Re: Fwd: Wall Street Journal Article on Ed

[Mike Kluznik <mkluznik@HOTMAIL.COM>]

Jean,
As far as my views on parenting go, see the book "The Nurture Assumption" by
Judith Rich Harris.  Parents aren't as influential as conventional wisdom
says.
Mike


> From: "Jean M. Ward" <jmward@QWEST.NET>
> Reply-To: Assessment Reform Network Mailing List <ARN-L@LISTS.CUA.EDU>
> To: ARN-L@LISTS.CUA.EDU
> Subject: Re: Fwd: Wall Street Journal Article on Ed
> Date: Thu, 1 Feb 2001 13:28:49 -0800
>
> Mike,
>
> Hey, now THERE'S a novel idea!!!   **BIG GRIN**  Give merit pay to
> parents.  I'll second that.
>
> That reminds me of how I felt (as a parent) last summer.  Our elementary
> school began a summer program called "Teacher in a Mailbox", to help
> kids keep their brains active during the summer months.  Becca was 2nd
> going into 3rd grade.  Strictly voluntary (we jumped at this) and were
> given a reading textbook and handouts in reading, writing and math and a
> schedule and we sent in completed work periodically.
>
> For the kids who completed all 3 sessions (and boy was it a struggle as
> is anything worthwhile), they got a giant chocolate bar and certificate
> at their first assembly that next school year.  Not that many kids
> completed it.  I remarked to the teacher heading this up that the
> PARENTS should get the rewards, not only the kids!  And the other
> parents who saw it through (part of this whole exercise was a lesson in
> keeping a committment) felt the same way! It turns out the parents got a
> certificate too.
>
> The summer was actually no different than it is all school year.  I
> guess I just felt it more having to keep at my daughter for 12 months.
> It was good for her though and I don't think it put any more pressure on
> her than she made for herself.
>
> It pays off.  Parental involvement.  THAT's the TICKET!!  Just wish the
> ones in charge would realize that and quit blaming the teachers and put
> accountability where it really SHOULD be.
>
> Jean Ward
> Bonney Lake, WA
>
> WE WON'T WASL!
>
> Boycotting the 7th grade WASL this year
> Boycotting the 4th grade WASL next year
>
> Mike Kluznik wrote:
> >
> > "Don't they understand that students' performance has everything to do
> with
> > parental involvement"?
> > Obviously, we ought to forget about the schools and give merit pay to
> > parents.
> > MK
> >
> > >From: "Jean M. Ward" <jmward@QWEST.NET>
> > >Reply-To: Assessment Reform Network Mailing List <ARN-L@LISTS.CUA.EDU>
> > >To: ARN-L@LISTS.CUA.EDU
> > >Subject: Re: Fwd: Wall Street Journal Article on Ed
> > >Date: Thu, 1 Feb 2001 11:20:33 -0800
> > >
> > >Mike,
> > >
> > ><<take steps toward linking teacher pay to student performance.>>
> > >
> > >This is one area that is all wrong!  Don't they understand that
> > >students' performance has everything to do with parental involvement
> > >????  It is wrong to link teacher pay to student performance ...
> > >especially with high stakes tests!  This will steer virtually every
> > >teacher to DEFINITELY "teach to the test" (and ONLY those subjects)
> > >because the high stakes test scores will be the ONE barometer that will
> > >drive it all.
> > >
> > >Lets see ... who wins in this scenario.
> > >
> > >1.  The state gets bragging rights for how great their high stakes test
> > >is
> > >2.  The test scoring companies will rake in the dough (which they
> > >already are)
> > >3.  The successful "teach to the test" teachers will get pay raises and
> > >keep their job
> > >4.  The principals and district administrators will get pay raises and
> > >keep their jobs
> > >5.  The "Practice Makes Perfect" pro-high stakes book authors will rake
> > >in the dough from their     book sales
> > >
> > >Who loses ...
> > >
> > >1.  The students who lose everything from lost curriculum to health
> > >(both physical and mental)
> > >2.  The parents (including caregivers, etc.) who lose their
> inquisitive,
> > >LOVE SCHOOL,           children
> > >
> > >Human lives ... what a price to pay ...
> > >
> > >Jean Ward
> > >Bonney Lake, WA
> > >
> > >WE WON'T WASL!
> > >
> > >Boycotting the 7th grade WASL this year
> > >Boycotting the 4th grade WASL next year
> > >
> > >
> > >Mike Kluznik wrote:
> > > >
> > > > >From: tdkluznik@uswest.net
> > > > >Reply-To: tdkluznik@uswest.net
> > > > >To: "Mike Kluznik" <mkluznik@hotmail.com>,  "  mike57"
> > > > ><mike57@mymailstation.com>
> > > > >Subject: Wall Street Journal Article on Ed
> > > > >Date: Thu, 01 Feb 2001 12:16:18 -0600
> > > > >
> > > > >From the January 31, 2001 issue of the Wall Street Journal,
> > > > >Page A10.
> > > > >
> > > > >Politics & Policy
> > > > >
> > > > >                Business Groups Push
> > > > >                Big Changes for Teachers
> > > > >
> > > > >                By JUNE KRONHOLZ
> > > > >                Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
> > > > >
> > > > >                WASHINGTON -- Four leading business groups
> > > > >called
> > > > >                for big changes in the way teachers are
> > > > >trained, promoted,
> > > > >                treated and paid if public schools are to be
> > > > >turned around.
> > > > >
> > > > >                Their report agrees with the education plans
> > > > >announced
> > > > >                last week by President Bush and Capitol Hill
> > > > >Democrats.
> > > > >                Those plans would require all teachers to
> > > > >have at least a
> > > > >                minor in the courses they teach, would put
> > > > >more money
> > > > >                into teacher training, and would take steps
> > > > >toward linking
> > > > >                teacher pay to student performance.
> > >
> > >SNIP
> > >
> >
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