Mike Falick's Blog

Plyler v. Doe: An In Depth Look at the Supreme Court Case on Education for Illegal Immigrants

On March 26, 2006, I posted about the Supreme Court's 1982 decision in Plyler v. Doe that requires school districts to provide free access to education regardless of a student's immigration status.  Tom Shuford, writing for EducationNews.org yesterday, has posted an extensive analysis of Plyler v. Doe that contains some important facts on the costs of education of illegal immigrants in Texas.  Examples:

Studies put Texas' cost of educating undocumented students as high as $1.65 billion a year, an expense that easily outpaces other costs associated with illegal immigration, such as medical and criminal justice services.  The cost of illegal immigration to Texas' public schools jumps to about $4 billion a year, according to one study, when the immigrants' children - some of whom were born in the United States and are, therefore, citizens - are counted.  In return, their families contribute nearly $1 billion to the state sales and property tax coffers, according to a study by Jack Martin, special projects director for the Federation for American Immigration Reform, a group that supports tighter restrictions on immigration.

The impact on the Houston Independent School District?  In addition to requiring extra books, teachers and classroom space, HISD had to ramp up bilingual instruction, increase social services and develop programs to help countless immigrants catch up academically.  The number of Hispanic students in HISD has more than doubled since the 1982 ruling. The district now spends $158 million a year on bilingual and English as a Second Language programs and hires 2,391 teachers - about 20 percent of the teaching staff - for those classes, according to state records. ("1982 Ruling a Catalyst in Immigration Debate, " Houston Chronicle , May 21, 2006).

Alphasmart's Neo: Very Useful, Cost-Effective, Student Technology

Student word processor creator, Alphasmart, has developed a new product called Neo that was profiled in yesterday's Washington Post.  I have had the opportunity to use a Neo, and I can say it is very useful technology.  And at less than $230, it is certainly a cost-effective technology solution.

The Washington Post describes it as neither a desktop computer or a laptop.

It is essentially a mini-word processor that students say is much easier to use than paper and pencil -- or anything else. It has a spell-checker, search function and dictionary and can be programmed to grade tests so students can get instant feedback. But it won't find square roots or give directions -- the device is all about words. 

Neos are small (9.75 inches by 12.4 inches and 1.75 inches thick), lightweight (2 pounds) and rugged (kids drop them all the time and nothing happens, teachers say). They are far less expensive than a traditional laptop: Four Oaks paid $150 to $200 for each of the dozens that their sixth-graders use.

A Neo can go anywhere because it runs on AA batteries. Turn it on, and up pops the last thing you were working on. It could be a report for school, notes or a test -- multiple choice, essay or fill-in-the-blank -- that your teacher downloaded.

For more information on Neo, check out the Alphasmart website.

Rod Paige, Former HISD Superintendent and Secretary of Education, Slams the 65% Rule

Add Rod Paige, former Secretary of Education under President Bush and former Superintendent for HISD, to the chorus of voices lambasting the restrictive definition of "in the classroom" contained in the 65% Rule as bad public policy.  In an op-ed piece appearing in today's New York Times, Secretary Paige says

The only drawback is that such laws won't actually make schools any better, and could make them worse. Yes, it's true that education financing is a mess and that billions are wasted every year. But the 65 percent solution won't help. The most likely outcome is that school officials will learn the art of creative accounting in order to increase the percentage of money that can be deemed "classroom" expenses.

More ominously, it will tie school leaders' hands at a time when they need more freedom to innovate. Things we should be stressing, like teacher training, online content to supplement lessons and after-school tutoring, would not fall under "classroom expenses."

Secretary Paige's solution

Instead of gimmicky fads, we need fundamental reforms. One good idea now picking up support is "weighted student funding." Under this approach, each child receives a "backpack" of financing that travels with him to the public school of his family's choice. The more disadvantaged the child, the bigger the backpack.

When that money arrives at a school, principals have freedom to spend them as they see fit. Does the school need to pay more to snag a top-notch math teacher? Are extra hours needed to allow for intensive tutoring? Principals would be able to allocate resources accordingly; accountability systems like No Child Left Behind give them strong incentives to make good decisions.

 

Nearly Half of Elementary School Teachers Admit to Bullying Students: Why Disciplinary Standards are so Important

Houston based The Menninger Clinic is out today with a disturbing study that, in my mind, reinforces the need for standards for disciplining students.  The study, published in  May issue of The International Journal of Social Psychiatry, found that 45% of the teachers polled admitted to bullying a student.  The lead author of the study, Dr. Stuart Twemlow, criticized school districts for "rarely giv[ing] teachers any help with discipline."  The study's authors also concluded that there is

a strong correlation between teachers who were bullied in their past and teachers who bully students. The findings suggest that teachers, who were bullied while they were children, are more likely to be trapped in bully-victim relationships as adults and are more alert to the bullying of others around them.  If your early experiences lead you to expect that people will not reason, but respond to force, then you are at risk of recreating this situation in your classroom.  The climate you remember from your childhood may even make you feel safe because it is familiar and consistent with your expectations.

I believe that uniform disciplinary standards are critical to ensure that the expectations of students and educators are aligned to produce student success.  A lack of uniformity can result in unrealistic expectations for age-appropriate behavior and unfair/unequal discipline that might become student bullying.

Ray Kurzweil Invents a Device that Reads Ordinary Text to People Who are Visually Impaired

Noted futurist, author, and inventor, Ray Kurzweil, has invented something that is truly remarkable -- a talking camera that can read text outload for people with visual impairment.  The handheld machine was developed by Kurzweil and the National Federation of the Blind (NFB), and enables users to take pictures of and read most printed materials. Users of the Kurzweil-NFB Reader hold the device over any printed document (such as a letter, bill, restaurant menu, airline ticket, business card, or office memo) and in seconds they hear the contents of the printed document read to them in a clear synthetic voice.

This is a tremendous advancement in technology that will assist the 161 million visually impaired people in the world,

The Kurzweil-NFB website has information about the reader, including where it is available for purchase.

A Ring Tone Meant to Fall on Deaf Ears: Test It for Yourself Here

Recently, the New York Times reported on a ringtone that is so high pitched it can only be heard by young people, and is inaudible to adults.  I have tested the ringtone (.mp3) on several adults and teens, and, while I can hear the tone, most other adults are unable to hear it.  However, universally, the students are all able to hear the tone.  Another example of necessity being the mother of invention?

ACT Confirms It: Ready for College and Ready for Work Require the Same Skills

A recent report (.pdf) by the ACT confirms that Spring Branch ISD's goal of becoming the premier college focused district in the State is the correct approach to take to ensure the long-term success of our students.  The ACT unequivocally states "although the contexts within which these expectations are taught and assessed may differ, the level of expectation for all students must be the same."

The balance of the report's executive summary, the ACT states:

The study results convey an important message to U.S. high school educators and high school students: We should be educating all high school students according to a common academic expectation, one that prepares them for both postsecondary education and the workforce. Only then—whether they are among the two-thirds who enter college directly after graduation or those who enter workforce training programs—will they be ready for life after high school. Although the contexts within which these expectations are taught and assessed may differ, the level of expectation for all students must be the same. Anything less will not give high school graduates the foundation of academic skills they will need to learn additional skills as their jobs change or as they change jobs throughout their careers. The results of this study provide ample evidence that we must move the agenda for high school redesign in a direction that will prepare all students for success no matter which path they choose after graduation.

The ACT study concludes with the following recommendations for policy makers (which are already either being utilized or planned by Spring Branch):

Free University Science Lectures on the Internet

Interested in high-end science video lectures from prestigious universities?  Would you be more interested if those lectures were free....and available online?  This blog has dozens of university lectures on topics in computer science, physics, math, and astrophysics.

Edutopia Provides Links for Significant Travel Discounts for Current, Former, and Retired Educators

Just in time for the July 4th holiday weekend, Edutopia has posted a number of useful links that provide current, former, or retired educators significant travel discounts.  From Edutopia:

You might think, reasonably enough, that being entrusted with the young minds that represent America's future might bring teachers more of a thank-you than a paycheck with little left over for a well-deserved vacation. Alas, reality tends to have other plans for educators. However, all is not lost. A few financial perks exist in the teaching life, and at this time of year the best of these are travel discounts specifically for educators. Although the budget for satisfying wanderlust may be thin, these discounts can help travel prices slim down, too.

Educators Bed & Breakfast Travel Network

 

 

www.edubabnet.com or www.educatorstravel.com

Current, former, or retired educators who join this extensive online network qualify for discounted stays at fellow members' bed-and-breakfast establishments. Sign up by paying a $10 initiation fee and $36 yearly dues, and you and your immediate family become eligible to stay in any of the 6,000 member homes in more than fifty countries for a per-night price of $36. Meanwhile, your home becomes eligible for hosting other members as well (with additional discounts for hosting). Not only can you find comfortable, inexpensive accommodation this way, you'll also tap into a useful educational network, because your "innkeepers" are teachers, too.

Educational Tours

 

 

www.eftours.com
www.explorica.com
www.goaheadtours.com

How do you use your teaching skills, continue your own education, and travel free at the same time? Sign on to lead an educational tour. Dozens of tour companies hand out free trips and cash bonuses to teachers willing to share their knowledge with other travelers. The biggest player in this field, EF Educational Tours, lets teachers travel free and even earn continuing education units. EF also offers language schools, cultural-exchange programs, and tours for adults as well as students. For free travel as a group coordinator with Go Ahead Tours, gather six people (including family and friends) who want to take a tour and you travel for free, with cash bonuses for you or discounts for your companions. With the tour company, Explorica, you can travel free if you sign on at least six students.

The ISE Card

 

 

www.isecard.com

The initials stand for International Student Exchange, but ISE Cards -- with their great discounts -- are available to teachers, too. Take South Africa's Baz Bus, dive off the coast of Western Australia, tour London, rent a car, or even enjoy a good meal abroad for far less than it costs those unhappy folks who forgot to become teachers. The card also provides up to $2,000 in medical benefits, a toll-free twenty-four-hour emergency-assistance hotline, and up to $2,000 in airline-bankruptcy protection (a handy benefit these days).

The ITIC Card

 

 

www.travelcuts.com/usa/html/idcards/itic.html

The International Teacher Identity Card also functions as a freebie magnet. Knock down the cost of flights, accommodations, museum admissions, sports-equipment rentals, cultural attractions, and more by flashing this card -- discounts will quickly pay for the $25 annual cost. Not bad, considering that the ITIC, like the ISE, also provides basic accident insurance when you travel outside the United States. This coverage includes hospital stays, medical expenses, emergency evacuation, repatriation of remains (an unlikely need, let's hope), and baggage-delay insurance (far more likely).

Spring Branch Elementary Students Raising Money to Fight Breast Cancer: Pledge to See How Many Laps They Can Swim

Two of my neighbors, Hannah and Abby Higgins, lost their aunt to breast cancer 2 years ago.  They began a journey to raise money to help find a cure.  It started with lemonade stands but they decided to take it another level with the start of KAB, Kids Against Breast Cancer.  Megan Copeland, Hudson Meredith and Meg Mathias joined Hannah and Abby to create KAB.  On June 28th, they and many other children will be swimming laps to raise money to fight breast cancer.  The money raised will be donated to the Susan Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

You can email me at [email protected] or post a comment to this post if you are interested in sponsoring a participant for each lap completed, and I will forward your interest to KAB.

Please forward this to anyone you feel would want to participate in sponsoring a swimmer for this wonderful event.