I taught the kid who...

A little edu-nightcap-
Every time I watch the news and hear of some problem or another, I comment, "I taught the kid who will come up with that solution!"

Be it a deadly virus outbreak, some catostrophe to which a solution for avoiding it has yet to be discovered, or the next "big thing" in technology, I taught the kid who'll come up with the solution!

Who? Take your pick!

I met @TheJLV today!

I just arrived home from two events. The second event was a book talk/conversation held at an independent book seller on South Street here in Philly. It was there that I met social justice/public education activist Jose Luis Vilson out of New York.

I consider myself very fortunate to have been in the company of a great, sincere, and unashamedly vocal opponent of much of the school "deform" craze, taking this country by the throat, choking the life out of kids, teachers, schools, and communities and calling it good for us (but many of their kids aren't subject to the same "goodies", hmm).

I'm looking forward to reading his book, This Is Not A Test: A New Narrative on Race, Class, and Education.

What I appreciated most about what I heard tonight was his focus on "the classroom" and on pedagogy. We're activists, yes. But the adult and the "30, 60, 90, 150 students" (as he put it, and is true) we see daily in the confounds of room...ahem...105, or 207...is where is starts! The policies, the politics, the philanthropy or lack thereof, the diminishing funds, and all of the other "stuff" has some (a lot, depending on the teacher) impact on the daily goings-on inside of each and every public school classroom.

I heard him mention shielding our students from the madness; a thought and belief to which I do my level best to adhere!

When the question was asked from a teacher-activist, what should we focus on? Coupled with, "how do we decide what to focus on?" given that there are so many fires in Philly to put out (school closings, mass layoffs, underfunding, lack of nurses/counselors, etc. etc. etc.). His reply? "Bring it back to the classroom." Not making our students these mini-activists, but rather focus on teaching and learning, from there build the conversations and organize.

So many great things said tonight. While I follow him on twitter, read his tweets and have read some blog posts, I look forward to the book and catching up on all of his online work that I haven't read yet.

Out of control!!

I can't right now! This little boy is dead as a result of a "baby daddy" who shot and killed him. He was celebrating his 5th birthday if I'm not mistaken!This same fool shot the mother of his child before turning the gun on himself! WHY for the love of all things sacred are these KIDS being killed left and right in this region!?!?

Not again!

Dear Keiearra, Thomas, and Terrence,
I really am at a lost for words! No words can describe the pain and the anguish your family and this city is experiencing right now! No words can describe the agony of your friends and classmates who won't see you for another "First Day of School". Unfortunately, the teacher won't be calling your names for you to say "here". Instead, in terms of walking, talking, and laughing with your friends in the classroom and school yard, you're "absent" and that makes a whole lot of us sad! Where you exist and forever will exist is in the hearts and memories of those who knew you!

Those guys who stole a car, then lost control, hit you all and ran, they are the jerks and cowards! Instead of working hard to get what they want out of life like y'all did, they decided they'd rather take from people! They took a car, but most importantly, they took you guys away from us and that's not cool at all yo! Real rap! IT'S NOT COOL!!!!! They took!!! They took!!! They took!!!! They took y'all away from your mother, your friends, your family, your neighborhood, your school, your future!!! Those scumbags took from us!!

Don't worry though! We've got some good detectives and prosecutors out there! I hope they take their freedom, if not more than that for taking y'all away from us!

Tonight I prayed. I prayed that all of this nonsense would stop! When I prayed, I cried tonight, thinking about you.

Rest Well Dear Hearts!

~Mr. Steve

Can I PLEASE just read an article without...

Can I PLEASE just read an article on good teaching suggestions or some research WITHOUT having to bump into the #CCSS craze? PLEASE????
— S. R. Flemming (@kellygrade6) July 24, 2014

Our faces!

I'm getting increasingly sick and tired of seeing the faces of black men constantly plastered across the television for this crime or that incident! I'm not necessarily coming at the media, per se, but rather the accused!

Stop the madness already! Many already have a perception of us and this doesn't help! Although most alleged and accused criminals of any race are innocent until proven guilty, I tend to think the opposite is true for men and boys of color!

For selling loosies though?

Very late Saturday night I heard about the misfortune that came upon a New York City man who was being "investigated" for selling loosies. What are loosies, you say? Well for those who are that removed from urban life and lexicon, they are individual cigarettes that individual people (and almost every single corner store and Chinese store in every major city) re-sells to enlarge the profit margin they want to receive per pack of cigarettes. In some circles similar actions are called tax loop holes, but that's none of my business!

So, if I heard and saw  correctly, this Mr. Garner, who "just so happened to be black" (what critics to the black communitiy's outcry might say) was being bothered by the New York City police for selling loosies. The next thing you know, he was being choke-holded and wrestled to the ground. Within an hour he was dead. From a heart attack. Late Sunday, the news reported that EMS workers were disciplined for not perfroming CPR as he lay on the ground, not breathing (I reckon from being choked). In their defense, maybe he just so happen to have had DNR papers in his wallet, along with the profits from the loosies! O_o

There are many who would claim that the outcry from the black community over such atrocities are exaggerated. While I could go into a whole dissertation, with several examples and cases, defending our response, I won't. All I will ask is this, do you know what it feels like to be a black man in America? Do you know tha anguish of a young black mother whenever her young black son leaves the house every morning?

{Waits for reply}

A View on Pull-Outs

"Sending kindergartners or first graders out of the room for a thirty-minute pull-out program to work on phonemic awareness or sounds in isolation when they are missing a read-aloud or shared reading or rich reading/writing experiences in the classroom makes no sense." ~Regie Routman

Amen!

Just to take a test?

I took the Praxis for my Reading Specialist cert today. Talk about tight security!! Ok, empty my pockets, lock up my belongings, sign my life away and give blood. I get it. But lifting up pants legs, get "wanded" by the handheld metal detector? Sheesh! All of this for a test, that if I pass (I pray God I do), I won't get a cent above what I'm making now? Good goobily goop {in my Grady Wilson voice}! lol

"Impeccable" Timing

I find it very interesting that the salary information for every school district employee was released in the same season as the blow to the School District and SRC from the PA Supreme Court; exactly one month to the day to a provocative deadline to receive money or else delay the opening of schools; in the same season when they are looking for concessions from the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers; and when public support for teachers and school employees is rising!

Is this the hope? That upon reviewing the salary data, that public opinion and support for its teachers would wane? That support for calls for salary cuts would increase? That teachers would feel so violated, they'd leave?

It is important to keep in mind, that these salaries are not the starting salaries of 22 year old young adults fresh out of college. For many, it took 10+ years to reach salaries that other professions easily pay fresh-out-of-college kids.

It is important to keep in mind, that these are teachers with families and high taxes.

It is important to keep in mind that these salaries have also been stagnant for two years, when every. thing. else. has. not. been. stagnant.

It is important to keep in mind, that these salaries, HARDLY represent our worth and work! We get one salary and perform the function of teacher, cop, social worker, advocate, counselor, psychologist, therapist, school supplier, chef, tutor, clothing supplier, interpreter, driver, parent, sometimes a babysitter, and other jobs to most if not each child in our care!

They want class sizes at 40+, when we see 33 already in elementary school or 150+ in high school! Cool! Give us the top paying salary of each of the professions mentioned, FOR EACH CHILD!

So, cool!!! They want to make salaries easily accessible to any Joe Shmoe, then PLEASE put it in the right perspective (as we check to see how much the politicians and executives at Comcast, Walmart, and other such entities make per year)!!

It Doesn't Add Up

I've thought and talked about it often, but on the eve of me taking another certification test, it's hitting home again!

So, I need to pay $139 to take this reading specialist test.
Then, I need to pay $100 to get officially certified in the state of Pennsylvania.
But, I won't receive a pay increase, for the M.Ed degree or the reading specialist certification? And with the current movement (in the wrong direction) of education reform, advanced degrees in education aren't necessary?

It doesn't add up!

Two years ago..

A friend of mine, also a teacher here in Philly, is job hunting.  I should pause here to say they are not looking for a part-time job to supplement their comparatively miniscule teacher salary, but rather a replacement job.

I texted them earlier to get clarity on my role in the search. They replied and here was my final reply:

It is important to note, that we both love to teach and working with children and youth! We did it long before becoming teachers!

The View from 105, no wait...207

The shortened story behind the slight amendment to the name:

I'm moving from 5th to 3rd grade, by order of the principal.
I'm moving from 105 to 207, by order of the principal.
I'm moving from a room with a Smartboard to a room without a Smartboard, by order of the principal.
I'm moving away from the teaching team I've taught alongside for seven years, by order of the principal.

No opinions. Just the facts.

Maya Angelou's Last Tweet

Even the brevity of conveying messages in 140 characters including spaces, he words spoke volumes! She posted this 5 days before she passed away.

Listen to yourself and in that quietude you might hear the voice of God.
— Maya Angelou (@DrMayaAngelou) May 23, 2014

Charter/Deformer - You Missed this marriage or nah?

Deformer, do u take Mastery to be your lawfully wedded org, to siphon resources, replace hard working pub skls, & counsel out kids?
— S. R. Flemming (@kellygrade6) July 9, 2014

Mastery, do u take Deformer to be your lawfully wedded, politically connected, well-funded, media-praised, celebrity-embraced money source?
— S. R. Flemming (@kellygrade6) July 9, 2014

Mastery: Uhh, the $$  source part? I'll take a lot of it, but I'm going to need quite a bit from John B. Kelly, Steel, Harrington, Shaw, etc
— S. R. Flemming (@kellygrade6) July 9, 2014

BOTH: We do!
— S. R. Flemming (@kellygrade6) July 9, 2014

Officiant: By the power invested in me by law makers, Gates, Broad, & Walton Foundations, & Families, I declare you destoryers of public ed!
— S. R. Flemming (@kellygrade6) July 9, 2014

Officiant: You may now join up with TFA and push against those pesky teachers with certs and advanced degrees!
— S. R. Flemming (@kellygrade6) July 9, 2014

Go forth! Degrees in ed not needed! You're lawyers, hedge fund people, political scientists-go forth, teach struggling 3rd graders to read!
— S. R. Flemming (@kellygrade6) July 9, 2014

Rest well

Dear Maria, Marialla, Patrick, and Taj,
Hi you guys. You didn't know me, but my name is Mr. Fl----Mr. Steve. I'm a teacher. You didn't know me and I never had the privilege of meeting you. But today, I'm very very sad about what happened to you guys. You were so young, so innocent, so full of life and so full of potential. Do you know what "potential" means? It means that you can---could have been---anything you ever wanted to be! You could've have been a teacher like me. Or maybe you could have been a person who makes bridges or drives a truck or a superhero, like a firefighter!

But it makes me really sad that you guys are no longer here to run around and play or even go to school like the bigger kids! You probably had fun on July 4th right? Did you eat hamburgers or do---did---you like hot dogs better? Did you get a chance to see the fireworks with all the lights and the loud noises? I'm sure you really liked those or did they scare you? Maybe you even got a chance to get some ice cream or water ice?

Well, even though I didn't know you, I'm sure going to miss you! I know your family is going to miss you too! You were four years old and one month old and very beautiful kids! Can you---could you count to four? I'm sure you could! Then you would have been five years old, a whole hand, and even go to school with the other five year olds! It makes me sad that you won't get that chance!

Patrick, is that your little brother you're holding? Don't you ever stop holding him! Don't let go of him! Ever!
Maria and Marialla, you two stay together! Hold hands! And don't let go! Ever!

Bye now dear hearts!
Rest well little ones!
Mr. Steve

My heart bleeds

My heart bleeds for the families of these four young children who died in the very tragic fire in Southwest Philadelphia over the Fourth of July weekend. Rest well little ones.

Bus driver made the kids' day

I'm riding on SEPTA's 108 bus toward 69th Street. We passed a group of toddlers with their preschool teachers in a park. They were waving at the bus. Initially the driver didn't see them. Once he did, however, he honked and honked! That small act on the part of the driver, you had better believe, made the day of those kids!!

"The Hard Part" (of teaching) by Peter Greene

The Hardest Part of Teaching http://t.co/buQCamaJFy via @HuffPostEdu
— S. R. Flemming (@kellygrade6) July 8, 2014

Punishment?

The future of our students is too worthy an investment for principals to think of switching teachers' grade assignments as 'punishments' or 'Ahh, I got you! That'll teach you to speak up!'

Unfortunately, this is the reality here in Philly and undoubtedly in other places as well.

Taking the wings out of dead flies!!

I can remember being a little lad, outside in the summer sun, watching ants at work. I was so enthralled by the dead bugs, chips, onion rings, and water ice remnants they'd be feasting on. I remember watching with intrigue the hills they constructed from dirt inside the earth.

Then, too, I can also remember looking at the different types of ants I'd see. Some were black, others were red, some were smaller than others and some even flew! ((WOW))

I also remember being interested in dead flies. They wouldn't be dead before I got a hold of them, however. I took their wings out and examined them closer. I saw them "wash their face and hands" often. That is until I ended their stay on earth.

Then there were the dragonflies, beetles, June bugs, fire flies, hornets, and yellow jackets. What naturally followed was the flipping through of the old World Book Encycopedias to learn more!

I fear that in this age of high stakes testing, Common Core and many special interests, who feign invested interest in our children, that such learning and discovery and excitement about such learning and discovery will fizzle!

Ooops, it already has!

"...charter schools' right of due process."

7:27am. Walk to Wawa. Get coffee and the Philadelphia Inquirer.
4:30pm, finally pick up the paper and read the two main Philadelphia education reports.
(((((DROPS PAPER AND JAW in disbelief)))))

An excerpt:

"Robert Fayfich, executive director of the Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools, called the amendment {to the cigarette tax for Philly that gives Philly charter start ups the right to appeal to the state Charter Appeals Board if the SRC ignores/rejects their proposals} a 'clear statement by the House that the School District of Philadelphia and the School Reform Commission overstepped their authority in suspending the charter schools' right of due process.'"

Would this be the same well-funded, politically connected, media-beloved arm of the education reform debate that pushes for policies and laws that would deny teachers their right to due process by lobbying for the elimination of tenure and seniority? Do I have that about right?

Priority: Smokers, Not Students??

An excerpt from http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/homepage-feature/item/69972-cigarette-tax-for-philly-schools-clears-major-hurdle-in-pa-house?linktype=hp_impact

RE: The Cigarette Tax

"Before the House voted, Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R, Butler County, urged lawmakers to vote 'no,' calling the the measure a regressive tax that would negatively affect poor Philadelphians from the "inner city" who were "addicted to nicotine.""

Dear Rep Metcalfe, 
Your concern is for Philadelphians who are poor and are smokers but not for the effects that poverty has on our students' educational opportunities, resources, and limitless possibilities?

Signed,
All of Us

Reply to State Rep Milne

An excerpt from ~~> http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/homepage-feature/item/69972-cigarette-tax-for-philly-schools-clears-major-hurdle-in-pa-house?linktype=hp_impact

"Milne falls into a camp that remains skeptical of the Philadelphia School District's ability to appropriately manage its finances – despite all the austerity measures the district has undertaken during Superintendent William Hite's tenure."

It is important to note that the School District has been under STATE control and monitoring since 2000/2001. Under their watchful eye our deficit has ballooned!

Reply to State Rep Saylor

An excerpt from ~~> http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/homepage-feature/item/69972-cigarette-tax-for-philly-schools-clears-major-hurdle-in-pa-house?linktype=hp_impact

"Rep. Stan Saylor, R-York, majority whip in the House, fell into the former category.

Members of the House simply want Philadelphia to come forward and help solve some of the problems of the commonwealth, instead of sitting there thinking that Philadelphia gets to have a pass, and everybody else will put up the votes to help Philly," he said in an interview before the vote."

Representative Saylor, how do you think Philadelphia will be a problem solver if you and other members of the Pennsylvania Legislature refuse to adequately fund the state's public schools, including those in Philadelphia? The stability of Philadelphia means the stability of Pennsylvania.

How do I know? Your Governor asked the President of the United States of America to step in when SEPTA's Regional Rail engineers and electricians went on strike. Approximately 400 people went on strike and the President intervened.

50 years later

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was signed 50 years ago.
Where are we 50 years later?

States want to develop, not tests, but myriad other potential hindrances to voting.

Public schools, especially in urban and rural areas where there are higher concentrations of poverty and "coincidentally" enough, minorities, are terribly underfunded.

A new crop of quasi-public schools are rising up everywhere that are more politically and philanthropically connected and which draw resources away from true public schools.

Black boys and men can walk the streets freely....wait, except if you are wearing a hoodie, baggy jeans, and carrying ice tea (http://trayvonmartinfoundation.org/) or if you are headed to a basketball game in bitter cold weather and your face is covered (http://articles.philly.com/2014-01-17/news/46268062_1_manning-ski-masks-frankford-high).

2% of public school teachers in the nation are black males (

We have taken some steps forward! Everything isn't doom and gloom. Just ask yourself, "Who is the President of the United States?" {que Jeopardy music}  Exactly!

We've come a long way and we still have quite a ways to go!

What she DIDN'T say...

Here's a tweet from one of my most recent former students. Note what she DOESN'T say!

Omgg I Really Miss John B Kelly , @Flemming105 , Ms. Cottman AND ,, Mrs. Jefferson I Will Be There On The First Day Of School @Flemming105
— Imani Thompson (@imoniathompson) July 2, 2014

She didn't say she missed:
1. standards
2. The PSSA (PA's version of high stakes tests)
3. the principal

A New State in the Union???

Today I was watching an episode of Family Feud, a new past time I've developed since summer started. One of the questions Steve Harvey asked a family member was "Name an east coast state, except New York, that tourists love to visit." The family member answered "Washington D.C."

This is the reason why we need to teach Social Studies! I know the show is high pressure, quick thinking, and all of that jazz, but the mantra that I've formed for why I teach Social Studies comes from a little pre-assessment that I gave my 6th graders several years ago. In that pre-assessment, I was informed that Texas was a country and Paris is the capital of Pennsylvania.

So, why, do you ask, do I insist on teaching Social Studies? So they'll know that "Paris is not the capital of Pennsylvania and Texas is not a country!"

(Add to that, that Washington D.C. is not a state)