new math, new diploma, new salary schedule

New diploma, new math and now a new salary schedule.

I’m afraid that this new diploma and new math curriculum have doomed a population of our kids. If they have to pass Math I, II, and III, I fear they will not ever be able to graduate. I understand why it came about and I understand why there is only one diploma track (law suits), but I still hate it and find it unfair to my kids. I can teach them the math skills they need to pass the graduation test. I can teach them the math skills they need to be mathematically functional in today’s world. But this new math curriculum.....I may as well be speaking Greek to them. When they ask me when they are ever going to use it my reply is always the same...to graduate from high school. They will not use it to balance their checkbooks or budget their grocery money. I teach the math I’m told to teach and my sweet little kids sit there and take it. I measure progress in teaspoons, not leaps and bounds.

And now this.....Our legislation will calculate the effectiveness of teachers based on both quantitative and qualitative measures. Compensation will then be based upon a teacher’s overall effectiveness with 50% of that being the academic progress of an individual teacher’s students. The SBOE shall adopt a new salary schedule no earlier than January 1, 2013 and no later than January 1, 2014. All new teacher hires after January 1, 2014 will go into the new salary schedule.

The good news??? I seriously doubt there will a shortage of gifted certified teachers!!!

Woe, however, to the spec ed parents as current spec ed teachers retire and new teachers are forced to work under the new salary schedule. Hopefully SB 10 will still be in effect and there will be some nice private schools available, because who will want to teach spec ed at that point? Maybe someone with a rich spouse that is teaching for a hobby?

Just in case anybody was wondering...spec ed teachers do not get paid more, do not get bonuses (in this county) and do not have additional planning periods to meet with parents, keep up with paperwork and RTI-IV documentation and plan for their classes (lesson plans, copies, grading, etc). We do it because there is a special place in our hearts for the kids that struggle academically (and otherwise). We do it because we have a special ed child of our own or are close to someone else who does.

Anyway, I wish I could write what I really think about all of this. I won’t.

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Many sides to diploma issue
Submitted by kayfay on Tue, 01/19/2010 - 8:03am.

There are many sides to the diploma story. Special education covers many students from gifted to profound. Many parents who have children with learning disabilities want higher standards. Learning disabilities are treatable with the proper interventions. In my opinion, the school system fails to properly identify students by failing to test (RTI is not testing), failing to provide scientific methods for treatment and failure to write proper IEP’s. Texas provides services for all dyslexic students starting in first grade. By third grade most are at the same level of their peers. Mission accomplished. Many school districts teach all students to read by using the Orton-Gillingham method. Does the school district expect students to have a different outcome if they do not provide what is necessary? Blaming the students, parents and failing to provide the teachers what they need to teach a child with a learning disability should not be tolerated. Many parents are taking advantage of the SB10 voucher. Georgia Virtual Academy is another option for those who are unable to afford the fees that SB10 may not cover. Speak with your feet. If your child is not learning, remove them from a public school traditional setting and try a different approach. There is not a one size fits all approach to education

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New teacher requirements
Submitted by flwrgrl on Mon, 01/18/2010 - 7:14pm.

Hey, Wildcat, how is your year going at your new school? We miss you at your old one! I was wondering about that new reg when Sonny was talking about it. I didn't figure it would apply to sped teachers, hopefully they will find some way to modify it for our kids. Unfortunately, as you allude to, I'm afraid many of our kids will have to fail for a few years before the powers that be decide it wasn't a good idea to make diplomas one size fits all. T-dawg is squeaking by in math, but it is a day-to-day thing. We miss your personalized attention! Hopefully, he can hang on for a couple more years. Hope you and yours had a good holiday and break, are you doing Upward this year?

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Hey Flwrgrl
Submitted by wildcat on Tue, 01/19/2010 - 7:06pm.

I love my new school, thanks for asking!! Tell T-dawg that I miss him and was thinking of him last week and how I bet he is trying to figure standard deviation in his head and without a calculator!! I don't know what's going to happen with all the new ideas/plans that the gov is coming up with (does he hate teachers and kids or what??), but I don't care for it and don't see how it will be good for anyone. No Upward this year, with the 2nd job and all a few things had to be left to the wayside. You need to organize a large group of angry parents, storm the capitol and insist that changes be made!!

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