Comments on: Make National Education Standards Simple (But Not Too Simple) http://blog.schlechtycenter.org/2009/09/22/make-national-education-standards-simple-but-not-too-simple/ Phillip Schlechty on Education Reform Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:09:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: Linda Schiller http://blog.schlechtycenter.org/2009/09/22/make-national-education-standards-simple-but-not-too-simple/comment-page-1/#comment-50 Linda Schiller Tue, 27 Jul 2010 14:58:08 +0000 http://blog.schlechtycenter.org/?p=23#comment-50 “Morphing of powerful standards into trivializing tests” is one of the best interpretations of the standards movement that I have heard. What we need, however, is a an assortment of tests, including performance assessments, where students are permitted to choose their “test.” I realized this when I met with a 7th grade student who kept missing a proficient score by just a few points. My job was to encourage him and explain to him that he could “do it” if he only tried a bit harder. He broke down and with real tears running down his checks told me, “I can take your car engine apart and put it back together in record time, doesn’t that count for anything?” “Morphing of powerful standards into trivializing tests” is one of the best interpretations of the standards movement that I have heard. What we need, however, is a an assortment of tests, including performance assessments, where students are permitted to choose their “test.” I realized this when I met with a 7th grade student who kept missing a proficient score by just a few points. My job was to encourage him and explain to him that he could “do it” if he only tried a bit harder. He broke down and with real tears running down his checks told me, “I can take your car engine apart and put it back together in record time, doesn’t that count for anything?”

]]> By: Susan (Sue) Colton http://blog.schlechtycenter.org/2009/09/22/make-national-education-standards-simple-but-not-too-simple/comment-page-1/#comment-28 Susan (Sue) Colton Sun, 31 Jan 2010 21:39:53 +0000 http://blog.schlechtycenter.org/?p=23#comment-28 Hi Phil! Sue Colton from sunny South Florida here.............. Recently, our School Board/Superintendent voted NOT to apply for funding from the "Race to the Top" opportunity. I applaud their COURAGE not to do so! Not that we couldn't use the money........ After cutting back everything at schools last year to meet the state's shortfall of unfunded mandates (including staff), we are still facing huge upcoming deficits. Last year, stimulus dollars helped my school retain 4 teachers and 5 paraprofessionals, as well as services to ESE students required by law through IDEA. However, accepting money that is destined to be used to create more tests that will "assess" all students to achieve 100% on Reading, Writing, Math and Science Standards by 2020 is unacceptable. Especially when we do not have a clear-cut understanding as by "whose" standards these will be designed, or if these assessments will look like more of the same (scores on standardized tests). Our "punishment" so far is to not receive dollars for additional students we received at our schools before the October count, and I am sure there will be more repercussions in the future. What will it take for educators to band together and rise to challenge of taking back public education? Will it be survival or extinction? Hi Phil! Sue Colton from sunny South Florida here…………..
Recently, our School Board/Superintendent voted NOT to apply for funding from the “Race to the Top” opportunity. I applaud their COURAGE not to do so! Not that we couldn’t use the money…….. After cutting back everything at schools last year to meet the state’s shortfall of unfunded mandates (including staff), we are still facing huge upcoming deficits. Last year, stimulus dollars helped my school retain 4 teachers and 5 paraprofessionals, as well as services to ESE students required by law through IDEA. However, accepting money that is destined to be used to create more tests that will “assess” all students to achieve 100% on Reading, Writing, Math and Science Standards by 2020 is unacceptable. Especially when we do not have a clear-cut understanding as by “whose” standards these will be designed, or if these assessments will look like more of the same (scores on standardized tests). Our “punishment” so far is to not receive dollars for additional students we received at our schools before the October count, and I am sure there will be more repercussions in the future.
What will it take for educators to band together and rise to challenge of taking back public education? Will it be survival or extinction?

]]> By: Suzanne Freeman http://blog.schlechtycenter.org/2009/09/22/make-national-education-standards-simple-but-not-too-simple/comment-page-1/#comment-25 Suzanne Freeman Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:20:10 +0000 http://blog.schlechtycenter.org/?p=23#comment-25 I read your post several times because you made many meaningful points for me to ponder. I agree with your position and had not thought of the complexity as you describe it. You are right, this is a complex issue. I worry too that the push for National Standards will bring about a list of shallow “skills” that are rooted in traditional thinking. I also worry that these will be written with traditional assessments in mind and yet learning in this century is far more complex. There seems to be a sense of urgency in creating these “standards” and my worry is that we (citizens) are missing an opportunity to talk about what our youth need to know and be able to do. This is why I have a healthy fear of National Standards as it is progressing now. Your post has given me a lot of think about and reminds me that I need to be more vocal in the conversation about National Standards. I read your post several times because you made many meaningful points for me to ponder. I agree with your position and had not thought of the complexity as you describe it. You are right, this is a complex issue.
I worry too that the push for National Standards will bring about a list of shallow “skills” that are rooted in traditional thinking. I also worry that these will be written with traditional assessments in mind and yet learning in this century is far more complex. There seems to be a sense of urgency in creating these “standards” and my worry is that we (citizens) are missing an opportunity to talk about what our youth need to know and be able to do. This is why I have a healthy fear of National Standards as it is progressing now.
Your post has given me a lot of think about and reminds me that I need to be more vocal in the conversation about National Standards.

]]> By: Sara Logan http://blog.schlechtycenter.org/2009/09/22/make-national-education-standards-simple-but-not-too-simple/comment-page-1/#comment-15 Sara Logan Sat, 26 Sep 2009 18:54:03 +0000 http://blog.schlechtycenter.org/?p=23#comment-15 Shout Out From The Schoolhouse Door! Hello, Phil! This is my 34th year of teaching. The best years of my career were spent as a teacher facilitator of Schlechty work under the wise guidance of Lennie Hay. I continue to weave my lessons with the Design Qualities in mind, yet so much has changed in our community. It's a long, tumultuous story...one I won't go into now. However, I am confident that much of the frustration within the schools and the community that they serve comes from the burden of state standards on our local districts. We have gone from a Standard Bearer School System to a system that has been awarded the Excellence With Distinction title from the state. We received this new title based on test scores. Student achievement is certainly an important goal for a school. When it is measured solely by state test scores, so much of the students' abilities are not fostered. Decisions, including how funds are utilized, are based on test score data...based on standards far from the schoolhouse door. And these are state standards. National standards seem even more remote. I'm thinking Arnie Duncan needs a "sit down" with Phil. Arnie seems like a leader who can listen with an open mind. Please Phil, send your blogs to Arnie!!! Shout Out From The Schoolhouse Door!

Hello, Phil!

This is my 34th year of teaching. The best years of my career were spent as a teacher facilitator of Schlechty work under the wise guidance of Lennie Hay. I continue to weave my lessons with the Design Qualities in mind, yet so much has changed in our community. It’s a long, tumultuous story…one I won’t go into now. However, I am confident that much of the frustration within the schools and the community that they serve comes from the burden of state standards on our local districts. We have gone from a Standard Bearer School System to a system that has been awarded the Excellence With Distinction title from the state. We received this new title based on test scores. Student achievement is certainly an important goal for a school. When it is measured solely by state test scores, so much of the students’ abilities are not fostered. Decisions, including how funds are utilized, are based on test score data…based on standards far from the schoolhouse door. And these are state standards. National standards seem even more remote. I’m thinking Arnie Duncan needs a “sit down” with Phil. Arnie seems like a leader who can listen with an open mind. Please Phil, send your blogs to Arnie!!!

]]> By: Tweets that mention Make National Education Standards Simple (But Not Too Simple) « Phillip Schlechty’s Blog -- Topsy.com http://blog.schlechtycenter.org/2009/09/22/make-national-education-standards-simple-but-not-too-simple/comment-page-1/#comment-14 Tweets that mention Make National Education Standards Simple (But Not Too Simple) « Phillip Schlechty’s Blog -- Topsy.com Wed, 23 Sep 2009 01:08:05 +0000 http://blog.schlechtycenter.org/?p=23#comment-14 [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Fife WOW. Fife WOW said: RT @fifetech Make National Education Standards Simple (But Not Too Simple) http://bit.ly/x92v0 #Schlechty [...] [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Fife WOW. Fife WOW said: RT @fifetech Make National Education Standards Simple (But Not Too Simple) http://bit.ly/x92v0 #Schlechty [...]

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