This week I attended an emergency school board meeting with around 300 other people to hear what the community thought about our recently failed levy. The school board had three options: run the levy again in May, run it in August, or leave it be and let our budget committee figure out what stays and what goes in order to make up for a loss of about 3 million dollars. Three million is a lot, especially for a district like mine.
Over the years I've heard rumors about how poor the funding is in my district but nothing ever seemed official enough to quote. All of that was confirmed by our school board chairman at the levy meeting. He reaffirmed that Idaho is the second to the lowest state for funding and that my district is one of the poorest in the state of Idaho. Do the math. That would put my district towards the bottom of the barrel in the whole country. So the rumors are true and worse than I could have imagined.
Yet I don't believe a stranger would walk into my school or my classroom and feel sorry for my students or me. Maybe it's because I've spent all 20 years of my teaching in the same district and don't know any better, but I don't think we act like we're poor or disadvantaged. We educate and inspire just like anyone else. Having said that, I notice the perks of working in some of the nearby richer districts, and at times, I salivate. What would it be like to have the resources they have? But I have 20 years of proof that I, the teacher, am what really counts and makes the difference day in and day out. Cunningham and Allington are right. For good or bad, what I do in my classroom from 8:10 to 2:35 matters the most.
Granted, money helps. The money to pay for more teachers to bring down my teacher-to-student ratio of 1:25 would help immensely. We need our 3 million, but money doesn't guarantee good teachers and good teaching. Poor teaching occurs in rich districts as well as in poor ones. What's important is that my students have no idea there are rumors about their district and that the rumors are true. The quality of instruction is what should protect them from those facts. I plan on keeping it that way.
I am so sorry to hear that your district is in this situation. Schools need resources. I think you stated it well though that poor teaching occurs everywhere and good teaching is good teaching. But a little bit of funding sure would help you and your co-workers!
ReplyDeleteLori
Conversations in Literacy
Lori, yep a little bit of funding would ease the stress at times no doubt. If I had just enough funding to keep my class size down, I'd be good to go I think.
DeleteI'm also sorry to hear about the potential cutbacks. We went through that in my state a few years ago and to hear them talk about cutting millions, you just wonder how that can be done. But you are absolutely right-good teachers can teach on a deserted island with a stick and the sand! The extras are nice, but certainly we can make do.
ReplyDeleteMiss Trayers, your stick and sand analogy makes me smile. You're right. We make do with what little we have sometimes.
DeleteSometimes little is more...My students want to play games on ipads on Fridays. I ALWAYS say no. I want them to play with each other. I love what our friend First in Maine said recently...Make sure your kid has a sandbox before they get an ipad...paraphrased...she is much more eloquent than I!
ReplyDeleteJenny
Jenny, you're right. Sometimes the more gets in the way of growing up and life in general.
DeleteWell said Tammy! It is, first and foremost, the classroom teacher that makes the difference. However, class size (as you mentioned) can be a game changer. Thirty or more students in a class is becoming the norm. It is hard for me to be the kind of teacher I want to be when I have that many kids. I remember reading an article years ago in an education magazine (NAEYC) that said the recommended number of students for K-1 is 15 to 18 students. Many school districts have doubled that number to save money.
ReplyDeleteConnie, Yep class size can make an adequate teacher feel inadequate, especially if there are extreme behaviors in the mix. I know this from personal experience. It would be so much easier with 5, 6, 7 fewer kids.
DeleteHere in Utah, we have the lowest per-pupil spending in the nation -- $1,000 per student less than the next lowest state, which is Idaho. The result is that we can't fund full-day kinder and we have larger than ideal class sizes. When I taught in another state, K-3 was capped at 20 students and back then I would notice the difference in my effectiveness if I even had one or two more students in class. Now, I have about 27 each year -- which is low for my area. I try my best, but class size really does make a huge, huge difference. (I am so thankful for our amazing kinder teachers who manage to achieve magic with 27 kids for only 3 hours a day.)
ReplyDeleteLee, we have the same kindergarten problem which is really too bad. Our k kids come every other day. I totally understand class sizes too. It's amazing the affects of only one or two extra bodies. I had 18 my first year of teaching. Oh for that number again.
DeleteSo sorry you are in that situation! Our student to teacher ratio is so much lower! I notice such a big difference in classes that get to 20 students. I have only had a few that got over 20 and it was very difficult to meet individual needs of any students. My state spends quite a bit on education but they are always talking about ways to spend less.
ReplyDeleteI don't remember the last time I had 20 students. I know what you mean though. It becomes harder to reach all their needs when the student to teacher ratio is high.
DeleteGreat post! You are completely right. It is about what goes on in your classroom and the teaching we put forth. That is why I love this job. I work in a school similar to yours but I would not have it any other way.
ReplyDeleteEm
Curious Firsties
Em, thank you. Your kids probably don't know how poor their district is either. I'm glad we can keep it that way. :)
DeleteGreat thoughts, Tammy! You are absolutely right. Great teaching can happen in any school district - "rich" or "poor!"
ReplyDeleteCrystal
Hey, Tammy. I'm looking for your Walter's Strategy post to link to (and give your blog a shout out)... Am I losing my mind? I thought that was you and now I can't find it!
DeleteCrystal
Crystal, you're not losing your mind! Thanks for the shout out. I'll send you the link.
DeleteTammy,
ReplyDeleteI feel your pain. I teach in a district of only 425 students and we have to cut half a million dollars out of our budget next year. I have no idea what they will cut. It is a scary prospect. However, as you said, "money doesn't guarantee good teachers and good teaching." This is what I am going to have to keep in mind as we find out what changes will be coming our way next year.
Jana, I'm sorry about the cuts in your district. I hope it doesn't affect what happens in your classroom too much.
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