Cartoon
December edition cartoon
by Eric Joselyn
Please click on the image for a larger view of the cartoon.
Table of Contents
Theme articles
- Teachers under the microscope by Dale Mezzacappa
- Talking union Interview by Dale Mezzacappa
- Web Exclusive Full transcript of teacher roundtable
- Jordan: Our biggest fights are educational by Dale Mezzacappa
- Web Exclusive A conversation with Jerry Jordan
- Unions and school reform – a brief history by Dale Mezzacappa
- Factoring in poverty... or not by Paul Jablow
- Pay-for-performance in Philadelphia is coming and going by Bill Hangley, Jr.
- Teacher tenure comes under fire by Daniel Denvir
- Considering 'cultural competence' by Benjamin Herold
- Improving on their practice by Margaret Ernst and Wendy Harris
- Teaching at Mastery by Benjamin Herold
- Quicktakes: If you made a film about education in Philly, what story would you tell? Interviews by Benjamin Herold
Other news & features
- Facilities master plan: School closures likely by Paul Socolar
- Renaissance redux by Benjamin Herold
- 'Focus 46' schools work on safety strategies by Wendy Harris
- Review: 'Inviting Families Into the Classroom' by Timothy Boyle
Member profile
- Profile of Notebook member Angela Chan by Allison Gantt
Notebook news
- Clearing the record
Cartoon
- December edition cartoon by Eric Joselyn
In our opinion
- We're not waiting
- Homegrown option
From our readers
- Preserving instrumental music programs
Eye on special education
- District finds special ed teachers scarce, so it keeps tapping Teach for America corps by Patrick Gailey
School snapshot
- South Philadelphia competes in annual chef competition
Activism around the city
- Groups organize to envision immigrant-friendly schools by Allison Gantt
- Youth Power Summit teaches about rights, preventing violence by Patrick Gailey
- Coalition calls for changes in District discipline policies by Dale Mezzacappa
- Groups organize to envision immigrant-friendly schools by Allison Gantt
News in brief
- Taskforce tackles dropout rate among Black and Latino males by Margaret Ernst
- Changes in funding policies expected under Corbett, GOP by Dale Mezzacappa
- Philadelphia School Partnership to put money into top schools by Dale Mezzacappa
Sports stories
- Uncovering promise by Benjamin Herold
En español
- Plan maestro: Escuelas probablemente cerrarán por Paul Socolar
- Tomando en cuenta la pobreza... o no por Paul Jablow
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Comments (2)
Submitted by Harriet K Valentia (not verified) on Fri, 12/10/2010 - 18:23.
I have just today joined as a member -- at the $60.00 level -- and in memory of my older son, who died at the age of 24. He was two credits short of a Bachelor's and had trouble then (back in the late 1970s) finding a job. He worked at gas stations, fast food "joints," etc. He died tragically. The job market in the late 1970s was better than it is now. I really hurt for folks who are out of work. I believe in unions fighting for teachers' rights. I pray and hope that the prayers of Philadelphia students, parents, other significant others in the lives of our children and youth -- that they appreciate the teachers and support them in every way possible. Educators have chosen a career that blesses others. Sometimes teachers are put in positions where they are "dared" to do a good job. That is not the way teachers should be treated. Helpfulness, understanding, consideration, and respect are due our teachers -- even the ones who are struggling -- balancing home and children and, perhaps, sickness within their circle of loved ones. We do not know the obstacles that other people are facing, and we should be slow to judge and unfailing in our support of someone facing difficult times at work -- at home -- and in the course of daily life. I have a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice (2007) and am working on my Master of Arts in Education / Curriculum & Instruction. Lord willing, I shall finish in May 2011. Praise the Lord! My second son and his "little" sister are in their 40s, and I have two grandchildren and a great-grandchild on the way. Thank God for Student Loans. It took me 56 years to get my Bachelor's -- what I learned through that effort, hopefully, will be a blessing to others. God bless the work of the teachers and the efforts of all those working in support of the public education of all pre-schoolers, children, youth, and adult career and academic students. My heartfelt best wishes, Harriet "Buzz" Valentia - 12-10-10
Submitted by Harriet K Valentia (not verified) on Tue, 01/18/2011 - 20:41.
Letter to the Editor,
I appreciate your publishing my comment of 12-10-10.
"The Notebook's" efforts in support of the education of today's pre-schoolers, children, youth, and adults deserve all the support those of us concerned about our Nation's education can muster. Keep up the good work. My best wishes to all connected with your energetic and pertinent contributions to the Nation's discourse regarding critical educational issues.
The efforts mounted by "The Notebook" represent the finest approaches conceivable at this point in time -- approaches to education that enable our teachers to continue to be the Nation's best hope in truly providing education. Politicians cannot educate properly when they have hidden agendas, causes, and goals foreign to teaching and learning. Training our Nation's students to be "worker bees" is not the proper goal for a broad-based core curriculum.
Educators should be the prominent advisers to those considering major steps in our Nation's educational causes. To get answers regarding education: Ask a teacher, consult a teacher, look to those in the field of pedagogy who serve tirelessly to find out what is happening in our classrooms. Find out what teachers need to better educate their students. Do not assume that the politicians know what it is our students and our teachers need. A bi-partisan approach must be taken on educational issues. Also, as is done by "The Notebook," continual community input should be elicited and continual parental concerns must be factored so that such input will be factors in educational decisions.
Much of our efforts will be skewed if we -- as a Nation -- rely on undocumented data, misinformation, and misleading statistical conclusions. We must look to "The Notebook" and other such vehicles of the delivery of vital information in order to truly understand the gravity of prevalent destructive approaches to education that exist in our Nation, today.
Thank you to "The Notebook" for being a leader in educating the Nation about education.
Sincerely,
Harriet "Buzz" Valentia
I reside in Seattle, Washington
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