The Budget – Day Two

The next budget review focus is on the Rochester International Academy – Mary Andrecolich-Diaz, Principal. The description of the school is as follows:

“The Rochester International Academy (RIA) is designed to facilitate the cultural and academic transition of newly arrived English Language Learners through rigorous language instruction and interdisciplinary learning in collaboration with families and community.”

To what is the Rochester International Academy transitioning students? From where have these students arrived? If these students are new to America and English, why are they subjected to rigorous language instruction instead of easing the transition by discovering the developmental ability of our immigrant students, developing their talents and then directing the use of their gifts and talents to facilitate their success as adults and Americans. What is interdisciplinary learning and how are they collaborating with families?

Staff lost to the 2013-14 budget:
• 1 – SCH COORD HEALTH/PE/ATH-28305
• 1 – Asst Principal – Second 28305
• 1 – PARA ADA – 28305
• .30 – Tchr-on-Assignment – 28305
• It’s budget was reduced $48,467

We see that while they are also losing one administrator, they are gaining 1.6 teachers. As well, RIA’s Other and Non-instructional positions decrease .5 and 1 respectively even though enrollment is expected to increase by 31 students.

Other than the description, Rochester International Academy, offers nothing more than All City High in the way of assessable information.

It is interesting however, that the Rochester International Academy has been operational for two years, not one. RIA opened it doors in the September, 2011-12 school year, operated through the 2012-13 school year and is now budgeting for the 2012-14 school year. This means there should be at least one year of data to review.

At this point, School Board members must definitely demand that the Superintendent update the information provided in the 2013-14 proposed budget before holding any more public hearings.

If we are not going to hold the Superintendent and his Executive Group accountable for the information provided to the public, how can we believe that the district is acting transparently in its function or design?

For the sake of our children we must begin to hold our leaders accountable.

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Constitutionally Guaranteed

Under the Constitution of the United States, we have rights:

1. Freedom of speech
2. Bear arms
3. Not house soldiers in time of peace
4. No unlawful search and seizure
5. Trial by jury
6. Speedy trial
7. Common law trial by jury
8. No excessive bail, fines, or punishment
9. Numbers don’t restrict amendments
10. State’s and citizen power
11. Judicial power
12. The Electoral College
13. Abashment of slavery
14. Life, liberty, property
Voting rights – age
Protection against treason
War debt obligation
Congressional power
15. Voting rights – race, creed, color
16. Tax collection
17. Senate rules and regulations
18. Prohibition
19. Voting rights – sex
20. The terms of the President and Vice-President
21. Repeals the 18th amendment
22. Presidential term limit
23. District of Columbia political representation
24. Voting rights – primary elections
25. Presidential vacancy of office
26. Voting age – 18
27. Compensation of Senators and Representatives

While the constitution guarantees the rights of adults, it does not guarantee that the adults with rights will have the knowledge and understanding necessary to fully comprehend their responsibilities as American citizens.

We have come to a time in America where we realize that education is a RIGHT of all human beings and yet we leave something so crucial to the effective and efficient management of our nation to happenstance and privilege.

Our country has been controlled by the attitude of privilege since its beginning. The formation of the Electoral College came about because those in power convinced the general populous that they were not informed enough to make proper political decisions concerning leadership.

The education of our children must become a guaranteed constitutional right. Education must be federally regulated and it must be a free and public education that focuses on the developmental capabilities of the child.

Governor Cuomo is correct, we no longer live in an agrarian society. Families move from state to state following careers and lifestyle choices. Education can no longer be the responsibility of individual states.

Without federal regulation, education accountability is impossible. Without federal regulation, privatization is certain and public schooling will be left to manage the misfits of the 21st century workforce.

Our children deserve the Constitutional right to an excellent, child centered education.

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Another Pig In A Poke

The Governor’s Plan for Education:

Increasing Funding for Education: Focus on creating a world-class education system that will fully prepare all of New York’s students to compete in the 21st Century economy. The Budget includes an increase of nearly $1 billion in education aid.

*We must prepare our children to succeed in life not compete for money!

Pre-kindergarten Program Expansion: The Budget provides additional investments in pre-kindergarten with an emphasis on high quality, full-day pre-k. Funding is targeted toward higher need students in lower wealth school districts via a competitive process. ($25 million)

*All children deserve the opportunity to experience a pre-kindergarten education.

State Increases Tied to Teacher Evaluations: The Budget continues to tie increases in funding for education to the implementation of a teacher evaluation system. No teacher evaluations means no state increase.

*How much of the $1 billion will be earmarked for this intimidation practice?

Extended Learning Time: The state will cover the full cost of expanding learning time for students. ($20 million)

*Through the generous donations of “BB” our children will be asked to stay in school longer to fail.

Community Schools: The Budget supports an innovative program designed to transform schools into community hubs that integrate social, health and other services, as well as after-school programming to support students and their families. ($15 million)

*The State is calling for the consolidation of schools and students into central locations, closing neighborhood schools and increasing class size.

Reward High-Performing Teachers: The plan ($11 million) supports 183 most effective teachers.

*Who determines which 183 will receive this reward?

Early College High School Programs: To improve college access and success, the Budget provides new state funding to expand Early College High School programs. ($4 million)

*In an excellent system of education, high school is early college. What about students who do not wish to go to college?

Bar Exam for Teachers:

*How much will this take away from the $1 billion?

The Governor’s education budget proposal does not support a child centered education, it supports the profits of “BB” which insures their failure.

If it sounds to good to be true, it generally is.

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The Stage Is Set

On Thursday, February 28, 2013, the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education will hear “Raising the Bar: How Are Schools Measuring Teacher Performance?”. The hearing will be presented live via Webcast at 9:00 AM.

Ours is the only government that allows its citizens to take part in the working of its legislature. If our system of government is not transparent, it is the responsibility of the people to make it so. Transparency is not the problem. Active participation, or the lack thereof, is.

Teacher performance evaluation is an important aspect of success. However, measuring the performance of a single actor in a failed play is counterproductive. Before we can adeptly measure the success of the actors in a play, the play must first be proven successful. Our current system of education has never been successful for ALL of America’s children.

A great deal of time and money has already been spent covering the failure of our current system of education. However, there is no amount of time and money that can repair the damage our current system of education has heaped upon our children and our society. Our only hope is to recognize our failure and change our perspective in education to one that concentrates on the child.

As we build a successful, child centered system of education, there must be performance measure for all stakeholders in the process of education, not merely students and teachers. First and foremost, our education leaders must be held accountable for the programs that are provided, the funds to support successful programs, the courage to abandon failing programs, and the integrity to work with the community to provide an excellent education to all of its learners.

Before America can be successful, its citizens must be successful and the only way to insure that success is if every actor in the play performs their part with passion and resolve.

We must provide our children with the opportunity to become passionate actors in this play we call life. It sets the stage for a successful America.

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Pottersville The Remake

“The Greatest Gift“, written by Philip Van Doren Stern in 1939, and privately published by the author in 1945 was the inspiration for the movie, “It’s A Wonderful Life” produced in 1946.

One of the most loved films of all times, George Bailey, being told by Mr. Potter, the regions wealthiest man, that he was worth more dead than alive decides to commit suicide to save his family’s bank and the town from falling into the hands of Potter. Clarence the angel saves him by showing him that his worth is not measured in dollars but in his integrity and humanity. In the end, all of the people he helped, help him, the bank and the town are saved and Clarence earns his wings.

Yesterday, Governor Cuomo came to Rochester to lay out his plans for our children and New York State.

For our children he wants longer days and a longer school year. The governor has been told and believes that if our children are in school for twelve hours a day, 200 days a year that the graduation rate will increase and our children will be better educated. Unfortunately, a high truancy and drop out rate tells us that it makes no sense increase the time children spend in school when they don’t even attend school during regular hours.

For New York State, he wants gambling casinos.

With Governor Cuomo leading us, New York’s future is as bleak as that of Bedford Falls without George Baily.

Our children will be in school all day so their parents can work in the casino’s without having to worry about them. Children will graduate knowing that their career will be dealing cards or serving drinks in the wonderful world of the rising moderate to middle class.

In 1946 we were shown two different views of the world. One in which humanity and integrity rule and the other in which “BB” is in control.

Our children deserve an excellent system of education, not more time in a failing one. Our State deserves to be great because of its great citizens.

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The People Are The Power

Our government has made it easy to logically and responsibly address issues of education with researched based data.

No Child Left Behind was initiated in the 90′s and, as the initial data came in, all signs were positive as it is with any change in any system. Then, as the long term data was analyzed, the results weren’t so positive.

The government reported all of this data and by the Obama administration, Race To The Top was the education reform everyone ignored until it became apparent that the reformed Elementary Secondary Education Act was worse than its parent NCLB.

Secretary Duncan’s re-authorization of ESEA, The Blueprint for Reform and Built for Teachers documents were introduced in 2010 and H.R. 555, The Universal Prekindergarten Act in 2011. All three documents have been sitting without consideration long enough for anyone who would read them to do so and for any one who would wish to amend them, to do so.

That is the greatness of our country, the citizens of America truly do have a voice, we simply choose not to use it. Americans, citizens of the greatest country on Earth, who are, by law, guaranteed the right to freedom of speech are more silent than those who are oppressed. Our First Amendment rights protect our right to speak out against an inefficient and ineffective government yet we remain silent for fear of having to shoulder the responsibility of being a leader and affecting change.

Our government has provided us with every opportunity to do our due diligence as responsible citizens. It is up to each of us to demand, if necessary, to be heard.

Any grassroots organization relying on monetary support to carry its cause does not believe in the power of the American system of government. We are free because our elected officials are not supposed to be influenced by anything more than the voices of their constituents.

When we, as citizens, take our responsibilities seriously, the system works for everyone and our government becomes one of the people, by the people, for the people.

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More From Washington

“Education then, beyond all other devices of human origin, is the great equalizer of the conditions of men, the balance-wheel of the social machinery.” Horace Mann

Horace Mann, an education reformer and elected official was called, “Father of the Common School Movement”. “Arguing that universal public education was the best way to turn the nation’s unruly children into disciplined, judicious republican citizens, Mann won widespread approval from modernizers, especially in his Whig Party, for building public schools.

The common school era is viewed by many education scholars to have ended around 1900. In the early twentieth century, schools generally became more regional (as opposed to local), and control of schools moved away from elected school boards, and towards professional control.”

Mann understood that education was the key to solving mankind’s social ills. His six principles were: (1) the public should no longer remain ignorant; (2) that such education should be paid for, controlled, and sustained by an interested public; (3) that this education will be best provided in schools that embrace children from a variety of backgrounds; (4) that this education must be non-sectarian; (5) that this education must be taught by the spirit, methods, and discipline of a free society; and (6) that education should be provided by well-trained, professional teachers.”

Though these principles were written in 1868, Horace Mann’s ideals are still relevant today. As we grapple with issues over gun control, a faltering economy and immigration, realizing that our current system of education is failing to provide our nation’s children with and excellent education, it is not totally illogical to consider that our failure, as a nation, is connected to our failure, as a nation, to properly educate our children.

Horace Mann left a blueprint for success in educating our nation’s children. Adding today’s technology to Mann’s principles would surely put us back on the right track.

Horace Mann believed that every child deserved an excellent education so that they could fully engage themselves in their role as a citizen in a free society.

We should want nothing less for our children today.

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Presidential Perspective

In Education Week, guest writer Gerald Coles states, “Regrettably, they (Obama’s education policies) embrace an intention to continue to support and promote the corporate-influenced assumptions and policies of his first term.”

President Obama seems unfamiliar with the overwhelming issues plaguing education and must rely on those who were and are proponents of the corporate system of education for guidance. This is exactly why, as concerned citizens, we must unite and bring the reality of mis-education to the forefront of our nation’s attention.

President Obama’s State of the Union addressed educational priorities in the form of modern schools, only 3 of every 10 four year olds are enrolled in prekindergarten, and high quality pre-schools for every child in America. The President noted the success of Georgia and Oklahoma’s prekindergarten programs.

Unfortunately, the President didn’t mention that Education Secretary Duncan’s Blueprint for Reform and Built for Teachers documents that address the re-authorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act has been lying dormant since 2010 and H.R. 555 The Universal Prekindergarten Act has been in Congress since 2011 with no action.

The most encouraging aspect of President Obama’s address was his call for action by the citizenry of America. However, if our leaders are going to ask citizens to become involved in their government then they must take seriously those who have already shown that they are committed to fulfilling their civic responsibilities.

Too many have worked tirelessly to research and develop plans and strategies to address the issues in education that keep us, as a nation, from providing all of our children with an excellent education only to be ignored or placated and then dismissed by elected and appointed leaders. Many have fought with local government and testified before state government to no avail.

The grassroots movement that President Obama is calling for has been active for decades. Warriors in the battle for a better system of education have been out gunned by the heavy artillery (money) of big business and their political connections and relationships.

We are speaking up for our children, it’s time the government started listening.

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The Federal Register

The Federal Register is a legal newspaper published every business day by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).

The Federal Register informs citizens of their rights and obligations and provides access to a wide range of Federal benefits and opportunities for funding.

Federal agencies are required to publish notices of proposed rule making in the Federal Register to enable citizens to participate in the decision making process of the Government.

Taking all comments into consideration, NARA develops final regulations which are published in the Federal Register and then codified in title 36 of the CFR. NARA also publishes notices of agency records schedules for public comment as required by 44 U.S.C. 3303a.

Our government makes it easy for every citizen to be informed about and take part in proposed legislation on issues they care about. Our government knows that due to the mis-education of the American public, very few people will visit the site and fewer still will comment.

Under Education, this notice was posted in the Federal Register:

The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services proposes a priority under the Technical Assistance on State Data Collection program. The Assistant Secretary may use this priority for competitions in fiscal year (FY) 2012 and later years. We take this action to focus attention on an identified national need to provide technical assistance (TA) to States to improve their capacity to meet the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) data collection, analysis, and reporting requirements.

We propose to assist States in developing or enhancing statewide early childhood longitudinal data systems . . . These statewide early childhood longitudinal data systems would be part of a coordinated early learning data system, by which we mean data systems that vertically and horizontally link child, program, and workforce data elements related to children (birth through age 5).

This is the federal government telling us that they will support States in “linking” our children to the workforce. In other words, chaining our children to a life of unfulfilled dreams and unrealized passion.

We must fight to change our government’s attitude towards our children.

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Addressing Multiple Intelligences

If some are still unclear of the difference between a corporate model of education and a child centered model, the following videos are offered as examples of those differences and why it is urgent that we begin to address the effective and efficient reform of education to a child centered model.

The Corporate Model:

The Child Centered Model:

Song and Lyrics by Ok Go – This Too Shall Pass

There is no doubt that the world needs workers, however there is a huge difference between driving a truck for a living because you love driving trucks and having a job driving a truck because it is the only thing you were trained to do.

Our society doesn’t acknowledge that there are people who love to clean. There are people who love to cook. There are people who love to take care of others and those who don’t want to take care of anyone, not even themselves.

Once we allow our children to discover what they love to do, they can begin to love themselves for doing whatever it is they love to do to the best of their ability. They can respect and value themselves because their gifts and talents will be respected and valued in our society.

Education is not about preparing our children for any workforce, regardless of the century. Education must be about creating a world that recognizes, everything on this Earth is necessary in order for every species on this planet to adapt and evolve successfully, living in harmony, respecting and loving everyone in and every part of our environment.

Whether we have stars upon our bellies or not, each one of us has something to contribute to the successful functioning of the world in which we live. A child centered education allows children to discover their niche in this world and then to use their gifts and talents to be successful in their niche.

No matter how you look at it, we must begin to provide our children with an excellent education.

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