TERRE HAUTE —
I hope there are enough legislators in the majority party of the Indiana General Assembly who have the courage to look more carefully at the spate of bills sponsored by the “reformers in Indianapolis” regarding education and review the reasoned comments of so many people like Mike Lunsford and the editorial page of the Tribune-Star who point out the absurdities in the present thinking about educational reform.
There are a number of unanswered questions which need to be addressed before any radical or logical changes should be made to improve our schools.
n What is meant by rewarding teachers on the basis of “performance”? Performance seems to be determined by the “reformers” as scores on standardized tests. Why are the results of a standardized test more significant in measuring progress than a whole body of work required over a period of time? There are so many variables in test-taking that make it difficult to accurately measure what was learned with one exam. For example, in this county one school may have a solid support basis at home and another one does not. Can we compare the performance of the teachers in these two schools when home conditions are so different?
• Are teachers in Indiana so ineffective and uncaring that it will take merit pay to motivate them to do a better job? Teachers come with a degree of merit. Typically they have completed a minimum of four years of college, passed numerous examinations and successfully emerged from the scrutiny of qualified individuals both at a college and in a public school setting. And they know that teaching is more than just repeating knowledge. They have learned how to reach students, motivate them, and help them develop human and technical skills.
Undoubtedly there are some ineffective teachers, but why devise a system that puts stress on all of them because of a suspected few? In the final analysis, however, teachers may be effective in one situation and not get results in another.
• If a teacher in a class of 24 pupils has 12 who show progress and 12 who do not, does the teacher get merit pay? What if a high school teacher has three classes that show progress and three that do not? Coincidentally, what would be considered improvement on these tests and who determines it?
• How much merit pay would be given and from what source of funds? I have not seen any figures but I know from experience as an educator who had to mete out these funds that the amount has been rather slim but it is enough to create tension among the faculty. Is it worth it to go through a complex analysis with teacher pitted against teacher for a meager reward?
• Are private schools and charter schools going to be obligated to accept any student who applies as the public schools are? If not, why not?
• Why not give public school teachers the same opportunity to innovate and experiment as is being advocated for private and charter schools? Give them time, facilities and support in their own classrooms and see what happens.
• What is important to learn? There is a lot of talk about math and science, subjects even singled out by the president in his State of the Union address. As important as those disciplines are, the public schools have a more important mission. Not everyone needs to be proficient in math and science to make a contribution to society, but everyone needs to be a responsible citizen for democracy to survive. Mike Lunsford is right. Our education system must be punctuated with civics, economics, the arts and experiences which lay the foundation for true democracy.
The convoluted mess of bills presently in the Legislature is an insult to the dedicated teachers who relentlessly ply their trade daily for the benefit of all students. Instead of forcing ill-conceived notions about performance on teachers, listen to all sides and then formulate a true reform agenda.
When all parties work together in an environment of mutual respect rather than in an adversarial manner, acceptable reform is more likely to emerge.
— Marvin A. Henry
Terre Haute
Flashpoint
FLASHPOINT: State’s education reform plan an insulting mess
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FLASHPOINT: Humane Society does not merit IRS targeting either
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FLASHPOINT: A crisis at the NLRB
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FLASHPOINT: Legislative session reflected Hoosier priorities
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FLASHPOINT: A legislative session of missed opportunities
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FLASHPOINT: Again in 2013 General Assembly, middle class generally ignored
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FLASHPOINT: Indiana lawmakers reinforced school safety mechanisms
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FLASHPOINT: Lessons from the legacy media — get it right, first
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FLASHPOINT: Hoosiers got steady hand in recent session
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FLASHPOINT: Time has arrived for overhaul of TV news
Former FCC Chairman Alfred Sikes gave an address in 1992 in which he claimed television news was too superficial and too focused on visuals.
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FLASHPOINT: Fiscal cliff, Obamacare have already raised taxes enough
Our history is rich with stories of people who have immigrated to the United States for a chance at the American Dream. The American Dream, in its truest form, is the opportunity to achieve success by working hard and playing by the rules; to make it on your own and to say, “I earned this.”
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FLASHPOINT: Expanding Medicaid coverage makes sense for Indiana
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FLASHPOINT: Improve public education, stop experimenting with it
In January, the four of us who serve as the Democrats on the House Education Committee outlined our hopes for the 2013 session of the Indiana General Assembly, particularly in joining with Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz to offer common sense solutions to improve the quality of education for our children. With the halfway point of this session past us, we remain optimistic that positive steps can be taken … but that optimism is tempered by the reality that education policies are being directed by a legislative majority that has a radically different agenda.
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Healthcare law anniversary no reason for celebration
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FLASHPOINT: Defending state’s authority is attorney general’s obligation
The law of the land recognizes the authority of states to license marriage.
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FLASHPOINT: Stability key for state’s future
Hoosiers have the unique luxury of being the fiscal envy of the nation due to the sound fiscal policies of the last eight years.
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FLASHPOINT: House budget offers Medicaid solution for Indiana
This week, my U.S. House Budget Committee colleagues and I introduced a federal budget resolution for fiscal year 2014. Our budget is a responsible plan that stops spending money and balances in 10 years — largely through making key reforms to drivers of our debt like Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.
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FLASHPOINT: Problem gambling in Indiana: A new understanding of community concern
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FLASHPOINT: Eastern time in Indiana defies common sense
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Praying for civil resolution to debate over gun control
Guns are lively ammunition for passionate debate these days.
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FLASHPOINT: It’s not too late to expand health services
This week, state leaders euthanized the biggest, boldest Hoosier jobs proposal of the 2013 session of the Indiana General Assembly.
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FLASHPOINT: You can’t go back again — and that’s OK
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FLASHPOINT: The fierce urgency of now — nation needs to protect youth
The alcohol-fueled alleged serial rape of a 16-year-old Ohio girl by two of her similarly impaired classmates — not to mention the drunken videotaped commentary of others — points yet again to the imperative that adult America renews its commitment to address as a true national community those issues that most threaten the health, safety and forward development of youth.
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FLASHPOINT: A pastor speaks out against Sullivan’s ‘traditional prom’
I am a pastor in Sullivan, Ind., and I am outraged.
Recently, two young students applied to walk the Grand March together in the school prom in Sullivan. -
FLASHPOINT: 0wning firearms is a First Amendment exercise, too
Following the hysteria generated by gun prohibitionists in the wake of the Sandy Hook tragedy, a nationwide rush on gun stores began as citizens bought semiautomatic modern sporting rifles, handguns and ammunition, in effect “making a political statement” about proposals to ban such firearms.
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FLASHPOINT: Maintaining the priority
Recently a newspaper article has been written about a change in the by-laws of the Indiana High School Athletic Association which speaks directly to attempted undue influence exerted upon students below the level of grade nine and their parents.
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FLASHPOINT: The fairness of marriage
What is the current Indiana law concerning marriage? Our state defines marriage in a singular way — between a man and a woman.
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FLASHPOINT: We ask state legislators to abide by their oath of office
All of us relish giving unsolicited advice to our elected representatives.
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FLASHPOINT: Mentoring is having major impact on public education
While managing local utility services, Mike Martin found a new way to energize his community, and students are starting to benefit.
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FLASHPOINT: Common Core standards should be common sense
Years ago, when state officials and education experts came together to create new model standards for schools, they probably never expected it to be controversial.
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