Education News: January 30, 2009

Following are some of the top headlines from the world of education for the week ending January 30, 2009.

Teach for America Returns to Compton after 5-year Hiatus
(Los Angeles Times, January 27, 2009)  The City of Compton has decided to allow Teach for America (TFA), a program that assigns college graduates to high-needs schools across the country, after a five-year absence.  TFA worked in Compton for many years before the city ended the relationship after the 2003-04 school year due to declining enrollment.  Despite TFA’s repeated attempts to re-enter the district, Compton was hesitant to support teachers who only plan to be there for two years and often have aspirations in other career fields.  Additionally, a TFA member who worked in Compton published a scathing book about her experiences.  The board voted 4-3 in favor of a 3-year return, at which point there will be another vote.  Superintendent Kaye Burnside supports the program. 

CTA Chief Ron Huberman to be Named as New Chicago Schools Chief
(Chicago Tribune, January 27, 2009)  Mayor Richard Daley has chosen Chicago Transit Authority Chief Ron Huberman to replace Arne Duncan who has headed to Washington as the new Secretary of Education.  Huberman is known as a strong administrator but has no professional experience as an educator.  He ran the CTA since May 2007, after two years as Daley’s chief of staff.  Chicago Teachers Union President Marilyn Stewart said that the union would work with Huberman but would have preferred someone with education experience. 

Recess Found Important to Children’s Education and Behavior
(USA Today, January 28, 2009)  A recent study by Dr. Romina M. Barros found that children who have recess during the day behave better in class.  Barros and her colleagues looked at 11,000 eight- and nine-year-olds, split evenly between boys and girls who had either no to minimal recess or some recess.  A teacher rating system was used to determine the students’ behavior.  Many experts say that recess is vital to children’s development as they learn about creativity, imagination and how to interact with others, especially conflict resolution.  Recess is also beneficial as physical activity and is recommended for at least twenty minutes a day.  Many Asian elementary schools allow ten minutes of free time after forty minutes of instruction.  The study found that No Child Left Behind has made caused a decrease in recess throughout America.  The study also found that 30% of students who were classified as have no to minimal recess were likely to be black, from households with lower incomes and lower education levels, to be living in the Northeast or South, and to be attending urban public school.

NYC Schools Chancellor Pleads for Reduction in Budget Cuts
(New York Times, January 28, 2009)  While testifying at a joint hearing of the Assembly Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee, NYC Schools Chancellor Joel Klein begged state lawmakers to reduce proposed budget cuts and give the city more flexibility with how it spends state aid.  Klein claimed that the schools could have to lay off 15,000 employees, many of which would be teachers.  He claimed the school system is facing a $1.4 billion shortfall from its 2009-10 budget, and that the state’s need to reconsider a proposed $84 million budget cut for this school year.  Klein admits that the stimulus package would help the budget problem, but far from solve it.  There has been no word yet on whether the chancellor’s pleas were successful. 

Ohio Governor Unveils New School Plan
(Cleveland Plain Dealer, January 29, 2009)  Ohio Governor Ted Strickland’s new education plan was met with praise from most quarters when it was unveiled on Wednesday, but local superintendents wait in anticipation to find out where the money for improvements will come from and what the funding changes will mean for taxpayers.  He guaranteed that states will not receive less state money than they did the previous year in the first year of his plan, even if enrollment falls.  The governor also brought up revamping the funding system and place more power in the hands of the voters.  The two major Ohio teachers’ unions supported Strickland’s plan, especially his idea for a four-year teacher residency program modeled after the medical profession and his goal to overhaul the teacher licensing and tenure requirements.  More details will come in Strickland’s budget proposal next week.

Duncan Says Money for Schools is Crucial for Recovery
(USA Today, January 29, 2009)  In a Thursday interview with the associated press, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan reiterated that our nation’s economy will not improve without billions of dollars being poured into education, as is intended under President Obama’s recovery plan.  He characterized the funding as a form of investing in the future workforce.  The plan has received criticism from Republicans because it doesn’t create jobs immediately, but both Democrats and Duncan point to the nation’s long term problems and how this is a unique opportunity to deal with those as well.  Supporters of the package also point to the jobs that would be created to build and repair schools and the thousands of teachers who would keep their jobs.  The money will go towards grants that fund K through 12 and special education programs, aid to states and building and renovating schools. 

LA Teachers Unite in Rally Against Budget Cuts
(Los Angeles Times, January 30, 2009)  Thousands of teachers and other union members rallied in LA on Thursday to protest state and local budget cuts.  The majority of unrest is over Governor Schwarzenegger’s proposed budget, but others took aim at the LA Unified school district and schools Superintendent Ramon Cortines.   A.J. Duffy, president of United Teachers Los Angeles, advocated boycotting faculty meetings and to refusing to give district-mandated periodic assessments.  The protesters began at the school district headquarters on Beaudry Avenue, marched to Pershing Square for the rally, and then finished at the Reagan State Office Building.  Schwarzenegger’s office issued a statement in response the rally, saying that "The governor has gone to great lengths to protect education from feeling the full effect of the $42-billion state budget deficit."