Gene Ponder, a teacher at Spanish Fort High School gave me permission to reprint his article. It was printed in the Mobile Press Register March 27,2011.
Beat the Teacher:
After having read numerous editorials and sound-offs in the Mobile Register the past two months, I have concluded the following: “Everybody is born ignorant but it takes extreme effort to remain stupid throughout one’s life”. Many opinions printed in the paper state numerous absolute falsehoods, such as: The AEA (Alabama Education Association) is a union, public employees are overpaid, their benefits are excessive, teachers are incompetent and the reason for high dropout rates, teachers should earn a free-market wage and pay a free-market health insurance rate, and tenure should be abolished.
As a public school educator, I hope that I can help you understand that this anger and frustration is misdirected, but most importantly not constructive in resolving the many problems which exist within our educational system and our local, state, and national economy.
Fact: Alabama is a right-to-work state. The Alabama Education Association in not a union. Public unions are illegal in a right-to-work state. Teachers are salaried employees. Teachers are required to work eight, nine, ten, fourteen hours a day with no overtime pay. The average number of hours worked in the free market is forty including time- and-a-half or double-time if working over forty hours.
Fact: Teachers do have a superior retirement system and a great benefit package. Alabama educators are required to contribute five percent of their income toward retirement. Teachers must work twenty-five years before becoming eligible to receive retirement. The average free-market retirement eligibility is twenty years of service. The free-market laborer is not required to donate one dime toward a retirement system. Therefore, the free-market nets five percent more in income than the public sector. Teacher’s low cost health insurance is due to a large pool of teachers under one insurance plan. The State of Alabama contributes less toward health insurance than the average employer contributes towards a free-market health care plan. The cost difference is the size of membership not the amount of money contributed.
Fact: Teachers cannot be incompetent due to the fact that they are required to obtain college degrees from accredited universities. Very few jobs within the private sector require four or more years of higher education which can cost tens of thousands of dollars. College certified free-market jobs pay two to three times the wage paid to teachers. Teachers are not in the business of failing students. Parents are one-hundred percent to blame for failures and drop-outs. High drop-out rates are a direct result from a self-defeated culture of incompetent and apathetic parenting.
Fact: Teachers are required to work three years before they have any resemblance of job security. Tenure simply means that a reason must be presented in order to fire a teacher. A teacher can be fired without any reason given within the first three years of employment. Once tenure is attained, teachers can be terminated for the very same reasons as private sector employees. Most free-market jobs grant job security after only ninety-days of employment.
So, who is to blame for poor and failing schools? Federal bureaucracy has and will continue to destroy the quality of public education. Why is the private sector all of a sudden attacking public sector employees? The economy is in the dumps while hundreds of thousands of good paying private sector jobs have been outsourced overseas leaving many private sector workers laboring for minimum wage. Blaming public employees will not end free trade agreements and bring back private sector jobs. Federal bureaucracy created a collapsing free market wage. Instead of blaming and attacking public employees, we should be putting our heads together and work to return a sense of nationalism and American pride. Federal bureaucrats have outsourced the private sector and have over regulated the public sectors ability to serve. Together, private and public employees must stand together and retake control of our federal government. Together we can protect our standard of living. Divided we will certainly fall into poverty together. As trickle-up poverty continues to spread throughout our nation. Only a renewed sense of unity between the private and public sector may be our last hope to save our nation and ultimately ourselves.
Gene Ponder
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Sunday, March 27, 2011
"8 Hours I'll Never Forget"
Someone looking in from the outside often has the ability to see things as they really are. I asked Mr. Lee if I might post this on my blog and he graciously agreed. It was printed in the Mobile Press, March 27, 2011. (pp. 16a, 18a)
By Larry Lee
The sun was still hiding somewhere beyond Mobile Bay’s eastern shore as I pulled into the parking lot at George Hall Elementary School. It was 6:55 a.m. and I would spend the next eight hours helping with four and five-year olds in a Pre-K classroom.
For years I’ve believed strongly that anyone who works with schools and kids is truly doing the Lord’s Work. This belief only intensified when I led a study, Lessons Learned from Rural Schools, two years ago. Our team studied ten high-performing, high-poverty rural schools across Alabama. I spent untold hours in schools and classrooms, getting a first-hand look at the passion and dedication so many teachers and principals bring with them each day.
However, if you read newspapers and watch TV you get the impression that public education in this country is under attack. Some politician or some “talking head” on cable news is constantly browbeating teachers and declaring that the U.S. is doomed forever because our education system is failing us.
Even the Secretary of Education in Washington loves to tell us how many failing schools we have.
Granted, some teachers are better than others, just like some golfers are better than others, but I know from observation that there are a lot more good ones than bad ones. And I know that many of those who are so vocal in their criticism have spent precious little time in a classroom and basically have little understanding of, and appreciation for, what the day-to-day life of a teacher is all about.
That’s why I was at George Hall in Mobile as the sun was coming up. I wanted to experience first-hand what thousands of teachers in Alabama see each day.
I’ve been to George Hall many times. An inner-city school where 98 percent of the students receive free-reduced lunches, it has been recognized nationally for student performance. Even the U.S. Secretary of Education visited last August. Unfortunately, he didn’t spend any time in a classroom on his stop.
Jinkle Jones, now in her 28th year of teaching, was my “host” for the day. Wanda Tunstall works with her as a paraprofessional. They are a great team and have 17 students. It is obvious they love their profession and the lives they touch.
My day began with writing the names of students on the snacks they brought from home. Not everyone had a snack. When snack time came later in the day, Jones made sure each child had something, whether it came from their home or not. I didn’t ask, but I doubt that the local school system paid for the extra snacks.
During the day I reviewed homework and put a smiley face on each paper that was correct, helped students read books from the library, gave reading tests at the smartboard, read about Verdi the python to the class seated on the floor in front of me, high-fived boys and girls as they marched by me and had more hugs than I ever did at a family reunion.
I saw tears and lots of smiles. I saw a very sad face as a girl was scolded for losing a library book and I watched faces light up as volunteer Heather Miller read a book that ended with an elephant who forgot to put on his underpants. I heard songs and watched as small bodies wiggled to the sounds of music.
I was impressed with how much individual instruction each child received and how busy the room stayed. The fact that most can read, know the alphabet and can count to 20 is testimony to the effectiveness of what goes on each day. I was certainly impressed with the discipline in the classroom, as well as throughout the school.
It was only eight hours out of my life. But it was eight hours I will never forget. And the next time someone tells me what an easy job teachers have I will shake my head and politely tell them they have no clue what they’re talking about. Or the next time I hear Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker say we should have 50-60 students per classroom or Bill Gates talk about merit pay and more accountability, I will know that they are clueless as well.
Speaking of accountability, let me suggest the new Republican-controlled legislature pass a law that requires that every member of the House and Senate will spend one full day in a classroom within the first year of taking office, or they give up their seat. This should be for every four-year election cycle and no one will be exempted, even former teachers.
In the grand scheme of things, state government has no more important function than providing the necessary capacity to educate our children. Having first-hand knowledge of what it’s like in one of today’s classrooms would be extremely meaningful for elected officials charged with such decisions.
As my day came to an end at George Hall, I couldn’t help but look around the room and wonder where these children would be in 10 and 20 years. What would their lives be like? How would they be dealing with a new and strange world?
But I also knew that Jinkle Jones and Wanda Tunstall had done their very best to prepare them for whatever lies ahead.
Larry Lee lives in Montgomery. larrylee33@knology.net
By Larry Lee
The sun was still hiding somewhere beyond Mobile Bay’s eastern shore as I pulled into the parking lot at George Hall Elementary School. It was 6:55 a.m. and I would spend the next eight hours helping with four and five-year olds in a Pre-K classroom.
For years I’ve believed strongly that anyone who works with schools and kids is truly doing the Lord’s Work. This belief only intensified when I led a study, Lessons Learned from Rural Schools, two years ago. Our team studied ten high-performing, high-poverty rural schools across Alabama. I spent untold hours in schools and classrooms, getting a first-hand look at the passion and dedication so many teachers and principals bring with them each day.
However, if you read newspapers and watch TV you get the impression that public education in this country is under attack. Some politician or some “talking head” on cable news is constantly browbeating teachers and declaring that the U.S. is doomed forever because our education system is failing us.
Even the Secretary of Education in Washington loves to tell us how many failing schools we have.
Granted, some teachers are better than others, just like some golfers are better than others, but I know from observation that there are a lot more good ones than bad ones. And I know that many of those who are so vocal in their criticism have spent precious little time in a classroom and basically have little understanding of, and appreciation for, what the day-to-day life of a teacher is all about.
That’s why I was at George Hall in Mobile as the sun was coming up. I wanted to experience first-hand what thousands of teachers in Alabama see each day.
I’ve been to George Hall many times. An inner-city school where 98 percent of the students receive free-reduced lunches, it has been recognized nationally for student performance. Even the U.S. Secretary of Education visited last August. Unfortunately, he didn’t spend any time in a classroom on his stop.
Jinkle Jones, now in her 28th year of teaching, was my “host” for the day. Wanda Tunstall works with her as a paraprofessional. They are a great team and have 17 students. It is obvious they love their profession and the lives they touch.
My day began with writing the names of students on the snacks they brought from home. Not everyone had a snack. When snack time came later in the day, Jones made sure each child had something, whether it came from their home or not. I didn’t ask, but I doubt that the local school system paid for the extra snacks.
During the day I reviewed homework and put a smiley face on each paper that was correct, helped students read books from the library, gave reading tests at the smartboard, read about Verdi the python to the class seated on the floor in front of me, high-fived boys and girls as they marched by me and had more hugs than I ever did at a family reunion.
I saw tears and lots of smiles. I saw a very sad face as a girl was scolded for losing a library book and I watched faces light up as volunteer Heather Miller read a book that ended with an elephant who forgot to put on his underpants. I heard songs and watched as small bodies wiggled to the sounds of music.
I was impressed with how much individual instruction each child received and how busy the room stayed. The fact that most can read, know the alphabet and can count to 20 is testimony to the effectiveness of what goes on each day. I was certainly impressed with the discipline in the classroom, as well as throughout the school.
It was only eight hours out of my life. But it was eight hours I will never forget. And the next time someone tells me what an easy job teachers have I will shake my head and politely tell them they have no clue what they’re talking about. Or the next time I hear Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker say we should have 50-60 students per classroom or Bill Gates talk about merit pay and more accountability, I will know that they are clueless as well.
Speaking of accountability, let me suggest the new Republican-controlled legislature pass a law that requires that every member of the House and Senate will spend one full day in a classroom within the first year of taking office, or they give up their seat. This should be for every four-year election cycle and no one will be exempted, even former teachers.
In the grand scheme of things, state government has no more important function than providing the necessary capacity to educate our children. Having first-hand knowledge of what it’s like in one of today’s classrooms would be extremely meaningful for elected officials charged with such decisions.
As my day came to an end at George Hall, I couldn’t help but look around the room and wonder where these children would be in 10 and 20 years. What would their lives be like? How would they be dealing with a new and strange world?
But I also knew that Jinkle Jones and Wanda Tunstall had done their very best to prepare them for whatever lies ahead.
Larry Lee lives in Montgomery. larrylee33@knology.net
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Special Education and Testing
There has to be a better way. Why must my special education students be forced to take the ARMT and SAT 10? We know the results before they ever pick up the pencil. We manage to shatter whatever confidence they had prior to the test. No matter how hard they try, and they do try hard, it seems to be to be a self-defeating process for my students. Think..., let's find a better way!
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Tax Referendum Passes
The vote was cast and the students of Mobile County win! Voters overwhelmingly passed a renewal tax worth $55,000,000.00. 400 teachers jobs are preserved, and classroom numbers should remain constant. Not only that, we'll be able to maintain the school facilities.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Alabama and Mobile County Schools In the News...
I took this course because I knew virtually nothing about blogs, twitter, podcasts..., and I was quite concerned that I may have huge difficulties getting this course completed. I guess I've just about made it! Anyway, I have a project to do to complete the final phase.
The state of Alabama is having trouble with the educational system. There is no money! Jobs, programs, even the repairs to the schools are all in jeopardy. There is a vote tomorrow in Mobile to retain a school tax that has been on the books for 20 years. If it doesn't pass it will be the equivalent of losing one whole grade level system wide. Imagine all the forth grade teachers just GONE! While I know that isn't how the actual cuts would be made, it serves to boggle the mind. With all the upheaval and uncertainty I thought I would like to utilize some of my new "tricks" to keep my blog continuing. I plan to use Google Reader, internet sites, twitter, and my own musings to keep my fellow teachers and school administrators up-to-speed on what is actually going on in education in Alabama and Mobile. It seems to me we are in a state of crisis, and a compilation of information tailored to teachers and administrators could be useful.
Action Plan:
1. Subscribe to Google Reader and Twitter (Done)
2. Begin following links that will help me acquire relevant information (Partially completed)
3. Get the word out about my blog (In process)
4. Read and reflect on information found
5. Post current information on blog.
6. Respond to comments as needed on the blog
The state of Alabama is having trouble with the educational system. There is no money! Jobs, programs, even the repairs to the schools are all in jeopardy. There is a vote tomorrow in Mobile to retain a school tax that has been on the books for 20 years. If it doesn't pass it will be the equivalent of losing one whole grade level system wide. Imagine all the forth grade teachers just GONE! While I know that isn't how the actual cuts would be made, it serves to boggle the mind. With all the upheaval and uncertainty I thought I would like to utilize some of my new "tricks" to keep my blog continuing. I plan to use Google Reader, internet sites, twitter, and my own musings to keep my fellow teachers and school administrators up-to-speed on what is actually going on in education in Alabama and Mobile. It seems to me we are in a state of crisis, and a compilation of information tailored to teachers and administrators could be useful.
Action Plan:
1. Subscribe to Google Reader and Twitter (Done)
2. Begin following links that will help me acquire relevant information (Partially completed)
3. Get the word out about my blog (In process)
4. Read and reflect on information found
5. Post current information on blog.
6. Respond to comments as needed on the blog
Digital Citizenship
I read the article "Digital Citizenship" and it brought to mind something that was not as stressed as I thought it should have been..., student safety. We need to remind our students that they must stay on the web sites that we have planned for them to use. We also need to remind them that everyone they may encounter on the internet is not a nice person, but we cannot deny them the opportunities to be had by researching on the internet. We just need to remind them about safe internet usage.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Student Safety
I just read an article titled, "Digital Citizenship." which gave me pause to think about our students safety using the internet. I think it is very important before we turn them lose on an assignment to remind them that there are predators on the internet. We also need to remind them, in light of recent news stories, that children can be very hurt by others comments. A few sentences directed their way about empathy might be a good thing.
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