Today's face-off columns about the Wednesday early dismissals has drawn plenty of reaction.
On the pro side, Jennifer Lanane of Wake NCAE says "students become the real beneficiaries of time dedicated to their teachers' professional growth, and clearly, our students deserve nothing less than the best we have to offer!"
On the con side, North Raleigh News Editor Matthew Eisley says "this is a big hassle for many dual-income households at all economic levels, which apparently doesn't register with the school board."
Comments
Well, Del &co. has truly
Wed, 09/02/2009 - 19:42 — dryeraseuserWell, Del &co. have truly nailed us to the cross. They know how the teachers feel about this whole PLC...now PLT hoax. They have made principals rant and rave about the wonderful benefits this will bring. When you boil down to it, teachers will spend more time, talking, organizing, typing, and posting plans and results. This is going to take away much valuable teaching time. Del & co. now, are going to require us to post meetings online for the public to view. I don't see anything wrong with this. My problem is...we as teachers will spend more time meeting, making agendas, typing the agendas, posting the agendas. Next we will meet, discuss whatever topic/items that we are told to discuss. The meeting will then have to be conducted like most meetings in the business world, with documenting the minutes. The minutes will then have to be typed up and loaded on the computer and lastly to the school'site" where the schools will make these public knowledge.
I see everyone running around, stressed to high heaven, trying to make sense of all of this...and trying to explain it all. They want us to spend an enormous amount of time preassessing skills, meeting about the results, plan what we are going to do, then implement it. Granted..nothing wrong with that, however then meet again to discuss the progress. Then if something isn't working, we develop more strategies to try to fix the problem, then go back teach more, assess again and meet about the results. The results will then have to be documented somehow for everyone to see and interpret. We can also, switch out kids from room to room so that teachers can group kids with "like" needs, but then I would have to meet with all members of that team to discuss what I did and document it, and they will also have to meet with me and allow me to document my child(ren) progress, so I will know how to mark their profile cards in order to place a grade on the report card and update the parents when I have a conference with them.
However once again...each meeting will have to have an agenda prepared, typed out and loaded on the system to be posted publicly. The minutes of what was discussed, shared, changed, improvements will also have to be typed up by the TEACHERS and posted by the TEACHERS. This process is something that WCPSS will expect all schools to do in the area of Math and Reading. My question is....WHEN WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO TEACH ...WHEN??? I continue to ask my husband..."Can I just quit?" HOWEVER after the years I have put in, I LOVE my 26 students I have in my room, way to much, to just walk out on them. THEY NEED ME. They need a teacher with a clear mind, where I can focus on their needs. I do my best year after year to do this. I, along with many of my fellow teachers are at our "BREAKING POINT". I also know that the parents are at that point too. I want WCPSS to stand up and evaluate...what do you want your teachers to do?
1...Teach the children
2...Meet endlessly, and burden your teachers will WORTHLESS paperwork? I hope you they can say they would choose #1. Thank you...
Professional developement is
Thu, 09/03/2009 - 00:10 — WhalerCaneProfessional developement is important for our teachers, but i'm not convinced the early release wednesdays are a good idea, and this was an excellent post.
Professional developement is
Thu, 09/03/2009 - 00:10 — WhalerCaneProfessional developement is important for our teachers, but i'm not convinced the early release wednesdays are a good idea, and this was an excellent post.
More on Wacky Wednesdays from the Cary Citizen
Wed, 09/02/2009 - 16:59 — SDR256http://www.carycitizen.com/2009/09/01/early-release-means-detention-for-athletes/comment-page-1/#comment-53
Extracurriculars
Wed, 09/02/2009 - 08:22 — mdelongAt our high school, the kids must go home on Wednesdays (after dismissal at 1:28) then return at 3:00 for their extracurricular activities (sports, band, etc). It is a hassle for some parents to get them back to school and a huge waste of the kids' time. Most of them get 30-45 minutes at home which is really not time to get a start on homework or anything.
Then don't send them back
Wed, 09/02/2009 - 09:45 — g88ky07and maybe part of the system will ge tthe message!
Oh, did I forget I walked 3
Mon, 08/31/2009 - 23:23 — skepticalOh, did I forget I walked 3 miles uphill both ways thru the snow, carrying all my books and my little brother on my back? Yeah, maybe I am getting old, but kids today are just spoiled. And their teachers, apparently.
Skeptical.....the vast
Tue, 09/01/2009 - 20:10 — dryeraseuserSkeptical.....the vast majority of teachers DID NOT ask for this!!!
Spread the word...DO NOT BLAME teachers for this "wacky Wednesday" deal and PLT's.....WE DID NOT ASK FOR THIS!!!
So then what do you think
Tue, 09/01/2009 - 00:09 — SDR256So then what do you think about the $65 million they are spending on busing in this county? Seems extraordinary doesn't it? Did you get your property tax bill recently? WCPSS takes 80% of whatever that is. Now who's looking spoiled? WCPSS puts the teenage brat with Daddy's credit card to shame. THAT my dear skeptic is what all these parents are complaining about. The crowded classrooms is just the part everyone can see. Its what goes on behind the magic curtain that's the real crime.
2006-2007 busing costs
Thu, 09/03/2009 - 00:08 — WhalerCaneApples and oranges
Thu, 09/03/2009 - 22:15 — SDR256I'm not interested in Charlotte. My property taxes are spent RIGHT HERE. You're splitting hairs. I guess I should have said instead of 'spent', 'budgeted', and the total was 63 not 65. WHATEVER. Its a huge number that would pay for an army of teachers! And its extraordinarily irresponsible - regardless.
Wake County Public School Budget, 2009 - 2010
(http://www.wcpss.net/budget/2009-10-bpb/2009-10-bpb.pdf)
(equivalents assume 1 teacher salary average = $50,000)
$151.5 million for auxillary services..... (= 3030 teachers)
$85.6 million for instructional services........ (= 1712 teachers)
$17.6 million for administrative services ......(= 352 teachers)
$21.5 million for technology services ......(= 430 teachers)
$7.6 million for organizational development & support..... (= 152 teachers)
$5.5 million budget for Communications....... (= 110 teachers)
$2.45 million for area superintendents...... (= 49 teachers)
$1.5 million for Growth and Planning Department, 20 employees .....(= 37 teachers)
$1.3 million for the Board of Education...... (= 26 teachers)
$312,790 County Superintendent Del Burns' salary...... (= 6 teachers)
(compare with $135,854 for the Governor of North Carolina.
compare with $400,000 for President of the US )
The remaining 952.8 million is for schools (people, supplies, training) ....(= 19,056 teachers)
$17 million County dollars spent by WCPSS on busing. (= 340 teachers)
$46 million State dollars spent by WCPSS on busing. (= 920 teachers)
$63 million total spent on transportation (= 1260 teachers)
load 'O poo
Mon, 08/31/2009 - 23:20 — skepticalWhat a load 'O poo! I'm almost 50. We probably got 4 teacher workdays a year, and never got out early unless it was snowing like crazy. I also still have my elementary class pics, and there are at least 35 kids in my classes thru the 3rd grade. Suck it up, young folks.
Eehh....
Thu, 09/03/2009 - 14:32 — Bob_SconceHA! That's nothing!
My grandmother (who would be 103) used to teach school in a one-room schoolhouse with the younger kids up front and the older ones in back. She didn't get ANY teacher workdays a year. And, it didn't seem to affect my mom or aunt, both of whom were in her class.
We should go back to THAT!
Seriously, this line of "Well.... so-n-so was good enough for me. Why isn't it good enough today?" is silly. Our knowledge of how to best educate students improves over time, so we will naturally change how things work. It used to be that cars didn't have seatbelts.
Apples and oranges
Tue, 09/01/2009 - 00:04 — SDR256You're right. A classroom of 35 well behaved kids, or even a classroom with a few behavior problems but a teacher who could paddle them, wouldn't be that big a deal. I went through that system too. We could debate how different it is today, but that's not the interesting question here.
The real issue for me is the fact that they've cut 1500 teachers to save the money, and not touched our inordinately heavy administration. They want teachers and parents to feel the pain - why? So they can rush to the rescue by raising taxes? That's my hunch.
Admin cuts were greater
Thu, 09/03/2009 - 00:12 — WhalerCaneAdmin cuts were greater than teacher cuts.
...
Mon, 08/31/2009 - 19:02 — SideburnsAnd don't forget this little nugget from Ms. Lanane ---
PLC's are ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY for "teachers' professional growth" but a deal breaker if they are on Fridays. She's a piece of work.
Sideburns, Honestly, I think
Thu, 09/03/2009 - 00:13 — WhalerCaneSideburns,
Honestly, I think you are an Ass, but I agree, Fridays would be better than Wednesdays.
Gee Perry
Thu, 09/03/2009 - 10:14 — TrailerParkGirlBetween this response and the one to the person just asking for information about the upcoming Obama speech to kids, I'm beginning to worry about you. Even supportwcpss uses '$' to replace the 's' when he/she swears.
Is is possible you are overworked and need a day off from politics?
...
Thu, 09/03/2009 - 07:51 — SideburnsWow. An Ass with a capital "A". I'm touched.
Personally, I'd rather be an ass than look like one.
(Thanks AngelaW for keepin' things real.)
Yes, I need a break from
Thu, 09/03/2009 - 15:00 — WhalerCaneYes, I need a break from politics, but the A$$ quote was actually a unsuccessful attempt to lighten things up with humor.
For that, I accept the title of A$$ of the day. :-)
All have a great labor day, I am going to watch football, and not pay attention to this stuff until next week.
Everyone please be safe in their travels this weekend.
aww Perry...c'mon name calling?
Thu, 09/03/2009 - 06:29 — AngelaWHave you forgotten how you complained of that, or does it only apply when OTHERS name call? do you play by different rules?
Such anger and more name
Such anger and more name calling. Obviously not much point in enagaging with you g8.
AngelaIt is even more disturbing how much name calling
Wow, more name calling. You
Wow, more name calling. You guys should check out the future you propose. http://www.charlotteobserver.com/topstories/story/917366.html
ha ha ha ha ha
Thu, 09/03/2009 - 10:35 — g88ky07see Perry, the "anger" can just take hold sometimes. Sounds like that Bash 'em Bill show got the best of you this week. I know when he says, 10 seconds left, it's hard to know who to jab first, but keep at it, you'll get there!
Touche
Thu, 09/03/2009 - 15:01 — WhalerCaneTouche
I read this "debate" piece
Tue, 09/01/2009 - 07:36 — rr77rr99I read this "debate" piece and thought the same thing, "piece of work."
I also thought the rebuttal to her side could have been stronger.
This is not about parents "compalining". We all want our teachers to be happy and well supported, but parents just can't do that anymore because they are seeing how the teachers are not standing up for themselves.
I think these PLC's are a way for teachers to catch a break from the horrors of their undisciplined classrooms. That's what I think. I don't think they help kids learn. Kids LEARN by being in a controlled classroom with teachers who are teaching and not stopping all the time to discipline.
At least at the high school level kids can get away from the antics of the undisciplined kids by taking AP and Honors courses.
Unfortunately, in middle and elementary school, the kids are subjected daily to the out of control discipline problems and the stressed out teachers who punish the entire class because of the actions of the few. My kids come home EVERY SINGLE day with stories of how angry the teacher got at so and so, or the new lunchroom policies (assigned seats and NO TALKING EVER... this ticks me off as the kids get very little time to talk and be with their friends. If kids want to talk through lunch and not eat, since when did it become the school's responsibility to force them to eat? That's the parent's problem if your kid does not want to eat their lunch. The parent need to get their butt to the lunchroom every day to force feed their kids then! oops off topic). Point is...I am getting really sick and tired of hearing how the entire class keeps getting punished because there are out of control kids that are upsetting the apple cart every single day. It's ridiculous! Use the three strike rule... three instances of distruption, then the parent must come to school and shadow the child for the next week! If that does not work, give the parent the materials, they have to teach the kid at home, and the kid will be required to take tests to make sure they are learning the material.
How's that for supporting the teachers? There you go!
Oh, off topic. Bottomline, these early release days are a waste of everyone's time, and it will not help our kids, but WCPSS will figure out a way to "statistically" prove that the PLC's have increased test scores (as they test and retest and test again the kids that don't score high enough so that they have the results they want .... )
It's all a shell game and in the end... our kids are the big losers.
re: discipline/thoughts on off topic detour
Tue, 09/01/2009 - 21:25 — momsateacherSad but true - one student who refuses to abide by the established rules of behavior can "hijack" an entire class into chaos. Teachers feel schizophrenic when they have to go between "do I need to tell you (troublemaker) to stop doing that AGAIN" (through gritted teeth) and "Thank you to everyone else who is doing the right thing" (while giving a helpless smile). But here's the kicker - the class terrorist? If you can get mom or baby-daddy to come to school, nine times out of ten they shuffle in late in their pj's and slippers. Put the education of their children in their hands, and we'll have another generation of imbeciles. Not that I'd mind if the kids education was thrust into the hands of their parents, I just don't want to have to pay for them when they're grown up and can't (or won't) fill out a job application.
PLT's can't change this.
FYI - Do not ever let your hard working, bright but not- identified-as-gifted middle school child take the regular grade level curriculum, no matter what the school recomends. Kid will be in a room full of behavior problems, and won't learn squat. Better to have them struggle in a well-behaved class that might be an intellectual stretch (advanced or compacted) then be the top student in a class full of "don't give a cr*ps" or future drop outs.
Thank you for stepping up
Wed, 09/02/2009 - 09:07 — rr77rr99Thank you for stepping up .. are you a teacher or your mom? (as your name implies).
I have volunteered in classrooms for many years and I like your use of the words "hijacked" and "class terrorist".. that's EXACTLY what the behavior is like.
If anyone does not "believe".... go volunteer in classrooms. You'll see.
DUH!
Mon, 08/31/2009 - 19:45 — JanisTangoThe teachers would have to stay until 4:00 for planning meetings. I guess they are talking secondary schools. Not too many of the elementary schools get out earlier than 3:45 so I'm assuming most teachers are there until 4:00 on Friday!
Green Road horrific accident
Mon, 08/31/2009 - 18:11 — gercohenKeung, one thing I have not seen in the coverage of the horrific accident that killed the 6th year old Green Road Elementary School student -- had Green Road (year round) just started the Wednesday early release earlier in July? The article said she was killed getting off the bus at 1:30 pm and the Green Rd website says early release on Wednesdays is at 1:25 pm. Without in any way defending the driver, people do not expect buses at that hour, and the N&O just ran a great expose about the school board failing to get speed zone signs changed to reflect the changed Wednesday hours. This was a cluelessly implemented program.
It was an early dismissal
Mon, 08/31/2009 - 18:25 — KeungHui (author)It was an early dismissal day. Year-rounds have been doing them on Wednesdays since July 8.
even more tragic
Mon, 08/31/2009 - 18:34 — gercohenEven more tragic than I originally thought when I read the bus fatality story. A very poorly implemented policy all around and in every direction.