What the Governor Said...

Last week in Milwaukee Governor Scott Walker briefed the Wisconsin Association of School Boards annual convention about what to expect from his administration. He started with the message that he would like to implement reforms that empower local school boards to more flexible in staffing decisions "to hire and potentially fire” and move toward “pay for performance”- Walker made a comparison to a stint he had with IBM where he earned commissions on sales.

On the budget Walker warned that reductions in state aid were coming but they “won’t affect what goes on in the classroom” because cuts would be offset by reductions in benefits to school employees. Walker indicated that he wasn’t “picking on teachers” – that similar cuts will apply to other public employees.

Walker also took time to re-iterate his campaign position that all 3rd graders should be reading at grade level before promotion to 4th grade. The problem I have with this proposal is that a significant body of research and experience that indicates such a policy is detrimental to student achievement. In many controlled studies students who were retained at 3rd grade had lower levels of achievement in subsequent years than equivalent students who were promoted. Down the road the retained students are more likely to drop out than their peers.  (Read more here  or here). 

I think this idea is flawed in the same way as NCLB (the No Child Left Behind law): An educational system whose primary focus is getting everyone over a minimal bar can’t excel and will under serve those students who aren’t near that bar. Obviously we can’t ignore the problem of under achieving students but we have to respond with what works. In certain cases retention is appropriate, but those decisions need to be made by teachers and parents familiar with the interests of the child – not by politicians.

When an 8 year old can’t read at grade level it is not the fault of the child.  What students need is early, focused and effective interventions to bring them up to grade level.

No Contest...

Two school board seats are up for this spring's election.  The seats are currently occupied by Susan Fox and Jill List, but Jill has decided not seek re-election.  Susan Fox and Dean Bowles have filed nomination papers before todays deadline - so the election will be uncontested. 

Click through for Susan's and Dean's press releases.

MG Teacher in the news...

Today the WSJ fronts the seagoing tale of MG science teacher Juan Botella's research trip to the antarctic:

MONONA — Next month, Juan Botella will spend more than 60 days aboard a ship in the Southern Ocean to learn firsthand how scientific research is conducted — knowledge he will bring back to his classroom along with new information on how the southern polar region has changed.

Read more here.


Note to WSJ Editors: the daylight might last longer in the antarctic summer, but the months don't!