http://www.universityworldnews.com/article.php?story=20110128224241383
This article was about a bill on accreditation of higher education institutions to ensure quality education in both government-funded and private institutions. The bill will make it mandatory for schools to be evaluated on the curriculum, teachers, faculty, and student satisfaction. They are pushing the growth of higher education. The private higher education has grown in the last decade, with 80% of enrollments in professional education taking place in private institutions. To encourage participation, the government has made it easier for private companies to run higher education institutes.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Wis. governor proposes deep cuts for schools
http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=911006
This article is about Wisconsin and the budget cuts that are going on. They proposed a plan that cuts $1.5 billion in aid to public schools and local government but avoids any tax or fee increases, furloughs or widespread layoffs. The people of Wisconsin are not happy about this and people are acting out in response to the plan. The budget includes a 9 percent cut in aid to schools which equals a loss of about 900 million dollars that used to be provided to the schools. Three of my roommates are from Wisconsin, one of them is related to a school teacher and she gave us an insight of what was going on. She said there are a lot of upset teachers and teachers/school staff are protesting. I understand that they need to make budget cuts, but why cut something so important. I don't think schools get enough money in the first place, let alone have some of that taken away. The states push a quality education and want what is best for the students, and then they take away money for schools resources. I just don't understand!
Austin MN public schools face student population growth.
http://kaaltv.com/article/stories/S2000983.shtml?cat=10226
This article is from KAAL news from my home town Austin, MN. In this article they talked about how they are one of three districts in Minnesota that are facing a challenge because of student population growth. They talk about not having room for all of the students, and that they have 71 actual classrooms and they are using 79 classrooms this year, using 8 spaces which were not designed to be "classrooms". They have many decisions they have to make in the upcoming years.. "From reconfiguring grade levels within our buildings to adding onto buildings to building a new building or buildings," said Mark Stotts. I found this to be very interesting because I went to school in Austin and we didn't have any problems with classroom sizes or not having enough classrooms. In our school district we have 4 public elementary schools, 1 public middle school, and 1 public high school. My sister currently attends the middle school, and she said they are already expanding the school, so they can fit all of the children.
This article is from KAAL news from my home town Austin, MN. In this article they talked about how they are one of three districts in Minnesota that are facing a challenge because of student population growth. They talk about not having room for all of the students, and that they have 71 actual classrooms and they are using 79 classrooms this year, using 8 spaces which were not designed to be "classrooms". They have many decisions they have to make in the upcoming years.. "From reconfiguring grade levels within our buildings to adding onto buildings to building a new building or buildings," said Mark Stotts. I found this to be very interesting because I went to school in Austin and we didn't have any problems with classroom sizes or not having enough classrooms. In our school district we have 4 public elementary schools, 1 public middle school, and 1 public high school. My sister currently attends the middle school, and she said they are already expanding the school, so they can fit all of the children.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Freedom Writers
Watching “Freedom Writers” really got me thinking about my first year as a teacher and how difficult yet exciting that will be. I was really let down by the support and workers in the school, at first they shut down her lesson plans, they complained about the different cultures being at their school and how they are “bringing them down”, they had no hope for Erins students, and they are very judgmental. Erin Gruwell went in on her first day wanting to teach the students, she had an open mind and a purpose. Thankfully the students had Erin Gruwell as a teacher, considering the teachers in the past called them “dumb” and said they couldn’t learn. Erins teaching strategies related to the students in many ways. She changed her lesson plans to relate to the students, and to get them to accept each other and to be respectful. Some examples include when she played rap music and printed out song lyrics to teach internal rhyme and to bring that into her poetry lesson, played the “line game” where they would step up to the line if they have been in that experience, and the “toast for change” where they all got to openly share their thoughts and feelings. Erin accepted each student and truly changed their life. Freedom Writers and room 203 has a strong message for the public and for teachers and I hope someday I can make that much difference in a students life.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Why do I want to be a teacher?
Through out my life I have been asked the question “what do you want to be when you grow up”, I simply smile and reply “a teacher”. There have been many events in my life that remind me why I want to be a special education teacher.
-When I was in high school our school had a special education mentorship program, my best friend and I decided we would sign up to see what it was all about. I signed up for this program not knowing much about it, after spending a couple of weeks with the special education students, I realized that going to mentorship was becoming the highlight of my day. I became really close with the students and the special education teachers and realized that this is what I want to do for the rest of my life. All of the teachers were kind, caring, patient, and the atmosphere was amazing.
-My current job consists of teaching dance to children of all ages, and I love every minute of it! Nothing beats seeing the smile on a child’s face when something “clicks” and they finally understand the material they are being taught. There are “special moments” while teaching and they truly do change your life, and I can’t wait to have that as an everyday job.
-When I was younger I moved a lot for my dads job, the transitions were always difficult but they changed me dramatically as a person. When I think back to elementary school I think of two teachers. Those two teachers were positive role models in my life, and I want to be that positive role model as a teacher for my future students.
Minnesota House takes up alternative teacher licensure
http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=900178
http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2011/01/13/minn-house-takes-up-alternative-teacher-licensure/
I feel that if you are a person highly educated in a specific area, and you pass the summer training with high standards, and you successfully pass the on the job training, then it's an okay thing to do. I don't think it is a good idea to do this in an area unless it's really needed. I strongly believe that teachers should go through the complete four years of training, and learn the critical information, and have a solid classroom experience in becoming a teacher. I feel like there would be a lot of upset parents, knowing that their child is being taught by someone that did not complete the four year program, and has not had as much training as a normal certified teacher. I feel like they should try and fill the needed positions with educated teachers who did complete the four year program, and if there is no one willing to fill the position, then go to the new proposed plan.
http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2011/01/13/minn-house-takes-up-alternative-teacher-licensure/
I feel that if you are a person highly educated in a specific area, and you pass the summer training with high standards, and you successfully pass the on the job training, then it's an okay thing to do. I don't think it is a good idea to do this in an area unless it's really needed. I strongly believe that teachers should go through the complete four years of training, and learn the critical information, and have a solid classroom experience in becoming a teacher. I feel like there would be a lot of upset parents, knowing that their child is being taught by someone that did not complete the four year program, and has not had as much training as a normal certified teacher. I feel like they should try and fill the needed positions with educated teachers who did complete the four year program, and if there is no one willing to fill the position, then go to the new proposed plan.
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