Yes, New York was one of the 10 winners in the Race to the Big Bucks competition and as a result, schools across the state will be receiving $700 million in School Aid.

This is a good thing, congratulations and all that. But what remains to be seen is how they will use this money. Will it be used to help teachers effectively teach? Will it be the catalyst for the – much talked about, but nothing done – reforms that the unions and school administrators have been screaming about for 6 months?

The main question seems to be how the money will affect the rest of the state outside of New York City. Will this money be extended to smaller communities who never seem to catch up with The City? According to B. Jason Brooks, the research director for the Foundation for Education Reform and Accountability, “On its face, it doesn’t make huge differences in New York City,” he said. “But changing the curriculum and state standards is really going to allow them to do new things.”

I hope so. But, as we all know, any noteworthy changes or reforms take a considerable amount of time to implement. But I hope they find a way to make their education system better for the students, teachers, and parents. Oh, and maybe now the “educrats” can now get their fancy chairs.

Read the full article in the New York Times.

In the words of the great, late Notorious B.I.G. -

♪♪I don’t know what, they want from me

It’s like the more money we come across

The more problems we see ♪♪

Finally. More money for those teachers and schools who are on the brink of disaster. On Tuesday, the House voted to approve a $26 billion aid package that would help ailing school districts and states. This measure (hopefully) will help stave off impending layofffs of teachers and school employees.  As Obama signed the measure, he stated, “We can’t stand by and do nothing while pink slips are given to the men and women who educate our children or keep our communities safe.”

So, more money for schools and teachers. I think it a good thing, but I can’t help wondering if this package is like spitting in the ocean. This new bill is great, but it’s a little late. Is it really going to make things better? How many teachers – quality teachers – have been fired already? How much more fat can we trim before we wreck irreversible damage on the education system? And why are teachers the first ones to be thrown under the bus when states are in a financial crisis? I know the dollar can’t stretch far in hard economic times, but shouldn’t the educators come first?

When there is some type of serious health crisis, people always say to take care of the health providers. Immunize the doctors and nurses and hospital staff first so that they are physically able to take care of others.

Why doesn’t this apply to teachers?

Teachers: Here’s a great way to find the much needed inspiration to get pumped up for the new teaching year!

The TED Blog has posted the best talks on children and how they learn. It’s a great way to see different perspectives on learning, teaching, and thinking.

Am I the only one who finds this ridiculous?

The story here is that the U.S. education system is getting screwier each day. For months now, we have been reading about the “sacking” and “re-contracting” of the entire staff at Central Falls. Remember that controversy- sucky grades, sucky kids, sucky teachers, blah, blah? Well, the idea was that in order to improve failing schools you have to remove bad teachers. Although firing the entire teaching staff seemed insane, the equation behind the crazy decision seemed practical at least.

But now what the hell are they doing? They have fired Joyce Irvine. Who the hell is Joyce Irvine? She was the principal at Wheeler Elementary School. Joyce is a “leader among her colleagues”. Joyce is a “very good principal”. Joyce started many enrichment programs, including summer school. Joyce often works 80 hour weeks. Joyce knows the names and family history of all her students, many of which are refugees or special-ed children. Joyce is someone who has made a difference in her school under difficult circumstances. The parents like Joyce. The kids like Joyce. The teachers like Joyce. This seems like a great setup.  A productive and kind leader taking charge of a school with not- so-perfect kids.  Real kids.

So, what happened? Money over quality. The Burlington School District needs money and in order to qualify for the $3 million offer by the federal government, they had to FIRE Joyce. What? That’s crazy! Yes, I know. But the rules of the federal government basically say that schools with very low test scores must “close down, be replaced by a charter, remove the principal and half the staff, or remove the principal and transform the school.”

I like this part about removing the principal and transforming the school at the same time. It’s like removing the driver to win a car race- just “transform” the car, stupid, and we’ll win! Transforming is easy!”

Transforming this school without this principal just doesn’t make sense.  It’s back-ass-ward.

This week’s most interesting headlines for educators:

• A Chosen Few Are Teaching for America. Teaching for America is harder to get into than the nation’s top ivy league schools.
• 10 Queens Pupils Got Second Chance at State Test. Did the students cheat? Did the principal cheat? Did the proctoring teachers cheat? Who cheated here?
• Students, Meet Your New Teacher, Mr. Robot. “Escapees from the Island of Misfit Toys” could be teaching your children soon.
• Duncan: Congress Needs to Act Now on School Money. Show me the Money?
• Spain’s Win: A Victory for Enjoyable Soccer

This has nothing to do with education, but it’s a great headline!!!!!!!!!!!

1. Shrewdness of Apes I love this teacher who caught my attention with this blog post:

“I have a student who has a serious medical condition. He will not ever get better– his condition is degenerative.

But he moves on.

He will not be defined by anything but who he is rather than what has happened to him.

He is the most interesting kid. Even though his condition makes it difficult for him to express himself, he still makes the attempt, each and every day, to express his very deep thoughts. He is always paying attention, even if he is pain, even if he is uncomfortable, even if this has not been a good day thus far.

I love how the other kids all accept him for who he is. I love how they all help him get ready as he comes in every day. I love how none of them get impatient when he struggles to get the words out. I love how he was listening to one of the princesses go on and on about some silliness, and he got the perfect wisecrack out, and everybody laughed– even the princess. When he laughs, his entire body curves up into a smile, and he crows with joy.”

2. The Jose Vilson. Jose Vilson is a math teacher, coach, and data analyst for a middle school in Washington Heights neighborhood in New York. He’s also a poet:

“The Sound of You” by Mr. V

Don’t you love the sound of a school bell ring
Of the chains and swings
Of the winter breezing blowing by
And children growing into young adulthood
The screams turn to silence
The scratching of pencils and chalk becoming the sounds of instruments for learning
The pats and stomps of stage dancing
The horns and drums moving our bodies to ageless rhythm
The squeaks of sneakers and rustle of nets in victory and defeat
The metals clank against the tiled floors as students move to books and after problem-filled books
The chatter of light voices fill the room with youth and inexperience about the world around them
These are the sounds that will echo rooms 518, 413, 315
The yells and passion of a teacher who cared enough to remember these things
You are the sound
And for years and four years from now, they’ll never forget the feeling that sound brought them
The stories you shared, the trauma of living in a hood where cats hardly ever make it
The sleepless nights on MySpace and finding your own space
The countless playoff games, secret handshakes, and chewing gum that left your stomach growling in the morning
The raps and songs you created when the subs were here and the same beat people dropped for every single song
The people you said your teachers looked like like like like
It’s crazy how you can dream about freshmen
To being a few months from being fresh, man
I’m hoping y’all can be leaders, no yes men
Next time I see you here, I should see no less, fam
The superstars I know you are
The next champions of the new millennium
The ones I put money on, even when I have no money on
Maybe just enough to sing this song
And the sounds coming out from this room may never compare knowing that each of you won’t be there
But I’m happy to have had you and I hope that you know
That I’m there when you need me, now you can go
Peace.

How can you not love these teachers???

Southland Christian School in Florida fired a teacher for having premarital sex (with her future husband). They even sent a letter to parents explaning that her termination was due to “fornication”. Thats all I can write without screaming. You can read the article here.