End of the Road...

While most folks are preparing for Christmas gifts giving, family gatherings, and other types of celebratory activities, I will be preparing for something greater...my anticipated return to the classroom. Yes, I was hired as a teacher last week!

Starting January 4, 2011, I will be teaching four classes of 6th-grade science and one class of 7th-grade social studies at a public middle school in my hometown of suburban New Orleans. During the next week and a half, I will be preparing to move back to New Orleans and return to the school district where I graduated from and started my teaching career.  While I have taught at a middle/junior high school before, I never taught sixth-graders or social studies. However, due to these economic times, I am grateful for another chance. So, here I go...

I won't say this will be my last blog entry; but I know it will be a long while before I write another blog entry again. Adapting to a new school, new curriculum, new subject matters, and new students will be time-consuming tasks. Plus, I will try to finish my Specialist degree, too. Whew! I already feel a bit overwhelmed; yet I have been here before. In addition, I will have support from my family and long-time friends at home.

Lastly, what I hope the most is that I will be able to rekindle the passion for teaching I once had. I don't know what I will be walking into, but I believe in divine intervention. The circumstances behind me getting this new job are short on luck. I was destined to have this job. Why? Only time will tell. Nevertheless, I am nervous yet excited in my future prospects and blessings.

Despite the public on slaughter we public educators have and will continue to face, I am hopeful we will continue to do the great, noble work we were called to do. Teaching is a tough job; yet somebody has to do it. It's not a quick-fix, stepping stone; it's a calling! It's a profession that I am still passionate about. Now, it is time for me to put that passion back to work. Perhaps, one thing we all need to remember is we are here for the children we serve. Not saying we should be treated as doormats, but our primary job is to educate and prepare our students for the future ahead. We can't do this alone; yet we can and must always strive to do our part the best way possible.

So on that note, I am out of here...Happy Holidays to you all. Good-bye 2010! This year was a learning experience I will never forget. Hello 2011! Peace!

I dedicate this entry to my good friend, Mr. Tyraun Washington, who inspired me to understand what my passion is and to write about it. I am forever grateful. Thank you for your inspiration and unconditional support.

PS --> By the way, I will strive to stay abreast on the happenings in the ed reform debate; plus, I will plan to attend the Save Our Schools: March and National Call to Action conference in July 28-31, 2011. Also, I plan to become a dues-paying member in the local teachers union as well.

A Wish List: Seeking A Palingenesis In Education Reform

It's been a while since I published an entry here. Needing to take a brief hiatus to deal with some personal issues, I still managed somewhat to stay abreast on the current happenings in the education reform debate. I see I didn't miss much. Same old song. The rich and powerful are influencing their brand of reform, while there was little to no outcry from teachers, parents, and students...maybe with the exceptions of New York City and DC. 2010 is quickly coming to a close. One thing for certain is we teachers and public education advocates have definitely lost the public relations battle. Yet, we haven't lost the war.

I am hoping and praying that, in 2011, the momentum will begin to shift in our favor somehow. As long as NCLB remains the law of the land in education, we will have three more years to meet a highly unrealistic mandate for 100% proficiency in reading and math. It appears, especially under the current administration, this mandate will be expanded to include more mandates to undermine public education. Neither of the two major political parties favors sensible reform. In addition, so-called experts Arne Duncan and Bill Gates suggest school districts should consider "doing more with less" in the backdrop of the current economic decline. None of the big players are on our side. And we surely can't afford to wait for something worse to happen.

Before then, I hope and pray several things will happen in 2011:

• More teachers and public education advocates will speak up and speak out in outlets reaching a larger audience. 
• More teachers will demand more from their unions by becoming more actively involved and holding their leaders accountable.
• More public education advocates will use their resources and connections to oppose any type of reform that will close public schools, cripple student learning, and de-professionalize teachers
• Teacher unions will work more closely together for a common goal, that is to ensure every child receives a quality public education that is not overemphasize on testing.
• More Americans will open their eyes and see the hype for what it really is: A systematic takeover of public schools by corporate America

Some may consider this list as wishful thinking; but hey, it's not a crime to have hope. These will require some out-of-the-box thinking and strategic planning, but they are doable if they follow a bottom-up approach and everyone is on the same page. I don't expect every one of these "wishes" to happen by the end of next year. What I do hope is we come together as one voice to speak out and demand changes that will benefit the community; enhance the teaching profession; and more importantly, educate our children with a comprehensive, holistic curriculum and quality instruction using effective practices in safe and adequately-funded public schools.

"You think you know ... but you have no idea." This is my journey

* This morning, as I was typing in my personal journal, I had the intentions of debating my recent decisions...whether I made the right choice? Whether I am ready for this? Can I stick with it? After all that has happened to me since March of this year, I was ready to throw my hands in and say "the hell with it all". However, as evident as it is in my blog, my passion lies in education. I was hoping to do something else within the realm of education; yet, it is teaching I missed the most. I missed the interactions I had with my kids. I missed working with some of my colleagues, particularly those who were like-minded. I missed just being inside of a school house. While I don't missed everything about the job, I missed the essence of what teachers do: share knowledge, meet new people, instill the value of an educated mind, and make a difference one child at a time. I feel like the biblical prophet Jonas. Well, this is my way of acknowledging the fact I need to stop running and face the music. Below is most of my journal entry for today; of course, I amended it to remove any incriminating or "TMI" pieces...LOL. Anyhoo, enjoy...*

11-7-10

Fall back! Meaning set your clock one hour back; Daylight Saving Time begins today. I know working folks appreciated an extra hour of sleep. I guess it is also time for me to fall back myself and be honest with myself.

For the past month and a half, well, since I’ve returned from my last trip in early October, I have been in a slump. While some of the trips I have taken were to seek new opportunities elsewhere and others were for leisure purposes, I realized now that I have been running away from my calling, which was teaching. I guess it really began to hit home when I noticed many of the education bloggers I followed are still in the classroom. Plus, the more I wrote about education, the more I missed being a teacher in the classroom.

Despite the public ridicule we now face in our profession, what we teachers do is not expendable and highly noble. In my heart, I believe we teachers will be ready to fight when the time is right. Many are taking out their frustration via blogging and other forms of writings. While that is great, it is not enough to force our nay-sayers to take us seriously. Nevertheless, once every teacher begins to see the big risk of privatizing public education, they will act. I just hope it won’t be too late.

Then I have my own personal fears and inept. Have I been a competent teacher? Was I always dealt a bad hand with my classroom assignments? When I reminiscence on how I was my first two years of teaching to what I was last year, I can say “not always” to both questions. I know I have experienced growth during my ten years of teaching; otherwise, I wouldn’t have stuck it out as long as I did. Yet, last school year was not a good year; I made some mistakes and wore my frustrations on my sleeves.

I am a type of person who internalizes so much and when I have had enough, I begin to act out. That’s what’s happened to me last school year; I was unproductive because I have had enough. I couldn’t do my job knowing I was being screwed in the ass by my superiors in district office and by our teacher union association leadership; in addition, the teachers at my school site, and statewide in general, were complacent as hell. How much abuse can one take? Plus, I remember our state teachers association sponsored a march earlier this year to protest upcoming budget cuts at the state capitol. It should have been packed full of outraged teachers. It was on a cold, windy Saturday afternoon in February. Plus, during and later that day, I became sick as a dog. Yet I still came out. Considering what was at stake, the turnout was horrible. A few weeks prior, a large group of college students convened at the state capitol to protest against budget cuts in higher education; they had a larger turnout than we did. To me, that says a lot!
         Consequently, I indirectly took my frustrations out on my kids... My heart wasn’t in it anymore. Anyway, after that fiasco [which I refused to talk about publicly], I was on medical leave the following week and have yet since returned to the classroom. While I don’t regret leaving the district and the school, I do regret downplaying my calling by running away from it. Now, I am about to turn 37, Lord willing; I have to do better than this.

Perhaps, I did need the break... Yet I don’t regret leaving my job. Maybe a new setting would be good, even if it is in a familiar place. Right now, I am planning to seek employment in Georgia or in Louisiana. About a week ago, I spoke to my good friend and former colleague who is now a recruiter for one of the school districts in my hometown of New Orleans. She shared with me that the school district is seeking to hire displaced teachers from Katrina. She also stated that we may be awarded a stipend for moving expenses. That’s what up! It would be cool if I can get the money and start over... We will see what happened. Despite this, I feel like I am moving backward than forward. I hate being in Atlanta and home in New Orleans. While Atlanta is more progressive than New Orleans, it and the whole state of Georgia have some ass-backward politics and policies. However, as of right now, these are my two options since I am already certified in both states...

...Then there is graduate school. I so hate it now. My heart is not into it due to the real reason why I went back. During that time, I was bored out of my mind. I didn’t have any social life. After I broke up with my last boyfriend, I doused myself in graduate school. I was hungry for a Master’s degree. I worked hard for it and it paid off, graduating on time with a 4.0 GPA overall, even after having an emergency surgery done. Afterward, I was left with nothing else meaningful to do. So I applied to another graduate program at a different school to make up for the free time at the beginning of last school year. I didn’t see the problems that were forthcoming. From the recurring problems with the new student database system to the corruption unfolding at central office to our local association incumbent leadership won their positions back in a shady election process (I should know because I was on the election committee), I became overwhelmed with all of this, plus meeting my professional duties and becoming accumulated with a new graduate program for a doctorate degree. Now I don’t want it anymore. So I will settle for a specialist degree and say “deuces” to it all. My heart was never really into the program since the beginning.

A few days ago, I realized that I will be finished with my specialist degree before next school year begins. This is great news; when I return back to work, I can be more focus on re-learning and improving on my craft. Actually, I need to work on that like now. I will plan on doing some tutorials for the time being. They always need tutors, especially veteran teachers like me.

Whew! I finally have a plan! I will get back on my feet. You wait and see…

*In closing, I want to thank all of the educators who blog/write about the ups and downs of our beloved profession. All of you have inspired me in one form or another. Keep doing what you're doing. But if you can, do more to make it known to the masses that we teachers deserved to be respected as professionals. Only we can fight for the integrity of our profession. Fight on!*

This too shall pass; yet something has to give...and change. (A reflection)

Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

From 9 pm EST last night until a few hours ago, I was not surprised by what happened; yet I was bitter. Yesterday was Election Day 2010 which was projected months before a day of reckoning for the Democratic Party. While the Democrats barely retain control of the US Senate, they lost control of the House in great numbers. In addition, many GOP candidates in state elections won in a convincing fashion. There is so much more I can say, but it is pretty much summed up here. Nevertheless, it is a wake up call for President Obama and other Democrats as they heal from the "shellacking" they got last night from the Republicans.

As a life-long Democrat, I still believe in its principles. I just don't think the Democratic politicians or the general public do anymore. As a party, somewhere along the way, the Democrats lost sight of their principles. Or at least, there is a lack of consensus within the party itself. That was evident when they were in power in Congress. Look at the education policies, for example; there are some Democrats who favors the current education reform tactics for a corporate takeover of public education. While the current economy is the most important issue among voters, education reform issues aren't far behind.

Via Facebook, political analyst and TV commentator Roland Martin shared some interesting insights about the elections outcomes:

I have said this since last year. I said it on November 2009. You have to move your supporters to action outside the election...You have to put your troops in the game. You must tell them who to call. Who to write. Where to mobilize. You MUST engage!

 

...but Pres Obama MUST return to his roots as a community organizer in the next 2 years. That means galvanizing the people in order to rise up and support his agenda. It will be a tough road with the GOP controlling the House.

 

To [Obama's] supporters, you must stop with meet, talk, disperse. It must be meet, mobilize, act. Stop whining about the Tea Party. They did their duty. The folks who mobilized in 2009 and 2010 won last night. Those who complained about those who mobilized lost last night.

 

He is so right. As much as I don't care for the Tea Party, one have to credit them for mobilizing the conservative base and energizing their voters to go to the polls.

 

So, where do we go from here? Well, reflection is always a good thing. But something has to be done. 

The next two years will be a test for both political parties and the President. If Obama wants a second term, he will have to appease his base, which will be harder to do now. While he inherited a "mess" in the beginning, he made more of a "mess" by not fighting hard enough for the concerns of his own base. But this goes back to the lack of consensus within the Democratic party. Traditionally, for example, most teachers and the teachers unions supported Democrats. How can we...and why should we...when some within the party support privatizing public education, a typical move of the GOP? The "lesser of two evils" excuse isn't cutting it anymore. At least with the GOP, we know what type of animal we're dealing with; we can't say the same for the Democrats.

 

Prior to the election, I have called for more activism among teachers. Now I have extended that call to the entire moderate and liberal bases. It has to start from the bottom up. That's how the Tea Party succeeded at best in gaining publicity and winning some political battles during yesterday's elections.

 

On a personal note, for weeks now, I have been internally fighting my passion. While I do have a passion for education, as expressed on this blog, I feel like I am not doing enough to fulfill it. I do miss being in the classroom, but I know in my heart, the timing for me to return is not good right now...at least that's how I feel. Being a doctoral student in grad school doesn't help either. Nevertheless, it just won't go away. What am I to do? My next passionate option is activism. When I was teaching, I was very active and vocal in my local teacher union association. This year alone, I have participated in four protest rallies. I have written several letters and e-mails to elected officials. But I don't feel that's enough. Although Georgia is a right-to-work state, there is a high level of complacency among teachers that is sickening to my stomach. So again, what am I to do? I guess more soul-searching, reflection, and prayer are in order for me. More to follow as I pressed on...

 

Until then, the late great Mahatma Gandhi charged all mankind "to be the change we want to see in the world". In doing so, individually, we must reflect on the change we desire, look within oneself, and make something happen. Then collectively, we come together, build a consensus around a shared vision, and move forward as one unit. Time isn't on our side anymore. While this too shall pass, something have to happen soon. If we want change, we have to demand it.

Young Black Men...The Insightful Storyline...from boys to men

Keep on learning
Keep on growing
Wisdom helps us understand
We're maturing
Without knowing
These are the things that change boys to men
~ New Edition

One of my favorite songs from the R&B male group New Edition is the inspirational song "Boys to Men". This song is befitting in addressing the problems with our young black men, which also stem outside of the classroom as well. They are lost and desperately need to be found.

So, via Facebook, I asked several of my black male friends, who are all college graduates, to share their wisdom and personal stories.  Some responded in a narrative; others kept it simple by focusing on these three central questions I posed to all of them:

1. Who were your role models growing up?
2. What were your sources of motivation to succeed?
3. What can be done to fix these problems with our young brothers in our schools and in our communities?

Below are their responses per verbatim (including some minor modifications and spelling/grammar corrections). I hope you enjoy what you've read and learn from them.

To be honest I am not going to be much help on this one. I had a father that enrolled me in Boy Scouts and worked hard to move us in a house and out the projects. Most of these kids don’t have a father. Single mothers are raising dumb future criminals who hate themselves while raising daughters that go on to college. Also I grew marked as a gifted child and taken out of mainstream education system from second grade. I have never been in an average public school. Our teachers all thought we had bright futures and treated us as such. I see why these kids don’t want to go to school. What do they really have to look forward to if they graduate? Guess my answer is condoms and a good jump shot.

PS We always want to talk about the plight of black children and the missing fathers. We are never going to get anywhere until we address the black women in our communities that pick dead beats to have babies with, mess up their boys’ heads, and look out for the sisters and not the whole race. It was said that you can measure the character of the race when you look at the morality of its women. Many times you if you bring it up they act sisters are a protected class of people. Time to hold them accountable for their share of the mess.

V. Callender, Brooklyn, NY

My parents always raised me to want more and exposed me to a higher standard of living. And going to college and always having some form of income was something I was always told I had to do. My parents accepted no less.

J. Peoples, Murfreesboro, TN

I grew up without a father in the household. My mom was an educator who instilled in me, the necessity of a good education. My motivation was to not be like my family members who lived in low income communities and who relied on government assistance. I grew up in a rural area where there was nothing for the youth to do. So another strong motivation for me was to get far away from that area. The youth of today has to see the benefit of getting a good education, and they have to be taught that they can obtain it as well regardless of their living situation. They need to see more positive successful black men, who have made it out of low income neighborhoods, and hear their personal stories and testimonies. We have to show them that reality is not the raps stars or drug dealers, but it’s those who are teachers, lawyers, doctors etc. We must instill in the youth a hard work ethic, and a tenacious spirit for quitting is not an option. We must challenge these young parents to get these kids from sitting in front of the TV 24/7 and put a book in their hand. Reading is essential. We must teach our children how to communicate and speak properly and not just slang or Ebonics. If we are ever going to take back our communities, and school systems we must have a village mentality in my opinion. Last but not least I believe some spiritual foundation is essential! Hope this helps.

A. Mercer, Temple Hills, MD

Who were your role models growing up? My father, grandfathers and uncles.

What were your sources of motivation to succeed? 9/10's of my motivation was due to positive encouragement from family, friends, educators, etc... The other 1/10 remains, and continues to be, the haters. Keeps things in perspective.

What can be done to fix these problems with our young brothers in our schools and in our communities?  We must find a way to re-establish then cultivate TRUST between young and older black men. Give me some time to brainstorm more.

J. Beverly, Douglasville, GA

Who were your role models growing up?
While there are qualities I admire, I don’t believe in role models. What were your sources of motivation to succeed?As a child, I spent a lot of time in the hospital and needed to learn how to walk several times, so I had to find a way to channel that frustration and focus it toward a goal. That goal was solidified educationally when a teacher told me to act my age, not my color. Knowing my legacy, I decided to act my color and not my age.

Like Vaughn, I was pulled out of the mainstream education system at an early age. (V and I were doing taxes in 6th grade and debating capital gains taxes and Dukakis v Bush in 7th.) Our educators told us we were going to be college graduates before telling us explaining what a college was, so they set the standard high and challenged us to knock it down.


What can be done to fix these problems with our young brothers in our schools and in our communities?

1. We need to acknowledge that while we want the best for every child, not every child is going to cut it educationally…and tell it to them sooner.

2. Start ensuring that children are acclimated to reality. The plurality of children that want to be an NBA player, NFL, player, or lawyer. (REALITY: There are approximately 800 people playing in the NBA and 1,800 people playing in the NFL, which is less than 0.00001% of the American population. Additionally, approximately about 92 percent of ALL lawyers are non-minorities. I’m not saying a child’s dream should be killed outright, but their parents should help the child to invest in viable backup career options.)

3. While I’m on that point, expose our children to more math, science and foreign cultures.

4. Our communities need to acknowledge that while teachers present information daily, parents need to supplement that knowledge. Acknowledge simply sending children to school will NOT make them smarter by osmosis and getting a passing grade is not succeeding. Also, children have to have a supportive educational atmosphere at home.

5. Recognize that if you’re a single parent, belittling the other parent allows YOU to vent your frustration, but it does nothing to develop THE CHILD. (When the SBFP says to a child, “your daddy ain't s---, you ain't got s--t, so you ain’t never gonna be s--t, it does more to stunt the psychological well being of the child than failing any educational class.)

6. Teach children to think long term and beyond the immediacy of feeling good at the moment. (The bling kids see on TV looks good, but how many people with on camera bling actually own it, vs. renting it? Getting “love in the club” feels great at the moment, but the aftermath can last long after that night, after the club shuts down and the effects may well be permanent.)

7. Realize that the problem with the education system is not financial. (You could double, triple, raise the outlays tenfold and many problems would still exist.)

8. Teach children to think, to be able to manipulate information, and not regurgitate information for the sole purpose of taking a test. (A child can have an amazing capacity to remember information verbatim, which helps for recitation, but that memory is of no use if the child cannot reinterpret information if it’s presented in a different manner.)

I have a laundry list, but I’ll stop here.

L. Houston, Washington, DC

Sorry I'm late to the dance...

Who were your role models growing up?I had a handful of assigned mentors growing up, but I don't remember a whole lot that I learned from any of them. I realize today that my mother was probably one of my biggest role models growing up and I find myself sounding more like her every day. And the frat (when I was a member of the Sigma Beta Club) was role models as well.

What were your sources of motivation to succeed?Motivation? Hardly. Success was mandatory in my house. It wasn't an option. I wasn't a C student and my mother wasn't going to accept anything LESS than a B. I was frequently told I wasn't average, and I lived up to it. Still do.

What can be done to fix these problems with our young brothers in our schools and in our communities?Nothing. No amount of money or legislation can get people to care about their futures. It's going to take young brothers wanting better for themselves and it's going to take parents--while they still have control--DEMANDING (not asking) the best from their boys.

A. Springer, Las Vegas, NV

My role models were my father and brothers. My father didn't finish high school as a youth. Later in life he was employed as a school bus driver and decided to stay at the school and earn his high school diploma! He had a thirst for knowledge and would read the newspaper from front page to back every day! He could converse on almost any subject. He instilled the desire to learn upon his children. I had four older brothers who all graduated Valedictorians and Salutatorians (sp). All of them went on college on scholarship and earned high marks in technical degrees! During that era the teachers and the community would get behind you and try to push you to success!

Today it seems the tide has shifted. With the success and exposure of entertainers and sports figures many of our young men feel that bookwork is not necessary to succeed. But even that, be it a deterrent as it may, is not the root of the problem in my opinion. The problem begins in the home. Many parents today do not get involved in their children education! Parents will buy their kids every "babysitter game" on the market, but will not invest time in helping with homework or pushing them to do better. And some of them that have a desire to help cannot fathom the new teaching methods of today's system. The days of multiplication tables and word/spelling memorization are gone!! Now it's touch point math and "spell it how u think it sounds". Still, education needs to start in the home, with the school system being an extension of that educational process.
Well, that's my two cent!! Take it or leave it!! Thx for the blog....

A. Hamilton, Sr., Lake Charles, LA

Let's see, I'm going to give this a shot.

My role models growing up were my parents first and foremost. But my family in general was influential in my life. My dad and all seven of his brothers joined the military because my grandfather felt that joining the military was a way to get a step ahead in life. There was never this "I don't want my baby to leave me" type of sentiment. Most of them went to Vietnam, were parachuter, they all lived through the experience, and went to college. It started with my grandfather.

My mom was in a family of 4 girls. One unfortunately got murder, but my mom and the two other girls all went to college, graduated, and pursued careers. On that side, my grandmother was, and still is the matriarch.

So it was a foregone conclusion that college was in my (and my brothers) future. But my parents encouraged ANY kind of education. For example, if you are a plumber, go be a certified plumber. If you are a mechanic, go be a certified/licensed mechanic. If you are a musician/actor, get formally trained. I'm sure you get the picture. So there for my role models/motivation.

Now, I work in education also. And I find myself telling kids the same things I mentioned above. 1. It's okay to leave home or stay home, just keep going on your life journey. 2. Go get SOME type of post high school education and 3. Take your time and live life.

The parents however are different. They don't want their babies growing up, leaving home, or doing anything that threatens their relationship with their "babies." Particularly black single moms and their boys. It's the only male in the house, so these boys play the role of sig. other and the ladies don't want them to be anything else. College, jobs, growing up, moving out, relationships, and anything else that is a life progression prevents that boy from growing into a man. This isn’t a catch all of course, but that shoe fits a lot of people. Some ladies are motivated and want better for their kids; some want their babies to stay babies.

So the issues: lack of role models, lack of direction and focus, lack of inspiration, lack of emphasis on education, single parent homes (where are these dads?), and uneducated parent. It’s a vicious cycle. It's not everything I was thinking, but it's long enough.

T. Joseph, Independence, LA (Currently serving overseas in Iraq)

 *A heartfelt thanks to those friends who responded to my request. Kudos to you and keep doing what you're doing*

STEM Crisis: The Need for a New "Sputnik".

Courtesy of USA Today

While the science curriculum was beginning to get an overhaul after the US victories in World War II, the focus on science education in public schools was again on American minds during the Cold War against the former Soviet Union, especially during "The Space Race". On October 4, 1957, the Soviets took a first lead in the race by successfully launching the first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, into space. Fueled by fear and pride, Americans didn't take that news well. In fact, according to a USA Today article and TheSpaceRace.com timeline, three critical events occurred that affect math and science education during that time:

1. Prior to Sputnik, Americans were against federal intrusion in education; afterward, more educators start pushing for more federal funding in science and math education, beginning with the National Defense Education Act of 1958, an federal investment of $1 billion in scientific research and science education.
2. During Eisenhower's (R) administration, NASA was formed in 1958.
3. In 1961, shortly after his inauguration, in which the Soviets achieved another first in space when cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first man launched in space, President J. Kennedy (D) challenged the nation to go to the moon by the end of the decade.

Although the Americans eventually won the Space Race when astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Alders landed on the moon in 1969, the impact of these events on science and math education strengthened our education standings and contributed to the US in become a superpower.

So what happen since then?

While the federal intrusion in education has never ceased, especially with the passages of the Civil Right Acts of 1964 and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965, which later morphed into the current NCLB of 2001, other critical events occurred that changed the public perception of American education:

• 1983: A Nation at Risk, a national report calling for immediate reform in public schools and teaching quality, was released. Also, global internet was created
• 1991: The Cold War end and the Soviet Union became the Republic of Russia. Also, the first charter school law was passed in Minnesota.
• 1994-95: The Internet/World Wide Web became publicly accessible.
• 1995: The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) was first conducted. Since then, other TIMSS studies were released in 1999, 2003, and 2007. According to the most recent TIMSS findings, 6-10% of math students and 10-15% of science students in the US scored at or above the advanced international benchmarks in math and science, respectively.
• 1998: Proposition 227 passed in California, requiring instruction in public schools be delivered in English
• 1999: The school shooting spree at Columbine High School in Colorado became the worse school shooting event in national history
• 2001: September 11 terrorist attacks on American soil occurred in New York, Washington DC, and Pennsylvania
• 2002: NCLB was signed into law By President GW Bush (R), calling for school accountability, standard-based education reform, and school choice for parents; it is currently under reauthorization. Also, in the landmark US Supreme Court case of Zelman vs. Simmons-Harris, the highest court rule that some school vouchers programs were not in violation of the US Constitution.
• 2008: Illinois Senator Barack Obama (D) won his historical election as the 44th US President
• 2009: The American Reinvestment and Recovery Act was passed. It include extensive federal funding in education and RTTT.

A few days ago, President Obama, with his advisory council consisting of the best scientists and engineers in the country, released a comprehensive report, Prepare and Inspire: K-12 Education in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) for America's Future, detailing recommendations for federal role in this area; they include the following:

• Recruit and train 100,000 great STEM teachers over the next decade who are able to prepare and inspire students
• Recognize and reward the top 5 percent of the Nation’s STEM teachers, by creating a STEM master teachers corps
• Create 1,000 new STEM-focused schools over the next decade
• Use technology to drive innovation, in part by creating an advanced research projects agency—modeled on the famously innovative Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)—for education
• Create opportunities for inspiration through individual and group experiences outside the classroom
• Support the current state-led movement for shared standards in math and science

As a science teacher, I love these recommendations presented. However, I am a realist as well; to me, this is nothing more than a wish list, especially during these bad economic times. Nevertheless, the list can help mold a vision shared among the village. I will forever preach for involvement and collaboration of the village. Until that happen, all of these genius minds coming together will have been done in vain.

Two things that struck me most about this initiative is the focus on student apathy in STEM courses and the passion of the STEM teacher. When I first started teaching, I was passionate about my content area; over the years, the passion faded away. I can contribute that to six factors:

1. Job politics, state and federal legislation, and budget cuts
2. Classrooms with inadequate science equipment and lab space
3. Insufficient administrative support and opportunities for professional development in science teaching
4. Lack of parental involvement
5. More competition and less collaboration among science teachers
6. Lack of self-efficacy in teaching due to the influences of the other listed factors

While I believe teachers educate students, they also can inspire them as well. But we teachers need to be encouraged and supported by our superiors. I was inspired by my Chemistry teacher, Mr. McReynolds, in high school. However, he had the classroom latitude and administrative support to do his magic on me and some of my other classmates. I can imagined how significant that was for him...I am always thankful of the magic. I wish I could have imparted the same magic with many of my students. These are truly the signs of the times. Much has changed in public education and in society in general. Hence, the problems with student apathy, especially in STEM courses are real. In fact, in an earlier blog, Dr. Trotter from MACE believes student motivation is more influenced by culture and society, without proper motivation by the village, the student will refuse to learn, regardless who the teacher is. I wholeheartedly agree.

Finally, in the USA Today article, renowned education historian Diane Ravitch predicted globalization and global warming may become the new "Sputnik". I beg to differ. While they may instill fear (and corruption) in America, it is not a big enough blow to our pride...at least, not yet.

Profile: MACE -- The Teacher's Advocate

For more information about MACE, please view its website as well as its videos on YouTube.

Besides SOS Million Teacher March, if there was another education organization that I am excited about, it is the Metro Association of Classroom Educators (MACE) in Georgia. Since Georgia is a "right-to-work" state, teachers here do not have unions, but rather they have teacher associations with very limited power. In Georgia, there are three major teacher associations:

1. Georgia Association of Educators (GAE), the largest teachers' association in Georgia and the state affiliate of the National Education Association (NEA), the largest teachers' union in America
2. Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE), the second largest teachers' association in Georgia
3. MACE, "the radical teacher union" since 1995

NOTE: The American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the second largest teachers' union in America, does not have a state affiliate in Georgia. Instead, at least in the metro Atlanta area, it has two local affiliates.

Dr. John Trotter, Chairman of MACE

Of the three teachers' associations, MACE has a hard-knocks reputation for serving and representing their members. Unlike GAE and PAGE, MACE represents classroom teachers ONLY to avoid any conflict of interest; GAE and PAGE allowed administrators in their membership ranks. MACE is headed by Dr. John Trotter, a former teacher and school principal, who is also  a lawyer; he is tough, knowledgeable, and loyal to MACE's causes and members. While small in numbers, several school districts and school administrators have become fearful of MACE. Of the three teachers' associations in Georgia, MACE behaves more like a "union".

In addition, I love the philosophical positions of MACE when it comes to education reform. It is not always about the teachers, but about properly educating children and holding the entire village accountable. Its motto is simply this: You cannot have good learning conditions until you first have good teaching conditions. Plus, according to MACE's The Lion's Roar, the real problems in public schools are as follows:

• Defiant and disruptive students
• Irate and irresponsible parents
• Angry and abusive administrators
• Widespread, systematic cheating
• Naive and spineless educational policymakers in the state

Granted, there are some bad teachers whose actions are indefensible. However, most teachers I know work hard and strive to give their best to their students. However, many of them have to deal with these obstacles that MACE mentioned that reduced their desires to do their jobs right. To me, MACE's position is about holding the whole village accountable, not just the teachers.

Perhaps the only thing I don't like about MACE is its unwillingness to expand in other states; as Dr. Trotter explains, "MACE is committed to Georgia...You don't stretch your supply line...You keep your troops in tact; so, you know, you can be there to defend the teachers". I beg to differ, but OK. Nevertheless, kudos to MACE for truly being "The Teacher's Advocate".

Finally, on a personal note, when I taught in Georgia, I was a member of GAE. I didn't heard about MACE until after I joined GAE. Despite my affiliation and the alleged reputation of teachers being "black-balled" due to their MACE membership, I have always been a huge fan of MACE. However, I remained a member of GAE due to its networking connections locally, statewide, and nationally. Unfortunately, last school year when I was Associate Representative at my school site, I was exposed to too many things that I was displeased with the central office and GAE. Politics ruled more so than the needs of the members. Consequently, the teachers (and other employees) got screwed and nothing was done by GAE to rectify the mess. That was my personal nail to the coffin to leave the district and possibly the profession. My blind allegiance to GAE is one of the reasons why I left the profession, at least in Georgia. I don't care what the risk are; if I ever teach in Georgia again, I will become a member of MACE and give them a try.  In additional to the members' testimonials on MACE's website, one of its members has a blog; in one of his blog entries, he praises and advocates for MACE.