So it’s Doc week again, which is something that I value and something I look forward to. In addition, three of my students are gatewaying onto the next phase, which adds to the work—though it’s a very good reason.
So I haven’t been keeping up with the blog. But that doesn’t mean there hasn’t been plenty [...]
Sixty-four years ago yesterday 73,000 Americans, many not much older than the young men and women who sit in my classroom, risked their lives to storm the beaches of Normandy. Roughly 10,000 became casualties, bleeding and dying so others might live in a world without the need for that kind of sacrifice.
I made that point, [...]
Anyone taken a look at the weight room at MRHS?
I don’t know how it occurred, exactly¹—whether it was one gift, or the gift of many contributors— but the weight room at MRHS has been completely re-done. Walk in, and it’s an entirely different school; clean, modern, and high tech, and the feel of the place [...]
One of the nice things about moving to Wilcox is the closer relationship we’ll be able to have with MRHS. I know for many of the students at MC2, Monadnock is scary; it wasn’t a place where they found success. Still, for me it’s home, and I like the clarification for everyone that we are [...]
This has been a year for funding issues. It started in the Fall, when the federal grant that allowed several out of district students to continue working at MC2 through the end of the year. Many of those students—the bulk—took that time to graduate and have moved on to the next stage.
However, there were several [...]
The State of New Hampshire, for the first time, is now requiring juniors to participate in the NECAP assessment for science. Monadnock failed miserably with its last round of NECAP assessments, so this is a big deal.
I’ve talked before about how not to do a test, and Monadnock often does exactly what it ought not [...]
The more I see of traditional graduations the more I applaud the MC2 model. Sitting through Keene State’s four hour long graduation was enough to kill anyone—even the bravest and most dedicated soul was feeling the heat.
Still, I like KSC graduations, if only because it gives me a chance to connect with my old [...]
It’s funny what happens when you don’t guarantee a student will automatically move onto the next grade. Suddenly, rather than slack, they have to work.
Which really ought to be the point, after all.
In a traditional school, every year starts off with the kids ready and willing to work, and that lasts for the first quarter [...]
It’s been a busy week—though there’s some hope in all that as well.
For one thing, Mike Hoefer and his efforts at Kids First Monadnock are being recognized for their positive leadership, and more importantly, it’s having an effect.
At last night’s school board meeting at Emerson, Mr. Hoefer revealed that an anonymous benefactor is willing [...]
Some interesting news on the vice-principal hunt at MRHS. Mr. Pickering, in a move I can’t help but applaud, opened up the process to students as well as parents and others in the community. It’s a smart move.
Schools are too often closed communities (if communities at all), and the decisions made are not open to [...]
Last night the MRSD school board ratified the new contract, which the teachers approved on Monday.
The new contract removes the “evergreen clause,” meaning it will expire in four years and a new one will need to be approved in its place. In addition, there have been more changes to early retirement, removing it more quickly.
These [...]
I haven’t been able to confirm it, but rumor says there are four science teachers leaving Monadnock this year—they’ve already found jobs, and it’s a done deal. More might leave—and why not? Science teachers are in short supply.
That’s 50% of the department.
I’ve reported on it before, but there are definitely going to be 4 [...]
First, my apologies for missing posts. Thursday night I apparently drank from the Broad Street Pump, and lost the last 48 hours. I’m glad Friday was a workshop day—sitting at my desk writing curriculum was about all I could manage.
Ah well. Better now.
A number of people have responded to my post about teachers visiting [...]
Wow, the difference two days make.
I had planned to talk about ways to improve education in the district, specifically by bringing parents into the classroom and ways to make sure our kids were getting the attention they need.
Life seems to have had other plans.
First, there was the Keene Sentinel article informing the district—including [...]
The easy part of any problem is pointing fingers. It’s much harder to come up with a solution and to put it into action—and when the problem is as large as the ones facing a school district, it becomes harder to see where solutions might be found.
The fundamental truth is there are many problems, some [...]
I spent Easter with my parents, and in addition to catching up on the various events in our respective lives, we also watched Tombstone on Showtime.
I was struck by the effect the Cowboys had on the community they inhabited. Whether they directly meant to or not, their lack of respect for order meant the law [...]
Well, it’s Friday, and it’s my birthday, and I’m stuck at job #2 when I ought to be at Good Friday services, so a blog seems to be in order. But what to say, what to say?
Hmm.
How’s this? I’m really lousy at responding to comments. Partly because I don’t want to cut anyone off, and [...]
I wasn’t there, but from what I hear, the teacher’s union made a very good decision tonight.
I very firmly believe the bulk of the public supports education and wants to see a fair wage for the people who provide it. The only way I can reconcile what I believe with what I’ve seen is to [...]
I would like to extend an invitation to all of you to the Student Government meeting being held on Tuesday, March 18th in the annex at the high school beginning at 2:30pm and running until all topics are covered. Invitations have been extended to the entire student body, all teachers, administration, and community members. The current [...]
From the Union Leader:
Since 2006, negotiators have struggled to reach an acceptable contract. Under the previous pact, some teachers were allowed to participate each year in an early retirement program that paid them a percentage of their salary for seven years. Additionally, teachers paid 10 percent toward their health-care costs.
On Monday, negotiators agreed to a [...]
