Why Do Teachers Quit?

This is a really interesting article in this month's The Atlantic.  I can only extrapolate that these issues are more evident in North Carolina, given the current political and educational realities.

You can read this article by clicking here.

PowerSchool Woes Continue

From this morning's Charlotte Observer blog entry from Ann Doss Helms.

PowerSchool causing transcript woes

Students who are applying to college are facing problems withPowerSchool, the new data system for all public schools in North Carolina.  Here's how Superintendent Heath Morrison described it in a report to the school board:

"We are continuing to experience challenges with the conversion to PowerSchool.  One challenge affects student transcripts, and particularly impacts high school students applying to colleges. The transcript module for PowerSchool is still being designed by the state. It has not been released to districts. As a result, no district in the state can run current class ranks or current transcripts for students. We are only able to produce transcripts that end with the 2012 2013 school year, which do not reflect grades in summer school courses, grade corrections or updates since June 10. We anticipate that the transcript module will be ready in a few weeks; the target date is Oct. 1.   Schools will be notified as soon as we are able to run class ranks and produce current transcripts.  

CMS Regulation IKC-R requires that class ranks be run on the 15th school day.  Given the circumstances this year that make meeting that deadline impossible, we have approved an amendment to this regulation. In addition, our school counseling department is providing letters explaining the situation to accompany 2012-2013 transcripts for current seniors.  We have also put processes in place to enable school counselors to advise students on progress toward graduation."

I admit to being a bit puzzled.  A parent had emailed me about this issue this summer,  when I was writing about the PowerSchool debut.  I asked CMS officials about potential problems with transcripts and they said that shouldn't be an issue this early in the year. Now they're saying it is.  It's been a long time since I was dealing with college applications personally,  and I'm not clear on the nuances of this.  Readers,  you seem to have been out front on this -- keep us all posted on how this affects families and students.

Read more here: http://obsyourschools.blogspot.com/2013/09/powerschool-causing-transcript-woes.html#storylink=cp
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Study finds poverty reduces brain power

The results of this study, as reported by Reuters, is no surprise to any experienced educator. Just part of the important work being done by Harvard researcher Sendhil Mullainathan. Read about it by clicking here.

Our Archaic and Antiquated School Calendar

I am a firm believer that our current school calendar is a vestige of an agrarian culture; and is nonsensical in today's modern times. I believe a fresh look at the school day is also in order. I heard this interview recently, and the guest, from Duke University, brought up may of the reasons I feel this way. Check out this transcript (or listen to the interview) and I think you will question what we are currently doing in regards to instructional time. Click here for the link.

"Teaching is the hardest job I ever had."

Teaching is HARD work. Take a listen to this two-minute audio essay about the profession of teaching. Just click here for the segment entitled "Thoughts From a Former Teacher as School Year Begins". You'll be glad you did.

Be Awesome

One of the coolest things about the school business is the fact that each year is a fresh start, regardless of whether you are a student, teacher, administrator, or parent. Check out this short video sent from our son, who is a teacher. You can view it by clicking here.

"Thank God for North Carolina"

From the blog by Erica Speaks, a public middle school teacher in North Carolina...

Click here to enlarge the chart and to read her comments regarding the current political climate in NC, especially regarding public education.