Monthly Archives: August 2012

“Walmart, Right-Wing Media Company Hold Star-Studded Benefit Promoting Education Reform Film”

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I’ve previously posted about the upcoming film romanticizing the parent trigger and the ironic benefit Walmart is sponsoring to unveil it.

Thanks to Alexander Russo, I learned about an excellent In These Times article about the controversy, Walmart, Right-Wing Media Company Hold Star-Studded Benefit Promoting Education Reform Film.

My Center For Teaching Quality colleague Jose Luis Vilson is the star of that article, including quotes like this:

“It’s another Waiting for Superman,” says Jose Vilson, a New York City math teacher and board member of the Center for Teacher Quality. “You have these popular actors, who as well-intentioned as they may be, they may not know all the facts, but they’re willing to back up a couple of corporate friends or people maybe they’ve become familiar with” in “trying to promote this sort of vision.”

And this one, where Viola Davis doesn’t shine (though, admittedly, she may have said much more that wasn’t quoted by the reporter:

Vilson says he was particularly disappointed by Viola Davis’ participation, given The Help star’s past comments about wanting to elevate the voices of often-ignored domestic workers.

“You should also see the alignment between that and what’s going on with teachers,” says Vilson, “and the bad tone that’s being sent throughout the country.”

“I’m sorry,” Davis told the New York Times, “I just know if you don’t have a strong advocate for a child, they’re not going to make it.”

It was particularly disappointing to learn from the article that CBS is planning on airing a special on Walmart’s event….

This Weeks #PTchat – Engaging Families of Students Affected by Autism w/ Wendy Fournier

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Guest Post by Joe Mazza

Today, 1 in 88 children are affected autism. Boys are more at risk with a 1 in 54 ratio. Many of us completed coursework in college where the term “autism” wasn’t even on the radar for pre-service teacher training. As a result, in 2012 many school teachers and leaders without specialized training are oftentimes at a loss when it comes to knowing what to do for students affected by autism, as well as how to engage their families.

This week’s Parent-Teacher Chat (#PTchat) on Twitter will look to shed light on what we can do to meet the needs of these students and their families. Joining us on the chat will be National Autism Association President @WendyFournier.

After several years in the promotional products industry, Wendy founded a home-based web development company that allowed her to have a career in web design and be a full-time Mom. Her youngest daughter was diagnosed with autism in 2002. Wendy is committed to changing the perspective of autism from what was once considered a mysterious mental illness to a biologically definable and treatable medical disorder. She attends and speaks at conferences throughout the US. Wendy currently serves on the RI State Commission to study the education of children with autism, as a consumer reviewer for the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program for Autism Research through the U.S. Department of Defense.

Please join us this Wednesday night at 9EDT/6PST for #PTchat as we look to engage families of students affected by autism from the very first day of school.

White House Honors 12 PTA Members as “Champions of Change”

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Earlier this week, I posted about 150 PTA members going to the White House on Friday.

One of the things that will be happening is that the White House will honor twelve of them as “Champions Of Change”:

“President Obama knows how important parent involvement is in education, and we are excited to welcome PTA leaders who are setting such great examples in their communities to the White House,” said Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to the President. “The PTA Champions of Change we are honoring have collaborated with school administrators and community leaders, launched innovative advocacy campaigns, and worked tirelessly to grow their local PTAs to involve more parents in their children’s education.”

Congratulations!

“National PTA Heads to the White House”

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National PTA Heads to the White House is the headline in this announcement from the PTA. Here’s how it begins:

Parent Teacher Association (PTA) leaders representing 41 states, Washington, D.C., and Department of Defense schools in Europe will head to the White House on Friday, August 10th for a day-long briefing with top Administration officials to discuss challenges facing our nation’s schools and communities.

PTA will tackle topics such as the potential impact of sequestration on public education, implementation of Elementary and Secondary Act (ESEA) Flexibility, family engagement in education, school nutrition, student health and safety, and more. Top White House and Department of Education officials will engage in open dialogue with PTA volunteers from the local, state, and national levels in an effort to glean valuable insights from the nation’s parents and families.

What’s In Your Back to School Letter for Parents? This Week’s Parent-Teacher Chat on Twitter

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Guest post by Joe Mazza

What’s In Your Back to School Letter for Parents? This Week’s Parent-Teacher Chat on Twitter

Many educators around the world are currently drafting their first communications out to school families. This week on #ptchat, we’ll discuss what to include in these letters to get families excited about the new year, as well as begin focusing on open two-way communications from the start.

We’ll hear from parents, teachers & school leaders on what are the most important things to include in this first letter/newsletter/blog/post home to families. Here’s a great resource for principals byJonathan Martin – 9 Suggestions for the Back to School Letter.

Join us this Wednesday night at 9PM EDT / 6PM PST as we develop a shared Google Doc of resources & ideas to help us moving forward. We only get to draft one “Back to School Letter” each year. Make this one your best ever.

“Shattering Barriers To Parent Involvement”

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“Shattering Barriers To Parent Involvement” is a short, but useful, article that appeared a few years ago over at the National Association of Elementary School Principals website.

Here’s an excerpt:

Barrier: Lack of true, two-way, respectful partnership communication between parents and school personnel.
Solution: Parents know their children better than anyone else and can be vitally important school partners if allowed to be. Anne Bouie, a consultant with many years of experience working with parents and schools says, “The answer is to stop treating parents like ‘clients’ and start treating them like ‘partners’ in helping children learn.”
That simple attitude can make all the difference.

Thanks to Steve Constantino for the tip.

Louisiana District To Try Shame As Their Parent Engagement Policy

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“Twice a year, they’re going to publish in the local newspaper the list of parents or guardian who for whatever reason did not participate in the parent conference,” said Long.

That quote comes from an article about how one Louisiana school district is using a state law that allows them to act against parents who don’t participate in their child’s school.

Yup, that’s a great idea. We all know how well shame works with our students, so let’s apply it to their parents. It will certainly build a great school community — NOT!

I’m adding this to The Worst Parent Engagement Ideas.