Still Putting It All Together

longdivisionnnn:

I realize I’m pretty late to the party on this but can I just say that !!!!!!!!!

Now they just need to get it off the ground by the 2013-14 school year so I can teach in Cleveland. 

WE. DON’T. NEED. TFA!

They just let go of hundreds of teachers last year — now they are going to go to TFAers?  That’s not right.  They are not long term solutions for kids who need teachers for the long haul.  TFA was supposed to be used to staff hard to staff places — CLEVELAND HAS TOO MANY TEACHERS!   That’s why I had to move to Florida!

(via anonymouslymh-deactivated201111)

I post a lot of special education articles and ideas for working with struggling students on my tumblr.

But what about Gifted students?   They also deserve a free and appropriate education.

In Ohio, we are only required to identify gifted students — not actually do anything with them once we find them.  Most districts do have gifted programs, but when money gets tight they are some of the first cuts to be made.

I think this article provides some good starting points and definitions when it comes to gifted students.  

I’ll be on the look out to find more to share soon.

What does your state/district do for gifted students?

Ohio Gov. John Kasich has ordered state universities to investigate ways for students to get a bachelor’s degree in three years. The hope is that three-year degrees will help save students money and get them into the job market more quickly.

[…]

But if Commission President Sylvia Manning’s reaction is any indicator, it’s not going happen anytime soon. “There might be some utility in a three-year degree. I just don’t think we should call it a bachelor’s degree any more than I think we should call it a master’s degree.”

Public school teachers have been feeling the effects of measures by states and cities, to deal with their budget deficits. In some parts of the country, thousands of educators have been laid off, taken steep pay cuts and lost benefits, along with their right to collective bargaining. But, as the debate around education cuts continues, teachers say their voices are not being heard. In a roundtable discussion, guest host Farai Chideya hears from three teachers from Wisconsin, Ohio and California about how the cutbacks are affecting their work and the children they teach.

Dear Honey,

I’m sorry.

I am a conservative husband, belong to the Tea Party and I voted for John Kasich. I have been married to a Cleveland teacher for almost 14 years and my vote let her down.

I apologize:

For letting people tease you about having the summer off and not asking them to thank you for the tough days ahead that begin in early August. I know for a fact you work more hours in those 10 months than many people do in 12. All those hours are earned.

For complaining that my Sunday is limited with you because you must work.

For making you think you have to ask permission to buy a student socks, gloves and hats.

For not understanding that you walk through a metal detector for work.

For leaving dirty dishes in the sink [when you awoke] for your 4 a.m. work session. I should know you have to prepare.

For thinking you took advantage of the taxpayers. Our governor continues to live off the taxpayer dole, not you.

For counting the time and money you spend to buy school supplies.

For not saying “thank you” enough for making the world and me better.

I love you.

COLUMBUS — The largest crowds yet showed up at the Statehouse on Tuesday to protest a bill to cut collective bargaining in Ohio while Gov. John Kasich took his message to national news shows asking supporters of the bill to stand firm.

Similar battles rage on in other midwest states such as Wisconsin and Indiana.

More than 5,000 workers on Tuesday loudly but peacefully protested the bill to weaken collective bargaining and make other changes that would impact roughly 360,000 public sector workers.

Republican lawmakers — who control both houses of the legislature — plan to meet again today to discuss the next steps and any changes to the bill, said Senate President Tom Niehaus, R-New Richmond.

Kathy Richison, a special education teacher at Springfield High and president of the Springfield teachers union, said there were “carloads” of local teachers headed to Columbus late Tuesday afternoon to join in the protest.

“I’m on the way myself,” she said.

The Springfield Education Association represents 521 teachers.

“Every negotiation I’ve been in,” Richison said, “teachers are very mindful of what the district has in their treasury department. To say we’re out to get whatever we can get is not the case. I’m saddened our legislators aren’t aware of what happens in collective bargaining.”

The Senate Insurance Commerce and Labor Committee held the fourth hearing on the bill as several hundred protesters jammed in the Statehouse Atrium shouting “Kill the Bill!”

Committee Chairman Kevin Bacon, R-Worthington, said, “I keep hearing that labor thinks it’s a done deal. We’re still trying to welcome them to the table.”

The four Democrats on the committee oppose the bill while support among the eight Republicans is split.

Former governor Ted Strickland, a Democrat, rallied the crowd inside the atrium and said if Senate Bill 5 becomes law there will be an effort to repeal it through a voter referendum.

“What we are seeing happen here in Ohio is a political power grab. It’s an attempt to consolidate political power,” Strickland said.

Kasich went on Fox News and CNN Monday and Tuesday saying changes have to be made on issues like collective bargaining and pensions or workers face losing their jobs.

“If we do not get a handle on pensions, if we do not get a handle on health care, a lot of these employees could ultimately be left high and dry and I do not want to see that happen,” Kasich said on CNN.