The Times Union has long been a big part of my life. My mother worked there for nearly thirty years and I have fond memories of sitting around the table with her reading the paper. Now however I have to say I am a bit frustrated with the paper. They seem to be on the wrong side of the education debate. Even in their news pieces there seems to be a slant.
In a recent article about Micelle Rhee, controversial former D.C. schools chancellor, addressing the Florida Legislature, Brandon Larrabee sited her presence in the movie, Waiting for Superman. I say movie not documentary because many of its dramatic scenes were staged. Mr. Larrabee referred to the movie as being critically acclaimed, I say the movie was blatant propaganda made by a public school hating film maker, financed by billionaires interested in increasing their share in the education market through misinformation, teacher demonizing, charter schools and an increased reliance on standardized testing. In case you blinked, you should know that education has become a multi-billion dollar business.
You know what really gets me? It’s the fact that many of those that embraced Waiting for Superman as the gospel are the same people that will dismiss a Michael Moore movie as Hollywood crap. I share many of Michael Moore’s views but I know when I watch his films to do so with both eyes open and to take them with a grain of salt.
Even if all of what was portrayed in Waiting for Superman was true regardless of the fact much has been debunked, (sadly however that didn’t get nearly the press the film did) it would still only show a miniscule fraction of what is going on in our schools. It would be like looking at three doctors you knew were bad and then condemning the whole medical field nationwide because of their actions. Sadly however when Mr. Larrabee says critically acclaimed he gives the movie more credibility than it deserves.
You expect a slant from their columnists take Ron LittlePage for example. In Ron Littlepage’s column about the state potentially withholding funds if some of our schools don’t improve, he talks about the education commissioner losing him, well I can tell you right where he lost me. It’s when he wrote, “But we now have a strong School Board and a strong superintendent in place who are putting extra effort into improving these schools.” Mr. Littlepage exactly what school board and superintendent are you talking about?
This school board and superintendent, instead of following the law which I agree is draconian and instead of addressing the real problem, kids getting to high school unable to read and do math at grade level, without the skills they need to succeed, came up with some half baked plan to cut the schools in half creating two theme schools that would share the same campuses. And you are surprised the state said no thanks?
That proposal was not extra effort, instead it was crazy and a common definition of crazy is to do the same thing over and over again and expecting a different outcome. Well friends we have been waiting for over a decade for 1701 Prudential Drive to fix those schools. The superintendent by the way was there every day and several members of the school board have been there for years and not one of there quick fixes have worked. They reason is they stubbornly refuse to address the real issues those schools have and because of that nothing has changed.
Mr. Littlepage, I don’t want the schools closed or taken over, but we have real problems which need real solutions and if you, the school board and the superintendent aren’t going to part of that it’s time you got out of the way and let somebody else try. That in case you are still lost is all the state is saying.
Then there are the editorials, columns without authors. A couple of editorials ago a Times Union editorial asked, what doesn’t the School Board get. Well I am now asking the Times Union’s editorial board the same question. What don’t you get?
We have the superintendent and school board we need in place, the school board is heading in the right direction, we need to have patience. Do you know where those statements and dozens similar to them have come from? They over the last few years, that’s years, have come from editorials that have been written by the Times Union’s editorial board. How much patience can and should we have? How many ideas thrown like paint against a wall hoping something sticks are we supposed to endure from the school board and the administration at 1701 Prudential Drive?
I know editorials are little more than opinions but when put in respected forums like the Times Union they carry weight, they both influence others opinions and policy. And in this case they propagate the failed policies of our local education system and that is causing children to fall through the cracks. It is hurting kids.
Times Union if we follow your advice and be patient and this latest solution to save our ailing schools doesn’t prove to be any more effective than the last few are you going to take responsibility for all the children doomed to a menial existence or who have had their development retarded. Are you going to apologize to their families or the victims of the children who turn to crime because quite frankly they aren’t suited for the workforce or college? Or like you did a while back are you going to call for more patience, and are you going to say, when these members of the school board leave or are superintendent retires, the next ones are competent and sincere too.
Patience is one of the problems we have and I think when children’s futures are on the line we need urgency. Though like the editors of the Times Union are entitled to theirs, that’s just my opinion.
I am not saying you have to agree with me all I am asking is to think what is best for the children. Pushing them trough without the skills they need to be successful and without discipline and a work ethic is not what’s best for children. Cramming them into a one size fits all curriculum regardless of desire and aptitude is not what’s best for children. Deamonizing teachers and endorsing propaganda is not whats best for the children. What the times union reporters and editorial staff often recommend is not what is best for children.
The Times Union has a powerful voice; I wish they would speak more for the kids and not the superintendent, school board and others.
Chris Guerrieri
School Teacher
Showing posts with label Eric Smith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Eric Smith. Show all posts
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Thursday, February 3, 2011
The Cognitive Dissonance of the DCSB
Reading about the school board meeting where some applauded the decision to split our four most struggling schools into two smaller theme schools each, I couldn’t help but think those in the room were suffering from an extreme case of cognitive dissonance. In case you are wondering cognitive dissonance is a psychological term describing the tension that results from having two conflicting thoughts or engaging in behavior that conflicts with one's beliefs. In simple terms, it means you ignore information that conflicts with what you already believe, in an effort to reinforce your beliefs. Sounds crazy right? Well that’s what the school board meeting was.
On one hand we had the school board and I will give them the benefit of the doubt that none are meeting in back rooms with the likes of Jeb Bush, Rick Scott, Gary Chartrand, Eli Broad and a few others discussing how they can destroy public education. No where I think several are filled with hubris, a few are using the position of school board member as a stepping stone up or down in a political career and most are out of their depth, I believe they took the job because helping kids was at least semi-important to them. There they were gathered to help kids but at the same time agreeing to support perhaps the wildest, left field idea to come out of 1701 Prudential Drive in quite some time that has almost no chance of helping kids.
Think about it, if the schools were split into two theme schools occupying the same campus (even if they had one principal overseeing both) they would still need two different administrations, bands, sports teams (The Raines Vikings and the Raines Scandinavians anyone) a doubling up on practically everything but the janitorial staff (are the two schools going to eat together too). Is Eric Smith who I disagree with quite frequently, not a dumb fellow, supposed to go okay with that. Does the school board think he is going to pat them on the back and sat, that’s some real changes you are proposing? To me it sounds like how they have divided my school up into four houses each with its own set of administrators and its own way of doing things or what some of the staff at my school like to call unmitigated disaster 2011. We’re still one school, just now we are headed in four different directions
Even worse however is the fact that if the students at these schools aren’t being successful with the regular academic program, then how are they going to be successful specialized in specialized programs (magic wands, fairy dust and unicorn horns perhaps)? Friends, the problem is not the academic program at the schools, the problem is the kids are not prepared for it.
But despite these blaring, four alarm holes the school board went ahead and voted and seven love I might add, for it. Not one said um, hmm, you know I don’t think we are addressing the real problem here. Not one!
Then there were the community leaders like Mia Jones, Audrey Moran and the NAACP who have either played lips service to the problems facing those schools or embraced one quick fix after another for years. They must have seen the same holes in the plan too. They aren’t very well disguised and they must have known that without addressing the root of the problem the problem will continue (when you have a hole in your roof you don’t try and fix it by giving your car an oil change) but they supported the plan as well.
Their cognitive dissonance came in the form of them drooling at the opportunity to sit on a community board that will have over site of the schools, as if anything they have done up to this point has made a meaningful change, regardless if it helped kids, the reason they were there or not. Furthermore I would not be surprised if some back room deals, you support this and your spot on the board is assured, haven’t already been done, after all this is Jacksonville isn’t it?
Then there was the superintendant whose office came up with the plan. He cannot want to be the guy who was in charge when the state came-a-calling and took the keys to the schools. It’s a good thing he has such a huge paycheck to cushion the blow. He has to know if kids can’t read or do math at grade level, if they don’t have the skills they need to be successful, which includes both a work ethic and discipline, splitting the schools apart has no chance of working. Despite all that and with a straight face I might add went off the menu of choices and suggested the farce outlined above.
Here are these three groups all supposedly interested in the welfare are of children ignoring what’s best for children and that my friends, is text book cognitive dissonance.
I hope Eric Smith doesn’t have a case of cognitive dissonance. That instead he has clarity of purpose and doesn’t give the school system a reprieve with this pie in the sky idea. Not that he hasn’t already tried his best by rewriting the way the state grades schools and giving the district a two year grace period before the tough measures kick in. I can imagine it now; he must have slapped his forehead when he saw that the schools didn’t make enough gains this year and screamed, what do I have to do!
You also have to know the state doesn’t want to take over the schools. They have had their drone roaming the hallways for years attempting to justify their positions and the word walls, data notebooks and complicated lesson plans haven’t made much of a difference. In fact where we say the schools are in danger of being taken over by the state that really isn’t one of the options. Instead it’s either close them or pay somebody else to take them over.
I hate to say it but if these schools don’t improve I hope they are closed (and there is a little cognitive dissonance on my part because I believe the states ranking system to be laughable). It’s painfully obvious that our leaders don’t know what they are doing and the citizens who continue to elect the same group of names over and over don’t too. Let’s stop pretending like we do. Let’s end our collective cognitive dissonance.
On one hand we had the school board and I will give them the benefit of the doubt that none are meeting in back rooms with the likes of Jeb Bush, Rick Scott, Gary Chartrand, Eli Broad and a few others discussing how they can destroy public education. No where I think several are filled with hubris, a few are using the position of school board member as a stepping stone up or down in a political career and most are out of their depth, I believe they took the job because helping kids was at least semi-important to them. There they were gathered to help kids but at the same time agreeing to support perhaps the wildest, left field idea to come out of 1701 Prudential Drive in quite some time that has almost no chance of helping kids.
Think about it, if the schools were split into two theme schools occupying the same campus (even if they had one principal overseeing both) they would still need two different administrations, bands, sports teams (The Raines Vikings and the Raines Scandinavians anyone) a doubling up on practically everything but the janitorial staff (are the two schools going to eat together too). Is Eric Smith who I disagree with quite frequently, not a dumb fellow, supposed to go okay with that. Does the school board think he is going to pat them on the back and sat, that’s some real changes you are proposing? To me it sounds like how they have divided my school up into four houses each with its own set of administrators and its own way of doing things or what some of the staff at my school like to call unmitigated disaster 2011. We’re still one school, just now we are headed in four different directions
Even worse however is the fact that if the students at these schools aren’t being successful with the regular academic program, then how are they going to be successful specialized in specialized programs (magic wands, fairy dust and unicorn horns perhaps)? Friends, the problem is not the academic program at the schools, the problem is the kids are not prepared for it.
But despite these blaring, four alarm holes the school board went ahead and voted and seven love I might add, for it. Not one said um, hmm, you know I don’t think we are addressing the real problem here. Not one!
Then there were the community leaders like Mia Jones, Audrey Moran and the NAACP who have either played lips service to the problems facing those schools or embraced one quick fix after another for years. They must have seen the same holes in the plan too. They aren’t very well disguised and they must have known that without addressing the root of the problem the problem will continue (when you have a hole in your roof you don’t try and fix it by giving your car an oil change) but they supported the plan as well.
Their cognitive dissonance came in the form of them drooling at the opportunity to sit on a community board that will have over site of the schools, as if anything they have done up to this point has made a meaningful change, regardless if it helped kids, the reason they were there or not. Furthermore I would not be surprised if some back room deals, you support this and your spot on the board is assured, haven’t already been done, after all this is Jacksonville isn’t it?
Then there was the superintendant whose office came up with the plan. He cannot want to be the guy who was in charge when the state came-a-calling and took the keys to the schools. It’s a good thing he has such a huge paycheck to cushion the blow. He has to know if kids can’t read or do math at grade level, if they don’t have the skills they need to be successful, which includes both a work ethic and discipline, splitting the schools apart has no chance of working. Despite all that and with a straight face I might add went off the menu of choices and suggested the farce outlined above.
Here are these three groups all supposedly interested in the welfare are of children ignoring what’s best for children and that my friends, is text book cognitive dissonance.
I hope Eric Smith doesn’t have a case of cognitive dissonance. That instead he has clarity of purpose and doesn’t give the school system a reprieve with this pie in the sky idea. Not that he hasn’t already tried his best by rewriting the way the state grades schools and giving the district a two year grace period before the tough measures kick in. I can imagine it now; he must have slapped his forehead when he saw that the schools didn’t make enough gains this year and screamed, what do I have to do!
You also have to know the state doesn’t want to take over the schools. They have had their drone roaming the hallways for years attempting to justify their positions and the word walls, data notebooks and complicated lesson plans haven’t made much of a difference. In fact where we say the schools are in danger of being taken over by the state that really isn’t one of the options. Instead it’s either close them or pay somebody else to take them over.
I hate to say it but if these schools don’t improve I hope they are closed (and there is a little cognitive dissonance on my part because I believe the states ranking system to be laughable). It’s painfully obvious that our leaders don’t know what they are doing and the citizens who continue to elect the same group of names over and over don’t too. Let’s stop pretending like we do. Let’s end our collective cognitive dissonance.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Merit pay should mirror district goals
From the Florida Tribune
by Kim MacQueen
It was Teacher Merit Pay Day in the Florida Legislature Wednesday as both the House and Senate hosted members and visitors to help flesh out "Son of Senate Bill 6" as it's drafted.
The measure currently under discussion in both houses would use as a blueprint a plan developed by Foundation for Florida's Future Executive Director Patricia Levesque in concert with the Florida Association of District School Superintendents and other education officials. A more moderate version of last year's controversial SB 6, the plan calls for teacher pay to be predicated on performance and student learning gains. It also calls for annual contracts for new teachers and three-year contract renewals for veteran teachers, and stipulates that pay increases can only be given to teachers deemed "effective" or "highly effective."
Then-Gov. Charlie Crist vetoed SB 6, but Gov. Rick Scott has said he will support similar legislation.
Legislators have already heard suggestions from Florida Education Commissioner Eric Smith and others that this year's bill should closely mirror the district goals already in place under the national Race to the Top grant program. Senate Education PreK-12 Committee Chair Stephen Wise, R-Jacksonville, indicated today that he's gotten the message. As it heads into bill drafting, Wise said he's calling it the "Race to the Top" bill.
Among those testifying Wednesday included Kay McGannon, advocacy director for the organization Stand for Children in Colorado, where a similar measure passed last year, as well as district representatives who warned legislators to tread with care.
"You have got to get buy-in not just from teachers, but from every employee," said Pasco Schools Superintendent Heather Fiorentino. She also asked legislators to "make sure it's fully funded" and "make sure it doesn't add additional strain" to districts in tight budget times.
A House panel heard from Smith, Florida Association of District School Superintendents representative Joy Frank, Florida Education Association President Andy Ford and others for nearly three hours of testimony on how to best craft the bill.
Ford indicated that collaboration and local solutions are keys to the success of educational reform, noting that "I don't believe we should demolish the system we have in place. It needs some fine tuning. I don't believe we should accept that our public schools are failing because I don't think that's true."
Smith pointed to comprehensive evaluation as key to making the bill work. Speaking specifically about the current process for teacher evaluations that lead to removal, he said "it's very cumbersome, frequently confrontational, lengthy and often leads to lawsuits."
"Evaluation is central to how we proceed," he said.
Originally published in the Florida Current - exclusively distributed via Lobbytools - Florida's Premiere Legislative and Media Monitoring Service.
by Kim MacQueen
It was Teacher Merit Pay Day in the Florida Legislature Wednesday as both the House and Senate hosted members and visitors to help flesh out "Son of Senate Bill 6" as it's drafted.
The measure currently under discussion in both houses would use as a blueprint a plan developed by Foundation for Florida's Future Executive Director Patricia Levesque in concert with the Florida Association of District School Superintendents and other education officials. A more moderate version of last year's controversial SB 6, the plan calls for teacher pay to be predicated on performance and student learning gains. It also calls for annual contracts for new teachers and three-year contract renewals for veteran teachers, and stipulates that pay increases can only be given to teachers deemed "effective" or "highly effective."
Then-Gov. Charlie Crist vetoed SB 6, but Gov. Rick Scott has said he will support similar legislation.
Legislators have already heard suggestions from Florida Education Commissioner Eric Smith and others that this year's bill should closely mirror the district goals already in place under the national Race to the Top grant program. Senate Education PreK-12 Committee Chair Stephen Wise, R-Jacksonville, indicated today that he's gotten the message. As it heads into bill drafting, Wise said he's calling it the "Race to the Top" bill.
Among those testifying Wednesday included Kay McGannon, advocacy director for the organization Stand for Children in Colorado, where a similar measure passed last year, as well as district representatives who warned legislators to tread with care.
"You have got to get buy-in not just from teachers, but from every employee," said Pasco Schools Superintendent Heather Fiorentino. She also asked legislators to "make sure it's fully funded" and "make sure it doesn't add additional strain" to districts in tight budget times.
A House panel heard from Smith, Florida Association of District School Superintendents representative Joy Frank, Florida Education Association President Andy Ford and others for nearly three hours of testimony on how to best craft the bill.
Ford indicated that collaboration and local solutions are keys to the success of educational reform, noting that "I don't believe we should demolish the system we have in place. It needs some fine tuning. I don't believe we should accept that our public schools are failing because I don't think that's true."
Smith pointed to comprehensive evaluation as key to making the bill work. Speaking specifically about the current process for teacher evaluations that lead to removal, he said "it's very cumbersome, frequently confrontational, lengthy and often leads to lawsuits."
"Evaluation is central to how we proceed," he said.
Originally published in the Florida Current - exclusively distributed via Lobbytools - Florida's Premiere Legislative and Media Monitoring Service.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Looming school cuts
From the St. Augustine Record
by Kathleen Haughney
TALLAHASSEE -- Teacher layoffs. Few if any electives. School supplies that only last a school a few months.
Those are all scenarios that lawmakers are trying to avoid as they craft a budget for the state's public schools while Florida faces a $3.6 billion shortfall and the possibility that state programs already cut to the bone will be cut even further. All the "low hanging fruit" in previous budgets was wiped out over the past few years as the downturn in the economy caused the state --and the public school system -- immense budget pain.
"All that fruit is gone, at least in my judgment," state Education Commissioner Eric Smith told a panel of House lawmakers Tuesday.
For the 2010-11 budget, $18.2 billion covers teacher salaries, busing, instructional materials and a host of other expenses, including a school's ability to simply keep the lights on. It means that for each student, a school receives $6,843.
While lawmakers faced economic difficulties last year, they had federal stimulus funds to help plug the holes riddling state coffers. Now, those funds have largely dried up, particularly for education. The education budget last year relied on $1.2 billion in non recurring federal funds, staff said Tuesday during a meeting of the House Appropriations subcommittee on PreK-12 Education.
"We have a great challenge ahead of us and one we have to take very seriously," said chairwoman Rep. Marti Coley, R-Marianna.
The State Board of Education approved a budget request for 2011-2012 of more than $19 billion, but Smith and his staff have also prepared a budget scenario for lawmakers that involves a 15 percent cut.
"It's a starting point, certainly not an ending point," Coley said referring to the 15-percent cut exercise.
Legislative leaders have indicated that cuts in education - one of the biggest budget drivers -- are inevitable. Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, has said he will not sign on to a budget that includes tax increases, meaning something will have to be cut if the state wants to create a balanced budget, a constitutional requirement. His education budget chief, Sen. David Simmons, R-Altamonte, has also noted that it will be a tough road ahead.
Darwin Boothe, a lobbyist for Seminole County School District, said the school district, and a few others, may not have to make any layoffs even if the Legislature makes minor cuts because of reserves the local school board put away in case of emergency.
However, Boothe noted that many districts dipped into those reserves this past year to help individual schools meet a constitutional requirement capping classrooms at a certain number of students. Reserves may not be available to blunt losses in state funds for the upcoming school year.
In 2002, voters approved a constitutional amendment that capped classroom sizes at 18 students in a classroom in lower grades, 22 in the middle grades and 25 students in core subject high school classrooms. The state has struggled to pay for the constitutional mandate, making it, in turn, difficult for schools to meet the requirement.
Boothe said he and other Florida school officials believe that the funding can be held at the status quo if the state continues to withhold funding from some of its long-term goals that can go without immediate funding. For example, though lawmakers in the past have wanted to put money toward purchasing environmental lands, they have not been able to fully fund that recently because lawmakers chose to prioritize other budget items.
If the school budget has to be cut, Boothe said schools will react accordingly, but lawmakers need to be aware of the practical impact of what the cuts may do.
"When you cut, you may not have the system you want at the end of the day," he said.
http://staugustine.com/news/local-news/2011-01-25/lawmakers-home-school-cuts
by Kathleen Haughney
TALLAHASSEE -- Teacher layoffs. Few if any electives. School supplies that only last a school a few months.
Those are all scenarios that lawmakers are trying to avoid as they craft a budget for the state's public schools while Florida faces a $3.6 billion shortfall and the possibility that state programs already cut to the bone will be cut even further. All the "low hanging fruit" in previous budgets was wiped out over the past few years as the downturn in the economy caused the state --and the public school system -- immense budget pain.
"All that fruit is gone, at least in my judgment," state Education Commissioner Eric Smith told a panel of House lawmakers Tuesday.
For the 2010-11 budget, $18.2 billion covers teacher salaries, busing, instructional materials and a host of other expenses, including a school's ability to simply keep the lights on. It means that for each student, a school receives $6,843.
While lawmakers faced economic difficulties last year, they had federal stimulus funds to help plug the holes riddling state coffers. Now, those funds have largely dried up, particularly for education. The education budget last year relied on $1.2 billion in non recurring federal funds, staff said Tuesday during a meeting of the House Appropriations subcommittee on PreK-12 Education.
"We have a great challenge ahead of us and one we have to take very seriously," said chairwoman Rep. Marti Coley, R-Marianna.
The State Board of Education approved a budget request for 2011-2012 of more than $19 billion, but Smith and his staff have also prepared a budget scenario for lawmakers that involves a 15 percent cut.
"It's a starting point, certainly not an ending point," Coley said referring to the 15-percent cut exercise.
Legislative leaders have indicated that cuts in education - one of the biggest budget drivers -- are inevitable. Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, has said he will not sign on to a budget that includes tax increases, meaning something will have to be cut if the state wants to create a balanced budget, a constitutional requirement. His education budget chief, Sen. David Simmons, R-Altamonte, has also noted that it will be a tough road ahead.
Darwin Boothe, a lobbyist for Seminole County School District, said the school district, and a few others, may not have to make any layoffs even if the Legislature makes minor cuts because of reserves the local school board put away in case of emergency.
However, Boothe noted that many districts dipped into those reserves this past year to help individual schools meet a constitutional requirement capping classrooms at a certain number of students. Reserves may not be available to blunt losses in state funds for the upcoming school year.
In 2002, voters approved a constitutional amendment that capped classroom sizes at 18 students in a classroom in lower grades, 22 in the middle grades and 25 students in core subject high school classrooms. The state has struggled to pay for the constitutional mandate, making it, in turn, difficult for schools to meet the requirement.
Boothe said he and other Florida school officials believe that the funding can be held at the status quo if the state continues to withhold funding from some of its long-term goals that can go without immediate funding. For example, though lawmakers in the past have wanted to put money toward purchasing environmental lands, they have not been able to fully fund that recently because lawmakers chose to prioritize other budget items.
If the school budget has to be cut, Boothe said schools will react accordingly, but lawmakers need to be aware of the practical impact of what the cuts may do.
"When you cut, you may not have the system you want at the end of the day," he said.
http://staugustine.com/news/local-news/2011-01-25/lawmakers-home-school-cuts
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Education Commisioner Eric Smith, Thinks Rick Scott is Wrong
Florida Education Commissioner Eric Smith disagrees with Governor Rick Scott and his education policies and I know this because he sent me and tens of thousands of other teachers throughout the state the following letter.
Dear Teachers,
I’m excited to share with you great news! With your dedicated support, the state of Florida has been ranked as the 5th BEST state in the nation in the quality of its education system. Education Week’s annual Quality Counts report tracks state policies and performance across key areas of education, and assigns each state with an overall letter grade and numeric score to signify their education standing in the nation. Our rise to 5th this year follows a continued trend of improvement that has brought us from 14th in 2008, 10th in 2009 and 8th last year!
On behalf of the Florida Department of Education, I want to sincerely thank you for the stellar work you are doing each and every day to help your students achieve their academic and career goals. It is clear to me that your efforts are making a profound difference in the lives of our students. I’m truly proud to collaborate with you, your local leadership and parents and students across the state as we work to improve educational outcomes for all students. Thank you for all you do to make Florida’s future brighter each and every day.
Dr. Eric J. Smith
Education Commissioner
There seems to be a disconnect between the commissioner and the Governor because the latter recently said the education system in Florida is broken. How an insurance salesman who never had any kids in the system knows that with such certainty is beyond me. Also did you notice how our rankings seemed to improve once Jeb Bush was out of office?
I appreciate the commissioner though; he is sticking up for teachers and thanking them or their hard work, sadly something that has become a rarity in today’s blame the teacher climate. Unfortunately though, I don’t believe there is any way Florida is fifth in anything education related but nor do I believe like some do that we should blow the thing up either. The truth is we have both great things and problems here; problems that wouldn’t take breaking the bank, reinventing the wheel or demonizing teachers to fix. Problems which unless we do something, are about to be made worse by the governor.
Chris Guerrieri
School teacher
Dear Teachers,
I’m excited to share with you great news! With your dedicated support, the state of Florida has been ranked as the 5th BEST state in the nation in the quality of its education system. Education Week’s annual Quality Counts report tracks state policies and performance across key areas of education, and assigns each state with an overall letter grade and numeric score to signify their education standing in the nation. Our rise to 5th this year follows a continued trend of improvement that has brought us from 14th in 2008, 10th in 2009 and 8th last year!
On behalf of the Florida Department of Education, I want to sincerely thank you for the stellar work you are doing each and every day to help your students achieve their academic and career goals. It is clear to me that your efforts are making a profound difference in the lives of our students. I’m truly proud to collaborate with you, your local leadership and parents and students across the state as we work to improve educational outcomes for all students. Thank you for all you do to make Florida’s future brighter each and every day.
Dr. Eric J. Smith
Education Commissioner
There seems to be a disconnect between the commissioner and the Governor because the latter recently said the education system in Florida is broken. How an insurance salesman who never had any kids in the system knows that with such certainty is beyond me. Also did you notice how our rankings seemed to improve once Jeb Bush was out of office?
I appreciate the commissioner though; he is sticking up for teachers and thanking them or their hard work, sadly something that has become a rarity in today’s blame the teacher climate. Unfortunately though, I don’t believe there is any way Florida is fifth in anything education related but nor do I believe like some do that we should blow the thing up either. The truth is we have both great things and problems here; problems that wouldn’t take breaking the bank, reinventing the wheel or demonizing teachers to fix. Problems which unless we do something, are about to be made worse by the governor.
Chris Guerrieri
School teacher
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Districts fined over class size
Preliminary class size penalties issued to Florida school districts
Of all the schools in our coverage area of Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco and Hernando counties, just one -- Plato Academy charter school in Pinellas -- didn't make class size in the October state count. Its possible penalty is just $1,403, indicating the school only barely missed the mark.
Statewide, the landscape was less positive. More than half the school districts failed to comply with the 2002 amendment, generating more than $40 million in accumulated fines. (See the attached lists for details.) That amount is sure to shrink as districts submit plans to meet the rules next fall, and also as they appeal the validity of the rulings.
Florida education commissioner Eric J. Smith is reviewing all submitted appeals and expects to recommend the final penalties to the State Board of Education on Jan. 18. He can suggest reduced fines for districts that made every effort to comply but failed, or for those that faced unforeseen emergencies.
If the penalties remain intact, the Florida School Boards Association and several school districts already have conferred with lawyers about suing the Legislature over them. And keep an eye out as well for legislation aimed once again at easing the class size rules, which many districts have said are too restrictive and expensive to meet daily.
From Tampa Bay.coms Gradebook:http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/gradebook/content/preliminary-class-size-penalties-issued-florida-school-districts
Of all the schools in our coverage area of Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco and Hernando counties, just one -- Plato Academy charter school in Pinellas -- didn't make class size in the October state count. Its possible penalty is just $1,403, indicating the school only barely missed the mark.
Statewide, the landscape was less positive. More than half the school districts failed to comply with the 2002 amendment, generating more than $40 million in accumulated fines. (See the attached lists for details.) That amount is sure to shrink as districts submit plans to meet the rules next fall, and also as they appeal the validity of the rulings.
Florida education commissioner Eric J. Smith is reviewing all submitted appeals and expects to recommend the final penalties to the State Board of Education on Jan. 18. He can suggest reduced fines for districts that made every effort to comply but failed, or for those that faced unforeseen emergencies.
If the penalties remain intact, the Florida School Boards Association and several school districts already have conferred with lawyers about suing the Legislature over them. And keep an eye out as well for legislation aimed once again at easing the class size rules, which many districts have said are too restrictive and expensive to meet daily.
From Tampa Bay.coms Gradebook:http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/gradebook/content/preliminary-class-size-penalties-issued-florida-school-districts
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Teachers finally involved in education plan?
To me it stills seems punitive and doesn't address the real problems we are facing. -cpg
BY KATHLEEN McGRORY
kmcgrory@MiamiHerald.com
The teacher pay debate that rocked Tallahassee last spring is back.
Already, legislation is being drafted that would overhaul the way teachers are evaluated and paid, and do away with tenure.
But unlike its predecessor, which led to student sit-ins and teacher sick-outs, this bill is finding widespread support from educators and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. Even the teachers' unions are willing to consider it.
So far, the reaction has been warmer.
``It's a very thoughtful bill,'' said state Board of Education member Roberto Martinez. ``It creates sufficient reform, but does so in a way that's not trying to steamroll anyone.''
However, Karen Aronowitz, president of the Miami-Dade teachers union, is skeptical.
``We have merit pay programs in our schools,'' Aronowitz said. ``We've signed on to major grants to work on this together. To have it legislated from afar takes value away from the work we're doing.''
The proposed bill establishes broad guidelines for hiring, firing, evaluating and paying teachers. It allows the details to be hammered out by local school districts and unions.
Half of teacher evaluations would be based on three years of student data -- such as scores on the FCATs, the new end-of-course exams, norm-reference tests or Advanced Placement tests. The system would look at student growth rather than raw scores, and would account for factors including poverty and student mobility.
Teachers' evaluations would determine at least half of their pay raises. Teachers who do not receive strong evaluations would get smaller raises, and over time the lowest performing teachers would be weeded out.
Teachers would also be rewarded for working in high-need schools or in subject areas where there is a shortage of teachers.
In addition, high-performing teachers would get credit for advanced degrees, certifications and specializations -- a provision not included in Senate Bill 6.
Teachers already in the system would have the option to give up their tenure in exchange for the higher pay and salary incentives.
``It's critical that we get this right,'' said Rebecca Fishman Lipsey, who oversees Teach for America in Miami-Dade.
Studies show teacher effectiveness is the strongest predictor of student achievement.
In fact, improving teacher quality through pay incentives has been a key part of the White House education reform agenda.
The Obama administration set aside millions of dollars in stimulus funds for states and school districts willing to try new ways of evaluating and paying teachers.
One of the key ingredients to obtain a portion of the $4.35 billion in Race to the Top funds: basing a portion of teacher pay on student achievement.
Florida lost in its first try. But in August, Florida was named one of nine winners. Its share: $700 million.
Smith, the education commissioner, said he would like to see the state's merit pay legislation based on the Race to the Top application.
``It has support from multiple stakeholders,'' he said.
In a few weeks, Crist will be leaving office. But Gov.-elect Rick Scott's education transition team has indicated it also wants a merit pay plan.
And in an e-mail to The Miami Herald, former Gov. Bush called it ``vital for Florida to continue providing a quality education for every student and closing the achievement gap.''
So it's likely state lawmakers will revisit the issue when the Legislative session begins in March.
``We have to tweak the way we measure success,'' said state Rep. Erik Fresen, who sits on the House Education Committee.
But Ford, the head of the Florida Education Association, cautioned lawmakers against moving too quickly.
``I'm hoping they move slower than last year and provide an opportunity for people to have real and meaningful input.''
``We're open to looking at paying teachers differently,'' said Andy Ford, president of the Florida Education Association.
``It's really about how you develop the plan.''
Last spring, educators complained the state Legislature, in an effort to be seen as a leader in education reform, was cramming through changes affecting their pay without any input from them.
This time, educators, parents and union leaders have contributed to a proposed bill that would reward the state's top teachers with merit pay.
Among the differences in the bills:
The old: Known as Senate Bill 6, it was based half a teacher's evaluation on student performance on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test.
The new: Allows end-of-course exams, Advanced Placement tests and tests developed by local school districts to be factored in, too.
The old: Did not address evaluating teachers in subjects such as music and art.
The new: Allows local school districts to develop tests in these areas.
The old: Was based only on student learning gains.
The new: Also accounts for the poverty rate, attendance rate and the number of times a student has switched schools.
The old: Had one salary schedule for all teachers.
The new: Has different salary schedules for teachers in critical shortage areas like math and science, or in low-income schools.
The old: Did not factor in advanced degrees.
The new: Would factor in advanced degrees.
The old: Would have had teachers working under one-year contracts.
The new: Would award three-year contracts. After each contract, school districts could choose to retain or fire a teacher, with or without cause.
``We really have moved a long way'' from a year ago, state Education Commissioner Eric Smith said.
Last spring, the governor's office logged more than 100,000 calls from teachers, parents and students opposing Senate Bill 6. Thousand of Miami-Dade teachers took a personal day off to protest the bill, and Broward teachers led after-school rallies. They said the bill relied too heavily on student test scores to calculate teacher pay without taking into account other factors, such as whether the teacher worked in a low-income school or with special needs students.
Even supporters of merit pay acknowledged the process to create last spring's legislation lacked collaboration and transparency.
Calling the legislation ``significantly flawed,'' Gov. Charlie Crist vetoed SB6.
But he also said he supported a performance-based pay system and urged educators and lawmakers to start over -- working together -- to develop a new plan.
Crist put together a group of teachers, superintendents, parents and union leaders, headed by Miami-Dade schools chief Alberto Carvalho, to develop a game plan everyone could support. Gov. Jeb Bush's Foundation for Florida's FUture drew upon that in crafting the new proposal.
The new legislation is still a work in progress, said Jaryn Emhof, a spokeswoman for the foundation, but a draft of the proposal is being circulated.
http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/12/25/1988680_p2/teachers-give-higher-grade-to.html
BY KATHLEEN McGRORY
kmcgrory@MiamiHerald.com
The teacher pay debate that rocked Tallahassee last spring is back.
Already, legislation is being drafted that would overhaul the way teachers are evaluated and paid, and do away with tenure.
But unlike its predecessor, which led to student sit-ins and teacher sick-outs, this bill is finding widespread support from educators and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. Even the teachers' unions are willing to consider it.
So far, the reaction has been warmer.
``It's a very thoughtful bill,'' said state Board of Education member Roberto Martinez. ``It creates sufficient reform, but does so in a way that's not trying to steamroll anyone.''
However, Karen Aronowitz, president of the Miami-Dade teachers union, is skeptical.
``We have merit pay programs in our schools,'' Aronowitz said. ``We've signed on to major grants to work on this together. To have it legislated from afar takes value away from the work we're doing.''
The proposed bill establishes broad guidelines for hiring, firing, evaluating and paying teachers. It allows the details to be hammered out by local school districts and unions.
Half of teacher evaluations would be based on three years of student data -- such as scores on the FCATs, the new end-of-course exams, norm-reference tests or Advanced Placement tests. The system would look at student growth rather than raw scores, and would account for factors including poverty and student mobility.
Teachers' evaluations would determine at least half of their pay raises. Teachers who do not receive strong evaluations would get smaller raises, and over time the lowest performing teachers would be weeded out.
Teachers would also be rewarded for working in high-need schools or in subject areas where there is a shortage of teachers.
In addition, high-performing teachers would get credit for advanced degrees, certifications and specializations -- a provision not included in Senate Bill 6.
Teachers already in the system would have the option to give up their tenure in exchange for the higher pay and salary incentives.
``It's critical that we get this right,'' said Rebecca Fishman Lipsey, who oversees Teach for America in Miami-Dade.
Studies show teacher effectiveness is the strongest predictor of student achievement.
In fact, improving teacher quality through pay incentives has been a key part of the White House education reform agenda.
The Obama administration set aside millions of dollars in stimulus funds for states and school districts willing to try new ways of evaluating and paying teachers.
One of the key ingredients to obtain a portion of the $4.35 billion in Race to the Top funds: basing a portion of teacher pay on student achievement.
Florida lost in its first try. But in August, Florida was named one of nine winners. Its share: $700 million.
Smith, the education commissioner, said he would like to see the state's merit pay legislation based on the Race to the Top application.
``It has support from multiple stakeholders,'' he said.
In a few weeks, Crist will be leaving office. But Gov.-elect Rick Scott's education transition team has indicated it also wants a merit pay plan.
And in an e-mail to The Miami Herald, former Gov. Bush called it ``vital for Florida to continue providing a quality education for every student and closing the achievement gap.''
So it's likely state lawmakers will revisit the issue when the Legislative session begins in March.
``We have to tweak the way we measure success,'' said state Rep. Erik Fresen, who sits on the House Education Committee.
But Ford, the head of the Florida Education Association, cautioned lawmakers against moving too quickly.
``I'm hoping they move slower than last year and provide an opportunity for people to have real and meaningful input.''
``We're open to looking at paying teachers differently,'' said Andy Ford, president of the Florida Education Association.
``It's really about how you develop the plan.''
Last spring, educators complained the state Legislature, in an effort to be seen as a leader in education reform, was cramming through changes affecting their pay without any input from them.
This time, educators, parents and union leaders have contributed to a proposed bill that would reward the state's top teachers with merit pay.
Among the differences in the bills:
The old: Known as Senate Bill 6, it was based half a teacher's evaluation on student performance on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test.
The new: Allows end-of-course exams, Advanced Placement tests and tests developed by local school districts to be factored in, too.
The old: Did not address evaluating teachers in subjects such as music and art.
The new: Allows local school districts to develop tests in these areas.
The old: Was based only on student learning gains.
The new: Also accounts for the poverty rate, attendance rate and the number of times a student has switched schools.
The old: Had one salary schedule for all teachers.
The new: Has different salary schedules for teachers in critical shortage areas like math and science, or in low-income schools.
The old: Did not factor in advanced degrees.
The new: Would factor in advanced degrees.
The old: Would have had teachers working under one-year contracts.
The new: Would award three-year contracts. After each contract, school districts could choose to retain or fire a teacher, with or without cause.
``We really have moved a long way'' from a year ago, state Education Commissioner Eric Smith said.
Last spring, the governor's office logged more than 100,000 calls from teachers, parents and students opposing Senate Bill 6. Thousand of Miami-Dade teachers took a personal day off to protest the bill, and Broward teachers led after-school rallies. They said the bill relied too heavily on student test scores to calculate teacher pay without taking into account other factors, such as whether the teacher worked in a low-income school or with special needs students.
Even supporters of merit pay acknowledged the process to create last spring's legislation lacked collaboration and transparency.
Calling the legislation ``significantly flawed,'' Gov. Charlie Crist vetoed SB6.
But he also said he supported a performance-based pay system and urged educators and lawmakers to start over -- working together -- to develop a new plan.
Crist put together a group of teachers, superintendents, parents and union leaders, headed by Miami-Dade schools chief Alberto Carvalho, to develop a game plan everyone could support. Gov. Jeb Bush's Foundation for Florida's FUture drew upon that in crafting the new proposal.
The new legislation is still a work in progress, said Jaryn Emhof, a spokeswoman for the foundation, but a draft of the proposal is being circulated.
http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/12/25/1988680_p2/teachers-give-higher-grade-to.html
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
A loophole big enough to drive a convoy of dropouts through
What really is Jacksonville public schools graduation rate? -cpg
As Saturday's St. Petersburg Times story noted with a brief quote, Florida Education Commissioner Eric J. Smith is not defending the state's graduation rate formula, which has a loophole big enough to drive a convoy of dropouts through. Keep reading to see his comments in more detail.
(To recap: the formula discounts thousands of students who transfer into adult education programs. A Times analysis shows that pumps up the state rate by 6 percentage points and some district rates even more. Hillsborough's much-touted rate falls from 82.3 percent to 70.4 percent when adult ed transfers are factored in. The loophole will close in 2011-12, when the state moves to yet another grad rate formula - the "federal uniform rate.")
Said Smith: "We lose track of them (adult ed transfers) and where they end up. They could be transferred to adult ed and be gone in a day and actually be a dropout but disguised ... "
"I wouldn't call it misleading. But it doesn't give you as pure a calculation as we can have, one that would allow us to compare success or lack of success within a school or a district across the state the way we would like to. The more exceptions you add, the more poorly defined it is. And it becomes a problem for us. We end up seeing things like you're identifying now ... "
The rate is "not as clear as it should be. Most people, when they hear the term graduation rate, they expect it to be the kids that march across your stage with a full high school diploma. And that's not what we're reporting today. We report that plus some exceptions. For mom and dad at home, it can lead to a misunderstanding about what the actual graduation rate is ... "
"I think what intensifies the problem is the graduation rate now part of high school accountability ... the increased focus and pressure on increasing the graduation rate, that sometimes could lead to some pretty bad choices with kids. If you don't keep it tight, the way you define it, it leaves it open to be gamed or misused or used inappropriately. I'm not saying that's widespread but it certainly could be something to occur. The way to avoid it is to tighten it up."
Taken from the St. Petersburg Times: http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/gradebook/content/florida-education-commissioner-state-graduation-rate-formula-not-clear-it-should-be
As Saturday's St. Petersburg Times story noted with a brief quote, Florida Education Commissioner Eric J. Smith is not defending the state's graduation rate formula, which has a loophole big enough to drive a convoy of dropouts through. Keep reading to see his comments in more detail.
(To recap: the formula discounts thousands of students who transfer into adult education programs. A Times analysis shows that pumps up the state rate by 6 percentage points and some district rates even more. Hillsborough's much-touted rate falls from 82.3 percent to 70.4 percent when adult ed transfers are factored in. The loophole will close in 2011-12, when the state moves to yet another grad rate formula - the "federal uniform rate.")
Said Smith: "We lose track of them (adult ed transfers) and where they end up. They could be transferred to adult ed and be gone in a day and actually be a dropout but disguised ... "
"I wouldn't call it misleading. But it doesn't give you as pure a calculation as we can have, one that would allow us to compare success or lack of success within a school or a district across the state the way we would like to. The more exceptions you add, the more poorly defined it is. And it becomes a problem for us. We end up seeing things like you're identifying now ... "
The rate is "not as clear as it should be. Most people, when they hear the term graduation rate, they expect it to be the kids that march across your stage with a full high school diploma. And that's not what we're reporting today. We report that plus some exceptions. For mom and dad at home, it can lead to a misunderstanding about what the actual graduation rate is ... "
"I think what intensifies the problem is the graduation rate now part of high school accountability ... the increased focus and pressure on increasing the graduation rate, that sometimes could lead to some pretty bad choices with kids. If you don't keep it tight, the way you define it, it leaves it open to be gamed or misused or used inappropriately. I'm not saying that's widespread but it certainly could be something to occur. The way to avoid it is to tighten it up."
Taken from the St. Petersburg Times: http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/gradebook/content/florida-education-commissioner-state-graduation-rate-formula-not-clear-it-should-be
Friday, November 19, 2010
Eric Smith: Teachers will get say in new bill to evaluate their performance
By Eric Smith
Special to news-press.com • November 18, 2010
I want to commend The News Press on its editorial “Teachers deserve a say on performance pay bill” (Nov. 7) for highlighting the need for ongoing conversation regarding teacher quality here in the Sunshine State.
During the last several months, officials at both the state and local level have sought feedback from teachers and other stakeholders about the need for continued improvement in our state’s education system, particularly in the areas of teacher support and evaluation, professional development and interpreting student data.
A prime example of this dialogue is the Florida State Board of Education’s recent “What’s Working in Effective Teaching and Leadership” series which featured five workshops across the state to hear directly from educators and education stakeholders.
While each workshop covered a different topic, they focused in large part on statewide efforts to build improved teacher and principal evaluation systems to better inform educators and education leaders about their strengths and weaknesses.
Discussion specifically included the pros and cons of tying student performance data based partially on statewide assessments to educator effectiveness.
The meetings were very successful with a wide variety of opinions and commentary offered, and footage from the workshops is still available for viewing through the Department of Education’s website.
There has also been a tremendous amount of discussion taking place within our school districts as they work feverishly to develop their Race to the Top work plans.
As part of Florida’s winning application, participating districts must construct new teacher and principal evaluation systems that are partially based on growth in the performance of their students.
A key part of this process is local flexibility within the grant allowing districts to build a system that’s right for them.
This local decision-making process will undoubtedly require significant
discussion with local teachers to ensure all parties are on board with the plan.
Additionally, I created the Commissioner’s Teacher Task Force last January to gather input from dedicated educators about key education issues.
This Task Force is comprised solely of Florida teachers with a longstanding history of student success in a variety of environments, and
I’m going to be leaning on them heavily for their advice and ideas in many different areas, including new teacher evaluation systems.
There is no doubt that our teachers, as well as many other stakeholders, need to have an active voice in the revolutionary education reforms that are underway in Florida.
Their input is going to be essential if we expect these changes to take root and produce lasting success in our schools.
Based on the conversations that have already happened, I can say with confidence that we are on the right path to implementing a collaborative reform agenda that upholds my No. 1 goal: better opportunities and outcomes for our children.
http://www.news-press.com/article/20101118/OPINION/101117064/1015/opinion/Eric-Smith--Teachers-will-get-say-in-new-bill-to-evaluate-their-performance
Special to news-press.com • November 18, 2010
I want to commend The News Press on its editorial “Teachers deserve a say on performance pay bill” (Nov. 7) for highlighting the need for ongoing conversation regarding teacher quality here in the Sunshine State.
During the last several months, officials at both the state and local level have sought feedback from teachers and other stakeholders about the need for continued improvement in our state’s education system, particularly in the areas of teacher support and evaluation, professional development and interpreting student data.
A prime example of this dialogue is the Florida State Board of Education’s recent “What’s Working in Effective Teaching and Leadership” series which featured five workshops across the state to hear directly from educators and education stakeholders.
While each workshop covered a different topic, they focused in large part on statewide efforts to build improved teacher and principal evaluation systems to better inform educators and education leaders about their strengths and weaknesses.
Discussion specifically included the pros and cons of tying student performance data based partially on statewide assessments to educator effectiveness.
The meetings were very successful with a wide variety of opinions and commentary offered, and footage from the workshops is still available for viewing through the Department of Education’s website.
There has also been a tremendous amount of discussion taking place within our school districts as they work feverishly to develop their Race to the Top work plans.
As part of Florida’s winning application, participating districts must construct new teacher and principal evaluation systems that are partially based on growth in the performance of their students.
A key part of this process is local flexibility within the grant allowing districts to build a system that’s right for them.
This local decision-making process will undoubtedly require significant
discussion with local teachers to ensure all parties are on board with the plan.
Additionally, I created the Commissioner’s Teacher Task Force last January to gather input from dedicated educators about key education issues.
This Task Force is comprised solely of Florida teachers with a longstanding history of student success in a variety of environments, and
I’m going to be leaning on them heavily for their advice and ideas in many different areas, including new teacher evaluation systems.
There is no doubt that our teachers, as well as many other stakeholders, need to have an active voice in the revolutionary education reforms that are underway in Florida.
Their input is going to be essential if we expect these changes to take root and produce lasting success in our schools.
Based on the conversations that have already happened, I can say with confidence that we are on the right path to implementing a collaborative reform agenda that upholds my No. 1 goal: better opportunities and outcomes for our children.
http://www.news-press.com/article/20101118/OPINION/101117064/1015/opinion/Eric-Smith--Teachers-will-get-say-in-new-bill-to-evaluate-their-performance
Monday, November 15, 2010
Are Rhee and Florida interested in each other?
By Valerie Strauss
The talk in education circles in Florida is that the governor elect, Rick Scott, may be looking for a new education commission and the name that seems dominant in the discussion is Michelle Rhee, who recently resigned as Washington D.C. Schools chancellor.
Sources told the St. Petersburg Times that members of Scott’s transition team are “quietly asking around for names” of possible replacements for commissioner and that Rhee’s name keeps coming up.
Rhee left the D.C. chancellorship last month after her patron, Mayor Adrian Fenty, was defeated, with some people in the city citing Rhee's and Fenty's arrogance as the reason. The mayor elect, D.C. Council Chairman Vincent Gray, was not a fan of Rhee’s brusque leadership style and the two had a tense relationship.
Rhee, the darling of today’s education reformers, including Education Secretary Arne Duncan, has left open where she wants to take her next professional step
But Florida education activists already are painting a scenario in which she could live in Tallahassee as state commissioner for a few years with the hope that Jeb Bush, the former Florida governor and the brother of ex-president George W. Bush, runs for president in 2012 and wins.
Bush has said he doesn’t plan to run but he wouldn’t be the first politician to say that and change his/her mind.
Bush, though no longer governor, remains politically powerful in Florida and has national impact in education issues through his Foundation for Excellence in Education, he has national impact.
Bush and Rhee’s fiancee, Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, have worked together on a number of education initiatives. And Bush and Rhee agree on many of the key tenets of today’s “reform:” charter schools and standardized tests. The two are scheduled to appear soon together as members of a panel on education reform at the Harvard University's Institute of Politics.
Some Florida legislators are reportedly talking enthusiastically about Rhee, though members of Testing is Not Teaching, a grassroots coalition of parents and teachers in Florida that opposes the current wave of education reform, has already expressed concern about the possibility of Rhee becoming the state education commissioner.
The current commissioner, Eric J. Smith, said in September he’d like to keep his job, but that doesn’t mean he will. As the Times notes, the State Board of Education hires and fires the commissioner, but “Scott already has one member on his transition team and two positions [are] coming up for appointment in December.”
My colleague Bill Turque wrote on his D.C. School Insider blog recently that Rhee has sent mixed signals about what she will do next. She had long said that the D.C. job would be her first and last shot at running a school system and she recently appeared to say she would not take the job as New Jersey’s education commissioner. But she told The Wall Street Journal that she was in fact considering a job in another school district.
The Florida talk about Rhee may be all pie in the sky. But it it may not be, too.
Taken from the Washington Post: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/answer-sheet/educational-leadership/are-rhee-and-florida-intereste.html
The talk in education circles in Florida is that the governor elect, Rick Scott, may be looking for a new education commission and the name that seems dominant in the discussion is Michelle Rhee, who recently resigned as Washington D.C. Schools chancellor.
Sources told the St. Petersburg Times that members of Scott’s transition team are “quietly asking around for names” of possible replacements for commissioner and that Rhee’s name keeps coming up.
Rhee left the D.C. chancellorship last month after her patron, Mayor Adrian Fenty, was defeated, with some people in the city citing Rhee's and Fenty's arrogance as the reason. The mayor elect, D.C. Council Chairman Vincent Gray, was not a fan of Rhee’s brusque leadership style and the two had a tense relationship.
Rhee, the darling of today’s education reformers, including Education Secretary Arne Duncan, has left open where she wants to take her next professional step
But Florida education activists already are painting a scenario in which she could live in Tallahassee as state commissioner for a few years with the hope that Jeb Bush, the former Florida governor and the brother of ex-president George W. Bush, runs for president in 2012 and wins.
Bush has said he doesn’t plan to run but he wouldn’t be the first politician to say that and change his/her mind.
Bush, though no longer governor, remains politically powerful in Florida and has national impact in education issues through his Foundation for Excellence in Education, he has national impact.
Bush and Rhee’s fiancee, Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, have worked together on a number of education initiatives. And Bush and Rhee agree on many of the key tenets of today’s “reform:” charter schools and standardized tests. The two are scheduled to appear soon together as members of a panel on education reform at the Harvard University's Institute of Politics.
Some Florida legislators are reportedly talking enthusiastically about Rhee, though members of Testing is Not Teaching, a grassroots coalition of parents and teachers in Florida that opposes the current wave of education reform, has already expressed concern about the possibility of Rhee becoming the state education commissioner.
The current commissioner, Eric J. Smith, said in September he’d like to keep his job, but that doesn’t mean he will. As the Times notes, the State Board of Education hires and fires the commissioner, but “Scott already has one member on his transition team and two positions [are] coming up for appointment in December.”
My colleague Bill Turque wrote on his D.C. School Insider blog recently that Rhee has sent mixed signals about what she will do next. She had long said that the D.C. job would be her first and last shot at running a school system and she recently appeared to say she would not take the job as New Jersey’s education commissioner. But she told The Wall Street Journal that she was in fact considering a job in another school district.
The Florida talk about Rhee may be all pie in the sky. But it it may not be, too.
Taken from the Washington Post: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/answer-sheet/educational-leadership/are-rhee-and-florida-intereste.html
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
The (education) circus comes to town
Florida Commissioner of Education Eric Smith’s traveling circus came to town the other day. (I say "circus") because that is what Education has become. We, as a society, have chosen not to fund it adequately. We have given teachers all of the responsibility but none of the authority to educate our children, giving a pass to parents, policymakers and politicians like Eric Smith. In many schools, 'the inmates (children) are running the asylum', and nobody can see to come up with any ideas but merit pay, early reading initiatives and mentors.
If you didn’t know the Commissioner’s circus was in town, don’t feel bad - very few did, and you are in the vast majority. Smith is traveling the state talking about teacher quality: apparently, at one point, there were a lot of good ones, but that was a long time ago. Now, he does admit there are still a few good ones, but it quickly becomes clear that Smith thinks we still have a whole lot of bad ones, too. Smith was the ringmaster, but along with him he had the Chancellor of Education, a State union head, and an education activist, who (if he mentions Finland again) is going to make me throw something.
They planned the town-hall style forum from 4-6 on a Tuesday afternoon, I believe to assure that as few people as possible could attend. You see, unless you are an education consultant, guru or member of an education leadership team, you usually have to work or take care of your children during those hours. At one point, Smith said to the 100 or so people in attendance, “this auditorium should be filled to capacity and then overflowing.” (Here is a hint, sir; next time, let people know). A group of parents said they didn’t find out about it until one of them got a random Google alert a few hours before it began, and if you didn’t get that and/or missed the five-inch column buried in the Florida Times-Union, the chances are you didn’t even know it was happening.
Though it was pretty obvious that this was just the powers-that-be going through the motions with this exercise; after all, why else would all of Northeast Florida (one and a half million people, three-hundred and fifty thousand of whom are children) get just two hours of face time? That’s right - because as soon as the clock struck 6 pm, a bell went off and they were done. I can just imagine the chaos that would have ensued had they cut off 350, 500 or 1,000 people from asking questions. They still had 20 or so questions from the audience of less than 100 people that went unanswered. And let’s talk about the questions, because I am of the opinion (an opinion shared with a few people I talked to) that none were answered to anyone's satisfaction; I know mine wasn’t.
I asked a question about not every kid being prepared for or interested in college, and since that’s the case, shouldn’t we start providing for their needs by developing curriculums based around skills, trades and the arts. I phrased it so they could either agree or disagree with the question (a trick I learned from watching "Papa Bear", Bill O’Reilly). Eight minutes later, my head was spinning, as they talked about how children had more opportunity than ever before and how more kids would be taking more AP classes than ever, too. They not once came off the mantra that we need to prepare every child for college, and that’s where every child could go if teachers just did things better. There answers had a few half-truths in them; kids do have more opportunities, more opportunities to take classes they aren’t interested in, that is. And because of continuous cuts in trades, the skills and the arts every year, their “opportunities” to take those classes will become fewer and farther between. Furthermore, yes - more kids are having “opportunities” to take AP classes - though, if we are being honest, fewer kids are prepared for them and less kids are passing them. It was almost as if they hoped they could bore me into not seeing what their answers were.
I wasn’t the only whose question was answered with a series of long, meandering responses that seemed to have very little to do with the actual question. Also, at some point during every question, not only did they mention Finland, (Friends, I kid you not - they must have talked about Finland for a good fifteen minutes, or one-eighth of the time) but somebody would always say, “good question.” Unfortunately, I don’t think anybody replied, “good answer.”
It was as if they were playing four-corners offense from an old basketball game. If you didn’t know, before the invention of the shot clock, some teams (once they got a lead) would slow the game down. Their meandering, long-winded answers where they talked for minutes at a time but said nothing reminded me of watching Villanova beat Georgetown in 1984 - one of the greatest upsets ever - and it happened a year before the shot clock was instituted.
Though, in the end, they were right; we do need reform and the reform we need to start with is them. They have run Education into the ground and then they have the hubris to ask for more time to try something new. They say they want our input and our help but then they schedule these meetings at times that guarantees only a few people will attend. It’s also obvious that they have their minds made up and it’s more of the same: "teacher quality must improve" and "everybody is going to go to college".
Friends, don’t take heart that the Commissioner of Education's traveling circus came to Jacksonville, Florida to listen to your concerns and suggestions and to answer your questions; instead, be 'mad as hell' and say, 'we’re not going to take this lip service, this going-through-the motions and this way of doing things any more'. Friends, at some point, enough has to be enough. How many kids are we going to see fall through the cracks, sacrificed on the altar of bad education practices? Don’t we have to make a change, and isn’t it reasonable to suggest that we start with the people who have brought us to the abyss, or are you okay with the circus that Education has become?
Chris Guerrieri
School Teacher
If you didn’t know the Commissioner’s circus was in town, don’t feel bad - very few did, and you are in the vast majority. Smith is traveling the state talking about teacher quality: apparently, at one point, there were a lot of good ones, but that was a long time ago. Now, he does admit there are still a few good ones, but it quickly becomes clear that Smith thinks we still have a whole lot of bad ones, too. Smith was the ringmaster, but along with him he had the Chancellor of Education, a State union head, and an education activist, who (if he mentions Finland again) is going to make me throw something.
They planned the town-hall style forum from 4-6 on a Tuesday afternoon, I believe to assure that as few people as possible could attend. You see, unless you are an education consultant, guru or member of an education leadership team, you usually have to work or take care of your children during those hours. At one point, Smith said to the 100 or so people in attendance, “this auditorium should be filled to capacity and then overflowing.” (Here is a hint, sir; next time, let people know). A group of parents said they didn’t find out about it until one of them got a random Google alert a few hours before it began, and if you didn’t get that and/or missed the five-inch column buried in the Florida Times-Union, the chances are you didn’t even know it was happening.
Though it was pretty obvious that this was just the powers-that-be going through the motions with this exercise; after all, why else would all of Northeast Florida (one and a half million people, three-hundred and fifty thousand of whom are children) get just two hours of face time? That’s right - because as soon as the clock struck 6 pm, a bell went off and they were done. I can just imagine the chaos that would have ensued had they cut off 350, 500 or 1,000 people from asking questions. They still had 20 or so questions from the audience of less than 100 people that went unanswered. And let’s talk about the questions, because I am of the opinion (an opinion shared with a few people I talked to) that none were answered to anyone's satisfaction; I know mine wasn’t.
I asked a question about not every kid being prepared for or interested in college, and since that’s the case, shouldn’t we start providing for their needs by developing curriculums based around skills, trades and the arts. I phrased it so they could either agree or disagree with the question (a trick I learned from watching "Papa Bear", Bill O’Reilly). Eight minutes later, my head was spinning, as they talked about how children had more opportunity than ever before and how more kids would be taking more AP classes than ever, too. They not once came off the mantra that we need to prepare every child for college, and that’s where every child could go if teachers just did things better. There answers had a few half-truths in them; kids do have more opportunities, more opportunities to take classes they aren’t interested in, that is. And because of continuous cuts in trades, the skills and the arts every year, their “opportunities” to take those classes will become fewer and farther between. Furthermore, yes - more kids are having “opportunities” to take AP classes - though, if we are being honest, fewer kids are prepared for them and less kids are passing them. It was almost as if they hoped they could bore me into not seeing what their answers were.
I wasn’t the only whose question was answered with a series of long, meandering responses that seemed to have very little to do with the actual question. Also, at some point during every question, not only did they mention Finland, (Friends, I kid you not - they must have talked about Finland for a good fifteen minutes, or one-eighth of the time) but somebody would always say, “good question.” Unfortunately, I don’t think anybody replied, “good answer.”
It was as if they were playing four-corners offense from an old basketball game. If you didn’t know, before the invention of the shot clock, some teams (once they got a lead) would slow the game down. Their meandering, long-winded answers where they talked for minutes at a time but said nothing reminded me of watching Villanova beat Georgetown in 1984 - one of the greatest upsets ever - and it happened a year before the shot clock was instituted.
Though, in the end, they were right; we do need reform and the reform we need to start with is them. They have run Education into the ground and then they have the hubris to ask for more time to try something new. They say they want our input and our help but then they schedule these meetings at times that guarantees only a few people will attend. It’s also obvious that they have their minds made up and it’s more of the same: "teacher quality must improve" and "everybody is going to go to college".
Friends, don’t take heart that the Commissioner of Education's traveling circus came to Jacksonville, Florida to listen to your concerns and suggestions and to answer your questions; instead, be 'mad as hell' and say, 'we’re not going to take this lip service, this going-through-the motions and this way of doing things any more'. Friends, at some point, enough has to be enough. How many kids are we going to see fall through the cracks, sacrificed on the altar of bad education practices? Don’t we have to make a change, and isn’t it reasonable to suggest that we start with the people who have brought us to the abyss, or are you okay with the circus that Education has become?
Chris Guerrieri
School Teacher
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Education Commentary
I thought Marvin Edwards’s commentary on local education was dead on. He is right the problems we are facing aren’t knew but sadly neither is our response to them. We keep electing the same type of leaders over and over. Our school board is still dominated by members of the political machine. All to often it is used as a stepping-stone for politicians on the way up or on the way down.
Tommy Hazouri has a long record of mediocrity, Stan Jordan left to run for state senate before his term was up, W.C. Gentry only ran for the school bard after a failed run at the state senate and Brenda Priestly Jackson recently announced she was running for the city council. What do they all have in common? Well like Eric Smith and Fel Lee two long time politicians who are running for the school board, they have either never been in a classroom or they were in one a very long time ago. If these are the types of leaders we repeatedly put on the school board is it any wonder we have such horrendous results.
Mr. Waters had another point about the money that the city has spent that could have gone to education but my question is what about the money that is dedicated to our school district that could have gone to education. Out superintendent, makes a hundred thousand dollars more than the mayor and as much as the superintendents in both St. Johns and Clay counties. The district spent a million dollars on new cars this year for it’s fleet of 520 cars. Thirty-two other employees most of who are on the superintendents inner circle and don’t work directly with children make over a hundred thousand dollars and we go through licensing agreements like water. Every few years there is some new software, computer program or miraculous education cure that the district uses only to replace when it proves ineffective. Then don’t get me started about the 750-person middle management that the district thinks it needs to perform its functions. These aren’t support or maintenance staff either but the amount of administrators the district has and like the superintendents inner circle they to don’t work directly with children.
I could go on and on adding to Mr. Waters’s points but then again I am the choir he was preaching to. I believe what he is saying and have seen the hopelessness on students, teachers and parents faces alike. Though that brings me to one problem he didn’t mention and that is the sad fact he is preaching to a very small choir. Unfortunately most people either don’t care or just don’t get how important education is. Our city and our children are suffering because of this.
Chris Guerrieri
Tommy Hazouri has a long record of mediocrity, Stan Jordan left to run for state senate before his term was up, W.C. Gentry only ran for the school bard after a failed run at the state senate and Brenda Priestly Jackson recently announced she was running for the city council. What do they all have in common? Well like Eric Smith and Fel Lee two long time politicians who are running for the school board, they have either never been in a classroom or they were in one a very long time ago. If these are the types of leaders we repeatedly put on the school board is it any wonder we have such horrendous results.
Mr. Waters had another point about the money that the city has spent that could have gone to education but my question is what about the money that is dedicated to our school district that could have gone to education. Out superintendent, makes a hundred thousand dollars more than the mayor and as much as the superintendents in both St. Johns and Clay counties. The district spent a million dollars on new cars this year for it’s fleet of 520 cars. Thirty-two other employees most of who are on the superintendents inner circle and don’t work directly with children make over a hundred thousand dollars and we go through licensing agreements like water. Every few years there is some new software, computer program or miraculous education cure that the district uses only to replace when it proves ineffective. Then don’t get me started about the 750-person middle management that the district thinks it needs to perform its functions. These aren’t support or maintenance staff either but the amount of administrators the district has and like the superintendents inner circle they to don’t work directly with children.
I could go on and on adding to Mr. Waters’s points but then again I am the choir he was preaching to. I believe what he is saying and have seen the hopelessness on students, teachers and parents faces alike. Though that brings me to one problem he didn’t mention and that is the sad fact he is preaching to a very small choir. Unfortunately most people either don’t care or just don’t get how important education is. Our city and our children are suffering because of this.
Chris Guerrieri
Sunday, July 25, 2010
School Board, district 6
I think in the past for the most part the outcome of school board elections were determined by name recognition and party affiliation. I hope that is changing because Jacksonville can know longer afford to do “business as usual.”
The economy is rough, crime is up, civility is down; apathy, hopelessness and hypocrisy have replaced motivation, hope and sincerity, well look at education because all those things can find their roots in our schools. If we don’t get serious and make changes our problems will only get worse. We cannot continue to do the same thing over and over and hope things will miraculously improve. That makes as much sense as passing a student to the next grade level that doesn’t have the skills to be there. Oh wait that’s something we already do with regularity.
One of the biggest problems we have had here in Jacksonville when it comes to education, which affects the city like nothing else, is a lack of effective leadership. Traditionally the school board has been either a stepping-stone for politicians on the way up or way down or a place where part time, casual observers, with tenuous ties to education, who are filled with hubris, think to themselves, I can fix that.
Jacksonville and its children can no longer afford this. Fortunately this year we have a real opportunity to make a change and we can start with the School Board district six races which has four main contenders.
First there is Eric Smith a career politician who I am sure is banking on his name recognition and supposed clout to get elected. Though I wonder if he has such tremendous clout why hasn’t he already been down at city hall or using his contacts in Tallahassee to change the culture “where it’s never time for the kids.” If he has this amazing clout, why hasn’t he been using it, instead of sitting back as the Duval County School Board forced every child into a one size fits all curriculum, divided the county up into haves (those that attend magnet schools) and have nots (those that don’t), practically gutted discipline, ignored the plight of many of the counties disabled children and started blaming teachers for not succeeding when put in unattainable positions.
Then there’s businessman Steve Berrey whose wife is a teacher. Though I am glad he’s not running on that alone because that would mean if my brother were a surgeon I could start cutting things out of people. His big idea is more professional development for teachers. Unfortunately he must not have talked to his wife because if he had he might know that most teachers consider the Shultz Center and professional development here in the county somewhat of a joke and in fact there is a pretty good one going around. How many district people does it take to hold a training? The answer is five, one to put it on and four others to look bored and work on their nails. Sure professional development has it’s place but what teachers really need is an administration who backs them up when they are having a hard time with a child in their class. Sending them back with a please don’t do that again, seemingly the districts only discipline plan, isn’t working for many.
Next there is resource office Gary Oliveras. At least he has been working in a local pubic school, something neither Berry nor Smith could say. Though comparing the school he works at, Stanton, to most of the schools in the county is like comparing a vacation in the Hamptons to relief work in Haiti. I think both have roads but the similarities end right about there. He is right though when he says the administration affectively knee capped teachers when they focused on reducing the number of out-of-school suspensions without putting options in place. First that takes a tool out of the discipline tool box, second it stops parents from being parental, third it allows some teachers to teach and some kids to learn as the only time that happens is when so and so is absent. Teachers throughout the district pray some kids will be missing so they can do their jobs and if suspensions help that even just a little maybe we should encourage more.
Finally there is Becky Couch. To be honest what she says is no more or no less impressive than what the other candidates have to say. They all seem to have sincere and good faith ideas. What sets her apart is the fact she has been in a classroom working with children. She has also heard what other teachers have had to say about what is working and what isn’t working and I believe the fact that she is a teacher gives her a better perspective than the husband of a teacher, a lifetime politician and a school resource officer could possibly have.
I like her idea about backing up teachers and principals that discipline, but I also like Berry’s proposal that the JEA start paying their fair share. I have no doubt Eric Smith does have clout, but he doesn’t have Couch’s experience working with present day teachers and students and I think that’s far more important. I don’t believe Oliveras sees the school board as a stepping-stone to other political offices but I don’t think Couch does either.
If you actually take the time hear what they say it’s really hard to say one sounds so much better than and that’s why to me it comes down to, who’s been in with the kids and who has shared the trenches with other teachers. I believe those two things above all else will give somebody the best idea of what works and what does not work. As far as I can tell Becky Couch is the only one who has those very important qualities.
Though regardless of whom people decide to vote for, I hope the citizens of Jacksonville realize we can no longer do “business as usual.” Doing things the way we have has seen us dig a deep hole for our city and many of its children. A hole that sadly many of our children will never be able to get out of. Jacksonville has real problems with education and it’s time we took them and who we decide to lead us through them seriously. I also hope people realize we can no longer make our decision based on whose name we recognize and according to what political party we like best. Our children are far too important for that to be the sole deciding factors.
The economy is rough, crime is up, civility is down; apathy, hopelessness and hypocrisy have replaced motivation, hope and sincerity, well look at education because all those things can find their roots in our schools. If we don’t get serious and make changes our problems will only get worse. We cannot continue to do the same thing over and over and hope things will miraculously improve. That makes as much sense as passing a student to the next grade level that doesn’t have the skills to be there. Oh wait that’s something we already do with regularity.
One of the biggest problems we have had here in Jacksonville when it comes to education, which affects the city like nothing else, is a lack of effective leadership. Traditionally the school board has been either a stepping-stone for politicians on the way up or way down or a place where part time, casual observers, with tenuous ties to education, who are filled with hubris, think to themselves, I can fix that.
Jacksonville and its children can no longer afford this. Fortunately this year we have a real opportunity to make a change and we can start with the School Board district six races which has four main contenders.
First there is Eric Smith a career politician who I am sure is banking on his name recognition and supposed clout to get elected. Though I wonder if he has such tremendous clout why hasn’t he already been down at city hall or using his contacts in Tallahassee to change the culture “where it’s never time for the kids.” If he has this amazing clout, why hasn’t he been using it, instead of sitting back as the Duval County School Board forced every child into a one size fits all curriculum, divided the county up into haves (those that attend magnet schools) and have nots (those that don’t), practically gutted discipline, ignored the plight of many of the counties disabled children and started blaming teachers for not succeeding when put in unattainable positions.
Then there’s businessman Steve Berrey whose wife is a teacher. Though I am glad he’s not running on that alone because that would mean if my brother were a surgeon I could start cutting things out of people. His big idea is more professional development for teachers. Unfortunately he must not have talked to his wife because if he had he might know that most teachers consider the Shultz Center and professional development here in the county somewhat of a joke and in fact there is a pretty good one going around. How many district people does it take to hold a training? The answer is five, one to put it on and four others to look bored and work on their nails. Sure professional development has it’s place but what teachers really need is an administration who backs them up when they are having a hard time with a child in their class. Sending them back with a please don’t do that again, seemingly the districts only discipline plan, isn’t working for many.
Next there is resource office Gary Oliveras. At least he has been working in a local pubic school, something neither Berry nor Smith could say. Though comparing the school he works at, Stanton, to most of the schools in the county is like comparing a vacation in the Hamptons to relief work in Haiti. I think both have roads but the similarities end right about there. He is right though when he says the administration affectively knee capped teachers when they focused on reducing the number of out-of-school suspensions without putting options in place. First that takes a tool out of the discipline tool box, second it stops parents from being parental, third it allows some teachers to teach and some kids to learn as the only time that happens is when so and so is absent. Teachers throughout the district pray some kids will be missing so they can do their jobs and if suspensions help that even just a little maybe we should encourage more.
Finally there is Becky Couch. To be honest what she says is no more or no less impressive than what the other candidates have to say. They all seem to have sincere and good faith ideas. What sets her apart is the fact she has been in a classroom working with children. She has also heard what other teachers have had to say about what is working and what isn’t working and I believe the fact that she is a teacher gives her a better perspective than the husband of a teacher, a lifetime politician and a school resource officer could possibly have.
I like her idea about backing up teachers and principals that discipline, but I also like Berry’s proposal that the JEA start paying their fair share. I have no doubt Eric Smith does have clout, but he doesn’t have Couch’s experience working with present day teachers and students and I think that’s far more important. I don’t believe Oliveras sees the school board as a stepping-stone to other political offices but I don’t think Couch does either.
If you actually take the time hear what they say it’s really hard to say one sounds so much better than and that’s why to me it comes down to, who’s been in with the kids and who has shared the trenches with other teachers. I believe those two things above all else will give somebody the best idea of what works and what does not work. As far as I can tell Becky Couch is the only one who has those very important qualities.
Though regardless of whom people decide to vote for, I hope the citizens of Jacksonville realize we can no longer do “business as usual.” Doing things the way we have has seen us dig a deep hole for our city and many of its children. A hole that sadly many of our children will never be able to get out of. Jacksonville has real problems with education and it’s time we took them and who we decide to lead us through them seriously. I also hope people realize we can no longer make our decision based on whose name we recognize and according to what political party we like best. Our children are far too important for that to be the sole deciding factors.
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