Senate Bill 199 is an example of vendetta legislation that has long range implications. It would make it illegal for schools to work with volunteer parent groups that require members to pay dues.
Many parent organizations charge membership dues but recognize that most of the activities at their individual schools are paid for by other fundraising efforts. PTA would literally be pushed out of the state since its state and national bylaws require membership dues. The dues that come from PTA members are what makes it possible for PTA to be a lobbying organization, advocating for children, families, and schools.
PTA was in the forefront of the push to get School Trustlands to produce an sizable and growing income in the state of Utah and legislators have been anxious to get their hands on funds being generated by the Trustlands ever since. PTA has been vigilant in protecting public schools' interests with Trustlands funds. This has been possible with their lobbying efforts.
Senator Curt Bramble is the bill sponsor and his political opponent in the past election is active in the PTA. He and PTA have been at loggerheads on a number of occasions, most recently in the voucher fight.
Senator Bramble would certainly be pleased to see the lobbying ability of PTA wiped out. This bill has the potential to do it.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Need a job? Be a teacher!
Senate Bill 48 is said to address a teacher shortage, and would allow people to get jobs as teachers in public schools without the education background currently required.
The “shortage of teachers” may be affected by predictions of high unemployment.
But the real question to ask is whether “real world” experience can take the place of training in pedagogy for teachers. For example: would a banker or bookkeeper who has been laid off be prepared to teach math at the local middle school. Should a retired secretary with no other training be hired to teach English, or second grade? Pedagogy includes what motivates a child to learn, how to discipline individually and in a classroom setting, how to create effective lesson plans, how to write tests and measure learning.
The argument that “substitutes have no other requirement than a high school diploma” is no reason to lower the standards for full time teachers with responsibilities for a class. I will concede that there are many “natural teachers” that could by their personality and dedication effectively teach young people. But brillance in a subject area isn't the same as understanding how to impart the knowledge. A concert pianist may not be a good piano teacher. The skills that motivate love for learning may be natural but I can't see how will it show up on a written application.
Before this door to employment in public schools is opened, I’d like to see provisions of a trial period, mentoring and supervisory structure, and equal requirements for on-going training.
The “shortage of teachers” may be affected by predictions of high unemployment.
But the real question to ask is whether “real world” experience can take the place of training in pedagogy for teachers. For example: would a banker or bookkeeper who has been laid off be prepared to teach math at the local middle school. Should a retired secretary with no other training be hired to teach English, or second grade? Pedagogy includes what motivates a child to learn, how to discipline individually and in a classroom setting, how to create effective lesson plans, how to write tests and measure learning.
The argument that “substitutes have no other requirement than a high school diploma” is no reason to lower the standards for full time teachers with responsibilities for a class. I will concede that there are many “natural teachers” that could by their personality and dedication effectively teach young people. But brillance in a subject area isn't the same as understanding how to impart the knowledge. A concert pianist may not be a good piano teacher. The skills that motivate love for learning may be natural but I can't see how will it show up on a written application.
Before this door to employment in public schools is opened, I’d like to see provisions of a trial period, mentoring and supervisory structure, and equal requirements for on-going training.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
The Long Road to Becoming Law
While the budgetary woes and sensational debates about gay marriage garner all the attention, there are still issues that pop up occasionally that merit a look.
In order for a bill to become law, it must pass through the Rules Committee of the legislative body of its sponsor. So a bill sponsored by a state representative would go through the House Rules committee. That committee decides if it is reasonable to consider this bill. If they decide it is a great bill that should definitely be debated by the House, they can send it "by consent" directly to be scheduled for debate and a vote by the House. If they definitely don't like it, they can table it and it doesn't come up at all. If they want it studied, as most bills are, they assign it to a committee by topic.
For example, the Senate bill that asked for a rate increase in the tax on tobacco was sent to the Committee on Revenue and Taxation. They studied it and decided that it should not be considered and that ended it.
A similar bill was sponsored by a member of the House of Representatives and is being considered by the House Rules committee. If it is sent to the same committee, it will probably suffer the same fate. Proponents of the bill hope that it will be considered by the Committee of Health and Human Services. This is not an unreasonable assignment since the revenue from tobacco tax goes to fund program to discourage tobacco use and for health services required by smokers.
Another bill that is currently being evaluated by the House Rules Committee is HB189 that would make changes in the instruction of sex education in schools. This bill has a long list of specific instruction on what health teachers are to say. It also removes the directive that health teachers not advocate use of contraceptives. Proponents of the bill point out that STD's are up in the State and that something more should be done. Opponents of the bill hold that while health teacherss can present facts, parents should be the ones to teach their children moral principles. For me a major factor is that the State School Board is qualified and elected to determine curriculum standards and requirements. The legislature should not be micro-managing school curriculum.
If a bill is found worthy of "floor debate" it is sent to the legislative body of the sponsor, House or Senate, and is debated and voted upon. If it passes, it is sent to the rules committee of the other legislative body to begin the process again with a new sponsor. If it passes the rules committee and the committee to which it is assigned, and if it receives a majority vote by the second legislative body, it is on its way to the Governor's desk. The Governor can sign it, veto it, or let it go into law without his direct approval.
Stay tuned for more reports on what may soon become your new laws!
In order for a bill to become law, it must pass through the Rules Committee of the legislative body of its sponsor. So a bill sponsored by a state representative would go through the House Rules committee. That committee decides if it is reasonable to consider this bill. If they decide it is a great bill that should definitely be debated by the House, they can send it "by consent" directly to be scheduled for debate and a vote by the House. If they definitely don't like it, they can table it and it doesn't come up at all. If they want it studied, as most bills are, they assign it to a committee by topic.
For example, the Senate bill that asked for a rate increase in the tax on tobacco was sent to the Committee on Revenue and Taxation. They studied it and decided that it should not be considered and that ended it.
A similar bill was sponsored by a member of the House of Representatives and is being considered by the House Rules committee. If it is sent to the same committee, it will probably suffer the same fate. Proponents of the bill hope that it will be considered by the Committee of Health and Human Services. This is not an unreasonable assignment since the revenue from tobacco tax goes to fund program to discourage tobacco use and for health services required by smokers.
Another bill that is currently being evaluated by the House Rules Committee is HB189 that would make changes in the instruction of sex education in schools. This bill has a long list of specific instruction on what health teachers are to say. It also removes the directive that health teachers not advocate use of contraceptives. Proponents of the bill point out that STD's are up in the State and that something more should be done. Opponents of the bill hold that while health teacherss can present facts, parents should be the ones to teach their children moral principles. For me a major factor is that the State School Board is qualified and elected to determine curriculum standards and requirements. The legislature should not be micro-managing school curriculum.
If a bill is found worthy of "floor debate" it is sent to the legislative body of the sponsor, House or Senate, and is debated and voted upon. If it passes, it is sent to the rules committee of the other legislative body to begin the process again with a new sponsor. If it passes the rules committee and the committee to which it is assigned, and if it receives a majority vote by the second legislative body, it is on its way to the Governor's desk. The Governor can sign it, veto it, or let it go into law without his direct approval.
Stay tuned for more reports on what may soon become your new laws!
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