Drop Out Rate Stays Stagnant
Things are NOT Getting Better in School
ASCDSmartBrief.com announced the results of a study today that shows that drop-out rates in U.S public schools have remained “stagnant”.
It’s only ten more days until the presidential election and the subject of education has completely vanished from the campaign issues.
In the meantime, according to Anna Habash, of Education Trust:
“The U.S. is stagnating while other industrialized countries are surpassing us. And that is going to have a dramatic impact on our ability to compete.”
Hmmm! Sound familiar?
The report goes on to say that the USA is the ONLY industrialized country where students are less likely than their parents to graduate.
Well, the problem is NOT going to be resolved politically, no matter which candidate is elected President.
We the People are going to have to do something, like The Kingsland Plan, or face the consequences.
Brennan
National Teachers of the Year Interviewed
The following quotes and video come from interviews conducted by Charlie Rose:
“The American public school system has long been under scrutiny and in crisis. However, there is growing sentiment that large scale reform could be possible. In anticipation of the 2008 election, I have been conducting a series of interviews on education, sponsored by the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation.”
“Most recently I spoke to four of our nation’s best teachers, all of them recent winners of the National Teacher of the Year award. Here is some of what Michael Geisen, Jason Kamras, Kimberly Oliver, and Kathy Mellor had to say about standardized testing, merit pay, and other features of the current educational climate:”
The only comment I can disagree with is Kathy Mellor’s comment (the final teacher), that the NEA is an “association, not a union”. Whether the NEA benefits teachers or not, it is, first and foremost a union.
If enough parents and teachers can rally around The Kingsland Plan, then we can implement the positive changes needed to straighten-out public education in the USA.
Brennan
Busy Day for Teachers
Today, Saturday October 18, 2008, will not be a typical weekend day for teachers in the USA.
Teachers and their supporters from across the country will be marching to the capitol in Washington, DC today – to protest Teacher Abuse across the entire nation.
Organizers for the rally have provided paper bags for teachers to wear if they fear retaliation for marching. Since, under our present system, teachers can have their lives turned into a “living hell” if they irritate the wrong people, it makes sense that some of them desire anonymity.
The goals of the protest include:
- Making citizens aware of the dangers teachers are experiencing on a daily basis as they try to do their jobs.
- Protesting being made the scapegoats for the problems in our educational system.
- Presenting a united front to protest having the blame for the failures in our public schools being placed on teachers.
- Indignation at politicos’ comments that the USA needs “better teachers”
As Don Kingsland states in his book “Set Our Teachers FREE! A Plan to Save Public Education”, there are many dedicated, highly-skilled and professional teachers all across the nation. They are almost all contending with negative forces, from within and outside their schools, to teach their students under nearly hopeless conditions.
These noble and ethical educators are struggling to fulfill their duties within a system that almost GUARANTEES failure for both students and teachers.
Because of societal issues, unrealistic accountability issues, and the physical dangers they face on a daily basis, teachers are discouraged. Many have already left teaching for safer and more financially rewarding venues.
I for one am glad that teachers are finally doing something to defend themselves against unjust accusations.
It’s about time that they speak out and bring the dangers of their job to the awareness of citizens and politicians alike.
It will be interesting to see what happens next.
Brennan
Education Reform Debate
Candidates & Advisors Debate Education
Nationally, debates and the countdown to the Presidential Election have been forging ahead, uninterrupted by hurricanes or other national disasters. OOPS! Guess I shouldn’t forget the financial meltdown and bailout that has added to our national deficit, and apparently caused a surge for Barack Obama in the polls.
At my house, I’ve had lots of time to study all the issues, though I’ve been helpless to comment on them.
My #^@%%@$ computer has been giving me fits, so apparently the last Total System Restore wasn’t the final solution that I’d hoped it would be.
Fortunately, the lag time in posting has given me an opportunity to see that, not only do I have a pulse on what the American voter is concerned about, it appears that I am psychic!
My post of 9/23 asked for more details of the education reform plans of John McCain and Barack Obama.
Now that I’m able to post again, it seems that all the education sites are jumping on MY bandwagon!
Everyone from National Public Radio (NPR) to EdNews.org have been focusing on just those issues, by interviewing or sponsoring debates by the Education Spokespersons for both candidates.
Lisa Graham Keegan, Education Advisor for John McCain, and Linda Darling-Hammond, Education Advisor for Barack Obama have been interviewed on NPR and will debate the candidate’s positions at Columbia University on October 21st.
After listening to the NPR interview, I’ve learned that both candidates think that No Child Left Behind (NCLB) is broken, but differ on the solution.
McCain doesn’t want to put any more money into it. He wants the money to go to parents to pay for tutoring or better schools.
Barack Obama wants to fully fund NCLB and proposes a $30 Billion dollar education package.
I’m wondering if there could possibly be a few more DETAILS that either advisor can share during the upcoming education debate.
Or perhaps the next Presidential debate could actually include some info about education. Ya’ think?
Details! I want details!
Brennan
