Dear Friends,

My blog is moving as of today to be found on my new WordPress website at http://www.teachersintransition.com. Please look there for my most recent thoughts and ruminations on public education, the teaching profession, and other related topics.

Thank you.

Kitty J. Boitnott, Ph.D., NBCT

Dear Friends,

My dear friend and fellow colleague, Tracey Mercer, a teacher and a leader in the Bristol, VA public schools shared this article with me last night and wondered if I might like to post it in my blog. After reading it, I couldn't help but post it immediately. You can read the article which was published in the Washington Post yesterday here.

The purpose of the article is to point out the flaws (and there are many) with the new policy passed by the General Assembly this past session which will require the Department of Education to give individual schools a grade from A through F for the purpose of communicating to parents how well their child's school is doing.

The scheme came from Florida and has been used in Louisiana. Unfortunately, Governor McDonnell has consistently used comparisons with these two states as though they were models that we should emulate in spite of the fact that all evidence points to the failures of both systems. The decision to attach a grade to a school has more to do with the Governor's determination to push a system of choice on parents than to do anything truly helpful for schools that may be struggling.

The article which has been thoroughly researched and uses documented evidence to support its thesis points out that the grading system will unfairly label high poverty schools in high poverty areas as failing and that that designation is inherently unfair.

The article specifically states:

"...the grading scale needs to be either repealed or adjusted to prevent schools from being punished just because they have a large percentage of students that are economically-disadvantaged. In essence, labeling a school with a C or below marks them as inadequate and delivers a false perception to the community and to anyone considering relocating and enrolling their children in such school divisions.  Moreover, Governor McDonnell and the majority of our state senators and delegates have praised this measure for its simplicity. They have indicated that parents should be able to better understand one grade instead of a multi-page school evaluation document.  While this may be true, a single grade based solely on overall student achievement will inevitably favor affluent school divisions and denigrate those with high poverty rates. This applies even when poorer divisions are out-performing wealthy school divisions in the low socio-economic subgroup, and thus are doing a better job of closing achievement gaps."

I support the assertion that this grading system needs to be re-visited. Lawmakers who continually try to create simplistic answers to complex issues are doing nothing to further the education of our children or to provide the structure that our schools need in order to be successful.

It is time for the people who have been sitting on the sidelines waiting for someone else to take a stand to start taking a stand of their own. I applaud the authors of this article and urge my readers to spread it among their friends and colleagues to the widest extent possible.

Until next time.

Kitty

Dear Friends,

It has been a few weeks since I last posted. I have been very busy getting my new business up and running and I have been learning as much as I can about being an entrepreneur at this late stage in my life. Things are moving along well, and I am increasingly excited about the possibilities ahead. My website is up and running (http://www.boitnottcoaching.com) and I am finding tons of resources both locally and on the Internet that are aiding me in my mission of providing high quality personal and professional coaching services to my yet-to-be clients in the coming months and years.

But that isn't really what I wanted to post about today. Instead, today I want to acknowledge that as we celebrate another Memorial Day weekend, many of my teacher friends are looking at winding up yet another school year. I have been keeping my ear to the ground, and I know that for many of you it has been another difficult year. They just don't seem to get any easier. Each year, the Governor and the General Assembly and/or your school division leaders think of new responsibilities for you to take on, and never do they ever remove anything from your already overflowing plates.

Your children are either in the midst of their SOL's for this year or they are about ready to tackle them, and either way, they are pretty much done. They know that the year is over even though the last day may not have yet arrived.

So, I wanted to take a few moments this morning to say a simple "Thank You" to those who are preparing for work this Friday morning. Thank you for all you do everyday for the benefit of your children whether they be eight or eighteen or anywhere else on the spectrum. Thank you for sticking it out in spite of all of the ridiculous demands that are put upon you every day. Thank you for being willing to set aside your own personal lives in some cases in order to be the teacher your kids need and deserve you to be. That is a sacrifice you should not be asked to make, but I know that many of you make it and make it gladly every single day because you love what you do in spite of the challenges you are forced to endure by those who don't get who you are or what you do.

Thank you to the Newtown teachers and the teachers in Oklahoma and all of the other teachers we don't even hear about who willingly put their lives on the line in order to protect their students. It's too bad that it is only when a crazy gunman shows up or a Level 5 tornado rips through town that teachers are recognized for being the heroes that they are because they are heroes everyday, whether the news is there to cover it or not.

So, from one who knows very well the sacrifices you make and the love you pour into what you do everyday, thank you. Enjoy your Memorial Day weekend. You deserve it.

Until next time,

Kitty

Dear Friends,

I was just told today that I had been approved to become a member of the University of Richmond
Adjunct Faculty and I could not be more excited. I was allowed to design my own course, and I think it is not only going to be informative and helpful to those who take it but it will be FUN.

For those who might be interested, please take a look at the course description below:

Course Title:  How Virginia’s Legislative Process Impacts K-12 Education:

A Course for K-12 Administrators and Teachers on How to Understand and Influence Education Policy

Course Outline:  Many K-12 educators, both administrators and teachers, have a tendency to want to ignore the realities of state and federal politics because they [mistakenly] believe that politics don’t really affect them. This course is designed to help those K-12 educators learn to understand how the state legislature works in order to better serve themselves, their profession, and their students.

Suggested Catalog Description:  This course probes K-12 education policy and how it is currently impacted by state and federal politics and policies often driven by partisan-  driven policy makers. It explores the politics of public education in today’s world.  Students discuss and debate contemporary issues facing public educators. Administrators and classroom teachers alike will find the discussions enlightening and helpful in understanding the changes that are occurring at a more and more rapid pace.

Course Objective/Purpose & Rationale:  By the end of the course, students will understand how the legislative process impacts them at their district and school levels. Additionally, they will have developed strategies for how to participate in the overall process in a meaningful way in order to better serve their profession, their colleagues, and the students they serve.

Course Format: Two face-to-face meetings are needed for the course to be optimal with the rest of the class being done through online interaction using the University’s online format. The first class will be face-to-face and will serve as an orientation and question-answer session with students meeting one another and learning a little about the instructor. The second face-to-face meeting will be the night of a panel discussion with guests invited by the instructor. The panelists will be experts in the legislative process and will offer perspectives on how educators can be better informed and more involved in the legislative process as it impacts K-12 legislation and policy.

Targeted Course Participants:  K-12 teachers and administrators in need of continuing education credits for license renewal or any interested K-12 professional who has a genuine interest in learning more about the political process and how it is currently impacting K-12 education policy.

Recommended number for student enrollment: I would like to limit enrollment to no more than 25 students.

Readings:  Students will read current events using newspapers, articles in trade journals, Blogs written by educators and commentators, and other appropriate and approved sources that will be discussed each week through on-line discussions.           

Suggested Text: Diane Ravitch’s latest book, which is scheduled for publication late this summer. The title is Reign of Error: The Hoax of the Privatization Movement and the Danger for America's Public Schools.

Other course requirements and assessment of success:

1) Students will interview at least one  local elected leader (could be a state delegate, state Senator, Congressman or Senator) or an alternative would be to interview a current member of the Virginia Board of Education about his or her position and his or her approach to legislation impacting public education. A written report of the interview will be submitted to the instructor for review and assessment purposes.

2) In lieu of an exam, as the final project, students will be required to write a 7-10 page paper outlining a course of action for changing or strengthening some aspect of the current education landscape. Choices of topic could include school funding, teacher evaluation, testing, the pros and cons of the Common Core Curriculum, the argument for or against privatization and choice programs, high-stakes testing for students, or others pending approval of the instructor.

The course grade will be based upon completion of the final paper, the interview, and class attendance and participation including providing thoughtful and provocative discussion of articles, readings from the text, and current events of the week.

If you think you might be interested, stay tuned. I will be posting later how to register for the course online.

Thanks  in advance for any interest your might have and please spread the word to your colleagues.

Until next time.

Kitty

Dear Friends,

If you are a Facebook Friend or a regular reader of this blog, you already know that I am an avid fan of Dr. Diane Ravitch's, and I read her blog posts religiously every day. When I think she has offered some insight or information that is worth sharing, I do so either here or on Facebook or both.

Today is no exception. Diane just posted another entry for the day saying, "If you read nothing else today, read this post by the blogger who calls himself Crazy Crawfish."

That was all I needed, so I went straight to Crazy Crawfish's blog, and I am glad I did. I think you will enjoy reading it as well, so that is my offering for today.

Until next time.

Kitty

Dear Friends,

I get a lot of email and some days I don't have time to look at it, but some days, like this morning, I took the time and viewed this video Sir Ken Robinson speaking of the need to change our current education paradigm.

In case you are not familiar with Sir Ken Robinson, he is a respected author, speaker, and international advisor on education. I have had the pleasure of hearing him speak twice, and there are several videos available online so that if you like this video, you can take a look at his other commentary. Additionally, he has written several books.

I urge you to take a look. It will be worth the time it takes and it will make you think.

Until next time.

Kitty

Dear Friends,

The time has once again flown by, and so it has been several days since I offered a post. Part of the delay is the result of my being extremely busy these days. I have decided that my time for rest and rejuvenation is up. I am now rested and feeling ready to do something new and different. I am in the midst of deciding exactly what that is and how that is going to look, and when I am ready to roll it out, I will be sure to let everyone know. But for today, I want to write a bit about a Facebook posting that I offered a couple of days ago. I did it hurriedly as I was reading my e-mail, and it just occurred to me today that I should take a little bit of time to highlight this new development.

The development to which I am referring is the creation of a new network of educators and supporters of public education. The announcement came to me first through a blog posting from Diane Ravitch. The title was "Breaking News:  New Group to Oppose Corporate Reforms," and in that post, Dr. Ravitch offered that there was a group of education leaders from across the country who were building a movement for improving and strengthening our schools with "researched-based reforms, not fads and sanctions."

The name of the group is the Network for Public Education. For a mere $20, you can join as an individual, but there are other levels of membership including membership for groups and organizations. I signed up as an individual member and am eager to see the work that this group is going to master mind. Dr. Ravitch herself is the President of the newly formed group.

As I did on Facebook, I urge you to sign up as an individual member to help this group out. I believe in public education, and I truly believe it is in danger. This group and others like it are beginning to spring up in reaction to the corporate take-overs and the mindless testing regimen with which some have become so enamored. If you care about preserving public education, I urge you to take action now and join this group. Become involved...before it is too late.

The press release about the formation of the new group is provided below:

For Immediate Release March 7, 2013 Contacts: Anthony Cody, 707-459-2147, 510-917-9231 (cell) Anthony_cody@hotmail.com Leonie Haimson, 917-435-9329, leonie@classsizematters.org Today marks the public launch of a new network devoted to the defense and improvement of public education in the US. Led by renowned education historian, Diane Ravitch, the Network for Public Education will bring together grassroots activists and organizations from around the country, and endorse candidates for office, with the common goal of protecting and strengthening our public schools. Diane Ravitch said, “The Network for Public Education will give voice to the millions of parents, educators, and other citizens who are fed up with corporate-style reform. We believe in community-based reform, strengthening our schools instead of closing them, respecting our teachers and principals instead of berating them, educating our children instead of constantly testing them. Our public schools are an essential democratic institution. We look forward to working with friends and allies in every state and school district who want to preserve and improve public education for future generations.” Our nation’s schools are at a crossroads. Wealthy individuals are pouring unprecedented amounts of money into state and local school board races, often into places where they do not reside, to elect candidates intent on undermining and privatizing our public schools. The Network for Public Education will collaborate with other groups and organizations to strengthen our public schools in states and districts throughout the nation, share information and research about what works and what doesn’t work, and endorse and grade candidates based on our shared commitment to the well-being of our children, our society, and our public schools. We will help candidates who work for evidence-based reforms and who oppose high-stakes testing, mass school closures, the privatization of our public schools and the outsourcing of core academic functions to for-profit corporations. Renee Moore, former Mississippi Teacher of the Year, said, “One of the greatest gifts the U.S. has given to the world is the promise of quality public education. It is also an unfulfilled promise. Public education is a critical part of America's legacy, and the key to our future. We must defend and constantly improve it.” According to Anthony Cody, retired California teacher and columnist for Education Week: “As a teacher in Oakland I saw the effects of our obsession with tests first hand. Our students are learning less, and losing the chance to think for themselves as we put more and more pressure on them to perform well on tests. It is time for the millions of us who know better to challenge those who have put our schools on this path. This Network will allow us to learn from and support one another as we push for real school change.” Leonie Haimson, NYC parent advocate and head of Class Size Matters, said: “With all the billionaire cash trying to buy elections, we need to amass people power to ensure that individuals who care about preserving and strengthening our public schools are elected to positions of power. As the recent Los Angeles school board election shows, when we are organized we can overcome the forces of the privateers and the profiteers, intent on pillaging and dismantling our public schools.” According to Arizona parent activist and director of Voices for Education, Robin Hiller: “No school was ever improved by closing it. Every community should have good public schools, and we believe that public officials have a solemn responsibility to improve public schools, not close or privatize them.” Dr. Julian Vasquez Heilig of the University of Texas stated “This new network will seek to empower communities nationwide to unite to be more influential than the powerful. The network will also be an important vehicle for the latest data and research on the strengths and weaknesses of reform fads espoused by a multitude of talking heads.” Phyllis Bush, a retired teacher from Indiana, said “Public schools are under assault in this country. Now more than ever it is imperative that concerned citizens unite to save the public school system. Our group, Northeast Indiana Friends of Public Education, and other grassroots groups helped to elect Glenda Ritz to become our Superintendent of Public Instruction, a huge victory against rampant and destructive education policies. With the creation of the Network for Public Education, we will reach out to others across the nation to fulfill the promise of public education.” Added board member and Alabama education activist Larry Lee, “From my view, a lot more "ed reform" is because of the love of money, not the love of children. The result is that kids have become a very poor rope in a political tug of war. The only way to turn this tide is with the collective voices of the American public saying, ‘Enough is enough.’” The Network invites individuals to join as members and welcomes other organizations to become our allies, to fight with us to preserve and strengthen our public schools. The group's website is http://www.networkforpubliceducation.org and the Twitter feed is at https://twitter.com/NetworkPublicEd Until next time. Kitty

Dear Friends,

I apologize for being a little slow in bringing this news to you. I am tardy in getting around to sharing the latest MetLife Survey on the American Teacher. It will not be "news" to anyone who is paying attention or anyone who is living the life of an overwhelmed, underpaid and under-appreciated teacher or principal, but it should be (if only) a wake up call to the politicians and bureaucrats who are busy ruining our schools while they complain about the continuing lack of student achievement.

For those of you who are too busy to read the full Metlife report, I invite you to read at least the "Executive Summary." I would urge you to share the news of it with your colleagues. Start a conversation with your principal, even. You have much in common, it seems, especially if you are working in a high needs school and you have experienced continuing dwindling resources in recent years.

It will be absolutely no surprise to anyone of my friends who are also readers of this post that the survey finds, "A majority of teachers...feel under great stress at least several days a week." Moreover, the survey indicates the following unsurprising fact:  "Teacher satisfaction continues to decline and is at the lowest level in 25 years" (bold emphasis added).

Needless to say, the logic of those who see fit to continue to cut resources to public education while complaining that our students are not achieving enough and are not competitive enough with students in other countries continues to escape me. But I digress. The main purpose of this post today is to make sure that you know about the report.

Until next time.

Kitty

Dear Friends:

Those who have followed my writing for the past five years or so and those who agree with me that we as education professionals have been subject to a movement that has been a huge disservice to us as practitioners and to the children we teach will take heart by reading an article that is posted here.

Much to my surprise and delight, I learned this morning that the federal Commission on Equity and Excellence has issued a report which has roundly dismissed the reforms of the Bush-Obama era and has called for a fresh approach. The commission report has been issued by members who were appointed by Secretary Duncan, but I imagine that much to his surprise, instead of supporting the efforts he has been making the past four years, the report sides with those of us who have expressed deep and profound frustration with the reform efforts that have been taking place ever since the 1983 "Nation at Risk" report came out 30 years ago. In spite of the millions of dollars and the dozens of ill-fated and flimsy reform efforts mostly done without consultation with real-world teachers, this new report says that we have been doing the wrong things to the detriment of the very students everyone says they want to help.

I had to share this with those of you who might not otherwise hear about it. Please read the article and share it widely. I hope it makes your day like it just made mine.

Until next time.

Kitty

Dear Friends,

More good news on the anti-testing front. In addition to the rally that students in Providence, Rhode Island held last week and the on-going protest in Washington State where teachers are saying "no" to giving a test that they say is not only not valid but is truly a waste of time for them to give and for students to take, a local New York State school board has taken action to put the brakes on the over use of testing. See the link here.

I am tracking these movements because it is my wish to offer my colleagues hope that the pendulum of insanity is about to start swinging back toward a more sane approach to assessment. I need to give them hope. I talk to too many every day who are planning to leave the current high pressure environment that currently makes up our school system in general. I understand their instinct. But it breaks my heart when I hear exemplary teachers who have many years left to contribute to the learning of their children talk about their exhaustion, their sense of overwhelm and the fact that they have given up hope of it ever getting better.

Efforts like the ones I have pointed out in Rhode Island, Washington state, Texas, and New York tell me that we are not alone in our frustration, and a real movement has begun. I wait for it to take hold and start to be seen in every state--not just a few.

Until next time.

Kitty

Dear Friends,

I have been wondering for a long time why more teachers haven't risen up in protest to the high-stakes program that they have been forced to subject students to over the last two decades. I understand that some actually believe that the tests are okay while others grit their teeth every time they have to administer yet another in the endless battery of pre-tests, post-tests, diagnostic tests, and state-mandated tests or tests required by the federal government. I have been heartened by what has been happening in recent weeks with regard to the Garfield High School teachers in Seattle, Washington. They have joined together and said "enough is enough," and they are refusing to give a mandated test for which they see no value and believe is a waste of time and effort on their part to administer and on the part of their students to take.

This morning, I have learned that students in Providence, Rhode Island are planning to stage a protest against high stakes testing this week. On Wednesday afternoon, they plan to hold a rally protesting the inordinate amount of testing to which they are being subjected. Information about their movement may be found here.

The winds of change are beginning to indicate, I believe, that more and more people are questioning the "wisdom" of those who have mandated high-stakes testing as the way to improve education in our country. Everyone disdains the notion that teaching has been reduced to "teaching to the test," while everyone is also aware that the only way to make sure students do well on the tests they are subjected to is to make sure they have been prepared thoroughly and well. "Drill and kill" has become the order of the day. Teachers are held hostage as to how well their students do, and the only variable that anyone "in charge" wishes to take a serious look at is the "quality" of the individual teacher with no concern or attention to childhood poverty, the lack of general health care for a large number of children entering our classrooms every day and other circumstances over which the teacher has absolutely no control.

I follow Diane Ravitch's blog carefully. She is in a position because of her professional integrity, her international reputation and her ability to sift through tons of information and distill it in a way that people can easily grasp to offer hope to those of us who are waiting for a major shift in the current climate. She feels it...I feel it. I believe that we are fast approaching a tipping point where those who are aware of the harm being doing to children are finally being heard.

I have hope, and I wish the students in Providence, Rhode Island and the teachers at Garfield High School well. I want them to succeed in their protests, and I want others to follow suit...and quickly. Before it is too late.

Until next time,

Kittyhttp://www.providencestudentunion.org/more-than-a-test-score

Dear Friends,

There has been a lot of talk—and activity—around education “reform” over the course of the last two decades, but little of it has had any meaningful impact on student achievement or graduation rates. College tuition soars, and poverty—especially poverty among our nation’s urban and rural children--continues ignored. Everyone seems to be in agreement that something should be done, but clearly, what we are doing now is not working.

One of the major problems with the reforms that have been put into place from the federal government down to local school boards including the myriad of private corporations that are cropping up daily in order to profit off the financial resources that are allocated annually for schools is that the reformers are constantly ignoring the very group of people who could actually help. Indeed, not only are K-12 practitioners ignored in the major debates that are taking place around the country, but they have been vilified and demeaned in such a way that the entire profession is in crisis. Veteran teachers with decades of experience are burnt out and ready to retire while the teaching profession has become a turnstile business proposition with a growing number of young people teaching for a only few years as a stop gap measure before beginning their “real” careers.

None of this bodes well for the children in our nation’s public schools. In fact, public education itself is under siege. Legislators in state after state are backing away from their constitutional duty and their moral obligation to provide a free and appropriate public education for every child. Charter schools, the vouchers for private schools, the dramatic increase in home schooling in recent years, and the current fascination with online education and virtual classes erodes the integrity of the neighborhood school in a way that is actually dangerous, I believe, for the future of our country. Democracy itself is threatened by the continual downgrading of public education as a true civil right for every child.

Wrong-headed remedies for the very real problems that face our schools today continue. Teacher evaluation with teachers’ performance tied to student test scores based on faulty and flawed mathematic algorithms are being used improperly and for the wrong purposes. The suggestions that all “bad teachers” should just be fired and the teacher unions should be eliminated are misguided at best and deliberately harmful at worst. Common Core Curriculum is being pushed by some and resisted by others while teachers are for the most part being left out of the conversation—again.

As Virginia prepares itself for yet another election season, Virginia voters need to consider what we need in our next Governor. Here are some of the things I believe we need:

We need a Governor who has a clear vision and a firm understanding of the state’s responsibility to the children of the Commonwealth. We need a Governor who is willing to include teachers in the conversation, is adamant about questioning the assumptions and assertions made by corporate leaders looking to profit by bringing in more charter schools when the research does not support the premise that charters do a significantly better job than neighborhood schools that receive adequate support and have adequate resources. We need a Governor whose only agenda is what is in the best interest of children and not what is included in the ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council) playbook.

We need a Governor who respects the experience of veteran teachers who have spent their careers in the classroom tending to the needs of the children they teach. We do NOT need to leave teachers out of the conversation simply because what they have to say does not necessarily comport with the current political trend of privatization at all costs. We need a Governor who understands what the state Constitution means when it talks about the state’s responsibility for providing “a system of free public elementary and secondary schools for all children of school age throughout the Commonwealth, and shall seek to ensure that an educational program of high quality is established and continually maintained.” (Article VIII, Section 1 of the Virginia Constitution).

We need a Governor who can articulate clearly for all to hear that Virginia is not about to turn its schools over to corporate moguls who care nothing about children but only about making a quick dollar. The examples of corporate greed, fraud, and general wrongdoing are to be found everywhere that they have been allowed to set up shop. They turn their backs on the neediest children while they drain away not only the top students who need their services the least, but they also drain valuable resources away from the neighborhood schools that are quite literally falling apart from a lack of resources and long-term investment.

It is time for Virginia’s parents, teachers, and members of the community at large—those who care about the health, wellbeing and education of our state’s young people—to line up behind the next Governor who is going to set a new course for education innovation and achievement based on what teachers agree are best practices rather than on the latest fad. That’s what Virginia needs. It is what our students deserve. And I plan to do what I can to make sure we elect the best person for the job.

Until next time.

Kitty

             

Dear Friends,

For most of my career, I worked with elementary aged children, and there are a few things I learned as a result. One is that kids have a low tolerance for anything that smacks of any action that seems unfair. They don’t object, for the most part, to your setting rules and boundaries for them, but by golly, you better apply the rules fairly and enforce the boundaries with an even hand or they will call you out in a hurry. They will also lose respect for you if they think you are being “unfair.” Their sense of fair play is finely tuned from the very beginning. Just try to pull a fast one on a group of 6-year olds and hear them howl.

It seems to be an innate trait--and one that we all share--the expectation is that the rules are important in order to be able to play on a “level playing field.” Cheaters are called out and shunned by the group. There is no patience for those who would try to game the system to their own individual advantage. It just doesn’t fly.

Those of us who live in Virginia have been witness this week to a bunch of grown men and women in the Virginia Senate who have lost all sense of fair play and “playing by the rules.” Indeed, they have broken the rules in order to benefit themselves and we Virginians have been quick to cry “Foul.”

If you don’t know to what I am referring, you should take a look here. On Monday, the Republicans in the Virginia Senate took advantage of Senator Henry Marsh’s absence (he was attending President Obama’s inauguration) and rammed a vote through that fundamentally changes the redistricting map in a way that heavily favors the Republicans. They had to be sneaky about when they took the vote because they already knew that if everyone were in attendance when the vote came up, it would result in the typical 20-20 tie. Lt. Governor Bill Bolling, who had been approached earlier with the scheme had indicated that he was not inclined to approve the measure and wouldn’t vote for it...so the Republican leadership laid in wait until the Democrats were short a member and sprung the vote on the remaining Democrats who were totally blindsided.

This is not what we teach children about fair play. This is not statesmanlike behavior. This is NOT how Virginians expect their legislators to behave. And thankfully, what they have done has already received so much negative attention that there is a chance—a slim one, most likely, but still a chance--that the Governor will veto the bill when it comes across his desk.

People should also know that Virginia is about to join the handful of other states seeking to change the way electoral votes are counted in Presidential elections. Their attitude is simple. If we can’t win by playing by the rules, change the rules to better suit our needs.

I can’t speak for anyone else, but I, for one, am sick of this kind of gamesmanship, and I am committing to doing whatever I can to make a change in the next election. People who expect better from our leaders, I urge you to do the same.

Until next time.

Kitty

Dear Friends,

I started thinking about how we use language in our society, and I wrote the following.

The Power of Words

            Words matter. Remember when you were a kid and sometimes you would hear (or perhaps say) “Sticks and stones can break my bones but words can never hurt me.” Those were brave words used by the kids who wanted to appear to be above the taunts of teasing or bullying.  No one wants to be seen as a wimp, after all. No one wants to invite the humiliation of letting your tormentor know that they have hit a sore spot.

            But the fact is that words do hurt. Some words sting. Some bite. And worse, those particular words work their way into our psyche in a way that no physical wound can. Yes, words matter, so we need to be mindful of the words that we use...always.

            I have always tried to be mindful of the power of words. I love words. I live with a dictionary close by (well, now, mostly a dictionary app) so that I can check the meaning of new words...and I love the language of beautiful prose.

            I am also aware of the limitations of words. Sometimes it is simply impossible to adequately explain a feeling or articulate a passion. Words fail us in the moments when we feel the closest to our Deity or when we are overwhelmed with the feeling of love for someone—a child or a parent.

            But at the end of the day, what I have learned is that words do matter and we should select the words we use with one another very, very carefully. Words of encouragement can uplift someone in a way that we can never measure in the same way that words of disparagement can discourage someone long after the moment they were uttered.

            As teachers, we need to be particularly mindful of this simple fact.  It is easy to forget when harried and hurried and pressured and overwhelmed. It is easy to be sarcastic or biting when we are rushed or frustrated. It is all too easy to reach for negative words, especially if we feel under attack. But at the end of the day, it is important to try to keep words positive. Encouragement should be the order of the day. You will feel better and you won’t have any regrets, wishing you could take something back. And if you do find yourself being unkind, correct it as soon as you can. Three of the most powerful words you may ever use are “I am sorry,” along with “I love you.” Use those words when you need to, and the rest will take care of itself.

Until next time,

Kitty

Dear Friends,

I was just reading an article about some brave and committed teachers in Washington state. I urge you to take a look. This is exciting to me. A small band of teachers have decided that enough is enough. They are refusing to give the state math test, alleging that it is "not good for our students, nor is it an appropriate or useful tool in measuring progress." Amen. 

This is an act of courage. It is what it means to be "teacher leaders." It is looking in the face of authority and saying "no" for all the right reasons.

Take the time to read the full article at the link above. It will be worth it.

Until next time.

Kitty

Dear Friends,

I have been thinking a lot about the term "teacher leaders" lately. What are they? WHO are they? Do they self-identify themselves, or do others see leadership qualities in them and why? What are the characteristics of a teacher leader?

While I have been pondering those questions, this post popped up from Diane Ravitch. I know I post a lot of her stuff, but it is too good not to share.

And since I want you to go to the link and see what she has to say about teacher leaders, I will sign off for now.

Until next time.

Kitty

Dear Friends,

For those who believe as I do that "choice" and "equity" are diametrically opposed concepts when they come to opportunities for access to a high quality education, you may like to read this piece from Katie Osgood, the guest writer for a blog entitled "Living in Dialogue," a blog normally written by Anthony Cody. It was offered in today's Education Week: Teacher blog section.

Enjoy.

Until next time.

Kitty

Dear Friends,

If you know me at all, you know that I have a number of public education heroes (or "sheroes," as the case may be) and Dr. Diane Ravitch is right up there at the top of my list. She blogs daily--most days several times a day--and I read her posts pretty much as they pop up so see what new gem or word of wisdom she has to offer.

Today, she offers a post on a group who is calling for change in the way we deal with high-stakes testing in this country. I urge you to take a look and to follow the links that she offers. The link is here.

I have personally long despaired over the way high-stakes testing has been abused for a number of years now. A few years ago, when a Washington state teacher quit his job rather than to administer the test that was scheduled for that day, I cheered for him and I hoped against hope that others would take his lead. Sadly, that wasn't the case, and in spite of the fact that many teachers know in their hearts that what they are doing to children with the regimented, almost daily barrage of tests is not in their long term best interests, they are caught up in a system that demands "data" so that we can "measure" what we are teaching...while what we are mostly teaching anymore is how to take the dang test!

More recently, another teacher quit his job over his frustration that he was forced to "teach the curriculum" and wasn't allowed to tutor his kids who were struggling on his own time after school. He took to reading his letter of resignation on YouTube because when he wanted to share the letter at his school board meeting, he wasn't allowed to. Here is the follow-up to that event.

Not everyone has the luxury of quitting their job or retiring because they can't take it anymore. I know that teachers are really caught between a rock and a hard place. If we complain outside of our own ranks, we are accused of not wanting to be accountable. We fall into the trap of being part of that "ole teachers' union" that only wants the big pay checks and hefty pensions at the end of our careers. (Note that last bit was written with my tongue firmly planted inside my cheek.)

No, teachers are not the ones who can change this terrible trend, unfortunately, even though most of us would want to be able to do just that. But parents can make a change, and that is, apparently, the group that this new group is targeting.

If you find this idea of pushing back on high-stakes testing of interest, don't forget to check my post from the other day (January 2) when I shared (again from Diane Ravitch) that there is a rally that is being planned by another group urging parents to opt their children out of testing. The rally is planned for the front steps of the US Department of Education between April 4-7, 2013. It is an "occupy-type" event, designed, I am sure to try to gather some media attention to this ever growing problem.

I have felt for too long that the corporate education reformers are winning the battle for the heart and soul of public education in this country. There is a lot of money to be made and the testing companies are making out like bandits while dollars go unspent for textbooks, computers, and other much needed materials in our schools. In the same way that money couldn't the Presidential election in November, I hope and pray that in the end, money won't be able to prevail in this war for America's public schools. It doesn't look good...but the fat lady hasn't sung yet, either.

Until next time.

Kitty

Dear Friends,

I haven't posted for a couple of days, and I don't have a lot to say today, but I will post a brief thought or two about Governor McDonnell's naming 2013 the "Year of the Teacher."

Call me cynical, but this is simply a ploy designed to make it difficult for teachers to complain about the changes that the Governor wants to implement as part of his education initiative and his ultimate "legacy" as Governor. Surely we cannot question his enthusiasm and regard for teachers if he is looking for ways to recognize them and their excellence. Right?

Well, sorry, but color me suspicious. This is a red herring designed to throw teachers off the track of understanding the Governor's real intentions:  to expand charter schools across the Commonwealth; to increase K12, Inc.'s profit margin by continuing to promote virtual learning and reducing the number of teachers needed on-site; and to clear the way for the entrance of Teach for America into Virginia's schools.

Oh, and let's also not forget that he still wants to fundamentally change continuing contract law for Virginia's teachers as well.

I hope that my friends who are the education advocates and activists won't be lulled into thinking that just because it is the "Year of the Teacher" that they don't need to have their guard up as we head into the 2013 General Assembly session. I hate to be so skeptical, but experience, frankly, has taught me to be.

Until next time.

Kitty

Dear Friends,

I was reading my email this morning and saw an early a.m. post sent by Diane Ravitch that included a video of a leader in a movement called United Opt Out National. Apparently, there is a growing group of teachers, parents, and others who are organizing an "Occupy-type" event on the front steps of the United States Department of Education that will highlight their message that parents can [and should] opt their kids out of state and national testing programs. This is being done in order to register the group's growing concerns that testing has been trumping teaching and learning for too long. I am sharing the video here because I wasn't aware of this group or its mission until today, so I thought perhaps you didn't know about it either...but you might like to.

The event is scheduled for April 4-7, 2013. The video is a personal invitation to Diane Ravitch to attend the event, and according to her blog of this morning, she is going.

If you attended the Save Our Schools rally in July of 2011, this might be something you would want to consider attending. At the very least, it offers an opportunity to do something that gives voice to what we all know which is that the over-empahsis on testing is ultimately not helping our kids and it has absolutely no business being used to evaluate teacher effectiveness from year to year.

While I was watching the video that invites Dr. Ravitch to the event, I saw that YouTube has other videos highlighting Dr. Ravitch. One of them is entitled "Diane Ravitch defending teachers" and although it is almost 15 minutes long, I suggest you take the time to watch it if you would like to feel validated for a change. Diane really understands how teachers feel and how painful the last few years have been for us as we have been the subject of so much disrespect, disdain, and disregard on behalf of the "education reform" crowd. Watch that video as well. It may just make your day.


Until next time.

Kitty

Dear Friends,

Happy New Year! I hope that 2013 brings you all that you could possibly wish for whether it be better health, lots of money, a new (or better) relationship...whatever happens to be on your wish list of "I wish I had [fill in the blank]." I hope you find it in this new year. For some reason that I cannot explain, I feel very optimistic about this new year. I have nothing specific to which to point to account for my optimism...I just feel like it is going to a wonderful year.

One of my points of reference for this feeling of optimism springs, I think, from a post I read this morning from Diane Ravitch. For those of you who are my edcuator friends (that includes teachers and support professionals as well as parents who are concerned about public education in our country) you may like to follow her blog. She posts several times a day, and she always has something interesting to say or to share. This morning she shared two specific posts related to last year--the worst things about 2012 and the best things about 2012. I don't need to share the worst thing post...it was about the tragedy at Sandy Hook which I think most of us would agree was a particularly low point for the entire country but perhaps especially for educators who felt so connected to the teachers and principal who acted so heroically and selflessly on that terrible day. So, I won't dwell on that. But I would like to share her "best of" post, so here it is:  http://dianeravitch.net/2013/01/01/a-good-year-for-supporters-of-public-education.

Instead of writing further or elaborating on her post, I will just leave my post at that. I reserve the right to share other people's thoughts when I find it appropriate. So, there you go. Enjoy and take heart. I think there is reason for optimism, but we must all remain hopeful and keep up the good fight if we are to have any hope of preserving public education in this country.

On that note, I hope that wherever you are doing whatever you are doing, you have a wonderful January 1, 2013.

Until next time.

Kitty