Friday News Roundup

Georgia Teachers Fried After Reading Book on Gender to Fifth-Grade Class (The Washington Post)

This past week The Washington Post reported that,

“A decision to fire an elementary school teacher from Georgia has been upheld, after she read a children’s book on gender identity to her fifth-grade class earlier this year.”

“The Cobb County School Board of Education voted 4-3 along party lines to uphold Katie Rinderle’s termination, overruling a tribunal that had said she should not be fired. ‘The district is pleased that this difficult issue has concluded; we are very serious about keeping our classrooms focused on teaching, learning, and opportunities for success for students,’ the board of education said in a statement Friday.”

“Rinderle worked at Due West Elementary School, in Marietta, Georgia, and read the storybook ‘My Shadow is Purple’ by Australian author Scott Stuart to her class in March.”

“The picture-book is about a child who reflects on his mother’s shadow being ‘as pink as a blossoming cherry’ and his father’s shadow that’s ‘blue as a berry,’ and says their shadow is purple. Some parents complained, although Rinderle said others had also expressed their support for the lesson.”

Given the times we live in, teachers would be smart to share with parents the literary contents to be covered during class time, and to offer any concerned parent the choice to have their child “sit out” while the other students participate in the reading. Parents want choice. Here’s their choice – be in the classroom or not.

Bringing Inspiration and Information Into Your Classroom (Edutopia)

Edutopia released a series of classroom posters this week to celebrate the beginning of school. One describes “How We Thrive” by “Receiving a morning boost, i.e. a friendly greeting,” “Engaging in conversations that count,” “Refreshing and resetting your brain,” and “Being ready to play, no matter what your age.” Another proclaims that “Education is the Single Most Important Endeavor of the Human Race.” A third covers the seven questions to promote metacognition:

“What should I do first?

Is anything confusing to me?

Can I explain what I’ve learned?

Should I ask for extra help?

Why did I get the answer wrong?

Can I apply this in different contexts?

How can I do better next time?”

Staff Shortages in Schools Are Here to Stay. Here’s Why (EducationWeek)

Just in time for the start of school, EducationWeek online reported that,

“More than three years after the pandemic scrambled the K-12 education system, many school districts continue to struggle to find qualified employees to fill key positions, with no obvious solutions in sight.”

“The Jefferson County district in Kentucky made national headlines last week when a shortage of school bus drivers prompted route changes that left students stranded on the road for hours. The Lincoln district in Nebraska was fully staffed this week as the school year began, but lacks the usual contingent of backup employees who can step in when some people inevitably leave midway through the year. And school districts in many states are short on paraprofessionals and special education practitioners.”

“Administrators and hiring professionals in school districts have resigned themselves to the persistence of these challenges.”

When a system cannot attract the right number of employees, then that is usually a sign the system is antiquated and inefficient. Instead of trying to figure out how to fix the old system, maybe we should spend time working on creating a new one?

Gen Z’s Declining College Interest Persists – Even Among Middle Schoolers (The 74)

According to The 74 online,

“Consumed with pandemic-era grief, Gen Z’s apathy towards attending college has grown – even influencing students as young as middle schoolers.”

“A new YPulse report found two in five Gen Z students agreed with the statement: ‘The pandemic has made me less interested in pursuing higher education.’”

“Middle school students, generally 11 to 13 years old, not only contribute to the trend but also lead the view that work experience is more valuable.”

“That attitude has translated into an 8% decline in college enrollment from 2019 to 2022, showing how attending college is no longer a given for Gen Z.”

The learning goal for all of us should be career ready, whether that involves college or not.

4-Day School Weeks Surge in Popularity Among American Adults (EducationWeek)

EducationWeek online reported this week that,

“It was once a niche idea, reserved only for far-flung rural districts hoping to save a bit of cash. But now there’s growing support among Americans for a four-day school week, as more than half of U.S. adults – 53 percent – say they are in favor of shifting to a shorter schedule in their community.”

“That’s nearly twice the number who said so two decades ago, according to the annual PDK International poll, and support for the idea holds mostly steady even among adults living with a child young than 18 – half of whom said they support the idea in combination with longer school days and as an effort to save money.”

It’s encouraging to see the country starting to think about learning time in different ways. We no longer need to be held to 8 to 3 daily learning schedules and August to May school calendars. We now have the ability to learn anytime and anywhere.

On Women’s Equality Day (August 26), There’s Still No Gender Parity in K-12 Schools (EducationWeek)

According to EducationWeek online this week,

“Although nearly 77 percent of teachers are female, schools are not always equitable places for women to work.”

Male teachers make an average wage of $57,453, whereas women make $55,490. The disparity is due to the fact that male teachers have a greater opportunity – think coaching – to make extra duty pay than females.

Male principals make $100,600 on average nationally, compared to $96,300 for women.

Although 77 percent of the classroom workforce are women, only 30% of America’s superintendents are females.

And I’m writing this in 2023.

Pathetic.

Have a great weekend. Til Monday. SVB