tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810163108481683709.post1985607365283130601..comments2023-10-12T07:16:36.892-04:00Comments on A2eatwrite: Blog Blast for Education: Geoffrey Canada and The Harlem Children's ZoneJenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02362687820368214420noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810163108481683709.post-33877488022081140612008-10-28T14:46:00.000-04:002008-10-28T14:46:00.000-04:00Jersey, you may be right on that on all counts. I...Jersey, you may be right on that on all counts. I must say my biggest professional frustrations have been with dingbat administrators and lazy colleagues - no question.Jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02362687820368214420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810163108481683709.post-59564165661996561462008-10-27T11:05:00.000-04:002008-10-27T11:05:00.000-04:00Excellent post - I can't wait to check out the sit...Excellent post - I can't wait to check out the site. <BR/><BR/>I taught in "the ghetto" for nine years and more of my problems came from lazy administrators and poorly educated colleagues than ever came from students or parents (and I had some very. . .uh. . .interesting parents). I think until education as a profession has the same high expectations and rewards as law or medicine we will be struggling to teach all kids effectively.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810163108481683709.post-4442798441597678302008-10-27T09:46:00.000-04:002008-10-27T09:46:00.000-04:00I'm so glad, Luisa! As I said, it's not a perfect...I'm so glad, Luisa! As I said, it's not a perfect program, but it's quite extraordinary in its results.Jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02362687820368214420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810163108481683709.post-4150711656091849222008-10-27T08:35:00.000-04:002008-10-27T08:35:00.000-04:00This. Is. Awesome. Thanks for the info! I am thr...This. Is. Awesome. Thanks for the info! I am thrilled and inspired.Luisa Perkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15310698422276446909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810163108481683709.post-83750356061580791312008-10-27T06:47:00.000-04:002008-10-27T06:47:00.000-04:00Oh, NYC, I am so with you on that one! I couldn't...Oh, NYC, I am so with you on that one! I couldn't stand my parents messing with me as a teen, and now I'm nothing but grateful.Jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02362687820368214420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810163108481683709.post-37101646775841008492008-10-27T06:44:00.000-04:002008-10-27T06:44:00.000-04:00jen - very interesting post.I agree with you 100% ...jen - very interesting post.<BR/><BR/>I agree with you 100% that educating children has to be a partnership between the parents and the school.<BR/><BR/>Only now as an adult do I appreciate the fact that my parents were so involved. As a child (esp. during my teenage years) I was annoyed.nyc/caribbean ragazzahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09370358466131415888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810163108481683709.post-4402282408570994702008-10-26T08:58:00.000-04:002008-10-26T08:58:00.000-04:00That's such an interesting question. I always ask...That's such an interesting question. I always ask for evaluations at the end of each semester from my students and I also asked it of their parents at the elementary/middle school level and sometimes at the high school level. To me, it's an important tool. I know that at my son's high school some teachers ask for evals, and some don't.<BR/><BR/>I don't think they've ever been required except at one district I worked at in MA.<BR/><BR/>I think the reason they're not required, sadly, is to keep the district "free" of "knowing" there were complaints about a specific teacher, which brings up all kinds of issues when you include tenure/union situations.Jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02362687820368214420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810163108481683709.post-5126666273922413432008-10-25T23:25:00.000-04:002008-10-25T23:25:00.000-04:00Wow. This sounds really cool! Here's something I...Wow. This sounds really cool! Here's something I've been wondering about...<BR/><BR/>Every semester, I fill out evaluations for my courses, professors, and graduate student instructors, but I never did that in high school or before. I know that the school administration and the school district kept tabs on our teachers, but I don't think there was a systematic way for students to give feedback. Is this true in other districts (yours)? Do you know why? (I can think of some reasons, although some are rather cynical...)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810163108481683709.post-13278737776491698302008-10-25T08:49:00.000-04:002008-10-25T08:49:00.000-04:00Dru, as I said above, I really feel strongly that ...Dru, as I said above, I really feel strongly that education has to be a partnership. It's too easy for one side to "blame" the other when things don't go as they should. I think both teachers AND parents get defensive, and what should be important is just making sure that once a child is in trouble that the focus is on solutions, not how the child got there.<BR/><BR/>I'd love to see it expanded beyond Central Harlem, too. Canada grew up in the South Bronx, and I found it interesting that he didn't choose that area as his first area for renewal/reform. I think his eventual plan is to move this model to other urban areas in the U.S.Jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02362687820368214420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810163108481683709.post-3013153274835601162008-10-25T06:52:00.000-04:002008-10-25T06:52:00.000-04:00I would love to see this program expanded beyond C...I would love to see this program expanded beyond Central Harlem. <BR/><BR/>You are definitely right about teachers and parents need to be hand-in-hand to better educate their children.<BR/><BR/>I knew a friend who left it up to the school to educate her son (the only time she came up to the school was when he did something bad and she blamed it on the school) and he just turned 21 and finally got his GED after much prodding.Druhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07978384022143035332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810163108481683709.post-3105376043058856952008-10-24T22:22:00.000-04:002008-10-24T22:22:00.000-04:00I hadn't heard of it, either, Alex, until I heard ...I hadn't heard of it, either, Alex, until I heard the podcast.<BR/><BR/>Sandy, I so agree - and I'm so happy they're so generous with their podcasts, because I'm rarely available when the show actually airs. As I said, there are some questions about this program, but it's getting results and the passion behind it has been extraordinary.Jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02362687820368214420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810163108481683709.post-63835377231962361462008-10-24T21:06:00.000-04:002008-10-24T21:06:00.000-04:00This American Life is by far one of my favorite pr...This American Life is by far one of my favorite programs. I look forward to reading more about this program and about Canada. It sounds like quite an innovative approach.Momisodeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06752015177628948631noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810163108481683709.post-39399300679395066872008-10-24T19:34:00.000-04:002008-10-24T19:34:00.000-04:00I hadn't heard of this. Thanks for sharing it!I hadn't heard of this. Thanks for sharing it!Alex Elliothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08567976812466320977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810163108481683709.post-25632651476307385772008-10-24T11:55:00.000-04:002008-10-24T11:55:00.000-04:00Nuria, I so completely agree.April - I'm with you ...Nuria, I so completely agree.<BR/><BR/>April - I'm with you on this - I prefer the delivery system of KIPP and what Patti described. I used to have free time and fun activity incentives as my rewards for a job well done in my 3rd grade classroom. I think I might have done some similar incentive "earnings" with my 7th/8th graders, but honestly, I don't remember. I don't need to use anything like that with my current population - they're all pretty self-motivated, but aren't I lucky I teach in a dream environment like that.<BR/><BR/>Jenn - I agree that I don't agree with all of the ideas. However, I think what he's trying to do is amazing, and I'm glad there are people like Mr. Canada who care enough to get something like this off the ground. I think we're at a point with our educational system that the more models and experiments, the better, because the majority of our schools are not meeting the needs of the majority of our students. And thanks for stopping by!Jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02362687820368214420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810163108481683709.post-58691824699685497342008-10-24T11:50:00.000-04:002008-10-24T11:50:00.000-04:00Great post. Very interesting. Whether I can agree ...Great post. Very interesting. Whether I can agree with all of the views or not, I'm so glad to see that someone is doing something. Very encouraging.jennhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16397705917751266966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810163108481683709.post-16268724229007831232008-10-24T10:39:00.001-04:002008-10-24T10:39:00.001-04:00I heard a bit about financial incentives on NPR - ...I heard a bit about financial incentives on NPR - but not the full story. KIPP did use a form of incentives, but rather than cash, you earned "Scholar Dollars" that the kids could use at an auction at the end of every quarter. It's how Sylvia won her iPod last year. <BR/>Parents have long debated the use of allowance if seen as a bribe? <BR/>The way I see it is, it's a way to prep them for their life in a country based on capitalism. It's teaching our children the way the world works. <BR/>Thank you for your participation!Aprilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12051174636017409935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810163108481683709.post-44821616167175673712008-10-24T10:39:00.000-04:002008-10-24T10:39:00.000-04:00Investing in our kids is the best we can do! I hop...Investing in our kids is the best we can do! <BR/>I hope Mr. Canada succeeds in his attempt!Núriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09022880640891451797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810163108481683709.post-47395912338980412002008-10-24T10:38:00.000-04:002008-10-24T10:38:00.000-04:00Patti, not surprisingly, I agree with you on prett...Patti, not surprisingly, I agree with you on pretty much every one of your posts. In terms of the incentives, I think that's the main point that Canada is trying to put forth. His school is a public school, btw... He gets $6,000 of the $10,000 he needs to educate each child as the regular pay-out for NYC school children and raises the rest. KIPP schools are public, too. I believe both are in the Charter School category.<BR/><BR/>You know how I feel about vocational/tech ed and the fact that not all children of any economic level should go on to college - we need better alternatives for our kids who are not collegiate types, but for this population, and for the fact that college can be a great economic leveler, I agree with his point - the main thing is that the opportunity will EXIST for these kids, who might never have the opportunity otherwise.<BR/><BR/>He IS intense, isn't he, Anno? I really feel he's a person with a major mission and one of the best examples of yes, one person CAN change the world. I find him extremely inspiring.Jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02362687820368214420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810163108481683709.post-68882496717044606782008-10-24T10:15:00.000-04:002008-10-24T10:15:00.000-04:00I heard this guy on NPR, and, wow, he is dynamic.....I heard this guy on NPR, and, wow, he is dynamic... and seriously intense! Excellent post -- it's good to hear about someone who is still willing to work to make a difference.annohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05102616203481686227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810163108481683709.post-56583670950896756612008-10-24T08:51:00.000-04:002008-10-24T08:51:00.000-04:00I am not a fan of using material bribes, especiall...I am not a fan of using material bribes, especially because the "wants" at the middle and high school level are far more than I can afford (usually). My kids have fake bank accounts wherein they get "paid" every Friday for doin homework and other stuff during the week. They pay for Friday movie/popcorn time and squirrel away the rest. They use that "money" to buy their way out of homework, free time, etc. This reinforces the importance of saving, the notion of bank accounts and the kids love it! It also takes the idea of "stuff" out of the equation.<BR/>While I appreciate the gentleman's school in NY, I can't agree with the idea of sending every kid to college. This is because college is not appropriate for every child. I am a huge fan of vo-tech (esp. for my special ed kids) and other career options. I think that college is great for learning to live on your own and other life skills, but I think that it is unrealistic for some kids. I do agree with some sort of post high school training for every kid, but kids are not one size fits all and therefore college should not be the ultimate goal for EVERY kid.<BR/>I also wish that public schools would get the kind of funding and support that we need so we could have vo-tech and other career options for kids. But if wishes were horses....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810163108481683709.post-76723975372120420662008-10-24T08:15:00.000-04:002008-10-24T08:15:00.000-04:00Greg - from the educators I've talked to... I prob...Greg - from the educators I've talked to... I probably shouldn't have used the word "bribes" - it shows the kids that education leads to money leads to things they want. And that IS important.<BR/><BR/>Meg - the thing about this program is that EVERYONE knows about it in that 10 block square radius and EVERYONE has access to all the programs except the Promise Academy itself, which is by lottery. They literally send people out on the streets grabbing people and letting them know about all the programs that are available. The goal is to serve every, single one of those 10,000 children in every way they can. I loved your post - I think we may have cross-posted this morning.Jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02362687820368214420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810163108481683709.post-68301733431298835362008-10-24T07:51:00.000-04:002008-10-24T07:51:00.000-04:00Nice Post! My husband teaches in the Early Colleg...Nice Post! My husband teaches in the Early College High School on the University of Toledo campus. It allows disadvantaged kids to earn up to two years college credit while completing their high school degree.<BR/><BR/>So far, the results have been great. But I must say, that parents who go to the effort of investigating and signing their kids up for these alternative programs are very different from many of the other parents of urban kids who don't have a clue what's going on.<BR/><BR/>Like you, I don't believe in a perfect program. Also, I don't believe true reform can happen in isolation from families, communities and the society at large.<BR/><BR/>I have an education post up today--tragedy on a humor blog, sort of. But also hope. And one cute teacher!Meghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16253518897502046799noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-810163108481683709.post-68757947702447965452008-10-24T07:37:00.000-04:002008-10-24T07:37:00.000-04:00Just a quick comment on "material bribes"--or ince...Just a quick comment on "material bribes"--or incentives; I recently heard that among poor people such incentives are generally viewed as something to work for, while among the more affluent such incentives are viewed as "part of a game." This difference in emphasis can account for the differences in effort put forth by students of different economic levels to achieve said incentives. <BR/><BR/>But, yeah! Someone is getting notice for attempting to do something for education. It is about time that a teacher achieve some kind of notice!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00660983004791486450noreply@blogger.com