Back To School Night

We had Back to School night Thursday. This is the night when I get to tell the parents of my students how I plan on running my classroom, what my expectations for their children--and them--will be, and answer questions.

My favorite part of my half-hour presentation (off the cuff, of course) is when I tell the parents I do not need them to volunteer in my classroom. I get some strange looks. Then I tell them it's because I was hired to do a job, and if I need their help, I should probably be fired so they can get a competent teacher in the classroom. Then I get even stranger looks. Then I remind them that they do not need me hanging out in their workplace, giving suggestions or volunteering. Then the looks turn to smiles, and the heads start to nod in agreement. It's my classroom (for now) and unless they have a problem with me, they should just let me run it the way I want (go ahead and tell me I'm wrong. But I'm not.)

I am serious about volunteers. The notion of volunteering has morphed into some meme that says "teachers can't do it alone. They need partners, and who better than the parents!", which is false. The partnership between families and schools is like the partnership between patients and doctors. Students (patients) follow the prescriptions of the teacher (doctor) in order to reach a desired goal. Yes, students (patients) must be actively engaged, but not engaged in doing my (or the doctor's) work; they need to be engaged in doing their work, like I am engaged in doing mine.

I find it insulting as a teacher, and scary as a parent, to think that teachers need parents to help. The only thing I need parents to do is raise their kids up right. If you want to donate a plant, or a refrigerator, or some field trip funds, great. Do it. You want to plan a Christmas party, no. This is a school, not your Christian living room.

So, I guess I tricked myself by posting the I Got Nuthin, cuz then I got the preceding!

Schools Aren't Businesses!

Here is another one of those school-as-business/weigh-the-pig debunking articles. Most of these, and the ones I write, come from the position that teachers and schools cannot perform miracles; parents must be involved, and be accountable for the education of their children. Read the article below.

Charlie Kyte: Don't just take aim at the schools; work with them

By CHARLIE KYTE

August 21, 2008

The only chance Minnesota has of developing a competitive future workforce lies in a closely collaborative relationship between businesspeople and educators.

That relationship, though, is far from mutually supportive. Business leaders criticize educators and demand that market-model benchmarks be met to earn what seems like grudging support. Educators resist engaging with the business community for fear of scrutiny that focuses on shortcomings rather than on successes.

Last Sunday, Bill Blazar of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce laid out his expectations of the Minneapolis public schools in order to gain his support of their much-needed operating levy, to be voted on in November. He stated that he wanted a demonstration of accountability from the school system.

Since success will only come with a sincere effort to work together, I've developed a number of suggested benchmarks for our business community partners. This is what they need to do to earn the support of educators as we together try to have more students be successful.

•Make sure every one of your employees who is a parent of young children has their own child "learning/reading/behaviorally" ready when they begin kindergarten. Make part of their compensation dependent on this goal, and reward them for success.

•Create every possible opportunity to have teachers come inside your businesses to see firsthand the skills your employees need to be successful. Do this at "scale" for large numbers of educators.

•Create a media marketing/advertising campaign that will embed the belief in students and parents that obtaining an education will provide a better future. Tell them "do well in school and we will have a job waiting for you." Sell education as their best hope for the future.

•Begin to compliment educators when there is success. The constant "tough love" set of messages is not lifting our teachers. Rather, it is crushing their spirits.

Oh, and by the way ... we would like all these goals to be measurable.

Let's start working together.

Charlie Kyte is the executive director of the Minnesota Association of School Administrators and served for 20 years as a superintendent of schools in Minnesota.