On Monday, Jay Mathews from the Washington Post facilitated a live online discussion about D.C. Schools Chancellor, Michelle Rhee, who is also a TFA alum.  Check it out here.

Palin in Pittsburgh

Sarah Palin was just outside of Pittsburgh this morning and spoke to an audience of invite-only guests about how a McCain/Palin administration would influence families with special needs children (her first policy-oriented speech so far).  She apparently didn't get the memo that a Pittsburgh-based writer (yours truly) is writing a book about Special Education and, thus, didn't put said writer on the invitation list.  I'll get over it.  Maybe.  But, clearly my phantom-book-that-might-take-yeeears-longer-than-this- MFA-program-to-finish is beside the point...

Palin promises to fully fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and redirect wasteful earmark spending to special needs funding.  The Washington Post noted that Palin's charge is inconsistent with McCain's past record in which he voted against fully funding IDEA among most other Special Education programs.  Salon.com pointed out that Palin's promise to fully fund IDEA contradicts McCain's latest and vigorously stated response to the current economic crisis: an "across-the-board spending freeze". Um, I'm confused.  Read the entire 20 minute talk here.

The New York Times also covered Palin's talk and included that her special needs funding would be exempt from McCain's spending freeze and that disabled students would be allowed (using state money) to choose to attend the private/parochial school of their choice when "our public school system fails..."  Others, including the current case law, argue that we must allow the public school system to attempt to educate these students, and if that education is deemed inappropriate the public-school-in-question must pay for student to attend private school.  Approx. 7 million students receive special education services, and according to Palin's plan, all of them could switch over to private/parochial schools if the public schools "fail".  Palin, I hate to break it to you, but our public schools have failed - all students.  What happens when "regular" education students and parents demand to switch to a private school?  Are we promoting the abandonment and eradication of the public school system instead of fixing it?  What are private schools doing better than public schools in terms of educating special needs students?  Why don't we adopt those strategies in our public schools and keep our children there?  I have so many questions.  I think I'll hold my breath until Nov. 4 to decide whether or not I need to air them and demand clearer answers...

9. Resist Immunity to Standardized Tests...

  

The College Board has invented yet another standardized test. It is the younger sibling of the SAT - a so-called "low stakes" assessment for 8th graders that will spit out a number. In turn, this number will inform parents and teachers whether or not students are "on track" with the skills necessary to graduate high school and competitively enter college (i.e. Is your student on track to produce an appropriate number which, in turn, will qualify him or her for higher education?). (Read the entire article from the NYTimes here) Don't get me wrong - I think diagnostic/benchmark testing is incredibly useful for strategic lesson planning and for informing necessary remediation.  But, what happens when teachers don't know how or just don't use these tests to better their instruction?  What happens when the medicine we're administering isn't being swallowed or followed up by a professional?

I'm starting to think the administering of standardized tests is becoming a lot like the administering of antibiotics.  A lot of antibiotics.  All the time.  What happens when a child continuously takes Penicillin for ear infections and the infection is never quite killed?  The infection starts to grow stronger and the body become resistant to the medicine.  What happens when a child week after week fills in bubbles with his number 2 pencil on his Scantron sheet?  What happens when we prescribe standardized tests to heal our broken school system (please see No Child Left Behind)?  Our students start to resist them, resent them and become immune to them.  So, when a sixth grader takes a standardized test weekly rather than yearly (because her school is in decline and forced to show adequate yearly progress), she freezes and/or becomes conditioned to the sheet of bubbles and her number 2 pencil.  And, when "high stakes" tests finally arrive (see Louisiana's 4th/8th grade LEAP exam that prevents students from promotion to the next grade and the SAT, ACT and all other high school exit exams...) she fills in bubbles and puts her head down because that's how she's learned to handle this medicine that is tiring her and not healing her.

I have a question.  And, I'm proposing that those interested in answering this question respond directly here...

HOW DO/HAVE YOUR STUDENTS PHYSICALLY RESPONDED TO STANDARDIZED TESTS?

Geauxbama, Gumbobama

Because teaching for me is so closely intertwined with South Louisiana washboard-spooning-fiddle plucking-crawfish boiling-two stepping culture. And because there are thirteen days left until the election. Here is a phenomenal video featuring Red Stick Ramblers' own Linzay among other fixtures in the Cajun/Creole music arena. And see the washboard player? C and I once asked him for directions in Lafayette, LA, thinking he was just a friendly Joe Six Pack in our beloved Red state. He pointed us to Grant St. Dance Hall where he later proceeded to hop on stage and go to town on that aluminum that drapes his chest. Here he joins other community musicians who support Obama in a place no one is allowed to call anything but pro-America.

I miss Louisiana...

The Evolution of Teach For America

U.S. News & World Report published an article this week that emphasizes TFA alumni impact, particularly in the D.C. public school system.  Read the whole thing here.

Michelle Obama in Pittsburgh

Today, in an auditorium on Pitt's campus, I was present for my first political rally during this 2008 Presidential Election season. And in that auditorium, the atmosphere was upbeat, positive - electric, even. Not once did someone boo (not once) or shout "kill him" or "terrorist" in reference to Senator McCain. There was no hostility present in the room whatsoever. And, I think that says tremendous things about the overall demeanor of Obama's campaign. Michelle Obama gave a speech that clearly articulated her husband's plan, his background and his vision. She didn't slam McCain. She didn't rile up the crowd with negative energy. She didn't have to. Her words dripped with depth and positivity and sincerity. And I so very much appreciated being a part of the invigorating yet calm environment she created at today's rally.

And just for fun, here are some notable fashion statements at today's rally...

 

And, just because this blows my mind...

We wonder why people believe these things:


And are reminded that people like this man exist in our radios:

Obama & McCain: On Education...

For some reason, I occasionally receive emails from the NEA.  Usually, I just delete them.  But, I thought I'd take a gander at the research they've pulled together to differentiate Obama and McCain on issues related to education.

Here are some of the biggies:

 - Increase Student Aid 

for college (Pell Grants)

Obama Supports

McCain Opposes

- Increase Federal

Education Funding  

Obama Supports  

McCain Opposed bills to 

increase funding - says he supports adequate funding

- No Child Left Behind  

Obama - Overhaul  

McCain - Tweak

- Reduce class sizes  

Obama Supports  

McCain Opposes

- Expand early childhood

education  

Obama Supports  

McCain Opposes expansion,  

supports better coordination

Colbert on Education

Once upon a time, The Colbert Report featured Wendy Kopp (founder of Teach For America).  Stephen is unusually docile and actually lets Kopp get through a complete thought.  The best part?  She calls out a fellow South Louisiana corps member...

And just the other night, Stephen interviewed former TFA corps member and co-founder of KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program) schools, Dave Levin.  KIPP, a public-charter hybrid, is revolutionizing the way we support and educate urban students.