Dirty Play

I was just sent this article and it made me laugh and cry. Well, not literally, but perhaps you get my point. Children play. Yay. Children get dirty. Ok. School apologizes. Huh?

Taxes and School Fees

Reportedly, in England they are about to start levying taxes on non-public school fees. While I have no views on taxes on school fees, or on whether school fees are appropriately targeted as "value-added", I do take issue with a couple of the points which have been raised in the accompanying discussion. And full disclosure, none of the states in which I have worked have taxed school fees, although as far as I know those schools still paid sales and transaction taxes on whatever they bought.

Costs and New Hires

Over coffee with a former colleague the other day, I heard an interesting story. A school we both know has negotiated the exits of several of its senior faculty. By negotiated, I mean paid them something to resign. I also mean implicitly threatened them with termination (it's a right-to-work state) and negative references. The reason? Replacing them saves about a quarter of a million dollars a year, and even with the payouts, the school is better off in about six months.

Better late than never ...?

One of my regular gigs is mentoring a new (I mean in first could of years in the role) director of  PK - 12 independent school. Some of our sessions are on practical things like calendars, recruitment and newsletters. Some are more philosophical, or as I like to ask, "Who are we and why are we here?". This week he asked what to do about a highly-effective teacher who is frequently late of a morning.

Words Matter

Regular readers will know that I do the occasional consulting and am in the fortunate position of being able to choose projects and topics. Yesterday, I led the first of what will be a series of professional conversations on evaluation and I was shocked, shocked I say, at what I heard.

See something, say something, get punished

Oh boy, this is a humdinger. A dumb policy combines with a dumb implementer. I assume the policy comes for the Board; the implementation was by the principal. 

Inspections and evaluations

Sometimes "the algorithm" sends me strange suggestions and this* is one of them. However, it resonated with me because I experienced something similar so (a) we can't rely on what we are told we can rely on and (b), as every teacher will tell you, a single evaluation (aka "high stakes testing") does not provide a complete or even an accurate picture.

The importance of entry-level programming

Now that I am (kind of) retired, I have begun doing some consulting and I have the luxury of being able to choose projects which I find of interest. So the other day I began a short series of methodology-linked sessions with lower elementary teachers at a nearby public charter school group. It was interesting.

Calculating the cost of childcare

I must say that I am happy the cost of childcare is being at least tangentially discussed at the highest national political levels. Having been involved in the setting program fees for many many years, I would like to add my two cents to the debate. I should point out that my involvement was always in Preschool, ie the lowest ages in school programs, and not childcare which did affect what was done and thus costs and thus fees to parents.

Leaving "the office" but still working

A few years ago, I was appointed Principal of a PK - 8 school and inherited a faculty who were, um, wanting in several respects. In my first few weeks I met with all, one on one, to ask about their thoughts on the school's position, direction and needs. However I could not find a time to meet with the counselor. She was too booked up advising students. So I wandered past her office, stuck my head in and suggested we meet one day after school. She declined, saying she left promptly each day as she had to "maintain a work/life balance".