This sounds like excusing a child's bad behavior by saying, "He wasn't the only one." At issue in this editorial is a governor who is tarnishing his state, our state, with bad behavior.
When Governor King suggested 10 years ago that the state should put a laptop in the hands of every 7th grade student in Maine, I thought it was a crazy idea. I had worked with middle school students for more than 20 years at that point. The idea of putting expensive technology into their hands seemed like it was a disaster waiting to happen.
I could not have been more wrong! Our school set guidelines for laptop care and use and consequences for not observing those guidelines. Our students stepped up and have been outstanding in their responsibility.
Now with these laptops in the classroom every day, the opportunities they present are limitless.
COMMUNICATION - My students receive an email from me each morning to let them know what we will be doing in class that day. If I am going to be absent from school, I email them specific instructions for the day's activities. Students email me from home to ask questions about assignments, to request assistance in looking over an assignment, or to pass in assignments.
EASE/COMFORT OF USE - Our daily use of the laptops and their various applications has made students very comfortable with using the laptop as a tool. Because of the prevalence of computers in our society, they will be able to adapt to other applications/programs in work place settings more easily. This preparation for the work place will benefit businesses.
ORGANIZATION - Through the daily use of the laptops in my paperless classroom, students are learning how to organize their work products. Each students has all of his/her work for the entire year sorted away in folders for easy access. Because the assignments were submitted to me electronically, I also have all student assignments for the year on my laptop and can access them to look for growth over time.
SAFETY - Our school blocks social-networking sites and potentially inappropriate web sites. At the same time, we emphasize the importance of Internet safety. Through information provided to parents and students at the beginning of the year, we urge parents to keep student use of laptops in supervised areas at home.
ACCESS TO INFORMATION - The access to information in the classroom has been remarkable. As an example, this winter we had some email communication with students in France. We were able to find their town on a map, information about their school from their school web site, information about their climate to compare it to our own, and online translators to break the language barrier.
TEACHER TRAINING - The Maine Learning Technology Initiative also provide training to teachers through a variety of venues. Additional costs for this training are not incurred by the local school systems. Many of the opportunities are now available online which minimizes costs and makes it more accessible.
In the past, I have read opinions in the SJ blogs that the laptops are of no use to students. As someone who has had direct experience with this program for the past 10 years, I can attest that this is not true.
Nice letter, Kelsie. You have included a nice blend of research to support your opinion and ideas to fight cyber bullying. People will listen to your informed opinion.
Nice work, Trevor! You have stated your topic well and your support, including researching facts about the benefits of music in education, is clear and convincing. Keep up the good work!
I received my education in the days of 30+ class sizes. It is true that my teachers had no helpers in their classrooms and that I did indeed receive a good education.
The passage of time, however, can cause us to not recall some of the less pleasant aspects of the good old days. I remember my elementary school classmates with learning difficulties being put in the back of the room where they could not interfere with the teacher’s lessons. I don’t think that they would feel they received a good education. School officials told my parents to keep their son with Downs Syndrome home because the school had no place for him in 1955. He was provided no education, other than what my parents could provide, until he was 12 years old. If a misbehaving student could not be brought into line with the smack of a ruler, pulling hair, or being physically intimidated or manhandled, then he or she was removed from the classroom until the behavior was brought into line. All of these things were considered acceptable ways of dealing with students who didn’t fit the mold.
I moved on with the good education that I received to become a teacher. From my 34 years of teaching experience, I know it is impossible to return to the way things were done in schools in the past. It’s not that kids are better or worse these days; the society they are growing in is just different. Society has changed; schools have had to change to keep pace. Increasing class sizes to 30+ would make it impossible for schools to meet the needs of all children in today’s society.
Note that public sector employees also pay a "substantial" portion of our income into Social Security. It is now over 7% including Medicare. What is the MSRS contribution rate currently?
According to information I researched, teachers pay a 7.65% contribution to MePERS (formerly Maine State Retirement) and 1.45% for Medicare, 9.1% total contribution. The proposed increase would bring the total employee contribution to 11.1%. Private sector employees pay 7.65% for Social Security and Medicare.
The school consolidation plan going before the voters of Livermore Falls, Livermore, and Jay on Tuesday, January 25th does not include closing schools. The consideration of closing schools was discussed by the members of various committees involved in investigating school consolidation in these communities over the past several months. However, that decision is not a part of the January 25th vote on consolidation.
"WCSH6 is reporting that the governor explained why he did not plan to attend the events hosted by the NAACP while at a meeting for business leaders in Sanford."
Would this group of "business leaders" be a special interest group?
It certainly is relevant that this man has so many driving infractions. It is an outright disregard of the law. We deserve better than this from our leaders!
All committee meetings in the development of the consolidation plan will be open to the public so that interested individuals can be involved even if they are not placed on a committee.
The Civil Rights Team at the school shared a quote during the school's announcements, and that prompted Amanda to stand up for her friend and to say something about his abuse. These teams of students in schools throughout the state provide a great service in making school communities aware and in keeping them thinking about the words and actions that can cause harm, emotional and physical, to students. Civil Rights Teams in Maine schools should also receive thanks and respect for their service in heightening awareness of bullying and prevention.
Recent Comments
excuse
This sounds like excusing a child's bad behavior by saying, "He wasn't the only one." At issue in this editorial is a governor who is tarnishing his state, our state, with bad behavior.
"First they came..."
I thought of this quote many times since January, Karla. I hope we won't have to say that "no one was left to speak for me."
Provocation
It is clear to me that this action is intended to provoke.
In support of MLTI
When Governor King suggested 10 years ago that the state should put a laptop in the hands of every 7th grade student in Maine, I thought it was a crazy idea. I had worked with middle school students for more than 20 years at that point. The idea of putting expensive technology into their hands seemed like it was a disaster waiting to happen.
I could not have been more wrong! Our school set guidelines for laptop care and use and consequences for not observing those guidelines. Our students stepped up and have been outstanding in their responsibility.
Now with these laptops in the classroom every day, the opportunities they present are limitless.
COMMUNICATION - My students receive an email from me each morning to let them know what we will be doing in class that day. If I am going to be absent from school, I email them specific instructions for the day's activities. Students email me from home to ask questions about assignments, to request assistance in looking over an assignment, or to pass in assignments.
EASE/COMFORT OF USE - Our daily use of the laptops and their various applications has made students very comfortable with using the laptop as a tool. Because of the prevalence of computers in our society, they will be able to adapt to other applications/programs in work place settings more easily. This preparation for the work place will benefit businesses.
ORGANIZATION - Through the daily use of the laptops in my paperless classroom, students are learning how to organize their work products. Each students has all of his/her work for the entire year sorted away in folders for easy access. Because the assignments were submitted to me electronically, I also have all student assignments for the year on my laptop and can access them to look for growth over time.
SAFETY - Our school blocks social-networking sites and potentially inappropriate web sites. At the same time, we emphasize the importance of Internet safety. Through information provided to parents and students at the beginning of the year, we urge parents to keep student use of laptops in supervised areas at home.
ACCESS TO INFORMATION - The access to information in the classroom has been remarkable. As an example, this winter we had some email communication with students in France. We were able to find their town on a map, information about their school from their school web site, information about their climate to compare it to our own, and online translators to break the language barrier.
TEACHER TRAINING - The Maine Learning Technology Initiative also provide training to teachers through a variety of venues. Additional costs for this training are not incurred by the local school systems. Many of the opportunities are now available online which minimizes costs and makes it more accessible.
In the past, I have read opinions in the SJ blogs that the laptops are of no use to students. As someone who has had direct experience with this program for the past 10 years, I can attest that this is not true.
Faith
"This is NOT a government committee that will do things behind our back."
Oh, how I wish I had your faith!
Well done!
Nice letter, Kelsie. You have included a nice blend of research to support your opinion and ideas to fight cyber bullying. People will listen to your informed opinion.
Well done!
This is a nice letter, Eric. I particularly liked the way to provided some strategies to help deal with cyber bullying.
Well done!
Nice work, Trevor! You have stated your topic well and your support, including researching facts about the benefits of music in education, is clear and convincing. Keep up the good work!
Good Old Days
I received my education in the days of 30+ class sizes. It is true that my teachers had no helpers in their classrooms and that I did indeed receive a good education.
The passage of time, however, can cause us to not recall some of the less pleasant aspects of the good old days. I remember my elementary school classmates with learning difficulties being put in the back of the room where they could not interfere with the teacher’s lessons. I don’t think that they would feel they received a good education. School officials told my parents to keep their son with Downs Syndrome home because the school had no place for him in 1955. He was provided no education, other than what my parents could provide, until he was 12 years old. If a misbehaving student could not be brought into line with the smack of a ruler, pulling hair, or being physically intimidated or manhandled, then he or she was removed from the classroom until the behavior was brought into line. All of these things were considered acceptable ways of dealing with students who didn’t fit the mold.
I moved on with the good education that I received to become a teacher. From my 34 years of teaching experience, I know it is impossible to return to the way things were done in schools in the past. It’s not that kids are better or worse these days; the society they are growing in is just different. Society has changed; schools have had to change to keep pace. Increasing class sizes to 30+ would make it impossible for schools to meet the needs of all children in today’s society.
Requested Information from previous entry
Note that public sector employees also pay a "substantial" portion of our income into Social Security. It is now over 7% including Medicare. What is the MSRS contribution rate currently?
According to information I researched, teachers pay a 7.65% contribution to MePERS (formerly Maine State Retirement) and 1.45% for Medicare, 9.1% total contribution. The proposed increase would bring the total employee contribution to 11.1%. Private sector employees pay 7.65% for Social Security and Medicare.
lose re-election by 1000%
My concern is the damage that can be done between now and the next election.
Question
What is a "Confidential" employee?
Clarification
The school consolidation plan going before the voters of Livermore Falls, Livermore, and Jay on Tuesday, January 25th does not include closing schools. The consideration of closing schools was discussed by the members of various committees involved in investigating school consolidation in these communities over the past several months. However, that decision is not a part of the January 25th vote on consolidation.
small portion?
"WCSH6 is reporting that the governor explained why he did not plan to attend the events hosted by the NAACP while at a meeting for business leaders in Sanford."
Would this group of "business leaders" be a special interest group?
Congratulations!
Congratulations, Nick, on all of the wonderful things happening in your life. Be careful out there!
Great work!
Well done, Mr. Emery. Keep up the great work! Thank you SJ for this positive look at the hard work going on in schools.
Congratulations
Congratulations, Mr. Good! You make a difference!
Relevance
It certainly is relevant that this man has so many driving infractions. It is an outright disregard of the law. We deserve better than this from our leaders!
Welcome
Welcome to Jay, Touch of Class!
committee work
All committee meetings in the development of the consolidation plan will be open to the public so that interested individuals can be involved even if they are not placed on a committee.
Thank you.
Thank you to Cranky Yankee for an clearly stated and accurate response to this editorial.
Civil Rights Team
The Civil Rights Team at the school shared a quote during the school's announcements, and that prompted Amanda to stand up for her friend and to say something about his abuse. These teams of students in schools throughout the state provide a great service in making school communities aware and in keeping them thinking about the words and actions that can cause harm, emotional and physical, to students. Civil Rights Teams in Maine schools should also receive thanks and respect for their service in heightening awareness of bullying and prevention.
Thank You
Thank you for the supportive and realistic comments about teachers.