Monday, November 3, 2014
Monday, April 28, 2014
Monday, April 14, 2014
Texas Education Agency Enrollment in Public Schools Report
Texas Education Agency
The Texas Education Agency has released numbers that show growing ethnic and cultural diversity in Texas public schools.
While this is very important in understanding the future of Texas schools, one of the points that should be highlighted in the report is that the percentage of children living in poverty and attending Texas public schools remained steady at 60.3%. This is a scary number. No curriculum changes, standardized tests, or teacher evaluations will change the fact that 60.3% of students in the state are living in poverty. This number should not be ignored.
The full report can be found here
The Texas Education Agency has released numbers that show growing ethnic and cultural diversity in Texas public schools.
While this is very important in understanding the future of Texas schools, one of the points that should be highlighted in the report is that the percentage of children living in poverty and attending Texas public schools remained steady at 60.3%. This is a scary number. No curriculum changes, standardized tests, or teacher evaluations will change the fact that 60.3% of students in the state are living in poverty. This number should not be ignored.
The full report can be found here
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Should Texas add a Mexican-American course?
Texas mulls adding Mexican-American studies course
It makes sense to have a Mexican-American studies course in Texas. Understanding diversity is essential for students, no matter what the demography of their school. I think that it is a great opportunity for students to learn different aspects of America's history and culture.
It makes sense to have a Mexican-American studies course in Texas. Understanding diversity is essential for students, no matter what the demography of their school. I think that it is a great opportunity for students to learn different aspects of America's history and culture.
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Principal Who Told Kids Not to Speak Spanish Will Lose Job
Principal who told kids not to speak Spanish will lose job
An interesting idea. I had GT kids that would do all of their group work in spanish because they felt more comfortable with the language. It bothered me that I didn't understand what they were saying, but I was always impressed that they were bilingual at an academic level. Maybe the teachers should all learn spanish and everything can be taught in two languages??
An interesting idea. I had GT kids that would do all of their group work in spanish because they felt more comfortable with the language. It bothered me that I didn't understand what they were saying, but I was always impressed that they were bilingual at an academic level. Maybe the teachers should all learn spanish and everything can be taught in two languages??
Friday, March 14, 2014
Why does Texas require a $100 calculator over a $15 app?
Why does Texas require a $100 calculator over a $15 app?
An interesting idea. Why stick to the old way of doing things when the world these kids live in is changing rapidly?
An interesting idea. Why stick to the old way of doing things when the world these kids live in is changing rapidly?
Friday, March 7, 2014
Student Privacy Bill of Rights
Why a ‘Student Privacy Bill of Rights’ is desperately needed
What kind of privacy rights should students have?
What kind of privacy rights should students have?
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
A Website for Comparing Texas School Districts
Financial Allocation Study for Texas
"The Financial Allocation Study for Texas (FAST) provides a unique model for measuring how relative spending in Texas public school districts and campuses compares to student academic progress."
The website by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts will allow you to compare school districts' "progress" measured by testing results and the money spent in that school district.
"The Financial Allocation Study for Texas (FAST) provides a unique model for measuring how relative spending in Texas public school districts and campuses compares to student academic progress."
The website by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts will allow you to compare school districts' "progress" measured by testing results and the money spent in that school district.
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
TEA Announces Early College High School Designations
TEA announces early college high school designations
The Texas Education Agency had an interesting announcement yesterday.
The Texas Education Agency had an interesting announcement yesterday.
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Saturday, February 22, 2014
Friday, February 21, 2014
Dallas Considers Performance-Based Pay for Teachers
"The Dallas Independent School District could become the first public school district in Texas to pay teachers based on how well their students perform." Possible Performance-Based Pay Plan For Dallas ISD Teachers
An interesting idea. Should pay be based on student's test scores?
An interesting idea. Should pay be based on student's test scores?
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
We Are Preparing Students for a Successful Future, Right?
Most Eighth-Graders Fail to Get Degree 11 Years Later
Another interesting article from the Texas Tribune.
It is the goal of educators to prepare students for a successful future, right? Then shouldn't there be more success?
Should Tasers and Pepper Spray be used on Kids?
Groups Urge TEA to Ban Use of Tasers, Spray in Schools
An interesting article in the Texas Tribune.
Interest groups are asking the Texas Education Agency to look to federal guidelines that “schools choosing to use school-based law enforcement officers should carefully ensure that these officers’ roles are focused on protecting the physical safety of the school or preventing the criminal conduct of persons other than students."
The school-based law enforcement officers are not there solely to protect students from outside criminal conduct. In many schools, the officers work to prevent student criminal conduct and to protect students from each other. There were students that would roam the halls that I was genuinely afraid of, and I was happy to know that the officers were in the hallways. Maybe the use of tasers and pepper spray on students is an issue. However, if an officer uses pepper spray on a student that presents a threat to the school then he is doing is job and should be thanked for keeping the teachers and students safe.
An interesting article in the Texas Tribune.
Interest groups are asking the Texas Education Agency to look to federal guidelines that “schools choosing to use school-based law enforcement officers should carefully ensure that these officers’ roles are focused on protecting the physical safety of the school or preventing the criminal conduct of persons other than students."
The school-based law enforcement officers are not there solely to protect students from outside criminal conduct. In many schools, the officers work to prevent student criminal conduct and to protect students from each other. There were students that would roam the halls that I was genuinely afraid of, and I was happy to know that the officers were in the hallways. Maybe the use of tasers and pepper spray on students is an issue. However, if an officer uses pepper spray on a student that presents a threat to the school then he is doing is job and should be thanked for keeping the teachers and students safe.
Saturday, February 15, 2014
According to the Data, You're Just Another Brick in the Wall
How ‘data walls’ in classrooms can humiliate young kids
The Washington Post has long been one of my favorite sites to visit for information about education in the United States. While this article isn't specifically about Texas, it is about a trend that affects all teachers and students.
Governments, led by software and textbook companies, have been pushing for accountability. They determine accountability with standardized tests. These standardized tests determine government funding for school districts and determines which districts will get the gold star of achievement and which districts will get the embarrassing "academically unacceptable" tag.
The standardized tests put school districts into a frenzy to make their students and teachers perform at the government approved standard. One way that the districts prepare themselves for tests is by collecting data. If a district can collect enough data (using expensive software made by the companies that pushed for standardized tests and curriculum) then the district hopes to know where it's weaknesses are before the big test day.
Data is important for teachers but it is important that data frenzied school districts don't make teachers lose sight of the human beings in their classrooms. Data can make teachers see students like they have "STAAR test failure" tattooed on their forehead. And who can blame the teachers for seeing that? The school administrators see that same thing tattooed on the teachers' foreheads. The school district leadership sees that same tattoo on the school administrators' foreheads. The Texas Education Agency put those stamps on everybody's forehead.
If you have the time, check out the STAAR statewide summary reports for 2012-2013. (I clicked on the 8th grade link because I taught 8th graders for the 2012-2013 school year). When you look at the summary report you can see that 344,283 8th graders were tested. That is 344,283 individual human beings with hopes and fears. Students who were grounded for not doing their chores, students without parents, homeless students, students who lost a family member, students who contemplate suicide, or students who were planning birthday parties or quinceaneras. The data sheet eliminates the humanity from teaching and turns students into numbers that can be manipulated in every way imaginable by the Texas Education Agency.
The Washington Post has long been one of my favorite sites to visit for information about education in the United States. While this article isn't specifically about Texas, it is about a trend that affects all teachers and students.
Governments, led by software and textbook companies, have been pushing for accountability. They determine accountability with standardized tests. These standardized tests determine government funding for school districts and determines which districts will get the gold star of achievement and which districts will get the embarrassing "academically unacceptable" tag.
The standardized tests put school districts into a frenzy to make their students and teachers perform at the government approved standard. One way that the districts prepare themselves for tests is by collecting data. If a district can collect enough data (using expensive software made by the companies that pushed for standardized tests and curriculum) then the district hopes to know where it's weaknesses are before the big test day.
Data is important for teachers but it is important that data frenzied school districts don't make teachers lose sight of the human beings in their classrooms. Data can make teachers see students like they have "STAAR test failure" tattooed on their forehead. And who can blame the teachers for seeing that? The school administrators see that same thing tattooed on the teachers' foreheads. The school district leadership sees that same tattoo on the school administrators' foreheads. The Texas Education Agency put those stamps on everybody's forehead.
If you have the time, check out the STAAR statewide summary reports for 2012-2013. (I clicked on the 8th grade link because I taught 8th graders for the 2012-2013 school year). When you look at the summary report you can see that 344,283 8th graders were tested. That is 344,283 individual human beings with hopes and fears. Students who were grounded for not doing their chores, students without parents, homeless students, students who lost a family member, students who contemplate suicide, or students who were planning birthday parties or quinceaneras. The data sheet eliminates the humanity from teaching and turns students into numbers that can be manipulated in every way imaginable by the Texas Education Agency.
Thursday, February 13, 2014
Wendy Davis Announced Proposals for Texas Education.
Wendy Davis has announced proposals for Texas education. One of the proposals includes "early college acceptance for top-performing high school juniors who commit to a teaching career." As nice as that sounds, how many students really know that they want to be a teacher when they are 16 and 17 years old? Or, even worse, how many students might use this as a way to get early admission into school and then will be stuck in a teaching career that they do not want? I'm not entirely sold on this particular idea. This is only one of several proposals made by Wendy Davis. Wendy Davis unveils education proposals
Monday, February 10, 2014
Education is key to improved economy
Demographer tells Texas business leaders education is key to improved economy
An interesting view point that should be considered by business leaders. The world is not the same as it used to be. Texas must grow with the world and the best way to do that is to help our students grow.
An interesting view point that should be considered by business leaders. The world is not the same as it used to be. Texas must grow with the world and the best way to do that is to help our students grow.
Saturday, February 8, 2014
State board education board will change the way it reviews textbooks
"Its role as a policymaker to help ensure the children of Texas get the best education possible must not be confused with, or contaminated by, individual members’ ideology."
Texas state education board makes modest, but important changes for textbook review
Texas state education board makes modest, but important changes for textbook review
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
Argyle Update
"ATTENTION – PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THE STAFF AT ARGYLE ISD ARE ARMED AND MAY USE WHATEVER FORCE IS NECESSARY TO PROTECT OUR STUDENTS"
Visitors, students, parents, and employees will now see this sign when they enter Argyle ISD school property. Argyle ISD Begins Arming Some Employees
Visitors, students, parents, and employees will now see this sign when they enter Argyle ISD school property. Argyle ISD Begins Arming Some Employees
CSCOPE Social Studies Review Website
I used CSCOPE for one year while teaching 8th grade US History. I absolutely hated the entire CSCOPE process. Do not let my feelings get in the way of forming your own opinion. If you are interested in learning more about CSCOPE, this website will take you to the reviews created by the Ad Hoc committee. The website states that the reviews are intended as a resource and that they hope it will benefit those interested in improving Texas education.
The website www.cscopereviews.com reviewed the lessons that were posted to The Texas Tribune. The lessons were reviewed because the lessons were perceived to support a "liberal, anti-American agenda". I'm not sure if the activists mean that liberal is synonymous with being anti-American. I do not think that CSCOPE is anti-American, but that many districts throughout the state wasted money on a bad curriculum.
The website www.cscopereviews.com reviewed the lessons that were posted to The Texas Tribune. The lessons were reviewed because the lessons were perceived to support a "liberal, anti-American agenda". I'm not sure if the activists mean that liberal is synonymous with being anti-American. I do not think that CSCOPE is anti-American, but that many districts throughout the state wasted money on a bad curriculum.
Monday, February 3, 2014
Education Gap
A growing divide between rich and poor in Texas
A teacher can try their best to teach a kid, but if that kid is hungry, does not know where he will sleep that night, and has holes in his shoes, it is likely that it will affect his performance no matter what that teacher does.
A teacher can try their best to teach a kid, but if that kid is hungry, does not know where he will sleep that night, and has holes in his shoes, it is likely that it will affect his performance no matter what that teacher does.
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Changes in Math Requirements
Taking Algebra II out of the requirements to allow students more time to take technical classes. Hopefully schools have enough technical classes to accommodate this anticipated shift.
Texas Board of Education Drops Math Requirements
Texas Board of Education Drops Math Requirements
Friday, January 24, 2014
Argyle to allow armed employees
North Texas School District prepares to adopt policy allowing armed employees
Argyle school board hopes to protect its district with armed employees. Its an interesting idea.
Argyle school board hopes to protect its district with armed employees. Its an interesting idea.
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Battle of School Finances: Round Two
Texas school districts, state again battle in court over funding
Texas court will reconsider school financing.
Texas court will reconsider school financing.
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