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| An open letter to parents
In Praise of Small Schools By Steve McCrea, Teacher Dear Parent: In February 2005, Bill Gates gave a landmark speech at a conference of governors praising small schools. I missed it, and chances are that you did, too, because the speech was overwhelmed by the media’s focus on the Michael Jackson trial and Terri Schiavo. Here’s the essence of what Gates said: “Successful schools are built on principles that can be applied anywhere. These are the new three Rs, the basic building blocks of better high schools: The first R is Rigor – making sure all students are given a challenging curriculum that prepares them for college or work. The second R is Relevance – making sure kids have courses and projects that clearly relate to their lives and their goals. The third R is Relationships – making sure kids have a number of adults who know them, look out for them, and push them to achieve.” Small Schools “The three Rs are almost always easier to promote in smaller schools. The smaller size gives teachers and staff the chance to create an environment where students achieve at a higher level and rarely fall through the cracks. Students in smaller schools are more motivated, have higher attendance rates, feel safer, and graduate and attend college in higher numbers.” If I were a parent, I would look around for a small school that receives public money. Charter schools have an agreement (a “charter”) with state government to operate as a nonprofit organization with fewer of the constraints of a public school. There’s no union, it’s easier to hire and fire teachers, and the school can respond flexibly to new situations. I’ve heard scores of complaints about charter schools: - "they don't have a football team" - "they don't have enough students" - "the students have to eat lunch in the classroom." - "they don't have a media center." - “they aren’t in a real building” (some charter schools are in shopping centers or churches) - "the students have to take a bus to get to a playground or recess area." ”And what does Bill Gates know about education and schools? He didn’t graduate from college. Has he ever operated a school?” Parents, you can find many reasons to “remain loyal” to the large school that your child currently attends. People will warn you to avoid underfunded charter schools. However, if you agree with Gates, then join the charter school movement. “Vote” for a smaller school -- where everyone knows your child's name. I know of a charter school that needs 130 students to have enough funds to hire two extra assistants and afford buses for field trips. The school currently has just over 90 students. Each student is “worth” about $400 a month or about $3000 a year in public money (that would otherwise go to a large public school). With 35 more students, the charter school would receive about $100,000 for much-appreciated additional resources. If you want to help reshape education while getting more attention for your child, consider the size of your child’s school. Your “vote” for a small school will use public money more effectively and send a message to state officials and the school district: Gates is right. We need more small schools. If you’re curious about how a small school operates, visit BigPicture.org and watch the videos online. The Met, a school in Providence, Rhode Island, is where the three Rs were developed. What to do with large schools? If I were a principal at a large school, I would learn how large schools in New York, L.A. and Chicago are being divided into several smaller schools. Why not apply that same effort to large schools here in your city? For parents wanting to heed Mr. Gates’ advice, however, switching to a small school is quicker than waiting for the transformation of large schools. A publicly funded charter school is an affordable way for your child to benefit from rigor, relevance and relationships. To find a charter school in your area, go to your school district’s web site and click on “School Information.” Then select Charters. Good searching. Steve McCrea is a teacher at a charter school in Fort Lauderdale. Steve McCrea 2314 Desota Drive Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301-1567 954.646.8246 954.463.0310 home analyst@comcast.net www.teachersTOteachers.com www.LookForPatterns.com www.newFCAT.com See the Column about "a teacher who turned his class over to a Family Therapist" Anger Management in the Classroom |
| Column by Pat Harris, Family Therapist Ten Ways to Extend Your Child's Education By Pat Harris, LMFT Are you ready to share responsibility for your child’s education? We’re talking about more than just the academic schooling of this future adult who is under your care. Let’s take this journey step by step: 1. What is your child's learning style? There are many ways of taking in information and many ways to express what we have learned. The Internet has several surveys to help you and your child find out how your child learns. Audio: Does your child prefer to hear new information rather than read it? Can your child hear you once and “get it” (with your needing to repeat your request)? Musical: Does your child learn with rhythm? Most of us learned the alphabet with the alphabet song. Internal or Introspective: does your child prefer to work alone? Interactive and Social: Does your child learn by talking a subject over with a classmate? Does your child enjoy working with a group? 3-D, Visual and Numerical: Do numbers become easy for your child to remember? Does your child remember a phone number “because it’s easy to see the pattern”? Can your child draw a three-dimensional figure? Active: Does your child learn by doing? “Just let me figure it out myself” without reading the instructions? ADHD: Attention Deficit is really a variable attention ability (VAA), since many students with ADD can stay focused on something that interests them. Does your child have variable attention? That’s a gift, too. 2. Does your child have a library card? Good -- use it. Introduce your child to the library. Know where to find the references and the sources of information. You need that library card number to use the Electronic Library at www.flelibrary.org. Do you set an example by visiting the library and using your library card? 3. What example do you set for your child? Do you look at life as a series of problems or opportunities? Half-empty or half-full? Lemons or lemonade? Give your child a model of how to react to a gray day. Do yo have a Positive Mental Attitude? 4. Focus on your child's intentions. Instead of being critical, comment on the action. If your child surprises you with a toasted sandwich to welcome you home after work, don’t point out that the bread is burned. Say, “How thoughtful of you to prepare something for me. Can you show me how you did it?” (then you can see what your child did incorrectly). “The next time, check the setting of the toaster, but I’m so happy that you thought of me.” 5. Accept the fact that we are all teachers. Don't blame the school for everything. When was the last time you volunteered to speak to a class of middle school students? We can each participate – and your child will notice that you care about what happens in the school. Even a patient with a serious disease takes charge of her condition by asking questions and looking for the right treatment. If her relationship with her doctor is not positive, she works to fix it or she has the right terminate services and get another doctor. If your relationship with a school isn’t working, you can fix it or find a school that meets your child’s needs. For example, do you know what Bill Gates says about schools today? You can find out at www.WhatShouldStudentsLearn.com. 6. Encourage your child to talk about his or her frustrations. Validate their feelings. Remember to use the “I” statement. When your child says that a “former” friend is a [negative label], ask the child to reframe and make it personal: “I feel [hurt, isolated, lonely, left out] when my friend [laughed at me, didn’t invite me to the party, etc.].” 7. Keep the door open to communication. But don't force them to talk. If you make time to listen, someday your child will come with a problem. Instead of saying “Can’t this wait?” or “You waited until NOW to tell me this?” you can “reframe” or restate the situation: “Honey, I’m ready to give you my full attention. What’s on your mind?” 8. Take a time out before you have a temper tantrum. What’s your anger cue? What is your method for handling your fear (which is behind the anger)? Be a model to your child about how to handle disappointment. 9. Expose your children to different cultures. Visit museums and street fairs in different neighborhoods. It helps your child to accept differences. we live in a salad bowl. Show your child that you are continuing to learn new things about other cultures and that your preconceptions are sometimes inaccurate or lacking information. Another culture is less threatening when we know the food and art of that culture. 10. Allow your children to make decisions. Anytime you do something for a child that they can do for themselves, you are disabling your child. This means “allow your child to make mistakes and learn from them.” It would be so much easier for you to do something for your child so your child doesn’t feel the embarrassment and pain of making a mistake. It is often more stressful for you to stand back and watch your child stumble, but your child will learn by doing. Eight of these actions are non-academic, but -- surprise! Your child's grades will improve. Following these guidelines will lead your child to develop a strong emotional foundation. Your child will feel good and will have positive self esteem (built over years of effort). To find a survey of learning styles on the Internet, search “learning styles worksheet” or go to www.MathForArtists.com and scroll down to Learning Styles. Or call 954-646-8246 if you don’t have Internet service and a copy can be mailed to you. By Pat Harris Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist 954 735 8721 www.ResolveToHeal.com |
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