Public education at risk

If you are reading this, you probably know me as a passionate advocate for public education. I went to public school (K-12) in New York. My college days were at public universities (SUNY/Oneonta, UCLA, Oregon State). I've taught as faculty in public sector, too (Oregon Coast CC*, Texas A&M, Florida State, Montana State*, and most recently at Lane CC). I majored in Meteorology/Atmospheric Sciences at each level, and took minors in mathematics, water resources, and then college and university teaching.

I also taught in private higher ed, at Linfield* and Creighton (*denotes adjunct positions). I was a high school math tutor, homeschooling parent, private childbirth educator, and as an academic dean I am still a creator and deliverer of teacher training to educators from the public/private/non-profit sectors. I've done PD across the USA and internationally in Canada, France, Jamaica, Jordan, Scotland, Trinidad & Tobago, with 3 North American tribal teams, and co-led teams that also trained in Mexico and Australia on my projects. I designed and co-taught science education classes for the FSU College of Education, and collaborated with the University of Texas' UTeach program.

I know something about education. Not just science education. Across the US, public education is under attack, and both Democrats and Republicans are complicit. Below you'll find a copy of a post from a friend who is a member of the NY Chapter of BATs (BadAss Teachers Association). Fans of public education should pay attention to them. They are calling out so-called reforms that are nothing more than attempts at privatization support for/larceny of public sector $. Don't believe me? Examine what's happening with state governments doing outside contracting in transportation, health care, prisons, social work, probation and parole, security, in your state, red or blue. There are BATs chapters in every state.

And this disturbing trend is showing signs of gaining traction in Oregon. Under the guise of addressing inequitable access to higher education, some legislators and education leaders are promoting, effectively, substandard versions of college courses by teachers who aren't certified. Sound familiar? Sounds like the for-profit model to me, that failed so many at ITT, Corinthian, Trump U, and others. Are these classes comparable to what is offered by regionally-accredited institutions? I've looked at some, and it is a very uneven landscape. Rural districts are indeed very poorly served in terms of access to college credits for high school students, but wholesale adoption of the limited existing options should be examined carefully. I'm for development of cohort mentorships, fairly compensated to all participants and collaboratively designed rather than imposed, to built up repertoire and experience, for preservice and practicing teachers in underserved areas. Are these articulable and transferable? And is advanced credit something that should be available to all? 

Now, let's hear from the NYBATs:

Standing Up for Teachers NY BATs!!!  

30 September 2017 - From their Facebook Page.  The SUNY Charter School Institute is one of two agencies in New York State that grants and oversees charters at schools. Earlier this summer, the Institute proposed a change to regulations that would allow charter schools to self-certify teachers. It is shocking that a proposal has been presented to the Trustees from within SUNY to abrogate the high standards for some seeking to be teachers. These changes in regulations would undermine the teaching profession throughout New York State. All New York Students deserve a highly qualified and fully certified teacher.

Imagine that we were presented with a complaint that a health care network couldn’t find enough licensed doctors to hire for their urgent care centers. Its solution is to request authority to establish its own training program, which provides substantially less instruction time and dispenses with all the qualifying exams. This is the medical equivalent of the SUNY Charter Schools Institute proposal. It is deleterious, deeply flawed, and unacceptable.

The full SUNY Board of Trustees does not plan to vote on this item, but rather will defer to a vote by only the Charter School Committee. It is our understanding that the committee intends on hearing this item at their October meeting. The public notice and agenda have not yet been posted, but the meeting will be on October 11th, at SUNY Global Center, 116 East 55th Street. 

Meetings are generally in the morning. You can check on the SUNY Board of Trustees website for announcements, or contact my office next week. Please plan to attend to make it clear to the committee that all children deserve a fully and properly certified teacher. There will not be an opportunity for public speaking.