[speedgibson] Speed Gibson: Northwest Education News

[Email subscription to blog articles]

Posted by Speed Gibson:
Northwest Education News
http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1214005577.shtml


   This week's [1]Sun Newspaper has several articles on the four school
   districts that together serve most of the northwest suburbs,
   especially my own District 281, the Robbinsdale Area Schools. First,
   the other districts.
   District 286, which serves about a third of Brooklyn Center, the
   second smallest urban district in Minnesota, will [2]once again put an
   Operating Levy referendum on the ballot. This will be try number 6 in
   the past three years. The district is in Statutory Operating Debt,
   meaning they must seek more local income and can hold referendums
   outside of November. They seek to add $200 per student, but it's going
   to be another tough sell in an area hit hard by the burst of the real
   estate bubble and of course, $4 a gallon gasoline.
   District 279, the Osseo Area schools, held a [3]reception for 79
   retiring staff, some I suspect prompted by the recent staff cuts and
   closure of two schools.
   District 11, Anoka-Hennpin, the state's largest district, is looking
   at spending increases. Its (American) [4]Indian Education program is
   losing federal funding because of declining enrollment, and the
   "Indian Education Parent Advisory Committee" wants general fund
   increases to maintain the program. I'm curious to know how much
   certain nearby tribes are currently contributing.
   More interesting, though is the report of the [5]Elementary Workload
   Reduction Task Force, created to "review Anoka-Hennepin teacher
   workload." I'm trying hard to keep an open mind here, but a little
   demon that looks a lot like Salem Radio talk show host Dennis Prager
   is standing on my left shoulder. "You have to go to Graduate School to
   become this stupid," he whispers in my ear. Consider:

     Adding a para-professional to supervise lunch and recess would give
     teachers more time for planning and staff development, [Oxbow Creek
     Elementary teacher and task force member LeMoyne] Corgard
     suggested.
     The task force estimated recess para-professionals would cost the
     district $726,000 a year. It was the solution highest on the
     priority list.
     The district is currently using high-cost employees to monitor
     recess, when those teachers could be collaborating with their
     peers, [task force co-chairman and School Board member Scott]
     Wenzel said.

   That last quote could have been said better, but I disagree with the
   premise. Isn't incidental contact with teachers as authority figures
   in the lunchroom, hallways, and playground good for students? Isn't
   this a good opportunity for a teacher to pass on a little
   encouragement? Maybe a smile and a wink for a student that's had a
   rough morning with the material? Isn't this part of growing up?
   And I'm still puzzled why teachers need all this extra training and
   peer collaboration. They are professionals we are told. Licensing
   requirements, as some teachers quietly admit, are much higher than
   most positions require, i.e., if anything the teachers are
   over-qualified. What didn't they learn in college, with experience,
   with supervision, and self-improvement?
   Well, that's enough posting for the other districts. And a big thank
   you to the Sun Newspapers for providing all this coverage.

References

   1. http://www.mnsun.com/
   2. http://www.mnsun.com/articles/2008/06/20/news/bc19schoolboard.txt
   3. http://www.mnsun.com/articles/2008/06/20/news/os19retirement.txt
   4. http://www.pressnews.com/articles/2008/06/20/champlin-dayton_press/news/4ahindianed.txt
   5. http://www.pressnews.com/articles/2008/06/20/champlin-dayton_press/news/3ahtaskforce6-9.txt