ED, institute day at Proviso Township High Schools [D209]
Debra Pickering of Concordia is training the teachers today. Unfortunately she came prepared to instruct on K-5 education, not high school education.
I wonder if the middle schools are to blame for the miscommunication.
I wonder if the middle schools are to blame for the miscommunication.
posted by Carl Nyberg at
1:55 PM
7 Comments:
flip:
Might be appropriate for some of 209's student body.
other:
Teachers are adults. Kids are kids. High school kids often moreso. Are there techniques used on younger kids that could be applied?
Could a HS English class stand a trip in the way-back machine?
By
Anonymous, at 2:57 PM, January 20, 2006
typical proviso. they always have useless institutes. You'd think they'd have an institute that actually could improve teaching and learning since Proviso's on the watch list. a teacher
By
Anonymous, at 8:06 PM, January 20, 2006
Disgusted says:
The inservice was a waste of time. Instead of bringing in the people from Gilchrist old stomping grounds to shead some light on the problems 209 is having, they brought it down a notch and brought people from Hinsdale. See, they really are trying:)
Pardon me while I gag..
By
Anonymous, at 8:30 PM, January 21, 2006
I'm not sure that I understand the reference about Ms. Pickering being from Concordia. According to the National Association of Federal Education Program Administrators, (NAEEPA), Dr. Pickering is a private consultant and Director of Staff Development for Littleton Public Schools, Littleton, Colorado.
She received her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction, with an emphasis in Cognitive Psychology, and earned her Masters in School Administration, from the University of Denver.
Her work in research and development has focused on the study of learning and on the development of curriculum, instruction and assessment that addresses clearly identified learning goals.
Pickering works with educators throughout the country who are attempting to translate theory into practice.
Her work is especially aimed at helping districts create a shared understanding of both theory and practice so that decisions related to curriculum, instruction, assessment, and staff development are driven by an ever-increasing knowledge of the learning process.
Thus, the featured appearance could easily be regarded as apropos.
Unfortunately, however, Pickering's presentation as well as that of the team from CHOICES (a support organization to schools, families, children, and youth for ensuring that all learn in general education and community settings; as well as to show progress toward the Illinois Learning Standards)proved a huge disappointment.
By and large, the assessments coming from the rank & file of Dist 209 indicated that the organizers are simply out of touch with the legitimate needs of the teachers. Most were hoping for a series of presentations related to such deficits in the instructional environment that primarily reflect the widespread breakdown in student behavior and how best to deal with the tensions arising as a result.
Clearly an opportunity was blown, and my concern is to the extent that the planners are either in denial or simply out of touch with what is actually ongoing in the schools.
This is not a good sign. In an informal assessment of the quality of the learning program and overall instructional environment, teachers provided a rating that was abysmally low.
I wish to clarify that I am in support of the efforts by Milton Patch and Robert Libka in orchestrating an environment of reform. However, on the occasion of the subject Institute Day, it would appear that certain functions within the organization are operating in opposition to the efforts of the leadership.
While I'm not a communist, I'd like to close this message with a quote from (of all people) Mao tse-tung:
"To link oneself with the masses, one must act in accordance with the needs and wishes of the masses...There are two principles here: one is the actual needs of the masses rather than what we fancy they need, and the other is the wishes of the masses, who must make up their own minds instead of our making up their minds for them...We should pay close attention to the well-being of the masses...We should help them to proceed from these (basic) things to an understanding of the higher tasks which (have been) put forward...Such is the basic method of leadership."
By
Anonymous, at 4:25 AM, January 22, 2006
Curious. Is anyone concerned that Welch may actually win this election? Where are the Yarborough signs? What is she doing?
By
Anonymous, at 3:06 PM, January 22, 2006
The signs are bigger than ever. Check 9th & St. Charles Rd., in Maywood.
By
Anonymous, at 6:19 PM, January 22, 2006
Many of the Moore/Welch signs were put up without permission, many others are in front of vacant homes or those of non-voters. Their paid hacks don't care and Moore especially has a long history of putting signs up way too early (from an esthetic/environmental point of view). The Yarbrough campaign, I believe, chose to wait longer and you will soon see MANY Yarbrough signs and I can guarantee that 90% are in the front yards of strong supporters who are proudly saying, this is YARBROUGH COUNTRY!!! Personally I have gotten permission from over 100 homes and expect to get at least another 100. Go Karen!!!
By
Anonymous, at 10:38 PM, January 22, 2006
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