Comments on: What’s education got to do with it? http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2006/07/14/whats-education-got-to-do-with-it/ Superintendent of Schools writes about learning and school management in rural Western New York. Wed, 02 Dec 2009 15:20:06 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 By: Rick Weinberg http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2006/07/14/whats-education-got-to-do-with-it/comment-page-1/#comment-66 Rick Weinberg Thu, 03 Aug 2006 19:15:13 +0000 http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2006/07/14/whats-education-got-to-do-with-it/#comment-66 Kimberly, Just a couple thoughts. My children are 4 and 6 years old. I am a technology integrator for 22 school districts and am very forward thinking in the use of technology to engage students in classrooms that are all too often disconnecting students to learning I'm not sure I would send my children to a school that did not have some kind of filtering system. I love your points about a child's natural curiosity. I also agree with the point about blocking and filtering can be the “new book burning.” I am also not in favor of sheltering students up to a certain age. I am in favor of respecting them by trusting them. I’m just not in favor of more distractions at school. It has been deemed by the courts that schools do not have the same rights to free speech as the out of school community. For example, students cannot create a branch of the Ku Klux Klan as a school club and demonstrate in a school hallway. Schools also have dress codes in their codes of conduct. Some things are blocked and for good reason. In Tinker v. DesMoines the Supreme Court said that schools could limit speech that was deemed hurtful and/or causes a distraction. It also gave the power to local school boards to make decisions on what is distracting. While I would argue that students can be taught how hurtful speech is wrong and they can learn the difference between what is hateful and not hateful. I would say that students would have a harder time with not being distracted by the Internet. I want my children to love learning and not be distracted by showing fellow students a pornographic website, or a site that explains how to create a bomb or drug for a cheap high. We don’t let students sit in class without shirts on because it may be distracting to the educational process. We should not let every Internet site go unfiltered for the same reason. After writing all this, and not to soften my position, but I am now wondering if respecting and in turn trusting students does not outweigh distractions to learning caused by unlimited Internet capabilities. I guess I’m looking for a balance between no filtering, which Will and others think is OK, and filtering everything. Rick Weinberg Kimberly,
Just a couple thoughts. My children are 4 and 6 years old. I am a technology integrator for 22 school districts and am very forward thinking in the use of technology to engage students in classrooms that are all too often disconnecting students to learning

I’m not sure I would send my children to a school that did not have some kind of filtering system. I love your points about a child’s natural curiosity. I also agree with the point about blocking and filtering can be the “new book burning.” I am also not in favor of sheltering students up to a certain age. I am in favor of respecting them by trusting them. I’m just not in favor of more distractions at school.

It has been deemed by the courts that schools do not have the same rights to free speech as the out of school community. For example, students cannot create a branch of the Ku Klux Klan as a school club and demonstrate in a school hallway. Schools also have dress codes in their codes of conduct. Some things are blocked and for good reason. In Tinker v. DesMoines the Supreme Court said that schools could limit speech that was deemed hurtful and/or causes a distraction. It also gave the power to local school boards to make decisions on what is distracting. While I would argue that students can be taught how hurtful speech is wrong and they can learn the difference between what is hateful and not hateful.

I would say that students would have a harder time with not being distracted by the Internet. I want my children to love learning and not be distracted by showing fellow students a pornographic website, or a site that explains how to create a bomb or drug for a cheap high. We don’t let students sit in class without shirts on because it may be distracting to the educational process. We should not let every Internet site go unfiltered for the same reason.

After writing all this, and not to soften my position, but I am now wondering if respecting and in turn trusting students does not outweigh distractions to learning caused by unlimited Internet capabilities.

I guess I’m looking for a balance between no filtering, which Will and others think is OK, and filtering everything.

Rick Weinberg

]]> By: Rob Cottingham » links for 2006-07-24 http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2006/07/14/whats-education-got-to-do-with-it/comment-page-1/#comment-38 Rob Cottingham » links for 2006-07-24 Mon, 24 Jul 2006 19:52:00 +0000 http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2006/07/14/whats-education-got-to-do-with-it/#comment-38 [...] A high school principal catches on to the social web Wow. Here’s a blog post by a rural high school principal who looks at blogs and wikis and sees, not a threat to the kids, but a fantastic opportunity she wants to embrace. “…[W]hen schools filter everything and avoid, it’s fear of the unknown, it’s (tags: education blogging web2.0 wikis blog high_school) [...] [...] A high school principal catches on to the social web Wow. Here’s a blog post by a rural high school principal who looks at blogs and wikis and sees, not a threat to the kids, but a fantastic opportunity she wants to embrace. “…[W]hen schools filter everything and avoid, it’s fear of the unknown, it’s (tags: education blogging web2.0 wikis blog high_school) [...]

]]> By: Rob Cottingham http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2006/07/14/whats-education-got-to-do-with-it/comment-page-1/#comment-37 Rob Cottingham Sun, 23 Jul 2006 12:59:42 +0000 http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2006/07/14/whats-education-got-to-do-with-it/#comment-37 When my kids hit high school (many years from now!), I can only hope that they'll find educators as willing to embrace opportunity and pursue possibility as enthusiastically as you clearly do. This was a pleasure to read. When my kids hit high school (many years from now!), I can only hope that they’ll find educators as willing to embrace opportunity and pursue possibility as enthusiastically as you clearly do. This was a pleasure to read.

]]> By: Sue http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2006/07/14/whats-education-got-to-do-with-it/comment-page-1/#comment-31 Sue Wed, 19 Jul 2006 04:06:39 +0000 http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2006/07/14/whats-education-got-to-do-with-it/#comment-31 If we hope to inspire quality in our schools, we have to do more than meet students half way. We need to be courageous enough to reach out and build a strong involvement with them so they have some chance to develop into responsible citizens. If we don't take those steps, who will? The risk in not doing so is too great. Becoming involved with students is essential if we hope to have them learn a better way and ultimatley put learning into their quality world. Inspiring Quality in Your School -- p. 205 I think this was written in 1951, so to all of you who think the world is out of control, "it wasn't like that when we were......" think again. Embrace the future. Kim, you are on the right track - good luck. If we hope to inspire quality in our schools, we have to do more than meet students half way. We need to be courageous enough to reach out and build a strong involvement with them so they have some chance to develop into responsible citizens. If we don’t take those steps, who will? The risk in not doing so is too great. Becoming involved with students is essential if we hope to have them learn a better way and ultimatley put learning into their quality world.
Inspiring Quality in Your School — p. 205
I think this was written in 1951, so to all of you who think the world is out of control, “it wasn’t like that when we were……” think again. Embrace the future. Kim, you are on the right track – good luck.

]]> By: Theresa G. http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2006/07/14/whats-education-got-to-do-with-it/comment-page-1/#comment-30 Theresa G. Tue, 18 Jul 2006 23:56:05 +0000 http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2006/07/14/whats-education-got-to-do-with-it/#comment-30 Carol! I was in your session and it is something I debated with my colleagues - although in reverse!! Many on my team were excited about creating wikis and blogs (and I have to admit that I have since created one myself around Writing Frameworks - but I kept asking for what purpose? If, as Kim states in her latest post, it is to engage our learners and we know how and why we want to do so - GREAT! If we are only doing it to capture their attention in the technology and don't really know why we are having them blog or create a wiki - how is it any different than what we have tried (and failed at) in the past? Carol!
I was in your session and it is something I debated with my colleagues – although in reverse!! Many on my team were excited about creating wikis and blogs (and I have to admit that I have since created one myself around Writing Frameworks – but I kept asking for what purpose? If, as Kim states in her latest post, it is to engage our learners and we know how and why we want to do so – GREAT! If we are only doing it to capture their attention in the technology and don’t really know why we are having them blog or create a wiki – how is it any different than what we have tried (and failed at) in the past?

]]> By: Carol http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2006/07/14/whats-education-got-to-do-with-it/comment-page-1/#comment-27 Carol Tue, 18 Jul 2006 14:59:22 +0000 http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2006/07/14/whats-education-got-to-do-with-it/#comment-27 It seems as though our workshops were YEARS apart! Even though I felt that the in class teaching strategies I was taught were extremely beneficial, most importantly, is the connection teachers (human beings) make with our kids! That respect, that trust is sometimes the one thing that is needed for kids to perform. Constant reassuring them that they are indeed good people is so important. I was learning how to engage students in the classroom, disecting learning styles and how kids learn and how to approach all of my students. The blog is interesting, and I am someone who doesn't face change easily but I am willing and able to change and I love learning new things. Perhaps a question to you then is how will the faculty be introduced to this? How will people be brought on board? What are the ways that this process can be used effectively in the classroom?Is it possible that both workshops were TRULY effective? One was futuristic, the now, cutting edge, while the other could be seen as "old fashioned". Was what I learned a waste???? I struggle with the idea of ALWAYS stimulating the student. We need to concentrate on getting kids in school and being successful academically. We need to celebrate academics! It seems as though our workshops were YEARS apart! Even though I felt that the in class teaching strategies I was taught were extremely beneficial, most importantly, is the connection teachers (human beings) make with our kids! That respect, that trust is sometimes the one thing that is needed for kids to perform. Constant reassuring them that they are indeed good people is so important. I was learning how to engage students in the classroom, disecting learning styles and how kids learn and how to approach all of my students. The blog is interesting, and I am someone who doesn’t face change easily but I am willing and able to change and I love learning new things. Perhaps a question to you then is how will the faculty be introduced to this? How will people be brought on board? What are the ways that this process can be used effectively in the classroom?Is it possible that both workshops were TRULY effective? One was futuristic, the now, cutting edge, while the other could be seen as “old fashioned”. Was what I learned a waste???? I struggle with the idea of ALWAYS stimulating the student. We need to concentrate on getting kids in school and being successful academically. We need to celebrate academics!

]]> By: Teaching to reach every single student » Time to get to work http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2006/07/14/whats-education-got-to-do-with-it/comment-page-1/#comment-25 Teaching to reach every single student » Time to get to work Tue, 18 Jul 2006 02:42:54 +0000 http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2006/07/14/whats-education-got-to-do-with-it/#comment-25 [...] Then I read an inspiring post on G-town Talks discussing the cost of avoiding change. After reading and reflecting a bit, I got to the source of my headache: I was resisting change. I was resisting participating in such a community-based set of activities. I was resisting really freeing up my students. I don’t think my motives were bad, but I realized that if I am serious about wanting to reach and engage each and every one of my students, that I had to get myself out of the way. [...] [...] Then I read an inspiring post on G-town Talks discussing the cost of avoiding change. After reading and reflecting a bit, I got to the source of my headache: I was resisting change. I was resisting participating in such a community-based set of activities. I was resisting really freeing up my students. I don’t think my motives were bad, but I realized that if I am serious about wanting to reach and engage each and every one of my students, that I had to get myself out of the way. [...]

]]> By: paul baker http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2006/07/14/whats-education-got-to-do-with-it/comment-page-1/#comment-23 paul baker Mon, 17 Jul 2006 14:16:00 +0000 http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2006/07/14/whats-education-got-to-do-with-it/#comment-23 Nicely put. You're a forceful writer. And this post reminds me of something attributed to the composer John Cage: "I can't understand why people are frightened by new ideas. I'm frightened of old ones." Nicely put. You’re a forceful writer. And this post reminds me of something attributed to the composer John Cage: “I can’t understand why people are frightened by new ideas. I’m frightened of old ones.”

]]> By: Kimberly http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2006/07/14/whats-education-got-to-do-with-it/comment-page-1/#comment-22 Kimberly Sun, 16 Jul 2006 23:10:50 +0000 http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2006/07/14/whats-education-got-to-do-with-it/#comment-22 Thank you to everyone for the encouragement and thoughtful response. And a pingback from Australia! I think I'll need a follow up session on the ins and outs, or it better be in Will's book. Already thinking about my next post, but want to spend time reading the blogs of everyone who's taken the time to comment first. If only I didn't have to work all day, how do I carve out an hour a day for blogging when I barely cook a meal now? Thank you to everyone for the encouragement and thoughtful response. And a pingback from Australia! I think I’ll need a follow up session on the ins and outs, or it better be in Will’s book. Already thinking about my next post, but want to spend time reading the blogs of everyone who’s taken the time to comment first. If only I didn’t have to work all day, how do I carve out an hour a day for blogging when I barely cook a meal now?

]]> By: Beth McIntyre http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2006/07/14/whats-education-got-to-do-with-it/comment-page-1/#comment-21 Beth McIntyre Sun, 16 Jul 2006 16:47:55 +0000 http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2006/07/14/whats-education-got-to-do-with-it/#comment-21 It sounds as though we have many educators in this area (WNY) who are willing to make a commitment to educating our school board reps, parents, students and fellow colleagues. It may be a long and muddy road, but I'm ready to put on my mud boots and slicker and get to my destination. With the support and posting of comments by those on this blog (great site Kim) I feel more and more prepared. I look forward to continued conversations as I get out my compass and road map. It sounds as though we have many educators in this area (WNY) who are willing to make a commitment to educating our school board reps, parents, students and fellow colleagues. It may be a long and muddy road, but I’m ready to put on my mud boots and slicker and get to my destination. With the support and posting of comments by those on this blog (great site Kim) I feel more and more prepared. I look forward to continued conversations as I get out my compass and road map.

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