NBC Action News and ongoing bickering with the Teacher's Union looking horribly out of date on this topic: Opinions still split over Kansas City Public Schools new initiative
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"I fundamentally reject the notion you need technology aids in grammar school. The idea that an app on an iPad can better teach my kids to read or do arithmetic, that’s ridiculous.” Alan Eagle-Executive communications at Google
ReplyDeleteTake away calculators and kids would be hard pressed to do a math problem. Spell check doesn't tell you you used the wrong too, to, two. Only if you spelled it wrong.
ReplyDeleteThe fundamentals must be mastered. For those who need the help, the technology can be introduced earlier. But we need the kids to know how to go through the process rather than just enter an app.
BTW what other profession gives you an automatic raise because you take a class? Not nurses. They are required to take so many continuing education classes a year at their own cost or lose their license.
Eisenhower's administration found the solution in a program they used in South America. They took the advanced kids and used them to teach others too.
Teachers unions in America would not allow a program which was proven to work because it threatened their job.
Always remember, it's for the children.
Why is a Union even legal when it is clear no one is really working?
ReplyDeleteWhy do administrators have employment contracts when it is obvious no one is really working.
ReplyDeleteChuck, see what I did there? LOL
@9:17 What magic class do I take to get a raise? Which district is offering a raise for a teacher who takes this magic class?
ReplyDelete@9:18 Troll...
For those who don't understand the issue. KCPS has yet to inform the staff of even what brand/type of computer the kids are going to be getting, when the kids are going to be getting them, the training we are going to need to give the kids, who is going to be giving that training, the policies regarding the device, the text books or programs that will be on the device, etc.
The staff knows nothing and we are starting school in 3 weeks. This kind of information is critical if we are going to be designing lessons to use the device. If we had this information in May, we could have been planning all summer.
It is not that we don't want the kids to have this device; we just want to do it right like the other districts around us have done.
11:02 you are telling me that these kids can not assemble their own computers????????? Jeeeeeesuuuuussssss!
ReplyDeletePerhaps the union is much weaker here than where my kids went to school. Median income was $60,000 with tenure. Each class completed in continuing education i.e. keeping up with techniques/standards earned them merit raises.
ReplyDeleteAnd if they got a PhD or another master's, they got promotions even if the districts had no used for that grade of employee.
That was 30-years-ago and pay is higher.
A good teacher is worth their weight in gold. But today districts still want the product to be fit into the proper mold rather than teach them how to learn about things in life.
Teaching the tests is the only thing important now.
Public school has become little more than tax payer paid day care.
ReplyDeleteOnce again, you use a misleading headline! We teachers do NOT hate the technology being proposed by the district. We want to be involved in the process of selecting the technology and we'd like some time to use it ourselves before introducing it to the children. We've been asking for months and have been ignored. THAT is what we hate, NOT the technology.
ReplyDelete@9:17 Teachers are required to do professional develop training every year. The state minimum I believe is 15 hours, but most districts do around 30-40 hours per year. Teachers are usually paid their regular wage for this.
ReplyDeleteTeacher's pay scales are often determined by steps(not necessarily years of service) and the level of their degree and any additional units they have earned(ex. Bachelors +35 units) So I guess if a teacher was one class away from the next level, they could take one class and get a raise. It usually takes about 5+ years to break even(cost of classes vs. raise).
Teachers are redundant. We need great ones to teach our little ones. I have a 4 yr old grandson who wakes up every day and demands his ipad. Do you really think that he is going to tolerate Mrs. Whatever in the classroom?
ReplyDeleteHe is actually way past that, can already read and type and operate his computer. Just as warning for our beloved teachers. GET WITH IT.