It is that time of the year again, yes, it is pink slip mailing time and the angst is a'flowing fast and wild these days. For those that may not know, I work in large educational bureaucracy in northern California. I've been laid off every year I've been here and then re-hired, in some fashion or another, later on each year.
The system is, in a word, broken. In more words, it is based off nothing beyond seniority. This makes sense since the people who wrote the CBA's were the most senior ones and wanted the most security. But the system does a massive disservice to our customers who just happen to be children.
Showing posts with label education. Show all posts
Showing posts with label education. Show all posts
11.10.2010
Today in WTF?
Let's start out with some low hanging fruit written by a fruit who should be hanged (heh).
That, my friends, is an example of what 'net geeks like to call EPIC FAIL! Amazon is selling a book catering specifically to pedophiles called The Pedophile's Guide to Love and Pleasure. The description reads "This is my attempt to make pedophile situations safer for those juveniles that find themselves involved in them, by establishing certian rules for these adults to follow. I hope to achieve this by appealing to the better nature of pedosexuals, with hope that their doing so will result in less hatred and perhaps liter sentences should they ever be caught"
Um yeah, good luck with that, Philip R. Greaves. May your time behind bars be filled with eternal torment until you are finally shanked out of existence.
Um yeah, good luck with that, Philip R. Greaves. May your time behind bars be filled with eternal torment until you are finally shanked out of existence.
5.13.2010
Obstructed Employment
I'm in the rather peculiar position of wanting/needing a full time job with benefits and having one of my sites wanting to hire me on a full time basis or close enough to qualify for benefits.So what's the problem?
If the department submits the paperwork to human resources for the position then that position gets offered to a totem pole of other folks in my department based on their seniority. It will also be offered to recently laid off workers who get priority rehire treatment for 39 months after being laid off.
But the site doesn't want to fill the position with anyone, they want to fill it with me. But they are not able to actually choose who they hire, they can only choose that they hire someone. Everything else is out of their hands. Which is, of course, ridiculous. Sites and departments should have the final say-so on who works for them and should be able to reject any prospect they choose. But the sites are unable to do this because of collective bargaining agreements, bumping rules and all the other things that unions put in place to protect the most senior members at the expense of the most junior.
So I'm stuck either staying as an unprotected contract worker or opening up the position the tender mercies of a bumping lottery.
In the end, nobody wins. The site gets short changed because I've got one foot out the door at all times, I am and have been on a constant job hunt. If/when a job is offered to me, I will take it and they will have to start from scratch with a new employee.
The education system in California is seriously broken and in need of a fix, not continuing budget cuts and furloughs. And there really needs to be an amendment to the collective bargaining agreement that returns some of the local site administration to the local sites. Running school sites by unionized bureaucratic dictums is backwards at best and directly detrimental to the smooth operation of school sites and districts at worst.At the end of the day there is really a pretty simple calculation to run. Do we want to have to build more prisons or do we want to have to build more colleges? Underfunding education at the primary school level means we are going to be building more prisons to house an uneducated and unemployable populance. If it were up to me, I'd definitely go with funding education. It is a long term investment that strengthens the state on all levels. Prisons just weaken us all and cost an insane amount of money.
Fund Education Now or Build More Prisons Later
3.10.2010
The Triple Screwing of the Educational Budget Cuts
So I heard the bad news from one of my co-workers that his position has been eliminated as a result of the non-stop budget cuts to education in California. His is, of course, not going to be the only position cut in this latest round of cuts. And I have to remind myself that I'm actually not even a real employee in this district since my position was eliminated last June.
I am a contractor within the district doing pretty much the exact same job I did last year but without any security, health insurance or retirement benefits. Which is to say, I'm a helluva lot cheaper than I was last year all told but it also means I've been in full-on job hunt mode all year. And, if and when I do get another job offered to me, I'm going to bounce and leave someone else to sort out the mess. If the district wanted to buy my loyalty then they'd figure out a way to hire me on full time with all the benefits and protections that implies.
Anyway, here's how I see the continuing rounds of budget cuts after budget cuts. There are three main areas where the system screws itself and, by extension, screws the students in the system.
1. Because the cuts are made based on literally nothing more than length of service the newer, more energetic, more engaged and better educated teachers are the first to go. This is the same as putting old people in the lifeboats first and then seeing if there's space for the younger women and children. Nice if you're an old person but kind of stupid for the long term.
2. Older teachers, those nearing retirement are often the most burned out, fed up and spent employees in the district. They are the worst teachers to work with, they hate technology, they are grumpy, they are short with their students, they are gone absolutely as soon as possible at the end of the day.
3. Many of the older teachers stopped giving a damn about teaching years ago and are, quite honestly, just running out the clock so that they can get their maximum pension. This maximum pension thing can be the difference between pulling $1500 a month until you die or pulling $4000 a month until you die. It isn't chump change but the fact the only reason they keep teaching is to get the bigger pension means they are pretty crappy teachers.
All of this is a terrible disservice to the students. They are being taught by cranky old teachers from out of date textbooks and using obsolete technological resources (not completely true but generally pretty accurate across the entire district). And yet there is an oppressive mandate to improve test scores while underfunding the system repeatedly? How that's math work?
California is failing its children by failing the entire educational system and we will be paying the tab on this one for years and years to come.
I am a contractor within the district doing pretty much the exact same job I did last year but without any security, health insurance or retirement benefits. Which is to say, I'm a helluva lot cheaper than I was last year all told but it also means I've been in full-on job hunt mode all year. And, if and when I do get another job offered to me, I'm going to bounce and leave someone else to sort out the mess. If the district wanted to buy my loyalty then they'd figure out a way to hire me on full time with all the benefits and protections that implies.
Anyway, here's how I see the continuing rounds of budget cuts after budget cuts. There are three main areas where the system screws itself and, by extension, screws the students in the system.
1. Because the cuts are made based on literally nothing more than length of service the newer, more energetic, more engaged and better educated teachers are the first to go. This is the same as putting old people in the lifeboats first and then seeing if there's space for the younger women and children. Nice if you're an old person but kind of stupid for the long term.
2. Older teachers, those nearing retirement are often the most burned out, fed up and spent employees in the district. They are the worst teachers to work with, they hate technology, they are grumpy, they are short with their students, they are gone absolutely as soon as possible at the end of the day.
3. Many of the older teachers stopped giving a damn about teaching years ago and are, quite honestly, just running out the clock so that they can get their maximum pension. This maximum pension thing can be the difference between pulling $1500 a month until you die or pulling $4000 a month until you die. It isn't chump change but the fact the only reason they keep teaching is to get the bigger pension means they are pretty crappy teachers.
All of this is a terrible disservice to the students. They are being taught by cranky old teachers from out of date textbooks and using obsolete technological resources (not completely true but generally pretty accurate across the entire district). And yet there is an oppressive mandate to improve test scores while underfunding the system repeatedly? How that's math work?
California is failing its children by failing the entire educational system and we will be paying the tab on this one for years and years to come.
12.08.2009
Ways to Stealth Teach Your Kids
Any parent that leaves education to schools is doing a massive disservice to their kids. Children learn all the time and it makes good sense to make use of the time spent with your kids to teach them new skills or ways of thinking or even just how to relate what is around them.
With that in mind, here are a few ways to sneak in some education from this month's Parent & Child:
1. Hangman - teaches alphabet and spelling.
2. Destination Game - Choose a place and add words that sound like it. "I went to California and saw cows, cranes, coasters and castles."
3. What's the Total? - Have your kids guess the total of restaurant checks and grocery bills.
4. Tongue Twisters - Strengthens articulation and speech skills.
5. Dominoes - Numbers and problem solving.
There are actually six ways but I kind of think the sixth way in the magazine is semi-bogus (give your child a digital recorder and have them narrate their day). I guess I'll add my own sixth way to stealth teach your kids.
6. Ask your kid to tell you about his artwork and listen (i.e. don't interrupt) to his response.
There are other ways that I try to get my kids to think when we are spending time together. Like making up songs, trying to figure out why something is the way it is (why do trees grow upwards?) or making up stories together.
Something I heard a while ago that still sticks with me has to do with reading to your kids. Did you know that what you read is much less important than the fact that you do "read"? In fact, a study showed that illiterate parents who made up a story while looking at pictures in a book with their kids were able to impart the same educational value as reading the actual story. It is the interaction, the concentration and the time together that delivers the value. Read together even if you can't read this. Crazy.
With that in mind, here are a few ways to sneak in some education from this month's Parent & Child:
1. Hangman - teaches alphabet and spelling.
2. Destination Game - Choose a place and add words that sound like it. "I went to California and saw cows, cranes, coasters and castles."
3. What's the Total? - Have your kids guess the total of restaurant checks and grocery bills.
4. Tongue Twisters - Strengthens articulation and speech skills.
5. Dominoes - Numbers and problem solving.
There are actually six ways but I kind of think the sixth way in the magazine is semi-bogus (give your child a digital recorder and have them narrate their day). I guess I'll add my own sixth way to stealth teach your kids.
6. Ask your kid to tell you about his artwork and listen (i.e. don't interrupt) to his response.
There are other ways that I try to get my kids to think when we are spending time together. Like making up songs, trying to figure out why something is the way it is (why do trees grow upwards?) or making up stories together.
Something I heard a while ago that still sticks with me has to do with reading to your kids. Did you know that what you read is much less important than the fact that you do "read"? In fact, a study showed that illiterate parents who made up a story while looking at pictures in a book with their kids were able to impart the same educational value as reading the actual story. It is the interaction, the concentration and the time together that delivers the value. Read together even if you can't read this. Crazy.
9.18.2009
The Whackedness of Education in California
So I've slowly come to realize that I'm a mildly hot property in the school district where I used to used work full time. But the reasons for my relative hotness are kind of annoying and a good symptom of what's wrong with education in California in general.
I don't fully understand how the system is currently set up or even what to call my situation. But it skinnies down this, I can be hired on a contract basis to work at schools. My pay rate is set by HR and is even less than what I made last year. I do not qualify for benefits meaning no health insurance which saves everyone a huge chunk of money and puts my ass out in the wind.
Everyone benefits from this arrangement except for me. I get paid a little bit less and have no protection. I cost about half of what I used to cost to hire because of the loss of the benefits which has made me a hot property.
It is ridiculous that HR is setting my pay scale lower than it was last year. In fact, I think I'm going to ask them why this is so because it is ridiculous. I need to be making more per hour to compensate for the loss of my benefits.
I actually got in touch with HR yesterday to find out why my pay rate was lower and they investigated before letting me know that I should be, and now am, getting paid at my previous rate. Which is a nice little boost and every little bit helps. We're still not where we need to be but, because I'm one of those optimist types, I feel like we are moving in the right direction with all of our revenue irons.
But I sure would like the security of some health insurance so, uh, government types, why don't you get that universal healthcare thing sorted out and enacted, m'kay?
I don't fully understand how the system is currently set up or even what to call my situation. But it skinnies down this, I can be hired on a contract basis to work at schools. My pay rate is set by HR and is even less than what I made last year. I do not qualify for benefits meaning no health insurance which saves everyone a huge chunk of money and puts my ass out in the wind.
Everyone benefits from this arrangement except for me. I get paid a little bit less and have no protection. I cost about half of what I used to cost to hire because of the loss of the benefits which has made me a hot property.
It is ridiculous that HR is setting my pay scale lower than it was last year. In fact, I think I'm going to ask them why this is so because it is ridiculous. I need to be making more per hour to compensate for the loss of my benefits.
I actually got in touch with HR yesterday to find out why my pay rate was lower and they investigated before letting me know that I should be, and now am, getting paid at my previous rate. Which is a nice little boost and every little bit helps. We're still not where we need to be but, because I'm one of those optimist types, I feel like we are moving in the right direction with all of our revenue irons.
But I sure would like the security of some health insurance so, uh, government types, why don't you get that universal healthcare thing sorted out and enacted, m'kay?
6.05.2009
One Door Closes...
And another opens. The closing door is my work in the school district. It has been illuminating, exasperating, depressing and, sometimes, really gratifying. I will be leaving with a much improved technical support skill set, I've gained a huge amount of knowledge of how networks function, how to fix all manner of computer problems, how to manage a massive pile of disparate work at several locations. I've also learned some of the ways to work within a massive and often idiotic bureaucracy.
The exasperating part is seeing how deeply under funded education is and seeing how the cuts effect the school's ability to instruct children, seeing how much of education is smoke and mirrors and duct tape, that the system is so badly strained that it feels very close to snapping and unraveling altogether.
The gratifying aspect comes from being able to resolve a teacher or administrator's pressing technical problem. Or from being able to help propel some student's educations a little further along through the application of technology. Or getting kids turned on to educational sites that are fun but also teach them something worthwhile as opposed to the game port sites that let them play Sonic or Mario or some other time waster with no redeeming qualities.
In the end, I have enjoyed my time in the district, I've met an awful lot of very cool, very dedicated and good people. I've made a good number of friends, I've made a huge number of contacts and I've helped lots and lots of teachers, staff and students out with their problems.
But this isn't the end, this is just the beginning to another chapter. And, if we are able to grow out our Kyani business then we'll be in a great place by the fall. Having the summer to get it going will give us the opportunity to make it a success.
The exasperating part is seeing how deeply under funded education is and seeing how the cuts effect the school's ability to instruct children, seeing how much of education is smoke and mirrors and duct tape, that the system is so badly strained that it feels very close to snapping and unraveling altogether.
The gratifying aspect comes from being able to resolve a teacher or administrator's pressing technical problem. Or from being able to help propel some student's educations a little further along through the application of technology. Or getting kids turned on to educational sites that are fun but also teach them something worthwhile as opposed to the game port sites that let them play Sonic or Mario or some other time waster with no redeeming qualities.
In the end, I have enjoyed my time in the district, I've met an awful lot of very cool, very dedicated and good people. I've made a good number of friends, I've made a huge number of contacts and I've helped lots and lots of teachers, staff and students out with their problems.
But this isn't the end, this is just the beginning to another chapter. And, if we are able to grow out our Kyani business then we'll be in a great place by the fall. Having the summer to get it going will give us the opportunity to make it a success.
5.06.2009
Manners Matter, Muthaf*****!
I am, in the course of my work, exposed to a wide variety of socio-economic classes. From the very poor to the enviously affluent. I try to treat everyone the same regardless of their circumstances because everyone deserves fair treatment.
One thing that is fully within each child's control is their attitude and manners, or lack thereof. Yes, manners are taught by parents but, once a child enters the education system, they are also strongly encouraged by educators.
Some kids never seem to grasp the value in saying please, thank you and you're welcome. They seem to operate on an entitlement concept that the world exists solely to serve them and all of their petty little needs.
Contrast that with the kids at one of my other schools. These kids are polite, say please and thank you and I really enjoy working with them. They also don't approach problems like they expect other people to resolve them for them, they want to learn how to resolve them themselves. Its refreshing and, as a result, I look forward to coming to this school quite alot more than the others.
Parents, do not let your kids get away with being ill-mannered kids, you are doing them no favors at all. Teach them to use their manners and they'll find that people are much more likely to want to help them.
As with so much of the rest of life, you get out what you put in.
One thing that is fully within each child's control is their attitude and manners, or lack thereof. Yes, manners are taught by parents but, once a child enters the education system, they are also strongly encouraged by educators.
Some kids never seem to grasp the value in saying please, thank you and you're welcome. They seem to operate on an entitlement concept that the world exists solely to serve them and all of their petty little needs.
Contrast that with the kids at one of my other schools. These kids are polite, say please and thank you and I really enjoy working with them. They also don't approach problems like they expect other people to resolve them for them, they want to learn how to resolve them themselves. Its refreshing and, as a result, I look forward to coming to this school quite alot more than the others.
Parents, do not let your kids get away with being ill-mannered kids, you are doing them no favors at all. Teach them to use their manners and they'll find that people are much more likely to want to help them.
As with so much of the rest of life, you get out what you put in.
4.06.2009
Short Week with Extra Grindage
We had a good weekend with great weather, I got a good bike ride in, took a bunch of pictures, Nande got a good long run at the dog park and I even planted some tomatoes (Early Girl hybrids!). And, of course, lots of chores got worked through, lawns got mowed, laundry got processed, glue spills on the carpet got steam-vacced up, office spaces got cleaned (some). Oh yeah, I also got to gorge myself on some fan-fucking-tastic In-n-Out burgers on the way back from Pleasanton yesterday.
And I'm looking at a rather nice three day work week as the district goes into spring break mode.
But getting to the break is going to be a slog through the mud. From a mostly meaningless one year job review later today to a 2+ hour staff meeting tomorrow morning to a meeting with HR tomorrow evening to breakdown who's going to "bump" me from my job.
This bumping is a curious process. It takes away control from the school campuses and allows anyone with seniority to decide which school they want to work at. And it also means the junior site tech gets bumped, either to another school or out of the system altogether. Why yes, it does suck balls to be a junior tech. Don't get me wrong, I understand why it is set up this way but that doesn't mean I have to like it. At least not until I'm a more senior employee with bumping capability. And even so, I'd still feel like a big tool for forcing someone else into the unemployment line. Most especially now.
Not that I wouldn't do it, I've got a family to feed, bills to pay and all the rest of it. But still, the system is geared to create divisions within departments rather than a unified front. This is, I suppose a defense against the unionization aspect of education and an effective one at that.
By the way, my job review is effectively useless because there's a wage increase freeze across the entire district. With the grotesque exception of the "leadership" people who voted themselves a raise last October and then further voted to make those raises "untouchable" in the coming budget cuts. This is not leadership, this is ugly coffer-raiding before the coffers are emptied and it thoroughly disgusts me that they did it. And then they justify it with bullshit like retaining "top talent". Its crap and they know it.
So, the skinny is that I'll have a spring break to kick my job hunt into high gear as I'm pretty much expecting to get bumped out of work tomorrow night. Know anybody that needs a computer tech with public relations and marketing skills? Drop me a line.
Of course, if our Kyani starts to take off then this is all moot. The opportunity is there, it just takes a little kicking to get it started and rolling.
And I'm looking at a rather nice three day work week as the district goes into spring break mode.
But getting to the break is going to be a slog through the mud. From a mostly meaningless one year job review later today to a 2+ hour staff meeting tomorrow morning to a meeting with HR tomorrow evening to breakdown who's going to "bump" me from my job.
This bumping is a curious process. It takes away control from the school campuses and allows anyone with seniority to decide which school they want to work at. And it also means the junior site tech gets bumped, either to another school or out of the system altogether. Why yes, it does suck balls to be a junior tech. Don't get me wrong, I understand why it is set up this way but that doesn't mean I have to like it. At least not until I'm a more senior employee with bumping capability. And even so, I'd still feel like a big tool for forcing someone else into the unemployment line. Most especially now.
Not that I wouldn't do it, I've got a family to feed, bills to pay and all the rest of it. But still, the system is geared to create divisions within departments rather than a unified front. This is, I suppose a defense against the unionization aspect of education and an effective one at that.
By the way, my job review is effectively useless because there's a wage increase freeze across the entire district. With the grotesque exception of the "leadership" people who voted themselves a raise last October and then further voted to make those raises "untouchable" in the coming budget cuts. This is not leadership, this is ugly coffer-raiding before the coffers are emptied and it thoroughly disgusts me that they did it. And then they justify it with bullshit like retaining "top talent". Its crap and they know it.
So, the skinny is that I'll have a spring break to kick my job hunt into high gear as I'm pretty much expecting to get bumped out of work tomorrow night. Know anybody that needs a computer tech with public relations and marketing skills? Drop me a line.
Of course, if our Kyani starts to take off then this is all moot. The opportunity is there, it just takes a little kicking to get it started and rolling.
3.24.2009
Inflicted
The vast majority of the people in primary education that I've come across are good people with good hearts and good intentions. Which means, of course, that there are some people in the business who, to be blunt, shouldn't be. They shouldn't be working with kids, they shouldn't be working in education.
There are a couple of different kinds of people that shouldn't be working in the education industry. Some are control freaks who like working around kids because they are easier to boss around and control. Some just do not have the proper set of skills or personality to interact with a bunch of unruly kids in a constructive way.
There are two people at one of my schools that fit each of these types. One is a control freak who presides over the school like some anointed queen of the campus. And woe unto thee if you cross her, she has absolutely no problem at all launching into a screaming tirade, in front of other teachers, in front of students and in front of parents. A very, very bad personality for education, she "rules" by fear of reprisal and bureaucratic ass-draggery (that is, if you are on her bad side and you need something from her then she'll drag her ass as long as possible before giving you the needed supplies).
The other is, in my estimation, even worse and more corrosive. Mostly he's more damaging because he directly interacts with the children and he does not have the tools to do so in any kind of a positive and constructive way. The worst part, for me, is that he shares my computer lab for the last hour and a half of my work day. He doesn't talk to students, he barks at them, he uses a yard stick to tap the back of their chairs when they aren't working hard enough and then he plunks himself in front of a computer and does his own thing. Oh yeah, he also lets the kids play video games instead of do, you know, actual schoolwork. When he leaves at the end of the day, he leaves the lab a mess and pretty much shows nothing but disrespect for the school and the computer lab.
To top it off, he's decided he no longer has to even speak to me for some reason. Granted, I'm not an advocate for him and have actively lobbied his boss to fire him but that doesn't mean you come into my computer lab and pretend that I don't exist. Which I don't really care about, I just find him ever more rude and poorly suited for his job.
His boss is a friend of mine and does listen to me, I hope he'll eventually reassign him or just fire him outright.
There are a couple of different kinds of people that shouldn't be working in the education industry. Some are control freaks who like working around kids because they are easier to boss around and control. Some just do not have the proper set of skills or personality to interact with a bunch of unruly kids in a constructive way.
There are two people at one of my schools that fit each of these types. One is a control freak who presides over the school like some anointed queen of the campus. And woe unto thee if you cross her, she has absolutely no problem at all launching into a screaming tirade, in front of other teachers, in front of students and in front of parents. A very, very bad personality for education, she "rules" by fear of reprisal and bureaucratic ass-draggery (that is, if you are on her bad side and you need something from her then she'll drag her ass as long as possible before giving you the needed supplies).
The other is, in my estimation, even worse and more corrosive. Mostly he's more damaging because he directly interacts with the children and he does not have the tools to do so in any kind of a positive and constructive way. The worst part, for me, is that he shares my computer lab for the last hour and a half of my work day. He doesn't talk to students, he barks at them, he uses a yard stick to tap the back of their chairs when they aren't working hard enough and then he plunks himself in front of a computer and does his own thing. Oh yeah, he also lets the kids play video games instead of do, you know, actual schoolwork. When he leaves at the end of the day, he leaves the lab a mess and pretty much shows nothing but disrespect for the school and the computer lab.
To top it off, he's decided he no longer has to even speak to me for some reason. Granted, I'm not an advocate for him and have actively lobbied his boss to fire him but that doesn't mean you come into my computer lab and pretend that I don't exist. Which I don't really care about, I just find him ever more rude and poorly suited for his job.
His boss is a friend of mine and does listen to me, I hope he'll eventually reassign him or just fire him outright.
1.23.2009
Job Minimality
My job is, quite literally, on the line again. Along with a whole host of support staff in the school district. Something about a nearly $20 million shortfall over the next 18 months to two years.
We are looking at some serious cutbacks including the removal of all sports programs, half of the custodial staff, closing of all libraries and a freeze on any computer lab installations (and likely the loss of computer room teachers). Which, of course, bodes horribly for the education of our children but it seems that turning out a well-rounded and capable student is the least of Governor Meathead's priorities. He seems to favor prisons over schools, primarily because it offsets the costs for a dozen years or so.
Anyway, people are struggling to keep their jobs. Or, most people are struggling to keep their jobs. Some people I work with tangentally do the absolute minimum they can do to keep from being sanctioned and, eventually, fired. And sometimes they don't even do that.
It kind of blows my mind to know that there are people who's job it is to collect trash and vacuum rooms and they just don't do it. They skip rooms entirely for days and weeks at a time. Or they collect the trash only to deposit it in the trashcan just outside the door.
The school system already has an enormous number of stupidities in it that keep it from running efficiently and adding into it disgruntled or just plain unmotivated workers adds even more drag to the whole system. And, in the end, it does an even greater disservice to the children in the system.
We are looking at some serious cutbacks including the removal of all sports programs, half of the custodial staff, closing of all libraries and a freeze on any computer lab installations (and likely the loss of computer room teachers). Which, of course, bodes horribly for the education of our children but it seems that turning out a well-rounded and capable student is the least of Governor Meathead's priorities. He seems to favor prisons over schools, primarily because it offsets the costs for a dozen years or so.
Anyway, people are struggling to keep their jobs. Or, most people are struggling to keep their jobs. Some people I work with tangentally do the absolute minimum they can do to keep from being sanctioned and, eventually, fired. And sometimes they don't even do that.
It kind of blows my mind to know that there are people who's job it is to collect trash and vacuum rooms and they just don't do it. They skip rooms entirely for days and weeks at a time. Or they collect the trash only to deposit it in the trashcan just outside the door.
The school system already has an enormous number of stupidities in it that keep it from running efficiently and adding into it disgruntled or just plain unmotivated workers adds even more drag to the whole system. And, in the end, it does an even greater disservice to the children in the system.
10.29.2008
Comparing Apples and Lemons
I just posted Comparing Apples and Lemons over on IP Politik, its a short comparison of the educational backgrounds of the four candidates. It came from an email posted over on The Nutsy Fagan Diaries and it rocks.
10.24.2008
The Legacy of Underfunding Education
Report: Kids less likely to graduate than parents. Think about this for a second. My children are less likely to graduate from high school than I am
Did you know New Mexico graduates a whopping 67% of its students from high school? That means one in three doesn't get a diploma. Shocking.
There have been studies that show a direct relationship between funding for early education and incarceration rates. More money spent on early childhood education saves $16 for each dollar spent. That's a sixteen times return on investment irregardless of the fact that we'd be creating a better workforce, reducing the number of people in prisons and the quality of life for all Americans would rise.
But no, instead we build more prisons to house people we've failed to educate and the cycle feeds itself. We have to break the cycle, we need to fully fund education, we need to get class sizes down to below 30 kids per room, we need to invest in our future by investing in our children now or we'll be forced to pay for them to sit in cement lined cages during their productive years.
And that is just stupid. I suppose I should get used to Teh Stoopid because it doesn't seem to be going away anytime soon.
Did you know New Mexico graduates a whopping 67% of its students from high school? That means one in three doesn't get a diploma. Shocking.
In fact, the United States is now the only industrialized country where young people are less likely than their parents to earn a diploma, the report said, citing data compiled by the international Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.What this really does is sell our future out. If we have an ignorant and uneducated population then we are far less able to compete globally. We are unable to innovate as well, we are unable to develop new industries and we go more and more from being a producer to being a consumer.
There have been studies that show a direct relationship between funding for early education and incarceration rates. More money spent on early childhood education saves $16 for each dollar spent. That's a sixteen times return on investment irregardless of the fact that we'd be creating a better workforce, reducing the number of people in prisons and the quality of life for all Americans would rise.
But no, instead we build more prisons to house people we've failed to educate and the cycle feeds itself. We have to break the cycle, we need to fully fund education, we need to get class sizes down to below 30 kids per room, we need to invest in our future by investing in our children now or we'll be forced to pay for them to sit in cement lined cages during their productive years.
And that is just stupid. I suppose I should get used to Teh Stoopid because it doesn't seem to be going away anytime soon.
4.15.2008
Strikes One, Two and Three
Just as I was leaving one of my schools yesterday, a parent parked her over-sized SUV in the lot. Nothing unusual, parents treat the staff and teacher parking lot as their own space. Its annoying but I'm pretty used to it by now.
In fact, the parking situation at all of my schools is almost an afterthought and wasn't terribly well thought out and the problem is exacerbated by thoughtless and/or self-absorbed parents.
Anyway, the parent and her son were headed on to campus when I muttered under my breath about what a great parking job she'd done. And it was noteworthy. She had parked in a handicapped space without a placard and was obviously not handicapped (at least not physically) but she'd done such a bad job of parking that she was halfway blocking the wheelchair access ramp. The same ramp I was about to use to get out of the lot and off campus.
She overheard me, apologized and came back to move her car. I didn't really care to wait and just rode off the curb leaving her to think of me as some kind of asshole. Which I am but that's not the point.
The point is she failed before she'd even turned off her car.
1. The parking lot is for teachers and school faculty. Not parents, not dropoffs, not losers in their Fast & Furious toy cars. Teachers and faculty and there aren't enough spaces for us as it is.
2. Parking in a handicapped space is a pretty clear sign that you're a complete asshole. Presuming you're not handicapped, of course. She wasn't yet still felt empowered to park where she had no right.
3. She parked so far over the line as to block the access way for any real handicapped people who might actually come to the campus (and have to park on the other side of the lot because this parent decided to take the handicapped space).
That's three quick and easy strikes she could have easily avoided by just removing her head from her ass before parking in the staff lot. The problem is that there's no way to effectively enforce the rules about not using the staff parking. Which means that the parents abuse the hell out of the system because there's no real way to stop them. Nor would they listen in the first place anyway. Which is where the kids get it from too, I'm sure.
The mentality of the parent's is galling sometimes. Especially when I hear from a teacher about a kid that's been a discipline issue since Kindergarten and the father decides that its his third grade teacher that is the problem. Um yeah, dude, actually YOU are the problem for not being a more active and participating parent.
In fact, the parking situation at all of my schools is almost an afterthought and wasn't terribly well thought out and the problem is exacerbated by thoughtless and/or self-absorbed parents.
Anyway, the parent and her son were headed on to campus when I muttered under my breath about what a great parking job she'd done. And it was noteworthy. She had parked in a handicapped space without a placard and was obviously not handicapped (at least not physically) but she'd done such a bad job of parking that she was halfway blocking the wheelchair access ramp. The same ramp I was about to use to get out of the lot and off campus.
She overheard me, apologized and came back to move her car. I didn't really care to wait and just rode off the curb leaving her to think of me as some kind of asshole. Which I am but that's not the point.
The point is she failed before she'd even turned off her car.
1. The parking lot is for teachers and school faculty. Not parents, not dropoffs, not losers in their Fast & Furious toy cars. Teachers and faculty and there aren't enough spaces for us as it is.
2. Parking in a handicapped space is a pretty clear sign that you're a complete asshole. Presuming you're not handicapped, of course. She wasn't yet still felt empowered to park where she had no right.
3. She parked so far over the line as to block the access way for any real handicapped people who might actually come to the campus (and have to park on the other side of the lot because this parent decided to take the handicapped space).
That's three quick and easy strikes she could have easily avoided by just removing her head from her ass before parking in the staff lot. The problem is that there's no way to effectively enforce the rules about not using the staff parking. Which means that the parents abuse the hell out of the system because there's no real way to stop them. Nor would they listen in the first place anyway. Which is where the kids get it from too, I'm sure.
The mentality of the parent's is galling sometimes. Especially when I hear from a teacher about a kid that's been a discipline issue since Kindergarten and the father decides that its his third grade teacher that is the problem. Um yeah, dude, actually YOU are the problem for not being a more active and participating parent.
3.26.2008
Budgeting-itis
One of the headaches that I deal with is the splitting of my work between three different and distinct schools, each with their own budgetary constraints and requirements and procedures. Oh, and staff, students, campuses, principals and levels of technology penetration but that's to be expected.
What I didn't really expect is how much of a pain in the butt it is to get some things paid. My cell phone bill is split three ways, unevenly. My mileage reimbursement is still under negotiation and I don't have any guarantees of a job next year yet. Because of the budget crisis. I think I'll have a job but there aren't any guarantees right now and it is entirely possible that a more senior office worker could step down instead of quitting and boot me out.
I've learned there's nothing more important than having been there longest. Not having been the most useful or efficient, just the one who's stuck it out the longest. Seniority rules the roost regardless. Which seems kind of stupid to me but that's at least partly because I'm one of the lowest ones on the totem pole.
But my principals love me, I've got projects in the works and, until I know different, I'll behave as if I'm going to keep working for the district. Besides, it would totally suck to get laid off again.
What I didn't really expect is how much of a pain in the butt it is to get some things paid. My cell phone bill is split three ways, unevenly. My mileage reimbursement is still under negotiation and I don't have any guarantees of a job next year yet. Because of the budget crisis. I think I'll have a job but there aren't any guarantees right now and it is entirely possible that a more senior office worker could step down instead of quitting and boot me out.
I've learned there's nothing more important than having been there longest. Not having been the most useful or efficient, just the one who's stuck it out the longest. Seniority rules the roost regardless. Which seems kind of stupid to me but that's at least partly because I'm one of the lowest ones on the totem pole.
But my principals love me, I've got projects in the works and, until I know different, I'll behave as if I'm going to keep working for the district. Besides, it would totally suck to get laid off again.
3.13.2008
The Effect of The Governor's Budget Cuts at Ground Zero
Its no surprise that I'm not a big fan of Arnold Schwarzenegger playing the role of governor of California. I think he's a meat headed jackass who recycles movie lines because he can't think for himself.
And he proved it in his recent budget proposal to slice 10% across the board off of the state's budget for education. Ten percent less than not enough means our children in California are getting shortchanged by the government we pay for. In fact, education in California should get a 10% increase in budgets and pay, maybe alot more than that but it would be a good place to start.
One of the best teachers I know is facing a layoff because she doesn't have tenure and will get booted to make room for teachers that been teachers but moved into other roles in the district. Well, they'll be moved back into classrooms because seniority. And I can't really fault the mentality behind it but I would be bummed to see her go, she's an excellent teacher, gets the technology side and engages her students in a really positive and encouraging way. We NEED more teachers like her, not less.
And, if she has to go work in the business world during the layoff there's a pretty good chance she'll never come back because it is awfully hard to take a huge pay cut to put up with all the bullshit in education. Truly it is.
The cuts are going to adversely effect other schools even more deeply with some schools talking about a straight 10% reduction in staff which translates to larger classrooms, less support personnel, complete loss of "non-educational" programs like music, art and PE.
And the thing is, the cuts are short-sighted. An under-educated populance is more expensive to care for, just like an under-nourished populance has more healthcare issues and short lifespans. There is no way to cut education now and not pay for it for years and years down the line.
Plus, its a cheap and cowardly tactic to go after money for education rather than actually working to find ways to cut all budgets to make up for the shortfall. Burdening education will just drive more teachers out of the profession and we'll be left with more and more under-qualified and under-motivated people teaching our children. The cycle is the epitome of vicious.
And he proved it in his recent budget proposal to slice 10% across the board off of the state's budget for education. Ten percent less than not enough means our children in California are getting shortchanged by the government we pay for. In fact, education in California should get a 10% increase in budgets and pay, maybe alot more than that but it would be a good place to start.
One of the best teachers I know is facing a layoff because she doesn't have tenure and will get booted to make room for teachers that been teachers but moved into other roles in the district. Well, they'll be moved back into classrooms because seniority. And I can't really fault the mentality behind it but I would be bummed to see her go, she's an excellent teacher, gets the technology side and engages her students in a really positive and encouraging way. We NEED more teachers like her, not less.
And, if she has to go work in the business world during the layoff there's a pretty good chance she'll never come back because it is awfully hard to take a huge pay cut to put up with all the bullshit in education. Truly it is.
The cuts are going to adversely effect other schools even more deeply with some schools talking about a straight 10% reduction in staff which translates to larger classrooms, less support personnel, complete loss of "non-educational" programs like music, art and PE.
And the thing is, the cuts are short-sighted. An under-educated populance is more expensive to care for, just like an under-nourished populance has more healthcare issues and short lifespans. There is no way to cut education now and not pay for it for years and years down the line.
Plus, its a cheap and cowardly tactic to go after money for education rather than actually working to find ways to cut all budgets to make up for the shortfall. Burdening education will just drive more teachers out of the profession and we'll be left with more and more under-qualified and under-motivated people teaching our children. The cycle is the epitome of vicious.
3.12.2008
When Teachers Eat Their Own
I had my first instance of teachers starting to cannibalize those about to be laid off in the wake of our Governator's lame and incredibly harmful 10% across the board budget cuts for education. These cuts are going to make already strapped schools have to make really hard choices on how to do them when there's no more to be trimmed away and the schools are already running as absolutely lean as possible.
And the education budget cuts are short term savings with really serious long term effects. A less educated populance is less able to compete on the global market, a less educated populance is more prone to drug abuse, violence, crime and depression. A less educated populance is less of an asset and more of a liability.
But I digress, there's nobody that actually thinks the budget cuts are a good idea and I think Schwarzenegger is a big meat-headed coward for attacking education.
But it isn't anything I can do anything about so I'm trying not to let it get to me although I will miss a few teachers and support staff next year when they are unable to get a new contract.
And it is these portending layoffs that have sparked this post. I had a teacher, one I spent two or three day upgrading and improving their classroom computer not more than a month ago, ask me if she could get a new computer. When I asked what she meant, she elaborated by saying that, if some of the teachers and support staff being laid off have a better and newer computer than hers, then she'd like first crack at getting one.
It isn't hard to understand and accept really. Its the nature of business and education. Layoffs spark a feeding frenzy for cube goodies, computers, chairs and more. But any layoffs are months away and it kind of felt like the buzzards have started circling before the explorer lost in the desert has even run out of water or tumbled to the ground.
Also, I had to gently bring the smackdown on someone in our district offices that was emailing the entire technology department with her computer problems. The first time she did it I expected someone more senior to give her a little education but they apparently did not. The second time, I emailed her and asked her to not email the entire department and also gave her instructions on how to log a Help ticket to get a tech automatically assigned to her problem. There is a pretty shocking lack of understanding of how to put technology to good use in the school system and the number of people who are aware of the resources they have available.
And the education budget cuts are short term savings with really serious long term effects. A less educated populance is less able to compete on the global market, a less educated populance is more prone to drug abuse, violence, crime and depression. A less educated populance is less of an asset and more of a liability.
But I digress, there's nobody that actually thinks the budget cuts are a good idea and I think Schwarzenegger is a big meat-headed coward for attacking education.
But it isn't anything I can do anything about so I'm trying not to let it get to me although I will miss a few teachers and support staff next year when they are unable to get a new contract.
And it is these portending layoffs that have sparked this post. I had a teacher, one I spent two or three day upgrading and improving their classroom computer not more than a month ago, ask me if she could get a new computer. When I asked what she meant, she elaborated by saying that, if some of the teachers and support staff being laid off have a better and newer computer than hers, then she'd like first crack at getting one.
It isn't hard to understand and accept really. Its the nature of business and education. Layoffs spark a feeding frenzy for cube goodies, computers, chairs and more. But any layoffs are months away and it kind of felt like the buzzards have started circling before the explorer lost in the desert has even run out of water or tumbled to the ground.
Also, I had to gently bring the smackdown on someone in our district offices that was emailing the entire technology department with her computer problems. The first time she did it I expected someone more senior to give her a little education but they apparently did not. The second time, I emailed her and asked her to not email the entire department and also gave her instructions on how to log a Help ticket to get a tech automatically assigned to her problem. There is a pretty shocking lack of understanding of how to put technology to good use in the school system and the number of people who are aware of the resources they have available.
3.04.2008
Missing The Point
Not the Quaker teacher fired for changing loyalty oath but the university's attorney who is quoted as saying "It's an unfortunate situation. If she'd just signed the oath, the campus would have been more than willing to continue her employment." Which is nice and all except it would have required Ms. Kearney-Brown to violate her ethical principles when she'd been able to sign the oath with her changes intact.
That is, she'll protect the USA non-violently and affirmed (not sworn too).
But CSU East Bay nixed her changes and fired her. After having worked in education for nearly 30 years.
In an era when we need every single qualified and motivated teacher possible to be teaching, this completely stupid and bureaucratic hoop-jumping serves no purpose save to weaken our already beatdown educational system.
Besides, whatever happened to embracing all religions? Whatever happened to tolerance? It isn't like she refused to sign the oath because she hates the country, she refused to sign the oath because she's opposed to violent means and I have zero problem with that.
Way to go CSU East Bay, instead of expanding minds, you're closing them down because of procedure and protocol.
That is, she'll protect the USA non-violently and affirmed (not sworn too).
But CSU East Bay nixed her changes and fired her. After having worked in education for nearly 30 years.
In an era when we need every single qualified and motivated teacher possible to be teaching, this completely stupid and bureaucratic hoop-jumping serves no purpose save to weaken our already beatdown educational system.
Besides, whatever happened to embracing all religions? Whatever happened to tolerance? It isn't like she refused to sign the oath because she hates the country, she refused to sign the oath because she's opposed to violent means and I have zero problem with that.
Way to go CSU East Bay, instead of expanding minds, you're closing them down because of procedure and protocol.
2.21.2008
Projects
Today I get to start the install on one of my pet projects that's aimed at showcasing technology's utility to the teachers at one of my schools. To that end, we're putting in an installation of Imacs along with a digital projector (which does some pretty nifty stuff) and want to try and encourage greater tech adoption at the school since many teachers see computers as an necessary evil and not a really incredibly useful tool for communication and learning.
I hope I'm not moving these computers in a torrential downpour though, that could complicate things a bit.
One really nice benefit to working at three different schools is that I can mix and match technology across the three schools to make the most of what I do have available. For instance, one school had a pretty serious lack of mice, one school had a bunch extra (like a shopping bag full) so I grabbed some and brought them over, trading the mice for some USB keyboards that were needed at my other school.
And I can also use my other schools for ideas, projects and partnerships.
The project I'll be working on today is, more or less, a copy of a set up at one of my other schools. But if it can spark a little interest in using technology in the classroom then it'll be well worth the effort. Because I firmly believe that the more tech-savvy a kid is moving forward, the better equiped they'll be to be able to develop marketable skills.
Damn, looks like one of my three Imacs is not quite ready for primetime. Time to get out the hammer and re-educate it.
I hope I'm not moving these computers in a torrential downpour though, that could complicate things a bit.
One really nice benefit to working at three different schools is that I can mix and match technology across the three schools to make the most of what I do have available. For instance, one school had a pretty serious lack of mice, one school had a bunch extra (like a shopping bag full) so I grabbed some and brought them over, trading the mice for some USB keyboards that were needed at my other school.
And I can also use my other schools for ideas, projects and partnerships.
The project I'll be working on today is, more or less, a copy of a set up at one of my other schools. But if it can spark a little interest in using technology in the classroom then it'll be well worth the effort. Because I firmly believe that the more tech-savvy a kid is moving forward, the better equiped they'll be to be able to develop marketable skills.
Damn, looks like one of my three Imacs is not quite ready for primetime. Time to get out the hammer and re-educate it.
2.12.2008
Exposure
Since I come in contact with, literally, hundreds of kids a week now, I am exposed to a whole different set of variables. From pathogens to young geniuses (I can think of three kids right of the bat who I know are pretty wicked damn smart) to teachers looking more forward to retirement than tomorrow's lesson plan to kids who are little more than an afterthought in their parent's lives to worse.
I've known about abuse and neglect and just plain old ignoring for my whole life, an offshoot of a mother in social work dealing with lives derailed by violence, abuse and illness (mental and physical). I can vividly remember a movie I saw about child abuse cases in Baltimore County when I couldn't have been more than 8. A little girl living in a closet, forced to eat her own damned blanket and pillow because her parents forgot or didn't want to feed her.
Anyway, I've heard stories, seen some family dynamics in action, watched the life drain out of happy little kids when they see their father or mother coming to pick them up. Its actually pretty heart rending to think about.
One story I've heard was about a girl in the third or fourth grade that'd finally gotten a bed to sleep in as she'd always been sleeping on the couch. Another teacher asked if that was the girl who's mother drove the new Mercedes and yeah, it was. Enough money to buy a fancy, fancy car but not enough to have a bed for your child? Sad. And harmful in ways that are impossible to fathom. Talk about using self esteem like a doormat.
Another little girl has a working father who's gone all the time and a mother who's too busy cleaning, cooking and caring for the rest of the family to give her the time of day much less a little mothering.
And the worst part is that even knowing these stories I know there are worse that haven't been told, that haven't been exposed, that some of the kids in my schools live horrible lives of fear and sadness. It sucks to think about really.
I've known about abuse and neglect and just plain old ignoring for my whole life, an offshoot of a mother in social work dealing with lives derailed by violence, abuse and illness (mental and physical). I can vividly remember a movie I saw about child abuse cases in Baltimore County when I couldn't have been more than 8. A little girl living in a closet, forced to eat her own damned blanket and pillow because her parents forgot or didn't want to feed her.
Anyway, I've heard stories, seen some family dynamics in action, watched the life drain out of happy little kids when they see their father or mother coming to pick them up. Its actually pretty heart rending to think about.
One story I've heard was about a girl in the third or fourth grade that'd finally gotten a bed to sleep in as she'd always been sleeping on the couch. Another teacher asked if that was the girl who's mother drove the new Mercedes and yeah, it was. Enough money to buy a fancy, fancy car but not enough to have a bed for your child? Sad. And harmful in ways that are impossible to fathom. Talk about using self esteem like a doormat.
Another little girl has a working father who's gone all the time and a mother who's too busy cleaning, cooking and caring for the rest of the family to give her the time of day much less a little mothering.
And the worst part is that even knowing these stories I know there are worse that haven't been told, that haven't been exposed, that some of the kids in my schools live horrible lives of fear and sadness. It sucks to think about really.
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