Sunday, March 7, 2010
March 4, 2010 - Class thoughts
Ben's presentation was very interesting. It kind of confirmed some thoughts I have been having lately. He talked about school being like a business and I truly believe that is what it has become. School divisions in Manitoba make decisions based on finances, not the value of the teachers or students. Of course, I don't know this for sure as I am not a divisional decision maker, but it sure feels that way being a teacher. For example, one issue at our school at the moment is the class size and the lack of options for the students. Many of our classes are 30+ students. This is because there are not enough sections to offer because there are not enough staff members. Secondly, the students are forced to take the courses that they may not like. This is due to timetabling difficulties. The timetables are based on the number of teachers. Students have options....but not really. All of these issues, in my opinion can be solved by one thing....hire more teachers for the school. This way, more options can be offered to the students and teachers will have smaller classes. When I discussed this with my principal, he completely agreed, but said it wasn't up to him. He said the division can't afford any more teachers because of the budget. This seems very odd to me considering some of the ways that I see them spend money. Shouldn't they be spending money on helping the teachers be more effective and helping students have access to as many different courses as possible, rather than catering every PD session and staff luncheon? That seems like a waste of money to me. Other money issues are technology, e.g. getting software in place for students to learn on, and I understand the filtering and compatibility issues, but the drive is to get students more technology literate, right? Also, what about denying students field trips because of bus costs and sub costs for teachers. How ridiculous it that? It seems like the things less valued in a school system are the students and teachers, atleast they seem to see the least money. Boy, things would be run so smoothly if I was in charge, eh?
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Lana, You are absolutely right. I think priorities have been misplaced within the education sector. One of the reasons that may be attributed to this is the fact that people (parents, teachers, school boards, students) would rather want to see "tangibles" such as computers (technology), school buildings, increased number of enrollment, etc than "intangibles" such as knowledge learned in the classroom, from field trips, etc. The worse is when our evaluation of knowledge (exams and final tests) are configured to respond to the tangibles and not so much the intangibles such as the social values or traditional lessons that can be learned. The entire system needs an overhaul!
ReplyDeleteLangdon Winner would say that the responsibility lie with the School sub system. If globalisation invades education, it is because the school subsystem has not taken its place in its defense. And no one else can do it but for the school sub system (being a part of the larger societal system). It must define within its allocated budgets what should be its priorities. Mike M would say, all parties should be involved (parents, teachers, administration, IT staff, and students) and Paul would say, partition budgets effectively.
Budgeting, priorities and stakeholders are triplets from a single mother.
I agree Lana and Ben, School division spend their budgets on some strange things. Catered lunches during PD; That sounds good! Where do I apply? Seriously though, Divisions are spending money on resource staff and special pet projects. Some Divisions claim a low student to teacher ratio, but the realities is that time and money is being spent on special projects and student support programs. Class sizes end up being enormous so that other initiatives can flourish. The more I hear about special projects at my school the more my class size goes up. I personally think that staffing should be used to make class sizes manageable. If class sizes were smaller than the teachers and students would not need as many additional supports.
ReplyDeleteOne thing is for certain - if teachers and Principals had control, things would be different! Each year school boards call for public input, ask for the input of staff & admin, then get berated by some loud taxpayers and business people and get pressured by the Provincial Government to not raise taxes .. so they don't. In all fairness, it is a tough job and tough decisions must be made, but if a division is frugal and finds way to save on, say busing, they get less money, so what is the point? As a Principal, I was asked for input, what are the needs? I would say staffing, teaching supplies, money for field trips and athletics ... but we still had staff cuts. Granted in this economy it is tough to increase spending. I vote to let Lana decide!
ReplyDeleteLana, you should DEFINITELY run for the head of a school board! You could run an Obama-like campaign that stresses change... Unfortunately, it seems like the problem at your school seems all too familiar.... it's all about the money. Like old Mike says, the decisions are made based on outside pressures (like taxpayers and business people), which would explain why the new technology and software for computers is at a premium, while core things like staffing and course options fall by the wayside.
ReplyDeleteA vote for Lana = A vote for CHANGE!
And I volunteer to be your campaign manager!!
ReplyDeleteYour slogan will be LANA for A NEW EDUCATION MODEL.
Here are some of the issues:
If divisions wish to save money, amalgamate to form one provincial division. The savings that result from the reduction of superintendents, assistant superintendents, trustees, administrative assistance, financial officers, etc. should be substantial. Provincial bargaining for teachers will eliminate discrepancies in teachers’ pay between divisions saving even more money.
Any savings resulting from administrative restructuring goes back into the classroom. Teacher-student ratios are never to exceed 1:20 or better.
When a company is not profitable or not viable you do not replace the employees, you replace the management. The romantic view of the administrator who is the “over-seer” of a school is antiquated and needs to be replaced with a vision of administrator as “over-doers”. If teachers are responsible for creating a learning environment in the classroom then it is the responsibility of administrators to create the conditions such that teachers can create that learning environment. This is the secret to successful schools.
Eliminate options that cannot attract enough students. Make e-learning AN option. Make commuting (to other schools) AN option.
Other issues are welcome!!
Well said Roman (and all)! While I do not work in the public system, I have heard of some silly spending. Some friends of mine go to Vegas for a basketball PD.
ReplyDeleteI remember as a student being selected to go to a bunch of staff meetings to help formulate the school's mission statement. The school had a facilitator that showed up with a powerpoint and rambled on. She was there for only two days, and when the teachers had enough of her talking someone asked how much she was getting paid for her two days, she said her consulting fee was $9,000 dollars! (She insisted that she put a lot more work into this then the 2 days of presenting).
I am sure we could all come up with several stories of terrible money management. I think that downsizing the administrative aspect of the school boards is an excellent place to start. Maybe not one big one, but definitely less then what we have. Getting rid of that many jobs all at once would be a problem. Too many powerful people with self interest in mind.
OK - I vote for Roman & Lana!! I will just feed you advice! I also want to know where that school is that sends people to Vegas.. for PD?? OR how I can get $9000 for a 2 day consulting gig, I can make powerpoints or even Prezis too! I do get to do a presentation at a conference in San Jose this summer :-) but I have to pay $450 registration and all my expenses.. ah the University game can be expensive, but one has to get tenure! (it should be fun, though!)
ReplyDeleteMike N is doing his PhD so that he can get $9000 for two days work, doesn't anyone know that? I'm doing my MEd so I can get $5000 for two days. Anyone else? It's always about money. Actually, ideology comes first, but it always results in who pays. Lana, be careful about letting Roman be your campaign manager. Undoubtedly you'd become a Winner, but at what cost? His ideas are very good, and good ideas command big $$. Making e-learning an option is a futuristic idea, one of vision. So is the disposal of antiquated models (well, this just may be common sense). Roman's e-learning with the Semanitc Web... hey that could work.
ReplyDeleteHere's another discussion question, "Who do school boards really serve?" Students? Sometimes. But trustees are also concerned about winning the next election, and sometimes using a school board as a springboard to a higher political office. And to which special interest groups might they cave in a deal for support? You can see where this is going.
Roman asked the fundamental question in his entry this week, "What is the purpose of schools?" I think it's not so much about the how as the what. What is their purpose, really? It's a political question, not one of education, unless education really is just politics in disguise. And we all know that politics can be great vehicle for business to further it's agenda. Now, where's my share of the $600B?
YOU SAID IT!!!! I'd vote for you!
ReplyDelete