tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post475878768859334532..comments2024-01-08T03:21:35.616-05:00Comments on DeKalb County School Watch: Georgia PTA’s weekly update on legislative activity – Mar. 15, 2010Cerebrationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-50163327875001224072010-03-18T09:05:01.797-04:002010-03-18T09:05:01.797-04:00"Because so much of DeKalb is "blue"..."Because so much of DeKalb is "blue" and this is such a red state, we have very little influence. "<br /><br />There are a lot of "red" voters in DeKalb as well as "blue". Education is bipartisan. Everyone needs to write the governor and the legislators (especially those hoping to be governor - democrat and republican governor-want-a-bes) and let them know we want class sizes rolled back at the same time funding is increased. <br /><br />If the state forces the school systems to roll back class sizes, you'll see fast the "fat" is trimmed. <br /><br />When Barnes rolled back class sizes, we had much smaller admin and support numbers, and much larger teacher numbers. <br /><br />Tens of millions of dollars more DCSS tax dollars were spent in the classroom for students. The DCSS administration grumbled and groaned (it wasn't fair, Barnes wasn't funding it, the state didn't understand DCSS, etc.). But they were forced to make deep cuts in the support and admin to meet the state's class size requirement. <br /><br />Class size is important to any legislation. Otherwise, Ms. Tyson and the BOE will just use the money to retain or add to those 8,800 admin and support. The trickle down won't reach our kids.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-65614675615799702922010-03-18T08:51:44.484-04:002010-03-18T08:51:44.484-04:00What the PTA doesn't realize is that it's ...What the PTA doesn't realize is that it's not just the standards, but how the standards are implemented. In other states, they are viewed as the minimum a child should be taught and know. In Georgia, they are only what the children are taught. Until this thinking changes, education levels across the states are all raised, Georgia's children in public school will continue to be left behind.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-57535751461824901022010-03-18T08:35:22.322-04:002010-03-18T08:35:22.322-04:00http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/15/education/15rece...http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/15/education/15recess.html?%2334; =&sq=&st=cse&scp=1&%2334;Forget Goofing Around: Recess Has New Boss=&pagewanted=print<br /><br />Forget Goofing Around: Recess Has a New Boss<br />By WINNIE HU<br /><br />NEWARK — At Broadway Elementary School here, there is no more sitting around after lunch. No more goofing off with friends. No more doing nothing. <br /><br />Instead there is Brandi Parker, a $14-an-hour recess coach with a whistle around her neck, corralling children behind bright orange cones to play organized games. There she was the other day, breaking up a renegade game of hopscotch and overruling stragglers’ lame excuses. <br /><br />They were bored. They had tired feet. They were no good at running. <br /><br />“I don’t like to play,” protested Esmeilyn Almendarez, 11. <br /><br />“Why do I have to go through this every day with you?” replied Ms. Parker, waving her back in line. “There’s no choice.” <br /><br />Broadway Elementary brought in Ms. Parker in January out of exasperation with students who, left to their own devices, used to run into one another, squabble over balls and jump-ropes or monopolize the blacktop while exiling their classmates to the sidelines. Since she started, disciplinary referrals at recess have dropped by three-quarters, to an average of three a week. And injuries are no longer a daily occurrence. <br /><br />“Before, I was seeing nosebleeds, busted lips, and students being a danger to themselves and others,” said Alejandro Echevarria, the principal. “Now, Coach Brandi does miracles with 20 cones and three handballs.” <br /><br />The school is one of a growing number across the country that are reining in recess to curb bullying and behavior problems, foster social skills and address concerns over obesity. They also hope to show children that there is good old-fashioned fun to be had without iPods and video games. <br /><br />Playworks, a California-based nonprofit organization that hired Ms. Parker to run the recess program at Broadway Elementary, began a major expansion in 2008 with an $18 million grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. It has placed recess coaches in 170 schools in low-income areas of nine cities, including Boston, Washington and Los Angeles, and of Silicon Valley.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-74002310250068148532010-03-18T07:14:02.738-04:002010-03-18T07:14:02.738-04:00I love the Cherokee County campaign. I think it is...I love the Cherokee County campaign. I think it is awesome. Unfortunately, for most DeKalb residents they are represented by people that believe that education cuts are bad. Because so much of DeKalb is "blue" and this is such a red state, we have very little influence. With Perdue being a lame duck, it is even worse. <br /><br />I hope that parents who live in the districts of Millar, Weber, Chambers and Jacobs are letting them know to fight for public k-12 education. <br /><br />With the exception of items that need a 2/3rds vote, there is almost no need for bipartisianship at the state level.<br /><br />However, Casey Cagel, the Lt. Gov, is running again. It can't hurt to email him and tell him that the cutting of state resources for k-12 is unacceptable and that both changes to the equalization grant (where "rich" counties money goes to "poor" ones) and new sources of revenues must be considered.themommyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01829171693817032539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-65546790681021893552010-03-17T22:40:26.977-04:002010-03-17T22:40:26.977-04:00Cerebration and Blog Readers- please look at the A...Cerebration and Blog Readers- please look at the AJC Get Schooled blog about what the Cherokee county teachers, parents and citizens are doing. Also check out the Georgia Education Coalition. <br /><br />I have said several times on this blog that we must focus on the legislature. The governor, Cox and the GA legislature have done major damage to public education. <br /><br />I agree that we need a new superintendent, some new BOE members and drastic reduction of overhead and fat in the central office and administrative positions. But we need to turn some of this outrage and energy towards the folks who are holding public education hostage.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-60549140148781175502010-03-17T22:34:01.831-04:002010-03-17T22:34:01.831-04:00"As much as teachers disliked Barnes, he did ..."As much as teachers disliked Barnes, he did keep class sizes low. By doing this, he forced all the county and city superintendents in Georgia to keep the admin and support numbers at a reasonable level because.....<br />when you can't cut teacher positions, you have to carefully look at each and every admin and support position to see if you can afford it in the budget."<br /><br /><br />Brilliant and true. Smaller class sizes means the fat has to be cut from admin and support.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-2208221922042849872010-03-17T20:14:34.356-04:002010-03-17T20:14:34.356-04:00As much as teachers disliked Barnes, he did keep c...As much as teachers disliked Barnes, he did keep class sizes low. By doing this, he forced all the county and city superintendents in Georgia to keep the admin and support numbers at a reasonable level because.....<br />when you can't cut teacher positions, you have to carefully look at each and every admin and support position to see if you can afford it in the budget. <br /><br />The state of Georgia needs to roll back the class size numbers. Only then will Ms. Tyson and the DCSS BOE be forced to trim in the admin and support area and add in the classroom area.<br /><br />So parents and teachers, start writing your state representatives and the governor to let them know they are on the wrong track when they "enable" poor management that values the personnel outside the schoolhouse more than inside the schoolhouse. <br /><br />Cerebration,<br />Is it possible to put a link to our Governor and state representatives on this blog?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-84151109016279491702010-03-17T17:49:23.715-04:002010-03-17T17:49:23.715-04:00I am so sick of testing as a teacher...
Why must ...I am so sick of testing as a teacher...<br /><br />Why must I constantly cram High Stakes testing down kids throats? <br /><br />How about a formative assessment portfolio that the kids complete over time as opposed to one sitting? <br /><br />No wonder my kids are discouraged with school. With all the testing today, I would be too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-7747545622843549622010-03-17T14:35:55.037-04:002010-03-17T14:35:55.037-04:00Couldn't agree more with Anon. 10:59. For YEA...Couldn't agree more with Anon. 10:59. For YEARS I've been against standardized testing that isn't nationally norm-referenced. I heard an education expert 12 years ago say that all of these local high stakes tests would do two things: <br />1) make every facet of the testing industry a LOT of money. From the test makers to the test prep companies...<br /><br />2) dumb down education. Enough said on this front.SongCuehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00242639267685181829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-51483933358460099812010-03-17T13:46:38.231-04:002010-03-17T13:46:38.231-04:00First it was the Kansas City public schools. Now ...First it was the Kansas City public schools. Now it's the Detroit public schools.<br /><br />http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20100317/us-detroit-schools-closings/<br /><br />How much longer until the AP runs a story like this about our DeKalb County schools ? ? ?Trends in the Newsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-75782595759273304942010-03-17T10:59:39.824-04:002010-03-17T10:59:39.824-04:00Testing Companies = Scum of the EarthTesting Companies = Scum of the EarthAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-22844946663052041612010-03-17T10:59:07.649-04:002010-03-17T10:59:07.649-04:00The GHSGT is what is used to determine AYP for hig...The GHSGT is what is used to determine AYP for high schools - which in and of itself is ludicrous. To determine AYP status based on a test that Juniors/and some seniors take is just nuts. So, exactly what is the purpose of EOCT's then?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-44548151569832833472010-03-17T10:56:29.888-04:002010-03-17T10:56:29.888-04:00What ever happened to the plan to go with EITHER t...What ever happened to the plan to go with EITHER the GHSGT OR the EOCTs? We're still doing both - eliminating something could save a buck or two...Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-28436216914453736772010-03-17T10:31:53.186-04:002010-03-17T10:31:53.186-04:00EOCT Tests:
-Mathematics I and Math II:
-U.S. His...EOCT Tests:<br />-Mathematics I and Math II: <br />-U.S. History and Economics<br />-Biology and Physical Science<br />-9th Grade Literature<br />-American Lit and CompositionAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-13412659137894080062010-03-17T10:16:15.979-04:002010-03-17T10:16:15.979-04:00They don't take EOCTs in English anymore?They don't take EOCTs in English anymore?Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-40366962238782960182010-03-17T08:38:04.177-04:002010-03-17T08:38:04.177-04:00High school students don't take the CRCT. The...High school students don't take the CRCT. The first week of May is when the AP exams are given, then followed by EOCT (which is only for Math and Science) and then final exams. Oh, and the first go-round of the GHSGT is taken at the end of March.<br /><br />But, hey, we don't test out kids enough, right?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-84925442203791159012010-03-17T08:31:42.617-04:002010-03-17T08:31:42.617-04:00170 days!! Wow! I wonder if the State BOE will red...<i>170 days!! Wow! I wonder if the State BOE will reduce the CRCT expectations...I doubt it!</i><br /><br />I've always wondered...why do they give the CRCT so early? You could actually give the test at the same time, dismiss schools 10 days early, and not miss any instructional time prior to the CRCT. Why isn't the CRCT given the last week of school for elementary and just prior to finals for the middle and high schoolers?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-74752891278745648512010-03-17T07:35:07.841-04:002010-03-17T07:35:07.841-04:00It would take some time, but if someone was really...It would take some time, but if someone was really bored, they could compare the new national standards and the current GA GPS standards.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-31132044232583402552010-03-16T22:32:26.926-04:002010-03-16T22:32:26.926-04:00170 days!! Wow! I wonder if the State BOE will red...170 days!! Wow! I wonder if the State BOE will reduce the CRCT expectations...I doubt it!<br /><br />There is some encouraging news in this post though- I'm very intrigued by the national Core Standards. I think these could be great for a weak education state like Georgia. The current Georgia standards (GPS) are a joke and really hurting our kids (and teachers)!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com