I think we have pretty well covered all the reasons why Mr. Robinson and those who ascribe to his philosophy on education need to go...but what next? What needs to happen to "fix" things?
Here are a few suggestions, please feel free to weigh in!
1. We need PE everyday, Music two or three times a week and Art at least once a week K through 12.
2. We need smaller class sizes
3. We need to keep good teachers use them as models and mentors to new teachers. (Not just those who know "which side their bread is buttered on.")
4. We need counselors in every school.
5. We need people who can make decisions quickly and effectively without having to get the go ahead from the Superintendent for every little thing. We need principals who actually know what they are doing so the superintendent can allow them to do their jobs without concerns for the day to day functioning.
6. We need the SITE councils to function as parent advisory opportunities, or create parent advisory forums where they can come and express concerns. BUT, then the input needs to be addressed and if possible used.
7. We need to protect the developmental and social stages of our most vulnerable students. We need to stop dividing up student peer groups based on test scores. Stable peer support is one of the most needed aspects in a child's life right after adults who care about them.
8. We need a leader we can trust.
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2 comments:
I like your list. Here are a few more:
We need textbooks for math at all grade levels vs. only xeroxed work sheets in some elementary grades.
We need a research-based comprehensive curriculum that spans the K-8 (and in some subjects the K-12) continuum. Let's buy one that recently has proven successful in multiple districts like ours across the nation.
We need either a school nurse or, better yet, a small health clinic staffed during all school hours, in each school. 2-3 hour waits to take kids into urgent care to check out ear infections, etc., I believe prevent some kids from getting needed basic health care -- that and the cost of health care. Primary care doctors are so busy that illness issues usually are referred to the urgent care clinic at Lebanon Hospital, vs. obtaining a same-day or next-day appointment with the child's own physician. I recall reading that Sweet Home high school started a health clinic and it must have been funded by a grant or a non-school resource. You gotta believe kids who aren't physically hurting learn better. It might be also that drug/alcohol/abuse problems would be detected and treatment referrals made, at this level. This too, would obviously help learning and attendance levels and possibly further reduce drop-out rates.
I think number 6 is probably the most important on this list. Each school should have a site council that meets regularly.
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