Some call me "Flem"
- Dr. Stephen R. Flemming
- I'm an elementary school teacher turned high school English teacher, School-Based Teacher Leader (SBTL), and adjunct professor here in Philly. These posts are the views, as I see them, from room 105, my first classroom number. Enjoy, engage, and share!
Friday, August 31, 2012
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
What will it take?
Will it really take the conversion of our schools to charters in order to get long overdue tasks checked off of the list? Plumbing? Electric work? Paint? New facades? Green space? Cleveland Elementary School prior to its renaissance to a charter operator, was one of many who could have used these particular upgrades. But as stated in an earlier post, once converted the work was done.
Saturday, August 25, 2012
#EnonAndJBKelly
Today, Saturday, 8/25/12, I had the opportunity to witness one of many ways that faith-based groups and community organizations can partner with public schools for the success of our students.
Today, Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church partnered with John B. Kelly Elementary School to provide hundreds of book bags (and school supplies I believe) to the school's children. Hundreds of people showed up at Kelly today, early, to be entertained with singing, step groups, a drum line group, inspirational remarks and prayer for the success of the school year.
In an environment and world in which some of our colleagues don't want church and state to EVER cross, I disagree! There is a place for religious groups and other community organizations in a collaborative effort to meet the needs of our students. Enon proved that today. With the supply of free book bags, these families can now focus their financial resources, whether limited or not, on other supplies or services.
While $15 or $20 may not seem like a big deal to some, multiply that by the number of children in the family and something as simple as a book bag now becomes a huge expense.
So a huge ((((SHOUT OUT)))) to Enon for supplying our children with book bags!
While other wealthy organizations are providing millions in funding and resources to others, Enon was a blessing to the children and families of John B. Kelly Elementary School today and for that I'm sure they are grateful.
Today, Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church partnered with John B. Kelly Elementary School to provide hundreds of book bags (and school supplies I believe) to the school's children. Hundreds of people showed up at Kelly today, early, to be entertained with singing, step groups, a drum line group, inspirational remarks and prayer for the success of the school year.
In an environment and world in which some of our colleagues don't want church and state to EVER cross, I disagree! There is a place for religious groups and other community organizations in a collaborative effort to meet the needs of our students. Enon proved that today. With the supply of free book bags, these families can now focus their financial resources, whether limited or not, on other supplies or services.
While $15 or $20 may not seem like a big deal to some, multiply that by the number of children in the family and something as simple as a book bag now becomes a huge expense.
So a huge ((((SHOUT OUT)))) to Enon for supplying our children with book bags!
While other wealthy organizations are providing millions in funding and resources to others, Enon was a blessing to the children and families of John B. Kelly Elementary School today and for that I'm sure they are grateful.
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
A Barbershop Convo
So today, while in the barbershop, I had a small conversation with a person I had never met prior to today. From his conversation with the other barbers, he seems to be an entrepreneur of a small restaurant here in the city.
Here's how the conversation went as I made my way to the barber's chair:
Barber (to me): The TEACHER!!! Ready to go back Mr. Teacher?
Me: Yes I am actually!
Barber: They gettin' rid of gym this year?
Me: Who knows, with everything going on!
Man: What school do you teach at?
Me: John B. Kelly, right up the street
Man: Oh yea, Kelly! What do you think about all of these charter schools popping up taking money away?
Me: Sir, that's my soap box!
Man: I can tell!
You can imagine how the conversation continued from that point! It is important to note that this businessman is not in favor of schools popping up that are draining our true public schools of money and resources. He made that clear!
Needless to say, I made a new friend today! A non-teacher who also doesn't like what's going on in this city!!
Here's how the conversation went as I made my way to the barber's chair:
Barber (to me): The TEACHER!!! Ready to go back Mr. Teacher?
Me: Yes I am actually!
Barber: They gettin' rid of gym this year?
Me: Who knows, with everything going on!
Man: What school do you teach at?
Me: John B. Kelly, right up the street
Man: Oh yea, Kelly! What do you think about all of these charter schools popping up taking money away?
Me: Sir, that's my soap box!
Man: I can tell!
You can imagine how the conversation continued from that point! It is important to note that this businessman is not in favor of schools popping up that are draining our true public schools of money and resources. He made that clear!
Needless to say, I made a new friend today! A non-teacher who also doesn't like what's going on in this city!!
Monday, August 20, 2012
Mastery Charter @ Cleveland....hmmm
In April of 2012, the School District of Philadelphia authorized Mastery Charter Schools to seize control of the Grover Cleveland Elementary School in the Tioga-Nicetown of Philadelphia, forcing all of its teachers and principal out to choose other schools for the furtherance of their academic careers. http://webgui.phila.k12.pa.us/offices/r/renaissance-schools
Under the renaissance model of school management, a certain percentage of the teachers can reapply to work at Cleveland with Mastery at the helm, generally for less pay and longer hours.
According to Mastery Charter Schools' website for Grover Cleveland,
"During the months of July and August, there will be lots of construction at Cleveland. There will be new paint, windows, furniture, bulletin boards, updated plumbing, electric and completely new lighting school-wide! The exterior of the building will be undergoing some major reconstruction which will prevent leaks from reoccurring in the building."
http://www.masterycharter.org/schools/cleveland-campus/about-12.html
I have just a few questions.
1. Why couldn't all of this happen while Grover Cleveland Elementary School was still under school district control?
2. Why were our children forced to come to a school without those particulars remedied?
3. Does the school district believe that environment has no impact on learning?
4. Why couldn't the district fix those problems and give the children and staff at Cleveland a chance before allowing them to become a charter?
So allow me to rewrite those news notes and let me see if I have this correct?
"Prior to the months of July and August, there weren't construction projects at Cleveland. There was old paint, old windows, old furniture, old bulletin boards, outdated plumbing, outdated electric, and old lighting school-wide! The exterior of the building had not undergone major reconstruction which allowed leaks to reoccur in the building."
Things that make you go hmmm!
Under the renaissance model of school management, a certain percentage of the teachers can reapply to work at Cleveland with Mastery at the helm, generally for less pay and longer hours.
According to Mastery Charter Schools' website for Grover Cleveland,
"During the months of July and August, there will be lots of construction at Cleveland. There will be new paint, windows, furniture, bulletin boards, updated plumbing, electric and completely new lighting school-wide! The exterior of the building will be undergoing some major reconstruction which will prevent leaks from reoccurring in the building."
http://www.masterycharter.org/schools/cleveland-campus/about-12.html
I have just a few questions.
1. Why couldn't all of this happen while Grover Cleveland Elementary School was still under school district control?
2. Why were our children forced to come to a school without those particulars remedied?
3. Does the school district believe that environment has no impact on learning?
4. Why couldn't the district fix those problems and give the children and staff at Cleveland a chance before allowing them to become a charter?
So allow me to rewrite those news notes and let me see if I have this correct?
"Prior to the months of July and August, there weren't construction projects at Cleveland. There was old paint, old windows, old furniture, old bulletin boards, outdated plumbing, outdated electric, and old lighting school-wide! The exterior of the building had not undergone major reconstruction which allowed leaks to reoccur in the building."
Things that make you go hmmm!
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Balance...
Recently, I made the intentional reconnection with a thought that I had some time ago, balance. Reading tweets, blogs, news articles, etc. RE: public education in the United States today and the defensive stance that we as public school teachers are forced to assume can be unnerving at times. Many times WE, as public school teachers tend to focus on the negative of the whole situation. Our opponents do as well.
So with all the negativity, who is going to focus on the GOOD that is happening each day in our public school classrooms? Who is going to tell the positive "goings-on" (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/goings-on)?
With that, I propose we strike a balance. Yes, the situation is bad! Yes, we must tweet, blog, email, write letters, lift our voices, stand in solidarity, etc. At the same token, let's inform the public that John has improved three reading levels, even if he state tests don't reflect that fact. Let's tell the story of Jane, who transferred in rather rough around the edges and is now speaking politely, is studying harder now more than ever and is even tutoring. Don't forget about Bob, who at twelve years of age cares for his younger siblings and still manages to make the honor roll each report card period. While the characters are fictitious, the situations are real!
Keep advocating for our children, absolutely! I will, that's for sure. But I will tell their powerful stories as well! #Balance
So with all the negativity, who is going to focus on the GOOD that is happening each day in our public school classrooms? Who is going to tell the positive "goings-on" (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/goings-on)?
With that, I propose we strike a balance. Yes, the situation is bad! Yes, we must tweet, blog, email, write letters, lift our voices, stand in solidarity, etc. At the same token, let's inform the public that John has improved three reading levels, even if he state tests don't reflect that fact. Let's tell the story of Jane, who transferred in rather rough around the edges and is now speaking politely, is studying harder now more than ever and is even tutoring. Don't forget about Bob, who at twelve years of age cares for his younger siblings and still manages to make the honor roll each report card period. While the characters are fictitious, the situations are real!
Keep advocating for our children, absolutely! I will, that's for sure. But I will tell their powerful stories as well! #Balance
Friday, August 17, 2012
Duhh!!
The Philadelphia Public School Notebook, an independent newspaper, recently did a story on the School District of Philadelphia's plunging test scores for the 2012 state-mandated tests.
http://thenotebook.org/blog/125072/big-test-scores-drops-schools-targeted-cheating-probe-and-early-grades
This isn't a scathing criticism of that story, it's a response to our elected officials who don't seem to "get it." The reports concluded that "Across the District, the test-score declines are most stark in the elementary grades."
To this I say, duuhhh!! Two weeks prior to the administration of these unnecessary and stressful assessments, school district teachers/faculty were informed that we would not be testing our own students, because apparently we cheat....(catch the sarcasm, I'd hate to give fodder to those who would read this and assume an admission of guilt...not so...cheaters are stupid).
As a teacher, I immediately thought of each and every one of my 55 students. Immediately I wrote a letter to the "would be teacher" and politician detailing the individual needs of each and every one of my students. This was more like a journal entry to myself, but I digress. The point? A "stranger" would not know such details and therefore this whole arrangement would amount to nothing more than a concerted effort to set us up for failure. Honestly, what did the state really expect?
The report also concluded, "Scores leveled off somewhat in grade 7 and 8, and actually rose slightly in grade 11."
To this I say, duuhhh!!! Older children, adolescents, are more mature mentally and emotionally than younger children! 7th and 8th graders see many teachers in a day/week. Certainly 11th graders do! Testing with another teacher would not have as much of an emotional effect as elementary age children!
I never was a conspiracy theorist or barbershop philosopher, but that stunt the state pulled has me rethinking my barbershop discourse!
http://thenotebook.org/blog/125072/big-test-scores-drops-schools-targeted-cheating-probe-and-early-grades
This isn't a scathing criticism of that story, it's a response to our elected officials who don't seem to "get it." The reports concluded that "Across the District, the test-score declines are most stark in the elementary grades."
To this I say, duuhhh!! Two weeks prior to the administration of these unnecessary and stressful assessments, school district teachers/faculty were informed that we would not be testing our own students, because apparently we cheat....(catch the sarcasm, I'd hate to give fodder to those who would read this and assume an admission of guilt...not so...cheaters are stupid).
As a teacher, I immediately thought of each and every one of my 55 students. Immediately I wrote a letter to the "would be teacher" and politician detailing the individual needs of each and every one of my students. This was more like a journal entry to myself, but I digress. The point? A "stranger" would not know such details and therefore this whole arrangement would amount to nothing more than a concerted effort to set us up for failure. Honestly, what did the state really expect?
The report also concluded, "Scores leveled off somewhat in grade 7 and 8, and actually rose slightly in grade 11."
To this I say, duuhhh!!! Older children, adolescents, are more mature mentally and emotionally than younger children! 7th and 8th graders see many teachers in a day/week. Certainly 11th graders do! Testing with another teacher would not have as much of an emotional effect as elementary age children!
I never was a conspiracy theorist or barbershop philosopher, but that stunt the state pulled has me rethinking my barbershop discourse!
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
$1330 extra per kid...
Contrary to popular belief, there are great schools that make up the School District of Philadelphia. Among them is the highly lauded Penn Alexander School in the University City section of West Philadelphia. Penn Alexander is a University of Pennsylvania Partnership school. To read more on the partnership, click on the link ----> http://webgui.phila.k12.pa.us/schools/p/penn-alexander/
The one thing that most stands out to me is the extra $1330 per child that this school receives. I like to think of what each Philadelphia public school be like if each school received an extra $1330 per child? I think of the technological advances that could be made. I think of the reduced class sizes. I think of the classroom assistants. I think of the arts. I think of foreign languages in elementary schools. Oh the resources that an extra $1330 per student to purchase for the sake of the students!
The one thing that most stands out to me is the extra $1330 per child that this school receives. I like to think of what each Philadelphia public school be like if each school received an extra $1330 per child? I think of the technological advances that could be made. I think of the reduced class sizes. I think of the classroom assistants. I think of the arts. I think of foreign languages in elementary schools. Oh the resources that an extra $1330 per student to purchase for the sake of the students!
Building Reps Retreat...
The Philadelphia Federation of Teachers decided to engage its federation building representatives in meaningful and informative dialogue centered on the current landscape of public education in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the country as a whole. The first Building Reps Retreat was held in Atlantic City from Monday through Wednesday of this week.
In a nutshell, I loved every minute of it!!
Sessions centered around engaging our schools' communities at large, technical language of our contract, and the law. The agenda also included a session on an unprecedented collaborative effort between the School District of Philadelphia and the PFT to provide an historical level of support for new teachers and tenured teachers whose teaching has been weighed in the balances and found wanting.
It is important to note, that last collaboration is contrary to popular belief that teachers unions are about protecting dead wood, teachers who clearly need to clap their erasers for the last time. But I digress.
Each session was informative and rekindled the fire in each of us to fight for public education! Thank you PFT! I'm looking forward to another successful year in the classroom and hope for the same success in the corridors of City Hall, Harrisburg, DC, and 440!
In a nutshell, I loved every minute of it!!
Sessions centered around engaging our schools' communities at large, technical language of our contract, and the law. The agenda also included a session on an unprecedented collaborative effort between the School District of Philadelphia and the PFT to provide an historical level of support for new teachers and tenured teachers whose teaching has been weighed in the balances and found wanting.
It is important to note, that last collaboration is contrary to popular belief that teachers unions are about protecting dead wood, teachers who clearly need to clap their erasers for the last time. But I digress.
Each session was informative and rekindled the fire in each of us to fight for public education! Thank you PFT! I'm looking forward to another successful year in the classroom and hope for the same success in the corridors of City Hall, Harrisburg, DC, and 440!
Monday, August 13, 2012
New found respect for teachers...
Within the past two weeks two different individuals approached me and commented that they have a "new found respect" for teachers. The first was a parent who recently retired, freeing up more time for her to be more involved in her high schooler's education and school overall. She spent a considerable amount of time in the school itself. That experience enlightened her to the difficult tasks that teachers perform on a daily basis. She informed me that she had a new found respect for teachers having spent some time on the "inside".
The second individual was employed with the School District of Philadelphia, but with budget cuts and an uncertain future, he decided that it was time to move on, before he HAD to move on. His comment to me, "Man, I have a new found respect for teachers having been on the inside."
Suggestion: Everyone should spend some time on the "inside" and they, too, should discover a new found respect for teachers and the respectable work and service that we perform on a daily basis.
The second individual was employed with the School District of Philadelphia, but with budget cuts and an uncertain future, he decided that it was time to move on, before he HAD to move on. His comment to me, "Man, I have a new found respect for teachers having been on the inside."
Suggestion: Everyone should spend some time on the "inside" and they, too, should discover a new found respect for teachers and the respectable work and service that we perform on a daily basis.
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Asked and Answered???
After realizing the 140 characters just didn't seem enough, it was my nephew who inspired me to brush off my blog and get to...well....blogging!
Recently, my state Senator and I, along with some of my twitter friends and colleagues, engaged in a twitterlogue about public education. This state Senator opened up a charter school that shares a corner with the neighborhood public school.
I sent the Senator (via @kellygrade6) the following tweet, "@SenTonyWilliams @TimothyMBoyle @rmschloss have u tried to get Mitchell Elem, BB Comegys and schools like them the resources and services they need b4 u decided to open a charter on the same corner?"
The Senator's response to me was sent in this tweet, "@kellygrade6 @timothymboyle @rmschloss I attended Mitchell and I visited last year."
I'll let you judge for yourself what this "nationally recognized expert on educational issues" (http://www.senatoranthonyhwilliams.com/sen-anthony-h-williams/about/biography) meant by that response, because I think I may have misunderstood something.
Recently, my state Senator and I, along with some of my twitter friends and colleagues, engaged in a twitterlogue about public education. This state Senator opened up a charter school that shares a corner with the neighborhood public school.
I sent the Senator (via @kellygrade6) the following tweet, "@SenTonyWilliams @TimothyMBoyle @rmschloss have u tried to get Mitchell Elem, BB Comegys and schools like them the resources and services they need b4 u decided to open a charter on the same corner?"
The Senator's response to me was sent in this tweet, "
I'll let you judge for yourself what this "nationally recognized expert on educational issues" (http://www.senatoranthonyhwilliams.com/sen-anthony-h-williams/about/biography) meant by that response, because I think I may have misunderstood something.
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