"O Canada": This Couldn't Be Happening Here

Last night I watched on my local East Texas sports a view from Vancouver I couldn't believe. I started to cry and this morning am still shedding a tear for my native land. People in  this fine Canadian city, not long ago the host of the world for the 2010 Winter Olympics, were rioting in the streets after the Boston Bruins soundly defeated the Vancouver Canucks to win the Stanley Cup, the symbol of National League Hockey supremacy. In my book, NARC!, the main character, John Doyle, is sitting on the University Hill in 1968 watching and participating in a peaceful protest against the makers of napalm, Dow Chemical. He commisserates about his country, Canada, being a peace loving country and that they don't solve their problems by rioting, but by peaceful means. This was not the case yesterday in Vancouver.

Times have changed. This is the second time that Vancouver has done this over a hockey game.
Now I will admit that hockey in Canada ignites a passion within Canadians much like soccer in South Anerica or Europe. Winning a title is important, especially since it hasn't happened in Canada for a number of years. But it is not the reason to riot. Filling yourself full of Molsons, Labatts or any other popular Canadian drink and destroying vehicles, lighting fires and looting stores does not make you a man or help you forget the loss.

I taught high school in Canada for 10 years and I know that this is not what Canada was all about then.Schools are still in session in most parts of Canada and if I ran the schools I would be using this as a teachable moment, extolling the virtues that the country once held and has obviously forgot. If I ran the Vancouver schools I would be mobilizing the older students to clean up the mess and bring this beautiful Canadian city back to normal. Perhaps there will never be a normal in Vancouver again.

"You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet"!

A story appeared in the San Antonio Express News that gave information on one of the state's latest proposals to lighten the burden of school districts in the school financing fiasco. They are giving school boards the options of lowering teacher pay and restricting teachers' furlough or sick day time. "Passing the buck" is not an admirable way for the state legislature to come up with a solution to  the state's mismanagement of the education funding process that took place a few years back and has led to the recent state of affairs in Texas school funding.

Many small school districts already do not pay their teachers very well. When I moved to East Texas and looked into the pay scales of school districts here I was appalled. I have to commend the Northside ISD where I was employed for paying at a high level. Most teachers here already make less than I do in teacher retirement. How can they afford to cut even further? These are the districts that will be hit hardest when the final education bill is passed in special session. How are we going to encourage fine young teachers to enter the profession if we treat them this way?

If you have been following my blog you will soon be seeing many of my predictions coming to fruition. Programs are now being cut. Even in NISD, a large district, the Gifted and Talented program as we once knew it will never be the same in the Middle and High schools. How do we expect the top 5-10 percent of the nation who are the ones who have to compete with other countries in the world to be equipped with the skill and advanced knowledge to be able to do so. Class sizes will be enlarged which will soon resemble the sizes of classes in the late 50's and 60's. With a growing special ed. population and the movements to include these children in the regular classroom environment you are inflicting a tremendous burden on the teachers. Some students will be seriously neglected. Perhaps they will be your children.

Yet only 200 parents and teachers are showing up in Austin in protest. You ALL should be there. To borrow the idea of Ronald Reagan with his trickle down economics theory, just you wait for the trickle down effect of the 'NEW EDUCATION' in Texas schools that will take place. Shame on you for not getting involved.

Now I believe in the Texas educator to do their best in the face of this horrific situation they will be faced with come the end of August. If I ran the schools I would be starting to prepare my populace for this change that will sweep down on top of them. As the song goes- "You ain't seen nothing yet"!

To My Conservative Friends

I have many conservative friends whom I love dearly, correspond with on email and Facebook regularly and converse with at my church and fitness center when I'm there. Many of them have been very upset with the numbers from our recent census. It showed some alarming statistics for my conservative friends.

"More than half of the growth in the total U.S. population between 2000 and 2010 was because of the increase in the Hispanic population. Between 2000 and 2010, the Hispanic population grew by 43 percent, rising from 35.3 million in 2000 to 50.5 million in 2010. The rise in the Hispanic population accounted for more than half of the 27.3 million increase in the total U.S. population. By 2010, Hispanics comprised 16 percent of the total U.S. population of 308.7 million".

Along with that it showed that the black or African-American population totaled 38.9 million and represented 13 percent of the total population.

Now what do they find wrong or alarming with these statistics. For one thing they are worried about their 'white' world being taken over by the minorities. They have a reason to be worried because of this growth they someday may be the minority. With a fast growing Asian population, rapidly growing Hispanic population and a steadily growing Black population they indeed will be the minority in a few.

They find minorities causing most of the problems in American society: crime, health care, welfare, drugs and education, just to name a few. They watch this unfold on Fox news and at Tea Parties. They listen to it in their churches and Junior League meetings. They talk about in their clubs and organizations. They blame the 'tax and spend' liberals for these problems. For some of this they may be correct.

However, since this is a blog about schools and education I'm going to blame my conservative friends (who after reading this I might have few) and their colleagues for the problems they want to blame others for.

Let's look at the logic.  I believe education is the key for all that ails in America. It is a well known statistic that prisons are filled with young black and hispanic men and women. It is a fact that millions of the people in America who have health care have to pay more because there are so many uninsured minorities that don't pay at all for their health care when they use the hospitals for their primary care. It is a fact that minorities are on welfare at a higher rate than are the 'white' population. It is also a fact that minorities sell and use drugs at an disproportionate rate than people who look like me.

If my conservative friends are so worried about their world then we need to educate the minorities at a greater rate than whites or at least the same. Educated people don't fill up our prisons; educated people have jobs and health care; educated people don't need to sell drugs and use them because they are, on the whole, busy at work and have other recreational activities. If my conservative friends are so alarmed at the increasing minority growth then lock onto this statement. Educated people don't procreate at the high rate that uneducated people do so if you are worried get out there and march in favor of educating minorities. Get passionate about it.

Now comes the rest of the story. You won't do that because that would be a break in tradition. Over the past two centuries the US has been trading, whipping, chaining. enslaving and deporting our minorities. That hasn't worked out too well, has it?

Why then if education solves all these problems do all my conservative friends continue to support politicians who continuously have a slash and burn policy towards education? Cutback education funding, my friends and wait and see what the uneducated do to your future. If I ran the schools I would protect America's future by building up schools and funding them better instead of taking away their monies and firing their teachers. Now is not the time to regress but a time for progress.

So my conservative friends, the next time you complain about too many taxes, big government, or entitilement programs look in the mirror because you have caused it by voting in politicians who only want to put the answer to all of these worries-education- on the chopping block.

Business Aiding Schools- A Win-Win for Texas!-One Man's Opinion!

Texas schools are in big trouble. The government is currently at a loss for money due to the economic downturn and is unwilling to raise taxes and to dip into the 'rainy day' reserves (about $9.4 billion). There are reports of up to 100,000 state education employees who will be let go. Incentives for early retirement and attrition will help some of this but not most of it. My best guess is about 80 percent of it will happen.

As I have previously written this causes problems. Check my earlier blog where I examine these issues. The reality of this situation is that it will happen. Young teachers, the lifeblood of the school system will be let go. No one will replace them. A state that once advertised all over the nation for teachers will not be culling the education departments of our colleges looking for new teachers. Why? Because there will be NO new jobs available. What are these young minds to do? Where will they go and what will they end up doing? This is serious and we must think of ways to head it off at the pass.

I've been thinking about what might help here. Some districts are getting creative and are selling advertising, trademarking mascots etc. and that might help somewhat but I feel will only be a drop in the bucket. I've got an idea that just might work but it will take some work and creativity to get it done.

What would happen if the Governor and the Lieutenant Governor would ask their buddies, big business, to get involved in supporting education? I don't mean just advertising or mentorships but strings attached grants. Just think- business gives money, lots of it; schools educate according to the needs of local business and everyone flourishes. This is not only a risk for the business but also a chance to invest in their future. Throw in a tax break for participating corporations and I think you can sell it to them.

I've often felt that education should be more contemporary. That is if a corporation had a need, for example, computer programmers, then schools start emphasizing computer studies that would directly impact that corporation. For every dollar spent by the corporation on math, computers and science they would get a multifold return by hiring those students who have been successful. These students could be sponsored to go onto colleges to hone their skills and knowledge. They would glean the best minds available and minds that have been cultivated in their mold. Or an oil company stressing engineering, chemistry etc, in order to have a better worforce. Texans know how to get things done and I believe with some creative management of funds then this can happen. It will be a win-win situation.

Now multiply this by numbers of corporations that have an interest in a more educated and therefore more competitive workforce and we have jobs subsidized by the private sector. Maybe this will help. I haven't got it all worked out yet but with your help, if I ran the schools we could get it done. Anything is possible if we just dream and then turn our dreams into reality. 

Time For the Uprising to Take Place

Dear Texans;

Your state government is in the process of changing your children's lives forever. The legislature is proposing deep cuts to education in order to offset the shortfall the state is presently taking place. Geachers, parents and students: you did NOT cause this to happen. You do NOT need to take it on the chin. This could lead to a reduction of 100,000 teachers next year and a cut in many successful and needed programs. Just think of the number: 100,000. That is the size of a medium sized Texas city. There is talk of making elementery school class sizes with a ratio of 30:1 and high school classes that have one teacher to every 45 students. Any program that isn't fully funded by the federal government is in danger of being axed.

Let's examine the programs that are on the chopping block. Fine arts is one of them. Can you imagine a school without band, orchestra, choir or theater programs. Children who participate in those programs have a greater chance in becoming successful in other pursuits as well as in the leadership of this country. Another program could be your child's gifted education. Where do they go for enrichment of their valuable minds if not to the GT room? Language classes that are low in student numbers will be gone as well as any advanced program that doesn't meet the magic of the state 'number crunchers'. There is even talk of abandoning extra curricular activities as a result of these education cuts.

I can see so many detrimental effects of the state plan. Crime, for example, will undoubtedbly be on the rise. Students will be more bored at school than some already are. We will never catch up to our Asian competitors and all the President put out to us in the State of the Union will be to no avail. What will Texans do if there are no more 'Friday Night Lights'? The top students will not advance and the poorer student will not be able to be remediated properly.

What do you Texans need to do? I say it is time to storm the 'Bastille', come together to tell the legislators that you will not sacrifice your children's future just because the state has not figured out the proper funding of  education. It is time for all the so-called teacher's organizations to bind together, accompanied by parents and students and go to Austin and 'walk like an Egyptian' and take your schools back. Texas is a 'right to work' state so you can not strike but you have other ways to get your message across.

You are teachers! You have the brains and know-how to teach your students but lack the motivation to fight for your rights. You are parents! You allow your students to go to school everyday but have no idea of how the school is funded. You are students! You have the right to a future yet you sit there and your voice is not heard.

It is time Texans to take control. Don't let Austin do this to you. Don't just bend over and take it! Get your heads out of the sand! If I ran the schools I would be right beside you. Get it done!

Time to Get Back on the Right 'Track'!

"Scores from the 2009 Programme for International Student Assessment released Tuesday show 15-year-old students in the U.S. performing about average in reading and science, and below average in math. Out of 34 countries, the U.S. ranked 14th in reading, 17th in science and 25th in math." MSNBC news report, 12-07-10.

Two years before I retired from teaching I remember telling my Gifted and Talented students that they should seriously consider learning how to speak Chinese. At that time it was learned that the United States debt had been gradually been owned by China, India and several Middle Eastern countries. The Chinese had the fastest growing economy (this year passed up by India) and had for a long time the highest world's population.

To feed that population there would be eventually be a need to expand into other countries. To get along in the world I advised my students to learn Chinese since French, Spanish and German would only help them on travels to those countries. This would be a vehicle for their eventual survival in a Chinese dominated world.

Little did I know that the Chinese education system had advanced so quickly and admirably. I saw what they had done at the Olympics but thought that was only a microcosm. In this same test while the American children proved their mediocrity, the Chinese ruled supreme.

If the US educational system doesn't improve soon then we better get used to that phrase, "the Chinese ruled supreme". I don't think it is too late but I do think that drastic change is needed to move us up the list. The top five countries were all Asian countries. Doesn't that scare you?

If I ran the schools I wouldn't spend time reinventing the wheel. We had it right once and WE ruled supreme. I think it is time to get back to 'tracking' in education. I think it needs to start in elementery schools.

When I was a student in Canada we had two year high schools, four year high school programs and five year programs. The five year program was intended for those who would only go to university, the four year for technical programs and the two year for those who had the aptitudes to serve. For example a five year student learned the classics, foreign languages, higher math, science, music and by the time he was ready for college he had pinpointed the direction his future univeristy studies would take. He was slotted into this path in the earlier grades.

Canada has gotten away from that approach and has unfortunately dropped down the ladder of countries.

Another thing we did was learn to write. We wrote everything! Today they would use the computer for that, but the same principles would be applied. The mind grew at an amazing rate because of it. Scantrons were non-existent and exams were written for three hours and were on a semester of work or an entire year's work.

Tracking should be started at an early age. The kids would be in 'special' classes, whether they were special ed., technical, or gifted students. They would progress at a faster rate and at their own level. I have witnessed as much learning in my 'lab' classes I taught as I did in my gifted, just a different type of learning. They were all learning for what they could handle, not what the governmnent test dictated.

I have often equated tracking in schools to how we train our swimmers. We don't put the slowest swimmers in the same lane to train as our fastest. Can you imagine what Michael Phelps might had done if he was training in this type of learning environment. Sure he would still be good, but he wouldn't have 'ruled supreme' as he did in the last Olympics.

I don't have enough space to fully examine tracking but I will at a later date, but I firmly believe if we re-adopt this old technique and adapt it to the newer circumstances of our society we might have a chance to get back on track.

Can We Stop the Bullies?

Last week a Florida father entered his daughter's school bus to confront several students who had been bullying his daughter, a young girl who had cerebal palsy. They allegedly had made comments about her disability, threw condoms at her, made obscene gestures, physically attacked her among other things. The father had contacted the school district, but nothing supposedly was done about it. Usually a bus driver would have taken some action here, but none seemed to be done satisfactorily. The father, when boarding the bus used language and threats that only would appear in the movies, 'gangsta' rap CD's or on HBO. He was wrong in his approach, but when asked many Americans said that they would have done the same.

The question is not what the man did on the bus but why wasn't this handled way before it got to this point. Before we answer this question we need to ask "What causes bullying?"

I feel television is partially to blame. Bullying stems from a lack of respect. Respecting others, respecting yourself and respecting your school are forgotten by the bullies. All the 'character counts' programs fall on deaf ears. I have, since my retirement watched more TV than I used to when I was working. I have been studying commercials on the tube and many them show disrespect between men and women, between children and authority figures and for our elected officials. This is wrong. Then you just have to turn on the 'sport' channels where men and women are placed in cages and a prehistoric battle to the finish ensues and is revered by the audience. Does that lead to a celebration of violence? Is bullying not violence?

Parents also need to be held accountable in the bullying problem. It has been proven that most bullies at school have for the first years of their life  had models at home who bully, either their wives or husbands or their friends and neighbors. They need to be educated as well as their kids and they definitely to be held accountable by fines from the courts and restrictions by the schools.

However, bullying has gone on for a long time now, it is not a new concept. In this tract I am only addressing physical bullying, but there are other types. When I was a student in elementery school I was the youngest in my class. I often found myself being picked on because I was smarter than other students and my big mouth and sharp wit got me into trouble with some of the older and perhaps not so smart boys in my class. I was physically attacked being kicked continuously after being thrown to the ground on the playground. I had to walk home by walking on the top of fences to hide from these bullies. I survived and got stronger because of it, but for a few years I feared for my life at school. These kids made my life miserable and emotionally I was injured. It wasn't until high school that I was able to get retribution on some of those who bullied me. A sport called 'football' allowed that to happen for me.

Not all kids have the chance to intellectually or physically defend themselves. Some end up in therapy, some do not want to go to school anymore and unfortunately some take their own life. What can we do to stop this?

I think the summits they have been having in Washington are going to help. I feel that the national news stories about this Florida man's tirade will raise awareness of the problem. But if I ran the schools I would have a no tolerance-ZERO- policy towards those who bully one quarter of America's students. Get them off the busses. Have their parents required to pick them up at school and transport them. Require the parents and the students attend classes. Administrators should be expelling them and having the police arrest publicly the worst cases. Taking a student out in cuffs, parading him or her around the cafeteria before going to the police car and publicly denouncing the perpetrators of the 'violence' will go a long way to prevent bullying in the schools. Posters on the walls are not going to cut it, folks. Asking a kid who has been persecuted by one of these bullies is not going to work. He already lives in fear. If the school is not going to do anything about it then parents will see the need to act themselves. The parents of 'my school' would not have to stoop to that kind of remedy. Let's stop the bullies. Man up schools!