Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Phone Forum Propaganda with ODE Associate Superintendent Lonny Rivera and an Ohio Teacher of the Year.

I just took part in a telephone forum, conference, what have you, regarding Ohio's new learning standards and assessments.

We were told by Lori Michalec, Ohio Teacher of the Year from Tallmadge High School, that she assures her students that "the tests aren't punitive."

First, someone should tell Lori that if her students do not do well enough on their state tests at the high school level, then they do not graduate. This is, by definition, punitive.

Also, third graders who do not pass the reading test are held back. Again, punitive.

Finally, Ohio's Teacher Evaluation System relies heavily on student test scores which can dramatically impact teacher ratings. These ratings can then used to determine teacher salaries or job security. Depending on the situation, this can also be quite punitive.

She also assured the audience of Ohioans that she never teaches to the test, but rather "simply teaches" the skills necessary for her students to find success. Test prep, in her opinion, is utterly unnecessary.

Her message was clear until she later discussed the valuable data provided by state assessments. While she acknowledged that this year's data will come late, she assured the audience that it normally comes much earlier. This is misleading. While it has never arrived the following year, even the high school tests that used to be given in March never produced results until mid-May. That's a few weeks before students leave for summer. This hardly makes the data valuable for the students or their teachers.

However, the teacher of the year explained that she looks at her students' scores in order to determine where her teaching succeeded, and in what areas she might "do more." I nearly threw up in my mouth. What she is talking about here is teaching to the test. She'll do more to assure student success on those weak components of the assessment. 

In brilliant form, she contradicted her own teaching philosophy and proved the utter worthlessness of data from standardized tests.

Lonny Rivera from the ODE was also on the scene assuring everyone that the tests are written by Ohio teachers, and are only given after a thorough validity study. He did indicate that this year we are getting some questions from "the vendor." However, he failed to indicate that those vendor questions are being purchased from Florida, Utah, and Nevada. Nor did he mention that all of those states have had issues aligning questions to their standards, which brings their validity into serious question.

He also avoided a question about whether or not charters are measured in the same way as public schools. It's OK Lonny, I already know they're not.

So, I dialed star 3 to address some issues, but they ran out of time before I had an opportunity to speak. I don't think my commentary would have fit in with their propaganda.

Saturday, October 24, 2015

Hi Andy.




In an ideal world, the leader of the Ohio House Education Committee would meet with people like me, public school teachers with experience in the classroom and a moderate knowledge of educational policy. We've gone so far from logic in educational policy in Ohio that this has become terribly unlikely.

I, however, imagine a more beautiful scenario where Representative Andy Brenner and I sit down and shape policy for the betterment of all of Ohio's students. He shares something about his love of Ayn Rand. I convey my working class sensibilities, and love of Steinbeck. In my scenario, I describe Elyria as Cannery Row and champion the saints in my city who've become victims of the system, and somehow Andy buys it. Or a bit of it, perhaps. Anyway, I wrote Rep Brenner in the interest of my dream, and I encourage you to contact him too. Here's my letter to Andy...


Representative Brenner,

Congratulations on your promotion to Chair of the House Education Committee. As a public school history teacher at Elyria High School, I look forward to your efforts on behalf of all of Ohio's kids. Having championed shorter assessments, and having voted for HB2, you have begun the process of correcting what has become a troubled education system, and laughable charter school system.

Let us be clear. This progress is fine and well, but it is a beginning. HB2 is important, but terribly limited. Public schools like mine still outperform charters despite Ohio law working in their favor. Let's level that playing field, Rep Brenner.

I also believe it's high time our legislators addressed the unconstitutional funding system and resume adequate funding to successful publics. A vital component of this would be fixing a system that allows charters to get funding for nonexistent students, or those who had returned to their home, community public school, but remain on charter rosters.

As for student success, our testing system still sucks far too much time from instruction, and its high stakes nature warps any prospect of meaningful instruction or authentic learning. Ohio's children deserve a move to federal minimums of standardized tests at a shorter duration.

These are the issues that come to mind off the top of my head this evening, Mr. Brenner. I hope that in your new position, you will be open to public input regarding Ohio's education system. I can assure you that I enter my classroom daily with a deliberate resolve to do everything in my power to assure my students' success. When you accepted your position you indicated a desire to "make sure every child in this state has equal access to an excellent public education." I agree. Let's go.

Please, let me know your plans as we move forward. If there is anything that I can do to be of assistance in the way of educational experience or otherwise, do not hesitate to ask.

Yours in education.
Matt Jablonski

Thursday, October 22, 2015

All Hail the New Chair of the House Education Committee


Who's that? Why it's Powell's Republican Representative Andy Brenner, the new chairman of the House Education Committee.

Rep Brenner is an outspoken conservative charter school supporter tasked with leading a legislative committee on policy issues to ensure equal educational opportunities for Ohio's children.

He has shown an interest in assuring that Ohio's children are not over-tested. He sponsored a bill a few years back that sought to limit assessments to four hours per subject per year. This was more testing for some subjects at the time. He then got on board with the push for 3 hour tests and the elimination of PARCC.

Here's a Plain Dealer article that quotes Andy on testing...

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2015/09/state_cuts_math_and_english_te.html

Anyone who follows Rep Brenner on Twitter or Facebook can attest to his being a bit of a reactionary. He even took time out of his schedule to call and yell at me when I criticized his 4 hour plan. "Do you even know what the bill does!!" I did know. I'm not even in his district and yet he took time out of his busy afternoon to argue with me about my conflicting viewpoint. At least I know he's paying attention.

More frightening, however, was Brenner's recent comparison of Planned Parenthood to Nazi Germany. I am appalled by this attempt to demonize for several reasons. First, because I disagree with Rep Brenner on the politics of the issue, and in general on the idea of politicizing the issue of health care, which I believe is a human right. Furthermore, to use Nazi Germany is the most predictable, terribly unoriginal, and insulting rhetorical hyperbole at his disposal. Rep Brenner is welcome in my public school any time to learn more about the tenets of National Socialism in order to better intellectualize his opinions in the future.

Here's a piece on Andy's take on Planned Parenthood...

http://www.plunderbund.com/2015/07/23/state-rep-andy-brenner-compares-planned-parenthood-to-nazis/

And, of course, Brenner has equated public education to "socialism." (He assumes, I suppose, that we all consider socialism to be a bad thing) At the time, he believed that a move to a privatized system is better. Called out on the issue, he backpedaled a bit.

Here's Brenner's take on the evils of socialism, I mean public education...

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2014/03/19/legislators-school-views-rankle-some.html

So, should we supporters of public education be afraid. Perhaps, but I'm going to go with cautious. I don't anticipate a dramatic shift toward wholehearted support of public schools, but in light of a legislative response to the citizenry's demand to remedy assessment issues, and the more recent passage of charter school reform, I would hope that Representative Brenner would be more responsive to the public and less combative.

On accepting his new position he said, "I am passionate about making sure that every child in this state has equal access to an excellent public education, and am excited to have this opportunity.”

He sounds up for the job, or like a consummate bullshitter.

Either way, let's welcome Representative Brenner to his new position, and let him know what we think his priorities should be going forward...

Find him on Facebook here...

https://www.facebook.com/BrennerForOhio

Twitter...  @andrewbrenner

Or contact him at the office...

77 High Street
13th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
rep67@ohiohouse.gov

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Engage them in the process.

Engage them in the process.

Perhaps not as fun as the phrase "engage them in fisticuffs," for obvious reasons (not violence, just the use of the word fisticuffs), it is time to engage our elected officials once again in the process of democracy.

If you're anything like me, then you've spent the time since the passage of charter school reform in Ohio caught somewhere between tears and laughter. To be honest, I've also been watching the skies for it to start raining frogs, for incoming plagues of locusts, and other such signs of the end-times.

I know, HB 2 and its reforms aren't that good. While I'm at it, the testing reforms were half assed as well. I'm starting to think our legislators are only doing just enough to shut us up.

Well, I'm not done. Ohio's education system is plagued with charter corruption and mismanagement, bogged down by a pointless system of standardized tests, funded through a long since labeled unconstitutional system, and riddled with regulations that are unequal and anti-democratic (read Youngstown).

I just finished sending the letter below to ALL members of the House and Senate Education Committees. I think you should contact them as well. Copy and past my letter, tweak it to your liking, or write your own persuasive argument. It doesn't matter much to me, as long as you engage them in the process. If we don't, nothing changes.


Representative/Senator so and so and the House/Senate Education Committee,

Congratulations on the recent passage of HB 2, the first attempt to regulate Ohio's atrocious charter school system. However, this bill should be viewed as a beginning. The legislation itself actually contains elements that benefit charters, and their attempts to profit at the expense of Ohio's taxpayers and children. Our system is still structured in such a way as to benefit charters at the expense of public schools that are often more effective.

I look forward to seeing continued progress in the legislature regarding this and the many other issues that plague education in Ohio. The committee might consider legislation that has charters rated in exactly the same way as public schools, thus truly leveling the field. Another possible avenue is to limit the per pupil deduction for charters to the amount allocated by the state. Any additional money would need to be budgeted separately.

If further charter regulation isn't in your plans, then perhaps you might consider the fact that you have been in violation of the Ohio Constitution every time schools are funded in the current manner. Fix this system that was declared unconstitutional more than a decade ago. At a minimum, you should consider restoring the Tangible Personal Property payments for 2017, and continue with the “offset concept.” Ohio's students, most of which remain in public schools, deserve equal access to educational opportunities.

Let us also not forget that our state assessment system is still broken. The single testing window was a nice step, but a minimalist change for a sizable problem. Tests are shortened, but assessments of 3 plus hours, even split into two sessions, are still far too long at any level. The data created is negligible and has little, if any, impact on instruction except to fuel an overemphasis on test prep, thus dangerously narrowing the curriculum. High stakes consequences for graduation, teacher evaluation, and especially the 3rd grade reading guarantee are completely inappropriate. Eliminate these and move to federal minimums of testing.

The Youngstown Amendment is anti-democratic. The legislation is clearly only a path toward a citywide charter school system. Charters are not “community schools” regardless of what you call them. They are private entities often manipulating the system for profit. Public schools with boards of education from the community, elected by the community, hiring members of the community to serve students are “community schools.” The state was already running Youngstown and failed to make an impact. Fix the mess, and while you're promoting democracy pass a law that requires all state school board members to be elected. This way, when there are suspected issues within the ODE like those with Mr. Hansen and Superintendent Ross, a true investigation can be undertaken.

As I said at the start of my letter, congratulations. Now, let's get to work on the rest of this mess.

Yours in education.
Matt Jablonski