ROADS TO REFORM

PART 5 By: John Briody, Joe Pizzuto-Pomaco, Stephanie Worth, David Dieva, and Jennifer Daniels

ROADS TO REFORM
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Drive-By School Reforms by Stan Karp Reconstituting Jefferson: Lessons on School Reform by Linda Christensen Money, Schools, and Justice by Stan Karp Teacher Councils: Tools for Change by Bob Peterson Summer Camp for Teachers: Alternative Staff Development by S.J. Childs Survival and Justice: Twin Goals for Teacher Unions by Bob Peterson Confronting Racism, Promoting Respect by Tom McKenna

DRIVE-BY SCHOOL REFORM

DRIVE-BY SCHOOL REFORM

DRIVE-BY SCHOOL REFORM

Stan Karp Definition A reform process that often seems to push schools two steps back for each one forward. Hit-and-run approach to educational change

WHY DRIVE-BY REFORMS FAIL/WORK

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Fail: Outside Agendas Unreasonable Expectations A Lack in Leadership

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Work: Redefining Roles School Organizing and Collaboration

THE DUAL CHARACTER OF SCHOOL REFORM: REINFORCING THE STATUS QUO VS. PROMOTING SOCIAL JUSTICE

RECONSTITUTING JEFFERSON: LESSONS ON SCHOOL REFORM

LINDA CHRISTENSEN
Definition of Reconstitution: The replacing of the entire staffadministrators, teachers, custodians, secretarieswith a new staff. Why???? The problems of the school are caused by the staffs incompetence.

LESSONS LEARNED

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Lessons Learned: Collaborative Discourse Necessary Elements

Key Lesson: There are no quick fixes.

MONEY, SCHOOLS, AND JUSTICE

STAN KARP

Overview of court rulings over the past 40 years which have significantly impacted education 1973, Rodriguez v. San Antonio, SCOTUS declares that education is not a fundamental right protected by the U.S. Constitution This leaves the legal battles in states courts Inequities in education traced to wide gaps in perpupil spending and funding systems that rely heavily on unequal property tax bases

MONEY, SCHOOLS, AND JUSTICE

STAN KARP

NJ state supreme Court has declared NJs finance system legally inadequate (Abbot) Yet the state struggles to devise an equitable funding formula

Court rulings are insufficient to assure equity because some governors and legislators evade or limit impact of court orders Some feel courts should not legislate

MONEY, SCHOOLS, AND JUSTICE

STAN KARP

Anti-tax populism

Proposition 13 1978 California ballot initiative that capped property taxes Tax revolt in New Jersey where school funding is based on local property taxes

MONEY, SCHOOLS, AND JUSTICE

STAN KARP
It all comes down to this

Budget-cutting agenda

We cannot afford high taxes, therefore budgets are cut

Equity agenda

We see school finance reform as essential to reform ineffective school districts and compensate for effects of poverty, racial and class injustices

TEACHER COUNCILS: TOOLS FOR CHANGE:

In Milwaukee (early 1990s) a teacher inservice was the start of various teacher-led councils to attempt to improve inner-city teaching and ultimately antiracism amongst the public schools.

TEACHER COUNCILS: TOOLS FOR CHANGE:

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The original councils included the: Multicultural Curriculum Council Whole Language Council Early Childhood Council Undergraded/Multi-Age Council Humanities Council

TEACHER COUNCILS: TOOLS FOR CHANGE:

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Then eventually included: Bilingual Council Library Council Reading Council Health Council

TEACHER COUNCILS: TOOLS FOR CHANGE:

In 1994 a Council of Councils was formed to improve their ability to learn from one another. However, the councils fell short of their promise and reasons were worth examining. Before the councils began to fade they did great work. The councils strength was that they gave an official forum for classroom teachers to comment on different issues and to influence district policy in the Milwaukee public schools. The councils viewed teachers as the experts and allowed for teachers teaching other teachers, workshops, organizing conferences & inservices and developing materials. In fact, the workshops and overall result of what the councils could provide to its teachers were viewed far more appropriate and useful than the workshops/inservices the district would provide on their own (not led by teachers).

Language Arts Curriculum Specialist Revised and Critiqued the Literacy Program She wanted teachers to reflect, organize, and develop a new form for creating and developing lessons.

LINDA CHRISTENSEN

Example- Morning Discussions

Reflect 1st then Critique with a lesson

SUMMER CAMP FOR TEACHERS: ALTERNATIVE STAFF DEVELOPMENT

Madison

High School in Portland, Oregon Teachers attended a Summer Literacy Program called Summer Camp. 1. One week intensive collaboration Developing curriculum units and workshops around multi-cultural texts Ongoing Staff Development process on Local Teacher Experts (normally outside experts) Promotes collaboration, New Teacher training New and Veteran Teachers will help guide the new curriculum

THE FIRST INSTITUTE

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1st: Research Literacy, Language, and Achievement 2nd: Teacher sharing lessons, reflections, and critical analysis 3rd: Teams of teachers develop units filled with literacy lessons and strategies

DISTRICT-WIDE REFORM
Institute

Ultimate Goal: Expand Language Arts known as the CANON

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Include more culturally diverse readings that raise social justice issues Linking Literature to their lives and broaden our society.

OPENING THE CANON

The goal of this institute to infuse books and lessons addressing the issues of RACE, CULTURE, and CLASS/GENDER. Use more books dealing with Issues of Social Justices and geared toward our students interests. Developed a Centralized Collection and begin a new era of sharing among schools. Try news things and move beyond the comfort level!

UNCOVERING THE WEAKNESS

Same literacy units were used as dumping grounds M/C Tests never offering students to enrich and expand their thinking Poorly designed lessons that werent strategical (never attempted examined, or revised) 1 week is not enough time! MUST see continual work in progress

STAFF DEVELOPMENT

Schools wanted their own teachers to lead and run the in-services days rather than hiring outside people to run the programs.
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Teachers would feel they get more out of the inservice days than with outside experts. Less expensive and be able to save money for other uses, such as books and creating curriculums for the school

LITERACY PROGRAM
Teachers:
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share the best practices Provide the best forum for developing new curriculum Re-energizes teachers

Teachers lending a lesson to others has resulted in a district wide sharing community among schools.

SUMMER LITERACY INSTITUTE

Linda Christensen quoted, On my own, it look a long time to gather my tricks together. She also stated, The Summer Literacy Institute and the workshop days through the year give me that chance.

SURVIVAL AND JUSTICE: TWIN GOALS FOR TEACHER UNIONS

Teachers need to take more responsibility for school success and failure 3 different models for unions-industrial, professional, and social justice

Social justice needs to be adopted

INDUSTRIAL UNIONISM
Focuses on defending working conditions and rights of teachers Key strengths of unions has been organizing and winning the right to collectively bargain Shortcomings: restrictive state laws, kids are secondary, fails to address broader educational and professional issues

PROFESSIONAL UNIONISM
Agrees with industrial union but also addresses that unions play a leading role in professional issues Defends teachers and students High standards for teachers Shortcomings: downplays social justice

SOCIAL JUSTICE UNIONISM

Defends rights of members while fighting for rights of the community and students-parents and neighbors are allies Wants to mobilize parents to overturn inequality policies Class-conscious perspective

CONFRONTING RACISM, PROMOTING RESPECT

Example in book about teacher asking kids about racism Canada has Program Against Racism

PROGRAM AGAINST RACISM

People didnt want the program because talking about racism would cause it to exist. Budget raised from 37,000 to over 300,000 in one year Involved the community

PROGRAM AGAINST RACISM

STAAR-Students Taking Action Against Racism camps

Seminars, workshops, valuing diversity, intervention Bused to lake for training

Teachers are provided with workshops

100 Workshops/year