Standard/Common REMOVES Innovative/Exceptional

I am NOT crazy, I am NOT hypersensitive, my kids are average NOT failing, I am not upset because they are not successful; I do not do this for fun or for glory. Staying up all night researching, driving back and forth to the Capitol in Oklahoma City, speaking to parents, printing copies (TONS of them) out of your own pocketbook, scheduling and attending meetings with superintendents, principals, parents, legislators all over the state, making 65+ legislative phone calls a day, listening and restraining ALL self control during committee meetings is NOT my idea of a FUN exciting time!

However, when your children and your family have experienced the FAILING system first hand and move to get away from it in order to choose wisely and attend an AMAZING school with AMAZING people and now it is crumbling right before your very eyes….me, I TAKE ACTION! I learned over time to follow my gut instinct, to not take things at face value, to question things and follow my gut. God gave us a “gut feeling” and intuition for a reason!

These are some of the items that make me so sad and the reason I continue on this exasperating journey and adventure, despite how miserable the journey is along the way. Despite my mental and emotional nervous break downs, despite the time, effort, money and my lack of ability to pretend like everything is “hunky dory,” or pretend that ignorance is bliss when in all reality it is far from blissful.

Here are some of the initial questions and documented information I received that made me begin to question EVERYTHING, and I still have yet to receive a single response that refutes or explains any of it. Let’s begin:

1.       These standards and this education reform are “state-led” --- according to what? Please explain this: https://www.ed.gov/news/speeches/vision-education-reform-united-states-secretary-arne-duncans-remarks-united-nations-ed

http://www.nga.org/cms/federalrelations -

NGA Office of Federal Relations

“The mission of the National Governors Association (NGA) Office of Federal Relations is to ensure that governors’ views are represented in the shaping of federal policy. NGA policy positions, reflecting governors’ principles on priority issues, guide the association’s efforts to influence federal laws and regulations affecting states.”

2.       ALL data and “biometric” feedback stays local --- How? Where does the local server connect? The State Department. Where does the State Department server connect? The US Department of Education. And please explain #7 on this state website WAVE system, and why was the link inactivated:

http://www.ok.gov/sde/student-information-system

3.       These are ONLY standards NOT curriculum! If the standards set the bar, such as, I am going to run a marathon…don’t I need proper attire like running shoes, running clothes, etc. If I want to be able to run 21 miles then don’t I have to go out and practice by actually running? The standards drive the ENTIRE system all the parts, the entire package. I would not want to go run a marathon in a business suit! Therefore, the education standards also drive the high-stakes testing, the common-core aligned textbooks, the digital software programs, the worksheets, the benchmarks, the modules etc. So in essence if standards are the goal, curriculum is the plan, the road map to achieve the goal. Transforming education through assessments and accountability in order to meet the STANDARDS!

http://www.cgcs.org/Page/244

http://www.ccsso.org/Resources/Programs/Lumi_Book_Release.html

http://www.achieve.org/achieving-common-core

http://www.achieve.org/accountability

4.       According to PISA, NAEP, etc. our high school dropout rate is horrendous, children are illiterate and dumb, so we MUST test their progress in order to ensure they are prepared for 21^st Century College and Career! Who actually believes ANY of these false statistics? The fear tactics and the scare tactics of failure are over the top. Did you know that students across America are reading 2-3 grade levels higher than you or I EVER did? Four and five year old children can read at a rate we used to read decades ago starting in 3^rd grade. Remember Dick and Jane? Is academics and a test the ONLY tool to monitor growth? Does the overall cumulative schoolwork and effort the student portray over the ENTIRE school year not worth any value? My child is receiving 90’s and 100’s on spelling tests and math quizzes, they have memorized and understood the concept of multiplying, dividing, adding, and subtracting and can even pay for their own items with their own money when we head off to the store. I am blown away daily by their increased vocabulary, their ability to relate cause and effect, think outside the box in solving problems, adjust and adapt to socializing with other students both negatively and positively, learn from their mistakes, model responsibility and structure, learned and struggled when they have not been responsible through actions, discipline, and consequences, engage in imagination, draw surprising and inspiring pictures/artwork, and develop unique and expanding journal entries with further punctuation more details and lengthier sentences. Does ALL of this not count for anything for him/her to move onto the next grade level without passing a standardized state test? What individual honestly thinks that a 3 hour test given to young children could possibly dictate the end-all/be-all to whether or not that student deserves to move forward? Imagine just for one moment how you would have felt growing up if your destiny to attend 4^th grade (or any additional grade level) depended on whether or not you scored satisfactory or unsatisfactory on one 3 hour state test?

I find it strange that each of us went through learning and achieving our entire lives and the ONLY anxiety over testing was strictly the ACT/SAT, how stressful was it? The preparation, the results, don’t you recall what standardized testing did to your stomach? Now fast forward that feeling down to the 8-9 year old students in 3^rd grade right now! And their teachers that are being evaluated based on the results.

I feel so sad for our students that are being subjected to mental anguish because an adult somewhere down the line that believes the only way to show or compare student progress is quantifiable data and hours worth of anxiety stricken standardized high-stakes testing!!!

Students and teachers are way more valuable than ANY given test score, and I already refused to allow that to define mine. I chose to opt-out of ALL testing and benchmarks because I came to the conclusion that my child is more than a statistic and that I prefer the classroom instruction time to be used for genuine well-rounded learning NOT teaching to pass a test.

P.S. Define a 21^st Century skill or college and career ready anyways, we all seemed to achieve just fine without common core or workforce development, America is the MOST innovative country in the entire world. Where is the evidence to prove any of this? Just because it sounds great generalized on a website does not mean it is practical and/or necessary to be considered successful. Don’t buy into these labels of propaganda.

http://nga.org/cms/sites/ci/home/1314/index.html

Have you looked up the definition of “RIGOR” – is that the fun engaging and nurturing environment that promotes a joy for teaching or learning?

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rigor

Dirt NEVER Hurt unless it was politics!

Dirt never hurt unless it was in politics!

WOW! What an extraordinary event at the Capitol this past Monday, President’s Day no less. I was there attempting to speak with as many legislators as possible in order to share my concerns about common core, P20, state longitudinal databases, high-stakes testing, and the loss of classroom instruction time because of testing.

Most legislators, at least the important ones, the Committee Chairs slammed their door in my face, refused to schedule meetings and were abolsutely nowhere to be found (hiding in the bathroom) for all I could tell. More importantly, the hundreds of thousands of teachers, parents, students, principals, and even superintendents were completely ignored while the PAID PTA members, State Chamber of Commerce Members, NEA members, etc. and other PAID lobby groups sat in the Senate chairs, shook hands, and were sanctioned with open arms. It was disgusting and very open “dirty” politics!!

After speaking with many that attended this event, it was discouraging and depressing to see this take place. However, one mom in particular made a very true statement about these organizations being able to BUY votes and endorsements with money and power, however, those of us that do not think like that have so much more to offer, VIRTUE!!  

In the Bible it says this:

Matthew 16:26
For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?

2 Corinthians 4:8-10

We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair; persecuted but not forsaken; struck down, but NOT destroyed – ALWAYS carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.

I vividly see the image of God sending his ONE and ONLY son Jesus to die on the cross, to be beaten, even despite his perfection, His miracles and tangible evidence of healing right in front of people’s eyes and yet they still did not believe. I am in of awe what is transpiring now in our own city, our own state, our own country ESPECIALLY to our innocent kiddos. I PRAY deeply for God to give me peace as I desperately give up my life and neglect my own children to follow His will to bring people to the truth and for us to TAKE UP HIS CROSS and follow His ways!! Where are you? Will you PLEASE join me?

This past, Monday watching our politicians, that hurt, A LOT!!!  It was surreal, but I will maintain my virtue to spread God’s word and use it as a HUGE reminder, God is soooooo much BIGGER! And for that I am grateful, especially now more than ever before.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8VoUYtx0kw&list=FLHbr6rMCsVjf98_-VvV-Gfw





STOP Hurting Our Children!! They are not failing the system is Failing!! 

 

Mark 13:6-13, 1 Peter 4:12-16

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bItzgw7OAU

The One! That one! Her! Trouble maker! Her poor kids! What's the problem? Geez! Those Picolet's! Don't be acquainted! Ignore! Move on! Disregard! Why bother? Yes, THE ONE! Heard about you! Good luck! Thank you, keep going....keep being THE ONE!! Glad it's you NOT me, will support you from a mile away, glad YOU are willing because I'm not. I've heard it all...for 4 LONG years!

I have been called many names, I have been ignored, and people have learned how to duck down low and RUN FAST (REALLY FAST) when they see me coming, I am "THE ONE" the common core misfit stirring up trouble. Yes, that is me, and trust me I do not want to do it and trust me I do not enjoy it!!!! I thought I left it in Colorado!!!! I CAN NOT DO THIS AGAIN GOD, PLEASE PICK SOMEBODY ELSE

Suffering....reading what happened to the disciples, reading about how Jesus gave sight to the blind, healed the lame and sick, fed 5,000, was slain and beaten on the cross for me and for our sin. Oh boy I can not imagine His pain and suffering to do what He had to do because it was the right thing to do for you and for me!!

I can not imagine what life was like for him being denied 3 times by Peter, sitting alone up there on the Mount praying to His father why people would not believe!! Could they not see His powerful MIRACLES?! Tangible evidence!

I can not compare but I can relate...I mourn and weep because people try harder to NOT believe the truth than to actually dig in and do their own research. We have information at our fingertips, we carry it everyday in our purse, in our pocket, information is instant and yet we know and research LESS than ever before. We read the first paragraph, the title, the first page, the opinions, and refuse to read the legal jargon, the copyright, the tangible evidence that this is a public license/public policy, first ever in US History, Federal Race To The Top $$$ Bribe, $175 MILLION taxpayer debts for Oklahoma alone....but yet the warm fuzzy opinion hides those facts so that instead a nice opinion instead can now be substituted for truth. It sound better that way, it's easier, it's less work to turn and walk away.

http://www.corestandards.org/public-license

Parent consent is simply the notice that was sent home 3 years ago in 2011, assuming you received it and read it, even though you lived in another state. It is NO LONGER an actual signed consent form by the actual parent. I am scared Lord, I fear this generation being raised up without logic, in a world filled by regulation and laws instead of common sense, based on assumption instead of facts and truth, based on what makes you "feel good" about yourself NOT what is right, based on ignoring the problem rather than finding a solution, based on what's in it for me, based on EVERYTHING but integrity and ethics.

I can be THE ONE, THE ONE that will not comply, the one that will NOT consent to my child having his fingerprints scanned into the database that does not store the data because don't worry it's just a local server connected to the State Department of Education connected to the US Department of Education because it is all one big giant federally funded grant that the state of Oklahoma received!! But don't worry parent, it's just "biometrics" NOT fingerprinting!! Yes THAT ONE, who will not agree to all these things because my gut instinct says NO!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biometrics

I am at your mercy to be the one that follows Your lead but please protect me, give me perseverance and grace, give me strength and courage, give me Your words of wisdom, protect my kids from the ramifications, I WILL LIVE ON MY KNEES praying for this sadness to subside.

Thank you for your suffering for me, I get it Sir, I understand, I can't imagine watching my ONE and ONLY son be tortured. I can't imagine being hung up on that cross, suffering after all the great work you did!!

I will go on, I will follow my conviction but today I need You more than ever, I need you to guide my steps, and guide my words, because suffering is miserable.

I know what I am doing is right...Your affirmations and the people you send my direction are AMAZING! The connections, the stories, the places I have been, the people that contact me, but the suffering HURTS. The slander and rocks thrown still cause pain...not pain like the crown of thorns you wore, but pain because of the heartache, the lack of sleep, and the conviction to fight digs deeper than my ability to wake up EVERY SINGLE day, the sorrow of wanting to give up and walk away, begging God to please remove the experience and wisdom you know so you too could ignore the problem, BUT IT'S JUST NOT THAT EASY.

God has given me this purpose, I don't know why, I wish we did not live through what we lived through, I wish I did not know what I know, I wish my brain could be erased like a blackboard.

3AM is REALLY lonely, but I am grateful for this suffering because our family is closer than ever, I have new friends that send me encouraging messages like Bible verses, I read Your word and depend on it like NEVER before, I have discipled people and shared Your message of hope during times of darkness, I have learned about legislation and politics and stretched myself WAY out of my comfort zone, I have talked to Governors, Senators, and lawyers, scheduled 28 days worth of cookie bombs, seen parts of Oklahoma and made AMAZING warrior friends along the trail. I am no longer worried about my extra 10 pounds and instead am worried about the 10 verses that keep me inspired. THANK YOU God for this trial, for my suffering!!  

  

   

February Legislation / BILLS, BILLS, BILLS!

I HATE BILLS, and NOW I HATE THEM EVEN MORE. Paying bills is never fun watching all that money leave so rapidly. Reading legislation bills is far worse.

So people keep asking me, "I want to call and share my story, ask questions, but I don't know what to say." So this post is going to be all about legislation and my experience learning and gaining very complex knowledge which I have received by just diving in!

1st - legislators are people too, they are typically easy to talk to and quite frankly they do not know much about the topic of common core, they are essentially responding back to every call with the same exact scripted message:

• "These are just standards NOT curriculum."
• "There are going to make children college and career ready."
• "Oklahoma has an increased high school drop out rate, 25% of students that start 9th grade DO NOT graduate."
• "College students have a high remediation rate meaning they do not graduate once they start college, high college drop out rate."
• "These standards are great for students and teachers because they set the bar high with rigor."
• "Oklahoma schools are terrible, horrible, broken, the worst in the country, our PISA score stinks in the global outlook."
• "Oklahoma teachers need standards and evaluations because they stink at what they do and MUST be held accountable!"
• "These are a state-led initiative, it is NOT federal."

Raise your hand if you believe this????  I DO NOT, NOT FOR A SECOND and so therefore I will share with you my personal responses to every statement!

• Standards do drive much of the curriculum, yes a teacher can still pull the specific materials to teach how that benchmark is taught BUT the standards MUST be met, therefore, there are certain requirements that a teacher MUST teach in order to fulfill the standard. In the older grades, 3rd and higher a teacher MUST teach the contents that are going to be tested because they are being evaluated off of the test scores so they "teach" to the test whether they want to or not. For example, if a benchmark in 3rd grade is probability well the teacher MUST teach probability in order for the student to know how to do probability on the state test. If probability was NOT a required benchmark or standard the teacher would NOT teach it! Excessive writing EVEN in math is also a great example.
• College and Career Ready, how do these experimental standards PROVE that for every single child? How can they be so certain that EVERY child will be college and career ready, where is the evidence? And should EVERY single child attend college? Is attending and graduating from college the only thing that constitutes success? What about the child that wants to go be a farmer and business owner managing the 400-acre family farm?
• Increased high school drop out, where did this statistic come from and again where is the evidence of this? Also, how is setting the bar higher, taking away individualism, and stressing kids out over high-stakes tests going to improve this statistic? I worry about my child wanting to drop out in 3rd grade, forget high school or college. He's already so nervous and anxious hoping he can make it to 4th grade!! STRESS, frustration, panic causes way more harm than we ever had before
• College remediation, I am one of your statistics Mr. Legislator!! I dropped out at the end of my senior year because my NCAA Division I scholarship expired and the University wanted me to take out a $32,000 student loan in order to finish my last 4 courses. One of those was PE 101 (no kidding) and I was on a full ride scholarship traveling all over playing NCAA Division I soccer. The University would not let me take another course because this class was a REQUIREMENT, so was World Religions....needless to say I dropped out because I thought taking bogus classes because they were required and because the University knew my 4 year soccer scholarship had been fulfilled that they were exploiting me for $32,000. I was already lined up to take a job (Since this was in January) making $55,000, it was a no brainer! I was not going to be a slave to the lender, when I could be making $$ and I still have my transripts to prove it!! Nowadays, adults in their 60's are going back to finish their college degrees so that messes up your statistic and college costs are at an all time high, people are starting to realize that it takes 15+ years to pay off that $100,000 student loan, most of my friends are still paying on theirs and especially a teacher's salary for example, is on the bottom of that scale. SAD but true! (and most of my friends spent the majority of their $100,000 college education partying NOT excelling in coursework) I learned wayyyyyyyyy more attending business meetings, and career training through human resources than I ever did in Accounting 301! And the best part was they were paying me. :-)
• Rigor! Have you ever looked up the definition of rigor? How about common?

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rigor

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/common

• Oklahoma schools are at the bottom for funding, but I must say I have attended the bond meetings and honestly our superintendent does a phenomenal job being resourceful and spending the money very wisely for what little we receive. And look at how amazing our schools are, nobody feels slighted, the students are VERY successful, in both academics, athletics and even band!! I understand some schools might need more help than others but why are we circumventing the entire system to fix the minority? Go help the schools that need help, and in the meantime allow us to continue being exceptional, we already are. Show us where we need to tweak some things, BUT we do not need a major overhaul. Our superintendent and especially our teachers are doing a PHENOMENAL job. Well rounded student avhievement proves it!! And Owasso is not alone...we toured 12 different schools districts about a year ago and ALL 12 were amazing!! Oh yes, and as far as global is concerned....I think you must be forgetting that other countries DO NOT test their entire population of school children. They only test their elite! Here in America EVERYONE counts not just our Harvard, Yale and Princeton students. Secondly, again, who is in charge of this statistic? The same company that helped write the standards? Our students and teachers are WAY more valuable than any given test score! Teaching and learning are "priceless" creating moral quailities that are not even measurable, and our schools are producing RESPONSIBLE adults, which does not fit into your formula, or ANY formula for that matter.
• I absolutely trust every single teacher far more than any computer data, over any test score and over ANY quantifiable statistic. These teachers bust their tales for these students, they spend every waking moment trying to make them better, meeting them where they are, drying their tears, pushing them and challenging them, they are these students ROCKS,  teachers are courageous heroes, three of them have meant EVERYTHING to both of my kids!! I wholeheartedly trust their judgment, they know if they need to discipline them, encourage them, reward them, and they know when and how to test them if and when they need to. They know every single students strengths and weaknesses, they know if they are in a good mood or a bad mood, they know if their dog died or ran away, they know if they are not getting to eat at home, if their family is going through a divorce, if they don't have electricity, are waying the same clothes everyday, if they are in the hospital having surgery, if they are sick, or if they just need a hug!!! These are the AMAZING teachers thet you legislators are forcing out with your DUMB statistics, your dumb meetings, your dumb  standards, your dumb paperwork and your even dumber evaluations!!!! 
• State-Led does not require a copyright!!!! It also does not require the US Department of Education and or ANY amount of federal grant $$$$$ which is only being used for threats and bribes!!!

http://www.corestandards.org/public-license

All of these reasons above are why I fight and refuse to give up! Everyday I look at my children's little eyes and their faces and I know they deserve to be more than a stupid statistic. I remember all of the pain and sorrow of crying with my 6 year old because he HATED school and we battled because he would throw books across his bedroom calling himself stupid and dumb. I remember feeling like a failure as a mom because my child started having behavior problems in class!! Because he couldn't ever move up a reading level because he was reading the passage in 1 minute 10 seconds NOT 1 minute flat. He gave up, he quit, he begged me EVERY single day to stay home. His heart raced and pounded when he even caught sight of that dreaded timer, he wanted to do it so badly!! I would be helping other children in the class and be devastated watching mine hide in the corner hoping the teacher would not call on him. I CRIED every time I left that school. I did my best to tell him that he was smart, we began rewards charts at home, I encouraged him to do his best, I sent him into that place everyday and they would tell him he failed....then it was my job to assure him he didn't! It was my job to pick up all the millions of pieces they broke him into. I dreaded seeing any homework in their backpacks because I knew it was going to be a battle. I hated seeing my children so confused and frustrated, and we really hated spending $8,000 on in home tutors for both of our children because I was their mom and I couldn't help them! I did not know how to teach phonics or fuzzy math!

Now I cry because our Senator refused to even allow the Senate Bill 1146 to stop common core to even make it through his committee to be voted on!! How can one dictator whom we pay to represent us with our tax dollars do that?

Please take action and make that dreaded phone call in order to save even one student from hating school!

Call John Ford and demand that he allow these Senate Bills (I put them in RED) below to make it through the education committee and demand that they at least get voted on!

Senator John W. Ford

2300 N. Lincoln Blvd., Rm. 424A

Oklahoma City, OK 73105

(405) 521-5634

fordj@oksenate.gov

Executive Assistant: Debbie Thurmond

Legislation for 2014 begins TODAY, February 3^rd!! There are approximately 300 education bills that have been filed in the House and Senate. THREE HUNDRED laws or changes to laws that are going to potentially impact the classroom work of teachers and students. Yes, 300!!!!

You can see the specific wording of these Laws and interpret them for yourself by going to LegiScan.com and insert the bill number on the left side column.

I have made an attempt at being a legal attorney and translating these into what I think they mean, but I CAN ABSOLUTELY BE WRONG so DO NOT take my word for it. If there is one that is of interest to you I highly recommend you read the bills for yourself.  I also STRONGLY urge you to call them and get explanation and/or voice your concern prior to Feb. 22^nd after the committees are through meeting to discuss which ones move on to the floor for voting.

1143 – By Standridge – basically requires the Pledge of Allegiance to be recited once a day in elementary schools, and permits it to be recited once a day in other schools.

1146 – By Fields – removes alignment with Common Core State Standards!!!!!!!!!

1154 – By Fields – removes 3^rd grade retention laws and Reading Sufficiency Act.

1156 – By Shaw – prohibits schools being allowed to give out homework over summer break.

1157 – By Fields – financials with Oklahoma State Department of Education and mid-year carry over funds being adjusted.

1169 – By Garrison – prohibits Oklahoma State Department of Education from adjusting the cut scores on tests, as well as, performance levels except for during a specific time frame.

1179 – By Fields – allowing schools to do formative testing by school district according to PASS

1180 – By Brecheen – Law removing “winter holiday” saving the place for such things as Hanukkah & Christmas

1320 – By Loveless – modifies school funding calculations

1321 – By Loveless – consolidates administrative duties of school districts under 250 students.

1334 – By Bingman – modifies specific language related to Teacher Retirement funds.

1348 – By Stanislawski – provides exceptions for third grade law specifically English language learners

1349 – By Stanislawski – provides exceptions for third grade law specifically IEP students

1376 – By Sharp – provides potential for corporal punishment if parents approve and consent specific plan

1378 – By Paddack-- prohibits Oklahoma State Department of Education from administering any standardized test not mandated by federal law.  (Field Tests) Requires that the cost savings will strictly be used toward providing teacher raises.

1381 – By Paddack – requires that the Oklahoma State Department of Education utilize “an established, independent agency or organization that is nationally recognized” for its expertise in psychometrics and statistics in order to conduct a reliability and validity study of our A-F grading scale.

1383 – By Paddack – raises the amount of money the OSDE would pay districts to remediate kids who scored “unsatisfactory” on state tests.

1422 – By Jolley – permits certain courses such as, AP computer science, to meet math requirements for graduation.

1460 – By Stanislawski – 26 PAGES of changes and modifications that change the definition of a private school?!

1464 – By Stanislawski –Requires TLE evaluations be used with specific priority with reduction in teacher workforce.

1470 – By Newberry – Protection of Parental Education Act, requires notice to parent/guardian of certain content material

1500 – By Boggs – requirement of daily citing of Pledge of Allegiance

1653 – By Halligan – Adds STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) to class list of course

1660 – By Ford – Higher Education requires private institutions receive certain accreditations.

1661 – By Ford – Adult education; transferring powers and duties of adult education to the State Board of Career and Technology Education

1662 – By Ford – student industry grants under Oklahoma Career Promise Act for certain industries pursuant to Executive Director of Oklahoma Department of Commerce

1663 – By Ford – Charter schools; directing a sponsor to terminate a contract if the charter school receives certain grades

1690 – By Sparks – clarifies language in Teacher Retirement Funds

1734 & 1735 – By Brinkley – clarifies language to Teacher Retirement Funds

1765 – By Brecheen – creates Oklahoma Science Education Act

1766 – By Sykes –school to work model career path, directing the development of guidelines for high school to work partnerships

1805 – By Standridge – creates Oklahoma American Heritage Education Act, which relates to classroom use of founding documents; requiring display of the United States of America motto; allowing principals and teachers to use certain materials; allowing teachers, principals, and administrators to display certain materials; requiring public school library collections to ensure access to certain material

1827 – By Newberry – permits a parent/guardian to excuse his/her child from any, and/or all parts of Oklahoma High-Stakes Testing, an OPT OUT LAW

1944 – By Burrage – Teachers; establishing the minimum salary schedule for teachers, does not state specifics

1960 – By Burrage – creates Oklahoma Teacher Loan Repayment Program Act. Teachers in Oklahoma public schools for at least three years would be eligible for an award to the bank holding their college loans, of no more than $5000.

Going Through The Motions

It's crazy living your life in deja vu, being able to predict what happens next, realizing what is happening while it's happening. I am reverting back to our life of broken schools, broken children, broken teachers, in exchange for excessive testing and mediocrity. Essentially just MORE, MORE, MORE, distractions, MORE programs, MORE is not always better.

In fact, I see how less is actually more!! Our school in just ONE YEAR has more.....more hustle & bustle, more programs, more quantity and yet a whole lot less impactful/meaningful quality. It used to be the student of the month was able to go up on stage and eat lunch with the principal...and my kids still talk about that! But common core wants everything to be "common," NO individuality and NO exceptionalism. Just average, mediocre, doing enough are too much to make people just get by.

What people do not realize is that these types of exceptional rewards are the first indirect, but yet very purposeful and meaningful programs that get replaced with busyness. Student of the month has changed, what once was a very meaningful reward and truly a "special moment" and lifelong experience for a student has now essentially become a piece of paper. I can see the same things happening at our amazing school, which we have already lived through. Getting rid of the programs that MATTER for more. Not more meaningful just more.

What was once structured, becomes more chaotic, where there were once clear boundaries become MORE freedom...A/R reading is replaced with teachers/leaders instead being expected to constantly talk about reading, "What book are you reading?" Finger scans to even check out the books, and collect data, but yet the reason A/R was eliminated was due to cost?!  Just wait here are some other things I am certain are likley to come in the fall with FULL implementation of common core:

1. Less recess
2. Less time to eat lunch
3. Writing assignments in specials, inlcuding gym
4. Free (meaning the student can get up and walk out of class anytime) for bathroom breaks
5. More hand salutes, gestures, and kids expected to sit perfectly still, quiet MORE, for longer periods of time, even the 5 year olds
6. More rituals, more "stuff" and less worth
7. no more spelling lists and/or tests
8. DOUBLE the hours of high-stakes testing
9. More new teachers and constant turnover
10. Less smiling and more unhappy faces, especially the students because the fun stuff gets taken away, there is no time for it!
11. More talk about emotions/feelings, opinions and less talk about the facts.
12. More talking PERIOD and way less doing!!!
13. BURN OUT, BURN OUT, BURN OUT
14. More top down rules to uphold

Reward charts have already been removed in order to be fair, and promote equality. Mediocrity fully sets in, again A/R has already been replaced with more chaotic reading charts, less consistency, more work for the teachers, and therefore it gets lost in the shuffle. I have to beg my kids to read now, their incentive and reward is gone! More is not always better! Bring on the participation trophies. :-(

Teachers have more meetings, principals have more meetings, ALL have more paperwork, and students in return suffer with MORE testing! Quanitifiable data....our children have now become statistics! I try my best to share my story to warn people of what is coming, but it's very easy to ignore if you can't see the big picture. One day you will understand, then in that moment you will look back and realize that this AMAZING school district has now become just another building full of rituals with more programs that simply "go through the motions!" It's hard to sit back and watch...depressing to see amazing staff get caught up in a churn and burn environment, the students going through drill & kill in order to do well on a test. I beg you to stop and smell the roses...stop going through the motions!!!

A little at a time, bit by bit, the special and important individual expectations, incentives and rewards that REALLY count, the ones that create REAL leaders are removed....think about it!

   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMAjC7NaItA