The Offical Website of the PJSTA

Posted on August 31, 2013 by thepjsta

PJSTA Joins NYSAPE

The Port Jefferson Station Teachers Association is proud to have recently joined the New York State Allies for Public Education (NYSAPE).

From their website…

NYS ALLIES FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION ARE PARENTS AND CONCERNED COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO FIRMLY BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF PUBLIC EDUCATION AND ITS FUNDAMENTAL LINK TO THE SUCCESS OF A THRIVING COMMUNITY AND DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT. WE ARE CLASS MOTHERS & FATHERS, COMMUNITY ADVOCATES, PARENTS AND NEIGHBORS OF GRADUATES, TEACHERS, PROFESSORS, AND UNRELENTING SUPPORTERS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION WHO BELIEVE EXCESSIVE TESTING AND INAPPROPRIATE SHARING OF PRIVATE STUDENT DATA WITHOUT PARENTAL CONSENT THREATEN THE FUTURE OF OUR STUDENTS, OUR SCHOOLS, AND OUR STATE.

WHILE MEANINGFUL ASSESSMENT IS AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF A WORLD-CLASS EDUCATION, THE NEW NYS STANDARDIZED ASSESSMENTS ARE ALIGNED WITH UNPROVEN REFORMS NEITHER SUPPORTED BY RIGOROUS RESEARCH NOR VETTED BY EDUCATORS AND PARENTS.

and their mission…

NYS ALLIES FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION EXISTS TO ADDRESS MANY ISSUES INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING:

1.)  EXCESSIVE STANDARDIZED TESTING IS CONSUMING 25% OF OUR CHILDREN’S ACADEMIC YEAR. IT FORCES TEACHERS TO “TEACH TO TEST”, COSTS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, TEACHES CHILDREN THERE IS ONLY ONE RIGHT ANSWER, TAKES THE JOY OUT OF LEARNING, AND CREATES MAJOR CHEATING IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

2.)  OUR CHILDREN’S PRIVATE, PERSONAL INFORMATION IS BEING STORED IN LARGE DATABASES AND IS BEING PROVIDED TO PRIVATE COMPANIES WITHOUT THE PERMISSION OF PARENTS, AND WITHOUT PROVIDING AN OPT-OUT PROVISION TO BE REMOVED FROM THE DATABASE.

3.)  UNITING REGIONAL GROUPS FROM ACROSS NYS IN ONE LOCATION WHERE WE CAN WORK TOGETHER FOR THE BETTERMENT OF EDUCATION IN NYS.

You can find them on Facebook here and follow them on Twitter, @NYSAPE.

To see the rest of the allies click here.

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Posted on August 30, 2013 by thepjsta

Students Not Scores Action

Via Students Not Scores…

Second Day of Action for Students, Not Scores!

Senator Flanagan, Chair of the NY State Senate Education Committee, has officially posted four public meeting dates to meet with NY State taxpayers to speak to the issue of the common core and high stakes testing. The problem is Mr. Flanagan will only allow the people he invites to be the speakers at the meeting and he is limiting his scope to only four locations throughout the State.

Here’s an opportunity for everyone in the State to have their opinion appear in the public record of these public meetings, without an invitation from Mr. Flanagan.

We have created a form letter, that meets the strict submission guidelines for written testimony at public hearings.

You can download the letters from the Students Not Scores site. You do not need to email them if you are a PJSTA member. Once you change the letter to insert your information, print it out. Building reps will be collecting them once school begins and PJSTA President Beth Dimino will be delivering them in person on September 17th. I’m sure Mr. Flanagan will be happy to see her!

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Posted on August 30, 2013 by thepjsta

Ed Deformers

Via the MORE Caucus…

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Posted on August 26, 2013 by thepjsta

Links for the Last Week of Summer

I have had a few links to some great reads to share the past few days, but have been busy with some of our other posts, so I’ll give you a few at once here. As you are laying on the beach enjoying your last week of summer here are a few “must reads” for you…

From the Washington Post, read about what happened when an adult took the Florida state tests.

The Atlantic Journal Constitution tells you who is making money off of the Common Core (WARNING, paywall). Reality-Based Educator’s take on the article, “Common Core Developers- A Private Club You Are Not In” can be found here.

Seven things to do now that state test scores are in, from NYC Public School Parents.

From Valerie Strauss in the Washington Post, “Teacher: it’s not enough to just ‘teach’ anymore“.

I am convinced that we, as teachers, must be activists. While we all forge personal identities inside the classroom, the diversity of which our kids love and enjoy, we must conceive of ourselves as education activists too. We have, at the same time, front row seats to and lead roles in education today. We are school reform. If we make ourselves aware of policy, trends, and plans that occur outside of the classroom, then we can preserve our autonomy and ability to lead inside the classroom.

How depersonalization is at the heart of education reform.

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Posted on August 25, 2013 by thepjsta

Senator Flanagan’s Education Hearing

Senator Flanagan has set the date for the Senate Standing Committee on Education’s hearing to assess how their reform agenda has gone so far. I could save them a lot of time and tell them that it stinks, but given the fact that Flanagan set the hearing for Tuesday, September 17th from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm, I am guessing he is not looking for input from real educators.

I only hope the people he is inviting to speak (it is invite only) are deferential enough when speaking to him.

Flanagan’s committee will also host hearings on October 1st (Syracuse), October 16th (Buffalo), and October 29th (NYC). All school days. All during school hours. Hopefully some of the non-teacher attendees of the “Students Not Scores!” rally will be available to meet member’s of the Senate’s committee on their way in and let them know how they feel about the school “reforms”.