Public school critics blame "failing" schools on the teachers, but consider what the teachers may have to work with, especially with large classes. Not only are there the cultural issues of not being interested in school, peer pressure not to perform, and homes where books are few or non-existent, but there is also the problem of too much lead in the environment.
"Too much lead can harm developing brains and can mean a lower IQ."
"Lower levels can reduce intelligence, impair hearing and behavior and cause other problems." "Lower levels" meaning lower than those leading to "coma, convulsions, and death".
And higher concentrations of lead are found in older or dilapidated houses. And there are higher concentrations of older or dilapidated houses around "failing" schools.
See "More than half a million young children have lead poisoning under revised standard", Associated Press, 2013-04-04, published in the Washington Post and others.
If CEOs get incentive pay to turn a company around, why not give teachers incentive pay to turn schools around?
Showing posts with label teacher unions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label teacher unions. Show all posts
Friday, April 05, 2013
Sunday, May 06, 2012
Who's to blame for "failing schools"?
Several weeks ago, Robin Washington, editor of the Duluth News Tribune, emailed me that he was helping on the Duluth Budgeteer and that they needed some letters. He wrote that it should be about something in the Budgeteer.
I looked at the Budgeteer again and didn't see anything that I could write about. I thanked Robin and wrote that I didn't have anything in mind. Of course, later I did. Bill Gronseth, Superintendent of the Duluth Public Schools had written a column, and I came up with the letter below.
However, somebody else did write a letter that was published. This week I emailed Robin that if my letter had not been published this weekend, I would post it here, which precludes it being published in the Budgeteer according to its rules about prior publication.
My submission was:
A Duluth school superintendent and board decide that a major investment should be made in school buildings. The decision is contentious with much opposition to its scope and funding. A private company makes a nice profit from the project.
Some of the money for the project has to come from the classroom costs.
The Minnesota Legislature decides that it can't pay all the local school aid that has been scheduled. Now there is even less money for classroom costs.
Many of those who show up to vote on a school funding referendum turn down any increase. The additional property taxes would have made up some of the costs.
Now the Duluth Public Schools have to figure out how to provide some instruction with the funds they do have for operation. To do so, they are increasing class sizes, lengthening class periods, and cutting out music and art which have a proven record in helping boosting learning skills.
The net result will be that fewer students will do as well in school.
Who's to blame? The teachers, of course!
I looked at the Budgeteer again and didn't see anything that I could write about. I thanked Robin and wrote that I didn't have anything in mind. Of course, later I did. Bill Gronseth, Superintendent of the Duluth Public Schools had written a column, and I came up with the letter below.
However, somebody else did write a letter that was published. This week I emailed Robin that if my letter had not been published this weekend, I would post it here, which precludes it being published in the Budgeteer according to its rules about prior publication.
My submission was:
A Duluth school superintendent and board decide that a major investment should be made in school buildings. The decision is contentious with much opposition to its scope and funding. A private company makes a nice profit from the project.
Some of the money for the project has to come from the classroom costs.
The Minnesota Legislature decides that it can't pay all the local school aid that has been scheduled. Now there is even less money for classroom costs.
Many of those who show up to vote on a school funding referendum turn down any increase. The additional property taxes would have made up some of the costs.
Now the Duluth Public Schools have to figure out how to provide some instruction with the funds they do have for operation. To do so, they are increasing class sizes, lengthening class periods, and cutting out music and art which have a proven record in helping boosting learning skills.
The net result will be that fewer students will do as well in school.
Who's to blame? The teachers, of course!
Thursday, February 02, 2012
Teacher Performance, can it really be "measured"?
The Duluth News Tribune published my "Local View" with the title "Teacher Performance has always been variable". You can find it at http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/221673/
I wrote it in light of all the bashing of teachers that has been going on and of the notion that you can judge performance at the end of a school year. I really think teachers should be paid like insurance agents - instead of a cut of the ongoing premiums they get a cut of the income taxes their former students pay.
I wrote it in light of all the bashing of teachers that has been going on and of the notion that you can judge performance at the end of a school year. I really think teachers should be paid like insurance agents - instead of a cut of the ongoing premiums they get a cut of the income taxes their former students pay.
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