Big Education Ape

Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Public Goods & the Money Belongs to the Child Fallacy (in tweets) | School Finance 101

Public Goods & the Money Belongs to the Child Fallacy (in tweets) | School Finance 101:

Public Goods & the Money Belongs to the Child Fallacy (in tweets)

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Public Goods & the Money Belongs to the Child Fallacy (in tweets) | School Finance 101:

When Physical Education Is Cut, Who Picks Up the Slack?

When Physical Education Is Cut, Who Picks Up the Slack?:

When Physical Education Is Cut, Who Picks Up the Slack?

When pink slips fly, they usually land in the hands of arts, music and physical education teachers first, which is what’s happening in districts around the country. From North Carolina and Virginia to Oregon and California, districts are cutting positions from arts and PE programs as a way to make up budget shortfalls.

In Oregon, the Portland Public School District sent an email to PE teachers saying there would be substantial cuts to the K-5 and K-8 PE programs resulting from major budget cuts.

The district said cuts are not “a statement as to the value and worth of our physical education staff and PE programming.” But educators who recognize the benefits of exercise and the critical lessons movement and sports provide to children see it differently.

“These opportunities for the kids are essential for their education,” Portland PE teacher Sarah Spella told Portland’s KATU.

Craig Volimas, who has taught PE in San Diego Unified School District for 18 years, was told he might not have a job come next fall as the district tries to balance a $124 million budget gap.

As a part of cuts, the district said layoff notices are going out to 891 teachers overall and of those, 137 to prep teachers like Volimas. If PE is cut, the burden of exercise instruction will be passed on to classroom teachers while eliminating their planning time.

But cutting PE will be most harmful to students, Volimas says. Physical activity is important for kids to be healthy and to reduce obesity risks, but PE also provides focus and helps increase academic achievement, it teaches students about teamwork and sportsmanship, and it increases attention and brain function through When Physical Education Is Cut, Who Picks Up the Slack?:

Seattle Schools Community Forum: May 1st Strike?

Seattle Schools Community Forum: May 1st Strike?:

May 1st Strike?

In case you were not aware, there is a debate/discussion - among teachers and parents - about a May 1st strike/walkout. May 1st is International Workers' Day and one that is hugely celebrated throughout the world (although not so much in the U.S.)

The vote is to take place over this week and needs a three-fourths vote of SEA membership.

There is confusion, though, over the purpose of the strike. Some say it is in support of fully funding schools, others say it is about immigrants' rights and still others say it is a focus on social justice.

I saw on my Twitter feed today that Councilmembers Sawant and O'Brien say they are in support of the one-day strike. Here's their op-ed from the South Seattle Emerald.

As you can read below, there are differing opinions. From comments here, I don't see much support from parents. Here's what two different teachers have to say:

Jesse Hagopian - Garfield

I love my union. And I love public education. And that is why I am willing to make the necessary sacrifices and vote YES to strike on May Day--International Workers' Day. We have tried emailing, calling and asking nicely for the legislature to follow the law and fund education. That hasn't worked.

The one day strike we did two years ago was highly effective in that it built mass solidarity between teachers and parents and laid the groundwork for our successful strike last year that, among other things, won race and equity teams in some 30 schools. Without that one day strike we wouldn't have had the confidence or experience to fight for more. And this one day strike Seattle Schools Community Forum: May 1st Strike?:

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Seattle Schools Community Forum: Let's Keep Public Education Public - http://saveseattleschools.blogspot.com/2017/03/lets-keep-public-education-public.html

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Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Public Goods & the Money Belongs to the Child Fallacy (in tweets) | School Finance 101

When Physical Education Is Cut, Who Picks Up the Slack?

Seattle Schools Community Forum: May 1st Strike?

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