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NCAALB
03/16/09
09:55:37 am, Categories: Announcements [A] Apparently, if not for annual testing, students and teachers at one Oklahoma City high school would spend the entire week before spring break - during school hours - watching basketball.
And last week’s cold turkey from March Madness (just during school hours, mind you) was so successful, they are going to try not watching TV during school hours again next week when the students come back.
If this school is not making AYP, I for one would endorse this - not watching basketball on TV during school hours - as an allowable "corrective action" for this school to meet the requirements of NCLB. Hey, it’s a start.
I had no idea that when Obama said "turn off the television" it could have such an in-school impact.
Change gonna come.
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1 comment
Comment from: john thompson [Visitor]
Notice my words, "the kids knew which teachers would be able to conduct class ..."
In contrast to some reformers, I recognize that many/most of good teachers can not conduct class in many circumstances that are beyond our control. A few outliers will always git er done, but that's not enough.
The first step towards creating conditions where good teachers are also effective teachers is allowing schools to enforce their disciplinary policies. The first step is NOT blameing the central offices. This is a systemic dynamic. When you cream of the most motivated students for charters and magnets, leaving a greater critical mass of troubled students in neighborhood schools, without expanding alternative schools, then everones' hands are tied.
I'm not going to be a hypocrite though. In the past, by Thursday and Friday I loved being able to play b-ball all day. Had I done that last week with my old feet and knees, then I now wouldn't be able to do anything but sit at the computer and blog this week.
Seriously, every adult in the building wants to keep up the full court press for higher standards. It makes the day more pleasant for all of us. The central office wants us to keep up the effort too. The State, despite not having the authority to prohibit high school basketball tournaments or other major distractions during Finals weeks, would like us to keep up the pressure.
Do we want it enough, though, to create the capacity to allow us to enforce the rules given our culture of litigation?
In contrast to some reformers, I recognize that many/most of good teachers can not conduct class in many circumstances that are beyond our control. A few outliers will always git er done, but that's not enough.
The first step towards creating conditions where good teachers are also effective teachers is allowing schools to enforce their disciplinary policies. The first step is NOT blameing the central offices. This is a systemic dynamic. When you cream of the most motivated students for charters and magnets, leaving a greater critical mass of troubled students in neighborhood schools, without expanding alternative schools, then everones' hands are tied.
I'm not going to be a hypocrite though. In the past, by Thursday and Friday I loved being able to play b-ball all day. Had I done that last week with my old feet and knees, then I now wouldn't be able to do anything but sit at the computer and blog this week.
Seriously, every adult in the building wants to keep up the full court press for higher standards. It makes the day more pleasant for all of us. The central office wants us to keep up the effort too. The State, despite not having the authority to prohibit high school basketball tournaments or other major distractions during Finals weeks, would like us to keep up the pressure.
Do we want it enough, though, to create the capacity to allow us to enforce the rules given our culture of litigation?
03/17/09 @ 08:18
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