Thank You Mr. Brennan

            This week in recognition of Teacher Appreciation Day, I would like to thank my Junior High Teacher Mr. Brennan.  Mr. Brennan unknowingly gave me the desire to be an educator and he planted the seed for me to pursue my doctorate.

Mr. Brennan was a Science teacher.  In his classroom we had a snake and a miniature alligator, which for junior high school kids was cool because we would take turns feeding the snake and alligator mice.  Mr. Brennan made science engaging by making it hands on and relatable to the world outside of academics.  Mr. Brennan taught us to see science everywhere. 

Another lesson we learned was the importance of being a life long learner.  When Mr. Brennan was pursuing his Administrator license at Long Beach State, he would take a few of us to class with him.  We would sit in the back row of the lecture and listen or do our homework.  Every once in a while the professor would acknowledge our presence and at the end of the lecture would talk with us to see what we had learned from the lecture.  The professor also thanked us for being attentive and quiet students and hoped to see us as college students in his class one day.  On the drive back from college, Mr. Brennan would talk with us about the lecture and how the lecture related to our education and to being an administrator.

A final lesson Mr. Brennan taught us was we are important and have something to contribute to the world.  As a teacher for a Christian Junior High School, Mr. Brennan taught us that we all have gifts and education will help us learn what those gifts are and how to use them.  Mr. Brennan was the first teacher who utilized project based learning and he encouraged us to question, challenge and think critically about what we were learning.  Mr. Brennan encouraged us to think outside the box and he would always let us know that he doesn’t have all the answers.  There were times where Mr. Brennan would let us lead the instruction for part of the period.

Most teachers do not get to see the “fruits of their labor.”  A day of recognition for the teacher who inspired us allows us to say “thank you” and to let them know their efforts were not in vain.  The day also reminds us of our own educational journey and the educational journey of our children, nieces and nephews and the children in our community who are beginning, in the middle or ending the chapter of formal education.  This day should also remind us of the ongoing fight for quality education for all children.

Mr. Brennan, wherever you are thank you!

Euphoria over the 80 Percent High School Graduation Rate?

            This week a report was released that public high school graduation in the US has reached 80 percent.  Citing that 4 out of 5 students graduate from high school with a diploma, educators and politicians claim by 2020, the graduation rate could reach 90 percent[i]. 

           Credit for the increase in the graduation rate has been given to 1) a greater awareness of the dropout problem.  At all levels (district, state and federal), accountability measures, initiatives targeting the closure of “dropout” factories and aggressive actions by schools to hire intervention specialists who work one on one to keep students in class.  Credit has also been given to 2) the growth in the graduation rates of African-American and Hispanic beginning in 2006[ii].

            While this is good news, lost in the euphoria is the quality of the education and the skills the graduates received prior to graduation.  Also forgotten is how students in our public high schools are out performed by their international peers in science, math and technology. 

            Our high school graduates are leaving high school without the knowledge or skills to compete in the global workforce.  The gateway jobs (fast food, retail etc) that were traditionally wide open to graduates have been taken by displaced and underemployed adults. 

The lack of knowledge and skills is primarily due to the over-emphasis in public education on enrollment into college/university as the sole conduit to success.  By ignoring that fact that knowledgeable and skilled high school graduates can succeed if they are properly prepared for the adult world that awaits them, the graduation rate could be higher with less concern about unemployment and underemployment among recent high school graduates.

            We seem to be in an era of public education that is more concerned about the appearance of good data instead of the quality and substance of data.  Having an 80 percent high school graduation rate appears to be good.  However, if the graduates being produced are unable to take their place in the adult world and become a productive citizen, the data is skewed and does not reflect the reality of the high school graduate.

Increasing the graduation is good..high school students living at home and unable to work…bad!

---

[i] http://news.msn.com/us/report-4-in-5-us-high-school-students-graduate#tscptme

[ii] ibid

Over Zealous Schools

            In its efforts to control school climate and maintain discipline, some schools have become over zealous and find themselves on the wrong side of what they believe is right.  A Charter school in Colorado provides a perfect example of what happens when a school becomes over zealous in maintaining school climate and discipline.

            A nine year old girl who wanted to support her friend and classmate with her battle with cancer, shaved all of her hair to makes sure her friend would not feel isolated and teased for her hair loss due to chemotherapy.  Instead of praising the little girl for her act of sensitivity, empathy and maturity, the school suspended the little for violation of the schools “dress code[i].”

            When notified of the suspension, the parent contacted the school and informed the school her daughter wasn’t trying to violate school policy, her daughter wanted to support her friend.  Unfortunately, the school upheld the decision to suspend.  It wasn’t until the incident reached the attention of the local media that action was taken to reverse the suspension.  The Charter school board voted 3-1 to overturn the suspension and allow the little girl to “be an exception” to the dress code policy[ii].

            The rise in the number of innocuous incidents that result in suspension and/or expulsion demonstrates that school leaders are looking to punish instead of changing behaviors.  When a school moves to suspend and expel a kindergarten student for turning his finger into a gun and make a shooting sound, why not use that incident as a “teachable” moment and address the behavior with the whole class and discuss why you shouldn’t make your hand a gun?

            Every parent would like their child’s school to be a place where learning occurs, positive climate and where there are rules and consequences for violation of the rules (student discipline).  However, student discipline should have some flexibility and not categorize every act by a student as an intentional attempt to violate school rules; especially at the kindergarten and elementary school level.

 

 

 

---

[i] http://www.cbsnews.com/news/colorado-girl-shaves-head-for-pal-with-cancer-temporarily-suspended/

[ii] ibid

Other Ways to Empower

            Recently it was reported that a number of high profile women have begun a campaign to ban the “b-word.”  What is surprising is the campaign is not focused on ending the infamous “b-word” that is a slur against women.  The “b-word” these high profile women want to ban is “bossy.”

            The campaign to ban the word bossy is led by Facebook COO, Sheryl Sandberg and endorsed by high profile celebrity Beyonce who believe the word bossy discourages young girls and women from seeking leadership positions.  The campaign seeks to empower young girls and women to utilize their voice to be recognized for their accomplishments and strive to close the pay and leadership gap that exists between men and women.  So far 100,000 people have signed a pledge to stop saying the word bossy[i].

            While this is a noble campaign, I believe there are a number of causes that high profile women could focus their attention to empower young girls and women.  Shouldn't there be a campaign to ban the marketing of provocative clothing to young girls?  Shouldn't there be a campaign to ban the body image and perceptions of beauty in the fashion industry?  Finally, what about campaigning against the portrayal of young girls and women in many of the television shows?  Shows that portray young girls and women as shallow, petty and vindictive also send messages to young girls that to be popular, date the cute guy and to be part of the “popular” group, you cannot be smart.

            Instead of starting a movement to ban the word bossy, why not lend their celebrity to a movement for women and young girls to consider other fields where women are not traditionally represented?  Why not campaign to ban something that matters like helping young girls learn how to cope without a father?

            There are a number of things that are far more important to the empowerment, health and overall well being of women and young girls than banning the word bossy.  Since I am not a woman, I guess being called “bossy” is more offensive than being called the other “b word.”

---

[i] www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/11/ban-bossy-numbers_n_4944280.html

Legislating Hope for Young Men in Public Education

                Many people wonder why today’s young men are not motivated or engaged in their education.  Is it the fault of the parent? Is it the fault of the school? Is it the fault of the young man?  Of course all three share some blame, but should we begin to consider another member to blame: our State and Federal representatives?  With all the budget cuts, layoffs and school closures in public education, many students have come to believe legislators don’t care about their education.  A perfect example of this can be seen in a comment made by a State Representative from Oklahoma last April.

            Addressing the expansion of Oklahoma’s Promise Program which provides post-secondary scholarships to qualified students living in economically distressed communities, the State Representative made the following statement in a debate to the Legislature over the bill:

                        “They {the Legislature} have no responsibility to ensure students have

                         access to a college education[i].”

The State Representative continued this belief in an e-mail exchange with a legislative colleague when discussing an academically talented student young man who did not have enough money to pay for college.  The Representative stated:

                        “It is not our job to see that anyone gets an education.  It is not the 

                        responsibility of me, you, or any constituent in my district to pay for

                        another persons education…their potential to benefit society is

                        irrelevant[ii].”

            It is this type of belief that discourage young men to become motivated and engaged in school.  During a time when young men are being told they have to go to college in order to get a job and succeed in society, they are seeing college graduates unable to secure a job and living at home with huge student loan debt, you can see how easily some stud can learn not to care about their education.

            Luckily, President Obama has created the “My Brother’s Keeper” initiative to help young men and young men of color become motivated and reengage in their education and take control of their lives.  By addressing the obstacles young men and young men of color face such as access to male role models, abuse of drugs, truancy and involvement in the juvenile justice system, it is believed young men and young men of color will be able to become successful adults.

            Programs and initiatives that focus on young men and young men of color comes at a time when young men of color are under attack and being murdered for “looking” like they are about commit a crime when walking home from the store to the “appearance” their music is too loud by a community of individuals who have embraced bias and stereotypes about young men of color.

                By embracing all young men, hopefully My Brother’s Keeper will break the cycle of generational bias and stereotypes and initiate a new generation of young men who refuse to continue the cycle of hate and intolerance and embrace the idea of equal access and opportunity for all men.  Maybe then young men and young men of color will reach their potential in school.

           

---

[i] www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/08/mike-reynolds-education_n_3038157.html

[ii] ibid

What Obamacare Means for Public Education

There are a number of people who dislike the Affordable Health Care Act, which has been dubbed “Obamacare.” However through the lens of an educator, Obamacare may be  beneficial to public education.  

              Obamacare has the potential to address many of the social ills that affect academic attainment and school climate.  If everyone is mandated to have healthcare, the potential to have healthier children in school would greatly impact the classroom.  

Imagine, if schools did not have to focus on uncovering vision, hearing, and behavioral health deficits because children came to school with glasses, hearing aids and under the supervision of a physician or psychiatrist?  A true partnership could be built where school, parents and physicians work together to support children. 

Imagine attendance in schools improving because fewer children are out sick. Imagine instructional time be used more effectively when children come to school fed with enough sleep and energy to be engaged?  Without these distractions, children would be able to focus on academics.  The ability to focus on academics should translate to increase tests scores and increase content knowledge.    

Finally, Obamacare could be beneficial to schools in addressing teenage pregnancy, sexually transmitted disease and AIDS.  Imagine young adults being able to learn the various forms of prevention from a physician who can inform them of symptoms and provide medication.  Being under the care of a physician for a pregnancy, STD or AIDS could alleviate the pressure and anxiety and allow the young adult to focus on their education. 

If Obamacare can address just some of the social ills that affect academic and school climate, schools and children will be the biggest beneficiaries of a controversial law.      

Growing Up Without a Filter

A child educated only at school

is an uneducated child

            A friend of mine posted this statement on Facebook.  The efforts to improve public education have primarily focused on students meeting content standards.  However, absent in the focus is the role parents should play in supporting their children’s education.  It is the absence of parent involvement that undermines the education of children.

There is a disturbing trend that is not being addressed and it has a tremendous impact on public education.  The trend is children who are growing up without a filter.  There are children who are witnessing, hearing and learning things that are not appropriate for their age.  Since there is no one to model appropriate behavior, these children come to school and emulate the inappropriate behaviors they witness, hear and learn. 

When their learned inappropriate behavior conflicts with expected school behavior, these children struggle and they become labeled.  These students are called disruptive, violent, emotionally disturbed.  These are children that will likely be placed in special education programs because they are unable to transition their inappropriate behavior to the expected school behavior.

While these children have now been labeled and placed in a special education program, the parents of these children continue to allow their children to be exposed to inappropriate behaviors.  When a child’s first instinct to conflict resolution is to fight, that child has witnessed, heard and learned the way to respond to conflict is to fight.  When a child is frustrated and they do not have the coping skills to calm themselves because they have witnessed, heard and learned to curse, yell, scream and threaten, that is what he/she will do.  Lastly, when children use inappropriate language discuss inappropriate content in their daily interactions with peers in public settings, it is because they have witnessed, hear and learned this in non school settings.  The question becomes, how can schools neutralize the lack of a filter some children have?

There is no easy solution to this problem.  A teacher and administrator can only do so much work with children who are growing up with no filter.  The difficulty is convincing parents to partner with the school to develop a filter for their child.  Unfortunately, there are some parents who do not believe in having a filter because they grew up without a filter. 

If we want all children to learn, not become labeled and not improperly placed in special education programs, schools will have to find a way to neutralize the lack of a filter in order for children to learn. This is where partnership with parents is crucial to the success of the child.