I was blessed with the opportunity to serve as a judge at a UIL Regional Academic meet involving schools from 15 districts scattered across a big portion of the state. As I sat and watched the students and the traffic I could not help but want to bang my head in frustration. Why is that school districts do not see the big picture?
Observation #1 A large well known school system that has name recognition everywhere sends their academic students on a bus ride of 3 hours to the Regional meet. Problem.... Well this school tends to send their athletes even on trips of under 40 miles in very nice charter buses. They sent their academic students on a 3 hour ride in a bus that looked like it was repossessed from a junk yard.
Hmmm I think that district just told their students - academics do not really matter. It might also be why they got their butt kicked in nearly every contest they entered. When the students competing see themselves as not mattering to the district - they do not tend to perform well. Congratulations **ISD - your message was heard loud and clear. This mentality might also explain your recent TAKS scores. You are 0 for 2 in the common sense department.
Observation#2 Why is it that one step away from competing for state title, that administrators choose not to show up for even the send off to tell the students good luck. Show up at the actual contest and visit the students and let them know they have support.... yea - like that is going to happen. Well it does when it is a 1st round playoff game 150 miles from home in any sport. Then you can't walk without tripping over an administrator or two. Far be it from school administrators to be seen backing the academic students...or the coaches who pour their lives into working with these students.
Hmmmm This too might explain the outcome of performances of students who feel like no one cares if they make it.
Obervation #3 Why are there people assigned duty as academic coaches who never work with their students and yet continue to be paid a stipend? Why is it that the stipend for academic coaches is miniscule on a per hour basis compared to athletic coaches? Why are there so many clueless school boards about these issues?
HMMM let me see
Lets pick a sport like football.
Coach is one sport coach. Outside the normal school calendar 10 days work
In season - lets figure an additional 26 hours a week of work
Make it 2 rounds on playoffs
13 weeks at 26hours = 388 hours plus summer days - say 550 hours outside the school day.
Stipend - 5500$ = 10$ an hour - lot of work for that pay
Now take an academic coach who travels 12 weekends to contests with an average day being from 7am to 5 pm - take out lunch provided - and call it 9 hours
12 x 9 hours - 108 hours
Same teacher practices with their students 1 hour a week outside class time for 12 weeks. I know teachers who spend 2 hours a week all year with their students.
12 x 1 = 12 hours
Same teacher travels to regionals and spends another 12-16 hours
16 + 12 +108 = 136 hours
If paid at same rate of $10 - the teacher should have a stipend of $1360
I know teachers who put in that kind of hours and more and received ....
$250 a year - $1.83 an hour.
District message - Athletic coaches are 8 times more valuable than academic coaches. (Check out who produces the most scholarship winners)
To put it in perspective - my school district pays people $18 an hour to run Saturday school - 4 hours per Saturday. Work 16 hours and make more than an academic coach.
So babysitters are 10 times more valuable than academic coaches.
Then pay that same $250 to the coach who never practiced and spent less than 8 hours with the students - and lazy people are now 20+ times more valuable than academic coaches.
Yea ....this is why the students do not get excited....cause no one else does.
Please note - I have nothing against athletics - I see the long hard hours coaches put in. I am just saying that whatever amount that works out to per hour - should be the same paid to anyone who spends time outside the school day working with students.
Most cities - make it to the playoffs in anything and there will be something on front page of the news.
Qualify 20 students to Regional Academics in any town small or large and it will not even make most newspapers.
For the record - UIL Academic scholarships given out each year - Exceed the budget of all but very large universities academic scholarship budgets.
For every athlete who goes D1 in any sport to any school in Texas, there is at least 1 or more students going to D1 schools on academic scholarships through UIL.
I heard a group of students wanting to charter a limousine for a 90 mile ride to the Regional meet. Talk about intimidating the opposition. That might be one very fun fundraiser to look into.
Maybe someday - common sense will return to administrators....tho it seems that sometimes - the worst seem to just continue floating upward...
if you have an answer - please share - I would love to know how to fix this mindset.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Monday, April 4, 2011
Tiger Mother - daughter heads to Harvard
From the Daily Caller - via yahoo news
"Amy “Tiger Mother” Chua, the Yale professor who enraged much of the United States’ parenting population earlier this year when she wrote a Wall Street Journal piece about her strict child-rearing techniques, can safely say her rigidity accomplished something. According to Above The Law, Chua’s eldest daughter Sophia has been accepted to Harvard University. Young Sophia Chua-Rubenfeld received her acceptance letter earlier this week and “has already made up her mind that Harvard is where she’ll attend college.”
Catherine Connors, a writer and award-winning parenting blogger, told The Daily Caller in January that Chua’s parenting decisions are “beyond extreme” and could make children fall ill."
Ok ok ...excuse me - award winning parenting blogger......erm who gives out such awards - is it based on true ideas or number of friends watching the blog.
My response to clueless adults like Catherine Connors is below - pardon me - but this one got under my skin.
Oh that I could clone this woman.
As a high school teacher for more than 20 years and having worked with young people for nearly 30 years, I can say that while there are a lot of very good students out there, there are an awful lot who parent's expect everyone else including the school and police to raise them.
Example - I currently have 5 seniors who may got graduate due to excessive absences. In at least 2 cases, I know that the parent lets the 17 or 18 year old stay home cause it is easier than arguing with them. One of the 5 is repeating my class having been denied credit 2 years ago for excessive absences. One more absence in 6 weeks left- and she won't graduate.
Teaching in a small school system with a high minority rate, it is sad to see the number of kids being turned out whose parents and culture instill no belief in education. Prior to the changing of attendance laws, many used to bide their time and drop out. Now schools are punished for every single drop out and face harsh punishments and loss of funding for these who refuse to attend. Schools are punished because we can not convince a kid he needs an education when everyone in his family and his native culture expects him to get out of school as fast as he can and do manual labor. If female- job 1 is to find a guy - get pregnant and make babies. Argue what you want - I have heard these girls in class daily for 20+ years. Those same ones who hate to attend - won't hesitate to show up on campus or at a school activity, at 15 or 16 years of age - carrying a baby and act like it was their destiny.
These same people do not seem to realize that that pattern leads to a high number of alcoholics, a higher number of divorces (for many - this is the first time anyone stood up to them and said NO!), and a rise in criminal behavior and or incarceration. I once taught freshmen level courses to low performing students. At one time or another - more than 20% of the students I had my first year were in some sort of run in with law enforcement within a 6 year period. Ranging from DWI to burglary to sexual assault and even sexual assault of a child.
That was more than 20 years ago - scared to think what it might be with today's society.
So maybe this lady's ideas seem extreme - but you don't see her kids in legal trouble or unwed pregnancies or being fined for failing to attend school.
Has she raised my approx 2500+ students the last 20 years - what differences would I have seen?
At least 150 more students who graduated high school
At least 3 more living who died in violence related to drugs or criminal behavior
At least 150 less DWIs and at least 20 more of my students would have had the opportunity to outlive their teacher.
At the least 60 to 75 less children living in single parent homes where the parent has less than a high school education.
At least 6 more national merit scholars
At least 500 more college graduates.
So I wish there were more parents closer to her ideas than there are ridiculing them. We are approaching a time where more and more skilled jobs go outsource as American students get lazier and more self indulgent.
Tiger Mom may be extreme - but as parents - that is ok - we know her kids will shatter the norms of average students.Her kids will get jobs and not live on public welfare. Her kids will contribute something other than babies to the community.
Get 20% of the parents to move 2 steps in her direction as far as discipline - and I could teach another 15 years. As it is - I hope to last 3 and get out before it gets any worse.
So unless you got something better - maybe all students need a little Tiger mom treatment.
Should you want to read the whole issue - the link is below and my comments are part of the site.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/dailycaller/tigermothersdaughteracceptedintoharvard#mwpphu-container
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Lowest Common Denominator
No this is not a math class....this is the current trend of things in too may schools across both Texas and the nation.
In a knee jerk reaction to low performance on state mandated tests as well as drop out rates, schools are jumping on every possible solution regardless of whether it is practical - logical - or proven.
10% of all students are not doing homework ...... response - give them a longer day with more classes and study hall and expect a change in results.
RESULT:
Sounds to me like the 90% taking care of things just got punished for doing what was right.
Low scores on state mandated tests - so eliminate honors class for the high performing students - dump them in a class being taught to the level of the weakest student so you can claim you are covering every objective for the state test with every single student. Never mind that you are short changing the group of students most likely to graduate from a university. Do not challenge them so they are really ready for the first days at a 4 year university. This writer awards the AnalRetentive Master award to multiple school boards in the state of Texas following this asinine pattern of reasoning.
And because every single student in the entire system always is perfect and always cares and always put 100% effort into it, then any score below passing on a state mandated test is 100% the fault of the teacher.
With the requirements for being certified in critical areas like math - physics - chemistry - biology already very tough in Texas and only a few classes from a degree in these areas and at least $10k to 15K more in the business world,
The in vogue thing is to blame all failures in these subjects on the teachers.
Gee Einsteins...... lets see how this works ..... take the jobs the hardest to fill in public schools.....and usually filled by people who want to teach.......lay all the blame on them....all the while paying at least 10k less than what many of them would make in the business world.
And the geniuses in Austin and in Obamacation can't understand why every university in the state is not graduating scores of new math and science teachers.
Please someone invent a drug that induces common sense. Then lets spray every TEA employee, every state legislator, the governor, every superintendent, principal, and every school board member with it .
Sadly public education reasoning has become like the IRS and the old fashioned outhouse.
It is all about the paperwork....and most of it is crammed full of crap
In a knee jerk reaction to low performance on state mandated tests as well as drop out rates, schools are jumping on every possible solution regardless of whether it is practical - logical - or proven.
10% of all students are not doing homework ...... response - give them a longer day with more classes and study hall and expect a change in results.
RESULT:
Sounds to me like the 90% taking care of things just got punished for doing what was right.
Low scores on state mandated tests - so eliminate honors class for the high performing students - dump them in a class being taught to the level of the weakest student so you can claim you are covering every objective for the state test with every single student. Never mind that you are short changing the group of students most likely to graduate from a university. Do not challenge them so they are really ready for the first days at a 4 year university. This writer awards the AnalRetentive Master award to multiple school boards in the state of Texas following this asinine pattern of reasoning.
And because every single student in the entire system always is perfect and always cares and always put 100% effort into it, then any score below passing on a state mandated test is 100% the fault of the teacher.
With the requirements for being certified in critical areas like math - physics - chemistry - biology already very tough in Texas and only a few classes from a degree in these areas and at least $10k to 15K more in the business world,
The in vogue thing is to blame all failures in these subjects on the teachers.
Gee Einsteins...... lets see how this works ..... take the jobs the hardest to fill in public schools.....and usually filled by people who want to teach.......lay all the blame on them....all the while paying at least 10k less than what many of them would make in the business world.
And the geniuses in Austin and in Obamacation can't understand why every university in the state is not graduating scores of new math and science teachers.
Please someone invent a drug that induces common sense. Then lets spray every TEA employee, every state legislator, the governor, every superintendent, principal, and every school board member with it .
Sadly public education reasoning has become like the IRS and the old fashioned outhouse.
It is all about the paperwork....and most of it is crammed full of crap
Monday, May 3, 2010
Stupid Leadership.....Stupid Parents.....STOP THE STUPIDITY
This one has to be shared....
FACTS:
Community School - mid size..... somewhere in Texas...
Problem......Community Allowed/Sponsored Annual Liquor Party .
....during baseball season.
Coach decides to take a stand ....makes a contract with the players and their parents.. If you attend the party, you are off the team..... parents and players sign it. THIS IS A REAL COACH!!!
Everyone in the area knew the party was coming .
Responsible parents....kept their kids home that night....
Sure enough players attend the party...Someone takes pics with a camera phone..
Coach tells a number of varsity players (as many as 9 ?) - you are off the team.
Insert stupid AD...and idiot Principal ... Say .... Coach ...this is too harsh....lets suspend them for 2 games.
Then at AD and Principal's request....... one game suspension.....next game (rained out ) is counted as the second suspension.
All the players return to the team.....
(hand slap accomplished...behavior reinforced)
Then after some public backlash.....AD resigns....goes elsewhere....
(Yeah ....hope you do not get this loser.....)
Apparently the moronic principal was allowed to keep his job.
And meanwhile.....the community allowed alcohol party.....gears up for next year...
And we wonder why people think education has sank to new depths....
If this writer ever gets word of the date and location for this annual stupidity...trust me - I will be more than happy to call every law enforcement agency in the area...Stick a few parents in jail...and end this stupidity.
AGAIN....
we fail to hold the students & PARENTS...responsible
FACTS:
Community School - mid size..... somewhere in Texas...
Problem......Community Allowed/Sponsored Annual Liquor Party .
....during baseball season.
Coach decides to take a stand ....makes a contract with the players and their parents.. If you attend the party, you are off the team..... parents and players sign it. THIS IS A REAL COACH!!!
Everyone in the area knew the party was coming .
Responsible parents....kept their kids home that night....
Sure enough players attend the party...Someone takes pics with a camera phone..
Coach tells a number of varsity players (as many as 9 ?) - you are off the team.
Insert stupid AD...and idiot Principal ... Say .... Coach ...this is too harsh....lets suspend them for 2 games.
Then at AD and Principal's request....... one game suspension.....next game (rained out ) is counted as the second suspension.
All the players return to the team.....
(hand slap accomplished...behavior reinforced)
Then after some public backlash.....AD resigns....goes elsewhere....
(Yeah ....hope you do not get this loser.....)
Apparently the moronic principal was allowed to keep his job.
And meanwhile.....the community allowed alcohol party.....gears up for next year...
And we wonder why people think education has sank to new depths....
If this writer ever gets word of the date and location for this annual stupidity...trust me - I will be more than happy to call every law enforcement agency in the area...Stick a few parents in jail...and end this stupidity.
AGAIN....
we fail to hold the students & PARENTS...responsible
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
WORKING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
A little bit from the positive side.
One school district decided that it was time to fight back against kids who were choosing to routinely fail core classes.
So they reworked their daily schedule and added a tutorials time into the daily schedule.
When the door closes,there is no tardy attendance wise.
Miss once per 6 weeks - no questions asked.
Second miss is 4 hours of Saturday school.
Third miss from tutorials in a 6 weeks -
and the districts police officer will pull the student from class and issue a ticket.
GEE!! KIDS BEING HELD RESPONSIBLE!!!
KUDOS TO THESE PEOPLE!!!!
Another school had a problem with excessive cell phone playing and use in the halls.
Implemented a hard nose policy:
If the phone is heard or even seen - even as a pocket outline - it is taken up
1st offense - phone returned at end of the next day.
2nd offense - $15 fine and parents must come pick up the phone.
3rd offense - phone is locked up for 30 days
GEE!! KIDS BEING HELD RESPONSIBLE!!!
KUDOS TO THESE PEOPLE!!!
One school district decided that it was time to fight back against kids who were choosing to routinely fail core classes.
So they reworked their daily schedule and added a tutorials time into the daily schedule.
When the door closes,there is no tardy attendance wise.
Miss once per 6 weeks - no questions asked.
Second miss is 4 hours of Saturday school.
Third miss from tutorials in a 6 weeks -
and the districts police officer will pull the student from class and issue a ticket.
GEE!! KIDS BEING HELD RESPONSIBLE!!!
KUDOS TO THESE PEOPLE!!!!
Another school had a problem with excessive cell phone playing and use in the halls.
Implemented a hard nose policy:
If the phone is heard or even seen - even as a pocket outline - it is taken up
1st offense - phone returned at end of the next day.
2nd offense - $15 fine and parents must come pick up the phone.
3rd offense - phone is locked up for 30 days
GEE!! KIDS BEING HELD RESPONSIBLE!!!
KUDOS TO THESE PEOPLE!!!
Friday, April 9, 2010
SAY WHAT???? REALLY???
The fountain of stupidity has given birth to yet another MIC (Moron in control)
Medium size school district.... known for athletics in the past but not as strong lately.
New Athletic Director...... talking to a middle school administrator
paraphrased quote:
"You guys are blowing too many of the athletes out due to grades and discipline.... these kids need to have the chance to compete. You need to keep them playing...regardless of grades so they can have a goal"
Thankfully the administrator has enough sense .....however - it is a fact that he who has the highest salary ....usually gets listened to..
Mr AD...... can you read my lips..... UIL SANCTIONS??? BREAKING THE LAW???
NO PASS NO PLAY .....applies to your students. regardless of how you feel about it.
Quit thinking you are god..... and try this one -
students (AND PARENTS) are held responsible for grades...as well as behavior..
(I kinda think the real world thrives on this performance and citizenship idea)
Oh wait a minute - you are wanting to make these guys into superstars - the kind not responsible for sleeping around...not responsible for carrying loaded guns...and not responsible for DWI..... cause after all ....they are athletes....they don't have to be responsible.
(Besides - the NBA has enough of this type for now ....should they run short - we will tell them you are scouting on their behalf)
In the mean time..... school district - toss this moron out before he puts your district into the really bad press releases. School district - be thankful/hopeful your administrators will not listen to this high paid idiot you got trying to run the system for his own behalf.
This guy apparently has more workout shorts than brains...
Medium size school district.... known for athletics in the past but not as strong lately.
New Athletic Director...... talking to a middle school administrator
paraphrased quote:
"You guys are blowing too many of the athletes out due to grades and discipline.... these kids need to have the chance to compete. You need to keep them playing...regardless of grades so they can have a goal"
Thankfully the administrator has enough sense .....however - it is a fact that he who has the highest salary ....usually gets listened to..
Mr AD...... can you read my lips..... UIL SANCTIONS??? BREAKING THE LAW???
NO PASS NO PLAY .....applies to your students. regardless of how you feel about it.
Quit thinking you are god..... and try this one -
students (AND PARENTS) are held responsible for grades...as well as behavior..
(I kinda think the real world thrives on this performance and citizenship idea)
Oh wait a minute - you are wanting to make these guys into superstars - the kind not responsible for sleeping around...not responsible for carrying loaded guns...and not responsible for DWI..... cause after all ....they are athletes....they don't have to be responsible.
(Besides - the NBA has enough of this type for now ....should they run short - we will tell them you are scouting on their behalf)
In the mean time..... school district - toss this moron out before he puts your district into the really bad press releases. School district - be thankful/hopeful your administrators will not listen to this high paid idiot you got trying to run the system for his own behalf.
This guy apparently has more workout shorts than brains...
ONE DUMB MOVE AFTER ANOTHER
Well the insanity continues....
Take a medium size high school. Heavy Minority population. Dropouts and test scores have given it unacceptable rating for 2nd time.
New superintendent. Already appointed someone from the ad bldg to replace the principal at the high school.
Next up - Reassign or fire HALF of the staff. yes - HALF. Focusing on core subject teachers.
Background - heavy minority school - not in the top 25% salary wise.
New superintendent expects to replace core teachers.
With it evident - teachers are tied to test scores.
Pay is not attractive overall. Math and Science Teachers will receive a $7500 stipend to sign up.
(Actually the salary plus stipend does not make that system pay what other schools within 100 miles pay - who went 2 years advertising for science teachers and having no applications.)
Sounds like the super needs a reality check.
This writer knows teachers who work at schools like this one. Teachers who work at these kind of schools cause they choose to try and make an impact where many others would not even apply. Teachers who see this type of school as their personal challenge.
So ....not holding students responsible for things like dropping out - the knee jerk reaction.....is to grab Obama money - use it to bribe new teachers into the crossfire - and new / inexperienced teachers are going to grab that money.
And we force out or send those teachers who freely choose to work with this level of kid to work on a different campus.
And we are getting rid of the current Math and Science teachers...thinking we will replace them with experienced teachers willing to settle for a not very competitive pay scale, a longer than average school day(singled out against all the other schools in the district), the stigma of replacing people who were forced out ..... with math and science teachers who are willing to be tied to test scores...
At a time when schools across the nation are offering stipends to attract math and Science teachers which along with computer science teachers - the hardest to find in any state coast to coast. At a time when schools within 100 miles are paying as much as 6K above the salary and stipend offered.
If you could snap your fingers and make 1000 new science teachers and 1000 new math teachers - They could all have jobs within 24 hours....
So good luck Mr Superintendent with your plan....
When you are wiser.... you will realize that maybe some of those you are choosing to force out ...
were some of the best teachers you had..
And those of you being reassigned - MOVE - find a district that appreciates you ...and many in your area will pay you more and not question your abilities.
Mr Superintendent..... consider holding the parents and students responsible...
Oops ....there I go again trying to apply logic...
Take a medium size high school. Heavy Minority population. Dropouts and test scores have given it unacceptable rating for 2nd time.
New superintendent. Already appointed someone from the ad bldg to replace the principal at the high school.
Next up - Reassign or fire HALF of the staff. yes - HALF. Focusing on core subject teachers.
Background - heavy minority school - not in the top 25% salary wise.
New superintendent expects to replace core teachers.
With it evident - teachers are tied to test scores.
Pay is not attractive overall. Math and Science Teachers will receive a $7500 stipend to sign up.
(Actually the salary plus stipend does not make that system pay what other schools within 100 miles pay - who went 2 years advertising for science teachers and having no applications.)
Sounds like the super needs a reality check.
This writer knows teachers who work at schools like this one. Teachers who work at these kind of schools cause they choose to try and make an impact where many others would not even apply. Teachers who see this type of school as their personal challenge.
So ....not holding students responsible for things like dropping out - the knee jerk reaction.....is to grab Obama money - use it to bribe new teachers into the crossfire - and new / inexperienced teachers are going to grab that money.
And we force out or send those teachers who freely choose to work with this level of kid to work on a different campus.
And we are getting rid of the current Math and Science teachers...thinking we will replace them with experienced teachers willing to settle for a not very competitive pay scale, a longer than average school day(singled out against all the other schools in the district), the stigma of replacing people who were forced out ..... with math and science teachers who are willing to be tied to test scores...
At a time when schools across the nation are offering stipends to attract math and Science teachers which along with computer science teachers - the hardest to find in any state coast to coast. At a time when schools within 100 miles are paying as much as 6K above the salary and stipend offered.
If you could snap your fingers and make 1000 new science teachers and 1000 new math teachers - They could all have jobs within 24 hours....
So good luck Mr Superintendent with your plan....
When you are wiser.... you will realize that maybe some of those you are choosing to force out ...
were some of the best teachers you had..
And those of you being reassigned - MOVE - find a district that appreciates you ...and many in your area will pay you more and not question your abilities.
Mr Superintendent..... consider holding the parents and students responsible...
Oops ....there I go again trying to apply logic...
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Clueless In Austin .....the insanity continues.
As mentioned previously, Texas is preparing to offer end of course tests in the core subjects. To this point, several tests are currently being field tested. Once again - Austin finds a way to screw up even more.
Currently the Vogue in Austin is online testing....despite the fact that previous attempts have been muddled with poor planning and preparation by Austin/and or testing companies. Little things like scheduling 1000 students to take a test at same time from an internet connection that was not powerful enough to handle 1/2 that.
Schools get "told" they must administer field tests and are expected to just make it happen. This is much easier with printed tests. You then need a room - someone to watch the students and time.
Now lets take a large school - say 4500 students. The school gets selected to administer an online field test for their entire sophomore class. Estimate there are about 1300 sophomores.
How many schools have 1300 computers in unused labs ready to give these tests? Ok - Half that number - have to do the test in two sessions. A fourth?
Now lets give that school - say 2 more online tests to field test. Another one for the sophomores and one for the 1210 Juniors. Total of 3810 online tests to give.
Now lets take all the computer class students out of their class labs and if this is an average school - you may have freed up as many as 500 computers.
Now if you are lucky - you handle this in 4 days - 2 testing sessions a day - but you have booted every Web, Computer Science, BCIS, Writing Lab, Animation, Digital Graphics, Video, and Multimedia student out of their class labs for at least 4 days.
So you have taken nearly a week away from the technology students...which affects maybe as many 400-600 students. This in a six weeks where a week is already sacrificed with TAKS tests. This in the weeks leading up to the semester exam when the students need to be in class.
This writer is familiar with a situation where an entire high school's computer labs are being taken over for 15 days. Half the six weeks - where classes whose primary work area is the computer - must sit and do something else.
I am not saying you can't test online - but before you dump 3 or 4 tests on a school and require them to take all of the tests online - consider the resources available.
Consider spacing the tests out between more districts - why put 3 or 4 on any one school.
Then again - I am trying to use logic... and sadly - logic is the first thing sacrificed in Austin.
Currently the Vogue in Austin is online testing....despite the fact that previous attempts have been muddled with poor planning and preparation by Austin/and or testing companies. Little things like scheduling 1000 students to take a test at same time from an internet connection that was not powerful enough to handle 1/2 that.
Schools get "told" they must administer field tests and are expected to just make it happen. This is much easier with printed tests. You then need a room - someone to watch the students and time.
Now lets take a large school - say 4500 students. The school gets selected to administer an online field test for their entire sophomore class. Estimate there are about 1300 sophomores.
How many schools have 1300 computers in unused labs ready to give these tests? Ok - Half that number - have to do the test in two sessions. A fourth?
Now lets give that school - say 2 more online tests to field test. Another one for the sophomores and one for the 1210 Juniors. Total of 3810 online tests to give.
Now lets take all the computer class students out of their class labs and if this is an average school - you may have freed up as many as 500 computers.
Now if you are lucky - you handle this in 4 days - 2 testing sessions a day - but you have booted every Web, Computer Science, BCIS, Writing Lab, Animation, Digital Graphics, Video, and Multimedia student out of their class labs for at least 4 days.
So you have taken nearly a week away from the technology students...which affects maybe as many 400-600 students. This in a six weeks where a week is already sacrificed with TAKS tests. This in the weeks leading up to the semester exam when the students need to be in class.
This writer is familiar with a situation where an entire high school's computer labs are being taken over for 15 days. Half the six weeks - where classes whose primary work area is the computer - must sit and do something else.
I am not saying you can't test online - but before you dump 3 or 4 tests on a school and require them to take all of the tests online - consider the resources available.
Consider spacing the tests out between more districts - why put 3 or 4 on any one school.
Then again - I am trying to use logic... and sadly - logic is the first thing sacrificed in Austin.
Monday, April 5, 2010
DUMBING DOWN .....PART II HOUSTON ISD
HOUSTON ISD......despite pleas from teachers - documentation from other sources...and letters from industry giant Microsoft took a GIANT step backward. Given the choice to require the technology credit for graduation, HISD chose to dumb down once more and passed with a unanimous vote a decision to no longer require the technology credit for graduation.
Strangely enough - they require health and public speaking despite both of those being optional. Curious - is this a way of cutting technology dollars spent - no longer requiring the tech classes so they do not have to spend monies upgrading the computer labs. Sounds like a group with no plan for the future and more concerned about saving $$ than teaching kids....
Personally - I say vote em out.
Thank you HISD - you have started my list of schools not truly preparing your students for the future. Thankfully my extended family of children, nieces and nephews are all in schools with a little more foresight into what a student should be taking for graduation.
In my opinion - HISD has just entered the unacceptable zone.
Strangely enough - they require health and public speaking despite both of those being optional. Curious - is this a way of cutting technology dollars spent - no longer requiring the tech classes so they do not have to spend monies upgrading the computer labs. Sounds like a group with no plan for the future and more concerned about saving $$ than teaching kids....
Personally - I say vote em out.
Thank you HISD - you have started my list of schools not truly preparing your students for the future. Thankfully my extended family of children, nieces and nephews are all in schools with a little more foresight into what a student should be taking for graduation.
In my opinion - HISD has just entered the unacceptable zone.
TAKS ....EOC.....INSANITY..... DIRE TIMES AHEAD
Once again we enter that most ugly of times.....the TAKS Season. A few musings from a wandering mindset are offered below.
WISHLIST:
MORE REASONABLE WISHLIST
oh yes - as the circus says send in the clowns...
First draft - this was 12 tests to be passed with a cumulative average of a 70....
Sounds good till someone figured out that passing all 3 English and all 3 Social Studies and making at least a 50 in the math and Science - could still work out to a 70.
Second Draft - this was to be all 3 tests within one subject with a cumulative average of a 70.
Smart kids figure out that an 80 on Algebra 1 and a 90 on Geometry lets you flunk Algebra II and still earn a 70.
Third Draft ...who knows what will pop out next....
(After all budget shows most of the legislature lacks basic understanding of algebra like what negative numbers mean)
DEJA VU: (INSANITY REVISITED)
One has only to return to the much beloved End Of Course Algebra test to fully grasp just how this wonderful state board can screw up and the $$ wasted on what has to be the worst produced test in the country. With a mainstream passing rate of somewhere around 15-35%....this test was not even passed by more than 60% state wide when dealing only with the elite students - the 8th grade honors algebra students ....students who are among the top 3-10% of the student body. 9th Grade honors algebra students faired slightly less better than their 8th grade counterparts.
Ok - a State wide EOC test - run for what was it - 5 years and never got to 50% state wide.
And guess who wrote that one.....yea - the wonderful New Jersey or was it the Ohio test people ...
Now we want to plan on giving them 12 EOC tests to create....by what geometric progression will the number of bad ideas coming out of Austin expand by.
And for the freshmen - who are often so culture shocked at high school who flunk 2 or 3 of the 4 tests their first time have to look forward to ? 6 or 7 tests the next year - or just 4 and the knowledge that they have to score even higher to make up for past mistakes?
When it gets to 6 or 7 tests that must all be passed to return to being on target for graduation...how long will it be before the weaker students throw up their hands and give up.
And when that happens - unacceptable will become a common rating statewide and the moron squads like Obama's Money Tree (if you tie scores to teacher ratings).....will be out again proclaiming how teachers must be the problem. And there will come that line in the sand where the better teachers will leave for private schools - affluent schools ...or college or just leave the profession cause all the blame and finger pointing will convince them it time to quit.
Personal Note - this is why I am telling my child to pursue a Masters if they wish to teach - and stay out of K-12. Sad coming from someone whose extended family includes 20+ K-12 teachers.
So yes - once more thank you Austin for all you do on Teachers and Students behalf.
WISHLIST:
- See any member of state government pass the Social Studies test.
- See any member of state government make above 50 on the ELA test.
- See any member of state government make above 50 no 40 on the math test
- See any member of state government make above 20% on the science test.
MORE REASONABLE WISHLIST
- Accomplish any of the above.....on the middle version of said test.
- How many New jersey or was it Ohio people that are employed creating these wonderful instruments of educational disaster?
- (TIME TO SHOP TEXAS FIRST)
oh yes - as the circus says send in the clowns...
First draft - this was 12 tests to be passed with a cumulative average of a 70....
Sounds good till someone figured out that passing all 3 English and all 3 Social Studies and making at least a 50 in the math and Science - could still work out to a 70.
Second Draft - this was to be all 3 tests within one subject with a cumulative average of a 70.
Smart kids figure out that an 80 on Algebra 1 and a 90 on Geometry lets you flunk Algebra II and still earn a 70.
Third Draft ...who knows what will pop out next....
(After all budget shows most of the legislature lacks basic understanding of algebra like what negative numbers mean)
DEJA VU: (INSANITY REVISITED)
One has only to return to the much beloved End Of Course Algebra test to fully grasp just how this wonderful state board can screw up and the $$ wasted on what has to be the worst produced test in the country. With a mainstream passing rate of somewhere around 15-35%....this test was not even passed by more than 60% state wide when dealing only with the elite students - the 8th grade honors algebra students ....students who are among the top 3-10% of the student body. 9th Grade honors algebra students faired slightly less better than their 8th grade counterparts.
Ok - a State wide EOC test - run for what was it - 5 years and never got to 50% state wide.
And guess who wrote that one.....yea - the wonderful New Jersey or was it the Ohio test people ...
Now we want to plan on giving them 12 EOC tests to create....by what geometric progression will the number of bad ideas coming out of Austin expand by.
And for the freshmen - who are often so culture shocked at high school who flunk 2 or 3 of the 4 tests their first time have to look forward to ? 6 or 7 tests the next year - or just 4 and the knowledge that they have to score even higher to make up for past mistakes?
When it gets to 6 or 7 tests that must all be passed to return to being on target for graduation...how long will it be before the weaker students throw up their hands and give up.
And when that happens - unacceptable will become a common rating statewide and the moron squads like Obama's Money Tree (if you tie scores to teacher ratings).....will be out again proclaiming how teachers must be the problem. And there will come that line in the sand where the better teachers will leave for private schools - affluent schools ...or college or just leave the profession cause all the blame and finger pointing will convince them it time to quit.
Personal Note - this is why I am telling my child to pursue a Masters if they wish to teach - and stay out of K-12. Sad coming from someone whose extended family includes 20+ K-12 teachers.
So yes - once more thank you Austin for all you do on Teachers and Students behalf.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Battle Lines
Time to start watching your state office holders and letting them know you want the technology requirement for graduation to be reinstated. Do not let them tell you they do not know about it. It passed UNANIMOUSLY despite the reassurances they gave some letter writers. Let them know you are willing to vote them out of office. Maybe we need to vote them out and make it clear that dumbing down the educational requirements for graduation benefits NO ONE!!
Sadly Perry was not beaten in the primaries. We can not count on him to help education since he signed HB3 despite the email and phone calls to his office.
(I will be reposting that number if/when the bill passes to him that repeals the previous stupidity)
Later we will address the stupidity of the end of course testing.
Sadly Perry was not beaten in the primaries. We can not count on him to help education since he signed HB3 despite the email and phone calls to his office.
(I will be reposting that number if/when the bill passes to him that repeals the previous stupidity)
Later we will address the stupidity of the end of course testing.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
The Dumbing Down of Texas Education
Well the governor despite letters - emails - phone calls from across the state chose to sign HB3 into law on Friday June 19th. Health and freshman speech teachers will have to work to keep their jobs as their is no longer a requirement to teach either.
Now a student has to understand and choose to take the college prep route. Students can completely fill a schedule with music art and drama while preparing little for college. Vocational programs benefit from the CTE parts of the bill but still fall short of funding or enough teachers to go around.
In a rush to give the students free choice...catering to desires instead of needs, we will have students graduating into a technology driven workplace that have never been required to work with technology or take a technology class regardless of whether was Microsoft Office training , basic Web Design, Animation, Video Production, Desktop Publishing or even Computer Programming.
Couple this with the number of middle schools eliminating GT math and science classes and the result is college prep students who milk their schedule will still be anywhere from 6 to 9 hours less college credit upon high school graduation than the seniors were 5 years ago.
Lets see - less credits earned- Yes- this qualifies as dumbing down even the GT kids.
Yes you read it right - there are multiple middle schools across the state dumbing down and eliminating any type of advance /honors/Gt classes in grades 6-8. This is not what is coming - this is what has already happened. To protect sources, I will simply say I know of multiple schools where GT in the middle school is GONE. Administrators not wanting to have to work out a schedule - have turned back to all core subject classes being a one size fits all. Not a great idea when you are preparing students for high school and are lowering the standards to the lower students when there is a fast approaching spell of state mandated subject level tests. In some middle schools - the word is lower the expectations across the board and get as many of them through as possible to High School. (pass the buck)
Some of these same middle schools have administrations telling them to take the technology classes and let the kids have fun - treat it like PE - if they show up give them 100. Yea - I am sure that is what the TEKS say. And they wonder why freshman struggle at the high school level.
Well lets see- they have dumbed down the material making the GT kids restless. Now those kids enter high school expecting to cruise through classes like they did in middle school - and when they hit a GT English or Math class - well - its like running their train into a brick wall. Then the entire group of freshman are in a situation where they may sign up for high school computer classes and then are upset when it is not a time for fun and games and playing on the internet.
Sounds to me like not only a lower level of education - but a higher risk of frustration, acting out , behavior problems and more.
Also leads to teachers leaving the profession as I witnessed directly when a medium size school lost an experience teacher in a core subject. The teacher did not get the support they deserved and a group of 10 or 11 students were allowed to run wild to the point the teacher left the profession. No administrator thought it through about breaking that core of 10 or 11 kids and holding the STUDENT accountable. No - the administrators saw this as a failure on the teacher's part despite her previous years record of a very high percentage of her students passing the state mandated test. Anyone who spent time with this teacher knew of their passion for teaching as well as their success at both high school and junior college level. Sadly that is a teacher lost now- in a critical subject area. The school lost out as well as the students who face that state test each year to come.
I know this - Austin needs someone to shake the stupidity out of the legislature. In 2010 - I intend to help vote some of it out of office - including the governor. Maybe a turnover in large numbers will remind those people.... They work for us.... Time to quit working against us.
So be prepared Austin - teachers are not going to go quietly into the night. Parents should read up and be aware of how education is going the wrong direction.
Now a student has to understand and choose to take the college prep route. Students can completely fill a schedule with music art and drama while preparing little for college. Vocational programs benefit from the CTE parts of the bill but still fall short of funding or enough teachers to go around.
In a rush to give the students free choice...catering to desires instead of needs, we will have students graduating into a technology driven workplace that have never been required to work with technology or take a technology class regardless of whether was Microsoft Office training , basic Web Design, Animation, Video Production, Desktop Publishing or even Computer Programming.
Couple this with the number of middle schools eliminating GT math and science classes and the result is college prep students who milk their schedule will still be anywhere from 6 to 9 hours less college credit upon high school graduation than the seniors were 5 years ago.
Lets see - less credits earned- Yes- this qualifies as dumbing down even the GT kids.
Yes you read it right - there are multiple middle schools across the state dumbing down and eliminating any type of advance /honors/Gt classes in grades 6-8. This is not what is coming - this is what has already happened. To protect sources, I will simply say I know of multiple schools where GT in the middle school is GONE. Administrators not wanting to have to work out a schedule - have turned back to all core subject classes being a one size fits all. Not a great idea when you are preparing students for high school and are lowering the standards to the lower students when there is a fast approaching spell of state mandated subject level tests. In some middle schools - the word is lower the expectations across the board and get as many of them through as possible to High School. (pass the buck)
Some of these same middle schools have administrations telling them to take the technology classes and let the kids have fun - treat it like PE - if they show up give them 100. Yea - I am sure that is what the TEKS say. And they wonder why freshman struggle at the high school level.
Well lets see- they have dumbed down the material making the GT kids restless. Now those kids enter high school expecting to cruise through classes like they did in middle school - and when they hit a GT English or Math class - well - its like running their train into a brick wall. Then the entire group of freshman are in a situation where they may sign up for high school computer classes and then are upset when it is not a time for fun and games and playing on the internet.
Sounds to me like not only a lower level of education - but a higher risk of frustration, acting out , behavior problems and more.
Also leads to teachers leaving the profession as I witnessed directly when a medium size school lost an experience teacher in a core subject. The teacher did not get the support they deserved and a group of 10 or 11 students were allowed to run wild to the point the teacher left the profession. No administrator thought it through about breaking that core of 10 or 11 kids and holding the STUDENT accountable. No - the administrators saw this as a failure on the teacher's part despite her previous years record of a very high percentage of her students passing the state mandated test. Anyone who spent time with this teacher knew of their passion for teaching as well as their success at both high school and junior college level. Sadly that is a teacher lost now- in a critical subject area. The school lost out as well as the students who face that state test each year to come.
I know this - Austin needs someone to shake the stupidity out of the legislature. In 2010 - I intend to help vote some of it out of office - including the governor. Maybe a turnover in large numbers will remind those people.... They work for us.... Time to quit working against us.
So be prepared Austin - teachers are not going to go quietly into the night. Parents should read up and be aware of how education is going the wrong direction.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
STILL TIME - GOVERNOR HAS NOT MOVED
STILL TIME TO CALL - GET INVOLVED
CALL THE GOVERNORS OFFICE - VETO HB3
TIME IS RUNNING OUT
CALL THE GOVERNORS OFFICE - VETO HB3
TIME IS RUNNING OUT
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Lets Talk Numbers - Revised
Maybe this will help people visualize the impact of this bill. Based on UIL alignment brackets there are approximately 1200 public high schools not counting alternative schools.
Between the Health , Freshman Speech , and Tech Apps classes there are approximately this many teachers involved based on this ratio.
1A schools-1.5 teachers per campus to cover these 3 fields.
(291 schools * 1.5 = 436 positions based on averaging 100 students)
2A schools-2.5 teachers per campus to cover these 3 fields.
(229 schools * 2.5 = 572 positions based on averaging 250 students)
3A schools-3.5 teachers per campus to cover these 3 fields.
(183 schools * 4.5 = 824 positions based on averaging 600 students)
4A schools-9 teachers per campus to cover these 3 fields.
(229 schools * 9 = 2061 positions based on averaging 1500 students)
5A schools- 11 teachers per campus to cover these 3 fields.
(254 schools * 11 = 2794 positions based on averaging 3000 students)
These are rough estimates - but put a number to what is happening.
This means a total of approximately 6687 teachers that face consolidation / elimination.
Bill does require that Tech APs classes be taught however does not require the other two classes be taught. TEA is locked out by this bill and can not alter the requirements.
Local schools CAN make local requirements - but if push comes to shove - parent could keep a kid out of said classes. Small schools can offer BCIS and filter the other Tech APs teachers out claiming financial strain and decreasing numbers.
As a high percentage of health teachers are coaches - this strikes into the oft maligned world of "messing with athletics".
Maybe someone needs to start telling Freshman Speech and Health teachers about being dropped as well.
Who would have thought - academics and athletics battling as allies against the common foe of HB3. This might lead to some new lines of communication on many campuses state wide.
So.... go ye therefore and wake up the coaches- It is not too late to call Governor Perry and tell him ...... VETO!!!!!
Please do this ASAP: 512-463-2000.
Between the Health , Freshman Speech , and Tech Apps classes there are approximately this many teachers involved based on this ratio.
1A schools-1.5 teachers per campus to cover these 3 fields.
(291 schools * 1.5 = 436 positions based on averaging 100 students)
2A schools-2.5 teachers per campus to cover these 3 fields.
(229 schools * 2.5 = 572 positions based on averaging 250 students)
3A schools-3.5 teachers per campus to cover these 3 fields.
(183 schools * 4.5 = 824 positions based on averaging 600 students)
4A schools-9 teachers per campus to cover these 3 fields.
(229 schools * 9 = 2061 positions based on averaging 1500 students)
5A schools- 11 teachers per campus to cover these 3 fields.
(254 schools * 11 = 2794 positions based on averaging 3000 students)
These are rough estimates - but put a number to what is happening.
This means a total of approximately 6687 teachers that face consolidation / elimination.
Bill does require that Tech APs classes be taught however does not require the other two classes be taught. TEA is locked out by this bill and can not alter the requirements.
Local schools CAN make local requirements - but if push comes to shove - parent could keep a kid out of said classes. Small schools can offer BCIS and filter the other Tech APs teachers out claiming financial strain and decreasing numbers.
As a high percentage of health teachers are coaches - this strikes into the oft maligned world of "messing with athletics".
Maybe someone needs to start telling Freshman Speech and Health teachers about being dropped as well.
Who would have thought - academics and athletics battling as allies against the common foe of HB3. This might lead to some new lines of communication on many campuses state wide.
So.... go ye therefore and wake up the coaches- It is not too late to call Governor Perry and tell him ...... VETO!!!!!
Please do this ASAP: 512-463-2000.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Will Governor Perry Listen to Microsoft?
Received this from a teacher in Houston. Read and see how this bill is a problem not just with teachers.
Dear Governor Perry:
I am contacting you to request you to strongly consider a Veto of the recently passed House Bill 3, as it contains provisions (pages 30-31) that would eliminate the High School graduation requirement of a Technology Applications course.
On behalf of the Academic Relations Group at Microsoft Corporation, and in conjunction with discussion with teacher members of the Texas Computer Educators Association (TCEA), I believe that in eliminating this requirement, this bill will:
1. Disserve the students of Texas who will graduate into an intensively competitive job market that will put a premium on technology skills
2. Undermine the competitive ability of Texas businesses who will depend on technology skilled workers to compete with other businesses throughout the world.
The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics continues to project technology-based occupations as among the fastest growing in the next decade. And in the recently revised report from the National Academies, “Rising above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future”, a clear and conclusive case is made for the fundamental need of a technologically educated and proficient workforce.
While I cannot speak to the many other provisions of the bill, I do feel strongly on the potential harm this particular provision can have on the citizens and businesses of Texas and the United States and again encourage you to consider not passing this bill as it stands.
Sincerely,
James K. Pinkelman, Ph.D.
Senior Director of Academic Relations
Microsoft Corporations
THANK YOU MICROSOFT!!!!
Dear Governor Perry:
I am contacting you to request you to strongly consider a Veto of the recently passed House Bill 3, as it contains provisions (pages 30-31) that would eliminate the High School graduation requirement of a Technology Applications course.
On behalf of the Academic Relations Group at Microsoft Corporation, and in conjunction with discussion with teacher members of the Texas Computer Educators Association (TCEA), I believe that in eliminating this requirement, this bill will:
1. Disserve the students of Texas who will graduate into an intensively competitive job market that will put a premium on technology skills
2. Undermine the competitive ability of Texas businesses who will depend on technology skilled workers to compete with other businesses throughout the world.
The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics continues to project technology-based occupations as among the fastest growing in the next decade. And in the recently revised report from the National Academies, “Rising above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future”, a clear and conclusive case is made for the fundamental need of a technologically educated and proficient workforce.
While I cannot speak to the many other provisions of the bill, I do feel strongly on the potential harm this particular provision can have on the citizens and businesses of Texas and the United States and again encourage you to consider not passing this bill as it stands.
Sincerely,
James K. Pinkelman, Ph.D.
Senior Director of Academic Relations
Microsoft Corporations
THANK YOU MICROSOFT!!!!
Thursday, June 11, 2009
HB3 UPDATE - DEADLINE APPROACHING
Since this bill was sent to the governor in the last 10 days of session, he has 20 days to veto it before it comes law. According to the bill's dating - he received it on June 3rd.
That makes June 23rd the date it can become law with no signature.
We are lucky that this was in the last 10 days otherwise it would have become law this Saturday.
SO - JUNE 22, 2009 IS THE DEADLINE FOR BEING HEARD.CALL THE GOVERNOR. WRITE THE GOVERNOR. GO TO HIS OFFICE AND TELL HIM
VETO HB3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
KEEP TEXAS MOVING FORWARD!!!!
That makes June 23rd the date it can become law with no signature.
We are lucky that this was in the last 10 days otherwise it would have become law this Saturday.
SO - JUNE 22, 2009 IS THE DEADLINE FOR BEING HEARD.CALL THE GOVERNOR. WRITE THE GOVERNOR. GO TO HIS OFFICE AND TELL HIM
VETO HB3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
KEEP TEXAS MOVING FORWARD!!!!
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Texas Legislature Sends Education Backwards
Welcome !
This blog is designed to combat the backwards move of public education in the United States with a focus on Texas.
The incredibly arrogant...misguided Texas legislature just sent the governor a bill (HB3) to sign..
Letter below is addressed to the entire Texas legislature who passed this bill unanimously.
Colleges are wanting students that take more technology classes and you just set that back with your vote of YES on HB3.
Texas has a pregnancy rate that is exploding. Your vote for HB3 - removed the required health class in public high schools. Please explain the reasoning for this.
In the 2 years since your election - Public Education funding is still a joke as you steal from those with money to lower us all.
Currently the United States trails the world in college graduates in the areas of Computer Science and Software Engineering. Forecasts are a shortage at the least...of 1 MILLION jobs that will be outsourced in order to be filled.
Most graduates in these areas in US universities are students who were exposed to some technology classes in their high school education.
And what does Texas do - votes that NO students need to take a technology class in high school.
And the insult to public schools - you are required to teach these classes- buy this equipment - hire these teachers- but NO sutdents are required to take the classes.
STAND UP TEXAS - TELL GOVERNOR PERRY TO VETO THIS BILL!!!
CALL THE GOVERNOR - 512-463-2000
This blog is designed to combat the backwards move of public education in the United States with a focus on Texas.
The incredibly arrogant...misguided Texas legislature just sent the governor a bill (HB3) to sign..
Letter below is addressed to the entire Texas legislature who passed this bill unanimously.
In a technology driven society, you voted in favor of a bill that leaves the burden on schools to teach technology classes yet removes the requirement that even 1 student must take the class to graduate. As a technology teacher this decision makes me want to scream. I have former students whose skills learned in high school tech classes helped them get jobs to play for their college education. These former students are everything from elementary teachers to engineers.
Colleges are wanting students that take more technology classes and you just set that back with your vote of YES on HB3.
Texas has a pregnancy rate that is exploding. Your vote for HB3 - removed the required health class in public high schools. Please explain the reasoning for this.
In the 2 years since your election - Public Education funding is still a joke as you steal from those with money to lower us all.
Currently the United States trails the world in college graduates in the areas of Computer Science and Software Engineering. Forecasts are a shortage at the least...of 1 MILLION jobs that will be outsourced in order to be filled.
Most graduates in these areas in US universities are students who were exposed to some technology classes in their high school education.
And what does Texas do - votes that NO students need to take a technology class in high school.
And the insult to public schools - you are required to teach these classes- buy this equipment - hire these teachers- but NO sutdents are required to take the classes.
STAND UP TEXAS - TELL GOVERNOR PERRY TO VETO THIS BILL!!!
CALL THE GOVERNOR - 512-463-2000
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