Yes, I'm Linda Newman and I'm the idiot in charge.
Posted on 01/28/2005 1:36:32 PM PST by Constitutionalist Conservative
So is life you beanheaded Liberal, union hack. What do you suppose the kids are learning by your example?
Oh, but pardon me. Your job, Mzzzz Newman, isn't to educate...it's to indoctrinate.
Actually, they would prefer to give C's to all students. Better yet, they will move away from percentages and traditional grades to new, elusive symbols and narratives. That's what's happening in Hawaii. For the record, most teachers hate the new report card and grading system.
What totally convoluted logic. No child left behind means they will be able to read at grade level, not that they will become a spelling bee champ, or even want to participate in one.
In general, I don't rant about public schools. I know some are horrible and need to be shut down to protect the children they are damaging. Others, including the system my children went to are actually quite good.
But if this is what passes for logic in that school district, I would pull my kids out immediately.
I suspect something else going on here. This sorry excuse just does not pass the smell test. Maybe a slap at Bush. Maybe fear that they don't have sufficient minorities that can compete in a spelling bee or maybe the opposite, a certain unfavored minority group that runs away with top honors.
Why don't you go find out what the program really means. It is not about free meals.
It's about implementing standards.
You are ABSO-F@%KIN-LUTELY correct! Not to mention the complete loss of shame / humility!
Ever see the movie "Devil's Advocate"? Well, the content of the movie aside, there's a fantastic quote by Al Pacino within it, which alludes to this perfectly:
[quote] John Milton: You sharpen the human appetite to the point where it can split atoms with its desire; you build egos the size of cathedrals; fiber-optically connect the world to every eager impulse; grease even the dullest dreams with these dollar-green, gold-plated fantasies, until every human becomes an aspiring emperor, becomes his own God... and where can you go from there? [/quote]
Next day, I was fine. I moved on (unlike a certain prominent left-wing organization with a similar name), vowing to do better in the future.
The NEA has been against NCLB from the start, because teachers get measured. Any opportunity to bash NCLB is jumped on with full force. We need a voucher system for primary education where parents choose from competitive offerings. Now.
Yeah, just like real life! This overeducated idjit can't interpret equality of opportunity for all children without demanding equality of results. Must be a hardcore lib.
I did the opposite. Spelling came pretty easily to me. In 5th grade, we had a spelling bee at the small school I attended and the winner went on to a competition between the winners of all of the schools in the area.
I have to admit I was terrified of going on to the bigger bee, and I purposefully spelled a word wrong so I wouldn't win.
I'm 37 and still regret it - I know I could have won.
I would like to find the answers to Question #7 (http://www.medway.k12.ma.us/medway/04mar16mins.html)
Medway School Committee
Minutes
March 16, 2004
E. DEVELOP SCREENING QUESTIONS
The committee developed the following questions that will be used in the interviews:
1. Why did you apply to be the Superintendent in Medway?
2. What about Medway has attracted you?
3. Describe the process you use to develop and implement the budget?
To involve the community? How do you prioritize programs and students services during the budget process?
4. What solutions have you used or what ideas do you have to secure
additional resources for school funding?
5. Describe to us how you envision the demands of the Superintendent and how you will involve the school committee, school community, citizens and other interested groups or individuals.
6. What experience have you had teaching or administering special education? What are some of the most challenging issues facing special education today?
7. What involvement have you had with No Child Left Behind implementation?
8. What role does technology play in education? How do you use it in your professional position?
9. What experience have you had with the high school accreditationprocess?
10. Is there anything else you would like to tell us about your qualifications or skills for the position that has not been discussed during the interview?
11. If you were selected for the position what would you do during your first 90 days on the job?
Yes, I'm Linda Newman and I'm the idiot in charge.
Blueprint for Learning and Teaching (BLT) Minutes
April 21, 2004 (http://158.123.229.10/Administration/BLT/Minutes%20-%2021%20Apr%2004.html)
I particularly like this synopsis from this tinfoil school district (I think he is speaking about lowest common denominator teaching):
"Steve Martin said we cannot continue to focus on the top group. Mike Allen stated we are a public school system-“we have to take everybody”. We have to take care of the other 70%, not just the top 30%. Mr. Weiss agreed, adding that we need to accommodate the needs of all students. (Amended: Jeffrey Weiss)"
Linda Newman welcomed a new member, Janice Kissinger, to the group. Janice is a director at School One in Providence.
The minutes from the March 10, 2004 meeting were distributed. Several corrections were suggested and will be made. Jeffrey Weiss made a motion to hold the minutes in abeyance for approval and, after amended and approved, post on the BLT website. Diane Elofson seconded. Motion carried.
The “Big Picture”
Linda Newman gave an overview of the “Big Picture” – the connections linking federal mandates, state mandates, Professional Development, district strategic plans, standardized tests, and student performance. Presently, the Lincoln School Department has 4 low performing schools. We are presently in PS&I and RIDE is intervening. We also had a negative High School SALT report and those recommendations need to be addressed. Linda spoke about Turning Points, stating that the Middle School, adolescent age is challenging. The children need personal attention – if you lose the kids, they are difficult to regain. Linda spoke about flexible grouping and constantly assessing, identifying, and prescribing student needs.
Jeffrey Weiss asked to speak on heterogeneous versus homogeneous grouping. Both he and Diane Elofson have done extensive research on this. Linda suggested they speak to the group on their research after visiting the schools.
Fred Hoppe noted there is tremendous research on both sides. Go to the schools and see how “all kids are being challenged”.
Diane Elofson was concerned that the schools only take you into the best classes. Fred Hoppe reassured her that she will see all.
Steve Martin said we cannot continue to focus on the top group. Mike Allen stated we are a public school system-“we have to take everybody”. We have to take care of the other 70%, not just the top 30%. Mr. Weiss agreed, adding that we need to accommodate the needs of all students. (Amended: Jeffrey Weiss)
Charles Schotter questioned the use of only research-based information as compared to common sense. He stated that we do not know where the next several years of NCLB will go – it’s too slanted on research-based. We have to see where it makes sense to us as a community – we need to use common sense.
Mary Ann McComiskey stated we need to come up with programming that works for all students.
Dennis McNamara said the “operative word is flexible”.
School Visits
Fred Hoppe spoke on the NELMS recommendations. NELMS knows what works, what doesn’t, and the roadblocks. He presented the group with a diagram of a KIVA (an all self-contained area) used in a true Middle School. The teaching time is longer because the children don’t lose time going through the hallways from class to class. Fred explained the instructional strategies with teaming. He said he did not realize the importance of the art component until he read the research and was very impressed with the art component in the KIVA. Fred was also very impressed with the community/parent involvement.
Janice Kissinger felt that we need to personalize instruction for each child. A new middle school brings about so many great opportunities.
Jeffrey Weiss wants to make sure we do not do harm to the “high” students. He feels the teachers in these ideal schools work well beyond their contractual obligation. It’s a process that’s not going to happen magically. He feels perhaps the accelerated students can go over to the High School and take classes.
Two sheets were passed around the table in order for members to visit either East Lyme, CT. or Barrington, RI Middle Schools. Classroom guidelines were also distributed.
The focus of the May 12th meeting will be to debrief about the school visits. Members will compare and contrast the two schools. If the Middle School summit is that day, it will also be discussed.
Respectfully submitted,
Joanne McManus
I lost a spelling bee in 6th grade on the final word- been able to blame that for all of life's circumstances since--NOT!
Typical edu-crat. The emphasis SHOULD be all kids learning to spell so that there will be some REAL competition at their school's spelling bee.
No, they can't be THAT stupid, can they, that they equate the standards of No Child Left Behind with identical outcome of all students?
Oh wait, they're in education. I take that back.
Sounds like they are irritated that the teachers have to give these tests and, by extension, prove their comptetence at teaching....:-)
http://www.pawtuckettimes.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=13722125&BRD=1713&PAG=461&dept_id=24491&rfi=6
LINCOLN -- Students who dread the annual state assessment tests will get a reprieve this spring.
Rhode Island schools won’t administer this year’s tests in March as they normally do, instead pushing them back to October, according to Lincoln School Department officials.
Interim Superintendent James DiPrete said during Monday’s School Committee meeting that the state education department notified the school district that the tests will be delayed six months.
A spokesman for the Department of Education could not be reached Monday night.
"I’m very relieved," DiPrete told the committee. "We weren’t sure if we were going to be told whether we would have to do the assessment tests."
Assistant Superintendent Linda Newman said after the meeting that the six-month delay came about because Rhode Island is coming into full compliance with the federal No Child Left Behind Act. That law requires states to conform to guidelines established by the federal Department of Education.
In a related story, Bush has banned children waiting in queue lines at school. All children must line up horizontally, making sure no one's toes stick out farther than other children's.
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