IPS B.S. won't annoy you with the story of Gene White's 3% raise when we have to make budget cuts, but instead will ask what is the best way to get 3rd graders to read so there's no need to hold them back a year?
Decatur Township will suffer budget cuts like all school districts; however, Decatur will take a much different approach than IPS. Here's what they're considering as copied from today's Indy Star. ___________________________________________
"Though Decatur Township officials say many possibilities are still being weighed, one cut is certain. Superintendent Donald Stinson's $189,000 base salary will be slashed, possibly by as much as 20 percent, though the School Board hasn't yet determined the exact amount. All district administrators also will get a 5 percent pay cut, saving more than $190,000." ______________________________________________
So much for the competitive salary theory for administrators in IPS. The IPS Board decision this week was just wrong and is now looking more wrong.
Stop trying to teach reading in kindergarten to kids who aren't ready to read, instead go back and work on the reading readiness skills. In Jane Healy's book on brain development she cites a study where scientist removed baby song birds from the nest during the time they should have learned to sing, forevermore they were silent.
The resolution for Dr. White's salary adjustment included a bonus for a graduation metric. The metric was justified because a graduation component wasn't part of his original package. That is not true. His previous package was based on partly on secondary success. Graduation was part of the secondary success metric, which he was not meeting. I think he pulled a fast one the community. A 2% and 4% increase is not a high metric when you are as low as IPS is and when you have had 5 years to show improvement. Projecting this % increase, he could make a 50% bonus if he gets graduation rates to the high 60s. Wow.
I'm a parent, not a teacher, and I haven't read Healy's book. But I do think the far, far majority of children can be taught to read by age 6. I think we need to differentiate more in Kindergarten, so that kids who do not know their alphabet are not being rushed along by students who came into kindergarten reading. I think if we let kids gain mastery of one skill before moving on to the next, we would solve many education problems, not just in reading, but in other areas as well. There is a homeschool group in my church, and there is a mentally disabled little boy who was reading by 7. And you know its just because time and effort were spent, and he wasn't rushed along. That really stuck in my mind as far as what is possible.
I learned to read using the SRA reading system. It was a great way to learn for me because I was always motivated to read more interesting stories. As my vocabulary grew, I was able to do that. Do we have anything like that in 3rd grade? It sill exists today: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_Research_Associates
Off the topic but worth reading --
ReplyDeleteDecatur Township will suffer budget cuts like all school districts; however, Decatur will take a much different approach than IPS. Here's what they're considering as copied from today's Indy Star.
___________________________________________
"Though Decatur Township officials say many possibilities are still being weighed, one cut is certain. Superintendent Donald Stinson's $189,000 base salary will be slashed, possibly by as much as 20 percent, though the School Board hasn't yet determined the exact amount. All district administrators also will get a 5 percent pay cut, saving more than $190,000."
______________________________________________
So much for the competitive salary theory for administrators in IPS. The IPS Board decision this week was just wrong and is now looking more wrong.
Stop trying to teach reading in kindergarten to kids who aren't ready to read, instead go back and work on the reading readiness skills. In Jane Healy's book on brain development she cites a study where scientist removed baby song birds from the nest during the time they should have learned to sing, forevermore they were silent.
ReplyDeleteThe resolution for Dr. White's salary adjustment included a bonus for a graduation metric. The metric was justified because a graduation component wasn't part of his original package. That is not true. His previous package was based on partly on secondary success. Graduation was part of the secondary success metric, which he was not meeting. I think he pulled a fast one the community. A 2% and 4% increase is not a high metric when you are as low as IPS is and when you have had 5 years to show improvement. Projecting this % increase, he could make a 50% bonus if he gets graduation rates to the high 60s. Wow.
ReplyDeleteI'm a parent, not a teacher, and I haven't read Healy's book. But I do think the far, far majority of children can be taught to read by age 6. I think we need to differentiate more in Kindergarten, so that kids who do not know their alphabet are not being rushed along by students who came into kindergarten reading. I think if we let kids gain mastery of one skill before moving on to the next, we would solve many education problems, not just in reading, but in other areas as well. There is a homeschool group in my church, and there is a mentally disabled little boy who was reading by 7. And you know its just because time and effort were spent, and he wasn't rushed along. That really stuck in my mind as far as what is possible.
ReplyDeleteI learned to read using the SRA reading system. It was a great way to learn for me because I was always motivated to read more interesting stories. As my vocabulary grew, I was able to do that. Do we have anything like that in 3rd grade? It sill exists today: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_Research_Associates
ReplyDeleteSome schools do have SRA, but they have been told that they cannot use it. Makes sense, huh?
ReplyDelete