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?
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, July 4, 2014
Thursday, July 3, 2014
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
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!
"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.
"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!
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!
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
What she DIDN'T say...
Here's a tweet from one of my most recent former students. Note what she DOESN'T say!
She didn't say she missed:
1. standards
2. The PSSA (PA's version of high stakes tests)
3. the principal
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
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
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)
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)
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