In Public Schools

Per the description of the discretionary grant for Race To The Top the following is noted.  States are being asked to advance reforms in four areas.  They are per the grant proposal:

(1)  Adopting standards and assessments that prepare students to succeed in college and the workplace and to compete in the global economy; (2)  Building data systems that measure student growth and success, and inform teachers and principals about how they can improve instruction; (3)  Recruiting, developing, rewarding, and retaining effective teachers and principals, especially where they are needed most; and  (4)  Turning around our lowest-achieving schools. Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 7% [?]

The teacher is the most important person inside the classroom other then the students,themselves.   Therefore, how the teacher is prepared to do the job is very important.  In fact the  teacher is essential to their student’s education.   Those who choose this profession are in a special occupation that supports the future of the country.   Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 7% [?]

Race continues to play a significant role in American life, in particular in the public school system.  Why is that?  In fact, because nothing has been settled regarding how race influences day to day relationships. 

Underneath each American psychic, questions may not have been answered, the biggest of which is one’s comfort towards other races. So, why should there not be concerns as well in the public school system, which is one of the biggest systems in our society?

Brown versus Board of Education desegregated the American schools system, but did not touch American attitudes and behaviors.  President Eisenhower had to dispatch military power to implement the law.  Children and youth attempted to learn sitting side by side in an environment that was unprepared for not only differences in race but social class as well.  How would these students communicate with each other?  There was no outside community socialization underpinning what was happening. Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 6% [?]

The linkages between neighborhoods, communities, jobs, class status including ethnicity, and, public education is profound, like fates intermingled.

That education determines one’s future and livelihood, though a simple statement is complex.  The complexities occur with the quality and quantity of the educational  experience.  In some cultures education is the highest priority within the life cycle. The powerful and the rich have classroom seats in their alma maters held for their children, and college attendance is generational.  Colleges would deny this, but research would probably bear such occurring.  Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 3% [?]

It is time to rearrange the chairs on the deck or at the very least recognize the sense of urgency for the need to do so.  Parents, students, and teachers are a part of the “NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND” but more time is being placed on the teaching component. 

This may be the right thing to do. In principle,  if the bandleader is out of sync, then the rest of the band does not have a chance.  However, parity may be apropos.  All three must have attention simultaneously. If nothing else, let these words open the conversation for equity, along with getting parents and students in a different mindset as to their real responsibility in the process. Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 2% [?]

By definition charter schools can be elementary or secondary. They may be set up by parents, teachers, whomever feel that the public school is not working.  They use public monies and are a part of the public school system.  The main difference is that they are not strapped with many of the regulations of public schools, but, still, must produce the same accountability.

Many charter schools have smaller classes better teachers, run longer hours, may often have students dress in uniforms, and if over prescribed, becomes a part of a lottery drawing. There is diversity in learning protocol, focus, and more often then not they end up with the upper echelon of public school kids that need private school templates at the expense of the public taxpayer dollars.  Even without the cream of the crop, charter schools have done much better then many of the public counter parts.  Seemingly, smaller is better and helps students focus. Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 6% [?]

EVERY TUB SITS ON ITS OWN BOTTOM

 IT’S EASY TO BLAME THIS ONE AND THAT
LET SOMEONE ELSE BE THE DOORMAT

 FOR THINGS THAT DON’T GO RIGHT
EASY FOR YOU AND ME TO STAY OUT OF SIGHT

 SCHOOLS HAVE THEIR SHARE OF ISSUES
ACCOMPANIED BY MANY EXCUSES

 AS TO WHY STUDENTS DON’T ACHIEVE
AND LEAVE

 MANY SCHOOL DISTRICTS TWISTING IN THE WIND
UNDERPINNED

 BY HEAVY TAX BURDENS
SPENDING DECISIONS

Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 4% [?]

What does your child/teen need in order to succeed in a highly competitive world?  Many thoughts are out there.  Adam Koo one of our sponsors sees it this way.

The first thing that high achieving kids have in common is a very strong sense of belief in oneself or, put simply, ‘Self-Belief ‘. They believe that they can and deserve to achieve great results in life.

This self-belief is what drives them to set high standards for themselves. And when faced with setbacks or failures, their faith in their own abilities prevent them from giving up. Their self-belief pushes them to pick themselves up and to strive until they succeed. Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 2% [?]

Neighbors Lane introduces the location of the readership and the importance of  location to the children who are the future.

   Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 3% [?]

School achievement and self esteem for your child correlates with how closely, YOU, the parent(s) participate in the education process.

Some schools value parent involvement by providing numerous opportunities for parents to interact with each other, with teachers, and with students.   Some schools seek the involvement by allowing parents to share responsibility for operating the schools along with the teachers, and community members.  This is called “school based management.”  Your involvement occurs with sitting on committees that govern your child’s school or by joining the parent teachers’ association. Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 2% [?]

Education- Raising Standards and Responsibility for Future Hope

While many people might cite the failure of parents as a main reason for the many vulnerable children in the education system, there is at least one man who believes that someone else needs to be held responsible. President Obama gave a speech on September 8, 2009 in Arlington, Virginia that was broadcast across the nation. It was about public education. It was about children succeeding in school to create a hope for a better future. But it wasn’t about the lack of responsibility by parents or teachers. It wasn’t about children learning their values and discipline from their role models. It was simply about children taking responsibility for their own education. Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 4% [?]

The Debate and Opposition Surrounding the President’s Speech

When President Obama addressed the nation’s students on September 8, 2009, not everyone was inspired. In fact, many conservatives and other right wing critics were all but appalled at the claims that were made. The fear of Socialism has caused many people to ignore the message for the sake of attacking the messenger. Many times in life, people end up in a position where they have this same reaction. If you trust the messenger, you will likely trust the message that they are spreading. If you do not trust them, you’re not going to believe what they teach. Therefore, it’s not surprising that most of the opposition to the speech came from those who already didn’t believe in President Obama before he even began. Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 3% [?]

Parents as Role Models for Children in Public Education

The public education system is a collective forum that belongs to the entire nation. It is not about wrong versus right, good versus evil, or any other competition. It is about coming together as a country, recognizing that there are issues that need to be resolved, and working together to resolve them. People have the right to free speech, free press, and all of those things that make life in America so desirable and worth living. The ability to use a forum like this site to create discussions, launch healthy debate, and speak about what each person believes to be most important is invaluable to those freedoms. Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 3% [?]

Dealing with Children and Conflict Resolution

Dealing with anger can be a complicated issue for any parent, teacher, or other adult involved in the lives of children. There are many different things that need to be considered and looked into when choosing how to effectively deal with anger. The most important issues that will surface include: control, stress and stressors, when other emotions present as anger, and how to teach children to properly deal with anger and conflict in their lives. There are four faces of anger that you should be aware of: Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 6% [?]