An Invitation to Discussion

I have been amazed at the number of conversations I have had with a variety of people where the topics of lack of civility and polarizing ideas came to the forefront.  It would appear that some have chosen to disregard the axiom that we need to work to “disagree agreeably.” 

Often, we see individuals discounted as well as their ideas.  What would appear to be obvious is that we may have a number of teachable moments as educators relative to both civility and disagreement.  We don’t always agree with each other in education, or even in our district.  However, for the most part, disagreements have been respectful and not demeaning to the person or persons we are disagreeing with.  The ability to express one’s opinion without fear of retribution or retaliation has been a cornerstone of our country for hundreds of years. 

Let’s consider ways we can provide our students with both appropriate teaching and modeling of civility and discourse so that we won’t have to worry about watching the latest debacle either on the internet or on the national news.  We also have to temper that educational opportunity with the fact that we shouldn’t always accept everything we hear, read, or are told; we need to critically evaluate ideas and determine what makes sense to most of us. 

We had this conversation last Saturday in a graduate class I teach at Friends University and we decided that today the missing commodity is often common sense.  What do you think?  What can we do in USD 373, in Kansas, and in schools and districts across the United States to counter the tidal wave of lack of civility, polarizing issues and opinions, and rude and disrespectful behavior which seems to be rampant.  I’d be interested to hear what you think.

John Morton

Is it Time for Tailored Learning?

The administrators and I just finished reading an article entitled “One Size Does Not Fit All,” centering on the idea that we need to do much more to structure individual student learning experiences at all levels. On the surface, that appears to be a daunting and difficult, if not impossible, task. However, I think we are missing a key element in this process – our students themselves. Having students work collaboratively with us to develop an electronic SILP (Student Individual Learning Plan) might lead to a number of fascinating by-products, including engaging students more fully as partners in the educational process. And, it might free us up as educators to design an infrastructure in which greater flexibility and response to student needs might be priorities.

Given that we are in tenuous financial times, this may provide the impetus for us to begin to explore how we might better create school experiences tailored to what each individual student needs. To me, it is an intriguing and thought-provoking idea. What do you think? As we contemplate a different high school schedule, might this be the cornerstone? I’ll be glad to share your thoughts with the district if you will share them with me. Until next time…..

Education Funding... It's the Law!

I attended a meeting yesterday with several small, rural district superintendents. I was struck by the conversation we had concerning how fearful many district are about additional funding losses during this school year. I, of course, share that concern. I believe it was a board member from Hutchinson who said last week that our Kansas constitution says that it is the state’s responsibility to adequately fund education all the time, not just when times are good. It would appear that a civics lesson is overdue for some of our legislatures. Education funding is not arbitrary – it is the law! And, our legislature is choosing to ignore state law. You might guess the consequences for our School district if I and the board chose to do the same. It is unfortunate that, once again, we see litigation as one of our major options in dealing with the adequate financing of educational opportunities for all of our students in Kansas. In the months ahead, we are going to have to be very vigilant if we are to support education which is a primary investment in the future of our community, our state, and our nation. I’d be interested to hear your thoughts, suggestions, relative to how we might proceed during this upcoming legislative session.

The opportunity to begin anew

We have had a whirlwind two weeks getting ready for today and tomorrow, our first days with our students. I am always buoyed by the attitude of our staff when we all get together at the district convocation. We have a great opportunity to convey that positive energy to all of our students this school year. And, as I’ve said before, we have the greatest opportunity of any profession – the opportunity to begin anew each school year.

“Challenging times make us bitter or better.” I shared that quote with you before the end of last year and it is, of course, still relevant as we begin this year as well. I believe that as a district we continue to choose better and not bitter. We are all better served because of that decision. – to be better for ourselves, our fellow staff members, and most important, our students. I really hope we can find additional ways to positively support each other, our community, and the students we serve during this school year. If you have thoughts about what we might be able to do, please let me know. Have a great school year, USD 373!

John Morton

The possibilities are endless....

Charles Dickens probably said it best: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times….. As we prepare to open the 2009-2010 school year, we are faced with a number of unprecedented issues which, I am guessing, will be with us for a longer period of time than we might wish. However, even with such concerns, we look forward to a year of great possibilities for the students of USD 373. This year, hopefully, will allow us to also look at how we might work “smarter and not just harder.” Are there ways we might share resources, organize our instruction in more efficient ways, and more directly engage our students in the learning process? We will most certainly be continuing the discussions we began last February at our all district collaboration. Some will be coming to fruition soon….we will be unveiling our district wide recycling program at the district convocation which will serve as a great model for our students and simultaneously as a way for us to save money as a district. Another area might involve ways to involve the greater Newton community in a more relevant way in the education of our students.

The possibilities are endless…..I look forward to hearing from and having conversations with you during this school year.

Teacher Appreciation Week

As we celebrate National Teacher Appreciation Week, it again seems appropriate to dedicate this column to the efforts of our teachers who continue to work so tirelessly to positively affect the lives of our students in the Newton community.

When I first entered my classroom as a novice high school English teacher, teaching did not appear to be nearly as complicated and complex as it is today. There were not the many federal and state mandates in place; the quest for school accountability embodied by the Quality Performance Accreditation process was not even looming on the horizon; No Child Left Behind referred to making sure all students were accounted for in the auditorium or on the field trip bus, not to raising the bar for many facets of the educational process. Technology consisted of constantly ruining ties and white shirts by running ditto and mimeograph machines. How things have changed!

And yet, in many other ways, things have not changed very much at all. Our teachers continue to do the most important work that takes place in our community on any given day – they impact the lives of our students, preparing them to become productive citizens in the 21st century world. Of greater significance is the fact that the world requires more of our students in many ways than did the world of past generations. And, students coming to us in 2009 are more dramatically impacted by that world than perhaps we were when we were in school.

In addition, educational institutions are faced with more complex challenges than ever before, not unlike those challenges facing our community, our state and our country. The current financial dilemma is just an example of the ambiguities and uncertainties which seem to permeate our profession and our lives.

The glory of it all is that we continue to rise to ever-increasing challenges. Because of our teachers, students are being exposed to greater learning opportunities than at any time in our history. Perhaps Albert Einstein said it best: “In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” We could dwell on the present difficulties, but prefer instead to consider the possibilities and opportunities which we have in educating our students. Every day in our classrooms presents new opportunities for teaching, for learning, and for educational success.

Teachers have become true “miracle workers,” demonstrating that it is possible to perform daily education miracles with limited resources and significantly increased demands. A great testament to that statement is the fact that all of our schools have continued to make significant student achievement gains even with higher targets to reach.

I hope you will join me this week in saluting our teachers who continue to provide the educational expertise, dedication and perseverance that has served our students and community so well for the past 136 years! Remember in your own educational experiences a teacher who “made a difference” in your life, being thankful for that teacher’s involvement and personal interest in you. We have the greatest jobs in Newton – we create the future through the work we do with our students every day. Let’s pause to thank our teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week (and perhaps every day for that matter) for the fine work they perform in USD 373.

Fasten Your Seatbelts...

I guess I’m in a reflective mood this afternoon as I write this newest blog for our district web site. The legislature will adjourn this afternoon and will reconvene for the “veto” session (nice choice of words) at the end of April. We still have little understanding of the impact of the stimulus funding for education either on our state or on our school district. We are also facing an election of board members next Tuesday. Those board members (at least one new one) will continue to grapple with the financial decisions which have been made by those far removed from the education enterprise. As Bette Davis said in one of her great movies, “Fasten your seatbelts; it’s going to be a bumpy ride!” I think we have done as much preparation as we can, given the limited information we have at our disposal. With a transition in the Governor’s office also in the mix, it will be an interesting time for sure. If I could wish one thing, as I reflect today, it would be for an epiphany in leadership at all levels in our state. We need more leaders willing to be courageous, to do the right thing for the citizens of Kansas, and not indulge in the same type of rhetoric which has plagued real progress in our state in the past. Alas, the old adage remains true; “If you continue to do what you’ve always done, you’ll get the same results you have always gotten.” I believe we have to be the model of hope and optimism in this trying time; we have to continue to examine what we do, hone our practice, and make sure we use the needs of students as our litmus test for every decision we make. I remain optimistic about our profession; about other areas…..not so much.

Let me know what you are thinking as we move to the completion of this school year.