The Lightning Strike • December 2010
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public education s t o o r s t i n i shaken Better teachers for a better education by Eric Eidelstein news editor “Pick material that interests students and make it relevant to society and life,” English teacher Jessica Fishbein said. Fishbein has taught for 16 years and attributes her success to Marianne Kjos or “The Guru,” and Advanced Placement (AP) coordinator who was rated the 23rd best teacher in the nation by Newsweek magazine. Fishbein was lucky to have been mentored by “the Guru” twice while attending two one-week long, intensive AP seminars. Despite endless opportunities for teacher training, and yearly innovations to improve education, the United States has fallen from top to “average” according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development The current state of the U.S. education systems in the world has made way for programs like Teach for America (TFA). TFA was created by college student Wendy Kopp in her senior year at Princeton University as her thesis. She believed that classrooms would benefit by hiring new grads from top colleges. Now, TFA helps promising grads and places them in lowincome communities with failing public high schools. In the 21st century, a degree in education is considered the easiest degree to obtain, and that knowledge
2010 Student Climate Survey Results The 2010 Student Climate Survey asked questions pertaining to students’ views on classes, counselors, and the school overall. It reflects the state of education at Krop. Contributed by: Alice Neira and Christian Dougnac
I feel that the E2020 classes and Florida Virtual School are good replacements for actual classes and that students in these classes are getting sufficient structure and encouragement.
in a particular field benefits student more than four years of study methods of teaching. TFA helps recent college graduates skip the standard teacher certification process and puts them right into classrooms. Although the idea behind TFA’s is one way to improve education, , Time magazine has reports that the root of the problem might have to do with the lack of esteem the teaching profession of teaching seems to hold in the United States. Countries like South Korea and Finland, which have statistically better education systems, regard teachers as someone in the United States would regard a doctor. One way to help education is to listen to what students have to say. “An effective teacher is someone who interacts with students to make sure they are comprehending material,” senior Micaela Montero said. “As well as someone who is committed to helping students and is flexible and open minded with his/ her teaching strategies so that those students who are willing to learn will do well.” What makes an effective teacher is a subjective topic, but it is one being examined from the White House to the governor’s office in Tallahassee. Perhaps the problem could be solved if they would listen to experienced teachers like Fishbein, who insists on making her material relevant to her students. Or to Principal Matthew Welker, whose mantra is the three R’s. Relevance, rigor, and relationships.
Budget cuts threaten public education by Sharon Sabbagh staff writer In a state that faces over a $1 billion deficit, budget cuts are inevitable. However, too many cuts are at the expense of the Florida’s education. Principal Mathew Welker feels education is inadequately funded in Florida because it is not one of the state’s priorities. “You don’t end up at the bottom of just about every list you could imagine that points to education nationally and say that we believe that education is important,” Welker said. The $200 million gap in Miami-Dade Public School District budget generates uncertainty over success of the future of public education. Lack of funding has already compromised education at Krop. Teachers trade extra credit for supplies such as reams of paper, bottles of glue and antibacterial wipes because the school cannot afford them. Krop has also had to rely on grants such as the Jobs Act just to hire sufficient teachers for its students this year. But there is no guarantee the school will retain these same grants next year. The continued erosion of school budgets may result in a less
This year overall has been more stressful than previous years in school.
educated society and a bleak future for America. Miami-Dade Superintendent Alberto Carvalho, in an interview with Local Channel 10 News, expressed worries over the funding of Florida’s education. “A decline in state revenues at the same time tax contributions are defaulting,” Carvalho said. “If they do not find a viable solution for that, education in the state of Florida could be in a reckless position.” Ailing public schools are not confined to Florida’s borders. The United States’ education system barely holds international standing. Time Magazine reports that in 2006 the U.S ranked 21st in science literacy and 25th in math literacy out of 30 developed countries. The world’s developed nations are in a race for technological advancement, which can only be achieved through academic innovation. Unless leaders in our states make education of the next generation a priority, America runs the risk of lagging behind in the 21st century.
I feel MKHS is preparing me for life after graduation.
5% 6%
22%
18% 11%
Strongly Agree Strongly Disgree
10% 7%
9%
Strongly Agree Strongly Disgree
The return of Senate Bill 6 The very bill that caused student walk outs, teacher strikes, and hours of news coverage, is back for round 2 in Dade county
by Sharon Sabbagh staff writer Newly elected Governor Rick Scott has announced plans to introduce a revamped version of the unpopular Senate Bill Six (SB6). Last year, opposition to the bill caused students to participate in a school-wide “walk out.” The bill required students to pass end-of-course exams in order to receive credit for a class. It would have also implemented a merit-basedpay policy in which teachers’ salary would no longer be tied to their experience or advanced degrees, but be dependent on their students’ passing rates. Teachers and their unions who united against this bill received a reprieve through Governor Charlie Crist’s veto of the bill. However, if Crist had been less worried with appeasing teacher unions and more concerned with improving the quality of students’ education, he may have rethought the veto. According to the documentary Waiting For Superman, only 15-30% of 8th grade students across
the country are proficient in reading and math. By vetoing SB6, Christ vetoed our state’s opportunity to raise that percentage. Social studies teacher Tom James was thankful for the veto, but worries that since Republicans now have the majority in the House of a Representatives, the passing of a similar bill is inevitable. James said SB6 turned teachers into the scapegoats for the nations inept education system, and unjustly removed the blame from parents and students. “I could be the best teacher since sliced bread, but if students don’t want to learn and sleep through my class, nothing can be done,” James said. For James, trying to send everyone to college “is like trying to fit a square peg into a circle.” It can’t be done. The problem with public education is that a student who learns nothing can still receive high marks throughout a class. This is either due to the fact that the student has mastered the art of cheating, or more
likely, the teacher has not followed a sufficiently rigorous curriculum. Students with “easy” teachers earn “easy” As, while students with teachers more concerned for their students’ education, need to study in order to earn that same A. The merit-based-pay policy and end-of-course exams advocated by SB6 would have eliminated such corruption. End-of-course exams would weed out ineffective teachers and a merit-based-pay policy would pressure them to follow a more rigorous curriculum. Students will be forced to either pay attention and learn the material in a course, or fail it. If the students who participated in the “walk out” last year were interested in improving their education rather than just skipping class, they may have stayed in their seats. For now, I cross my fingers and hope Scott keeps good on his vow to boost education achievement by passing a bill similar to SB6.
What makes a good teacher? #1 Student Response: “A fun teacher.”
by Shawn E. Beightol guest writer
53% 56% 18%
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The Lightning Strike • November-December 2010
25% 21%
16%
11%
Strongly Agree Strongly Disgree
Americans are devoted to amusement. My students ask me to make class “more fun.” Have you ever thought about the etymology of the word “amuse?” “A” = “not” “muse” = think How many remember the national beer campaign “why ask why?” Now ask yourself “What do Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Greece, Portugal, Spain, France, Great Britain, and the US have in common?” They were all super-powers that at one time or another ruled the world. By many indications, the US baton of super-power is being passed. A few weeks ago we learned that China has the world’s fastest computers. Then we learned they have achieved 300+ mph commuter trains. Then we learned they are keeping US skyscraper construction companies in business with their repeated contracts to build the world’s tallest buildings, replacing the US as the country with the largest percentage of the world’s skyscrapers.
On Pearl Harbor Day, I reminded my students that “freedom isn’t free.” It would be impossible to field a winning soccer, football, track, or wrestling team by allowing our students to prepare athletically with how we let them prepare academically. Yet, we allow them hours of TV, Facebook, cell phones, iPods, and Xbox each day (national average is eight hours per day for students 8-18 years old). And they wonder why they can’t pass our material or do our homework. And slowly, we curve their grades higher and higher to compensate to avoid the ugly prospect and inconvenience of dealing with their parents and our bosses over their performance. Ask a coach what it takes during the season and out of season to make a winning athlete. Ask a nutritionist, a doctor, a dentist, what it takes to make a healthy body in the office and at home. And ask yourself, an educator, why we allow anything less for our children academically.