Leadership Roles in Education

It is true that any organization is only as good as it's leaders for planning, directing, and motivating workers to achieve goals and objectives. In a district or state education setting, many leadership positions are politically motivated appointees. There are the obvious problems with this practice such as payback or favors to certain groups or individuals, but the biggest issue is the expansion of a bureaucracy with more bosses than workers.

Recently the newly elected California Governor Jerry Brown (D) aannounced that he is eliminating the secretary of education post, saving $1.9 million a year. The savings is an indication of the amount of money attached to such an office. Think of staff, perks, office etc. and it adds up quickly but the next natural thought should be how many of these positions exist in state departments across the country.

In the case of California, the position of secretary of education was created in 1990 when conflict existed between a governor and an elected superintendent of public instruction from different parties. Talk about inflated egos! This was a constant power play between an elected official and an appointed official and the latter never gained much clout. In fact, during the seven-year tenure of the previous Governor Schwarzenegger, five secretaries of education revolved through the office. Sounds like a few 'buddies' built strong resumes this way!

Talking of leadership, school boards members are also under scrutiny where more than 90% are elected through school board elections and fewer than 10% are appointed. The issue here is the quality of people serving on schools boards to guide policy and oversee elementary and secondary education. School board members range from PhD's to folks who have not completed high school. EdWeek (1/12/11) asks if there should be a qualification process to serve on a school board? Seats are taken with virtually no preparation for the tasks that await them. Should there be ongoing training for school board members or can schools be managed without the current 13,809 school boards?

The idea of local governance is part of democracy as perceived by the public at large. It is fair to assume that school boards will be around forever but some form of preparation or training makes sense because the process of quality education is complex and vital.
Michael Cordier

New Year, New Congress

It seems so 'last year' when the buzz was all about standards-based teaching and teacher pay for performance. The RTT (Race to the Top) funding frenzy petered out like the flame of a burned-out candle. Some winning states even returned the money stating that the cost to make the changes required in the grant would cost more than the funds received. Unions got the message that mediocre was not good enough and silently made changes before legislation was forced on them. Fire brand advocates of the Secretary of Education seems to have disappeared into the bowls of bureaucracy where they emerged from two years ago.

The New Year's education headlines seems to be returning to the core of education: what is best for the student. Hallelujah! Washington State reports a proposal to create a single Education Department in lieu of multi-departmental units managing their education process. New York is appointing business professionals as school principals, and California is experimenting with year-round alternative schools with individualized instruction. Kentucky offers bonuses for student success in AP math and science.

The focus on the core subjects so dominant in the NCLB legislation is also receiving a new look. The debate has started about high school curricula being changed to better suit college entry and success, rather than measuring standards-based content. Environmental Education is being considered as a subject and ethnic-studies course are being debated.

The other 'big thing' in 2011 is the emergence of technology use in and outside of the classroom in the education process. Electronic readers, social media, cell phone apps and electronic blackboards are the rage on websites. Also enjoying a high profile is the streamlining and fine-tuning of virtual education. How to ensure social interaction, strong assessments, and applicable content - all online.

Looks like the New Year is all about saving money or do without money. When money s not in the equation the focus is on students and that is a good thing.
Michael Cordier

New Year's Resolutions

Christmas, like other family holidays, is characterized by good food and better company. It is therefore very common to start the New Year with resolutions that include eating healthier and losing weight. In short, exercise more.

This is a good time to look at exercise holistically, not to become a world athlete but to simply be happier and more productive. Join the 44% of Americans who will make resolutions for 2011in a few days and be sure to add more physical activity to that list. We all know the benefits of exercise to the waistline and to our hearts, but what other benefits will result from a brisk walk, cycle, or Wii Fitness?

For one, older people cut the risk of general dementia in half and their risk of Alzheimer's by 60% with regular exercise. It has been proven that one of the best ways to cope with stress and anxieties of life is through regular physical activity. Many experts say that exercise is a 'happiness booster'. Duke University found exercise to be generally as effective as drugs for treating depression.

These are preventative attributes but what about the role of exercise on mental development? This forum has posted numerous studies showing that exercise has positive influences on concentration, memory, and classroom behavior amongst students. We also reported on the fact that kids just moving around enhance intelligence, creativity and planning skills. Finally, large group studies shows a direct correlation between increased exercise and academic performance on standardized test scores.

We don't need a lot of exercise, just regularly. Join me to stay at it throughout 2011. See you on the road.
Michael Cordier

Nutrition Bill Passed

Almost 5 years in the making, the child nutrition bill called Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act came to pass in the House of Representatives and is heading to the President who will sign it immediately. It will require that the USDA updates the national standards to get soda and junk food out of school vending machines, a la carte, and school stores.  

The child nutrition bill also includes important provisions to increase funding and technical support to improve the nutritional quality of school meals, strengthen local school wellness policies, make it easier for qualified children to receive free school meals, extend after-school meals to more at-risk children, and provide funding for farm-to-school programs.

Opponents criticized it as government's interference with freedom of choice and control over the complete food chain. It is tough to argue against hungry students but some of my fondest memories are the pies and toffees I obtained from the school store with hard-earned pocket money. P & J sandwiches only went so far on the taste buds scale!

Obscure in this marvelous piece of legislation is a report from the Chronicle in Sacramento that the California Appeals Court ruled that parents can take their children's public school to court to force educators to provide the minimum amount of physical education required by law! California's education code requires elementary schools to offer 200 minutes of PE every 10 days and 400 minutes in middle or high schools - not including lunch or recess. A small study found that more than half the schools failed to provide the required minutes of PE. Oops!

Finally the court gave teeth to 'feel-good' legislation. Combine this with recent legislation from Texas that discarded the 'opt-out' clauses for participation in PE, I dare say that momentum is building to the day that PE takes it's rightful place in the core curriculum.
Michael Cordier

Impact of Sleep on Learning and Weight

UCLA researchers found that children who don't get enough sleep might wind up with an overweight body. Looking at sleep patterns of 1,900 children between the ages of 1 and 13, they found that children maintaining less than 10 hours of sleep a night had an 80% more probability of being obese. The study furthermore found that naps during the day did not offset the effect. The believe is that a lack of nighttime sleep throws off key hormones that affect weight and metabolism.

So how much sleep is needed per 24 hours?
Birth - 2 months: 12 - 18 hours
3 - 11 months: 14 - 15 hours
1 - 3 years: 12 - 14 hours
3 - 5 years: 10 - 11 hours
10 - 17 years: 8.5 to 9.5 hours
Adults: 7 - 9 hours
Insufficient sleep is also associated with chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and depression. The promotion of regular sleep is referred to as 'sleep hygiene'. Here are some simple sleep hygiene tips:

• Go to bed at the same time each night, and rise at the same time each morning.
• Sleep in a quiet, dark, and relaxing environment, which is neither too hot nor too cold.
• Make your bed comfortable and use it only for sleeping and not for other activities, such as reading, watching TV, or listening to music.
• Remove all TVs, computers, and other "gadgets" from the bedroom.
• Avoid physical activity within a few hours of bedtime.
• Avoid large meals before bedtime.

Michael Cordier

Dance and Core Academics

In an April 2011 speech, Secretary of Education, Arnie Duncan made the point that "for decades, arts education has been treated as though it was the novice teacher at school - the last hired and the first fired when times get tough". He was echoing a sentiment of many prominent educators who have championed the inclusion and/or expansion of arts in schools. Dance in particular has suffered as the smallest of the four art forms.

But that is changing. EdWeek reported on an elementary school in Maryland where students execute dance movements to simulate the elements of photosynthesis, including water, sunlight, carbon dioxide, and chlorophyll. They leaned, reached, and flowed with surprising grace. Want to bet that the retention and understanding of this lesson is much higher?

And that is the point. Cross curriculum or mutual learning takes place when core subjects are matched with rhythm and movement. GeoMotion, a company based in Orlando, FL, has developed a mat with numbers on it. By following the numbers and directional ques, students integrate math and other core subjects while working out. Their 'Meaningful Movement' program is based on integrated learning and it makes sense - it addresses all the levels of optimal learning to include:

• Rhythmical / Musical
• Visual / Spatial
• Body / Kinesthetic
• Auditory / Verbal
• Mathematical / Logical
• Interpersonal
• Intrapersonal

Very few teaching tools can claim the inclusive approach to learning. Does this mean that every teacher must be a dancer as well? Obviously not - but why not? The research sited on this blog in the past confirms over and over that cardiovascular activities increases learning without decreasing test scores if time is taken away from 'regular' classes.

A survey taken in 2000 indicated that only 14% of schools offered any form of dance (excluding PE activities).  Now 36 states offer K-12 teaching credentials in dance. The growth is spurted mainly through PE programs and is increasingly taught as an art form or exercise form. Purists maintain that the art of dance uses movement to create meaning about the human experience and is far more that just art or exercise. Irrespective, dance and other forms of art programs provides a variety of academic and social benefits to students. It seems a powerful way to to promote critical thinking and creativity amongst other skills.

It's time to put on those tapping shoes!
Michael Cordier

Hot Topics for November!

Now that everyone has weighted in on bullying - from People Magazine to the White House -  I am still confused by the definition of bullying. Is it physical contact, verbal abuse, false third-party stories or all of the above? The physical connotation I get. High school freshman year flash-backs confirm that on. Belittling and 'talk-down' is clear as well. But when someone writes something nasty about another on FaceBook and the ego suffers a bit, is it bullying? It certainly is when the ego is crashed to the point of suicide as recently happened. But where does one draw the line? There will always be someone louder, bigger, and meaner around - irrespective of age and circumstance. Its called 'life' and the nature of humankind. Should we then try to legalize morality to protect perceptions if actions cannot be defined?

Then there was the midterm elections and a dramatic shift in the political balance that could have a huge influence on education in the future. The National Education Association spent $40 million dollars to campaign for candidates from the Democratic Party. But the chairmanship for the committee dealing with educational affairs will be replaced by a Republican due to the House majority. Suddenly the Race to the Top program is in jeopardy, the reauthorization of the 'No Child Left Behind' can change again, and decentralization of education is back on the burner. All I know is that a strong opposition is healthy in any democracy, irrespective the ruling party.

Did you hear about predictions that online learning will overtake traditional classrooms in the next decade? The Los Angeles Times reports that there is no substitute for in-person classroom teaching but that type of education will become the minority by 2020.  Hopefully education leaders will not use it as an excuse to properly maintain real-life buildings!

In Scotland, primary schools are piloting philosophy to improve students' critical thinking and listening skills. Students are engaged in discussions on topics such as society, leadership, and which is better: being strong or being clever. Teachers report that "they have seen clear changes in their listening, in the way they express themselves and how they think". Seems like Plato and Aristotle had it right all this time. Who would have thought?
Michael Cordier

World issues on Education

Education headlines in America report on funding issues, political shifting, integration issues, charter school dominance, and union entitlements amongst still-declining budgets. These are noble issues to discuss but pales in comparison with happenings around the world. Perspective is sometimes necessary to understand how well students and teachers have in America.

In South Africa a recent study reported that as much as 70% of SA's public schools are dysfunctional. This is an education sector in crisis. Politicians long for a general society that were united on education issues as manifested at the end of Apartheid era. The South African Democratic Teachers Union declared that South Africa was running out of time  to improve the system that impacts the lives of 12 million students attending public schools.

The Philipines is trying to meet a shortfall of 70,000 classrooms while legislation is proposed to add two more years of basic education that will require another 55,000 classrooms. Imagine not having an option of even a dilapidated building to host students.

Sweden led the charge to inspire other countries to adopt the 'free schools' model that was developed two decades ago. Ten percent of the government funded schools are run by religious groups and several have been cited for misconduct. Turns out that at least one school received money from a group that is also funding the Taliban and al-Quida. And we thought the Tea Party was radical.

In Kenia a need was raised for major changes in Kenyan schools. A standardized test used to determine whether children should progress from eight grade to high school was dropped or changed. The government's response was that reforms ' must not be rushed'. In New Zealand teachers delayed a strike to continue bargaining for better benefits. Sounds familiar? As recently as last year Hawaii teachers opted to teach four days a week rather than take a small pay cut to teach a full week - costing Hawaii students almost 40 less days of school.

Students do not have a vote, cannot dictate policy, cannot enforce best practices or build classrooms. Adults are in charge and maybe, just maybe the wise can take a page from the young ones who so desperately want to learn.
Michael Cordier

Higher Education for Me?

It would be easy to report on a wonderful 5-acre urban garden project in Arlington, VA where inner city students get the experience to plant, care and grow vegetables in 19 plots as part of their community service work. Where one high school senior commented that she did not know that sweet potatoes grew underground until the garden project.

 

Equally noteworthy is the hard-core fitness program developed by PE teacher, Orlandus Thomas at Comer Preparatory School, a charter school in Chicago. There, music fills the air and students never stops from moving - except when they participate in a cooking class or have discussions about healthy nutrition.

 

But what caught the attention is a Canadian report this week concluding that many young students set their sights on university or college much earlier than believed - before they arrive in Grade 9! The Toronto Globe & Mail reports that  research shows that almost half of low-income students make their decision about post-secondary education before they even set foot in high school, regardless of the financial burden. 

 

As the USA and other countries try to curb drop-out rates amongst high schoolers, education agencies should be challenged to rethink their approach as attitudes about higher education is just as important as access to it. It seems that a strategy needs to be developed at elementary and middle school levels to encourage adolescents and teens to start choosing career paths with the possibility of attending college or university.

 

 In the study of 10,000 low-income secondary students it was found that for every teen influenced by parents or culture to obtain post-secondary education, others receive little input. Furthermore, it’s these late deciders who are much more likely to leave university or college without graduating.

 

Neither mom or dad attended university the household I grew up. Since I could remember there was no option for any of the kids. We were raised with the notion that we will go to university. We all did. The thought of the consequences if we did not weight far too heavy! Thank Mom. Thanks Dad.

Michael Cordier

Nutrition and Legislation

In the past we have reported that the government is not capable of telling parents what their children can or cannot eat, but can legislate what can be served in public institutions supported by tax dollars such as schools. The government can demand healthier burgers, limited or no sugary sodas, low-fat milk, wholewheat bread and so forth when they pay for it. In fact, health advocates have sought for more than ten years now to get legislation passed to such effect and made major overtures to major food and beverage companies to support this cause. Finally everyone is on the same page but there is one caveat: better food choices cost more and who is going to pay for it?

First Lady Michelle Obama has lobbied aggressively for the proposed Child Nutrition Bill as part of her "Let's Move" program. She installed a fresh vegetable garden at the White House and addressed the Senate and House on this issue. She 'made an extensive outreach' to the Speaker of the House to rally support for the Child Nutrition Bill but to no avail.

One hundred and six Democrats could not stomach the thought that money from the Food Stamps fund be taken to pay for part of the $4.5 billion cost of the Child Nutrition Bill and voted against the bill. As a result, the bill is back to the drawing board. Obviously legislators have being eyeing large pots of money for different usages.

Even if the bill is approved after the elections it is only the first step in revamping school lunches. No clear guidelines exist to determine what kinds of foods could be sold or what ingredients may be limited. The Agriculture Department will decide that. It is fair to say that we need to get ready for a real food fight!
Michael Cordier