There's a lot going on!! Everyone knows that we have NCLB, that is asking for increased performance every year. As discussed before, we have a shrinking state budget that effects us locally. There is a call from the feds to engage the Race To The Top and improved performance. And then there are global issues and competition.
We can try to keep doing what we have ALWAYS done or we can begin to "think differently." Well what exactly is "thinking differently" -- it's a real stretch issue!! As an example -- and I am NOT necessarily advocating this solution -- what if we PAID students for performance? You say that's crazy and possibly it is -- but that is exactly what they have done in New York City. There is another program ("Earning by Learning") in Dallas, TX where students are paid for each book that they read. What if we paid our employees based on performance and then bonuses for enhanced value-added contributions? On the other hand, there are other views on this issue.
Again I am not suggesting any of these pay/incentive programs -- BUT in what way will we create different solutions in Riverside? -- HOW will we think differently and create better solutions?
Paying students to do well on high-stakes tests is actually sane when compared to the current fiasco of tying the success and funding of states, districts, schools, and teachers to a test that the test-taker has absolutely no stake in or consequence of. This is the elephant in the room that nobody deals with, so maybe it is about time to hold accountable the test-taker.
ReplyDeleteMaybe we can start holding students and parents accountable for their performance in school. The teacher should take responsibilty for the teaching, but the parent and the student should take responsibilty for the learning too. I bet if parents saw an extra tax on their paycheck for having a low performing student, they would be more willing to take responsiblity as a parent and do something about it.
ReplyDeleteI agree that there should be a parental tax for the low achievement of their children! We would see major changes in the work of the children. Parents must be held accountable for their children.
ReplyDelete`The real "elephant in the room" is NCLB. As a parent of a special day class student who has missed ONE day of school in the past four years, gone to every offered intervention, attended summer school regularly, worked as hard as he can, but still does not achieve to the standards set by NCLB, I cannot help but be concerned about what the future holds for him when he enters high school next year. As a teacher in RUSD I cannot help but be concerned with the current course of education in our district, state, and nation. I have no problem with reform as long as it makes sense, is reasonable, and, more importantly, attainable. NCLB might make sense, but it is neither reasonable nor attainable.
ReplyDeleteWe say that parents should be responsible for their child's learning, but then we decry parents who home school or send children to charter schools. We need to stop talking out of both sides of our mouths! The truth is teachers are the professionals who have been trained to educate children. Just like we expect our doctors, lawyers, hairdressers and waitresses to be responsible for knowing and doing their jobs correctly, we should also be responsible. Children should know their standards before exiting my classroom. The state test only requires 70% of the answers to be correct. That is a C-! Surely we can expect that of our teachers.
ReplyDeleteTaxing the parents of low-performing students?!? Are you serious? Those who have jobs are already being taxed to pay our salaries. Please don't think that any additional money is going to change the behavior at home. All it will do is cause those parents to say, there, I am paying you extra money, now fix my child! What will you say then?
We also HAVE to stop using special education as excuses for why we can't get the job done. Special education is based on a discrepancy model (or response to intervention). In the first case, there is a clear discrepancy between what that child CAN do and what he or she IS doing. Special education is supposed to bridge that gap. If it is not or cannot, we need to look at that program more closely.
I am a huge proponent of performance pay incentives. I should get paid more than the teachers who sit around and complain that NCLB is unrealistic. I find new and innovative ways to teach standards, I spend one-on-one time remediating, and I spend time before and after school helping students. As a result, my test scores are above the district norm and continue to climb. Yes, that includes the special ed, ELD, and low income students I teach. So, if you think it is too hard, or do not wish to do the work, send those kids to my classroom and let me take the bigger paycheck. Then you can teach the "easy" kids, collect the same paycheck, and not have to worry about NCLB ever again!
You can't be serious. Is this your idea of thinking outside of the box?
ReplyDeleteYou are laying off teachers and proposing to pay students in the same breath.
When you took this position you indicated your interest in the ideas of others. Yet you continue the implementation of the Houghton-Mifflin basal reading series in the elementary grades. This is firmly in a box.
A box that has shown very little by way of results. You should take a look at Little Lake where a former RUSD assistant superintendent is now superintendent. This is one of few districts in the state who met their goals. And yet your team continues to push greater fidelity to a program that clearly has not worked.
Try this idea for out of the box thinking. Provide professional development and support for your teachers and then trust them to do the job that they have been trained to do.