Final Thoughts

When this assignment was originally discussed, I must admit I was a little irritated. I felt that while blogging is a good tool to have for the classroom, but to make us do it, on top of all the other work and responsibilities life has thrown at us, was simply irritating. I, needless to say, was in no rush to get started. Blogging is not something I ever imagined myself doing, nor did I want to blog.

I eventually got started on it. My final assessment on the matter? Ehhh. I'm not particularly pleased with the assignment. I'm glad I was able to see how blogging can be an effective tool in the classroom, and I'm sure it's something I will eventually use. But attaching a grade to it just seems unnecessary.

If I had more time on my hands to sit down and write creatively, I may have felt different. But with a full course load, full time job (75 training sessions per week and counting), wedding preparations and a dog, I simply did not have the time to devote to the assignment. I do not have a laptop and I can not post while at work. I know, it sounds like I'm making excuses, but by the end of the day, after school, work, studying and reading multiple novels, studying for two education courses and dealing with dramas of life, firing up my blog is not something I have time for. The only time I was really able to blog was before class, and that was usually rushed.

In summation, I feel it was a great tool to learn about. I just wish I had more time to dedicate to it.

Shakespeare would cringe..

I thought this might be a could way to close out my blog for this course. The article states that with current technology, many students are losing the ability to spell, write and formulate complete thoughts.

I tend to agree with the statement. With all the texting, instant messaging, emailing, etc etc, true writing and style have become lost. Some argue that this is just the "evolution" of the language, but i feel its more the degradation of intelligent thought..

Article Here

Landscaping 101

http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/882921.html

I don't even know what to say about this. Dozens of children moved out of classes they need simply because there wasn't enough room, or because they needed to filll desks. This is one of the strangest school systems i've ever heard of...

What..?

My fiance had to take a course on public speaking for whatever reason. The interesting part of the course was that the students then graded and commented on the presentation. So I was looking at the comments and I was down right floored by some of them... These students could not use proper vocabulary, could not formulate a decent sentence and could barely spell.. While it was not all of them, I was amazed at how far some students can get simply by flying under the radar.

Now, I'm well aware that not everyone has a thesaurus on hand, and not everyone is Willy Shakes, and that's fine. But one would assume that by the time you reached college you could formulate a simple sentence. But no.. not these students. If I had graded the 20 responses I read, 15 would have failed.

I'm an easy grader too.

Big Brother and Schools

http://www.nj.com/education/ledger/index.ssf?/base/news-0/120711474977830.xml&coll=1

The article itself is about the government forcing NJ to change their grading process in order to better compare students state to state. Thats all fine. What bothers me is that towards the end of the article they mention that the state is also starting a student database to track students throughout their educational careers. It just seems as though its a little piece of privacy thats being taken away, again.

maybe i need a tin foil hat though.

Senate panel rejects 'No Child' opt-out

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/0402nochild-optout0402-ON.html

This is relevant to the discussion in class the other day (week?) about No Child Left Behind. It seems states are moving forward to be exempt from the act. While their attempts are unsuccessful, it is still step forward from the train wreck that is 'NCLB.'

Big Fat Pay Checks

http://ednews.org/articles/24054/1/Paying-Teachers-125000/Page1.html

It seems not all paychecks are created equally. Some teachers in charters schools are being paid upwardst to 125,000 per year. Which isn't that much when you consider that, on average, a school spends atleast 10,000 per year on students, and in wealthier districts upwards to 60,000.

However, the pay scale is much, much larger than the countries average of 50,000 per teacher, per year. So, it's atleast a step in the right direction as far as pay goes. Unfortunately alot of teachers in charter school are not unionized, wich leaves them without protection from the evils of school districts.

So the question posed is, job security? or a big fat paycheck.

i'll go with paycheck.

Charter Schools

http://ednews.org/articles/23623/1/Charter-Schools-Here-to-Stay/Page1.html

Charter schools are springing up throughout the nation. It seems that standardized test scores and grades are going up in certain areas with charter schools. I, personally, see nothing wrong with charter schools. If people are upset about the way the state runs things, why shouldn't they be able to act, somewhat, independently.

Scores up? citizens happy? go for it.

http://blog.nj.com/ledgerarchives/2007/06/raising_the_comfort_level_and.html

While things still aren't the greatest, at least they're starting to look up.

Now, more than ever, we need to support the students in the educational system. We need to teach them not only subject matter, but confidence, self respect and ambition.

A teachers job is never done.

Summer Programs for College Prep

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/03/travel/03heads.html?_r=1&ref=education&oref=slogin

In short, college prep programs are pushing for students and parents to enroll in summer programs, in order to better prepare the students for what awaits them in college.

I feel this is a great idea and should be, well, mandatory in this day and age. I believe that the school year should be longer, as it's already far too short, and extended programs will only benefit the students. It would certainly allow for less complaints from uneducated parents about the "lack of education" their kids are recieving. With an extra month or so, much more could be fit into an already lacking curriculum.

It's a shame that with all the resources that are available I still sit in 400 level courses with students that can barely read or write.

The worst part is that no one knows who to blame. Is it the student? The parent? the teacher? While blame will never be universally agreed on, i feel a longer school year, or ATLEAST summer prep programs or a great idea. Keep these kids in school, or else we're all going to suffer.

Back to the Basics

This is an interesting video I came across on YouTube. It's a film strip from the 1940's and has a sweet cameo by Mr. John Dewey. Celebs aside, the video states it's intent simply and precisely.

"Now hold on ms. fox, it's all very well to teach my boy to paint pretty pictures and build birdhouses, but he doesn't even know his multiplication tables."

Oh, 1940's stereotype, what a good point you make.

Has education, become far too watered down over the years? I'm of the opinion that yes, indeed it has. Now, personally, I wouldn't go so far as to say Art and Woodshop are a waste of time, quite the opposite, but there are many other topics that teachers are forced to cover that could be learned at home.

Subjects like Sex Ed, Hygene, Drivers Ed and topics such as Manners, Place settings (at a dinner table), and other trivial things some students (including my self) actually had to learn. While, it's great to know these things, is it really worthwhile to waste school hours, which are already some of the shortest in the world, on them? I really don't think so.

Some topics should be taught at home by parents. This isn't a "keep xxxx out of our school system rant", it's actually more of a "Get your act together and stop forcing teachers to do YOUR job as a parent, and then reprimand us and complain because your kid can't add." Maybe Johnny COULD add if you didn't force me to teach him how to wash himself properly, when you should have done that yourself. (some people should not be parents) But can a teacher say that? No, of course not, then we're over stepping our boundaries. Because that makes sense.

It's become a trend lately to blame teachers for the shortcomings of students, but in my opinion, most teachers are doing the best they can with a crappy situation. The Curriculum is far too watered down for a students own good, i personally believe it should be scaled back some in order to focus more emphasis on true educational topics.

However, this opens the debate of "what a true education should be."

I believe in the basics, however you get them across is fine with me. Movies, Videos, Internet, Ipods, whatever. But I will never endorse watering down a curriculum that is too generalized to begin with.

That's just my .02 cents though.

Fixed Link

A man, a Plan, a Mission.

http://blog.nj.com/ledgerarchives/2007/03/a_man_on_a_mission_can_a_force.html

I Came across this article on NJ.com. The article focuses on one man's attempt to bring up the schools standards and quality in the Elizabeth school district. The school has traditionally done pretty poorly and he attempts to rectify this situation with hard work and dedication. The problems he faces are that of language barriers, parents who don't value education as much as the maybe should, limited funds and a slew of other, seemingly impossible, obstacles to overcome.

Can this man achieve greatness? Can he be one of the few educators in history to completely turn around a down and out school? It all looks promising and his attitude is positive. The man is certainly trying to do great things.

Unfortunately, we've seen this before. One man's intentions may be great, but there are often politics, finances and superiors obstructing progress. The students are making improvements, so says the article, but how long can he maintain the 24 hour a day job he has taken.

I certainly hope he'll be able to achieve his dreams, he's certainly extremely motivated and his success will only fuel the locomotive of education, but it is not a journey that will be achieved easily.

Going with the Flow

Since everyone seems to have posted about themselves...

William Osborne, 22, English Literature/Secondary Education. Home stretch this semester

I'm also a full time personal trainer in Secaucus and Belleville

I barely have time to breath.

Uh, I read, write, etc. I don't do math. It doesn't have a enough words.

I have 4 out of 4 classes with D. Powers. She's one lucky classmate.

That's enough.

Will

Blogaliscious

It's blog time, baby. Let's see where this goes.

willdizzle