Articles Archive

  • I have been concerned about the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) since the idea was announced.  The “State” in State Standards is a ruse.  These are national standards developed by some “blue ribbon” panel of experts (No teachers were included) in some far off, unnamed office.  Pearson, the testing giant, was involved of course.  Then every state was coerced into adopting the standards by withholding Federal funds for non-compliance.  A few states resisted, but Washington was not one of them.   In addition to my mistrust of standards developed by someone far away from my town and grandchildren, the “standards” approach to education has not worked after more than 10 years of trying.  In Washington it is more like 15 years.  National Assessment test scores have remained flat for the entire time and the achievement gap, which was closing during...

    Flabby to the ‘Core’

    Posted on April 1, 2012 | 2 Comments
    I have been concerned about the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) since the idea was announced.  The “State” in State Standards is a ruse.  These are national standards developed by some “blue ribbon” panel of experts (No teachers were included) in some far off, unnamed office.  Pearson, the testing giant, was involved of course.  Then every state was coerced into adopting the standards by withholding Federal funds for non-compliance.  A few states resisted, but Washington was not one of them.   In addition to my mistrust of standards developed by someone far away from my town and grandchildren, the “standards” approach to education has not worked after more than 10 years of trying.  In Washington it is more like 15 years.  National Assessment test scores have remained flat for the entire time and the achievement gap, which was closing during...

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  • During the development and adoption of the new KSD Strategic Plan it was reported here that among the new North Star goals is that high school Algebra would become the standard for 8th grade students.  Details of planning for the new middle school math curriculum were reported in today’s Tri-City Herald. Follow this link for the Herald article: http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/03/29/1883740/new-math-curriculum-begins-next.html  

    8th Grade Algebra Required Next School Year

    Posted on March 29, 2012 | 2 Comments
    During the development and adoption of the new KSD Strategic Plan it was reported here that among the new North Star goals is that high school Algebra would become the standard for 8th grade students.  Details of planning for the new middle school math curriculum were reported in today’s Tri-City Herald. Follow this link for the Herald article: http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/03/29/1883740/new-math-curriculum-begins-next.html  

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  • This scenario comes from documentation sent to a Kennewick district administrator.  This teacher has been working to implement SBG in her classroom for nearly 5 years but still struggles with the cycle of reteaching and reassessing.   You are right.  Most teachers give of themselves daily to meet student needs and you would notice that in a walk-through of any school.  I finally see why you might not realize the full impact of SBG on teachers as you may not understand the cycle required to implement it.  Hopefully, this will help bring us closer to understanding.   SBG requires far more time than the traditional grading system.  In order to maintain the workload of assessment, many H3MS teachers are working an additional ½ to 2 ½ hours a day to meet student assessment / reassessment needs.

    A Teacher’s Experience with Standards Based Grading

    Posted on March 26, 2012 | 2 Comments
    This scenario comes from documentation sent to a Kennewick district administrator.  This teacher has been working to implement SBG in her classroom for nearly 5 years but still struggles with the cycle of reteaching and reassessing.   You are right.  Most teachers give of themselves daily to meet student needs and you would notice that in a walk-through of any school.  I finally see why you might not realize the full impact of SBG on teachers as you may not understand the cycle required to implement it.  Hopefully, this will help bring us closer to understanding.   SBG requires far more time than the traditional grading system.  In order to maintain the workload of assessment, many H3MS teachers are working an additional ½ to 2 ½ hours a day to meet student assessment / reassessment needs.

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  • SBG – Trouble is Brewing at Horse Heaven Hills This title paraphrases the words of a staff member who was describing recent events related to teacher concerns about Standards Based Grading.     Two issues are central to the controversy at the middle school: A significant number of teachers want to revisit the decision to implement Standards Based Grading The building site council is unwilling or unable to take action on behalf of those staff

    SBG – Trouble is Brewing at Horse Heaven Hills

    Posted on March 23, 2012 | 4 Comments
    SBG – Trouble is Brewing at Horse Heaven Hills This title paraphrases the words of a staff member who was describing recent events related to teacher concerns about Standards Based Grading.     Two issues are central to the controversy at the middle school: A significant number of teachers want to revisit the decision to implement Standards Based Grading The building site council is unwilling or unable to take action on behalf of those staff

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  • Mark Naison When Teachers Become Overseers: Casualties of the School Reform Plantation in the Bronx and Places Like it Mark Naison Fordham University This is a strange time to be involved in education. Either those shaping education policy on the state and federal level- many of whom have never been teachers- are incapable of imagining the consequences of their policies in actual classrooms, or they are cynically trying to destroy public education in the United States. No better example of this is the now widely practiced policy of rating teachers based on student test scores, and using variations in those scores, through the “value added” formula, as the basis for determining teachers’ professional standing. All throughout the nation teachers are being told that if they don’t raise student test scores, they could lose their tenure, lose their jobs, and in some...

    When Teachers Become Overseers: Casualties of the School Reform Plantation in the Bronx and Places Like it

    Posted on March 20, 2012 | 1 Comment
    Mark Naison When Teachers Become Overseers: Casualties of the School Reform Plantation in the Bronx and Places Like it Mark Naison Fordham University This is a strange time to be involved in education. Either those shaping education policy on the state and federal level- many of whom have never been teachers- are incapable of imagining the consequences of their policies in actual classrooms, or they are cynically trying to destroy public education in the United States. No better example of this is the now widely practiced policy of rating teachers based on student test scores, and using variations in those scores, through the “value added” formula, as the basis for determining teachers’ professional standing. All throughout the nation teachers are being told that if they don’t raise student test scores, they could lose their tenure, lose their jobs, and in some...

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  • For readers who may not have seen these Tri-City Herald articles we offer links to some recent news and opinion pieces of interest to educators and families.  Follow the links below to read the associated articles and opinion letters: March 19 - Health care proposal worries Washington educators http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/03/19/1870484/health-care-proposal-worries-washington.html Kennewick, Pasco students learn in English and Spanish http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/03/19/1870743/kennewick-pasco-students-learn.html

    Local Education News and Opinion from the Tri-City Herald

    Posted on March 19, 2012 | No Comments
    For readers who may not have seen these Tri-City Herald articles we offer links to some recent news and opinion pieces of interest to educators and families.  Follow the links below to read the associated articles and opinion letters: March 19 - Health care proposal worries Washington educators http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/03/19/1870484/health-care-proposal-worries-washington.html Kennewick, Pasco students learn in English and Spanish http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/03/19/1870743/kennewick-pasco-students-learn.html

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  • Three separate investigations will be conducted and will likely be concluded within 90 days.

    Update on PDC Complaint About Kennewick School Board Election Finances

    Posted on March 15, 2012 | 3 Comments
    Three separate investigations will be conducted and will likely be concluded within 90 days.

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  • SBG is still controversial This article was planned as a progress report on implementation of SBG in Kennewick middle schools.  Building administrators have declined requests for information about the status of SBG in their buildings.  While my first interview was with a teacher who favors SBG and generally speaks well of its adoption most staff members I contacted are critical of SBG. Consequently, I make no claim to be representing a comprehensive view of SBG in Kennewick.  My efforts to obtain information from building administrators will continue and will be reported later.   Middle school teachers from Highlands, Horse Heaven Hills and Park met with Kennewick Education Association (KEA) and Washington Education Association (WEA) representatives recently to register concerns about the implementation of SBG.  As a consequence, KEA filed grievances with Kennewick School District on behalf of the Union. Desert...

    Standards Based Grading in KSD Middle Schools – Update on Implementation

    Posted on March 14, 2012 | 5 Comments
    SBG is still controversial This article was planned as a progress report on implementation of SBG in Kennewick middle schools.  Building administrators have declined requests for information about the status of SBG in their buildings.  While my first interview was with a teacher who favors SBG and generally speaks well of its adoption most staff members I contacted are critical of SBG. Consequently, I make no claim to be representing a comprehensive view of SBG in Kennewick.  My efforts to obtain information from building administrators will continue and will be reported later.   Middle school teachers from Highlands, Horse Heaven Hills and Park met with Kennewick Education Association (KEA) and Washington Education Association (WEA) representatives recently to register concerns about the implementation of SBG.  As a consequence, KEA filed grievances with Kennewick School District on behalf of the Union. Desert...

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