The mood of most of the members of the LSC was clearly disappointed after hearing the report from the program specialist in charge of administering the "Race To The Top" grant monies. This was a newly created position this year.
Some LSC members asked questions about hiring back teachers, reducing classes sizes, extending the school day but those and other ideas were shot down. According to her interpretation of the grant criteria, "it's all about the data, baby!".
I 've read the brochure and I don't quite interpret it that way but I am not a lawyer maybe she is. Anyway I am sure she is more educated than me.
after learning this week how the ARRA Education Technology grant money (some $5 million?) was distributed through the Police and City Hall departments, I would like to hear what other cities are doing with their money before letting the $1.1 million a year be spent on a 'program specialist' - what happened to the 'accountability' and 'transparency' everyone was talking about?
ReplyDeletethat program specialist said only about $160,000 has been spent so far this year. I didn't hear on what and it is already time to start working on next year's budget.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing what politics does for children. It makes lots of noise and waves money around, and says "Show me the scores," or teachers and admins are out.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, public school officials are left scrambling to meet practices and other criteria set forth by people from lofty ivy towers who lack practical classroom experience in today's environment. They are being set up to fail.
A high turnover of staff and administration flies in the face of the consistency we know kids need, especially here in Lynn.
But no one ever gets elected saying the schools are fine, and I'm not saying they're fine, either. We must make improvements, but will they be real, boots on the ground student-centered endeavors or more newly invented buzzwords?
Differentiated Instruction? Painfully obvious. But on the other hand, teachers are in a mad rush to teach to a standardized test, so when will they have the time for that, and group work, and experiential learning?
Educators, even the best of them with the best intentions, are squeezed from both sides right now, and with less support from the community than in the past. Far less support.
But ultimately, it's the kids who are hurt by all that is being done in their name. I see it, first hand.
Seth you re right. Too many people have a love affair with numbers. Unfortunately it may be the unemployment rate,
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