tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2790809561264810693.post7532278553563961212..comments2023-11-07T06:56:59.563-05:00Comments on Ann Arbor Schools Musings: Election News: National and Local DevelopmentsRuthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10531344380743742801noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2790809561264810693.post-4567522593224164872016-08-09T22:22:10.667-04:002016-08-09T22:22:10.667-04:00Admittedly, with the greater funding we have than ...Admittedly, with the greater funding we have than neighboring districts, and with the pay to play policies for after school activities, we have been able to maintain many programs. However, a deeper look looks less sanguine. For example, Middle School electives have gone from three periods a day to two; that's a 33% decrease. Offerings in most electives are shrinking: art, physical education, tech ed, etc. One Theater teacher is spread across three schools and the comprehensive high schools no longer have a full time theater teacher. Life Skills classes in the Middle School no longer exist. <br /><br />In "academic" classes teachers are being evaluated on keeping to the pacing guide, on narrow "Learning Objectives," and on student performance on multiple choice items, rather than on authentic learning that matches the developmental levels and needs of each student. The result has been the trivializing of teaching and learning. Staff Meetings pay more attention to data than to the real needs of students.<br /><br />I taught with the expectation that my students would think critically about what they read and were told, and not to accept or issue platitudes. I expect the same of the Board.Jeff Gaynorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03604386782723591108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2790809561264810693.post-40704398514346287482016-08-09T11:20:45.932-04:002016-08-09T11:20:45.932-04:00As a teacher in the district, there is no question...As a teacher in the district, there is no question that the increased testing and the new teacher evaluation system taken together have decreased quality instruction programs. It's hard to see when you're not in the classroom, but students and teachers across the district see it daily. When you are required to do more and more paperwork, test prep, pre and post testing, Student Learning Objections, canned curriculum, and actual testing, other opportunities are missed. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2790809561264810693.post-23309084029106049332016-07-27T11:38:53.726-04:002016-07-27T11:38:53.726-04:00From the above platform statement: "Our distr...From the above platform statement: "Our district should be focused on instructional opportunities in a broad variety of subjects, not just those emphasized in the standardized testing regime now in place." <br /><br />What????<br /><br />AAPS currently emphasizes world languages (all schools, all levels), art (all schools, all levels), instrumental and vocal music (all schools, all levels) and technology (all schools all levels, but especially at STEAM Northside and in the magnet program at Skyline). None of these areas are involved in standardized testing.<br /><br />AAPS currently has one of the strongest arts programs in the State,and indeeed, in the country. Very few public school systems have world languages being taught at the elementary and middle school levels. Languages taught have recently been expanded to include Arabic,Mandarin Chinese and American sign language.<br /><br />So in other words, they are trying to differentiate themselves by saying we should be doing what we are already doing? <br /><br /> Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com