As a member of the Minnesota Association of Secondary School Principals (MASSP), I receive weekly updates regarding education news. This past Friday I received an update that contained a link to an article regarding students' college readiness. The Alliance for Excellent Education (AEE) issued a brief, using ACT information, that stated high school students are too often not prepared for college. They feel,
"high school standards, assessments, and course requirements are not aligned with those of colleges." Another quote from the article said,
"To prepare students for success in college, panelists said, teachers must
believe that all--and not just a few--students can succeed; make honors courses
available as electives for all students; create rigorous work assignments using
collaboration and problem-solving; teach reading comprehension and writing
skills; and, most of all, motivate students to achieve."
It's been my observation that motivating students to achieve may be the most difficult of those ideas for teachers. I also believe it's unfair to suggest that is the responsibility solely of the teachers.
Successful education of a child is the result of a partnership that is supported equally by the school, parent(s), and individual student. Without one of those participants, success is dramatically reduced. Teachers will have difficulty motivating students without the students and parents placing value on education and always doing one's best. We must all assume responsibility for our part in the educational process.
It appears that success in the 21st century workplace is going to require post-secondary education. To be prepared for post-secondary education, one needs to develop the tools for success while in the K-12 realm. So, I urge you, if you have a school-age child, make sure your child understands how much you value education and that, when it comes to school, you'll accept nothing less than your child's best efforts. More than likely that will go a long way to helping "motivate students to achieve."
Monday, September 24, 2007
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Off and Running
We're midway through the second week of school and already I am two weeks behind in updating my blog. I apologize to the many of you who have visited and been disappointed to find this has not been updated. My goal is to blog weekly and I am committed to trying to achieve that goal.
We had a fantastic start to the school year. Our first day began with the LINK program providing an orientation to our incoming freshmen. That went very well and we are hoping to continue that positive beginning as we go throughout the year. We ended the week with a pep fest last Friday. I was very pleased with the response from students and staff and feel we are continuing the tradition of ROCKET PRIDE. The staff and students deserve a hand for getting us off on the right foot toward the best year ever!
I was reading the StarTribune on Sunday and was disappointed to see the headline on the front page regarding a story about school districts proposing levies to their voters this fall. The headline suggested that "many voters" feel school districts are "crying wolf" when they are suggesting massive cuts if voters don't approve districts' requests for excess levies. In reading the article I found one person quoted who felt this way. To me, one person is not "many". Not only was there only one person, but that person was David Strom. David Strom is the former director of the Minnesota Taxpayers League, a group opposed to most taxes, and is currently a radio talk show host. David Strom is not an education finance expert. David Strom does not know the specific needs of the districts highlighted in this article. David Strom, in my opinion, is not relevant to this discussion and I was disappointed that his opinion was used to suggest that these districts might not have the needs they claim.
All the voters in those districts need to do to find out for themselves whether or not the need is real is to take a look at the information available to them. Each year school districts have financial audits. The results of those audits are public information. Take a look at how the district spent its money and decide for yourselves whether or not the district is "crying wolf". Don't let some radio talk show host with no knowledge of the situation decide for you.
If education finance is of interest to you, I would suggest you visit the website of a group called P.S. Minnesota. This group would like to see a change in the framework for the way education is funded. The website is: www.psminnesota.org
Rockford does not have plans to ask voters for a levy increase this fall. It is my understanding that the board is considering that option for 2008. I urge you to use this year to educate yourselves on the needs of the Rockford district so you can make an informed choice next fall.
We had a fantastic start to the school year. Our first day began with the LINK program providing an orientation to our incoming freshmen. That went very well and we are hoping to continue that positive beginning as we go throughout the year. We ended the week with a pep fest last Friday. I was very pleased with the response from students and staff and feel we are continuing the tradition of ROCKET PRIDE. The staff and students deserve a hand for getting us off on the right foot toward the best year ever!
I was reading the StarTribune on Sunday and was disappointed to see the headline on the front page regarding a story about school districts proposing levies to their voters this fall. The headline suggested that "many voters" feel school districts are "crying wolf" when they are suggesting massive cuts if voters don't approve districts' requests for excess levies. In reading the article I found one person quoted who felt this way. To me, one person is not "many". Not only was there only one person, but that person was David Strom. David Strom is the former director of the Minnesota Taxpayers League, a group opposed to most taxes, and is currently a radio talk show host. David Strom is not an education finance expert. David Strom does not know the specific needs of the districts highlighted in this article. David Strom, in my opinion, is not relevant to this discussion and I was disappointed that his opinion was used to suggest that these districts might not have the needs they claim.
All the voters in those districts need to do to find out for themselves whether or not the need is real is to take a look at the information available to them. Each year school districts have financial audits. The results of those audits are public information. Take a look at how the district spent its money and decide for yourselves whether or not the district is "crying wolf". Don't let some radio talk show host with no knowledge of the situation decide for you.
If education finance is of interest to you, I would suggest you visit the website of a group called P.S. Minnesota. This group would like to see a change in the framework for the way education is funded. The website is: www.psminnesota.org
Rockford does not have plans to ask voters for a levy increase this fall. It is my understanding that the board is considering that option for 2008. I urge you to use this year to educate yourselves on the needs of the Rockford district so you can make an informed choice next fall.
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