Educate Me

There have been an avalanche of articles lately about the LAUSD and how it should be run in the future. After trying to get absolute control, L.A. Mayor Villaraigosa came to a compromise with the teachers' union. He gets veto power over the superintendent, teachers and principles get more authority in how they teach the material they need to cover, and the LAUSD board would lose most of it's budget power. This LA Times article discusses the deal, and reactions to it, in depth.

I get why some people are pissed about the takeover. It's not being done Democratically (Villaraigosa went straight to the Legislature - no voting by the districts) and it takes all the power away from the board, which they can't be happy about. But when you look at the issues LAUSD is facing, you can't blame Villaraigosa for wanting to try something new. In this wonderful article the LA Times discusses how the exit exam all high-schoolers have to take can be failed, and the student will still graduate!! The entire point of the exit exam is to make sure they're prepared. Passing them anyway WILL NOT HELP THEM!!! If the schools are not preparing students for the test, it won't help to remove the test itself. Maybe we should look at improving the schools. Just a thought.

And finally, I have never heard about this program before today. Apparently there's a program called Educational Options, which is aimed at getting dropouts back into school and through graduation. This article focuses on how it's been mostly ignored by both Villaraigosa and Romer (the superintendent), but how it really is working. An interesting program that could really work if promoted and funded correctly.


I'll leave you with this. In the December Educational Options newsletter there was this fabulous little story:

The Teacher

The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life. One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with education. He argued: "What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided the best option in life was to become a teacher?"

He reminded the other dinner guests that it's true what they say about teachers: "Those who can: do. Those who can't: teach." To corroborate, he said to another guest: "You're a teacher, Susan," he said. "Be honest. What do you make?"

"I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could. I can make a C+ feel like they've just been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor and an A- feel like a slap in the face if the student did not do his or her very best."

"I can make kids sit through 40 minutes of study hall in absolute silence."

"I can make parents tremble in fear when I call home."

"You want to know what I make?"

"I make kids wonder."

"I make them question."

"I make them criticize."

"I make them apologize and mean it."

"I make them write."

"I make them read, read, read."

"I make them spell 'definitely & beautiful' over and over again, until they will never misspell either one of those words again."

"I make them show all their work in math and hide it in their final drafts in English."

"I elevate them to experience music and art and the joy in performance, so their lives are rich, full of kindness and culture, and they take pride in themselves and their accomplishments."

"I make them understand that if you have brains, then follow your heart...and if someone ever tries to judge you by what you make, you pay them no attention."

"You want to know what I make?"

"I make a difference."

"What do you make?"

Contributed by Mark Leos, AP, Fairfax HS, to Educational Options Newsletter.

La Copa de la Vida

That's right, I'm quoting a Ricki Martin song. And that is because it's World Cup time!! I have been completely obsessed and engrossed since June 9 with who is playing, winning and going to the next round. I'm happy to report that Sweden secured a spot in the second round yesterday with a tie against England (go family homeland). And I am currently jumping out of my seat hoping that Mexico gets through. They're down right now, but could still pull it off.

So far I haven't actually taken any days off of work for matches - just gone to bars for lunchtime to see the games! Tomorrow is the US, so my lunchtime will be 11-12 to see the second half. Go US!!

Other than World Cup madness, not much to report. I have a new roommate, Joanna (I'm still trying to get in touch with the one who skipped out on May 31) and she is fabulous. Totally cool and laid-back. Plans for tonight: trivia at Pete's Candy Shop with Joanna. We came in 13th overall last week, but we've got plans for pumping up our trivia knowledge and placing better this week. Basically, the plan is to read the NY Post - which they referred to an unhealthy amount of times last week. That's not real news people. But if it gets us a better spot in trivia night, I'll sacrifice and read it once a week.

MOMA

Last night was the AICP annual party at MOMA. A fun night for everyone to get together and celebrate the commercials that were great throughout the year. The show ran a little long (we didn't get out of there until 10) but it was a fun night. Gay & Sara went with me and we had a blast.

Here we are starting out the night...



and the huge crowd of people from above.




Checking out the art in MOMA...they opened up a couple of floors to explore.



And really, should they have been letting us go look at great art when they had open bars? I think not...