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  1. Discourse Alone will not solve parents’ problems

    August 9, 2014 by Tunya

    [submitted to SQE on A Civil Discourse, Aug 08, http://www.societyforqualityeducation.org/index.php/blog/read/a-civil-discourse ]

    WALKING ON EGGSHELLS — NO MORE — PUBLIC EDUCATION DISCOURSE TODAY

    The public generally, and parents in particular, have been deliberately excluded from decision-making in education for a long time.  Books have been written about the damage done to the education mission.

     While tons of books try to “engage” parents — to “empower” parents — these have been rather futile as the established order remains immune and dismissive.

    Two books however do inform us more closely about the “whys” — why a threatened and defensive system builds up the barricades.  One just has to be reminded of the Jeffry Moore case, 15 years in the courts, which was heralded as a great and profound breakthrough for parent and student rights — but two years later — continuing disappointment for most families with special needs children. 

    * Parental Involvement and the Political Principle: why the existing governance structure of schools should be abolished (1995). Abolished why?  Because without genuine parent involvement, without customer input, the system languishes and parents are deskilled from their normal biological impulses.  Seymour Sarason was a renowned psychologist and he was frustrated with the absurdity of school organizations.

    * Parents and Schools: the 150-year struggle for control in American education (2000), William Cutler describes play-by-play the factors leading to parental marginalization  — rise of teacher unions, political agendas, weak “lay” control, growth of bureaucracy, etc. In his closing chapter he sees the recurring themes of dissension and failed reforms continuing.

    What Has Happened Since 2000?

    Thanks to technology there has been an explosion of communications between parents, parent groups and their supporters because of the INTERNET.  The mindset of the establishment is still largely insular — still believing in one-size-fits-all, that elitist central command knows what’s best, etc., etc.

    At least some parents are feeling a lot better that they are not alone.  Notable blogs and groups have arisen to disseminate information and encouragement.  Parents and supporters now know much more about the self-serving strategies that displace their voices.  We now know why parental choice is such a threat to entrenched interests.  We now know that manipulation through sophisticated Public Relations is also being used to thwart pushback.

    This is important.  We also are now able to warn parents —as systems are being streamlined — that defensive and threatened people can attack their critics with questionable tactics — to beware.  

    Society for Quality Education has been a godsend in these troubled times.  The debates have been enlightening.  What continues to frustrate is not being able to see development in the cause.  Topics are introduced that help people ventilate, but not really contribute to solutions. However, sites like SQE have helped the Math Pushback in Canada.

    I think the mechanics of this blog might be adjusted so that people can be notified when new comments come in, as done on other blogs.

    Meanwhile, we in BC are having “challenging” times.  But, again thanks for the blessings of the INTERTNET, I think the dysfunction of the current rigid and outdated system is being hugely challenged.

    Here is my latest contribution to the raging debates we are having here:  Education Debit Account Idea Explained   http://www.parentsteachingparents.net/2014/08/education-debit-account-idea-explained/

     

     

    Category Book Reviews, Obstacles, Parent Tribal Memory | Tags: | No Comments

  2. Education Debit Account Idea — Explained

    August 8, 2014 by Tunya

    [2014 08 08 — Hunkered down today in BC are the two opposing sides in collective bargaining — the government and the teacher union.  It’s been a nasty strike.  The promise of $40 day to parents of pre-teens to shop for education or daycare if the strike is not settled by school start in Sept has ignited much controversy, opposition and bitterness. My contribution and analysis is below to try to provide my views and bring into perspective some policy and governance principles into the matter.

    Mainly I want to counter the negative labels — a bribe for parents, paying parents from teacher money, removing money from public schools, a move to privatize, etc.  I am trying to show that it is actually parents who are rightfully responsible for their children's education. Since tax money is collected for public education I maintain that it is a valid move for the tax collector to draw from the education fund and provide it to parents when government schools are not available if they are already clients of the public system. T Audain]

     

    7 REASONS TO SUPPORT THE $40 DAY PAYOUT TO PARENTS

    Practically all Western Democracies follow the principle that it is the parents who are responsible for their child’s education.  Check the School Acts.  It is parents who are to register their child into a public school unless they have made other plans, for example, independent school or home education. Government schools are there as back-up for parents — part of the safety net of a welfare state.

    Let’s not confuse the term “public school “with “public education”.  A public school is one run by government workers or under contract, as are charter schools.  Public education is the cumulative result of all that happens under the generic term of education — private or public schools, online learning, home education, correspondence courses, etc. 

    It is this construct that the Conference Board of Canada uses when it says that BC spends $500 more on a per-student basis above the national average.  That is why — with this assertion — that BC Finance Minister Mike de Jong’s initiative to pay parents of pre-teen public school students $40 a day when public schools are not in session is a fitting and valid response to our current teacher strike.  They are to use those funds to acquire tutoring for their children . . . to explore other educational opportunities as they see fit . . . and for some parents, it’ll be basic daycare.”

    Here are the good governance principles applying:

    1  Financial – This is a Finance Matter, not an Education Matter.  Taxpayers provide dollars for education to happen.  Who better than Finance to distribute the money to qualified clients and provide accountability for the money?

    2  Money Follows The Child – It is actually parental responsibility to see that their child is educated and the parent will be held responsible for proper use of that money.

    3  Devolution In Practice – Why should a central government operate a near-monopoly service when those closest to the action can best administer and manage?

    4  Citizens As Self-Determining –The aggregate effect of assorted independent efforts are just as likely, economically, to produce as good results as something organized from afar — leading to self-reliance rather than dependency on the state.

    5  Diversity, Not One-Size-Fits-All – Parents can choose from choices already available  or help in developing new schools, free schools, or other learning networks — customizing as necessary or shopping for specific services for special needs and talents of the student.

    6  Innovation – There is a great stimulus for innovation and entrepreneurship once money is freed up from bureaucratic and predetermined constraints. Flexibility, modernization and experimentation are thus encouraged at the grassroots level.

    7  Political Principle: People Should Have A Voice In Decisions That Affect Them – Parents genuinely included in decision-making about their child makes them ideal candidates for broader policy decisions, locally and provincially. The book by Seymour Sarason — Parental Involvement and the Political Principle — goes so far as to propose abolishing the existing governance system that deters and deskills  parents. Pasi Salhberg, a leading international speaker on behalf of the Finnish Model of Education says that in a group of 10 discussing education policies only one should be a teacher, and that parents should be involved. 

    http://eltorofulbright.blogspot.com/2013/05/my-interview-with-pasi-sahlberg.html

    Category Book Reviews, GOOD NEWS, Obstacles, Parent Tribal Memory | Tags: | No Comments

  3. Breakout opportunity — $40 day for parents

    August 6, 2014 by Tunya

    BREAKOUT TIME FOR BC EDUCATION

     

    Parents cannot stand idly by while their children’s education development languishes. In their wisdom parents probably had already made plans for their children’s registration in a public school come Sept.  All that remained was to get supplies and legally sign them in.

     

    Mike de Jong, Minister of Finance, announced, that if the teacher strike prevents regular public school attendance come this Fall, the government would fund parents at the rate of $40 a day to “utilize that money to acquire tutoring for their children, they can use the money to explore other educational opportunities as they see fit and for some parents, it’ll be basic daycare.”

    That was not just a ploy to get collective bargaining back on track.  There are some very sound public policy and governance principles supporting this move.  There is every reason, without much restrictions, why we can’t break out and do some creative problem-solving here, knowing that good principles are at work.

     

    1  Financial – This is a Finance Matter, not an Education Matter.  Taxpayers provide dollars for education to happen.  Who better than Finance to distribute the money to qualified clients and provide accountability for the money?

     

    2  Money – Follows The Child – It is actually parental responsibility in the first instance to see that their child is educated and the parent will be held responsible for proper use of that money.

     

    3  Devolution In Practice – Why should a central government operate a near-monopoly service when those closest to the action can best administer and manage?

     

    4  Citizens As Self-Determining, Self-Sufficient  – Even as public monies are used for the purpose of a well-educated public, the aggregate effect of assorted independent efforts are just as likely, economically, to produce as good results as something organized from afar.  This leads to self-reliance rather than dependency on the state. 

     

    5  Diversity, Not One-Size-Fits-All – Parents can choose from choices already available (tutoring, independent schools, on-line service, etc.) or help in developing new schools, free schools, or other learning networks.  Customizing as necessary for special needs of the student can be encouraged.

     

    6  Innovation – There is a great stimulus for innovation and entrepreneurship once money is freed up. The government and public at large should be very pleased when modernization and experimentation is initiated at the grassroots level rather than by bureaucrats top-down.

     

    7  Political Principle Of People Having A Voice In Decisions That Affect Them Is Put Into Practice – Parents should be genuinely included in decision-making about their children and their prudent use of the $40 day will likely meet the trust placed on them.   The book by Seymour Sarason — Parental Involvement and the Political Principle — goes so far as to propose abolishing the existing governance system that deters parents. Pasi Salhberg, a leading international speaker on behalf of the Finnish Model of Education says that in a group of 10 discussing education policies only one should be a teacher, and that parents should be involved. 
    http://eltorofulbright.blogspot.com/2013/05/my-interview-with-pasi-sahlberg.html

     

    The distribution to parents of pre-teens of the education dollar at the rate of $40 day, in the aggregate, would likely produce exemplary results at least equal to the present centralized program. 

    Category Education Reform, GOOD NEWS, Parent Tribal Memory | Tags: | No Comments

  4. READING — — WHEN WILL IT BE PRIORITY # 1

    August 3, 2014 by Tunya

    Correlation Equals Causation In Illiteracy-Prison Equation

    Doesn’t matter how much evidence LD advocacy groups present to governments and school systems about the connections, they are ignored.  They refuse to act on the ONE factor that will drastically reduce prison populations, prison recidivism, homelessness, university remedial courses in the basics for incoming students, etc. — READING ABILITY. 

    There must be SOME reason teachers and ed systems REFUSE TO COMMIT to teaching reading to ALL students.

    Is it because it’s not politically “progressive” to teach reading by direct instruction rather than guessing? Is it because the English language is hard, with many exceptions to easy rules?  What is it?

    I have a dozen books before me on — NOT “Literacy” but ILLITERACY.  There are more out there.  Maybe someone knows why this resistance.

    Here is another take on the school-to prison pipeline.  This is in the US, but applicable here.

    Should State Funding Go to School Books or Orange Jumpsuits?  http://dailysignal.com/2014/08/02/state-funding-go-school-books-orange-jumpsuits/

    Though this does not point to illiteracy but to poor education in the story, a reader does point to more research on the topic.  J E Stone from Education Consumers Clearinghouse says:  “Take a look at our cost of our schooling failure calculator: http://www.education-consumers.org/Calc/  It sums the cost of not just prison (included in Public Safety), but welfare, healthcare, and future education costs.”

    This calculator determines the cost of Third Grade Reading Failure by state. Students who can’t read by the end of third grade pay an enormous price but so do taxpayers.

    For every student who fails to master reading, the public is saddled with what amounts to a hidden annual surtax imposed at the local, state, and federal levels – one that cumulates with each succeeding class of students.

    Even with such persuasive accurate instruments:  Why is there no concentrated action on Reading?

    In the Health field if there was this epidemic the correlation-causation equation would urgently trigger action.  What will it take?

    Category Book Reviews, Education Reform, Parent Tribal Memory | Tags: | No Comments

  5. Education Debit Accounts – setting the scene

    August 2, 2014 by Tunya

     

    Brilliant — 1st Step To Deschooling Society

    Ivan Illich (1926-2002) wrote the book “Deschooling Society” in 1971. He was concerned that institutionalized schooling led to institutionalized society. He proposed learning webs instead.

    Please see all the sayings of Ivan Illich on twitter —https://twitter.com/IvanIllich2

    People believe in universal education, but that doesn’t have to be delivered by the state or unionized state workers. What is significant in 2014 versus the olden days is that the public is willing to pay taxes for an educated citizenry. That money need not go to institutions called public schools. It can go to the customer (parents & students) to find the best services they can for their particular needs.

    A brilliant opportunity now arises from our Teacher Strike. The government is to pay parents of children 12 and under $40 a day for day care or educational services. Parents could very well use that money for tutoring services in the basics. Or they, and perhaps teachers, can form learning pods where students can be taught, using technology and tested teaching methods.

    Here are some ideas, as far back as 1971, that Illich had for Learning Networks:

    http://www.wikiwand.com/en/Deschooling_Society

    In the long run, this model of learning can very well be translated into full-blown Education Debit Cards where each qualified student and parents could access the best services available. Arizona already has Education Savings Accounts for special needs students. We can start researching how such accounts can be used and regulated in BC during this test period.

    ____________

     

    2nd comment

    FREE SCHOOLS — Turning Crisis Into Opportunity

    What’s to stop a burst of innovation and versatility due to the shutdown of government schools? Don’t young people still need an education?

    The old standby for home educators, if they had no other plan or program, was simply to follow the syllabus. This is the carefully prepared Typical Course of Study of the World Book encyclopedia people. Every level, from Preschool to Grade 12, is here.http://worldbook.com/typical-course-of-study

    The outlines for BC curriculum are also available from Ministry website. Correspondence courses also available.

    $40 a day per student can easily initiate learning pods operated by either parents or teachers or both. Used textbooks are easily available from online used book outfits and delivery is quick. Online learning would also help meet the challenge. The possibilities are limitless.

    The Free Schools movement of the 60s had great passion and created hundreds of small independent schools without all the technology we now have.

    Go for it! Education is a continuous, developmentally urgent activity. It need not stop for a teacher strike and government lockout!

    Is anyone scoping out the possibilities — sites, notices, personnel, accountability & mission statement — yet?

    ________________________________

    My  3rd comment expands the opportunity presented for examing the proposed "transformational" curriculum beiung imposed without consent of the public and parents.
     

    21st Century Learning Under Challenge


    Three provinces in Canada have so far been pressured to embrace 21st Century Learning — a broad term for “transforming” whole systems toward shifting to “competencies” and squeezing out skills and content. Constructivism is the new “teaching” style — basically non-teaching — or discovery or child-centered inquiry.

    Gurus have travelled across the globe bringing in the principles and procedures for whole system change — similar to the Common Core initiatives in the United States where already major objections are raised by parents.


    In Canada we have BC with its Personalized Learning Plan ready to roll out. Ontario has a 21st Century initiative.


    But it is Alberta that’s worth watching. The same gurus travelled back and forth to develop Alberta’s plan — Inspiring Education. Of course, public was typically not involved.

    Why Alberta is important is that there is currently a contest amongst the ruling Conservative Party for a new leader. As the three rivals travel across the province, they are hearing about concerns and discontent from parents about these new plans. It’s gone so far that one candidate, Jim Prentice, has already “pledged to halt all major education curriculum overhauls under his premiership.” None of these concerns would have been exposed so forcefully if these politicians had not been glad-handing with the grassroots in their communities. The first voting is Sept 6.

    It’s too bad there is no similar opportunity in BC for parents to be examining our Personalized Learning Plan as it’s full of the same gobbledygook as Alberta’s plan. See http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/irp/docs/def_xcurr_comps.pdf 

    That’s why, at $40 a day, parents should grab the chance to snag alternatives to what’s coming down the pike.

    Category Book Reviews, Opinions in media, Parent Tribal Memory | Tags: | No Comments

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