Merseth says that of the 1,300 graduate teacher training programs in the country, about 100 or so are adequately preparing teachers and "the others could be shut down tomorrow."
Read the article and check out what's going on in our schools.
Friday, March 27, 2009
We need a National Academy of Teacher Education to set higher standards
U.S. News and World Report may be a mouth peace for the American Enterprise Institute, but you have to love any reporter that is willing to stir up the muck and question the established thinking.
Read the article and check out what's going on in our schools.
Read the article and check out what's going on in our schools.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Next Meetings
If you are passionate about Public Education in San Diego, or you just want a chance to fix the problem, join one of our groups and attend the next meeting. Our new google calendar can be found at the bottom of this page, and you can import it into your own online calendars.
The next general meeting of the Focus for Change on Education is Sunday, April 26, 2009, at the La Jolla Library, 2-4 PM.
Register Here http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gpt4cf
The next general meeting of the Focus for Change on Education is Sunday, April 26, 2009, at the La Jolla Library, 2-4 PM.
Register Here http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gpt4cf
Release Stimulus Money Now!
Release Stimulus Money Now!
Give San Diego Our Fair Share!
YOU can make the difference in this grassroots effort.
We need to take action NOW to Save Our Schools in San Diego. To meet the severe cuts we are reducing central administration, cutting transportation, increasing class sizes and offering early retirement to teachers and asking them for more concessions, as well as freezing most spending. Now we have to look at deeper cuts that could include closing schools and even eliminating arts and athletics. The bureaucratic cuts are fine, but the rest hurt kids and are unconscionable. We cannot stand for this.
The Obama Administration is sending stimulus money to California soon for education. Some people in Sacramento would like to hold onto it to fill the state’s budget hole. Tell your legislators that we want the money out the door NOW. Also, let them know that we want San Diego Unified to get its fair share of the money. In the recent cuts San Diego and other urban districts that have the neediest kids took the biggest hit. We need to insist that the new money is divided up fairly and that in San Diego we get our fair share.
YOU CAN:
1) Email/call every San Diego legislator to tell them we need a united San Diego delegation to pressure the Governor to release the money.
Sen. Christine Kehoe:
dist39.casen.govofice.com
619-645-3133
Sen. Dennis Hollingsworth
www.cssrc.us/web/36
619-596-3136
Sen. Denise Moreno Ducheny
www.dist40.casen.govoffice.com
619-409-7690
Assemblywoman Lori Saldana
democrats.assembly.ca.og/members/a76/press.aspx
619-645-3090
Assemblywoman Mary Salas
democrats.assembly.ca.gov/members/a79/press.aspx
619-409-7979
Assemblyman Marty Block
democrats.assembly.ca.gov/members/a78/press.aspx
619-462-7878
Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher
www.nathanfletcher.com
858-457-1393
Assemblyman Joel Anderson
www.arc.asm.ca.gov/member/77
619-441-2322
2) Join a group of parents, teachers and concerned citizens to make a personal visit to a legislator’s office soon. It could be worth millions. Contact Carol Hunter, our Volunteer Community Liaison clancy47@cox.net, to sign up and make arrangements.
3) Write a Letter to the Editor at the San Diego Union-Tribune about what we expect from Sacramento: letters@uniontrib.com.
4) Contact us at: clancy47@cox.net about the action you take or forward a copy of your letter. We need a united effort by parents, teachers, the general community and the Board of Education.
John Lee Evans, Trustee
San Diego Unified School District
johnleeevans@sandi.net
Give San Diego Our Fair Share!
YOU can make the difference in this grassroots effort.
We need to take action NOW to Save Our Schools in San Diego. To meet the severe cuts we are reducing central administration, cutting transportation, increasing class sizes and offering early retirement to teachers and asking them for more concessions, as well as freezing most spending. Now we have to look at deeper cuts that could include closing schools and even eliminating arts and athletics. The bureaucratic cuts are fine, but the rest hurt kids and are unconscionable. We cannot stand for this.
The Obama Administration is sending stimulus money to California soon for education. Some people in Sacramento would like to hold onto it to fill the state’s budget hole. Tell your legislators that we want the money out the door NOW. Also, let them know that we want San Diego Unified to get its fair share of the money. In the recent cuts San Diego and other urban districts that have the neediest kids took the biggest hit. We need to insist that the new money is divided up fairly and that in San Diego we get our fair share.
YOU CAN:
1) Email/call every San Diego legislator to tell them we need a united San Diego delegation to pressure the Governor to release the money.
Sen. Christine Kehoe:
dist39.casen.govofice.com
619-645-3133
Sen. Dennis Hollingsworth
www.cssrc.us/web/36
619-596-3136
Sen. Denise Moreno Ducheny
www.dist40.casen.govoffice.com
619-409-7690
Assemblywoman Lori Saldana
democrats.assembly.ca.og/members/a76/press.aspx
619-645-3090
Assemblywoman Mary Salas
democrats.assembly.ca.gov/members/a79/press.aspx
619-409-7979
Assemblyman Marty Block
democrats.assembly.ca.gov/members/a78/press.aspx
619-462-7878
Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher
www.nathanfletcher.com
858-457-1393
Assemblyman Joel Anderson
www.arc.asm.ca.gov/member/77
619-441-2322
2) Join a group of parents, teachers and concerned citizens to make a personal visit to a legislator’s office soon. It could be worth millions. Contact Carol Hunter, our Volunteer Community Liaison clancy47@cox.net, to sign up and make arrangements.
3) Write a Letter to the Editor at the San Diego Union-Tribune about what we expect from Sacramento: letters@uniontrib.com.
Example:
Dear Editors,
Our local public schools are in dire straits. Last year the SDUSD lost $100-million in funding, and this year they will loose another $150-million. These cuts on our kids are draconian, we must have time to adapt, but the State wants to hang onto the Obama Stimulus money to backfill their budget shortfalls. We need that money locally, for the children. Local parents should speak out for our defenseless youth.
Michael Russell
http://obamaed.blogspot.com
4) Contact us at: clancy47@cox.net about the action you take or forward a copy of your letter. We need a united effort by parents, teachers, the general community and the Board of Education.
John Lee Evans, Trustee
San Diego Unified School District
johnleeevans@sandi.net
Monday, March 23, 2009
Edutopia: What Works in Public Education
George Lucas, the guy who invented STAR WARS, has funded a new think tank to promote the solutions in public education.
They publish a magazine.
Their "Really Simple Syndication" (RSS) Feed is below in the right hand column.
Find out More about the George Lucas Educational Foundation:
They publish a magazine.
Their "Really Simple Syndication" (RSS) Feed is below in the right hand column.
Find out More about the George Lucas Educational Foundation:
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Focus for Change in Education
Next Meeting:
March 22, 2009
2-4 PM
La Jolla Library
Click Here to Register
We will use this meeting to create 'BREAK-OUT' groups based upon the sections of the Obama Education Plan.
- Invest in Early Childhood Education:
- Reform No Child Left Behind:
- Expand Opportunity for Choice and Innovation:
- Make Math and Science Education a National Priority:
- Address the Dropout Crisis:
- Expand Opportunities to Learn:
- Recruit, Prepare, Retain, Reward, Retrain Teachers:
- Improve College Access and Affordability
March 22, 2009
2-4 PM
La Jolla Library
Click Here to Register
We will use this meeting to create 'BREAK-OUT' groups based upon the sections of the Obama Education Plan.
- Invest in Early Childhood Education:
- Reform No Child Left Behind:
- Expand Opportunity for Choice and Innovation:
- Make Math and Science Education a National Priority:
- Address the Dropout Crisis:
- Expand Opportunities to Learn:
- Recruit, Prepare, Retain, Reward, Retrain Teachers:
- Improve College Access and Affordability
Monday, March 9, 2009
Charter School Meeting
Meeting Time: Saturday, March 14, 10:30am - Noon
Location: Mission Bay RV Park, Clubhouse
(By swimming pool)
2727 De Anza Rd, San Diego 92109
Purpose:
(1) to increase awareness of charter schools, their innovations, and contributions to quality education,
(2) to support the formation of new charter schools,
(3) to develop an orientation/training center for charter school teachers and
(4) to promote the formation of a US Academy of Education dedicated to quality education, national standards and teaching leadership.
AGENDA
1. INTRODUCTIONS
2. SUMMARY OF PRIOR MEETING ACTIVITY
3. PROPOSED ELEMENTS - NEW CHARTER SCHOOL
4. PROPOSED ELEMENTS - TEACHER ORIENTATION
5. PROPOSED US ACADEMY OF EDUCATION
6. DISCUSSION AND ADJOURN
Direction: North or South on Interstate 5 to Clairemont Dr
West on Clairemont to Mission Bay Dr
Right on Mission Bay Dr to Mission Bay RV Park, 2727 De Anza Rd
Proceed on 2727 De Anza Rd to Club House, adjacent pool
(Plenty of parking adjacent Club House)
Invite your friends. All welcome.
Note: This community interest group (as well as thousands across the country) are serving to reinforce and support the priorities topping the Administration's (President Obama's) list - Energy, Health, and Education. All involve jobs. Infrastructure and housing are addressed in the Stimulus packages.
Robert Byron
619 871 1763
rbrt_byron@yahoo.com
Location: Mission Bay RV Park, Clubhouse
(By swimming pool)
2727 De Anza Rd, San Diego 92109
Purpose:
(1) to increase awareness of charter schools, their innovations, and contributions to quality education,
(2) to support the formation of new charter schools,
(3) to develop an orientation/training center for charter school teachers and
(4) to promote the formation of a US Academy of Education dedicated to quality education, national standards and teaching leadership.
AGENDA
1. INTRODUCTIONS
2. SUMMARY OF PRIOR MEETING ACTIVITY
3. PROPOSED ELEMENTS - NEW CHARTER SCHOOL
4. PROPOSED ELEMENTS - TEACHER ORIENTATION
5. PROPOSED US ACADEMY OF EDUCATION
6. DISCUSSION AND ADJOURN
Direction: North or South on Interstate 5 to Clairemont Dr
West on Clairemont to Mission Bay Dr
Right on Mission Bay Dr to Mission Bay RV Park, 2727 De Anza Rd
Proceed on 2727 De Anza Rd to Club House, adjacent pool
(Plenty of parking adjacent Club House)
Invite your friends. All welcome.
Note: This community interest group (as well as thousands across the country) are serving to reinforce and support the priorities topping the Administration's (President Obama's) list - Energy, Health, and Education. All involve jobs. Infrastructure and housing are addressed in the Stimulus packages.
Robert Byron
619 871 1763
rbrt_byron@yahoo.com
Thursday, March 5, 2009
E-Portfolios
RESUMES are Dead. Enter the age of the E-Portfolio.
This concept is part of the transition to a new paradigm of learning, the old idea that the "Teacher" has expert knowledge and lectures, with one way communication, to the student is over. People have to be responsible for thir own education, teachers will be guides, learning with their students, and providing warnings of pitfalls and helping the learner maximize their potential and productivity.
Professors will still be experts, to whom you look to answer the questions about how to proceed to the next level, but their value will be as masters of specialized arts and science, not as educators.
Instructors will be the standard form of educator, they teach us the "HOW" of various technology, but not the "WHY".
Real teaching comes from a passion to learn and communicate with individuals, not as an authority, but as a mentor.
Without the ability to evaluate students directly, E-portfolios will give prospective employers the ability to judge the potential of employees and see sample proof of their abilities.
This concept is part of the transition to a new paradigm of learning, the old idea that the "Teacher" has expert knowledge and lectures, with one way communication, to the student is over. People have to be responsible for thir own education, teachers will be guides, learning with their students, and providing warnings of pitfalls and helping the learner maximize their potential and productivity.
Professors will still be experts, to whom you look to answer the questions about how to proceed to the next level, but their value will be as masters of specialized arts and science, not as educators.
Instructors will be the standard form of educator, they teach us the "HOW" of various technology, but not the "WHY".
Real teaching comes from a passion to learn and communicate with individuals, not as an authority, but as a mentor.
Without the ability to evaluate students directly, E-portfolios will give prospective employers the ability to judge the potential of employees and see sample proof of their abilities.
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