tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580376204838202307.comments2024-01-10T12:18:54.596-05:00Northeast Indiana Friends of Public EducationNEIFPEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04785540458733702680noreply@blogger.comBlogger64125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580376204838202307.post-65493095002438732012022-10-13T07:30:27.061-04:002022-10-13T07:30:27.061-04:00Are you making sure you are including the fact tha...Are you making sure you are including the fact thar Africans IN Africa were capturing and selling other Africans into slavery? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580376204838202307.post-56607143029942495702017-10-05T10:43:39.622-04:002017-10-05T10:43:39.622-04:00This comment has been hidden from the blog.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580376204838202307.post-23863325589220302052016-04-18T16:39:52.972-04:002016-04-18T16:39:52.972-04:00Oh that it could be written onto the ballets exact...Oh that it could be written onto the ballets exactly as you state it: DO THE CITIZENS OF __________ COUNTY WANT VOUCHERS TO PRIVATIZE PUBLIC EDUCATION BIT BY BIT?ciedie aechhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00443601825150518035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580376204838202307.post-16530644104571194372015-12-05T13:58:07.139-05:002015-12-05T13:58:07.139-05:00"The only truly local schools are independent..."The only truly local schools are independent schools."<br /><br />http://teaching-abc.blogspot.cl/2014/06/local-schools.html Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580376204838202307.post-57494621100207292162015-11-26T00:21:05.214-05:002015-11-26T00:21:05.214-05:00I think they can delete the Core math program. I ...I think they can delete the Core math program. I was always taught that if it isn't broken don't fix it! To many test and they want to tack on more. What a shame for others to think a teachers job is a breeze should walk in their shoes.<br /><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13347496279934615788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580376204838202307.post-16220045720689151242015-11-25T16:35:00.386-05:002015-11-25T16:35:00.386-05:00The very fact that they will give you a year to ge...The very fact that they will give you a year to get scores up under a new test is clear proof that they KNOW you need time to teach the test itself and how to do the test, rather than using the time to really teach the kids. What a waste of valuable time in the classroom. There are some teachers out there who are not as skilled as we'd like them to be. Is this really the way to find that out and teach those teachers to improve their skills? Not on the backs of all kids. Thanks for this articulate article. It applies everywhere.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580376204838202307.post-3529535802913248832015-11-24T18:45:07.472-05:002015-11-24T18:45:07.472-05:00Preach on, sister!
Education in this country is g...Preach on, sister! <br />Education in this country is going in the wrong direction and I do not understand why the policy makers do not see it!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10368546797326190416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580376204838202307.post-30185228418072057292015-11-24T08:34:42.293-05:002015-11-24T08:34:42.293-05:00As a community college professor, lawyer and citiz...As a community college professor, lawyer and citizen I wholeheartedly support Donna Roof’s message so elegantly articulated in her open letter which spoke “truth to power” addressing Governor Pence’s ridiculous remark about not taking the ISTEP results “personally.” Certainly the Governor’s obvious lack of insight concerning this issue reflects a failure by elected officials to adequately understand the challenges confronting educators. Perhaps there should be “high stakes test” one should pass to seek public office. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16987291724417789668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580376204838202307.post-55985835535256333952015-11-23T17:25:34.928-05:002015-11-23T17:25:34.928-05:00Thank you very much for an excellent post. I twee...Thank you very much for an excellent post. I tweeted this through 3 avenues: this blog post, Dr. Ravitch's website, and Valerie Strauss's article in the Washington Post. <br /><br />Gov. Pence and the GOP supermajority have caused major wreckage in our state's schools. Let's keep the heat on them!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580376204838202307.post-21568623423175254392015-11-08T11:37:06.976-05:002015-11-08T11:37:06.976-05:00Dear Eric,
I spent my earliest years and went to ...Dear Eric,<br /><br />I spent my earliest years and went to Kindergarten in a beautiful, integrated neighborhood of Detroit. Then, like many other upper-middle class white families, my dad got another job and we moved. White flight combined with the loss of manufacturing has wreaked havoc on my earliest hometown. I have gone back to look at my old neighborhood school and now it is no longer public, very segregated, and desperately poor. Detroit struggled with corruption, I won't deny that, but it is now a city that is without ANY democratic governance, desperately poor and desperately segregated. As for corruption, the corporate education reformers' experiment of taking over their schools has been at the center of horrible scandals--children and the future of that community (that I hold dear) are and will be the victims of this privatization. <br /><br />I give you this example: http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2015/10/14/dps-eaa-probe/73967136/<br /><br />As well as this commentary: http://www.mitchellrobinson.net/2015/08/17/if-you-can-t-beat-em-destabilize-em/<br /><br /><br />I don't know what your "proof" of our public education system's "failure" is, but I challenge you to factor out poverty from any international comparison (NAEP? What are you using to make this judgement) and then show me the numbers.<br /><br />While we are comparing, show me the records of "superiority" in private schools as compared to public schools while factoring out poverty.<br /><br />We have a problem for sure. We have an embarrassing and shameful number of children living in poverty. We know that what those kids need cannot be fulfilled by teachers alone. We know what does work for kids in these desperate situations and we have research to back it. Kids in poverty need schools with wraparound services-- social workers, psychologists, nurses, nutrition= food, counselors, experienced and well-educated teachers, small class sizes, the arts, libraries and librarians, to name several factors that help kids overcome the opportunity gap that poverty creates. <br /><br />Instead, we get the draining of funding, and an overemphasis on testing. <br /><br />I agree that eliminating Common Core and other test-driven agendas would help us get back to the depth of experience of teaching and learning. But I also think that we need to be completely attuned to the concern for equity--equal educational opportunity is the strength of our democracy and an unfulfilled promise. Cathy Fuentes-Rohwerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16082820159572515510noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580376204838202307.post-8373417897471593562015-11-08T09:57:49.585-05:002015-11-08T09:57:49.585-05:00"The purpose of public education is to give k..."The purpose of public education is to give kids the skills, knowledge, and experiences they need to be citizens of a democracy." If public education were succeeding at this we might have some foundation for agreement. However, our public education is failing miserably at this! Just look at the statistics and where we stand with the rest of the world. I give you the example of the public schools in the city of Detroit (speaking of corruption).<br /><br />On the other hand, the records of private schools are (religious or not) are far superior to those of the public schools. Why should our tax dollars be spent on a superior approach to teaching our children.<br /><br />Having public schools return to teaching the three "R", accurate history, hand writing, etc. and eliminate all of the experiments like "common core" and all those that came before. They have all failed to do what we want. Unless, of course, dumbing down our young people is the goal.<br /><br />Just my opinion...<br /><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09078530150313150271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580376204838202307.post-21054638236231060652015-11-08T07:27:41.011-05:002015-11-08T07:27:41.011-05:00So much appreciate this advocate. She always con...So much appreciate this advocate. She always connects the dots in a way that all can understand. That's why legislators get so frustrated with her. She makes sense. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00393416283197421314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580376204838202307.post-10927002802342164302015-08-17T02:35:36.533-04:002015-08-17T02:35:36.533-04:00Well, as a teacher who decided to leave K-12 ed my...Well, as a teacher who decided to leave K-12 ed myself, I totally empathize with you on several accounts. Michigan is not the only state suffering from ESS (Education System Stupidity). Unfortunately, it is a pandemic of national proportions. And with new "discipline" policies, thanks to White House and Justice Department initiatives, it is only going to get worse--way worse--and we will see an exodus from teaching like we never have before.<br /><br />I must say that I find it ironic, though, that you fought charter schools (which I think have a place in this country's education system) and you end up working for one (which you cleverly called an "independent school"). Isn't that being hypocritical? Or is it called "eating your words?"<br /><br />Regardless, I hope you find the joy of teaching again in your new position. I loved how you said that you didn't get in for the money, but you didn't get in to starve, either. Yes! LOLMr. H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10566296392016355485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580376204838202307.post-1151919823748711282015-08-15T19:24:56.601-04:002015-08-15T19:24:56.601-04:00This is such a sad statement of what is important ...This is such a sad statement of what is important to Americans. Those left in failing schools will not be able to do more than sign their names. It is such a catch-22: there is no funding, segregated schools are destined to fail, teacher recruitment is difficult with constant pay cuts, and students fail standard tests consistently. <br />Audrey Y.https://www.blogger.com/profile/14668120051551916367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580376204838202307.post-86698363937878344892015-08-14T18:26:52.438-04:002015-08-14T18:26:52.438-04:00Per chance I found your letter in the Washington P...Per chance I found your letter in the Washington Post, and checked it out here.<br />I have/had such a positive view of US public schools, having spend a year as an exchange student (senior) from Germany many years ago, in Ohio. <br />My German Gymnasium was more academic, but also so much more elitarian, although public and free. <br />I am convinced only public schools will serve best all ethnic, social, denominational groups of society. ( We do not use the word >race< in German, for good reasons).<br />So I am very sad to hear that a motivated teacher like you has to quit - for obvious reasons. <br />We have a type of private schools - Steiner/Waldorf education - organized by <br />anthroposophical groops, perhaps somethin like this exists in the States.<br />Best Wishes - DorotheeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580376204838202307.post-55671054312838121292015-03-10T11:16:03.809-04:002015-03-10T11:16:03.809-04:00We are not powerless. At least I hope. It feels th...We are not powerless. At least I hope. It feels that way. But there are many, I think, who agree with the concerns you express. The key is getting those individuals to 1) get informed 2) spread the word to others who are misinformed or may not have time to follow this ever-changing issue and 3) take action, encouraging others to do the same, in terms of constant communication with legislators. I tweet, I email, I message our legislators as much as I can in recent days. We must stop complaining and start DOING. It's our only hope. The voucher system has a better campaign because they are backed by a lot of money (Indiana's Institute for Quality Education)- they can afford a fancy website and professional, persuasive, marketing materials, including online. Parents must come together to form a campaign of their own, or public ed is in serious trouble. So please, anyone reading this, spend some time really following education in our state. Get informed first and foremost, THEN tell someone, anyone, and ask them to be involved. We ALL win when our nation is educated. Public schools serve our communities. Their suffering should not be based on flawed data and misguided logic.Chris Treberhttp://www.incredulousmom.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580376204838202307.post-21996790781315535642015-03-09T09:15:39.106-04:002015-03-09T09:15:39.106-04:00Very well said, Phyllis.
In response to your que...Very well said, Phyllis. <br /><br />In response to your question about corporations, many of them support what Pence is doing. MBA's are taught about enhancing profits - not social responsibility. <br /><br />Economists use growth to measure policies/successes. So, growth in charter schools is a good thing. <br /><br />Shifting resources from the public sector to the private sector are fantastic motivators for politicians who need funds to maintain their seat in power. Pay to play becomes the standard. <br /><br />The republican party has become nothing more than corporate lobbyists. It's the corporate agenda straight up, and since quality of life takes a back seat to profits, it feeds itself.<br /><br />It's maddening to watch, and you've nailed the problem - apathy. <br /><br />Also, if you look at who is funding the campaigns of republicans, and look at Lilly Endowment/Mind Trust connections to education reform, it starts to make sense and becomes ironic.<br /><br />Think for one moment...Lilly derives its profits from sick people. The USA pays more for drugs than any other industrialized nation.<br /><br />Indiana ranks 48th of 50 states in our health and wellness. Why aren't we reforming the health system in Indiana, when they've obviously failed Hoosiers?<br /><br />Even more to point, why aren't a politicians making those who profit the most, pay to reform the industry?<br /><br />Instead, we've got a health related company using past profits to fund the privatization of public education because supposedly, educators have failed students, based on individual achievement tests.<br /><br />Do you see the hypocrisy and/or double standard?<br /><br />I don't know of a single Hoosier who isn't aware of the high cost of our healthcare system. All Hoosiers are personal impacted. All Hoosiers should be rallying behind reforming the healthcare industry as well, refusing to let politicians play these games with our lives, wallets and children.<br /><br />I suspect very soon the public will care, and will be upset. Hopefully, sooner rather than later.Todd Smekenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10604458110942435548noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580376204838202307.post-21553757131392754802015-03-02T04:26:54.291-05:002015-03-02T04:26:54.291-05:00Your group has done an excellent job working to ed...Your group has done an excellent job working to educate Hoosiers. Keep up the great work. I'll send this link via Twitter, but it's time Hoosiers started holding the right people accountable for this mess. Both political party's work for the same power structure. :)<br /><br />http://muncievoice.com/11922/lilly-endowment-link-between-education-dysfunction-poor-wellness/Todd Smekenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10604458110942435548noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580376204838202307.post-44551811855911837842015-02-22T23:13:04.557-05:002015-02-22T23:13:04.557-05:00Should I be madder than hell at Hillary Clinton, o...Should I be madder than hell at Hillary Clinton, or should I hold out some hope that she might be hearing some of this?kjoehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02802238183707263910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580376204838202307.post-69183649606079939972015-01-14T07:16:28.257-05:002015-01-14T07:16:28.257-05:00As a teacher, the way I see it, this has to do wit...As a teacher, the way I see it, this has to do with grading schools and teachers, not students. Right now, grades K-2 and most high school courses are not tested. They are already adding more tests to grades 9 & 10 and now this one to grade 2. Republicans are determined that every teacher will have a test score attached to their evaluation. It is not good for students, teachers, or schools.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580376204838202307.post-6243727532669279872014-12-18T21:47:28.437-05:002014-12-18T21:47:28.437-05:00This comment has been hidden from the blog.jwmellottnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580376204838202307.post-18626211014423915162014-09-17T10:33:54.257-04:002014-09-17T10:33:54.257-04:00This comment has been hidden from the blog.Rich Pattonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12587209246574054359noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580376204838202307.post-89963226981957483532014-08-24T08:36:04.269-04:002014-08-24T08:36:04.269-04:00What are all those D's next to the "Yes&q...What are all those D's next to the "Yes" people, and all of the R's next to the people who won't answer? Is that some kind of code? (fake ignorance-Detective Columbo style alert)Dan McConnellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02679284479998846344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580376204838202307.post-44039127966654283142014-04-14T23:44:37.833-04:002014-04-14T23:44:37.833-04:00This comment has been hidden from the blog.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09988777243933873116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580376204838202307.post-22321916006053030422014-02-24T20:46:03.466-05:002014-02-24T20:46:03.466-05:00A very interesting topic which sent me to the Indi...A very interesting topic which sent me to the Indiana Department of Education’s website to educate myself before commenting about the Choice Scholarship Program (aka voucher system). I spent a bit of time at the below link which provided answers to many, if not most, of my questions.<br /><br />http://www.doe.in.gov/choice<br /><br />Apparently the majority of the private schools approved by the IDOE are operated by the Roman Catholic Church with generic Christian schools following in the second position. I did note two Hebrew schools (Indianapolis and South Bend) and at least one Islamic school, the Eman School, located in Fishers.<br /><br />Of note, after perusing a few of the links on the IDOE website re: the school choice program, I discovered that the Ft Wayne Public Schools now have more families applying for and receiving vouchers than families in IPS. The percentage of families receiving school vouchers has more than doubled for both IPS and for the Ft Wayne schools in only one school year. This is a big flag for me, as a public school educator, as a parent, and as a person who checks facts before posting. Families living in relatively moderate to low income areas do not simply make a drastic decision such as moving their kids from public to private schools unless their assigned public schools are atrocious. I suspect agnostic or atheist parents with the abilities to appreciate the need for a solid education in an organized environment and the skills to complete the application for a school voucher would whisk their children out of a dysfunctional public school (i.e., IPS or Ft Wayne) and into a parochial school, if given the opportunity of a financial boost.Cedarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07327654878210677541noreply@blogger.com