Re: Fwd: Wall Street Journal Article on Ed

[Mike Kluznik <mkluznik@HOTMAIL.COM>]

Some believe in behavior mod and some don't.  Again, parents are important,
but their importance has been overstated.
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 14:18:09 -0800
>
> From my own eyes, I have seen the vast difference between kids who have
> involved parents and the kids who don't.
>
> True, parent's influence diminishes as the child ages and peer pressure
> takes over.  Hopefully, we have instilled in them what is important to
> help them make the proper choices.  However, I also know that unless
> "involved" parents don't push a reluctant child, they will fail.  I am a
> step-parent (came into the family when he was 14) who watched my
> husband's son use school failure in jr. high & high school as a way to
> "control" us in his adolescence.  However, with consequences and his
> aging, he was successful at earning a high school diploma (3 mos. late)
> but a diploma none the less.  And our high school requires a Senior
> Project as a condition for graduating.  He did it but it never would
> have happened without "involved" parents.
>
> That was the hardest 4 to 5 years in our new marriage.  But we all
> survived.
>
> My husband's 13 yr. old (7th grade) is smart as a whip.  Always has
> been.  But this year, which we were told to expect, school isn't so
> important to him and his good grades started slipping the second
> quarter.  As "involved" parents, with consequences for his choices, we
> are seeing improvements and we expect A's and B's this report card
> (expected anytime now).
>
> The point is, parents DO HAVE influence or whatever it's called.
>
> Jean Ward
>
>
> Mike Kluznik wrote:
> >
> > 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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