Education by Worksheet?

What does a steady diet of worksheet learning activities do to children's natural desire to learn?

The Creativity Crisis in American Public Schools....

There is a concerted effort on the part of U.S. public schools to emphasize preparation for high stakes testing in reading and mathematics. Teachers, administrators and even schools can get the axe if their test scores are not high enough after a few years or so. So what does that mean? More standardized curriculum, rote memorization and nationalized testing. Children are left out of the decision making processes central to the educational activities they engage in. This is where creativity takes a hit. Because without autonomy, creative learning experiences are snuffed out. Should policy makers be concerned about this? Apparently not.

Senseless....

"This doesn't make sense to me. Why are we lowering standards to become a teacher when obviously Tony Bennett didn't think that teachers were qualified?" Sarah Verpooten,  Lake Central High School.

What is the reasoning behind REPA 2? Good question. We heard over and over and over from the current IDOE Administration that we had a problem with instruction and a problem with teachers. So it boggles the mind that Tony Bennett and his cohorts would create conditions for less educated and less experienced teacher and administrator candidates to educate Hoosier school children who lack comprehensive training and education.

The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette has a great summary  of Tony Bennett's final education initiative for the citizens of Indiana.

REPA 2 Means New Teacher Candidates Can Be Less Prepared....

REPA 2 licensing changes have been passed by the Indiana State Board of Education under Supt. Tony Bennett.

Ultimately, this change means fine art teacher candidates can now be licensed by passing a test. It doesn't matter that the teacher candidate lacks extensive knowledge of cognitive psychology, curriculum design, learning environment design, child development, instructional methods or extensive practicum and studio experience.

No teacher licensing test prep can adequately prepare a candidate for the real classroom with real children like professional schools of education. 

Would you send your child to a medical professional who was not fully trained or educated in their field?

This is an attempt to degrade the teaching profession.

The passage of REPA 2 is a sad chapter in Indiana education history.

What happens when non-educators reform public education....

From Dov Rosenberg

"Education Reform, beginning with the No Child Left Behind 
Act and continuing with Race to the Top, has produced no US score 
gains on international tests in science, math, or reading. There has 
been no shrinking of the "test score gap" by race or class, no 
reduction in child poverty, no narrowing of income inequality, 
and no diminution in the prison population. However, it has 
resulted in huge profits for Pearson and other testing firms;
 the reduction of teacher morale to its lowest level in history; 
expansion of "Teach-For-A-While" elite programs where teaching 
is viewed as a career stepping stone, and the proliferation of
education consultants and charter school leaders making 6-figure 
salaries. Look at what's going on in your city & your 
community since high-stakes testing has been imposed (2001).
 Have students in poor and under-served communities been 
empowered? Are they enjoying school more? Are their families 
being energized by the new choices they now have? Or, have 
precious portions of the school day, that should be devoted to the 
arts, music, sports, physical education, been sacrificed as schools 
are deluged with tests? Have special needs & English Language 
Learners been marginalized because they might lower a class or 
school's test profile? There is a story to be told here, school by school,
 city by city, state by state. Your TV, radio, and newspapers haven't 
told it yet. It's up to you to tell it. Be heard." - Inspired by Mark Naison

Community Control of Schools Jeopardized in Michigan?

I just learned about the Michigan state legislature's attempt to take control over all of their public schools. What does that mean for public education when school boards are ignored and marginalized? Are we witnessing an attempt at total authoritarian control of public schools? What ramifications does this have for public schools in America? From my perspective, I agree with the concerned public school advocates of Michigan,  this is bad policy and will not provide an excellent education to all children. It will, however, take away community control and funnel citizen's tax dollars to for-profit corporations. 

When control of public education is taken away from local communities, fine arts learning opportunities are bound to be further diminished by authoritarians seeking to cut education costs. We have seen this funding rationale time and time again.

Correction: REPA II Response Deadline Moved UP!

Please send your REPA II response to State Board of Education officials by November 27th!
I have just received information the meeting has been moved up, so we will plan accordingly!
Thanks so much to all of you who care deeply about keeping highly qualified educators in Indiana classrooms!