The other day I found myself actually charting and tallying the activities of students in a 9th grade English classroom. This was at a large, neighborhood high school in North Philadelphia, and not surprisingly is one that is being taken over as a charter school next year. Here is what I found.
There were 2 students asleep, 3 sitting around one cell phone looking at music videos, 1 playing with a phone (this student had at least written something on his page before getting his phone out), 1 texting (after arriving 10 minutes late to class), 1 girl doing another girl's hair, 1 male student doodling on his worksheet, 1 male talking to 2 other male students about his new ("215") tattoo. This left 2 male students who were partially attempting to do the assignment...which by the way was to describe characters in the movie Troy, not write a 5 page essay or anything...and 5 female students sitting together in a group, who were all working on the assignment, and interacting with the English teacher to answer the questions.
This took place last week during PSSA testing, so this was actually 2 classes that were combined due to scheduling changes. This means two things....one, that there was also a second teacher in the room (plus me, which makes three) and these students still would not respond positively to the assignment with redirection from all of us...and two, that the 20 students that I mentioned above does not account for both combined classes, so many were absent or skipping.
I left this class feeling exhausted. I have told people, that oftentimes teaching feels like a never ending game of "Whack-a-Mole". You know, I run around and get one student to put their phone away and start working, then I move over to a different table to get them focused, but now another student is about to put their headphones back in....and on goes the game. In this particular case, at least there was other teachers in the room, so two of us could play "Whack-A-Mole" while the English teacher worked with the table of girls who were willing to participate.
I spoke with one of the teachers after class about the group of girls, and the two male students who were attempting to do some work. I said, "What about them? What can we do, so that this group who is involved in the lesson can be pushed and challenged?"
It breaks my heart to see the 2, or 3, or 5 students in any given classroom who come in, sit quietly amidst the chaos, stare at the front board, patiently waiting for class to begin. Many times these students wait for 10 minutes or more (after the late bell rings) before a teacher can gather everyone into the room, get everyone settled, and begin the lesson. So again, "What about them?" If those motivated students had back those 10 minutes of every period, that would be about an hour extra of learning per day. 5 hours a week...20 hours a month...wasted for these students who really care about their education.
I know that teachers don't want to ignore these students, and certainly do not want to leave them behind. It's really difficult though, almost impossible really, to pay attention to them when you have multiple students coming into the room singing and rapping with headphones in...a few in a loud conversation that involves completely inappropriate language that you need to correct...3 asking to go the bathroom...a fight in the hallway, some still strolling in late, etc.
I suppose it would be some form of tracking, but can't we take these students, and put them in classes together? I mean, really, the School District of Philadelphia has already "tracked" its students based on the way the high school application/acceptance procedure works. The students who remain at neighborhood schools are those who haven't been accepted anywhere else, are much more likely to have behavioral and learning issues, and are the most "at risk" students in the district. Let's at least take the small minority of students at these schools who come prepared to learn, and TEACH THEM!!
Right now we operate as correctional facilities first, and educational facilities second. The students have come to realize this, and know that their negative behaviors have changed the way the school must operate. This however is not at all fair to those who walk into the building expecting an education. All of our attention goes to the troublemakers, while there are some great young adults who are already behind their peers across the state and nation that we are leaving behind. "What about them?"
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Monday, March 7, 2011
Let's play some defense for a change....
Being March, two things begin to take up a lot of my day...college basketball, and the PSSA tests. So, being the English teacher I am, this analogy has been floating around in my head.
Our district is failing miserably at these state-wide, standardized tests, so all we are asked to do, all year long, is test, test, test. Then we review the practice tests, talk about the practice tests, analyze what the practice tests mean for the real tests...you get the idea.
Yes, these are "high-stakes" tests. They are worth a lot for the schools. Funding, curriculum, and jobs are intricately tied to the results. However, preparing for these tests solely by doing "mock" testing all year long is kind of like preparing for the NCAA tournament by only shooting 3's at practice. It doesn't make sense. Teams live and (often) die by the 3 point shot. It's not reliable. It doesn't make you a well-rounded player. Our kids and schools, are currently "dying" academically because so much focus is placed on the PSSA.
I have said for years, in Tucson, Allentown, and now Philadelphia, that our "failing" students would have a much better chance of improvement if we were actually allowed to teach them. I mean, really teach them, you know, things that would actually get them interested in learning and school. I'm thinking this would give us a bit of breathing room for when the "big dance" of testing time came around. They would be more confident in their abilities, and even if they missed a few questions, they would be confident enough players, that they could rely on their defensive year of learning to get them through.
Our district is failing miserably at these state-wide, standardized tests, so all we are asked to do, all year long, is test, test, test. Then we review the practice tests, talk about the practice tests, analyze what the practice tests mean for the real tests...you get the idea.
Yes, these are "high-stakes" tests. They are worth a lot for the schools. Funding, curriculum, and jobs are intricately tied to the results. However, preparing for these tests solely by doing "mock" testing all year long is kind of like preparing for the NCAA tournament by only shooting 3's at practice. It doesn't make sense. Teams live and (often) die by the 3 point shot. It's not reliable. It doesn't make you a well-rounded player. Our kids and schools, are currently "dying" academically because so much focus is placed on the PSSA.
I have said for years, in Tucson, Allentown, and now Philadelphia, that our "failing" students would have a much better chance of improvement if we were actually allowed to teach them. I mean, really teach them, you know, things that would actually get them interested in learning and school. I'm thinking this would give us a bit of breathing room for when the "big dance" of testing time came around. They would be more confident in their abilities, and even if they missed a few questions, they would be confident enough players, that they could rely on their defensive year of learning to get them through.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Zero Tolerance For Real Consequences
District-wide rules and regulations can be found in the handbook that every student is given at the start of the year. Each school then needs to figure out how to enforce these rules within their building. Certain "hot-topic" rules like those regarding cell phones & electronics or bullying even get special memos sent from regional offices on single sheets of paper that schools then send home. More accurately, they give these memos to the students in advisory period to take home, where most students leave it on the desk, or crumble it up and throw it on the floor.
In addition to these memos, the morning announcements at most high schools include reminders that students are to be in uniform, are not to be in the halls between classes, are not to have any electronic devices (and if they do, these may be taken by any adult in the building), there is to be no weapons or fighting of any kind in the building, and some other items relevant to the building on that day.
For those unfamiliar, when students enter the building in the morning they must all enter through one single door where multiple school police officers and security guards are located (all the other doors are always locked...not sure how that is okay with fire codes, but that's another story...). Students must swipe in with their ID's, take off their jackets/hoodies, place their items on through a scanner machine like at the airport, and they walk through metal detectors.
So...my first point of contention...if the Philadelphia School District claims to be "zero tolerance" for so many of these rules and regs, why at that crucial moment of entering the school that some of these blatant violations are not taken care of? I will give a shout out to Germantown High here, because they actually look for cell phones and electronics on the scanner devices, and do not let the students into the building with them. At the other schools, students are allowed to bring these items through the door, and then proceed to use them conspicuously and quite disrespectfully throughout the day. This is why the issues need to be stopped at the door. For our students, once they can break a rule one time, in front of one adult, the battle becomes that much more difficult. They are quick to use the, "But officer so-and-so let me in the building"...or, "Well, Ms. _____ saw me and said it was fine.".
At some schools, if a student is not in uniform, the security officers take them to an In-School suspension room for the day, which is a start, but not quite "zero tolerance". Now, I understand that with drop-out rates as high as they are, and daily attendance as low as it is, that it's hard to turn a student away who actually comes to school even if they are in jeans and they do have cell phone in their pocket. However, these students are well aware when they put on their jeans, and use their phone in the classroom, that they are breaking rules. They are extremely aware that it seems that the adults in the building aren't doing much about it. When not enforced, the students quickly lose respect for any of the daily rules and those who do try to enforce them. I often hear arguments from students about how they "aren't doing anything wrong"...or "I'm here aren't I, get outta my face."
The students seem to think that as long as they aren't being overly violent (I say overly, becase an awful lot of "play fighting" goes on that looks pretty rough) that they are within the boundaries of appropriate behavior. Cursing goes unpunished. Trash covers the school walkways inside and out. Skipping classes is laughed at. Tardiness is excused. Failing grades get litte attention. I could get a contact high in stairway #2 at Simon Gratz at any given point in the day. The list goes on....
Is it becoming clear that there are no consequences? All this for students who so desperately need structure and discipline in their lives. I'm not saying I was an angel and didn't bring my (I'm dating myself here...) beeper to school, that I didn't skip classes, etc. The difference? The first time my beeper was seen in class not only was it taken, but my father had to come to school later that day in order for me to get it back. When I was caught skipping, I found myself in in-school suspension.
Things have gotten so far out of control though, that teachers end up turning the other cheek. I am guilty, I admit it. My first year in Philly, I tried giving after school detentions for any child who cursed in my classroom. I was there everyday after school, using my own time because our school had no organized detention system. Many of the students wouldn't show up, leading me to give them more detentions, and to run around from room to room trying to gather them all at the end of the day. It was exhausting. I didn't want to give up on the fight for appropriate langauge, but it wasn't worth my sanity. I do not ignore the cursing now, but simply say "language" in a stern tone everytime I hear it. I at least want the students to know that I do hear it, and I don't like it. It's not a consequence though, so not much changes.
Until school administration gets behind teachers, the students will break the rules. Until consequences are given for small infractions, students will progress to larger offenses. I realize that it seems silly and futile to "sweat the small stuff" but it is desperately needed in our neighborhood high schools. Sadly, it's not until something tragic happens that administration gets involved...and the news cameras show up...and people from district offices magically appear and find a way to park their cars on the side streets of North Philly...and then there is a school wide assembly reminding students of the rules in the handbook that must be followed.
The cycle then continues....consequence free, until the principal themself receives a reprimand.
One example in the news from last week if you hadn't seen it: "Another Phila student beaten by a mob"
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=7940850
I can't help but think that if there were consequences for the small stuff...there would be less of the big stuff.
In addition to these memos, the morning announcements at most high schools include reminders that students are to be in uniform, are not to be in the halls between classes, are not to have any electronic devices (and if they do, these may be taken by any adult in the building), there is to be no weapons or fighting of any kind in the building, and some other items relevant to the building on that day.
For those unfamiliar, when students enter the building in the morning they must all enter through one single door where multiple school police officers and security guards are located (all the other doors are always locked...not sure how that is okay with fire codes, but that's another story...). Students must swipe in with their ID's, take off their jackets/hoodies, place their items on through a scanner machine like at the airport, and they walk through metal detectors.
So...my first point of contention...if the Philadelphia School District claims to be "zero tolerance" for so many of these rules and regs, why at that crucial moment of entering the school that some of these blatant violations are not taken care of? I will give a shout out to Germantown High here, because they actually look for cell phones and electronics on the scanner devices, and do not let the students into the building with them. At the other schools, students are allowed to bring these items through the door, and then proceed to use them conspicuously and quite disrespectfully throughout the day. This is why the issues need to be stopped at the door. For our students, once they can break a rule one time, in front of one adult, the battle becomes that much more difficult. They are quick to use the, "But officer so-and-so let me in the building"...or, "Well, Ms. _____ saw me and said it was fine.".
At some schools, if a student is not in uniform, the security officers take them to an In-School suspension room for the day, which is a start, but not quite "zero tolerance". Now, I understand that with drop-out rates as high as they are, and daily attendance as low as it is, that it's hard to turn a student away who actually comes to school even if they are in jeans and they do have cell phone in their pocket. However, these students are well aware when they put on their jeans, and use their phone in the classroom, that they are breaking rules. They are extremely aware that it seems that the adults in the building aren't doing much about it. When not enforced, the students quickly lose respect for any of the daily rules and those who do try to enforce them. I often hear arguments from students about how they "aren't doing anything wrong"...or "I'm here aren't I, get outta my face."
The students seem to think that as long as they aren't being overly violent (I say overly, becase an awful lot of "play fighting" goes on that looks pretty rough) that they are within the boundaries of appropriate behavior. Cursing goes unpunished. Trash covers the school walkways inside and out. Skipping classes is laughed at. Tardiness is excused. Failing grades get litte attention. I could get a contact high in stairway #2 at Simon Gratz at any given point in the day. The list goes on....
Is it becoming clear that there are no consequences? All this for students who so desperately need structure and discipline in their lives. I'm not saying I was an angel and didn't bring my (I'm dating myself here...) beeper to school, that I didn't skip classes, etc. The difference? The first time my beeper was seen in class not only was it taken, but my father had to come to school later that day in order for me to get it back. When I was caught skipping, I found myself in in-school suspension.
Things have gotten so far out of control though, that teachers end up turning the other cheek. I am guilty, I admit it. My first year in Philly, I tried giving after school detentions for any child who cursed in my classroom. I was there everyday after school, using my own time because our school had no organized detention system. Many of the students wouldn't show up, leading me to give them more detentions, and to run around from room to room trying to gather them all at the end of the day. It was exhausting. I didn't want to give up on the fight for appropriate langauge, but it wasn't worth my sanity. I do not ignore the cursing now, but simply say "language" in a stern tone everytime I hear it. I at least want the students to know that I do hear it, and I don't like it. It's not a consequence though, so not much changes.
Until school administration gets behind teachers, the students will break the rules. Until consequences are given for small infractions, students will progress to larger offenses. I realize that it seems silly and futile to "sweat the small stuff" but it is desperately needed in our neighborhood high schools. Sadly, it's not until something tragic happens that administration gets involved...and the news cameras show up...and people from district offices magically appear and find a way to park their cars on the side streets of North Philly...and then there is a school wide assembly reminding students of the rules in the handbook that must be followed.
The cycle then continues....consequence free, until the principal themself receives a reprimand.
One example in the news from last week if you hadn't seen it: "Another Phila student beaten by a mob"
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=7940850
I can't help but think that if there were consequences for the small stuff...there would be less of the big stuff.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Will they keep their Promises?
Last week, quite a few Philadelphia public schools have been added to the Promise Academy and Renaissance list for next year.
What does this mean for these schools? See description here:
http://www.thenotebook.org/blog/113254/outine-four-ren-schools-models
I work at two of these high schools, Simon Gratz and Germantown. At both schools teachers and students alike are all in a frenzy trying to figure out what this means for them next year. Today, I saw teachers working on resumes and checking out websites for other districts. There was also a senior today who walked around from class to class, and with permission of the teachers, asked the students in the classrooms to sign a (relatively polished looking) petition to keep Gratz a public high school. I don't even think that the students fully understand how their school may change, but they all signed the petition in the classroom that I was in.
I really do not know what will work to reform this district, especially if we are only focusing on curriculum and rules, school hours and teacher certification, and ignoring the larger systemic problems. I only hope that they use all this new federal money on something that can really make a difference. (I know that I certainly didn't need a color printed brochure at the district PD I attended today, when at most schools, paper is treated like gold.)
Want some color commentary? This is an actual conversation between a few male students regarding the issue:
What does this mean for these schools? See description here:
http://www.thenotebook.org/blog/113254/outine-four-ren-schools-models
I work at two of these high schools, Simon Gratz and Germantown. At both schools teachers and students alike are all in a frenzy trying to figure out what this means for them next year. Today, I saw teachers working on resumes and checking out websites for other districts. There was also a senior today who walked around from class to class, and with permission of the teachers, asked the students in the classrooms to sign a (relatively polished looking) petition to keep Gratz a public high school. I don't even think that the students fully understand how their school may change, but they all signed the petition in the classroom that I was in.
I really do not know what will work to reform this district, especially if we are only focusing on curriculum and rules, school hours and teacher certification, and ignoring the larger systemic problems. I only hope that they use all this new federal money on something that can really make a difference. (I know that I certainly didn't need a color printed brochure at the district PD I attended today, when at most schools, paper is treated like gold.)
Want some color commentary? This is an actual conversation between a few male students regarding the issue:
Student 1-They gettin’ ready to kick all y’all out. (Saying this to a teacher)
Student 2-Yeah, They shuttin’ this school down
Student 3- They ain’t shutting it down, it’s gonna be a charter
Student 2-I’m goin' somewhere else…Del Val something
Student 3-You ain’t goin' nowhere…we getting’ booked.
Student 1-I’m getting’ my GED- Get every dolla’
Student 2-Yeah,I gotta do something, I’m not tryin' to be 23 graduating and everything
Sigh. After hearing conversations like that, I sure hope the people at 440 N. Broad can keep some promises.
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