tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post6143202827036462505..comments2023-10-23T09:23:22.051-04:00Comments on Your Schools: Teeth, grades, links and causesUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-63911342034986645342013-01-18T11:36:22.235-05:002013-01-18T11:36:22.235-05:00Can we call the Bozo back from Tennesse Mr. Cash h...Can we call the Bozo back from Tennesse Mr. Cash his name has such a ring and he fits the makeup of CMS. He would mesh with Kojo and has a terrible track record so over qualified for CMS. Bring him back give him some Gorman like money and he will lead CMS into its JV with LIFT folks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-54817246491401003532013-01-17T19:11:43.428-05:002013-01-17T19:11:43.428-05:00Worked for CMS for almost 20 years.
An endless se...Worked for CMS for almost 20 years.<br /><br />An endless series of ready, fire, and aim by the administrators.<br /><br />The Human Resourses fiasco over the last 6 years is about the last straw that breaks the back.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-5598803539148853442013-01-17T15:17:25.368-05:002013-01-17T15:17:25.368-05:00This guy Morrisson is already way in over his head...This guy Morrisson is already way in over his head and has no clue what they signed him up for. Typical CMS way of business take the small guy from Reno were his job was to keep kids coming to school instead of being bellhops. Ridiculous and great job BOE, Chamber , Kojo and the ILK.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-34664980700250092852013-01-17T15:04:21.423-05:002013-01-17T15:04:21.423-05:00Catch him when he is finished going "Door to ...Catch him when he is finished going "Door to Door".<br /><br />Dropped the Drop out rate!<br /><br />Way to go BROAD!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-11094783151790387552013-01-17T12:35:50.162-05:002013-01-17T12:35:50.162-05:00What is Heaths response to the swim coach dating t...What is Heaths response to the swim coach dating the student? CMS you have huge issues and these lead to cash settlements. Once again too late the the draw and it will cost millions. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-91139698834663700812013-01-16T18:49:45.591-05:002013-01-16T18:49:45.591-05:00Missouri,
Yeah, I am kinda concerned that after 6...Missouri,<br /><br />Yeah, I am kinda concerned that after 60 years of social experimentation ending in failure of NCLB, the "study suggesters" are going to change their tune and say that it's not "cognitive" skills that we need to address, but "non-cognitive" skills which are even MORE DIFFICULT to measure, and go off on another 60 year spending spree.<br /><br />I could easily see that happening.<br /><br />I don't think we're really going to solve this problem, though, because it's just too inconvenient for those most affected by it to actually put forth the effort.<br /><br />And no one else can do it for them.<br /><br />So I just expect that our society will become more poliarized between the haves and have nots.<br /><br />I think the key to a good future will be a good family life, probably more so than other things.<br /><br />And I don't think that is something that will come from any social programs promoted through the schools or by government.<br /><br />And I think it will still depend heavily on personal responsibility, just as it always has.<br /><br />Unwed, divorced, baby-daddied, etc., etc., etc., just won't cut it.<br /><br />As much as people do not want to hear that...Shamashhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06886687970259841873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-25982813950837351052013-01-16T18:04:50.941-05:002013-01-16T18:04:50.941-05:00Jeff,
I did check out Heckman. Some of what I re...Jeff,<br /><br />I did check out Heckman. Some of what I read made sense. <br /><br />His emphasis on family influence in education in particular. I think that is what a lot of people have been saying, though.<br /><br />Some of his other ideas, such as the solutions, I'm not so sure about. <br /><br />Sure, soft skills matter, but I think that family will still make a bigger difference than any external programs (such as that Perry program he talks about).<br /><br />But at least he is taking a reasonable approach to the matter and is not swallowing ALL the PC bull being dished out without analyzing the facts.<br /><br />His papers are on the uchicago.edu website. I read The American Family In Black And White, and thought it was reasonable. <br /><br />(Especially good at debunking some of the wage inequity BS out there; his thinking goes along my line of reasoning on this...).<br /><br />When all is said and done, though, I don't think he is going to find any program out there which adequately erases the effects of dysfunctional families on kids.<br /><br />And I'm not sure the schools should be in that particular business, anyway.<br /><br />As he somewhat alludes to, sometimes gubmint intervention just seems to make things worse.Shamashhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06886687970259841873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-20017384507681915762013-01-16T16:02:41.017-05:002013-01-16T16:02:41.017-05:00Morrison and the BOE are
FALSE PROPHETSMorrison and the BOE are <br /><br />FALSE PROPHETSAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-42901501217616578292013-01-16T15:58:28.192-05:002013-01-16T15:58:28.192-05:00Wake up CMeS
White students are the MINORITY in C...Wake up CMeS<br /><br />White students are the MINORITY in CMS. The white male population will be a MINORITY in the United States in 2030.<br /><br />Americans and CMeS need to rise up and stop dumbing down society.<br /><br />Trillions spent with no measurable improvement. Way to waste more and more of our taxpayer dollars.<br /><br />Perhaps you SHOULD hire an ex porn star teacher. She has done nothing illeagal as opposed to the many FRL and illeagal students that CMeS and the state educates on the backs of leagal residents.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-47856275187458921442013-01-16T14:01:41.846-05:002013-01-16T14:01:41.846-05:00I'm in the process of a career change with a g...I'm in the process of a career change with a goal of becoming a 4th or 5th grade classroom teacher. I haven't decided yet if I want to work for a public school system, private school system or charter school system. What I do know is that I'm not interested in working at the lowest performing school. I'm also not interested in working at the highest performing school. I'm interested in working at a school like Windsor Park. I want to work at a school with an attainable goal to be the best combined with the vision and drive necessary to get there. Working at a school with a declared mission statement to beat the best is exactly where I want to be. For me, striving to be the best is exciting, thrilling and motivating. I want to be a part of this team - wherever it is. <br /><br />Dear Principal Kevin Woods and distinguished members of the Windsor Park staff,<br /><br />My name is Durand. Mrs. Alicia Durand<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-67579524109095560322013-01-16T13:24:05.314-05:002013-01-16T13:24:05.314-05:00The recent story Ann wrote about Windsor Park ES w...The recent story Ann wrote about Windsor Park ES was intriguing.<br /><br />Windsor Park is a high-poverty/majority-minority school that's consistently produced results without hiring bonuses, big-wig philanthropic grants, strategic staffing initiatives, gifted magnet programs, and innovated curriculum enhancements. Windsor Park ES has miraculously managed to overcome the link between poverty, race and academic failure simply by finding the right people with dedication and talent, minimizing turnover and disruptions, giving teachers more freedom and flexibility in crafting lesson plans, and grouping students by ability. Also, the principal has a lofty goal of reaching the test score heights of Providence Spring ES which has the highest test scores and lowest FRL population in the district. Windsor Park isn't about going from the bottom of the barrel to mediocre. Windsor Park is about going from average (good) to great. We should all pray this school gets there. <br /><br />Of course, all the local, state and national "experts" are now descending on this school like flies on doo-doo to figure out it's magic formula. The problem with this is CMS has a decades long reputation of "fixing" things that aren't broken. I had a highly regarded and well-known principal tell me that one of (his/her) primary jobs as a CMS principal was to stay under CMS' radar. I've heard similar tales from other CMS principals. All I could think about after reading Ann's story was, "God Save Windsor Park". In my opinion, if CMS can screw-up the successful mixture of things that are working at Windsor Park, it will. Schools in CMS get targeted if they're too successful because every politician, CMS downtown leader, and school board member want a piece of the pie. Every outside leader wants a slap on the back for making things work. <br /><br />If Windsor Park is smart, they'll circle their wagons, hunker down and secure their fort!<br /><br />Alicia DurandAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-25328978149426572092013-01-16T11:03:47.321-05:002013-01-16T11:03:47.321-05:00Tooth decay is just the latest excuse the CO can p...Tooth decay is just the latest excuse the CO can point too. Spend your time looking at project LIFT as it provides dental care to the kids. So no excuses and still no data to show the $50 mm works. This article is baseless since its source was a dental company. Do you not have any better use of time for a article?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-87955768943574076612013-01-15T19:33:20.109-05:002013-01-15T19:33:20.109-05:00Shamash, current philanthropic and educrat practic...Shamash, current philanthropic and educrat practice to close the achievement gap depends heavily on restraining or even suppressing the gains of the upper kids, the white kids. CMS has successfully strangled this group. The suppression has been 25% of the gap closing the last 2 years. <br /><br />Lastly, Jeff and others, these reports about the soft skills keep saying "the study suggests...", "the study suggests... And we all know that is simply reaching trying to find any, any nuance to help keep funding their feeding trough. <br /><br />As in everything governmental, follow the money!Missourinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-52626185805451372672013-01-15T19:26:49.398-05:002013-01-15T19:26:49.398-05:00Shamash,
Check out the work of James Heckman, he&...Shamash,<br /><br />Check out the work of James Heckman, he's been a fair amount work the last number of years on the effects of pre-K. It started when he was asked to study the efficacy of GED's and found that they're essentially useless.<br /><br />His pre-K studies are showing that sure the measurable cognitive effects might level out as students progress through grades, but the soft skills aspects don't.<br /><br />A number of his papers are easily googled, and he's been the focus of at least 2 Planet Money podcasts and is prominently discussed in Paul Tough's latest book "How Children Succeed".<br /><br />The thing is, current education reformers and others push aside this kind of work because it's not easily measurable at every grade level. We are sadly stuck with poring over test results as if they are the sole indicator of what predicates a successful student, teacher or school.Jeff Wisenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-55927824467507732102013-01-15T18:29:36.153-05:002013-01-15T18:29:36.153-05:00I guess if there was a study out there that showed...I guess if there was a study out there that showed that across the board, Head Start (or some other pre-K program), produced kids less likely to end up in prison, that would be a good thing.<br /><br />However, given that Head Start has shown conflicting results depending on whether the families were black, white, or Hispanic, (with whites actually doing WORSE after being in Head Start), I would hope they aren't closing those "gaps" by making one group worse than it otherwise could have been without the help.<br /><br />So maybe instead of looking for "positive" outcomes academically we should look for less negative outcomes socially speaking.<br /><br />Could be, I guess...<br /><br />But it sure would be nice to show some kind of benefit other than the obvious one of a child knowing their letters a year earlier.<br /><br />Shamashhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06886687970259841873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-41887031083569295332013-01-15T18:07:17.746-05:002013-01-15T18:07:17.746-05:00Jeff,
Again, the long term academic benefits don&...Jeff,<br /><br />Again, the long term academic benefits don't seem to be the case for Oklahoma, either.<br /><br />They've had their universal Pre-K program in place for around 15 years.<br /><br />This is long enough for it to have had some effect on such measures as NAEP scores in the 4th and 8th grades and other measures as well, yet Oklahoma isn't anything special. <br /><br />In fact Oklahoma kids score WORSE than NC and SC kids for the most part.<br /><br />I am pretty sure that if you check other national tests, you will see that Oklahoma is pretty much a loser state, academically. <br /><br />It's not even in the top half.<br /><br />(Also, I know because I used to live in Tulsa...)<br /><br />Of course, you can always hold out hope for some other future success from their "Emotional Quotient" (or some such thing), but, at least academically, the pre-K program doesn't seem to matter much by either the 4th or 8th grade.<br /><br />And, of course, we are comparing Oklahomans to non-Oklahomans, but we can't compare them against themselves with "universal" pre-K.<br /><br />The Georgetown study of Oklahoma that I saw seemed to focus on Kindergarten skills (such as letter recognition, etc.), which I would certainly hope were helped with a pre-K program, or else it would be totally worthless.<br /><br />I am really disappointed in what the eduocracy considers a "success" by these standards.<br /><br /><br /><br />Shamashhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06886687970259841873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-13875644244146270422013-01-15T16:03:15.357-05:002013-01-15T16:03:15.357-05:003:38p,
Oklahoma, one of the more conservative, sm...3:38p,<br /><br />Oklahoma, one of the more conservative, small-government states in the union has implemented universal pre-K. With solid results.<br /><br /><br /><br />Jeff Wisenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-10926231806788865542013-01-15T15:38:57.805-05:002013-01-15T15:38:57.805-05:00Mr. Wise,
It is predictive that government wants ...Mr. Wise,<br /><br />It is predictive that government wants to get their hands on their voter's children from cradle to grave.<br /><br />It is also predictive that taxpayers will be funding pre-K while other parents do the responsible thing and take care of the cost of pre-K and getting their children ready for K-12 themselves.<br /><br />It is also predictive that more and more baby mamas will be having offspring that shouldn't be, which leads to predictive comments #1 and #2.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-37887973322486427502013-01-15T14:40:39.975-05:002013-01-15T14:40:39.975-05:00The great thing about Ann's post here is how i...The great thing about Ann's post here is how it also works for teacher merit pay.<br /><br />Just as tooth decay is one part of the overall picture and can't seriously be judged as the cause of poor student achievement, student test scores cannot seriously be judged as the primary indicator of teacher effectiveness.<br /><br />Regarding Pre-K:<br /><br />Most everyone is missing the overall point of pre-K. Yes, it's true that a fair amount of the cognitive skill advantages that pre-K students get dissipate around 3rd-4th grade, however recent research is showing that it's the non-cognitive, or so-called soft skills, that stick with the students through the rest of their lives.<br /><br />Something like 20-30 years ago it was touted that cognitive skills were the predictor of future success. Parents started (and still do) push their 2- and 3-year olds into early learning classes with worksheets on math, letters, reading, etc.<br /><br />Yet, studies show that cognitive learning does not equate to high adult success rates. What does equate though, are people imbued with the so-called soft skills. And this is what good pre-K programs teach.<br /><br />So to look at test scores of pre-K and non-pre-K students in 3rd grade or beyond is missing the point. <br /><br />Jeff Wisenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-26120155358351403312013-01-15T14:07:40.409-05:002013-01-15T14:07:40.409-05:00Missouri, I totally agree that just looking at gai...Missouri, I totally agree that just looking at gains without looking at comparisons can be misleading. I've reported on that many times, including in the context of strategic staffing. You reference Winterfield article -- do you mean the story about Windsor Park?<br /><br />Unless WSS has changes w/o my knowledge, it's a formula applied to all schools. Kids who qualify for FRL are counted as 1.3 in calculating teacher allocations. All schools have some FRL students, so all schools get some benefit. A large school with a relatively low FRL population might still get a couple of extra teachers based on the formula. The whole idea was to get away from the "equity schools" approach, which had an arbitrary all-or-nothing cutoff based on FRL percentage.Ann Doss Helmshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03511764376105157616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-4675451680115293392013-01-15T13:46:46.315-05:002013-01-15T13:46:46.315-05:00Ann, here's another recent story about the fut...Ann, here's another recent story about the futility of fighting poverty.<br /><br />http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/01/14/uns-55b-anti-poverty-agency-doesnt-do-much-to-reduce-poverty-according-to-its/?test=latestnewsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-14573926652431178822013-01-15T13:20:13.423-05:002013-01-15T13:20:13.423-05:00Ann, it is apparent when you look at various repor...Ann, it is apparent when you look at various reports that some of these schools get significant increases in WSS and which do not, though it's touted as being in the program. I tend to give a 10% variance from average to allow variations in teachers years of service. Look a little deeper. And as well as those that do not get SS such was reported in the Winterfield story a couple of weeks ago. SS has been a relatively small set of schools. CMS however never misses to mislead us especially with their last celebration they had about how much the scores have improved at Greenville Park (Byers I think) when all along those of us who knew better, know the characteristics of the demographic makeup at that school had changed dramatically.<br /><br />But to your point about some hispanic schools getting more funding and others do not, that is the beauty in being able to tell when WSS and SS do not make much difference. <br /><br />Here is another example. The recent story about Billingsley ES talked about how they were proud of their academic improvement. Looking at them solely, you see the increases, but when you step back, you see all the other similar ES schools with as much or more increase. As a school rank, they were still 101 out of 103. <br /><br />Ann, and Bolyn, you've have got to get a little more critical eye.Missourinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-89879193023063234222013-01-15T12:54:38.696-05:002013-01-15T12:54:38.696-05:00Missouri, there are not a lot of Hispanic students...Missouri, there are not a lot of Hispanic students in LIFT schools (though there are some), but they and students of all races have been part of Weighted Student Staffing (which allocates additional teachers based on poverty levels) and Strategic Staffing (which has targeted specific schools, including some with significant Hispanic enrollment).Ann Doss Helmshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03511764376105157616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-54374575509978266532013-01-15T12:48:44.162-05:002013-01-15T12:48:44.162-05:00Okay maybe not reparations but it is a payoff/exto...Okay maybe not reparations but it is a payoff/extortion.Missourinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-67019616915080130292013-01-15T12:31:00.539-05:002013-01-15T12:31:00.539-05:00Missouri,
Yeah, well if it's reparations they...Missouri,<br /><br />Yeah, well if it's reparations they want, then take the white and Hispanic kids out of the program.<br /><br />At least save a few bucks that way.<br /><br />Especially since white and Hispanic kids either get mostly mixed or negative results from the program by third grade.<br /><br />Or maybe keep the white kids in Head Start if it's hurting them. <br /><br />Maybe that's a part of "reparations", too.<br /><br />So call it reparations, if we must.<br /><br />But I'd at least like it made clear that Head Start is at least worth an acre of land and a few pounds of mule meat in exchange.<br /><br />If it's part of a "reparations" package, that is...<br /><br />Shamashhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06886687970259841873noreply@blogger.com