Dave, For years we have had parents as teachers¹ aides, the parent scholar program until funding was cut. Many of these parents were the most boisterous, belligerent parents as well.
Still we get some parent volunteers at our school and have some aides who survived the cuts. Almost all of them, to a person with whom I have worked over the years once they began working inside a school, COMPLETELY changed their tune about teachers and began to see what teachers are up against. When you work as a teachers¹ aide there is not much time to ³observe², as it¹s a lot of work. They finally get it when they see the kids in action and how hard teachers work and become converts, so to speak. My idea is to have people who do not necessarily have students in schools to really experience what it is like. I see so many suggestions about school reform from people who have never set foot in a public school. I also feel it would a great community service in the spirit of forming a truly better community. On 4/14/08 1:31 AM, "Dave Axler" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Wilma, > > I find that I like the concept, but not the execution. How about asking > parents to serve as > teachers' aides, rather than teachers? I think they'd actually have more > chances to learn that way, > as they could then observe both the teacher and the kids. > > Regards, > Dave > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Wilma de Soto <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: Anthony West <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; UnivCity listserv > <[email protected]> > Sent: Sun, 13 Apr 2008 10:38 pm > Subject: Re: [UC] Costs of teaching > > > > > Anyhow, my main argument is for people to actually understand what goes on > > in public school by doing a civic duty to cover a classroom when a teacher > > is out sick, getting an MRI, Endoscopy, what have you. > > > > > > On 4/13/08 6:31 PM, "Anthony West" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > >> > So what's happening in Philadelphia's public schools today is > >> > conscientious teachers like Wilma are reaching into their own pocket to > >> > fund that gap -- that $1500 or so -- between the Philadelphia per-pupil > >> > expenditure and even a moderate suburban per-pupil expenditure. > >> > > >> > Wilma's story is not unique. All Philadelphians should be ashamed this > >> > is so. > >> > > >> > The only cure -- run the math! -- is that Philadelphia rebuild the > >> > middle-class and prosperous tax base that once supported good public > >> > education in the city, and now supports good public education in the > >> > suburbs. What can we do to get more middle-class taxpayers inside city > >> > limits? That's the $64 question facing Philadelphians who want to see > >> > their working-class kids uplifted. Poor city kids need new non-poor city > >> > kids, ASAP. > >> > > >> > It's time we, as a city, quit cannibalizing our Wilmas. It's time we > >> > confronted the challenge of regional and global competition. It's time > >> > we quit yakking about 40-year-old New-Left ideological shibboleths like > >> > "gentrification". > >> > > >> > Let's move on. Can UC-list move on? Can we start talking about the > >> > reality of urban life in 2008 and forget all this nostalgic homage to > >> > the people who opposed the construction of of the high-rises in the > >> > 1960s ... for reasons that were very cogent at the time, but are no > >> > longer? Can we move beyond the causes of our youth, to pay attention to > >> > the needs of today's youth? > >> > > >> > -- Tony West > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > Wilma de Soto wrote: > >>> >> "Take the wheel of your automobile, and sing on down to..." Upper >>> Moreland, > >>> >> Lower Merion or wherever you will. Then take a walk over to Wilson, > >>> >> McMichael, Martha Washington, Cramp, Clymer and see the difference > >>> >> first-hand. > >>> >> > >>> >> > >>>> >>> Outrageous! Yet I know you're not alone. > >>>> >>> > >>>> >>> Do you think teachers in, say, Upper Moreland Twp. are tempted to do the > >>>> >>> same as you, or do they get more of what they need from their school > >>>> >>> budget in the first place? You probably know more teachers than most of us. > >>>> >>> > >>>> >>> -- Tony West > >>>> >>> > >>>> >>> > >>>> >>> Wilma de Soto wrote: > >>>> >>> > >>>>> >>>> why as I do my taxes this weekend, do I have receipts totaling > >>>>> >>>> nearly $1500 for out-of-pocket classroom expenses for 2007, so I can have > >>>>> >>>> the means to do my job. > >>>>> >>>> > >>>>> >>>> The School District gives us $100, (up from $50 from the last >>>>> contract). > >>>>> >>>> For most of my career it was a $25 allotment. > >>>>> >>>> > >>>>> >>>> The Feds will let me deduct up to $250 I believe. > >>>>> >>>> > >>>>> >>>> Let me add I was more prudent this year in my out-of-pocket spending >>>>> that I > >>>>> >>>> have been before. Many teachers do not bother to fork over the extra > >>>>> >>>> expense and I don't judge them. I just do what I must to try to >>>>> provide an > >>>>> >>>> effective, competitive education for my students. > >>>>> >>>> > >>>>> >>>> > >> > > >> > ---- > >> > You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the > >> > list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see > >> > <http://www.purple.com/list.html>. > > > > > > ---- > > You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the > > list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see > > <http://www.purple.com/list.html>. > > > > Get the MapQuest Toolbar > <http://www.mapquest.com/toolbar?NCID=mpqmap00030000000003> , Maps, Traffic, > Directions More! >
