Here is the video of George Bush's reaction to 9/11 that Ruthie sent me.Thanks so much for sharing this.
Check out The Characteristics of a Good Teacher and think about what you would still add to the list as you go through the semester.
Here is the link to the PowerPoint Slides for our first session. If you missed some of the content, please make sure to review the PowerPoint.
As part of our Clinical Experiences Orientation and our discussion of the dispositions, we discussed how your dispositions are assessed in several ways. Review the forms we use to assess dispositions by clicking on the links below:
**You will complete the Student Dispositions Self-Report Form this semester if you are applying or are accepted to the Department of Education.
***Your Cooperating Teacher at your clinical placement will fill out this form.
As you begin your clinicals this week, I strongly recommend reviewing
“Looking for a Moral: An Observer’s Guide” from The Moral Life of Schools by Philip W. Jackson, Robert E. Boostrom, and David T. Hansen, which is one of the last items in your binder.
WAITING FOR "SUPERMAN" REFLECTION
Since we did not have time to finish watching the film, please make sure to view the rest of the film before our next session and answer the following question by commenting on this post. I will have a copy available for you to borrow.
Based on Waiting for "Superman" and your own opinions about education, what do you think are some ways that education can be improved in America? How can you do to make this change happen?
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ReplyDeleteFirstly,
ReplyDeleteI feel maybe they should give out scholarships for the families who cannot afford the school tuition. Yes, there is a lottery, which helps many kids get into a school, and leaves the families joyful, but I think scholarships are important as well. Because the kids who did not win the lottery, have then another chance of etting a scholarship.
Second, In the film, there was a male teacher they reffered to, who unfortunatley was not a good role model and did many acts that were not acceptable as a teacher or even as a human. And he could not get fired because he got tenior or whatever. I feel that once a while the principle or vice principle should come by each classroom, just to make sure the kids are learning well and participating and especially look at the teachers. Yes, when a principle or a memeber of the school board is in the classroom, the (non role model) teacher will act like an extrordinary educator. I feel that the principle should listen in by the door. So that way he can catch anything that goes on in the classroom. Just because someone is a teacher, it does not mean they deserve respect. They have to be a good role model and then they get respect.
Lastly, I think that the teachers and faculty need to realize why they became educatorsor are working in a schoo in the first place. The teacher should be a role model. The student needs to feel loved and needs respect as well as the teacher who has to get respect. They need the passion to teach. They need to be patient. A student may be strong in one subject, but may not be strong in another. The teacher needs to be patient and guide the child.
I thought that "Waiting for Superman" was a powerful movie with a powerful message. But, I don't completely agree with it. The movie spoke about the failing schools, and the sky high statistics of "Drop-out Factories" and other similar ideas. It also put down many teachers. I think that this is obviously happening around us, but I think we also need to focus on the teachers who are doing a good job. Throughout my observations, I met public school educators who did their job, WELL. I think that "Waiting for Superman" makes the impression that all public schools are terrible failing places. This is true in unfortunately many cases, but it is not the case EVERYWHERE. There are still some moral, humane and kind teachers in this world.
ReplyDeleteChaya, I agree with you, but I think sometimes, in order to spur people into action, people make things sound more extreme. At the same time, did the film really make it more extreme? They had facts and statistics, and you have to remember that the point of observations is to see GOOD teachers. You are not going to a school where the students live in communities where death, violence, and poverty are rampant. Of course there are plenty of good teachers, but until EVERY teacher is good, why should we think our school system can't be improved?
ReplyDeleteI thought the movie was very powerful. Even though the movie had a pretty heavy slant, I thought it very clearly and cleverly showed some of the major flaws in our public school system. My classmates have raised some very good and important points, and I agree that there are some wonderful educators and also that some need to be monitored more effectively. Of all the important pieces, however, one thing that struck me the most was the portrayal of the teacher's unions. How and when did an organization that was started to help and protect their members become a rigid, mob-like politically affected group? While I'm sure that the union serves some of its members well, it steamrollers many others, forcing many teachers to pay dues (a large percentage of which goes toward political donations), while effectively chaining them to the confines of what the union allows or does not allow. When discussing the poor education in some areas, one must recognize that the unions effectively cut off any teacher advancement based on merit, which leads to some educators not trying as hard as they could. After Michelle Rhee's meritocracy proposal failed, she made a comment about how things have gotten so bad that IT'S ALL ABOUT THE ADULTS AND NOT THE CHILDREN. It's very important amidst all the worry and concern of job security, fair pay and benefits that educators, administrators and government officials take a step back and realize their immense responsibility as the teachers of America's possibly sinking youth.
ReplyDeleteAnother thing that I've been wondering about is tracking. It was mentioned in the movie that one of the magnet schools in California does not track its students, i.e. separating into levels based on academic ability or skill level. Doing my clinicals so far this semester, I've noticed a big difference in the A-level classes and C-level classes. As much as students tend to perform up to expectations and some can slip through the cracks if placed in too low a level, what should be done when some students need a lot of extra help while others are zipping through the curriculum?
ReplyDeleteI agree with Danielle Herbach and Avigayil who basically agreed with Michelle Rhee on the subject of teachers unions and tenure. The fact that the teachers union did not even allow the teachers to vote on whether or not they wanted to change the tenure system is ridiculous. As incredible as the Teachers' Union is for making sure that the rights of the teachers are upheld, they need to understand that it is not all about the teachers. Michelle Rhee's idea was so brilliant in the fact that it would encourage teachers to work hard to be better. However, if they did not want to, they would have the OPTION to keep their tenure. Additionally, I do not think teachers should simply be given tenure after working for a certain amount of years; they should be required to undergo an evaluation process to see if they are worthy of being rewarded tenure. I like how Michelle Rhee said that "unless you [teachers] can show that you're bringing positive results for kids, then you cannot have the privilege of teaching in our schools".
ReplyDeleteOne aspect of the idea of the charter schools that made me uneasy was the fact that the way the child is chosen is done by lottery. I tried put myself in the shoes of someone who did not 'win' the lottery, and I can only imagine how devastating it was to not hear their names being called. Although a public lottery is the fairest way to randomly place children in these schools, I was upset by the way it was done. It is one thing to watch someone else win an iPad or a car in a lottery, and it is another thing to watch someone get the future you want/need.....and you are the one paying for their education. I just hope that students are required to maintain their grades to stay in the charter schools.
I am also curious to know what to do in the situation Danielle Herbach presented. I remember in a few of my classes there were girls who were placed in a higher level class because they were performing well enough to stay in the class, but the whole class would be bored when the teacher would spend a whole class period explaining to these 2 or 3 girls something that everyone else understood. Or especially if a class is not tracked at all.....when do you pause and help the people that need help? And do you do it at the expense of the other students or not?
i think the tenure system is good in some situations but bad in others. some teachers deserve it because they are amazing teachers. other teachers do not deseve tenure at all because they are horrible and dont know how to teach. there should be a more set system for giving teachers tenure other than that they worked for a certain amount of years. the charter schools should have a better system for picking which studenst are allowed to come other than the lottery ssytem.the schools should be aware of how each student is doing and they should have to maintain a certain grade level to be allowed to stay in the school. schools shold have differnt level classes for the students who may need more individualized attention. all schools should have these systems pu into place.
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