***FCPS: Ideas for Improvement Master Thread***

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some thoughts on school vouchers and charter schools - I think they would signal the end to a quality public education in FFX County

I know there are success stories and charter schools which helped kids... and then there is Khan Academy whose genius I imagine was fueled by vastly underpaid college graduates whose intelligence and creativity was ably exploited by Khan. I just realized what an appropriate name that is - Khan, the conquerer, brute barbarian appropriating others’ brilliance for his own gain.

But overall, charter schools are like privatized prisons. You go down that road and America starts to get pretty corrupt and disgusting.

(Also weren’t there those charter schools in Michigan that were supposed to substitute for the public schools, but when the charters realized they couldn’t make a profit, they pulled up stakes and left a whole community with no school? Charter schools do crap like that.)

Why don't you educate yourself on the genesis of the site before spewing such nonsense.

[Anonymous]

Textbooks/less reliance on their shoddy low-budget and thrown together tech

Teach content, not just little blurbs from which the kids have to answer some multiple choice questions like on a standardized test

Greater leeway to move behavioral disruptive kids and kids who don’t speak any English out of general education classrooms

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some thoughts on school vouchers and charter schools - I think they would signal the end to a quality public education in FFX County

I know there are success stories and charter schools which helped kids... and then there is Khan Academy whose genius I imagine was fueled by vastly underpaid college graduates whose intelligence and creativity was ably exploited by Khan. I just realized what an appropriate name that is - Khan, the conquerer, brute barbarian appropriating others’ brilliance for his own gain.

But overall, charter schools are like privatized prisons. You go down that road and America starts to get pretty corrupt and disgusting.

(Also weren’t there those charter schools in Michigan that were supposed to substitute for the public schools, but when the charters realized they couldn’t make a profit, they pulled up stakes and left a whole community with no school? Charter schools do crap like that.)

Why don't you educate yourself on the genesis of the site before spewing such nonsense.

Uh, okay? I did preface that statement with “I imagine,” Ms. Hostile Interlocutor. You could also try politely correcting my errors rather dismissing the entire post outright.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some thoughts on school vouchers and charter schools - I think they would signal the end to a quality public education in FFX County

I know there are success stories and charter schools which helped kids... and then there is Khan Academy whose genius I imagine was fueled by vastly underpaid college graduates whose intelligence and creativity was ably exploited by Khan. I just realized what an appropriate name that is - Khan, the conquerer, brute barbarian appropriating others’ brilliance for his own gain.

But overall, charter schools are like privatized prisons. You go down that road and America starts to get pretty corrupt and disgusting.

(Also weren’t there those charter schools in Michigan that were supposed to substitute for the public schools, but when the charters realized they couldn’t make a profit, they pulled up stakes and left a whole community with no school? Charter schools do crap like that.)

Why don't you educate yourself on the genesis of the site before spewing such nonsense.

Uh, okay? I did preface that statement with “I imagine,” Ms. Hostile Interlocutor. You could also try politely correcting my errors rather dismissing the entire post outright.

Also, I believe Khan Academy was an academy before it became a website. Clearly, you have troves of information you can share with us, so I will await your enlightenment on this topic.

[Anonymous]

Improve teacher pay in the middle of the pay scales to attract better teachers to this region. I feel like right now the teachers in FCPS are basically:

- career-changers, former SAHM types who went back to work to bring in a bit more money and because the schools have better benefits than their husband’s private company. But push comes to shove, they don’t really “need” the income. So they are reluctant to teach in person and may just quit.

- very young recent college grads originally from this area who may or may not stick with teaching long-term, or may move out of the area for better pay or cost of living.

- older teachers who have been here many years and make good money but since they’re older, they’re also reluctant to return.

In places where teachers are more well-compensated and teaching is a middle-class profession, you don’t see nearly this level of hesitancy and fear around teaching in person. They know they have good jobs, AND that people are lining up to replace them if they quit. My dad is a retired administrator in a small district in Ohio, certainly not a very rich place or anything, and kind of isolated, and they had hundreds of applicants for every job posting. I think if they offered teachers with a few years experience - not entry level or very experienced, but like the 3-15 year teachers - more money, that we could increase our teacher quality over time.

[Anonymous]

- Pay subs more, especially long term subs. Anyone who subs for more than 30/60/90/120 days in a school year gets a daily pay bump. Anyone who subs for consecutive years also gets a pay bump. Also, pay subs for training. It's probably illegal that they don't.
- Pay support staff more, especially if they have a relevant degree or experience. The pay bump was good, but it's not enough to entice most literate people. I mention "literate" because these are the folks who will be working with emerging readers or students with disabilities who have detailed instructional or behavioral plans. They also get pulled to cover regular classes a lot. Anyone who doesn't think this is an issue hasn't been in a classroom lately.
- Get rid of instructional coaches and curriculum specialists
- SPED should be on its own higher pay scale, especially low incidence/EBD/CSS/PAC. Don't hire anyone in these classrooms who has a provisional license and/or zero experience as a lead teacher. The pay should be a lot higher, but the qualifications should be a lot higher, too.
- Every single ES should have an advanced math and advanced reading track starting in 3rd grade for the top 20% of students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some thoughts on school vouchers and charter schools - I think they would signal the end to a quality public education in FFX County

I know there are success stories and charter schools which helped kids... and then there is Khan Academy whose genius I imagine was fueled by vastly underpaid college graduates whose intelligence and creativity was ably exploited by Khan. I just realized what an appropriate name that is - Khan, the conquerer, brute barbarian appropriating others’ brilliance for his own gain.

But overall, charter schools are like privatized prisons. You go down that road and America starts to get pretty corrupt and disgusting.

(Also weren’t there those charter schools in Michigan that were supposed to substitute for the public schools, but when the charters realized they couldn’t make a profit, they pulled up stakes and left a whole community with no school? Charter schools do crap like that.)

Why don't you educate yourself on the genesis of the site before spewing such nonsense.

Uh, okay? I did preface that statement with “I imagine,” Ms. Hostile Interlocutor. You could also try politely correcting my errors rather dismissing the entire post outright.

Salman Khan is a high school valedictorian, MIT double major and HBS grad who briefly worked in finance and simultaneously started making science and math videos to help his young cousin with her class work. The videos garnered such a huge audience so quickly that he left finance to create Khan Academy, which has remained a non-profit to this day.
Sal Khan himself teaches the vast majority of the video lessons on the site.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some thoughts on school vouchers and charter schools - I think they would signal the end to a quality public education in FFX County

I know there are success stories and charter schools which helped kids... and then there is Khan Academy whose genius I imagine was fueled by vastly underpaid college graduates whose intelligence and creativity was ably exploited by Khan. I just realized what an appropriate name that is - Khan, the conquerer, brute barbarian appropriating others’ brilliance for his own gain.

But overall, charter schools are like privatized prisons. You go down that road and America starts to get pretty corrupt and disgusting.

(Also weren’t there those charter schools in Michigan that were supposed to substitute for the public schools, but when the charters realized they couldn’t make a profit, they pulled up stakes and left a whole community with no school? Charter schools do crap like that.)

Why don't you educate yourself on the genesis of the site before spewing such nonsense.

Uh, okay? I did preface that statement with “I imagine,” Ms. Hostile Interlocutor. You could also try politely correcting my errors rather dismissing the entire post outright.

Wrong. There's a lab school now but the site came first.

Also, I believe Khan Academy was an academy before it became a website. Clearly, you have troves of information you can share with us, so I will await your enlightenment on this topic.

[Anonymous]

Go start a new thread thread about Khan Academy. It’s off topic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some thoughts on school vouchers and charter schools - I think they would signal the end to a quality public education in FFX County

I know there are success stories and charter schools which helped kids... and then there is Khan Academy whose genius I imagine was fueled by vastly underpaid college graduates whose intelligence and creativity was ably exploited by Khan. I just realized what an appropriate name that is - Khan, the conquerer, brute barbarian appropriating others’ brilliance for his own gain.

But overall, charter schools are like privatized prisons. You go down that road and America starts to get pretty corrupt and disgusting.

(Also weren’t there those charter schools in Michigan that were supposed to substitute for the public schools, but when the charters realized they couldn’t make a profit, they pulled up stakes and left a whole community with no school? Charter schools do crap like that.)

Why don't you educate yourself on the genesis of the site before spewing such nonsense.

Uh, okay? I did preface that statement with “I imagine,” Ms. Hostile Interlocutor. You could also try politely correcting my errors rather dismissing the entire post outright.

Salman Khan is a high school valedictorian, MIT double major and HBS grad who briefly worked in finance and simultaneously started making science and math videos to help his young cousin with her class work. The videos garnered such a huge audience so quickly that he left finance to create Khan Academy, which has remained a non-profit to this day.
Sal Khan himself teaches the vast majority of the video lessons on the site.

Oh okay, so it’s not even a charter school. My bad. I had no idea it was completely non profit. Sorry, Khan!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Go start a new thread thread about Khan Academy. It’s off topic.

I was addressing the idea of “school vouchers and charter schools” being a path to improvement. (My answer was a hearty Nyet). I incorrectly identified Khan as a charter school

[Anonymous]

Break it up by high school pyramid

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Improve teacher pay in the middle of the pay scales to attract better teachers to this region. I feel like right now the teachers in FCPS are basically:

- career-changers, former SAHM types who went back to work to bring in a bit more money and because the schools have better benefits than their husband’s private company. But push comes to shove, they don’t really “need” the income. So they are reluctant to teach in person and may just quit.

- very young recent college grads originally from this area who may or may not stick with teaching long-term, or may move out of the area for better pay or cost of living.

- older teachers who have been here many years and make good money but since they’re older, they’re also reluctant to return.

In places where teachers are more well-compensated and teaching is a middle-class profession, you don’t see nearly this level of hesitancy and fear around teaching in person. They know they have good jobs, AND that people are lining up to replace them if they quit. My dad is a retired administrator in a small district in Ohio, certainly not a very rich place or anything, and kind of isolated, and they had hundreds of applicants for every job posting. I think if they offered teachers with a few years experience - not entry level or very experienced, but like the 3-15 year teachers - more money, that we could increase our teacher quality over time.

There is zero political support for paying teachers more. I do not see this happening.

[Anonymous]

I agree with much of what has been mentioned.

--Make the Gatehouse folks substitute in the schools as a condition of their continued employment at the mothership. This would enable them to have something of value to discuss at meetings since they will actually experience how things have declined. Maybe this would force them to make changes.

--Appoint a nonpartisan team of inspectors general to review finances, curriculum, HR policies & procedures, discipline, school performance, all of it every three to five years. Team must include a financial professional.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Improve teacher pay in the middle of the pay scales to attract better teachers to this region. I feel like right now the teachers in FCPS are basically:

- career-changers, former SAHM types who went back to work to bring in a bit more money and because the schools have better benefits than their husband’s private company. But push comes to shove, they don’t really “need” the income. So they are reluctant to teach in person and may just quit.

- very young recent college grads originally from this area who may or may not stick with teaching long-term, or may move out of the area for better pay or cost of living.

- older teachers who have been here many years and make good money but since they’re older, they’re also reluctant to return.

In places where teachers are more well-compensated and teaching is a middle-class profession, you don’t see nearly this level of hesitancy and fear around teaching in person. They know they have good jobs, AND that people are lining up to replace them if they quit. My dad is a retired administrator in a small district in Ohio, certainly not a very rich place or anything, and kind of isolated, and they had hundreds of applicants for every job posting. I think if they offered teachers with a few years experience - not entry level or very experienced, but like the 3-15 year teachers - more money, that we could increase our teacher quality over time.

There is zero political support for paying teachers more. I do not see this happening.

That’s too bad - I really think we could get better teachers and have fewer vacancies if they paid more.