Comments for Princess' Blog http://princessmoss.com/wordpress Authorized by Princess R Moss Sun, 29 Aug 2010 18:08:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Comment on DC Voucher Program by Lisa Buckner http://princessmoss.com/wordpress/?p=127&cpage=1#comment-22 Lisa Buckner Sun, 29 Aug 2010 18:08:17 +0000 http://princessmoss.com/wordpress/?p=127#comment-22 Thanks for sharing this, Princess! We've known this to be true. Thanks for sharing this, Princess! We’ve known this to be true.

]]> Comment on DC Voucher Program by Jaim L. Foster http://princessmoss.com/wordpress/?p=127&cpage=1#comment-21 Jaim L. Foster Sun, 29 Aug 2010 16:25:12 +0000 http://princessmoss.com/wordpress/?p=127#comment-21 Thank you for sharing your thoughts and fighting for GREAT PUBLIC SCHOOLS for ALL. The work you continue to do for members and non-members is greatly appreciated. Keep moving our NEA forward. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and fighting for GREAT PUBLIC SCHOOLS for ALL. The work you continue to do for members and non-members is greatly appreciated. Keep moving our NEA forward.

]]> Comment on The Arts in Our Public Schools by Princess Moss http://princessmoss.com/wordpress/?p=70&cpage=1#comment-14 Princess Moss Mon, 09 Aug 2010 16:38:37 +0000 http://princessmoss.com/wordpress/?p=70#comment-14 The Arts are a national asset and an American family value. President Lyndon Johnson made that clear in 1965 when he signed the Arts and Humanities Bill. This nation can't afford to turn it's head. We throw around the words "innovation" and "creativity" like they are softballs yet we destroy the very root where we can grow the innovation and creativity that this country so deparately craves and needs. The Arts are a national asset and an American family value. President Lyndon Johnson made that clear in 1965 when he signed the Arts and Humanities Bill. This nation can’t afford to turn it’s head. We throw around the words “innovation” and “creativity” like they are softballs yet we destroy the very root where we can grow the innovation and creativity that this country so deparately craves and needs.

]]> Comment on The Arts in Our Public Schools by Thom Ryder http://princessmoss.com/wordpress/?p=70&cpage=1#comment-13 Thom Ryder Mon, 09 Aug 2010 16:00:28 +0000 http://princessmoss.com/wordpress/?p=70#comment-13 What are we doing? We are busy. Bustling here and there, trying to make ends meet. Back in the day, we could make ends meet with one or two wage earners per household. No more. We rely more and more on institutions to care for our young, thereby forfeiting the power of family. We really haven't the time to stop and think about consequences. We just don't have time for it. We like Fox News. ~America What are we doing? We are busy. Bustling here and there, trying to make ends meet. Back in the day, we could make ends meet with one or two wage earners per household. No more. We rely more and more on institutions to care for our young, thereby forfeiting the power of family.

We really haven’t the time to stop and think about consequences. We just don’t have time for it. We like Fox News.

~America

]]> Comment on Arne Duncan to Speak at National Press Club by P Robinson http://princessmoss.com/wordpress/?p=55&cpage=1#comment-5 P Robinson Thu, 29 Jul 2010 04:30:37 +0000 http://princessmoss.com/wordpress/?p=55#comment-5 Mr. Duncan, etal. need to look at the research based data from the STAR project in TN that has been going on for about 10 or 15 years, that show what is needed to support teachers when they are working with students who may not come to school "prepared" to learn in the classical sense. Young students who come with empty stomachs need to be fed. Students who come with little sleep need to have that need met. But they all come excited to learn new things at their own pace and NOT to take some standardized test. The research shows that the teacher makes a difference in what and how young students learn but it also shows that many resources are needed to support that learning such as small class size (15-17 being the optimum.) In addition young students learn best through play and in short periods, so time has to be scheduled to allow this process to take place. Does that mean that there should not be pre and post test for assessing the learnings? No but it may need to be in the form of a portfolio and other forms of evidence. Just a few things for Mr. Duncan and others who believe that one test on one day will tell all that needs to be known about teaching and learning to consider. Nothing quiet about that. Mr. Duncan, etal. need to look at the research based data from the STAR project in TN that has been going on for about 10 or 15 years,
that show what is needed to support teachers when they are working with students who may not come to school “prepared” to learn in the classical sense.
Young students who come with empty stomachs need to be fed. Students who come with little sleep need to have that need met. But they all come excited to learn new things at their own pace and NOT to take some standardized test.
The research shows that the teacher makes a difference in what and how young students learn but it also shows that many resources are needed to support that learning such as small class size (15-17 being the optimum.) In addition young students learn best through play and in short periods, so time has to be scheduled to allow this process to take place.
Does that mean that there should not be pre and post test for assessing the learnings? No but it may need to be in the form of a portfolio and other forms of evidence.
Just a few things for Mr. Duncan and others who believe that one test on one day will tell all that needs to be known about teaching and learning to consider. Nothing quiet about that.

]]> Comment on Arne Duncan to Speak at National Press Club by Juan M. Caballero http://princessmoss.com/wordpress/?p=55&cpage=1#comment-4 Juan M. Caballero Wed, 28 Jul 2010 20:15:53 +0000 http://princessmoss.com/wordpress/?p=55#comment-4 Secretary Duncan is leading a "quiet revolution" that is not "research based". This "quiet revolution" is, however, politically motivated to privatize public education. Mr. Duncan needs to look at the "research based" evidence that clearly shows that Charter Schools and Private Charters are not the solution to "academic failure". NCLB and RTTT "competitive models" are used to create a system of inequity of resources and the creation of "winnners and losers". No commmunity should lose out on their right to a great public education. Indeed, what we do have to fear is the political failure of our leaders to realize that Public Education is an American Value. Let NEA continue to stand up for all children that make up the future of America. Secretary Duncan is leading a “quiet revolution” that is not “research based”. This “quiet revolution” is, however, politically motivated to privatize public education. Mr. Duncan needs to look at the “research based” evidence that clearly shows that Charter Schools and Private Charters are not the solution to “academic failure”. NCLB and RTTT “competitive models” are used to create a system of inequity of resources and the creation of “winnners and losers”. No commmunity should lose out on their right to a great public education. Indeed, what we do have to fear is the political failure of our leaders to realize that Public Education is an American Value. Let NEA continue to stand up for all children that make up the future of America.

]]> Comment on Arne Duncan to Speak at National Press Club by drwalton http://princessmoss.com/wordpress/?p=55&cpage=1#comment-2 drwalton Tue, 27 Jul 2010 16:52:15 +0000 http://princessmoss.com/wordpress/?p=55#comment-2 I personally feel that NEA should step up to the plate and acknowledge that our present educational system is antiquated and in desparate need of a major overhaul. When it comes to educational reform, we are constantly trying to force square pegs into round holes. I'm in my 33rd year of teaching and every year I see more and more students become disengaged with regards to their education. I'm not surprised as we've turned them into test-takers who can't think on their own for fear that their thoughts may not be the ones listed on the test as the correct answers. If NEA is unwilling to be proactive and take the lead on educational reform, we will be at the mercy of allowing others who may not have our students best interests as their priority to make the decisions for us. I personally feel that NEA should step up to the plate and acknowledge that our present educational system is antiquated and in desparate need of a major overhaul. When it comes to educational reform, we are constantly trying to force square pegs into round holes. I’m in my 33rd year of teaching and every year I see more and more students become disengaged with regards to their education. I’m not surprised as we’ve turned them into test-takers who can’t think on their own for fear that their thoughts may not be the ones listed on the test as the correct answers. If NEA is unwilling to be proactive and take the lead on educational reform, we will be at the mercy of allowing others who may not have our students best interests as their priority to make the decisions for us.

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