Friday News Roundup

It’s Friday! Time for the News Roundup.

Against Ten Commandments in Schools? Tell Your Kid Not to Look, Governor Says (Washington Post)

Earlier this month, the Washington Post reported that,

“Parents who oppose the display of the Ten Commandments in public classroom in Louisiana should ‘just tell the child not to look,’ Governor Jeff Landry, a Republican, said, as he outlined how his government intended to respond to a lawsuit against the state’s new requirement to post the Ten Commandments in every school classroom.”

Is the traditional of separating church and state dead in this country? If so, I feel sorry for those non-Christian kids and their families that will have to endure such things as looking at the Ten Commandments inside their classrooms. If not, it’s time for our court system to exercise their power to “check and balance” the executive and legislative branches moving forward.

The Parent Report Card: Teachers Get an ‘A.’ The System? Not so Much (The 74)

According to The 74, a recent National Parents Union survey showed that,

“Parents from across the political spectrum report greater confidence in their kids’ teachers and schools than they do in the national education system at large, with the overwhelming majority (82%) giving teachers an ‘A’ or ‘B’ for how they’ve handled education this year.”

…

“But according to the survey – dubbed “The Parent Report Card” – as parents considered the outer echelons of the education system, their confidence began to wane. Just over half rated their superintendents and school boards favorably, a figure that continued to drop for state governors (45%), U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona (32%) and President Joe Biden (33%). That last number is lower than the president’s overall 37% approval rating among respondents nationwide, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released June 28.”

It’s no surprise parents rate teachers higher than anything else connected with the traditional K-12 school system. Usually, the closer you are to the teaching and learning process, the higher your acceptable rating.

But it’s the dismal numbers about the traditional system that we need to pay attention to moving forward. Is this further proof that most parents are looking for a new system of learning for their kids, one that revolves around the adult learning leader they seem to rank high, even in the traditional system?

For Microschools, ‘Location Has Been the Hardest Thing.’ Florida Made It Easier (The 74)

According to The 74 this month,

“When Tobin Slaven and his wife Martina went searching for space for their new microschool a few years ago, they found what seemed like a perfect location: a turn-of-the-century historic home in the heart of old Fort Lauderdale, Fla., surrounded by museums, parks and a bustling downtown. And it was just a short walk from home.”

“They signed a lease with the local historical society for the Philemon Nathaniel Bryan House and checked with the city to ensure that a tiny alternative school could occupy the building…They opened Acton Academy Fort Lauderdale in February 2021 and moved in with just four students.”

“A month later, city officials broke the bad news: The Bryan House was actually zoned as a ‘learning center,’ an informal space for tutoring and exhibitions – not a school. It had a sprinkler system, fire alarms and a fire escape. But if they were to stay, the historical society would have to install massive metal fire doors, among other changes.”

…

“But new regulations, approved last year by state lawmakers, could save future microschools from similar headaches. The regulations say private schools can occupy existing spaces from museums to movie theaters without seeking local government approval.”

When we opened our personalized learning lab school inside the Houston Museum District, it was amazing how the deck was stacked against learning organizations that wanted to use different spaces than schools.

This needs to change, and it looks like Florida is leading the way. Anytime, anywhere learning for all.

Teacher Morale Dips Yet Again: 5 Takeaways From New Survey (EducationWeek)

According to EducationWeek this month,

“After an uptick in morale last year, teachers nationally are saying that their mental health has worsened and that they are less satisfied with their careers than they were a year ago, according to new research.”

The report’s five takeaways are:

Teachers want better working conditions and higher pay.

Teachers are increasingly concerned with student discipline.

Negative impacts on mental health vary by age and race.

Administrator support has an impact on well-being.

Student and teacher mental well-being is connected.

Why Most Teachers Won’t Be Talking About the Election in Their Classrooms (EducationWeek)

According to EducationWeek,

“Most teachers don’t plan to address the 2024 presidential election in their classrooms, with many citing the possibility of parent complaints and disrespectful classroom discussions, according to a new nationally representative survey.”

“Fifty-eight percent of K-12 teachers answered ‘no’ when asked if they planned to talk about the election in an EdWeek Research Center survey of 678 educators, including 423 teachers.”

When I was a classroom teacher, a highlight of the year was when the entire class took part in a mock presidential debate. We had nominees, media reps, and judges all participating in a discussion of domestic and foreign policy issues. To think that teachers aren’t interested in doing something like this any longer is sobering.

That’s the News Roundup for this week. Til Monday. SVB