This post was left by anonymous in reference to a SpringBoard posting I wrote a while back.
As one of the teachers who "created" the learning schedule for this year's implementation of Springboard in Hillsborough County, let me assure you that we did not create the schedule. We were given printed calendars and suggested "Pathways" and instructed to fit the Pathway into the calendar. We were told to leave NO days for individual choice of lessons. We were allowed to leave a few days each quarter to "Reloop and Reteach" concepts. Our district had a very strong curriculum for the high school English classes. I felt that I sent my students to college prepared to be successful. In fact, several of my previous students have become English teachers in this district. The students I as sending away to college this year have no idea what "Beowulf" is or who Chaucer was. They don't know what a Romantic poem is or why the Victorians wrote the way they did. They do, however, know how to identify camera angles in popular movies, how to identify critical perspectives, and a great deal about the Congo. The Springboard curriculum in English works well with my "regular" level students who were struggling with the more literary curriculum. My "honors" level students are being disadvantaged by a curriculum that does not provide them with a common basis of knowledge shared by other students across the nation.
Anonymous who posted this please email me at april@voteapril.com I want (need) to talk to you.
10 comments:
Why are we doing SpringBoard again???? No educator supports it. This is ridiculous. I agree that our kids won't have the common knowledge all other kids do. This common knowledge is pivotal. I looked at what little they showed us in the Spring curriculum, and I agree. The 9th grade stuff isn't near honors quality. It will be a complete mess. I don't think I will be able to live with myself, knowing everyday of the disservice I will be doing just because I have to follow this thing. It’s absurd.
DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN! How can we stop it?
Mrs Griffin, On the College board website for Spring board there is an FAQ. One of the uestions is as follows:
"Is there research on the impact of SpringBoard?
Westat is currently conducting an independent three-year
longitudinal study comparing SpringBoard and non-SpringBoard
classrooms. The preliminary report will be released in late
2007 with the final report planned for 2008."
I searched the Westat website and could locate no references to the preliminary report. As a board member I would think that you would have had a chance to look at this report.
Can you tell us what were the results of this preliminary report? I fear that it has not been done or if done, not released. If it was completed and not released it might suggest something worth looking in ti.
Could you please shed some light on this for me?
Thank you
David
Anonymous 9:33,
I have asked that question and am waiting for the answer. We are going to have a workshop on this topic (no date at this time yet). I will be asking a lot of the questions and points raised on this blog and concerns I have heard while visiting schools at that workshop. I will publish the date of that workshop in advance. April
Thanks Ms. Griffin
I happened to see your evaluation of Ms Elia and noted that yours actualy went into detail with criticisms and suggestions for improvement.
After I wrote I discovered that there are actually two different FAQ's. One with the mention of the preliminary study and one without it. I wonder why it was re-written?
You know, the one thing that most of us want is a little respect. Money is great but we all knew going in that teaching wasn't going to be financially rewarding. I came from the corporate world and discovered that my life wasnt made happy by money. Teaching gives me the opportunity to do something I enjoy, am very good at and leaves me time to do the other things that make my life full.
Your openness is refreshing and I for one, appreciate all you do. Please dont let the attitudes of some of your fellow board members get you down.
Thanks
David
April--
Again--thanks for all you do. If the SB IS planning to spend $4 million, then why not hire 100( $40,000 per) new teachers--or pay the ones we have?????
Geez... spending 4 million on this poor choice in such a tight budget year looks VERY irresponsible to me and others...
Looks like the money saved with the 6/7 schedule pays for SpringBoard!
April,
Your approach to the position you hold is so refreshing. As a high school teacher and the parent of two Hillsborough County students I must admit my apprehension over the quality of education my children will receive in the future. We voted you in office to evaluate all alternatives and choose the best for not only your children but all of our children. You and Ms. Valdes appear to be the only board memebers that stay focused on your jobs. Thank you for having the courage and strength to stand alone when it's necessary. Good for you- and lucky us!
Now that I know we are spending 4 million a year on this garbage of a "cure all" called SpringBoard, I better not see teachers being laid off or receiving pay cuts... SpringBoard should be cut!!!!! SpringBoard is an experiment, which costs taxpayers 4 million a year to test!
Morale is already rock bottom; this type of decision would dig a deep hole Elia and the SB will never get out of...
Saw the date for the workshop... was it purposeful scheduling to exclude parents and teachers from being able to attend?? The morning of the day before school gets out ensures that the only people present will be board members and the staff that are ramming this program down our throats. What recourse is available for a contract that has already been signed?? The workshop should have been held BEFORE the contract was signed and at a time when ALL stakeholders would have the opportunity to attend. The Board is yet again acting like the 'employee' instead of the 'employer'.
Are you kidding me? The meeting time is when??? This is so typical. RESCHEDULE to 6:00 p.m. so teachers, students, and working parents can attend. If you all are inconvenienced, then that is too bad. Teachers attend parent conference night, after hour parent meetings, back to school night, many trainings, and school activities on their own time, so why can't the board do the same? This was supposed to be an “olive branch”, but the timing proves it isn’t anything of the sort. This is a “let’s just do this to pretend we care and look like we communicate with our stakeholders” meeting.
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