From Rep. Sharon Steckman: “Plan Needs More Common Sense Improvements”
With a goal to make sure every child gets the skills necessary to land a good-paying job, the Iowa House approved an education reform package on Wednesday after two days of debate, and two months of committee work.
I was pleased with the work we did together to build consensus on many important parts of the bill. We found agreement on competency based education, which is a revolutionary way of providing education with more personalized instruction and the progress of students guided by mastery of subjects. I also supported efforts to recruit and retain great teachers, engage more parents, and put every student on a track for post-secondary education or skill-specific trades.
Other bipartisan proposals to strengthen education were, improving early childhood literacy by expanding statewide preschool from 10 to 15 hours per week, giving each kindergarten student an assessment, and expanding Advanced Placement on-line classes.
While there were many areas of agreement, I’m disappointed several common sense, research based ideas supported by many teachers, students, and parents were not included. My amendment to lower class sizes in kindergarten through 3rd grade was not taken and another amendment to continue an early family literacy plan was not adopted.
There were also several controversial ideas in the bill opposed by many educators and parents, including a proposal to hold back all 3rd graders who don’t pass a single reading test and eliminating standards for charter schools. Another controversial topic included in the bill allows Iowa students to get 100% of their education on-line through an out of state, for-profit company. I support on-line learning as a supplement, but am concerned about students never being in a classroom with a teacher and other students and sending millions of Iowa tax dollars out of state to a for profit online company.
However, the biggest disappointment came right after we passed the ed. reform bill when I attended a subcommittee meeting concerning the funding for the state small class size initiative, which has been in effect for at least 10 years. The fund is due to sunset and needs legislative action to keep those resources going to schools.
The proposal is to take $20 million from this fund and “repurpose” that money toward the education reform bill. Many districts, including Mason City, use those funds to keep class sizes as small or to add a paraprofessional.
House File 2380 was approved on a 53-46 vote and now goes to the Senate for further consideration.
Must be an election year, she cares.
I know first hand why we have the problems in school, work place and homes. Parents do not parent anymore. The parents are afraid to discipline because you got big brother watching just waiting to jump on child abuse. Teacher tells a student to behave and they just look at them like what you going to do? Boss tells them to do your job and look at him or her like you talking to me? I got spanked when I was a child, and yes I spanked my child and you know what? I’m glad I had a Mom and Dad that loved me enough to take the time to teach me right from wrong. My child has told me more than once she was glad she was raised on old fashion discipline. I am not saying beating your child is right but a swat on the butt will get their attention. You could not pay me enough to be a teacher now days. I am thankful we have people that want to be teachers. Like anything else their our good ones and sorry to say bad ones but you get that in almost all jobs. I just want to say while here thank you to all the teachers out there that really do what to make a difference in a child’s life.
The problem is discipline in the classes. That’s about all the teachers get done because parents do not teach their kids to behave. Educators can’t parent AND teach. I bet most of us over 50 would be appalled if we spent a day in most classrooms. In our day, we didn’t even dare whisper, let alone be disruptive. And the teachers now have very little clout because if they hurt a student’s feelings by telling him to be quiet, the parents whine, or worse, beat their child.
On the other hand, I have seen a note a teacher sent home to parents (not around here) that was so poorly written and had so many spelling and grammatical errors that the parent went to the principal with the note and demanded that the note be shown to the school board. She did not want that new teacher “educating” her daughter, and for very good reason. The teacher was nearly illiterate. I truly think teachers should have to pass proficiency tests prior to being hired.
How did that “teacher” make it thru college if she was “nearly illiterate” ??????
I’d also love to know how that teacher made it through college. She certainly couldn’t have passed Junior High English back when I was in school in the early 60’s. She knew almost nothing about spelling, grammar, punctuation, or capitalization. Her page-long note to the parents was pathetic.
Katie-I totally agree with you about the discipline. When I went to school you had better behave or the teacher would apply discipline and then you would get it from your parents as well and if Grandma heard about it you would get a swat from her as well. Easier to behave in school. Now, don’t you dare touch my little Johnny (the brat) or I will take every thing you have. The lack of discipline not only shows in school but in the workplace as well.
All this representative knows is education spending and increasing the amount we pay for education. How about coming up with a way to improve education without adding dollars. It is easy. Make the teachers responsible and accountable and you will see the education improve fast. You will never hear this idea proposed by a ex-teacher who is backed by teacher unions. What about all of the other issues? She is just like all democrats, spend, spend, spend.
Eliminate the teachers union and watch the education system improve in this country ! Pouring more $$$$$$$$ into the system is always a teachers solution to all the education problems in this country. Does China have a teachers union ? Maybe Ms. S. should visit China and check out the system over there and see why they are leading the world….hmmm – just a thought
You nailed it Larry. Steckman is so concerned about the online schools. Her concern is for the education the kids won’t get? No. It’s for the tax $ leaving the state. The same tax $ that won’t be going to her beloved teachers union and into the pockets of teachers.
Time for Steckman to go.