Posts Tagged ‘public education’
Thursday, January 5th, 2012
There have been a couple of articles recently about a really good idea that is being pursued by three local school districts in Lancaster County. They are making their campuses more open by sharing teachers, having before hours, and after hours classes, and using technology to enhance (rather than provide) their teaching.
As we work on our strategic plan, we have been considering some of the same things. This sort of innovation and cooperation speaks well of the leadership at the three districts—especially Penn Manor who came up with the idea. As budgetary realities start slamming us in the noggin, this sort of creativity is going to be critical. It will, no doubt, become more of the norm, but the people that come up with the ideas first should get some credit. So kudos!
Astute observers of education should recognize that the locus of control over education is shifting. Monolithic public school districts are breaking down. This is both necessary and good. The system is going to (has to) change. We can hope that more power and control over the process is restored to the parents and to the locals. (See the article that I posted recently from First Things on why this is good.)
Here are the articles:
3 school districts will merge teaching efforts article
PM supports open campus plan
Note, however, in an article published today (which people have not yet tied together) that the other shoe is poised to fall. Hempfield, one of the districts involved in the open campus idea, is facing a $4.4 million budget shortfall next year. Sharing teachers means needing fewer teachers. Open campus is, no doubt, a prelude to fewer teachers. This is a necessary correction, but no one seems to see it coming yet, so you heard it first here. Here is the article:
Hempfield facing budget short fall
Tags: public education
Posted in Economy, Education, Local News | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012
Here is a great article on educational reform by Charles L. Glenn published in this month’s issue of First Things:
Article on Education Reform
Tags: public education
Posted in Education | No Comments »
Monday, November 28th, 2011
Brian Wallace’s story in the paper today is a demonstration of the great problem of having the government involved in education. Here is the story:
Brain Wallace’s article
(more…)
Tags: public education
Posted in Education, Faith, Local News | No Comments »
Tuesday, November 1st, 2011
Here is a story from Miami that a friend sent to me recently. They have stopped giving students Midterms and Finals, so that the students won’t be stressed out by them:
Fox News article
(more…)
Tags: public education
Posted in Education | No Comments »
Wednesday, October 19th, 2011
There have been a number of different and (it seems to me contradictory) stories on education in the news recently.
First, we have news that the SAT scores are falling:
Lancaster County SAT scores
Some speculate that more students are taking the test and I have noted from time to time that the real under reported story is how few people are taking the test McCaskey was up from 43% to 51%. Many districts have between 50% and 60% taking the test. Some, like Manheim Central have 43%. Yikes!!! When Veritas reports numbers it usually includes all students, because even if someone is not planning on going to college immediately, we tell them to take the test just in case they change their minds. (more…)
Tags: Local News, public education
Posted in Education, Local News | No Comments »
Tuesday, October 18th, 2011
I recently was introduced to a few articles on the future of education. They both say substantial the same thing. While I don’t agree with everything they say, I find their consistency fascinating. The first one is really cool white board animation by Sir Ken Robinson. He uses a white board and animation to make his points in an incredibly winsome manner. The second (shorter) one, is a blog post by the entrepreneurial expert Seth Godin. He is a lot of fun. (more…)
Tags: public education
Posted in Education | No Comments »
Tuesday, May 24th, 2011
We are coming to the end of our academic year (whew!). At times like this, I get reflective. I have spent a lot of time with our seniors reflecting on where they have been and where they are going (and where our school is going). I have been greatly blessed by this time. They are a wonderful bunch of young men and women—thoughtful, prudent (for their age and maybe just in general), kind, caring, and jolly (yes, jolly). I am thankful for their work and for their families. (more…)
Tags: Christianity, Classical Education, public education
Posted in Culture, Education | No Comments »
Wednesday, May 18th, 2011
This week, there was news in the paper that the teachers in the Conestoga Valley Districts (where Veritas Academy resides and where my family lives) have agreed to a decreased salary increase next year. This will save the district about $300,000. Two points: (more…)
Tags: public education
Posted in Economy, Education, Local News | No Comments »
Thursday, May 12th, 2011
In this week’s paper there was a very interesting story about Governor Corbett. The PA House and Senate have two of the most interesting educational reform bills floating around in them. Senate Bill 1 starts a voucher program in PA—beginning with needy kids in failed districts and expanding (possibly) to middle class people in 5 years. The other is House Bill 1330. It doubles and redoubles the Educational Improvement Tax Credit in the next 2 years from 53 million to 200 million. There are things to like about both bills. In the topsy-turvy world of state budgets both of these bills save the tax-payer money.
The real question for me has been whether Governor Corbett will shepherd these ideas through to completion. Early observations have been unclear. Governor Corbett has been vaguely supportive, but not charging forward (in all areas but the non-taxing of Marcellus Shale). In the story in today’s paper seems to indicate that the Governor is going to support both bills. If he does, and if they are passed, education (and the state of PA) will be changed greatly over the next 10 years. I have concerns about both these bills, but I am beginning to wonder what a free market education system would look like. (There are no children in Atlas Shrugged! No help there.)
Tags: Capitalism, public education
Posted in Economy, Education, Local News | No Comments »
Wednesday, May 11th, 2011
In education politics it has recently seemed to me that my first impression of things is always wrong. I attended a recent meeting of experts concerning Senate Bill 1 (the voucher bill). It is stalled right now in a number of ways. It is stalled in the Senate keeping it from final approval. It is stalled in the House of Representatives because they will not take it up unless the Senate votes for it. The governor seems to be for it, but is hanging back in a way that is not very helpful. If you are for school choice (and I am—although if I were doing it myself I would do it differently than this), this would seem like bad news. (more…)
Tags: Local News, public education, taxes
Posted in Education, Local News | No Comments »
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