NAEP Quarterly Board Meeting November 16, 2023
Although I am not invited, nor can access virtual meetings (as I am no longer a registered teacher hey, is that like a registered offender?)- anyway, I will be interested to see and hear what the plan for progress will be for the NAEP- IE, YOU, for the next 10 years of education.
NAEP- Nations Report Card. National
NCES- National Center for Educational Statistics
Watch: Long-Term Goals. (1 minute and 37 seconds.)
CPS: Critical Problem Solving (I think, although not clarified).
5 Simple Goals- directly quoted.
Maintain an organizational culture of achievement.
To promote operational excellence;
To ensure the safety and well-being of our students and out staff;
To encourage stakeholder engagement through timely, transparent and concrete engagement;
And to cultivate wellness and civility for our students and our staff.
1:38 seconds later ~Marty West NAEP Board. I do not need to watch the rest of the 37 minutes. I predict the rest of the clip will include: carefully chosen negative fearful words- warning of bad testing, blame COVID- followed by lots and lots of graphs and data. Visuals. More reinforcements. Like a “you better go along with this or else…”
Stop The World.
5 Simple Goals. I. Translation.
define “achievement” as ‘the quantity of a students work’. Quantity.
“operational excellence” Other wise known as, “OpEx, is an approach to business management that emphasizes continuing achievement.” (IBM Blog)
“Safety”. the “condition of being protected from harm”. Like data and testing?
Stakeholders- private party; makes wager; interest in something (education) especially in business. Transparent- easily perceived motives. Engagement a formal arrangement (not marriage, but similar?); or to do something at a fixed time. Like Long-Term trends. See ROE (Rules of Engagement). Education and military.
“Cultivate wellness and civility for our students and staff.” NCES/ NAEP
Sixty-nine percent of public schools reported an increase in the percentage of their students seeking mental health services at school since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and roughly three-quarters (76 percent) of schools also reported an increase in staff voicing concerns about their students exhibiting symptoms such as depression, anxiety, and trauma. NCES
At 11am, a two minute silence is observed at war memorials and other public spaces across the UK.
The First Two Minute Silence in London (11th November 1919) as reported in the Manchester Guardian, 12th November 1919.
'The first stroke of eleven produced a magical effect.
The tram cars glided into stillness, motors ceased to cough and fume, and stopped dead, and the mighty-limbed dray horses hunched back upon their loads and stopped also, seeming to do it of their own volition.
Someone took off his hat, and with a nervous hesitancy the rest of the men bowed their heads also. Here and there an old soldier could be detected slipping unconsciously into the posture of 'attention'. An elderly woman, not far away, wiped her eyes, and the man beside her looked white and stern. Everyone stood very still ... The hush deepened. It had spread over the whole city and become so pronounced as to impress one with a sense of audibility. It was a silence which was almost pain ... And the spirit of memory brooded over it all.'
And in a 1948 speech, Winston Churchill said, “Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” No matter the origin, the sentiments are eternal.
Condemned, doomed- both are synonyms for “wrong,” “reprehensible,” “Evil”
Learn. Remember. (or not).
Israel, the Middle East… The List goes on. The effects are nearly identical from, Historic Shell Shock to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. PTSD
Education. Multiple sources have deemed todays children are in Crisis.
“for youth in the United States, leading to a mental health crisis as declared by the United States surgeon general just over a year ago. But U.S. children and teens have been suffering for far longer.” APA January 1, 2023
Factors such as homework, social life, perceived parental pressure, university applications, and never-ending workloads all generate stress;
This, on top of growing concerns about social media, mass violence, natural disasters, climate change, and political polarization—not to mention the normal ups and downs of childhood and adolescence—can feel insurmountable for those who work with kids.
Not to mention a pandemic.
Much has been said about the pandemic's effects on kids' mental health. And while that's true, the pandemic added to problems that have long existed, said Joseph Feinglass, a research professor at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, in Chicago.
in fact, suicide is now the leading cause of death for 13- and 14-year-olds in the United States, said senior researcher Dr. Sarah Wood, a professor of pediatrics at Florida Atlantic University's Schmidt College of Medicine. US
As part of I.School. I would encourage silent reflection. Two minutes, half-hour, an Hour, A Day of Silence.
No, you students were not around for WWI or II. Neither was I. I was born in 1968: Vietnam War's Tet Offensive, riots in Washington, DC, the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1968, and heightened social unrest over the Vietnam War, values, and race.
Most Recognized wars have not been on US soil. Who remembers the Civil War? Nope. 9-11 is the nearest in time. 22 years ago.
Today’s students are all post 9-11. War, riots in DC, landmark Supreme Court decision, protests against systemic racism, values, and education. So, as things change- so painfully similar, in systemic ways.
Of course I have no authority, no power to change laws (remember, I’m the loser teacher ;)
However, This Remembrance Day, I will honor all students. All Students. Honestly, I think about you Every Day! But today is more of a lesson.
At Least, please remember to take a moment and well, remember anyone you know who has lived through school shootings; or who have thought about suicide, or have taken their own life. Make it personal. Wear white, black, an armband, or a poppy. Just surgestions. Don’t be pushy or disrespectful especially to veterans- many are in pain. Like you.
Remember what you precious students have already lived through. You are not alone.
One for you. One for me.
N.C. Representative Virginia Foxx seen here , far right, telling a reporter to “shut up!”
So, Virginia Foxx is the Chair, of the House Education Committee. Education and Labor.
From the Official Committee Webpage:
The Education and Labor Committee's purpose is to ensure that Americans' needs are addressed so that students and workers may move forward in a changing school system and a competitive global economy.
The committee and its five subcommittees oversee education and workforce programs that affect all Americans, from early learning through secondary education, from job training through retirement.
The Education and Labor Committee Democrats' goal is to keep America strong by increasing education opportunities for students, by making it easier to send young adults to college, and by helping workers find job training and retirement security for a better future. The following education issues are under the jurisdiction of the Education and Labor Committee:
So, as a former teacher, (Foxx received her bachelor's degree in 1968 and later earned both a Master of Arts in college teaching (1972) and an Ed.D) telling a reporter or a student to shut up is important because she represents national education. Don’t ask questions to the newly appointed Speaker of the House? Third in line to the presidency.
Seeing a pattern?
Consider yourself, the student, consumer, AND the labor force. Continue to be self-critical thinkers. Ask questions. Don’t accept unclear answers.
What does the Fox Say? I remember students showing me this video when it first came out. Over and over. ha, What a crazy song!
Here is a sample of my work. All Connected.
And Much More!
IES: Created in 2002 (after NCLB), and under Grover “Russ” Whitehurst. (NAEP Board, 2023).
IES Institution of Education Science. Currently under Mark Schneider: Trump appointee, 2018.
"Never let a good crisis go to waste."
Interview with Mark Schneider (Head of the IES);
The 74 launched in 2015, with a $4 million annual budget. Funders include Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Walton Family Foundation, the Carnegie Corporation, and the Dick & Betsy DeVos Family Foundation.
An Insight Look at AIR: The Most Terrifying Company in Education Reform
The scariest part is AIR’s role in the creation of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP).
The IES and Marbury v. Madison
IES: to accelerate the translation of science into "facts on the ground,"
Mark Schneider, former vice President- for the American Institutes for Research (AIR).
If only-
Foudations.
Assumptions. After research I have a hypothetical hypotheses, (is that redundant?):
First,
Kids have the right to a free, unfettered (unobstructed), education.
Second,
Kids are the most maligned group I can think of. Unfairly criticized and exploited.
Third assumption is a-
Syllogism (logical reasoning):
If public school kids are being used as, say: a labor force, militarism, and consumerism;
And big business management coupled with policy makers, are unfairly and unilaterally using kids for their financial gains.
Then, by definition, it is a sin, a crime and unconstitutional.
If a counter argument is true, I would argue-
Then redefine the word, “Transparency”, and be honest with kids when they ask “why do we have to learn this stuff?” Answer with a “well kids, you don’t. We need you to work for big businesses, stay in debt and buy stuff until you die.” (See, is that too much? I cringe, but, is it closer to a truth? Logically speaking.)
Here is another piece of bait:
Historically, players of the power game deploy three main tactics from say, the Middle Ages, from indentured servants to powerful empires- (take your pick of empire). Three patterns persist, which is to Keep the masses:
Desperate. Keep ‘em poor and dependent. Keep em tired.
Distracted. Keep education controlled and engaged; Ordered from the top down.
Divided. Keep ‘em fighting each other. Plant morality lies. Focus low. Emotions over logic, because it works.
Solution? S.O.S.
Save ourselves, or save our students, take your pick.
Do as much as you can to take back your time and mind- through more insightful conversations that matter. Be More- independent, focused, united. A self-propelling wheel.
“Professional Development” Daze:
Have you questioned where PD’s come from? Why they are nation-wide and mandatory? What the topics are, and perhaps how they came into play? Who profits from, and more importantly, who does not gain from development? Who loses?
Interesting how, in an occupation that boasts (at least on school web sites) “critical thinking” skills and “life long learning” when in actuality it provides neither. The opposite, in fact.
Hey, teachers! Try a scientific experiment. Ask. Do a “deep dive” into the origin of professional development. Interestingly enough, if you want to see the grip business management systems have over education, and you, ask a simple question: Try this:
Act like a 4th grader, and ask: “Why do we have to learn this stuff?”
Observe, question, experiment, analyze, repeat. It’s science.
Good Luck.
Moms for Liberty
“He alone who owns the youth, gains the future.”
The first thing that I think about when I read articles about Moms for Liberty, is the use of co-opting a phrase combo. “Moms” and “Liberty”.
Moms: That’s personal. I am a mom. Biologically birthed two beloved babies. The youth.
Liberty. I am in support of Liberty, defined as:
: the quality or state of being free:
: the power to do as one pleases (See limitations on the First Amendment- such as, incitement, defamation, fraud, obscenity, child pornography, fighting words, and threats.)
: freedom from physical restraint
: freedom from arbitrary or despotic control (Despot- one who desires absolute power often in a cruel and oppressive way)
: the positive enjoyment of various social, political, or economic rights and privileges
: the power of choice
Second thing I ponder is, who is backing this extremist group? Is it really about “mama bears” protecting their cubs, or more of a political re-election deception financed by super pacs for prosperity. Primarily for the private elites, not for the pubic school participants?
“We live in a world of keyboard warriors, right, where people are frustrated but no one’s taking action to do something and affect positive change. And they should, and they can!” Bridget Ziegler said.
Bridget Ziegler, wife of Florida’s chairman of the Republican Party. Bridget, founder/ co-founder of Mom’s for Liberty.
Moms for Liberty ultimately limits states freedoms on curricula, advocates physically restraining kids by mandating additional mandatory-maskless “seat time” in school, arbitrarily requiring more testing, which takes away from “positive social, political and economic rights- and- privileges” of students. (See above definition of Liberty.)
Pause for a moment. A third conception is the reality, that to merely verbally challenge a powerful group such as Moms for liberty gets restricted. Any critical questioning gets an instant interrupted label such as “woke” (negative), liberal (bad), Marxist, Communist, Fascist… obvious unintelligible name calling. Well, that ends a conversation with little, make that NO, intellectual context about education, philosophy and here is a doozy, uh, the Kids. Students.
Moms for Liberty advocates against school curricula that mention LGBT rights, race and ethnicity, critical race theory, and discrimination. Multiple chapters have also campaigned to ban books that address gender and sexuality from school libraries.Founded in 2021, the group began by campaigning against COVID-19 protections in schools, including mask and vaccine mandates. Moms for Liberty is influential within the Republican Party.
In 2023, the Southern Poverty Law Center, a civil rights organization that tracks extremists, termed Moms for Liberty a far-right extremist organization. The group has been criticized for harassment, for deepening divisions among parents, for making students' education more difficult, and for having close ties to the Republican Party rather than being a genuine grassroots effort. Wikipedia
Lastly, the unfortunate use of an Indiana Moms for Liberty Chapter, who used a quote from Hitler, “He Alone who OWNS the youth, GAINS the future,” is ironic on so many levels. He/Moms own kids? Own kids. As if. Unless, owning a lucrative profit sourced, backed by big financiers, business management systems, for their own gains. Okay, more literal than ironic in my observations, just another thought to ponder. That along with, questions- did this mom not do her research? …. For education? Like, read history prior to picking a poignant prose, for liberty? Hey, I make gaffs too. (Was it though?) A lot. Being a mom is tough.
Want to be a mom? Great, because freedoms of choice and liberty have been restricted for anyone choosing (freedom) not to birth (by extreme groups). Want Liberty? Me too. Hey- Key board warriors, unite!! Uh- oh, that sounds too, you know… How about this proverb:
"The Hand That Rocks the Cradle Is the Hand That Rules the World" is a poem by William Ross Wallace that praises motherhood as the preeminent force for change in the world. Although the poem itself is now largely forgotten, the poem's refrain became a commonly quoted proverb.
Praises Motherhood, and I see it as a warning. “Growing on for good or evil”. Be careful with that power!
https://www.npr.org/2023/06/07/1180486760/splc-moms-for-liberty-extremist-group
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/moms-liberty-fired-philadelphia/story?id=100554051
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/29/us/politics/moms-for-liberty-republicans.html
https://www.fox17online.com/moms-for-liberty-branch-apologizes-for-using-hitler-quote
August 28, 2023
Start Here:
Summary:
The NAEP sets the gold standard for testing.
Testing is profitable.
Low test scores means more testing.
The NAEP controls the test, data, and interpretation of data.
2020 pandemic became a crisis “too good to waste”.
The NAEP has been working hard to increase time and testing for public schools staring in 2023. Planning to 2028.
Start With Zero expectations. Okay, maybe not zero, but have really, really low, next to nil expectations.
Like an empty jar/ container. If you already think you know what you know about education, you may not get much from I.School. But if you can be open, like an empty container, it will make things easier.
Please. I am asking you to try to listen to what I have to say.
Like now, “Never let a good crisis go to waste” (Machiavellian quote from the IES- the Institute of Education Sciences) https://ies.ed.gov/director/remarks/09-13-2022.asp
If you are a student, a former student, a colleague, a former colleague of education. If you are a kid, have a kid, or know a kid. You are going to want to know the current sate of the education dis-union.
Now, I don’t expect you to trust me, in fact, I encourage skepticism, but with an open mind.
This is “essential”. But believe only what you want. A justified True Belief. You must believe it to be true, and have evidence to support it. But you must believe.
Why now?
Because so much media and subsequently our conversations evolve around this circus of politics, we are not paying attention to the federally run NAEP, which has been boringly, quietly, establishing policy from 2020 to "2028 and beyond”. This effects everyone.
91% of people are publicly educated.
100% okay, maybe 99.9% are currently dissatisfied with public education. (My own poll might be biased, however.)
In 2020 the American Psychological Association reported children ha more anxiety than psychiatric patients in the 1950’s. And that is not good.
https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2000/12/anxiety
In 2023 it has increased. Currently, and after COVID, the NAEP is “Doubling Down” on time and testing for future students. Which logically will increase stress and anxiety. Do we need stats and data to emphasize that? Or do you believe?
Is this dramatic? Conspiratorial?
Watch, (or not), the latest NAEP videos. Listen to the dialogue. Scripted. Repetitive. Redundant.
https://blue-orange-akcj.squarespace.com/config/website/pages/5fd7a75858279f70e4302829
https://blue-orange-akcj.squarespace.com/config/website/pages/5fd7a75858279f70e4302829
There are two completely different conversations going on here. Teacher and Students want to learn. The NAEP (or whomever pays their salary), talk about “success” and “closing the gap” The loss of learning, Gap, during and after COVID.
Talking Points: I.Logic
Students have been heavily tested. Say, since 2001. (Testing occurred prior to 2000, but not to the extent of the next two decades). The NAEP, the Nations Report Card, the Gold Standard consequently has increased both time required in school and testing. Starting 2023-2028.
Here is the logic: If we have been testing kids for over twenty years, and there is still no improvement. In fact, a “crisis” has been declared and as Machiavelli said (via NAEP), ”Never let a good crisis go to waste." (Also quoted in the IES, the Institute of Education Sciences- to support the NAEP.)
https://ies.ed.gov/director/remarks/09-13-2022.asp
And who’s fault is that? Scores are down. “Horrifically.”
The NAEP, and affiliates, writes the tests, collects the tests, analyzes the testing data, interprets the data and disseminates desired data (hint, it will always be bad and fear based), with well connected media. The NAEP has big political and even Bigger economic ties to disseminate information through radio, newspapers, magazines.
Then blames public school children for the results, which conveniently and (I believe) intentionally helps private companies. Because Public mandates means more testing, more required classes, thus textbooks publishing companies, technology giants, even big pharmaceuticals profit off NAEP’s interpretation of data.
I looks more like we are selling education, which really isn’t education if it is regurgitation of testing.
It’s time consuming, which is the point. Cradle to career conditioning. Not only are businesses management systems profiting off of kids, bm’s have compliant future employees. Long hours. Less self-actualization.
“A Child’s Need for Sleep” https://magazine.hms.harvard.edu/articles/childs-need-sleep
Much is still unknown, but it has become clear that sleep is essential to learning, memory formation, emotional regulation, and physical and mental development and that naps are an essential part of a child’s health and well-being.
Once factory work came along in the late 1700s, adult schedules began to become more regimented and children’s sleep patterns followed suit.
Lack of sleep, is just the start. Most high school students I talk to say they lack sleep, and school is the number one reason for that loss.
Point of view- think about it from business management’s perspective. Why would Big Business and Government want this system to change? It works! It works so well that during a pandemic, not only would bm’s want a return to normal (it has worked for over 100 years), but to ‘double down’ on its effectiveness.
Truly, if you are in the top tear of the economic triangle, why would you want to empower the youth? Stay sleepy. Don’t question. Stay medicated. Don’t challenge. Of course there is media rhetoric about being “woke.” If you knew more, you might perform less.
Why would bm’s want rested, clear-minded, educated, financially sustained public populations? Privatization is much more lucrative for the few.
Privatization means, what? Students owe businesses somehow? For the opportunity to forcibly go to school? Or is it ownership? Who owns you? Seriously, if you produce a creative piece of work, on school grounds, with school computers, while being monitored, who “owns” students works? Ok, I digress. But it’s a good question. Are public school ‘constituents’ aka ‘students’ considered Intellectual Property? Owned. What are they going to do about it?
Arguably, the most vulnerable of our population, kids- can’t vote, they are too short to fight back, and completely, financially dependent; and often in debt. Unfortunately, this system works.
I personally believe students deserve rights. And kids (you!) deserve a free, honest, non-coerced education. Instead we are allowing our kids to be treated and traded like pawns in a social, political, economic game- where they have little control. Simply by going along with school, as is, as has been.
My loyalty is to you students anywhere. The “losers”. The 1.7 Trillion dollar student in-debt-tors. The mentally drained “losers” of sleep and sprit.
I am on your side.
Not only am I siding with students, I’m staying here. Sideline educator. Step by step suggestions as to how to survive and thrive in this hell-hole of oppression.
How?
We are going to start with
I.Schools 10 in 10 plan
Lesson on the NAEP framework.
Why?
If you Know the System, you can Use the system, so the system doesn’t use you. (As much).
Sincerely,
Your teacher-in-service
I.Newson
Recap:
The NAEP sets the gold standard for testing.
Testing is profitable.
Low test scores means more testing.
The NAEP controls the test, data, and interpretation of data.
2020 pandemic became a crisis “too good to waste”.
The NAEP has been working hard to increase time and testing for public schools staring in 2023.
Mining Minors Minds since 1864
Dear Children,
Let me explain these Gaps of achievement, we speak of.
“Achievement gaps occur when one group of students (e.g., students grouped by race/ethnicity, gender) outperforms another group and the difference in average scores for the two groups is statistically significant (i.e., larger than the margin of error).
NCES explored the achievement gaps between Black and White, and Hispanic and White, students using NAEP data to illuminate patterns and changes in these gaps over time, and identify factors that might underlie such gaps. These results are expected to be helpful to those interested in the improvement of education of our children.” NAEP
Sincerely,
the NAEP (and I)
Note: “Mine the Gap” is mine. Sarcasm. My made up head-vention. Not to be confused with “Mind the Gap”, which is a warning for British passengers to take caution of a spacial gap from platform to train. Anyway, I like the metaphor. Take Caution of the Gap! Meme, not mine.
Question: if this gap has “illuminated” changes and patterns over time, why
Including serving alcohol. Closing the Gap on sobriety, I guess.
Using pre and post pandemic test scores to increase: public school testing, hours required to graduate, length school years.
From pre and post data that is written, collected, interpreted and disseminated by the same organization with financial incentives.
Question: Who pays the salary of the 26 NAEP Board Members? (I actually can not find out).
Scores were already failing, according to FORBES.
Preparation for “Cradle to Career.” (Like I said… Cradle to grave).
In Arkansas News last week: (Kids clearly looking forward to Progress!!!)
During a ceremony in the second-floor rotunda at the State Capitol, the Republican governor described her education reform — a 145-page omnibus law that covered everything from school vouchers, to teachers raises and higher literacy standards for elementary students — as “a comprehensive approach to all education, from cradle to career.”
NPR Making it “Easier to employ children.”
“In states across the country, lawmakers are engaged in a coordinated, corporate-backed campaign to weaken child labor protections One type of protection—minimum ages to serve alcohol in bars and restaurants—has been eroded in seven states since 2021. While lowering the age to serve alcohol may sound benign, it is not. It puts young people at risk of sexual harassment, underage drinking, and other harms.
The restaurant industry is already plagued by labor violations. In fact, it is the industry with the highest incidence of child labor law violations. Laws that lower the alcohol service age will subject more young people, at younger ages, to potentially dangerous working conditions at low wages—all in service of employers’ pursuit of cheap labor.
“States Are Loosening Restrictions on Child Labor “
New Jersey lawmakers bumped up the number of hours teens can work during the summer (to 40 hours a week for 14- and 15-year-olds and 50 for 16- and 17-year-olds.).
Zero Sum Game: A situation, often cited in game theory, in which one person’s gain is equivalent to another’s loss. The Loser.
0 (zero) is a number representing an empty quantity.
Loser: a person (or thing) that loses or has lost something, especially a game or contest.
Zero (n.) Etymology Dictionary
https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=zero
"the absence of all quantity considered as quantity," c. 1600, from French zéro or directly from Italian zero, from Medieval Latin zephirum, from Arabic sifr "cipher," translation of Sanskrit sunya-m "empty place, desert, naught”
A brief history of the invention of "zero" can be found here. Meaning "worthless person" is recorded from 1813. As an adjective from 1810. Zero tolerance first recorded 1972, originally U.S. political language. Zero-sum in game theory is from 1944 (von Neumann), indicating that if one player wins X amount the other or others must lose X amount.
First self-realized on a weekend in February, 2019. While watching the “news.”
“Loser teachers” was all I heard. This was after a a particularly rough week teaching high school social studies. “Loser teacher. Loser teacher. Loser teacher.” Repeated in my head.
Yea, I pretty much lost it. Meaning- I was head in hands, ugly, convulsing- on my kitchen counter-crying. As one empathetic loser would, of course. And yes, I did hear colleagues voices in my head- “don’t listen, blah blah, why should you care…” Too late. I did listen. I do Care. So when I heard:
“I love seeing some young conservatives, cause I know it’s not easy.”
“Keep up that fight.”
“Bring it to your schools.”
“You don’t have to be indoctrinated by these loser teachers that are trying to sell you on socialism from birth.”
“You don’t have to do it.”
https://nowthisnews.com/videos/politics/donald-trump-jr-calls-out-loser-teachers-at-rally
I deeply cared about this because I have had many young conservatives in classes that I very much respected; and many respected- even liked me. (I still get a personal hand written birthday card from one self-proclaimed extreme right former student. Witness).
Now, I don’t personally identify as conservative, or liberal. But just being a public school history teacher identifies me as a political Socialist Pedler of liberal ideas somehow.
News to me, but it hit me hard because I believe all kids have a right to learn. I really liked having strong conservative student views; mixed with other views, because it is learning. Real learning.
That was my job. I thought. Share ideas. Respect multiple points of views. Teach. Learn.
And so when, a prominent grown-up conservative representative tells kids, (my students) to fight me- “keep up that fight.” Game over. I became an enemy in 20 seconds..
Kids are smart. But, how can I compete against a privately educated, rich, charismatic politician?
How can I argue with “Loser Teacher”? I submit.
I AM!!! I am One Loser Teacher!
Thankfully!
Honestly; and after further consideration, I wouldn’t wish to be a business/management Winner. Too much work. Too much political pressure persuading public personal (teachers) that they we are pathetic losers. That would be a tough job! Can you even imagine? I don’t envy them. In fact, I pity them. They will never know how amazing you learners all are. Students. Day after day, semester after semester, years. Decades.
Those policy makers of public education don’t get to see your faces every day. They don’t get to hear how funny, talented, courageous you all are.
Data oriented policy makers miss out. Big time!
I still hear from former students, see them, think of them. I even have school dreams, and my students are super- heroes in my actual dreams! And in real life.
Loser teachers, get to spend retirement humbled, grateful, to have had the opportunity to spend decades of time with kids. Time ‘lost’ well I’d say. The only real lost time was spending any time away from students for non-essential testing.
With that said, I.School continues.
That jar we talked about? Imagine it full. Full of school and standards. Testing, expectations, politics, outside, extrinsic values. Your expected job, family, personality, looks, behavior. If you already know, then your jar/ cup (whatever) is full. No room for learning. You already (think) you know. Great, carry on.
I.School needs a little room to grow. An empty jar is preferable, because it means you are open to learn. Not that you are empty, just you don’t think you know everything quite yet. Empty. Receptive, to agree or disagree. With context, facts and knowledge. Genuine knowledge.
If your jar is full, time for inventory. Pick pieces one at a time and challenge it. You may be right, you may be wrong you may be crazy, but at least YOU understand why or why not. you are. Not just allowing externals shape your whole life- cradle to grave.
Homework: do you have homework yet? I imagine you do. Lots. How is that working for you? Do you like it? All of it or some? Any? Does it help you? Will it be helpful 5 years from now? Not just for a diploma, but for YOU. Do you like homework? Not? Some? None?
What are thoughts about homework for you?
Now what? If you could, how would you re-structure school?
Open or Closed to learning? How?
Conclusion: I like starting at zero. Infinite possibilities. Low expectations. I am, we are, enough as is. Zero. Infinite.
My HERO! Zero. Loser at Large.
Have a good week!
STOP HERE
Which is to say, Start Here. Day one.
Stop. Pause. Keep pausing. Then after a good long while, ask- “What do you (I) want?”
I’ll get ya started. What do you want by May 24th? The last day of school. 2024 ___
More narrowly, how do you want to feel by the end of this school year?
How do you want to wake up in May?
Rested? Regretful? Removed? Numb? Valued? Gracious?
See what I mean here?
School life will keep you focused on rigorous grades and an eventual graduation. College/Job. Future orientated stuff. I’m asking about the now. The daily.
Start of the school year is often optimistic. Filled with hopeful, inner dialogue like, “This year will be better. I’ll be better.” Then by mid to late October, public school hallways look more, oh how to describe? Um, Apocalyptic? Zombie- zoned?
It’s hot in August. You might get sick by September; Then it’s more Make-up work, homework, tests, assignments pile up. You get overstretched, over-stressed. No breaks. Relationships get tested. You get the idea.
We see it year after year. I saw it year after year.
If you can relate, we are related. Publicly schooled, ‘family’. Now, I cannot sit here and offer much, apart from hypocrisy. No matter how many times I said, “This year I’ll be better at pacing myself.” By May- I was zombie zoned. A month or two of recovery. Resist and repeat.
I can offer this, however. DO LESS. Less of anything and everything you possibly can. Ideally the stuff you sort of know, deep down is not helping you. Or worse, wasting your time. Both in and out of school.
That’s it. Simple. Yes, and..
For those I.Students daring enough to try this. To ‘do’ less… Go ahead. I dare you. If you want to be part of a whacky experiment. Try it. Let me know how it works for ya. I’m not trying to taunt, it’s just that school has a sneaky way of occupying a lot of your time and mind. And there is constant pressure to Do. Something. All the time.
If you can get used to unoccupied time. Daily. It may help balance life a bit better. For the long gig. It will give you more freedom, because you won’t have to constantly “need” and depend on outside stimuli. You are good with or without. Yes, yes?
Then when you get good and bored, you can begin to self-discover. And the more you know______.
Okay, enough of that, for now-
NOW- START HERE
What you may want:
A Notebook.
A pen or pencil.
An idea of an AM and PM routine.
An empty jar, scrap paper.
Here is what you may want to do:
In your I-notebook, Write today’s date.
Write what your first few days were like this school year; and write what your morning and evening routine is now.
On the last page, write about May 24th. About what will you want the end of this year to be like for you. How do you want to feel?
On scrap paper, write three things you want to nurture- stuff you like; and three things you want to banish- get rid of. Now, through May. Add to jar.
Notes:
It is important to hand write, in a notebook, not a phone. It has to do with the brain-wiring stuff.
Routines are some of the smallest and easiest things to do for yourself- for your brain to feel like it has more control. Your future self approves.
That’s it.
Why?
YOU ARE living history. Record it. You may want to use it. Or even re-write it.
I.Suggestions:
Mornings:
When you wake up, before you open your eyeballs, just lay still but stay awake. Pause for a few moments and see if you remember a dream. If so, great, write it down. Any part of it- just a few words or doodle pictures will do. Or write an emotion you woke to, before your brain fills with other stuff. ;)
Rationale-
If you do not recall a dream, that’s okay, now focus on how you feel- emotionally. Why?
If you are more aware of your moods, more power to ya. Because dreams effect moods, whether you remember them or not. And your moods effect people, which potentially effects relationships. Which assumably effect you. Yes?
2. Make your bed. Every Morning.
Bed, brain, subconscious. It’s easy, and more empowering than you might imagine.
Evenings:
Write down one thing you learned about yourself today.
Brush your teeth. Wash your feet. Now I’m making up stuff here; and yes, you are “doing’ something, but it is doing something YOU initiate, not school. Make up a relaxing, simple activity to do each night.
Imagine a lasting routine- conditioning you more to your own needs.
What do you want?
Zero-Some Game
I made up my own existentialism joke:
“Help, the system is failing, this is an existential crisis!
Tell me what to do next…”
The problem with criticizing a system that is so ingrained, is that we can’t even imagine otherwise. “Well what are you going to replace it with‽” Is almost Always the direct response I get to my educational inquiry. Usually coupled with aggression and frustration.
This is problematic. Replacing one system with another isn’t gong to fix anything. And it is not existential. The “Ick” IS the existential emotion. It’s a feeling to be felt. It’s a start. Then and only then can we begin the process of creating. The anger and frustration is real. Now what?
First: pause, reflect, observe. Feel. Get Bored.
Second, decide what and how. What do You want? How do you know you want it? What are you going to do, and not do, in order to get it?
Third, Do that. Enough with the worrying, the talking/ complaining, the feeling of weakness that comes with coercion (Learned Helplessness). How will you build up strength and momentum to live authentically? Where will this courage come from?
Easier said than done. I get that.
About me.
I got tired. Tired of listening to adults. They talk over you, around you, above you. And they are not listening to you!
Mostly, I am tired of hearing policy makers and their blow-horns telling me what kids are like, what school is like and what kids need.
Wanna know? ASK THEM!!!!!
So, aside from my randomly planned curriculum the past few years, I have been taking classes and traveling with my ideas. I happen to run into students wherever I go. Not any former students yet, just potential students who get really excited when an adult asks them about school and what they want.
I’ve been talking to, no better yet, I’ve been listening to “kids” all the way from South Texas to Canada. (2021-2022 I.School field trip).
More committed than ever, I am. Actually, this has turned into a lifetime obsession. Blessedly so.
Now what?
Where to start. Zero sum game. A beginning.
We have a foundation. Get grounded in something solid. Then get ready for the bad news. A hypotheses you either believe or not. Mostly… If, and when you do, get ready for unexpected greatness. Or not. Either way-
Let I school be a platform for student rights. You have the right to an objective, free education. If not, what are we doing?
Motto: Give me a chance and I’ll give you a voice.
E-mail me with requests. What do you want? What do you want people to know?
How can I help you, students? Today. Now‽
As of March 13, 2020 my education took a different direction.
To summarize my vision here is a recap:
An Awkward Beginning. A wheel. 2021
Tangent Fishing. My term for throwing out ideas into the internet abyss to see if anything catches. Special consideration of the teacher-student relationship
Building a Value base of possible ideas for students to draw on. 2022
You are Priority #1 in I.School!
Know the business management systems behind the testing.
Breathe A-F (Ah, breathe, consciously, deliciously, enjoy, feel).
Four “Knowable Truths” (4 noble truths, Buddhism)
Five Relationships (Confucius)
Tao Te Ching
Sins and Virtues
no Cruel or Unusual Punishment (Constitution of US)
is Mine. Constitution with a twist.
‘Considerations’ Christian
** The Bad News
0 to 5 to 0
The Philosophical “nothingness” 0
One- Question “What is the purpose of education?”
Two- A Paradox, Either Or? NAEP or Students
Three- More or Less? Priority or Progress
Four- a Game “Changer” NAEP
Five- Scientific Method Approach I.
Four-Three, One, two- nothing.
Zero: Full Circle. A Start.
Four square initials explained: HI (historical interpretations) BM (business management systems) IP (Intellectual property) AI (always interrupting).
Let me explain. I.Quadratic hypotheses.
Quadrant I. BM’s Big business benefiting from- III. IP, Intellectual Property. Who “owns” your ideas in school? II. HI- Interesting Historical Interpretations school boards represent. (more info comming). IV. AI, for me, stands for Always Interrupting. Policy makers, hierarchies. and pretty much anyone who keeps talking about what kids need, but wont shut up long enough to actually listen to students. I.square. so there.