For another semester, Montgomery County high school students flunked their final exams in math courses in startlingly high numbers, according to new figures that show failure rates of 71 percent for Geometry and 68 percent for Algebra 1.
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Board of Education member Patricia O’Neill said she found the scores disappointing and saw them as an indication that “our high-achieving students are doing pretty well, and our lower-achieving kids are doing terrible.”
Somebody please give Ms. O'Neill a bonus for that profound observation.
Hint to Pat O'Neill: adverbs! It should be "our lower-achieving kids are doing terribly."
ReplyDeleteWe offer different strategies and still the results are disappointing. Unfortunately, the school staff are forced into dealing with other issues than just teaching. We also need to look at culture blending, parenting issues, and community support systems. And, most of all, the overall climate at the schools in which the teachers are "pounced upon" by the administration and therefore creativity and morale are just terrible in many of our schools. I would love to hear again teachers talking about how they love their jobs.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree that the climate at the schools is terrible for the teachers and they are, as was said, "pounced upon" by the administration.
ReplyDeleteBut the teachers were complicit in creating this situation through their labor union which sold out creativity and working conditions for pay over the past 15 years. They traded their voice in what we need to do for our children for a seat at Jerry Weast's budget table. They were rewarded with several years of pay increases approaching 10% per year in Weast's early years here. But the loss of professional creativity and job satisfaction was the price.
'Lower-achieving' again suggests that the fault lies with the children. This was the 'message' last time this news came out - blame the kids forpoor test results.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, community support systems are in place in the county. Are you saying the existing systems don't work? They work sometimes? Could you give some details? What seems to work, and what doesn't? Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI think the decision, in the past, to eliminate social worker positions has had a negative impact. Home visits by social workers and a school administrator might encourage increased teamwork with parents. Expanding the Linkages to Learning Program would offer more community support at the school site. More effective behavior modification strategies are necessary with appropriate administrative back up. With these changes, perhaps teachers could get back to teaching.
ReplyDeleteTeacher: I agree with anonymous 9:32am. Expanding the Linkages to Learning Program would be of great help. Also, using the 21 million dollar surplus to put money toward mentoring would be good. At this time, teachers are doing much of the social work needed for our children to be able to engage in academics. And, parents, you are wrong about the influence that teachers have regarding MCPS policy or our union. MCEA does whatever it wants. MCEA is in full collaboration with MCPS. We are not protected by our union in any manner what so ever. Teachers who speak up and report wrong doings in this county do become targets for PAR. I believe that the way to focus on change is through a full on campaign against the apple ballot. We need an organized campaign supported by teachers and parents to elect parent coalition members onto the BOE. It is nearly impossible to dismantle the union according to present state laws. And, please, NO more lectures about the secret budget table. Most teachers are working 12 hour days trying to figure out the 2.0 curriculum and take care of OUR children (yours and ours)!!! When do you think we have time to research and remedy the corruption in our union, the union that is in collusion with our employers? In my opinion, we need to find viable candidates to replace most of the current board members, and then will we see a positive change for our children in MCPS.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous July 28, 9:16 am, would you run? Do you know anyone who will run? And, what state laws do you mean? Thanks.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, you say residents are wrong about teachers' influence on MCEA leadership. Can you tell us what percentage of teachers vote in the union elections? Is it a high percentage? Low? And, what is the breakout of who is elected v. not elected, by percentage. Could you make that public? And, does there appear to be any attempt to either start a new organization, or change the leadership so it is more responsive to teacher concerns? Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThere can be no alternative organization to MCEA so long as dues are mandatory.
ReplyDeletePay for TWO unions? That'd be a tough sell.
I meet teachers hanging out apple ballots every election. Few can justify why they support the apple ballot since they have never been pleased with the BoE despite a hammerlock on the majority for over two decades.
WHY are teachers so powerless over their own union? I'm not sure and very curious.
As for creativity in the class, I'm not sure why a set curriculum automatically excludes creative presentation. I hear much talk about "Teaching to the test". Fat lot of good it must be doing. Maybe creativity in the classroom is what would elevates test scores. Has the problem been an unhealthy obsession towards drills and too little towards making material interesting or delivered from multiple angles to increase the number of students who grasp the concepts?
I have run for BoE before and run afoul of the apple ballot. You must adhere to all their expectations and promise to vote in their favor under all conditions or you can kiss the endorsements goodbye.
Ironclad proof came in 1998 when the MCEA threatened to withhold endorsement from Nancy King and Reggie Felton who ran UNOPPOSED because they had voted to withdraw the Montgomery county pay differential given to teachers because of high Cost of Living here in Montgomery when Maryland provided that same differential that year to areas of Maryland with higher living costs.
This amounted to an unscheduled RAISE for Montgomery teachers. No class conditions changed. No pay was LOST. No contract was breached. No student learning was affected.
Felton and King were targeted strictly because they didn't rubber stamp a pay raise that they did not negotiate.
It is very difficult to win without the MCEA's nod, but this group could help a lot and teachers would likely benefit considerably.
The MCCPTA Blue Book always includes a list of "Organizations Representing MCPS Staff." In addition to MCEA, MCAAP and SEIU, there's this listing: "Montgomery County Federation of Teachers AFL-CIO Local 1670," with (just retired) Einstein counselor Joseph Monte listed as President. Address: P.O. Box 314, Kensington MD 20895; phone: 301-933-5175. Does anyone know more about this organization?
ReplyDeleteBOE members have won without the Apple Ballot. Phil Kauffman won the primary 6 years ago without it and the Apple Ballot candidate came in third. Also Rebecca Smondrowski didn't have the Apple Ballot endorsement in either the primary or general elections 2 years ago.
ReplyDeleteYes, changing the makeup of the board can and should be done, but we need to have an organized effort to dismantle the present BOE. Changing the BOE will make the difference.
ReplyDeleteAs far as Joe Monte, he was a counselor in the county for fifty years and he just retired in June. Mr. Monte was able to keep his union membership with the AFT. The only way to put pressure on MCEA is a change in the BOE and the threat that members are looking to the AFT to represent them. As it stands, and as it was mentioned above, joining the AFT requires teachers to pay double dues. However, AFT might be interested in expanding their membership in this county and may consider alternatives to double dues. Does anyone wish to explore this? Joe Monte has a wealth of information regarding AFT and MCEA. Mr. Monte would be the person to contact. He would be able to point people in the right direction to move forward. Further, he is one of the most decent and ethical people you will ever meet.