Sunday, September 3, 2023

HOPE RETURNS TO SAC CITY: STUDENTS PARENTS TEACHERS AND THE COMMUNITY REJOICE, BILLIONAIRE PRIVATIZERS WEEP

HOPE RETURNS TO SAC CITY

STUDENTS PARENTS TEACHERS AND THE COMMUNITY REJOICE, BILLIONAIRE PRIVATIZERS WEEP

After years of billionaires privatizing fueled disruption and broad academy trained superintendents, there is finally hope in the air at Sac City Schools. The new labor agreements signal the new school board's willingness to work with our teachers and staff to make our schools work for the students and meet the needs of the community to provide a better education for all of Sacramento's kids. And maybe, just maybe, we can start turning our schools into community schools instead of disrupting and destroying our precious public schools.

It's about time that the district and the union found some common ground. The only thing that was previously obstructing their partnership was outside consultants. But now, with a newfound partnership, it's time to focus on closing achievement gaps and improving DEI practices in the workplace. And let's not forget about the 10% increase in salaries for union members. That's right, folks, our teachers are finally getting the pay they deserve. 

But that's not all. The district has also changed the names of three schools with racist backstories. It's about time we acknowledge the past and move forward towards a more inclusive future. And let's not forget about the celebratory event for Suy:u Elementary School, previously known as Peter Burnett Elementary. It's always great to see a community come together to celebrate progress.

Now, let's talk about the search for a new superintendent. Interim superintendent Lisa Allen is leading the district for now, but who knows who will take over next? Maybe it will be a billionaire with no experience in education. Or maybe it will be a trained superintendent like Lisa Allen who actually cares about the students and the community. Only time will tell.

In conclusion, it's great to see some progress being made at Sac City Schools. Let's hope that this newfound partnership between the district and the union continues to grow and that we can finally start providing a better education for all of Sacramento's kids. And who knows, maybe one day we'll even have a superintendent who doesn't think that disrupting and destroying public schools is the way to go. A girl can dream, can't she?

As Sacramento City Unified students return to school, here’s what to know https://sacobserver.com/2023/09/as-sacramento-city-unified-students-return-to-school-heres-what-to-know/ 



TO USE CHATGPT OR NOT TO USE CHATGPT: THAT IS THE QUESTION...CHATGPT CAN ANSWER EITHER WAY

TO USE CHATGPT OR NOT TO USE CHATGPT: THAT IS THE QUESTION... CHATGPT CAN ANSWER EITHER WAY 

As a teacher, have you ever wished for a virtual assistant to help you with grading papers or answering student questions? Well, OpenAI has heard your prayers and is bringing ChatGPT to classrooms near you! But before you jump on the bandwagon, let's take a closer look at this AI tool and whether it's worth the hype.

First of all, let's talk about these tutor-specific prompts. Sure, they sound fancy and all, but let's be real - they're just glorified lesson plans. And if you're anything like me, you probably already have a million lesson plans saved on your computer that you never even use. Do we really need more prompts telling us how to teach? I think not.

And don't even get me started on the virtual AI tutor. I mean, who wants to talk to a robot when they could be talking to a real human being? Sure, it might be helpful for students who are shy or have trouble speaking up in class, but what about the rest of the class who actually enjoy human interaction? Are we just supposed to sit back and let the robots take over?

But let's not be too quick to dismiss ChatGPT. After all, it could be a useful tool for tasks like essay writing and math problems. And as much as I hate to admit it, cheating and plagiarism are real issues in today's classrooms. Maybe live proctoring or monitoring software isn't such a bad idea after all.

So, should you use ChatGPT in your classroom? It depends on your teaching style and your students' needs. If you're already a tech-savvy teacher who loves using new tools to engage your students, then go for it! But if you're like me and prefer good old-fashioned human interaction, then maybe stick to your tried-and-true teaching methods.

In conclusion, ChatGPT might be the future of education, or it might just be another overhyped AI tool. Either way, let's not forget the importance of human connection in the classroom. After all, robots may be smart, but they'll never be as funny as your favorite teacher (wink wink).

OpenAI Wants Teachers to Use ChatGPT In Classrooms, And It Has a Plan! | Beebom https://beebom.com/openai-teachers-use-chatgpt-classrooms/ 

It’s time for ChatGPT to head to class https://www.morningbrew.com/daily/stories/2023/09/01/it-s-time-for-chatgpt-to-head-to-class 

Big Education Ape: WHAT EVERY TEACHER NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT CHATGPT BEFORE THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2023/06/what-every-teacher-needs-to-know-about.html 

Big Education Ape: CHATGPT: A GUIDE FOR STUDENTS AND TEACHER USING CHATGPT IN THE CLASSROOM https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2023/06/chatgpt-guide-for-students-and-teacher.html 

Big Education Ape: DON'T FEAR THE CHATBOT REAPER (IN THE CLASSROOM): AI COVERS THE BLUE OYSTER CULT CLASSIC https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2023/08/dont-fear-chatbot-reaper-in-classroom.html 

Big Education Ape: CHATGPT: TOO COOL FOR SCHOOL? https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2023/05/chatgpt-too-cool-for-school.html 


CALIFORNIA SB 596 AKA STFU & END THE THREATS AND VIOLENCE MOMS FOR LIBERTY BILL

 

CALIFORNIA SB 596 AKA STFU & END THE THREATS AND VIOLENCE MOMS FOR LIBERTY BILL

Attention all parents! Are you tired of being threatened and all the violence at school board meetings? Well, fear not! California's SB 596, also known as the STFU & End the Threats and Violence Moms for Liberty legislation, is here to save the day. But will it really put an end to disruptive behavior at school events or just be another way for the board to blow off parents with "issues"?

Let's take a closer look at this bill. It aims to punish parents who harass school officials at board meetings by extending an existing law that bans parents from disrupting on-campus activities to include off-campus activities such as board meetings. If found guilty of harassment, parents could face a misdemeanor charge, a $500-$1,000 fine, and up to a year in jail. Yikes!

But hold up, Moms for Liberty is not having it. They believe the bill is just a way for Democrats to silence those who oppose sexually explicit material in the curriculum. I mean, who doesn't love a good conspiracy theory?

Critics of the bill argue that it's too ambiguous and could lead to parents being punished for speaking out on hot-button issues at board meetings. But let's be real, if you're causing a ruckus and making it impossible for anyone to get anything done, then maybe it's time to take a step back and reevaluate your approach.

Democratic state Sen. Anthony J. Portantino, who sponsored the bill, defends it by stating that it's intended to protect school employees from harassment and would not infringe on free speech. So, sorry Karen, you can't just scream "fake news" and expect to get away with it.

Now, let's talk about the elephant in the room. The MAGA mask protester who stormed the field in Brentwood, CA. Look, we all have our opinions on politics, but let's leave the masks out of it and focus on the game. No one wants to see your political statement while trying to enjoy some good old fashioned high school football.

But fear not, because California Senate Bill 596 is here to save the day! It aims to protect school employees from harassment and disruption by making it a misdemeanor for anyone to materially disrupt school activities or threaten or harass school employees in relation to their duties. So, if you're planning on storming the field with your political agenda, you might want to think twice.

In all seriousness though, let's remember that school events are meant to be a safe and inclusive environment for all students and teachers. We should be focusing on supporting our children's education and creating a positive atmosphere for everyone involved.

So, parents, let's be brave and stand up for our children's future. But let's also remember to do it in a respectful and constructive manner. And who knows, maybe one day we'll look back and laugh at how worked up we got over that one school board meeting. Or maybe not, but at least we tried.

In other news, a former staff member of Heritage High School was arrested at a football game after defying a ban to stay away from the campus. Carlos Hurtado was tackled by a bystander after running through the stadium. Moral of the story? Don't be like Carlos.

Bill Text: CA SB596 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Amended | LegiScan https://legiscan.com/CA/text/SB596/id/2832553 

Section 44811 - Conduct of parent, guardian or other person disrupting classwork or extracurricular activities, Cal. Ed. Code § 44811 | Casetext Search + Citator https://casetext.com/statute/california-codes/california-education-code/title-2-elementary-and-secondary-education/division-3-local-administration/part-25-employees/chapter-4-employment-certificated-employees/article-1-rights-and-duties/section-44811-conduct-of-parent-guardian-or-other-person-disrupting-classwork-or-extracurricular-activities 

California mom claims Democrats 'trying to legislate First Amendment out of existence' with school bill | Fox News https://www.foxnews.com/media/california-mom-claims-democrats-trying-legislate-first-amendment-existence-school-bill 

Ex-Teacher Arrested After Running onto Field During Heritage HS Football Game https://contracosta.news/2023/09/02/ex-teacher-arrested-after-running-onto-field-during-heritage-hs-football-game/ 


THE DEFT DIVE


FROM BING AI

California Senate Bill 596 is about protecting school employees from harassment and disruption. Here are some key points about this bill:

  • - The bill was introduced by Senator Anthony J. Portantino (D – Burbank) on February 16, 2023¹ and passed the Senate Public Safety Committee on April 25, 2023².
  • - The bill proposes to make it a misdemeanor for any person to **materially disrupt school activities** or **threaten or harass school employees** in relation to their duties¹. The bill defines these terms as follows:
  •     - Materially disrupt school activities means to substantially interfere with the orderly operation of a school or the ability of students or staff to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or privileges provided by the school¹.
  •     - Threaten or harass school employees means to engage in a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to fear for their safety or the safety of their immediate family, or to suffer substantial emotional distress¹.
  •     - A course of conduct means two or more acts, including, but not limited to, acts in which the person directly, indirectly, or through third parties, by any action, method, device, or means, follows, monitors, observes, surveils, threatens, or communicates to or about a person, or interferes with a person’s property¹.
  • - The bill specifies that a person who commits this offense is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, or by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both that fine and imprisonment¹.
  • - The bill aims to provide a safe and inclusive environment for all students and teachers by addressing the issue of teachers facing harassment and greater scrutiny over lessons taught in the classroom².

Bing, 9/3/2023