XD
To be continued...
About Me
- Ms. Nguyen
- ♥ Think positive! Think positive! Think positive! I can overcome anything! :)
Showing posts with label Miscellaneous. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Miscellaneous. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Goals for another academic year, 2011-2012
So here comes another academic school year where I try to get by and build up my resume to begin applying for teaching positions again next May.
As of now, I'll continue substitute teaching for Irvine Unified School District as well as private tutoring. That will get me by another school year hopefully.
Goals for this school year:
1. Take the CSETs in Social Science and Writing Skills.
I already completed a Subject Matter Preparation Program (SMPP) for Social Science at UC, Irvine, but it hasn't helped me much in applications. I'm hoping that completing the SMPP for Social Science AND passing the CSET in Social Science will give me a better advantage. As for taking the CSET in Language Arts/English, that will have to wait since I've already completed the Supplemental Authorization for that subject.
2. Take the revised-GREs again. I just took the revised-GRE this past Saturday and it was murder, bloody-murder! The revised GRE is extremely difficult compared to the previous version.
3. Volunteer at ReadOC. Continue volunteering for OC On Track.
4. Attend a Grant-Writing Workshop and a "Starting your own non-profit organization" workshop.
5. Develop and hopefully implement a writing workshop curriculum.
As of now, I'll continue substitute teaching for Irvine Unified School District as well as private tutoring. That will get me by another school year hopefully.
Goals for this school year:
1. Take the CSETs in Social Science and Writing Skills.
I already completed a Subject Matter Preparation Program (SMPP) for Social Science at UC, Irvine, but it hasn't helped me much in applications. I'm hoping that completing the SMPP for Social Science AND passing the CSET in Social Science will give me a better advantage. As for taking the CSET in Language Arts/English, that will have to wait since I've already completed the Supplemental Authorization for that subject.
2. Take the revised-GREs again. I just took the revised-GRE this past Saturday and it was murder, bloody-murder! The revised GRE is extremely difficult compared to the previous version.
3. Volunteer at ReadOC. Continue volunteering for OC On Track.
4. Attend a Grant-Writing Workshop and a "Starting your own non-profit organization" workshop.
5. Develop and hopefully implement a writing workshop curriculum.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
First to Worst: Why Public Schools are no Longer Free
Wanted to post this for quite a while now. I got it from a handout that I found in the office of University High School (there was a stack of them).
"FIRST TO WORST: WHY PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE NO LONGER FREE"
Reality:
- Our school district is in a crisis! We are faced with a $5M deficit!
- We need to move fast or we will lose valued teachers and programs.
- In California, a high quality public education is no longer free.
A Series of Legislation Has Destroyed Funding for Public Education in California!
1950's
California was rated #1 in education in the U.S. - #1!
- People were moving to California rapidly and the state was booming.
- Many school districts were state of the art and flush with public funding.
1960's
Riots broke out in Los Angeles
- Disparity in education was blamed. Wealthy neighborhoods had wealthy schools and poorer neighborhoods had little money and poor schools. At the time, each community funded its own schools through property taxes.
There was a movement to create parity in education.
- A law suit, Serrano v. Priest, resulted in limits placed on the amount of money a community could spend on education.
- Decisions on curriculum and education funding were centralized in Sacramento, taking it away from local school districts.
- Instead of raising education standards in the poorer areas, education funding was lowered in all districts to match funds available in poorer districts.
- The net effect was statewide mediocrity in education.
This was just the beginning of education problems in California.
1970's
Howard Jarvis helped pass Prop 13, which had devastating unintended effects on education funding.
- Prop 13 is still in effect today:
1. It limits the amount the state can require citizens to pay on property taxes.
2. It limits assessment for increasing property taxes.
3. It limits the ability of a community to levy taxes on itself - most new taxes (i.e. parcel tax) must be approved with 2/3 voter approval. Consequently, California residents pay extremely low property taxes in relation to the rest of the country.
4. It limits the amount of future funds available for education.
5. It causes education funding to become much more volatile as a result of dependence upon economic conditions.
REALITY:
Centralization in Sacramento of funding and education decision making coupled with Prop 13 (limiting property taxes - leaving schools underfunded) has been devastating to the California school system.
Private Donations are Critical to Ensure High Quality Schools
1980's
Education Foundations began to form throughout the state in response to the decline in state funding.
- High performing school districts realized that to maintain high quality public schools, private funding must be secured.
- Private funding for public schools became the new reality n California.
- Initially, Education Foundations largely supported enrichment programs (music and the arts). MBEF was formed in 1983 for this purpose.
1990's and 2000's
Education funding became extremely volatile.
Education Foundations evolved to fill in the gaps to provide programs considered vital to a quality education (computer, science, librarians, counselors, in addition to music and arts).
- State budgets are approved well after school districts are required to provide balanced budgets to the state.
- Categorical funding (funding of specific programs) has increased earmaking funds largely in lower socio-economic area and dictating how districts use limited funding, further removing local control of spending from school districts.
- State and Federal mandates were passed, including No Child Left Behind, without corresponding funding and setting unreasonable expectations for underfunded districts.
- Private funds have become critical for high performing school districts to continue to provide high quality education. In fact, California has more than 500 education foundations state-wide; more than any other state in the country.
REALITY:
- Private funding for our public schools is essential for quality schools!
- A minimum private donation (compared to private school tuition) from every family will supplement inadequate state funding and will ensure we continue to have outstanding PUBLIC schools in Manhattan Beach!
"FIRST TO WORST: WHY PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE NO LONGER FREE"
Reality:
- Our school district is in a crisis! We are faced with a $5M deficit!
- We need to move fast or we will lose valued teachers and programs.
- In California, a high quality public education is no longer free.
A Series of Legislation Has Destroyed Funding for Public Education in California!
1950's
California was rated #1 in education in the U.S. - #1!
- People were moving to California rapidly and the state was booming.
- Many school districts were state of the art and flush with public funding.
1960's
Riots broke out in Los Angeles
- Disparity in education was blamed. Wealthy neighborhoods had wealthy schools and poorer neighborhoods had little money and poor schools. At the time, each community funded its own schools through property taxes.
There was a movement to create parity in education.
- A law suit, Serrano v. Priest, resulted in limits placed on the amount of money a community could spend on education.
- Decisions on curriculum and education funding were centralized in Sacramento, taking it away from local school districts.
- Instead of raising education standards in the poorer areas, education funding was lowered in all districts to match funds available in poorer districts.
- The net effect was statewide mediocrity in education.
This was just the beginning of education problems in California.
1970's
Howard Jarvis helped pass Prop 13, which had devastating unintended effects on education funding.
- Prop 13 is still in effect today:
1. It limits the amount the state can require citizens to pay on property taxes.
2. It limits assessment for increasing property taxes.
3. It limits the ability of a community to levy taxes on itself - most new taxes (i.e. parcel tax) must be approved with 2/3 voter approval. Consequently, California residents pay extremely low property taxes in relation to the rest of the country.
4. It limits the amount of future funds available for education.
5. It causes education funding to become much more volatile as a result of dependence upon economic conditions.
REALITY:
Centralization in Sacramento of funding and education decision making coupled with Prop 13 (limiting property taxes - leaving schools underfunded) has been devastating to the California school system.
Private Donations are Critical to Ensure High Quality Schools
1980's
Education Foundations began to form throughout the state in response to the decline in state funding.
- High performing school districts realized that to maintain high quality public schools, private funding must be secured.
- Private funding for public schools became the new reality n California.
- Initially, Education Foundations largely supported enrichment programs (music and the arts). MBEF was formed in 1983 for this purpose.
1990's and 2000's
Education funding became extremely volatile.
Education Foundations evolved to fill in the gaps to provide programs considered vital to a quality education (computer, science, librarians, counselors, in addition to music and arts).
- State budgets are approved well after school districts are required to provide balanced budgets to the state.
- Categorical funding (funding of specific programs) has increased earmaking funds largely in lower socio-economic area and dictating how districts use limited funding, further removing local control of spending from school districts.
- State and Federal mandates were passed, including No Child Left Behind, without corresponding funding and setting unreasonable expectations for underfunded districts.
- Private funds have become critical for high performing school districts to continue to provide high quality education. In fact, California has more than 500 education foundations state-wide; more than any other state in the country.
REALITY:
- Private funding for our public schools is essential for quality schools!
- A minimum private donation (compared to private school tuition) from every family will supplement inadequate state funding and will ensure we continue to have outstanding PUBLIC schools in Manhattan Beach!
Friday, May 27, 2011
Handout: Announcement from the ita:CTA/nea
IUSD got announcements regarding the budget cuts and how it would affect IUSD. I'll be typing it out verbatin. Here is what the handout says:
CALIFORNIA BUDGET CRISIS!
HOW IT AFFECTS IRVINE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
Source: http://newsflash.iusd.org/2011/04/budget-notebook-budget-goes-from-bad-to-worse-for-california%e2%80%99s-schools/
Potential of $9 - $22 Million in IUSD Budget Cuts Next year!
"IUSD, along with other districts across the state, had been anticipating another hit of around $330 per student for the fiscal year that begins July 1, amounting to a loss of $8.9 million locally. But there are rumblings now that the state may try to reduce education spending by $825 per student, which would be a loss of more than $22 million for Irvine."
- Superintendent Gwen E. Gross, Ph.D.
Impact of a School Year Cut from 183 Days to 160 Days!
23 Furlough Days!
"A 160-day school year in IUSD, for example, would save about $20 million through the implementation of 23 furlough days, resulting in an across-the-board pay cut of more than 10 percent."
- Superintendent Gwen E. Gross, Ph.D.
Contact your state legistlator and tell them to support the Tax Extension.
3 easy steps:
CALIFORNIA BUDGET CRISIS!
HOW IT AFFECTS IRVINE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
Source: http://newsflash.iusd.org/2011/04/budget-notebook-budget-goes-from-bad-to-worse-for-california%e2%80%99s-schools/
Potential of $9 - $22 Million in IUSD Budget Cuts Next year!
"IUSD, along with other districts across the state, had been anticipating another hit of around $330 per student for the fiscal year that begins July 1, amounting to a loss of $8.9 million locally. But there are rumblings now that the state may try to reduce education spending by $825 per student, which would be a loss of more than $22 million for Irvine."
- Superintendent Gwen E. Gross, Ph.D.
Impact of a School Year Cut from 183 Days to 160 Days!
23 Furlough Days!
"A 160-day school year in IUSD, for example, would save about $20 million through the implementation of 23 furlough days, resulting in an across-the-board pay cut of more than 10 percent."
- Superintendent Gwen E. Gross, Ph.D.
- Imagine... "What instructional programs may get cut?"
- Furlough days mean ALL schools are closed!
- Shorter school years = less instructional material covered
Contact your state legistlator and tell them to support the Tax Extension.
3 easy steps:
- Go to this Site: http://capwiz.com/nea/ca/issues/alert/?alterid=31012506
- Scroll down and enter your information (takes 2 minutes!)
- Click send -- and be proud of yourself for standing up for education!
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
IUSD mass email...foreshadowing evils ahead...
So I'm currently long-term subbing for IUSD. During lunch, one of my colleagues received an email from the school district. It was a notice to teachers to start leaving aside 10% of their paychecks for now on for a rainy day fund, because the district is planning on having a $20 million dollar budget cut, just the district alone! Nothing is official yet, but they decided to send out a notice just in case. Other important notices provided within the email: the school year will have 23 furlough days for the academic school year 2011-2012 (instead of the school year being the traditional 183 days, it would be cut down to 160 days) and teachers should be prepared for a 10% pay cut for the 2011-2012 academic school year.
What worries me are the students. Twenty-three days taken from them is a significant number of days they could have spent learning. Questions then start popping up--"Are teachers still accountable for teaching all of the curriculum provided by the national standards?", "Will state testing still occur, because that will also take some time out of the school year that could have been spent teaching?", and "Why are we still implementing state testing, especially if we can sort of predict how the scores will turn out with all these educational budget cuts and all." If we stop the state testing for a few years, that alone would save the state so much money. They should use the money and give it back to the schools. Once everything is back to order again, we can start giving state testing again in certain yearly increments.
[Will have a specific post about my perspective on state testing in the future].
What worries me are the students. Twenty-three days taken from them is a significant number of days they could have spent learning. Questions then start popping up--"Are teachers still accountable for teaching all of the curriculum provided by the national standards?", "Will state testing still occur, because that will also take some time out of the school year that could have been spent teaching?", and "Why are we still implementing state testing, especially if we can sort of predict how the scores will turn out with all these educational budget cuts and all." If we stop the state testing for a few years, that alone would save the state so much money. They should use the money and give it back to the schools. Once everything is back to order again, we can start giving state testing again in certain yearly increments.
[Will have a specific post about my perspective on state testing in the future].
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