Is Suitable Good Enough

In these days of economic hardship, at least in the state of Kansas, school funding is really taking a hit from the state legislature. I suppose this is normal and we should take a cut if the money is not there. However, the buzz out of Topeka is what is a suitable education and what does it cost? The term suitable is what really bothers me.

Does our governor want to be a suitable governor? Does our representative and senator want to be suitable? Does anyone tell their child we want them to aspire to be suitable? I think not. What ever happened to good and/or great?

If you have a parent that moves into an area and is deciding between two school districts, district A says we will provide the best education we possibly can and district B says we will provide a suitable education which would you choose? I know which district I want my child in.

I do not believe that money is the only measure of a quality education, I think quality classroom teachers are, but the term "suitable education" really goes up my backside. I can assure you this we will do whatever we can for the kids in our district, and suitable will not be good enough for me.

Is This Why We Test?

We have had a good couple of years at Pleasanton on our state assessments, in fact we have had the highest scores we have ever had. We all have walked around with our chests out and being very proud of our accomplishments, including myself. Now for the reality.

Our 4th grade teachers have started their classes blogging and it has been fun and reflective plus they love doing it. Whenever possible I respond to each student. One of our teachers asked the question of how the students felt about the upcoming state assessments. Their responses nearly floored me.

I never read so much fear, anxiety, and apprehension in kids. I made a group response and told them that they would be adequately prepared, and to just do the best they can and who cares anyway. They are our kids, we love them and their success or failure has nothing to do with test scores. I just couldn't believe that the two words "state assessment" would strike such a response in 4th graders. By the way the teacher puts no pressure on these kids, and echoed my sentiments in a group response.

Is our goal to strike fear in these kids, I don't think so. It almost broke my heart when I read their answers, and made me question "is this why we test?" No kid should feel that type of pressure, especially in the 4th grade. So you can chalk me up as one who is now opposed to this ridiculous practice in name of educational excellence.

Random Thoughts

Well it seems there hasn't been much to write about, but thought I'd better get back in the habit or I would keep putting it off until I would eventually quit and I don't want to do that. If you noticed I have changed the look of my blog, actually my youngest daughter did it. She said my previous one looked boring, I said good reason for that it reflected my personality.

The bowl games are over, maybe thats the reason for my writing funk, I'm depressed. Some great games, some not so great, and some average. When you have two 6-6 teams how can you expect anything but average? Are there to many bowls, yes, do schools mind taking the money, no, so I guess we're saddled with the 30 some we have.

The 3 year players have been declaring for the NFL or returning to school. Cam Newton is going NFL so he and his father can now take money legally. Look out Auburn the NCAA is fixin' to invade you. Some of the athletes returning to school really surprised me, but I loved college I know it was all I could do to cram 4 years of college into 6.

Cover up the politicians are back to work, and I'm sure that will make our lives better since they care for us so much.

Pray for the people in Arizona.

The real reason I'm writing is to see if I remember my bitly address or if I have to look it up before I post on twitter.

It Shouldn't be Like This

I am like many administrators, in that blogging is new for me and I do enjoy having a chance to share, vent, and evaluate some of my thoughts in regard to education. I have tried to write twice a week, once covering an educational topic and once writing Random Thoughts, which is my stab at satirical humor.

While being out on Christmas break I kept thinking what am I going write in my educational blog when we come back, and I was drawing a blank. I found myself growing anxious on what I was going to write, as if many read it anyway (there I go with satire again). It shouldn't be that way, and its not going to be for me anymore.

When topics come up then I will write about them, I definitely am not going to pressure myself into writing something just for the sake of writing. Perhaps I'm not as creative as the next blogger, but I didn't start doing this for the next blogger, I did for me and when I have something to share, for you. I know this I'm not going to spend another second on becoming anxious on what to blog about.

When I finally realized this I relaxed I may write once, twice, or however many times the urge strikes and I feel I have something to add. I will continue Random Thoughts weekly and really enjoy writing it, and now I will enjoy writing the other blogs equally as much. I think I'll have to name that column, as soon as I can come up with one.

Random Thoughts

Several items as we get prepared to resume the school year next week, I had a good Christmas break and trust each of you did also.

The commercials during bowl month intrigue me, especially the ones about the two schools playing and what they look like and stand for. When are they going to show the real school, such as frat guys throwing up in bushes and students sleeping in and missing class. I'm guessing that won't happen.

The Ohio State president's comments on Boise State and TCU being in the hunt for BCS games stating they didn't deserve a shot since their conferences are not strong. My guess is Boise and TCU will play Ohio St. at any time, so jump on them big boy. Do you think the commercial for Ohio State would feature students selling things to get a discount on a tatoo?

Which brings us to another NCAA contradiction, student-athletes cannot receive any kind of entitlement form anyone, however, they all receive a gift bag from their respective bowl reps. The bigger the bowl the bigger the gift bag, mind explaining that?

Congrats to the UConn women's basketball team 90 in a row is a major accomplishment and truly unbelievable feat. They did not replace UCLA in my opinion, one is the men's record and one is the women's record, they are separate. If they weren't we would play one tournament and not two, that said it doesn't diminish what they did at all.

The California flooding was horrendous and very well covered by the news. Wait until spring and you will see a repeat in the midwest somewhere, hope it receives the same coverage.

New Years resolutions are an interesting item and who ever came up with this tradition anyway? They are basically the same for most people and will last a short time, then we go back to our previous behavior. That just human nature. I quit doing them because I don't like lying to myself. Well that answers the question of where they came from, if lying is involved I'm sure the US Congress invented them.

Ok the media is all over the Big 10 because of yesterday's games. I'm betting the Iowa and Illinois fans don't care, both beat Big 12 schools, and I know I don't care as long as the Sooners won of which they did to get the BCS Monkey off their back. It will be a good year.

Random Thoughts

I wasn't going to write until after Christmas break but after finishing our Christmas shopping yesterday I just can't resist.

I detest shopping-don't mind buying but don't want to waste anytime looking. I usually go to the first store employee I see and ask if they have the item, if not out I go.

When I go with my wife, of which I did yesterday, the mere thought of going to JoAnn's or Hancock Fabrics almost makes me physically ill. Then you throw in Wal-Mart and my patience level and aimlessly walking around is more than I can take.

We had to go to Oak Park Mall in Overland Park, Ks. yesterday which is a suburb of Kansas City, and guess what we weren't the only ones there. Now I am realist about myself I'm a short, fat, middle-aged man that will never make People magazine list of 100 sexiest men alive. Hell, if they have a 100,000,000 list I would be questionable in making that. But good gracious, do some of these people not own a mirror, there were some strange looking cats hangin' at the mall. Maybe I just need to get out more, refer to earlier paragraphs.

Just a few things I noticed-your drawers should come over your butt cheeks, the bill of a hat goes in front, exactly how long does it take to put your hair in the 12 inch spikes or to dangle in front of your face so you can't see a thing? Is the middle of December really tank top and short weather?

The other thing I enjoy is going into the stores where they want to see your bank statement prior to entering. I really have fun with these employees, I usually get away from my wife, then ask a meaningless question, and wipe my nose with my sleeve, just to let them know what us common folks are like.

Sometimes I annoy my wife when she takes me out in public, but if I'm going to waste a day shopping I'm going to have fun. Have a great Christmas and Happy New Year and its a year before I have to go back to the mall.

Educational Philosophy

Most of the time when someone mentions philosophy to me, or asks me about mine, I tell them if you want to know about philosophy go read Aristotle or Socrates. They know philosophy, I don't and when you want to know in depth about something you need to consult an expert in that field. If I wanted to know about ladies to have a good time with I'd try to contact Charlie Sheen. I never knew my thoughts or beliefs would impact a school district, but the day I became a superintendent that changed. I have found, also, that as I learn more my philosophy has become a revolving door, it changes with gained knowledge.

I do hate walking in schools, at least in this part of Kansas, and seeing their mission statement and no one knows what it is. The thing I have noticed is they all say the same flowery things to which the meaning gets lost. I believe our mission at Pleasanton is to prepare our students to be adequately prepared for their next step in life. That may be going from 3rd to 4th grade, junior high to high school, or high school to college/work. Thats it.

But here are some other things that I feel we need to examine at my school and I have the many contributors to twitter to thank for opening my eyes and brain, and it didn't even hurt to much.

Learning content to learning how to learn-Spewing facts back at me is not going to make it in the world we are now living. A student had better prepare to open up to new learning to be successful. This is why some veteran teachers struggle, just be a life-long learner.

Going in that same direction the instruction needs to shift to life skills-be able to work in groups, where to locate and determine relevant information, and students will take more ownership in learning as we shift from data-driven instruction.

The one size fits all teaching will go away-As well it should differentiating learning should have been done so long ago, no one can imagine that all students learn at the same rate, so why do we teach them that way.

Assess what they have learned-I think we will eventually learn that so much standardized testing means nothing about learning. I think semester type testing will go away and shorter more frequent measures will guide our instruction.

"We've never done it like that before." If a teacher says this-they will be fired on the spot whether they have tenure or not.

There you have my educational philosophy for December 2010, I guarantee you it is different from December 2009, and hope its different in December 2011. Did you think of Aristotle or Socrates when you read this?