Class Size Matters

The following is an op-ed piece which was sent to the newspaper agencies.

August 25, 2010

Before anyone gets too excited with former Florida Governor Jeb Bush's education reform plans, it would be wise to do some research.
You will hear the argument that education needs to be run like a business. Mr. Bush, himself, will state this very thing. I am continually amazed that conversations surrounding our children turn into nothing more than a numbers game.
There is a false analogy between education and business. You cannot fix education by applying the principles of business, organization, management, law, and marketing or by developing a data-collection system to incentivize the workforce-principals, teachers, and students-with rewards and sanctions.
Diane Ravitch, former assistant secretary of education under former President George H.W. Bush, once espoused the very tenets of Governor Bush's education reform ideas. She writes, "I began seeing like a state, looking at schools and teachers and students from an altitude of 20,000 feet and seeing them as objects to be moved around by big ideas and great plans."
Through her extensive research on the ideas of choice and accountability, she has concluded that curriculum and instruction are far more important. She states that decisions about schools should be left up to the educators, not politicians or businessmen.
As far as grading schools is concerned, Dr. Ravitch points out, "It is harmful to stigmatize a complex institution with a letter grade, just as it would be ridiculous to send a child home with a report card that contained only a single letter grade to summarize her performance in all her various courses and programs."
Class size doesn't matter! Tell that to Bonnie, a teacher in Alpine who has 42 fourth graders, or Cathy, a sixth-grade teacher in Salt Lake with 38 students. Teaching 28 second graders with a literacy range of non-English speaking to sixth grade reading ability is not only difficult but extremely complex. Class size does matter! Parents know it. Teachers know it.
Parents also know that a quality education consists of more than standardized tests. The citizens of Utah want their children to have a broad, rich curriculum which prepares them for the 21st Century workforce. After all, the children of today will be taking care of those of us who are making critical education decisions for future generations.

Sharon Gallagher-Fishbaugh
M.A., N.B.C.T
UEA President

A Message from UEA President Sharon Gallagher-Fishbaugh

Dear Members and Staff,

The Utah Education Association has been very active in working to make sure the Education Jobs Bill funding, which Congress passed earlier this month, is something that we as a state will be able to benefit from.

A BIG THANK YOU goes out to many of you who took time from your summer to contact your Congressional representatives to assure the passage of this important legislation.

Since the passage of this legislation, we have been meeting with the Governor and other state leaders to make sure they understand the benefits this funding will provide. For those that are not aware, Congress passed a $26 billion jobs bill to benefit public education across the country. Of the $26 billion, Utah will be awarded $101 million. This money can be used to recall teachers and other building level employees, reinstate lost instructional days, reduce class sizes, or fill anticipated funding shortfalls for the 2010-2011 school year.

This past week the Governor said he will be making application for the $101 million. There are some challenges we are working through in educating the legislature as to the positive impact these monies will have on our state’s economy. It is anticipated that there will be a special session called as this money is distributed to the local districts. We are trying to expedite this process in order to enable the monies to be made available as quickly as possible. As you have conversations with your legislators, please share your thoughts related to this funding investment to our schools, children and economy.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our staff here at the UEA. Get in touch with Kory Holdaway at kory.holdaway@utea.org or Jay Blain at jay.blain@utea.org, and they can answer many of your questions or visit our web site for the status related to this funding.

Sharon Gallagher-Fishbaugh M.A., N.B.C.T
UEA President
801-266-4461
Toll Free 800-594-8996

School Board Approves Two of Four Tax Increases

"We must renew our commitment to adequately fund quality public schools," said DEA President Susan Firmage during the truth in taxation hearing Tuesday night in Farmington. DEA was well represented by board members Andrew Owens, Jennifer Tanner, Jessica Dunn, Richard Heath and Vice President Don Paver all of whom addressed the board and audience. Other board members, building reps and DEA members were in the audience to show support for the proposed increases.
Much of the opposition to the tax increase seemed to have more to do with general frustration with the economy than with this particular tax increase or a lack of support for educators and education.
The DEA negotiation team will likely be called back to the table to discuss the impact on the budget of these tax increases and the federal jobs bill passed last week. Watch this space for updates on these and other important developments as school begins.

School Board Considers Tax Increase

Tuesday, August 17, the Davis School Board will hold a public hearing regarding tax increases to help offset funding lost during the last legislative session. The impact was discussed during building rep training last week. Members who wish to show support for the school board can attend the board meeting which begins at 5:30 PM. The taxation hearing will begin at 6:00 PM. DEA leadership will be in attendance, but member support is encouraged.

Training for Building Reps

DEA Association Reps will gather this Thursday in Farmington to discuss some important issues facing the association as the year begins. If you are a building rep, you should have been contacted by email and phone with information. If you have not, please send a request for information to Pat Riley at pat@dea.org. If you are a building rep and will not be able to attend, please contact Pat for information regarding how the information can best be obtained another time.