tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post5321428016334871198..comments2023-10-23T09:23:22.051-04:00Comments on Your Schools: Longer LIFT year faces tough questionsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger60125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-63877536525533375372012-11-29T15:00:31.495-05:002012-11-29T15:00:31.495-05:00What is getting old is the expectation that the re...What is getting old is the expectation that the responsible adults care for the children of the irresponsible adults.<br /><br />No matter what we do, society will sort itself into winners and losers.<br /><br />There will always be a "performance gap". <br /><br />You can't turn dachshunds into greyhounds.<br /><br />I see no reason to keep wasting our limited resources on the losers.<br /><br />We don't do that in any other field of endeavor.<br /><br />It's not like people haven't been told the value of an education, they just don't care.<br /><br />It's time to cut them loose to be all they want to be.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-54470809464312877652012-11-29T14:33:43.737-05:002012-11-29T14:33:43.737-05:00AmenAmenAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-21228421871792105602012-11-29T14:07:48.301-05:002012-11-29T14:07:48.301-05:00We continue to come back to Project LIFT a ‘partne...We continue to come back to Project LIFT a ‘partnership’ that I have been opposed to from day one. Never should have happened. After the partnership was approved I decided to sit back and give it the benefit of the doubt; done with that!<br /><br />Project LIFT has admirable goals; however, to meet them they continue to use the tired ‘same ol’ same ol’” – throw more money at the problem. They are paying all the staff more, how will CMS continue this after the 5 years; the money is not there. Now they want to add days to the calendar (wouldn’t we all like that!) which costs A LOT of money which apparently they really don’t have, so let’s ask CMS and the public for it. Really?! If that kind of money is available it should be going to the entire district.<br /><br />There is a fundamental problem with Project LIFT – they are not doing ANYTHING to help struggling students and parents pull themselves up. There needs to be some ‘tough love’. Parents need to be involved without monetary or any other kind of incentive. Our children are our incentive; seeing them succeed is our incentive. Our communities are our incentive. Our country is our incentive. Get into the school and do something, anything… answer a phone, make a copy, sit with a class during lunch and give a teacher a break, watch a class during recess, give a teacher planning time…. Get in the school and do SOMETHING! Check the book bag when it gets home. I am always amazed to hear teachers say how many parents don’t even open or look in the book bags! Listen to your child read 30 minutes a day; this really that hard? You don’t have to pay attention, just listen. Turn the ‘cable’ off for 1 hour a day. Tell your children EVERY DAY, more than once, how important and education is – show them!<br /><br />Holding hands is nice; but, in the end it teaches nothing but weakness. Handouts don’t offer responsibility, a sense of accomplishment, pride, ... Don’t underestimate anyone! If we hold people to a lower standard they will rise to meet that and no more. Set that bar high, teach tools to get there, offer help (not a hand out) and everyone will rise to meet it!<br /><br />We are blessed to live in this country and we should act like it!<br />Jane Websternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-60314131259628177532012-11-29T12:08:42.531-05:002012-11-29T12:08:42.531-05:00To Sean said... at 4:03.
What I'd expect afte...To Sean said... at 4:03.<br /><br />What I'd expect after such a large change in one year (+11%) is a regression to the mean the following year.<br /><br />But, hey, that's just me...<br /><br />Also, leaving after such a large increase would be a pretty smart move given the difficulty of repeating it again (and the odds of a "regression to the mean") which would look like failure.<br /><br />Shamashhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06886687970259841873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-41015989070003104822012-11-29T11:42:09.820-05:002012-11-29T11:42:09.820-05:00To Anon 9:35 am.
Just because an explanation (suc...To Anon 9:35 am.<br /><br />Just because an explanation (such as socio-economics) has the full faith and backing of the education establishment doesn't mean it's TRUE.<br /><br />After all, this is mostly "public" education we're talking about and that means it's warped by the politically corrected views of the time.<br /><br />Wading through a lot of educrap requires the skill of a trained magician as well as that of a scientist. <br /><br />While the scientist may be fooled when the magician directs everyone to see that there's nothing up his sleeve, the magician knows to watch what the other hand is doing during the distraction.<br /><br />And that's where most of us fail.<br /><br />This isn't science. <br /><br />It's a magic show.Shamashhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06886687970259841873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-18588823141788554612012-11-29T10:26:38.549-05:002012-11-29T10:26:38.549-05:00To Anon 9:51am:
If socioeconomics is the BEST pre...To Anon 9:51am:<br /><br />If socioeconomics is the BEST predictor, then how do you explain the fact that poor whites outscore non-poor blacks in NAEP assessments?<br /><br />From:<br /><br />"Achievement Gaps How Black and White Students in Public Schools Perform in Mathematics and Reading on the National Assessment of Educational Progress"<br /><br />See Figures 7 and 8 on page 11 (among others)...<br /><br />In those figures, the 4th AND 8th grade white kids eligible for FRL scored higher than black kids who were too wealthy to qualify for either a Free or Reduced Lunch.<br /><br />In fact, the Free Lunch white kids outperformed the ineligible (a.k.a. WEALTHIER) black kids for both the 4th and 8th grades.<br /><br />Proving to me that RACE is as good of a predictor of success and failure as socioeconomic status (at least as far as qualifying for a Free or Reduced Lunch is concerned).<br /><br />I think this is not emphasized because it tends to contradict the implied "solution" of "more money" to solve the performance gap problem.<br /><br />It is clear to me that there is much more at work than mere economics, and that money will NOT solve the "gap" problem.<br /><br />Simply because the blacks kids who are NOT poor STILL UNDERPERFORM.<br /><br />But no one wants to hear that...<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Shamashhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06886687970259841873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-1103809153489424682012-11-29T10:05:52.742-05:002012-11-29T10:05:52.742-05:00Anon 9:58
Maybe they predicted that high graduati...Anon 9:58<br /><br />Maybe they predicted that high graduation rate because they knew those test results wouldn't be ready in time.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-80546746385016714672012-11-29T10:04:37.908-05:002012-11-29T10:04:37.908-05:00Anon 9:35.
The reason for failure is more "s...Anon 9:35.<br /><br />The reason for failure is more "socio" than "economic".<br /><br />Basically, it's culture.<br /><br />(Or, perhaps, geneticsm<br /><br />but we can't go there...)<br /><br />Even though the same basic patterns of who succeeds and who fails are repeated across the globe along the same racial/cultural demographics.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-33358744455238066102012-11-29T09:58:18.647-05:002012-11-29T09:58:18.647-05:00PREDICTORS are not the same as outcomes unless you...PREDICTORS are not the same as outcomes unless you're CMS which predicted 90% plus graduation rates last year. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-12857149023884062572012-11-29T09:55:28.750-05:002012-11-29T09:55:28.750-05:00To suggest that teachers are more important than p...To suggest that teachers are more important than parents is ludicrous and, frankly, quite arrogant. This doesn't mean that kids with parents in jail can't succeed. It just makes it more difficult for them to do so. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-39062376091292347332012-11-29T09:51:27.091-05:002012-11-29T09:51:27.091-05:00Socioeconomic status is the best PREDICTOR of stud...Socioeconomic status is the best PREDICTOR of student success, not a guarantee. I'm simply pointing out the research which does not mean I don't believe in the awesome power that teachers can have and their ability to transform lives. I wouldn't teach if I didn't believe teachers can make a difference.<br /><br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-36447254607124112672012-11-29T09:40:47.893-05:002012-11-29T09:40:47.893-05:00Teachers have the power to change lives by being g...Teachers have the power to change lives by being given the power to actually teach!<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-86005204790533389742012-11-29T09:35:57.502-05:002012-11-29T09:35:57.502-05:001:23 AM
"But to say that socioeconomic is THE...1:23 AM<br />"But to say that socioeconomic is THE reason kids succeed or fail is to deny the awesome power of a teacher to change a child's life and ignore the success stories even here in CMS. If you believe a zip code and skin color is the predictor of success, then why even have the conversation? You're essentially saying these kids have no chance."<br /><br />Beautifully stated.<br /><br />I admire your passion to believe that all kids can achieve and not giving up. All is not hopeless. However, I think socioeconomic status is frequently used as a "learned helplessness" excuse in education. If it weren't, than why do college education programs continually point out the correlation between socioeconomic status and student achievement? Why, as a teacher, am I still being subjected to cultural understanding courses and diversity training seminars 40 years after mandated court ordered busing? Why are we pumping millions more into "urban" schools vs. suburban schools if socioeconomic status doesn't matter? Teachers matter. However, the research is clear that parents matter more. If socioeconomic status ISN'T the reason kids are failing, then what IS? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-18194065559716865352012-11-29T09:07:36.266-05:002012-11-29T09:07:36.266-05:004:03...
I can support my comments on the dismal s...4:03...<br /><br />I can support my comments on the dismal state of public education very simply:<br /><br />1970 - 2012.<br />Wiley Coyotehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16966764080565903720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-17480623672324401652012-11-29T05:05:19.198-05:002012-11-29T05:05:19.198-05:00A previous poster stated:
“What I take comfort in ...A previous poster stated:<br />“What I take comfort in is the belief that corporate donors will demand proof and dismiss smoke and mirrors. We will see.”<br />Unfortunately, I don’t have much faith in the Corporate community; however, my hope is that the corporate donors will demand proof. My hope is that they are not a part of the further demise of the quality of education provided for certain members of the community. Thus far, as a Project Lift insider, the academically strong students are being crushed ! We will see how long this will continue.<br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-22453030451100697102012-11-29T04:03:39.503-05:002012-11-29T04:03:39.503-05:00I forgot to link this report by CMS
http://www.cm...I forgot to link this report by CMS<br /><br />http://www.cms.k12.nc.us/cmsdepartments/accountability/Documents/2009-10%20Preliminary%20Results.pdf<br /><br />Spaugh EOG Test Scores After Re Test<br /><br />SCI 08/09: 37%<br />MATH 08/09: 28%<br />READ: 08/09: 26%<br /><br />*Watts took over in March of 2009, two months before EOGS<br /><br />SCI 09/10: 54%<br />MATH 09/10: 36%<br />READ 09/10: 37%<br /><br />Total Change in One Year<br /><br />SCI: +17%<br />MATH: +6%<br />READ: +11%<br /><br />Had she stayed at Spaugh(and it not ultimately been shut down), would this trend have continued? Would you expect an average change in +11% per year? Who knows. We can all speculate. <br /><br />I know that this particular post is tangential to the entire conversation of extended school days, but I have been reading this blog since its creation and am a little frustrated with the lack of quantitative support for these posts. <br /><br />Everyone has an opinion on Watts, LIFT, extended school days, and everything else educationally related. But until you can support what you're saying, it's hard to have a legitimate conversation.Seannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-80476962247373821262012-11-29T01:23:10.681-05:002012-11-29T01:23:10.681-05:00I worked with Denise at Spaugh and can tell you th...I worked with Denise at Spaugh and can tell you that her presence(with her team) made a tremendous impact on the school. Gorman pulled her after a year and a few months to promote her, so you never had a chance to see what would happen if she had stayed for three or four years. <br /><br />I use the football coach analogy. If you hire someone mid season, you typically don't expect a huge change that year. You do expect improvement the next year(09/10 at Spaugh) which did occur. The school didn't go from missing the playoffs to Championship game, but it certainly improved. <br /><br />About all this racially related stats. It seems that 'changing the culture of education' for many of the lower income students is a theme. I was raised in a family and community where everyone attended college so it was not an option for me to do otherwise. If I grew up not knowing a college educated person or wasn't taught about the value of education or was surrounded by people who didn't value it, would I have gone? I don't know. <br /><br />But to say that socioeconomic is THE reason kids succeed or fail is to deny the awesome power of a teacher to change a child's life and ignore the success stories even here in CMS. If you believe a zip code and skin color is the predictor of success, then why even have the conversation? You're essentially saying these kids have no chance. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-11010245904377677462012-11-28T23:38:24.815-05:002012-11-28T23:38:24.815-05:00The extra 45 minutes are a waste of time. It is u...The extra 45 minutes are a waste of time. It is unfair to teachers to take their planning time and give them a longer day to plan for. The time was added as an attempt to raise the test scores of the bottom third. It was falsely presented as a way to save busing money.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-25918015813057404072012-11-28T22:11:48.669-05:002012-11-28T22:11:48.669-05:00Bill, several of the people I interviewed at the t...Bill, several of the people I interviewed at the time said great things about her. But the best you can say about Spaugh was she made a promising start. Less than two years after Gorman used it to host a press conference with the Broad judges he closed it, and the numbers were pretty bleak. I think it's fair to say Watts doesn't have an urban school turnaround under her belt. But I don't get the anonymous comments implying there's something sinister or covert about her job changes.Ann Doss Helmshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03511764376105157616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-9638682221444923862012-11-28T20:33:33.912-05:002012-11-28T20:33:33.912-05:00Ann, I followed what had been written on Ms Watts....Ann, I followed what had been written on Ms Watts. And while you summarised it, what I missed or did not read was what were her success stories, how did her students break the cycle of poverty, and how did those working for her feel treated by her? I've gone back and looked at EOG data from her 2 schools and no big jumps in scores are apparent.<br /><br />I'm just saying, some people do have a point. I'm okay with LIFT hiring her. What I was against was CMS hiring her back and letting her milk more NC employee benefits which she had clearly left before.Bill Stevensnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-13520466549866840852012-11-28T19:43:23.177-05:002012-11-28T19:43:23.177-05:00$50 Million
This will NEVER produce negative data...$50 Million<br /><br />This will NEVER produce negative data. Someone will make sure of this.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-14974692723148687502012-11-28T19:24:42.316-05:002012-11-28T19:24:42.316-05:00Do you really believe that PROJECT LIFT ,if it doe...Do you really believe that PROJECT LIFT ,if it doesnt work, will be the end to the Black Hole of flushed money by the education system and BOE?<br /><br />Very Very FoolishAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-74288818995588776912012-11-28T19:16:31.116-05:002012-11-28T19:16:31.116-05:00 To add to my post, above: if Watts fails to produ... To add to my post, above: if Watts fails to produce and it is papered over, we will know we have a Harry Jones-like scenario on our hands, and that Kojo really does control Charlotte through his threats, etc. We will also know without doubt that we are on a sinking ship, and that it is truly time to jump. If nothing else, we will benefit from finally having an answer.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-36275475022434001942012-11-28T19:01:28.323-05:002012-11-28T19:01:28.323-05:00I'm very supportive of Project LIFT. If it pro...I'm very supportive of Project LIFT. If it produces measurable improvements and a cost benefit analysis supports it, great. We have an answer to the achievement gap, perhaps, and can replicate it. If it does not measure up, we can put additional theories in the trash cash, hopefully not to be pulled out again. What I take comfort in is the belief that corporate donors will demand proof and dismiss smoke and mirrors. We will see.<br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-66652227402153347312012-11-28T18:38:34.477-05:002012-11-28T18:38:34.477-05:00I've probably chronicled Watts' career cha...I've probably chronicled Watts' career changes more closely than anyone's in CMS. I reported when Peter Gorman moved her from Mint Hill to Spaugh as a Strategic Staffing principal. I was literally writing up a big piece on her work there when Gorman pulled her out to promote her to central offices, so that was part of the story. I wrote about it when the Project LIFT philanthropists hired her as their executive director, and then when CMS brought her back a few months later as part of the LIFT partnership.<br /><br />You can interpret those changes as you like -- some would say it's a sign of how good she is that she's moved up so fast, and some would say she hasn't had enough time to prove herself in any of those posts. But it's just silly to say it's been covered up or hidden.Ann Doss Helmshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03511764376105157616noreply@blogger.com