Re: a reflection on ESEA

[Carol Holst <kceh@AIRMAIL.NET>]

Stop making sense. It really gets on my nerves.
;-)
>
> 1. I would use a cheap and easy testing format.  I'd ask you
> assessment specialists to do a little research and figure out if you
> thought something like ITBS would do the trick, if converted to a
> criterion referenced test.
>
> 2. I would combine this with teacher reports on reading and math
> ability, and I would set district and education service districts up
> to figure out how best to test their kids within some simple state
> guidelines.
>
> 3. I would support instruction during the regular school day and work
> with school boards and education service districts to study the
> structure of the school day and make it work better for teachers and
> students.
>
> 4. I would look at individual schools and see what could be done at
> the sites and in the communities to improve the conditions of
> childhood where that is needed.
>
> 5. I would poll parents and teachers and ask what they see wrong and
> right in their schools.
>
> 6. I would dump WASL as a state test and offer segments of it to
> schools who wanted to use it.  And I would offer teacher training in
> whatever areas site councils decided their teachers needed training.
>
> 7. I would bolster site councils by setting a membership criteria and
> goals for school boards to utilize community input for decision
> making.
>
> 8. I would encourage community involvement in schools and begin an
> education campaign about the needs of local schools.
>
> 9. I would involve every educational entity in the discussion.
>
> 10. I would take a look at the administrative structure of education
> and figure out what services were being duplicated.
>
> 11. I would involve parents and teachers in curriculum decisions and
> utilize technology where possible to minimize supply expenses.
>
> 12. I would look at the school supply and budgeting system and see if
> we could figure out how to decrease costs and simplify ordering
> procedures.
>
> 13. I would look at the facilities situation and work with the
> legislature to simplify the construction process.
>
> 14. I would work with counties and cities to make school buildings a
> priority and see if something could be done to simplify codes and
> permit processes.  I would also encourage partnerships with community
> organizations and community colleges to make full use of school
> facilities where possible.
>
> 15. I would work with unions, school boards and parents to make the
> school calendar more consistent.
>
> 16. I would work on the teacher and parent respect issue.
>
> 17. I would tell parents they are responsible for the education of
> their children and work with schools to see that parents are part of
> the process of selecting program and determining desired outcomes--
> ech, there's that jargon I hate.
>
> 18. Oh, yeah, and I would outlaw the use of educational jargon.
>
> There's a start, Art.
>
> Juanita

--
See you at The Soapbox!

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