Life Interferes

I will be continuing to update the world on the plight of the NC education system and general Chihuahua Grande life soon, but, for right now, my focus is on my mom. She is currently in the hospital, having had quite a lot of fluid removed from around one of her lungs and her heart. She also seems to have developed pneumonia, but we're hoping that she is on the mend. I'll let you know how things are going. If all goes well (which I'm sure it will!), I'll be back to my regularly scheduled ranting and rambling soon. ;)

Save the Literacy Coaches

This is an excerpt from the NCAE Daily Political Briefing email from 5/20/2009.

7,000 teachers cut, 5,000 teacher assistants slashed, 2.5% cut from educator salaries and five instructional days lopped off the end of the calendar. With a tax revenue system that is based almost exclusively on an unpredictable sales tax, an emaciated manufacturing industry and a bygone agricultural economy, the state appropriation chairs were forced to present an education budget with 20% less revenue from a year ago.

"Educators, parents, students and communities need to brace for something the state has not done for generations if this proposal becomes real: eliminate thousands of jobs and cut out five days of school from the 180 day calendar," said NCAE Government Relations Manager Cecil Banks. "I've heard people complain that they don't understand how government affects their lives. They're about to find out."

Under the House plan proposed this afternoon, school will be eliminated the last week of school: no teachers, no students, no administrators, no buses and no money allocated to pay for those expenses during that week. That's a 2.5% cut for educator pay and that's if they're fortunate enough to hang on to an educator job.

Many will be given pink slips under this plan. 7000 teachers overall and another 5000 teacher assistants in the 3rd grade will be out of work. The teachers will be the victims of increased class size of two students and the teacher assistants will be eliminated altogether.

"These 12000 educators are people with families who need this income and they live in communities that need their employment," Banks said. "They teach children who need them in the classroom as well. Today is a nightmare for North Carolina."

The nightmare doesn't end there according to reliable sources at the General Assembly. Early childhood programs like More at Four will be slashed by 10%. The popular Teacher Academy program will lose all of its literacy coaches and absorb a 15% across the board cut. The Teacher Cadet program is cut by $60,000 (or 15%) and nearly every nonprofit contracting with the state has been eliminated completely.

NCAE Executive Director Scott Anderson sent out a dire warning to NCAE members. "The storm is here and we need all hands on deck," he said. "If North Carolinians want an educated citizenry, then fight with NCAE."




Now, the number of things going horribly awry in the education system (some of which are outlined in this email) is astounding, and they all deserve commentary, but, for right now, I'm going to focus on the red bits.


I'm afraid that people outside of the school systems are not aware of what a valuable program this is. The Literacy Coach in the school where I work is such a valuable resource that our school will certainly suffer without her....I'm certain this is the case in schools across the state. Literacy Coaches provide staff development for teaching strategies, help to plan engaging lessons in all subject areas, co-teach with teachers to model strategies and supply materials to support teachers in all curriculum goals. Don't be misled by the title "Literacy" Coach....this position supports all subject areas.

All of the pictures in this post are of kick @$$ activities inspired by our Literacy Coach. :D

If you are as concerned as I am about ensuring the improvement of our education system in NC, please, please, please contact your local House Reps and let them know that this is NOT okay....our students should not have to pay the price for poor government choices! You can find your local House Rep contact info here ... http://www.ncleg.net/House/house.html If you are outside of NC, I'm sure it couldn't hurt to let our local government know what outsider opinions are. ;)

Thanks for sticking with me through such a long post. :D

A Break From Ranting....

for postcrossing! Here are some of the cards I've gotten recently that I'm really fond of....

From Philadelphia:
And from China:

It turns out that I enjoy quirky postcards more than tourist/landscape ones. Of course, any of them are cool, but the stranger ones appeal. Speaking of strange, I found some fabulous postcards over the weekend....can't wait to send them. :D

In other hobby news, today was International Plant a Letterbox Day. I honored this tradition by launching the first in a new series....Frank's Hello Kitty World. Hehe. I wish I had taken pictures of the box's contents before I put it out in the world. It's one of my favorites that I've made so far - complete with swanky temporary tatoos for the first finders. :)

And, because I haven't mentioned it recently, please remember that John and I would really appreciate any support you can give for our Avon Walk for Breast Cancer fundraising efforts!!!!

http://info.avonfoundation.org/goto/emilywatts
OR
http://info.avonfoundation.org/goto/johnwatts

One more fabula-tastic bit of news....I'm going to go see They Might Be Giants!!!! And Amy and Jonathan and sons will be there, too! Woot! :D

Okay, off to bed....need my sleep so I can fully enjoy seeing Olivia, Bryan and Anna tomorrow. :D

My Inner Math Nerd Weeps

The other day I ranted a bit about this new math test requirement for teachers in Massachusetts. To briefly recap: WHY, WHY, WHY would there be elementary school teachers who can't do elementary math?!?! That is insane! And depressing.

Well, now we have an update. In the NEA MorningUpdate from 5/20/09, there is a new blurb (info taken from the Boston Globe) about this topic. To summarize the summary, 75% of aspiring teachers in that state FAILED the math test. (Was that an embolism I just heard?) How is that possible? These are college educated people. I find it pretty hard to believe that the test includes any quantum mechanics word problems or the application of abstract algebra to cryptography type stuff. What I'm trying to say is this: Elementary school math is not rocket surgery, people!

How do you escape the confines of formalized education without being able to do basic math? Maybe it's because the teachers of these aspiring teachers ALSO didn't know elementary math and caused irreparable damage? Perhaps it refers back to my post from a few days ago...the one about the disparity between science/math and language education?

Once again, I maintain that language education is crucial, but we have to shed the concept that it is the only crucial subject. Because, in reality, this "progress" notion that we all hold dear will not happen without math and science. Period.

(Dismounting high horse now.)

We're Testing Who? For What?

So, I get this email everyday from the NEA with short updates about a variety of stories regarding education. Today, this email included a blurb (info pulled from an article in Education Week) about elementary school teachers in Massachusetts having to take a math test in order to get (or keep) their certifications. Huh? Are we saying that currently there are elementary school teachers who can't do elementary math??? I sure hope not. To further dumbfound and amaze, they are also planning to give a "three year grace period" to any teacher who has trouble with this math test. WHAT?!?!??? How about escorting the knucklehead who can't pass an elementary level math test directly out the door? Do not pass go and, for goodness sake, do not collect $200! How, in the name of all that makes sense, can a teacher teach math to these students if he/she cannot accomplish the task? What about the kids who are getting sub-standard math education during this three year grace period? Are they just supposed to catch up later when they have a competent human standing in front of the room? Well, it doesn't work that way. If we're going to compete globally, education is going to have to do a hell of a lot better than that. Shame on any state who doesn't assure that teachers are knowledgeable in the areas they are responsible for teaching. And shame on any teacher for standing in front of a group of children with the promise of education on your lips when you can't pass a 5th grade math test. I am disgusted. :/

A Promise to Science

On the NPR Friday Science segment a couple of weeks ago, the divide between literature and science was discussed and I've been pondering it quite a bit. Why are the "language arts" given such an elevated status in comparison to every other subject in school? In elementary school, science is minimized at best. In middle school, science is only tested one year...what does this imply? In high school, science isn't even required all four years. And, in college, unless you're seeking a degree in one of the sciences, the number of required courses doesn't compare to the needed language arts/humanities/arts courses. So, given the importance of science in our day to day lives, why the downplay???

Here's an example given on the program: If someone says they have never read Shakespeare, ignorance is assumed. (Ignorance is their word, not mine.) If someone doesn't know the Second Law of Thermodynamics, people don't think much of it. So, what's that about? Which is more likely to affect your life in the next 24 hours?

Don't get me wrong....I'm 100% in support of the teaching of grammar, literature, writing, etc....but shouldn't we be putting equal emphasis on knowledge of the workings of the world around us? And you don't even want to get me started on math. (I may be biased on that one. :D)

In light of this, I've decided that we'll be doing even more science experiments than usual. If nothing else, stuff like this is just fun....












:D

How Cool Is Japan???

I got a post card from Japan today that is adorable! Check it out....


But the post card is not even the best part....the best part was the Hello Kitty stamp! How cool does a post office have to be to issue Hello Kitty stamps? :D

A Ridiculously Good Day

It has been a wonderful Mother's Day!!!

I was awakened to fresh coffee and cut strawberries with a side of sugar and Grace gave me a beautiful card that she scored at the craft fair last week.

Then we were off to the comic book store for fun and goodies. My Mother's Day treats included a new Buffy Season 8 book, 5 Battle for the Cowl comics, Zombie Sama and a stuffed Syphilis microbe. :D

We took Grace to meet up with her mommy and then John and I went to our favorite Mexican restaurant and went to see Star Trek. (Fabulous!) After that it was coffee and back home for some quality relaxing.

I don't see how I could have had a much better day. :) I hope all the moms and step-moms out there had an equally lovely Mother's Day!!

http://info.avonfoundation.org/goto/emilywatts
OR
http://info.avonfoundation.org/goto/johnwatts

Can I Get a Woohoo?!?

I just got an email from the library that the new Sookie Stackhouse novel is on hold for me RIGHT NOW....I'll be off to pick that up as soon as I finish this post. :D

Annnnnd date night this Sunday is going to be dinner and Star Trek....so excited I'm about to pop.

Annnnnd, to make it a nerd-tastic triple threat, it's (Consecutive) Odd Day! ;)

Oh, yeah, this week gets a special place in my diary. :D

As always....we are always grateful for any donations for the Avon Walk....see links on post below.

Now I'm off to the library.

Brain Jostle

I'm home sick today (which I hate because I'm missing oh-so-crucial time with my students), and, apparently, the fuzzy headed-ness of illness made me remember that I actually have a blog I should be updating. Not much is new here - the same frenzied, frantic schedule that I bring on myself every year at this time.

We are down to a little under 6 months before the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer and the fundraising is not going well - mostly due to my amazing abilities with being slack. I'm hoping to spend a good part of today conjuring up ideas for raising money. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

I hope all is well in everyone's world. I hope to update with a slightly higher frequency from now on. ;)

http://info.avonfoundation.org/goto/emilywatts
OR
http://info.avonfoundation.org/goto/johnwatts