More than a Number: Why Class Size Matters

More than a Number: Why Class Size Matters Check out this article. Amazing information on class sizes.

Thoughts on Recent News Stories

Maybe you have seen a couple of recent news stories that hit the TV news magazines recently. One was some video from Australia of a smaller boy taunting and then punching a larger boy, followed by the larger boy picking up and body slamming the smaller boy. The other was a news story that there is a publisher that has released what I would refer to as a "politically correct" version of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. I have been unable to stop thinking about both of these stories as they pertain to my line of work. The first story involves a clear case a bullying. Or maybe not so clear. I did not see all of the followup interviews, but the larger boy claimed to have been bullied all his life and said he had just lost it, or words to that effect. (Note I am not using quotation marks here.) Then the other boy claimed that he too, had been the subject of bullying all of his life. My first question was of course, where were the teachers, the adults? Then the public outcry (that was reported on TV) was that people really supported the larger boy for standing up for himself. Really? People are congratulating this kid for body slamming another kid? OK, based on the video image only, sure, it looked as though the smaller kid "started it", and certainly is caught punching the larger kid in the face. But the reaction that physical retribution is indeed the best way to handle this situation? Ummm, I don't think so. Whatever happened to walking away? Obviously I don't think he should have been bullied in the first place. I have to wonder if the parents or schools have no-bullying rules in force. I mean, what is going on? I don't know all of the backstory or details, but I have to think that some other result could have occurred had someone known about all of this bullying behavior. I wonder if I supervise my kids enough, if I am watchful enough, if I am intolerant of bullying enough to prevent this from happening at my school. So as I begin another long six months of checking for open positions and applying for potential jobs, this is one more thing that I know I have to be firm about from the start of school. Now onto Huckleberry Finn, 2011. New South Books decided that since books like Huck Finn were being avoided in classrooms, they would republish it, changing the "n-word" (no, I don't say it) to "slave". Is this really necessary? First of all, changing an author's words in a book that has been in publication since the 1880's, seems wrong to me. Books are not about agreeing with the author or subject, they are there to spawn thoughts and conversation. Secondly, who is New South Books to tell me what I can and cannot handle reading? I don't blindly walk into a book store, not peruse the book, and buy it! I pick up books by authors I enjoy, books about subjects I am interested in, books that may challenge me, but I typically have done the smallest scad of research before I start reading. Third, how did they decide that "slave" is the best synonym for "n----r"? Didn't Twain use the word to reflect the sign of the times? Wasn't that verbage pretty common in the day? Using the word "slave" seems like a title, like a sign of respect, when you place it against the "n word", which is purposely derogatory. Granted that kids nowadays have probably all heard the word if they have listened to rappers, so that generation does not have the highly negative connotation with this word that older generations like me might have. And finally, if I was thinking about teaching this book, I would think about how the contents of the book would assist my students in learning. How would this book (or any book) help my students understand the essential question of this unit of study? And, I would also think about how students might feel with the verbage in the book. Is my class mature enough to handle it? Are there some students I am concerned about? In the end, I would certainly see if the materials I am choosing for my class fit the lesson and the students. Just like I do with any materials. The New York Times wrote an interesting article about the revised Huckleberry Finn: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/07/books/07huck.html

March 9, 2011

President Barack Obama

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Washington, DC 20500

Dear Sir,

I am writing to you to ask for your advice. I am 40 years old and an elementary school teacher. Unfortunately, I have not been able to secure a permanent position since I earned my Master's in Teaching from Lewis & Clark College 3 years ago. I am in the midst of updating my license, spending money on top of the $40,000 I took out as a loan to secure my original license and degree. I have an excellent reputation among the teachers I have worked with.

I have been fortunate in that I am able to continue making my student loan payments, thanks to my husband who owns his own business and supports our family. We, as many families across the Unites States are, under financial strain, but we are not in dire straits. I cannot collect unemployment as a substitute teacher, so I am forced to wait for the phone to ring in order to work. It has been silent more often than it rings. The unemployment rates the news brags about do not include me.

I looked up your State of the Union Address online, and found the following excerpt:

"And over the next 10 years, with so many baby boomers retiring from

our classrooms, we want to prepare 100,000 new teachers in the fields of

science and technology and engineering and math. "

"In fact, to every young person listening tonight who's contemplating their

career choice: If you want to make a difference in the life of our nation; if

you want to make a difference in the life of a child -- become a teacher.

Your country needs you."

-Obama, Barack. State of the Union Address. US Capitol. Washington DC. January 25, 2011.

I have read and re-read those words many times. I agree that making a difference in the life of a student can make a difference in the life of our nation - it is among the many reasons I chose to pursue this field. In my time as a teacher, I have made connections with students and families that go beyond the classroom, and I take pride in hearing glowing parent reports about children I have taught. I am prepared now. My country needs me now.

So here is my question. Do I wait until I am 50 years old before I can reasonably expect to be permanently employed? In a time when I am supposed to be putting money away for my retirement, are you asking me (and so many of my friends who are in a similar situation) to simply exist in the hope that in the next decade, we might be able to find a job teaching? What do you want me to do? How can I serve our country's future, while waiting for school districts to have enough money to hire new teachers?

My father was a United States Senator for more than 20 years. I realize that a staffer is reading this letter, and that any response I get will be a general, prepared answer. But I hope that my question is passed along to decision makers willing to hear what actual people are enduring, and who can make a change to help everyone.

Sincerely,

Shyla P. Middleton