Comments on: “First, Kill All the School Boards”

Comments on: “First, Kill All the School Boards” http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/first-kill-all-the-school-boards/ The Read/Write Web in the Classroom Sun, 07 Sep 2008 17:14:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: James Beal http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/first-kill-all-the-school-boards/#comment-44736 James Beal Sun, 10 Feb 2008 14:45:22 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/first-kill-all-the-school-boards/#comment-44736 I am not ready to give up on the local school board idea yet. However, we really do not have autonomous school boards that can lead districts into the future. Local control is preety much an American myth. The problem is all the regulation local school districts have to cope with. School boards are loosing their ability to lead and are becoming coping instruments for state and federal policy. This has come about do to the public's instance on having local control while state and federal officials have sought to advance their political careers by passing legislation that must be funded locally. It is a win-win for them since they appear to care abour our children and are not responsible for tax increases. Indeed, I believe this is part of a larger problem with our demicracy - rule by perception rather than substance. In today's government, objective reality does not matter as much as the public's perception of it. For this, we thank ourselves, as educators, for not properly educating the the electorate in the first place. I am not ready to give up on the local school board idea yet. However, we really do not have autonomous school boards that can lead districts into the future. Local control is preety much an American myth. The problem is all the regulation local school districts have to cope with. School boards are loosing their ability to lead and are becoming coping instruments for state and federal policy. This has come about do to the public’s instance on having local control while state and federal officials have sought to advance their political careers by passing legislation that must be funded locally. It is a win-win for them since they appear to care abour our children and are not responsible for tax increases. Indeed, I believe this is part of a larger problem with our demicracy - rule by perception rather than substance. In today’s government, objective reality does not matter as much as the public’s perception of it. For this, we thank ourselves, as educators, for not properly educating the the electorate in the first place.

]]> By: Michael http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/first-kill-all-the-school-boards/#comment-43930 Michael Sat, 02 Feb 2008 14:38:39 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/first-kill-all-the-school-boards/#comment-43930 And what makes us think that a majority of the federal government would not lead us to teach that the world is only 6,000 years old? And what makes us think that a majority of the federal government would not lead us to teach that the world is only 6,000 years old?

]]> By: Michael http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/first-kill-all-the-school-boards/#comment-43931 Michael Sat, 02 Feb 2008 14:38:38 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/first-kill-all-the-school-boards/#comment-43931 And what makes us think that a majority of the federal government would not lead us to teach that the world is only 6,000 years old? And what makes us think that a majority of the federal government would not lead us to teach that the world is only 6,000 years old?

]]> By: Michael http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/first-kill-all-the-school-boards/#comment-43932 Michael Sat, 02 Feb 2008 14:38:38 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/first-kill-all-the-school-boards/#comment-43932 And what makes us think that a majority of the federal government would not lead us to teach that the world is only 6,000 years old? And what makes us think that a majority of the federal government would not lead us to teach that the world is only 6,000 years old?

]]> By: Michael http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/first-kill-all-the-school-boards/#comment-43933 Michael Sat, 02 Feb 2008 14:38:38 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/first-kill-all-the-school-boards/#comment-43933 And what makes us think that a majority of the federal government would not lead us to teach that the world is only 6,000 years old? And what makes us think that a majority of the federal government would not lead us to teach that the world is only 6,000 years old?

]]> By: Michael http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/first-kill-all-the-school-boards/#comment-43934 Michael Sat, 02 Feb 2008 14:38:38 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/first-kill-all-the-school-boards/#comment-43934 And what makes us think that a majority of the federal government would not lead us to teach that the world is only 6,000 years old? And what makes us think that a majority of the federal government would not lead us to teach that the world is only 6,000 years old?

]]> By: Michael http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/first-kill-all-the-school-boards/#comment-43935 Michael Sat, 02 Feb 2008 14:38:38 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/first-kill-all-the-school-boards/#comment-43935 And what makes us think that a majority of the federal government would not lead us to teach that the world is only 6,000 years old? And what makes us think that a majority of the federal government would not lead us to teach that the world is only 6,000 years old?

]]> By: Michael http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/first-kill-all-the-school-boards/#comment-43936 Michael Sat, 02 Feb 2008 14:38:38 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/first-kill-all-the-school-boards/#comment-43936 And what makes us think that a majority of the federal government would not lead us to teach that the world is only 6,000 years old? And what makes us think that a majority of the federal government would not lead us to teach that the world is only 6,000 years old?

]]> By: Michael http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/first-kill-all-the-school-boards/#comment-43937 Michael Sat, 02 Feb 2008 14:38:38 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/first-kill-all-the-school-boards/#comment-43937 And what makes us think that a majority of the federal government would not lead us to teach that the world is only 6,000 years old? And what makes us think that a majority of the federal government would not lead us to teach that the world is only 6,000 years old?

]]> By: Michael http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/first-kill-all-the-school-boards/#comment-43929 Michael Sat, 02 Feb 2008 14:38:38 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/first-kill-all-the-school-boards/#comment-43929 And what makes us think that a majority of the federal government would not lead us to teach that the world is only 6,000 years old? And what makes us think that a majority of the federal government would not lead us to teach that the world is only 6,000 years old?

]]> By: Michael http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/first-kill-all-the-school-boards/#comment-43928 Michael Sat, 02 Feb 2008 14:38:38 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/first-kill-all-the-school-boards/#comment-43928 And what makes us think that a majority of the federal government would not lead us to teach that the world is only 6,000 years old? And what makes us think that a majority of the federal government would not lead us to teach that the world is only 6,000 years old?

]]> By: Ben Wildeboer http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/first-kill-all-the-school-boards/#comment-43750 Ben Wildeboer Wed, 30 Jan 2008 02:50:30 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/first-kill-all-the-school-boards/#comment-43750 Just a note about the following statement quoted in this post: <i>"The United States spends more than nearly every other nation on schools, but out of 29 developed countries in a 2003 assessment, we ranked 24th in math and in problem-solving, 18th in science, and 15th in reading."</i> Eliot W. Eisner in his book, <b>The Educational Imagination</b>, notes that the United States is a big spender on education, but only if you include higher education in that figure. If you look at K-12 spending, the United States spends much less than most industrialized countries (p. 20). Interesting to think how things in our schools might be different if our K-12 spending was on par with most other industrial nations. Just a note about the following statement quoted in this post:

“The United States spends more than nearly every other nation on schools, but out of 29 developed countries in a 2003 assessment, we ranked 24th in math and in problem-solving, 18th in science, and 15th in reading.”

Eliot W. Eisner in his book, The Educational Imagination, notes that the United States is a big spender on education, but only if you include higher education in that figure. If you look at K-12 spending, the United States spends much less than most industrialized countries (p. 20).

Interesting to think how things in our schools might be different if our K-12 spending was on par with most other industrial nations.

]]> By: The Edublogs Magazine : Who Are the Top Edubloggers? http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/first-kill-all-the-school-boards/#comment-43662 The Edublogs Magazine : Who Are the Top Edubloggers? Mon, 28 Jan 2008 23:47:24 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/first-kill-all-the-school-boards/#comment-43662 [...] “First, Kill All the School Boards” [...] […] “First, Kill All the School Boards” […]

]]> By: JR http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/first-kill-all-the-school-boards/#comment-43456 JR Fri, 25 Jan 2008 21:37:07 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/first-kill-all-the-school-boards/#comment-43456 There are many interesting sides to this conversation. I admit that I am torn myself as to what is best. I teach in a small town in South Dakota. The problem with the school boards in my area is this, they often run for the school board with their own agenda. This agenda may or may not be in the best interest of the students. Aside from that, the majority of people who place a high value on education leave the community to persue their educational goals. Not many return to this small town. When I was student teaching, a piece of advice that I heard has stuck with me these many years. The old teacher said, "Be good to your C and D students, they'll be your parents... and school board." I am at the same time scared of more brokered laws like NCLB and school board members with vendettas. There are many interesting sides to this conversation. I admit that I am torn myself as to what is best.

I teach in a small town in South Dakota. The problem with the school boards in my area is this, they often run for the school board with their own agenda. This agenda may or may not be in the best interest of the students. Aside from that, the majority of people who place a high value on education leave the community to persue their educational goals. Not many return to this small town.

When I was student teaching, a piece of advice that I heard has stuck with me these many years. The old teacher said, “Be good to your C and D students, they’ll be your parents… and school board.”

I am at the same time scared of more brokered laws like NCLB and school board members with vendettas.

]]> By: Noah Arney http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/first-kill-all-the-school-boards/#comment-43451 Noah Arney Fri, 25 Jan 2008 16:04:42 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/first-kill-all-the-school-boards/#comment-43451 The changes to NJ seem like a good idea to me. I actually find it odd that the local districts have so much leeway in what they teach. Shouldn't everyone in the state learn something similar? That way you can move to the other side of the state and not be behind or far ahead. The changes to NJ seem like a good idea to me. I actually find it odd that the local districts have so much leeway in what they teach. Shouldn’t everyone in the state learn something similar? That way you can move to the other side of the state and not be behind or far ahead.

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