises.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to focus on the WHOLE
system that is crumbling. I want adequate, recurring, dedicated funding to our
schools and state agencies. I want these funds, these salary raises to create a
vibrant economy where working people actually have money to spend…to buy
appliances, to spend the evening out for dinner and a movie…I want the real
job-creators (middle and working class) to stimulate the economy of our state.
I’m ready.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So, on Monday when I go to the Capitol here’s my message:
Where else can we find new funding to add to our budget? I only know of ONE
source right now, but there may be others…some bills are ‘dead’ but could be
revived via shell bills. After watching the legislature last week, I know there
are rules I know nothing about that might be able to expedite more revenue. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">So for now…</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">SB1086 – this is a bill to reform capital gains tax credits.
Currently it benefits 1% (That’s right ONE PER CENT) of our citizens, and could
bring in upwards of $100m a year. It’s passed in the Senate and has been sent
to the House. Floor Leader Echols and Speaker McCall control what bills are
heard, so I’ve emailed, and will have cards to deliver to their offices asking that
it be put on the Floor Calendar as soon as possible. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I’ve heard others talk about the Ball-and-Dice bill, but all
I can see is a bill that died in the Senate and isn’t being considered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hear others also talk about Wind taxes…and
I will plead complete and utter ignorance on this issue…I know some districts
are actually getting nice money from wind, so messing with those sources might
end up hurting schools.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Folks, this is
the reason you DO NOT want me in the legislature…my level of ignorance is
stunning. Deep and wide.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Tomorrow…and Tuesday and Wednesday… I will thank legislators
for reaching that 75% threshold for the first time in 28 years. We take our
victories where we find them. And as teachers we know the importance of
acknowledging steps in the right direction. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">BUT, I’ll also be asking for the cap gains bill to be heard
in the House and passed. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I’ll be asking if there IS any creative way to generate more
revenue for all the needs our state has. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I’ll be asking. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I’ll be reaching out to House leadership to be creative (and
Constitutional) about finding funding.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I’ll be asking for a long-term commitment to MORE funding
for schools and state agencies. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And, yes, I’ll be thanking many for voting for HB1010XX.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">But here’s the deal, and here’s where I think we made our
big mistake 28 years ago: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I’m not going
away.</b> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I’m going to stay engaged. I’m going to watch. I’m going to
search committee and floor agendas for education and budget bills. I'm going to share any information I can find on social media.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I’m going to share observations and concerns. I’ll watch the legislature so my teacher friends can work with their
students. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I’m going to encourage my teacher friends, some of whom sometimes don't vote, <b>to vote</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of
the reasons policy makers don’t take teachers as a whole seriously is our
voting record shows too few of us vote. And many of us don’t vote for education
issues (see above). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: 115%;">Here’s what I know about
my blog posts about voting: they are the lowest-read pieces I write. People
don’t seem to want to read about voting. </span><span style="background: white; color: #888888; line-height: 115%; text-decoration: none; word-spacing: 0px;"><a href="http://fourthgenerationteacher.blogspot.com/2016/06/why-do-you-vote.html" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Here</a></span><span style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: 115%;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> and</span></span><span style="background: white; color: #888888; line-height: 115%; text-decoration: none; word-spacing: 0px;"><a href="http://fourthgenerationteacher.blogspot.com/2014/10/our-kids-cant-vote-so-we-must-vote.html" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> here</a> </span><span style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: 115%;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> and </span></span><span style="background: white; color: #888888; line-height: 115%; text-decoration: none; word-spacing: 0px;"><a href="http://fourthgenerationteacher.blogspot.com/2014/06/vote-today-and-thank-superintendent-b.html" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">here</a> </span><span style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: 115%;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> and </span></span><span style="background: white; color: #888888; line-height: 115%; text-decoration: none; word-spacing: 0px;"><a href="http://fourthgenerationteacher.blogspot.com/2014/06/vote-today-and-thank-superintendent-b.html" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">here</a>.</span><span style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: 115%;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> And this is my </span></span><span style="background: white; color: #888888; line-height: 115%; text-decoration: none; word-spacing: 0px;"><a href="http://fourthgenerationteacher.blogspot.com/2012/01/how-much-of-what-public-educators-are.html" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">first
voting post</a> </span><span style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: 115%;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Sorry/not sorry
for linking all the old posts. I write about voting a lot. To a tiny audience,
it appears.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I’m working with Joe Dorman on a project to encourage and
support educators to get out the vote…nonpartisan support. <a href="https://oica.org/events/chalk-up-the-vote/">Chalk the Vote’s</a>
goal is to have a teacher block captain in every school to talk up registering
to vote, learning who your legislators are, contacting them, and getting out
the vote with mail-in voting, with early voting, or in-person voting on
Election Day. If you’re a teacher, please join us!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We thought after our fight for HB1017, and against the State
Question that would have defunded it, that our work in education policy was
finished. We were wrong, and it’s gotten us to this point. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I’ll see you all on Monday. I have a great sign. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">But if you
think our work is finished, you are wrong. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This has been the easy part. NOW our hard work begins.</span></div>
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Fourth Generation Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16700328444005416956noreply@blogger.com1