[Vision2020] Superintendent says 'doomsday' not coming

Fri Oct 19 09:01:59 PDT 2012

Khan is much more than that Joe.  It provides kids with in-class online instruction in class and provides teachers real time monitoring of how the students are progressing through the lessons.  The kids struggling with the lessons can then get further instruction on the spot from the teacher to get them back up to speed.  It improves efficiency for both the teachers and the students.  Unlike Bill Bennett, Khan's goal is neither to make money nor to put teachers out of work.

Date: Fri, 19 Oct 2012 08:46:01 -0700
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Superintendent says 'doomsday' not coming
From: philosopher.joe at gmail.com
To: v2020 at ssl1.fastmail.fm
CC: scooterd408 at hotmail.com; thansen at moscow.com; vision2020 at moscow.com; cpenni at gmail.com

I was being ironic. I don't think Khan is going to save the day. The Khan Academy -- which is great -- works for (a) self motivators like Saundra or (b) students who have parents that are engaged in their educational experiences. The percentage of people that can learn math on their own is relatively low. Most people can't even learn it with a teacher, a tutor, or whatever. Online learning will not solve our math education problems any more than the availability of online financial advice will solve the problem of growing personal debt. Joe

On Fri, Oct 19, 2012 at 1:12 AM, Saundra Lund <v2020 at ssl1.fastmail.fm> wrote:

But, of course, Luna-the-Thug isn’t talking about partnering with anything quality like the Khan Academy, which I’m quite impressed with & have been “taking” some lessons from myself J  For those not familiar with the Khan Academy but always interested in learning, check out:
http://www.khanacademy.org/
 I’m also completely impressed with schools that are keeping computer labs open long hours (i.e., Eastside Prep in east Palo Alto) so that students who don’t have computer access at home can still benefit from Khan Academy tutorials.
 For more background, check out:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khan_Academy
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18560_162-57503560/khan-academy-the-future-of-education
 I find it incredibly ironic that had Sal Khan decided to turn his fresh approach into a personal money-making scheme like conservative Bill Bennett & his crappola for-profit K12 online “education” corporation, everyone would know his name.  But, since he chose instead to work for the greater good, very few people know anything about him or the Khan Academy.
 It tells us, I think, a great deal about the values and morals of all too many people in this country.
 For an interesting read about for-profit online schools, check out:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/13/education/online-schools-score-better-on-wall-street-than-in-classrooms.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

Saundra LundMoscow, ID
 The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing.
~ Edmund Burke 

From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com] On Behalf Of Scott Dredge

Sent: Friday, October 19, 2012 12:31 AM
To: philosopher.joe at gmail.com; thansen at moscow.com

Cc: viz; cpenni at gmail.com
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Superintendent says 'doomsday' not coming
 Yes you need teachers.  But a computer, an internet connection, and online instruction from not-for-profit Khan Academy can go a long way in empowering both students and teachers.  It's already happening in some public schools for some of the math curriculum.

Date: Thu, 18 Oct 2012 07:27:17 -0700
From: philosopher.joe at gmail.com

To: thansen at moscow.com
CC: vision2020 at moscow.com; cpenni at gmail.com

Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Superintendent says 'doomsday' not coming

Why do we need teachers or even schools? Just give them a computer and let them figure it out for themselves. Joe
On Thu, Oct 18, 2012 at 3:37 AM, Tom Hansen <thansen at moscow.com> wrote:
"After canceling a bidding process in June for lack of competitive bids, the state is now negotiating with up to a half-dozen potential providers of the computers, with hopes of picking one in the coming weeks. At stake is an eight-year contract worth more than $100 million, under which the provider would supply and maintain laptops for every Idaho high school student, provide technical support, and set up and maintain wireless networks in Idaho high schools."
- Spokesman-Review - October 18, 2012
 Courtesy of today's (October 18, 2012) Moscow-Pullman Daily News.
 -------------------------------------
Superintendent says 'doomsday' not coming

Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna came to speak at an event hosted by the University of Idaho College Republicans on Wednesday night, and used the opportunity to defend the Students Come First laws, which are being challenged at the polls in November.
Propositions 1, 2 and 3 would limit teachers collective bargaining, institute merit pay bonuses, provide laptops to every high school student and require online learning for graduation.
Alexander Rowsen, vice president of the UI College Republicans, heard Luna speak at a previous event and organized an opportunity to bring him to campus.
"I was very impressed by his passion and knowledge of the issues," Rowsen said. "Education in this state should be a very important issue to all Idahoans, and I hope we get all different types of people to come learn about it."
Luna responded to hesitation from an audience of more than 100, a few of whom were wearing "No on Props 1, 2, 3" buttons, by saying Idaho is behind the curve in education reform, particularly in technology.
"Don't let anybody tell you that schools don't want this, that teachers don't see the value in it and that students don't need this," Luna said of the use of online learning and laptops in classrooms. "These are the 21st century learning tools we need to get into every classroom."
Luna did recognize that online learning is in need of improvement, which will come in the form of an online portal where students and teachers can evaluate courses.
"Online and distance learning are not going away. We have to look at increasing the quality," he said. "We are going to make sure that before a class is ever offered it has to meet the standards and has to be taught by an Idaho certified teacher."
Luna also claimed the rumor that instructors teaching on the Idaho Digital Learning Academy were not Idaho teachers was false and blamed much of the push-back from educators across the state on bad information.
"I can go through list after list after list of the misinformation that has been put out there about these laws, and I'm not surprised," he said. "What's happening now with pay for performance is that teachers across the state are finding out the things they've been told aren't true."
Luna gave examples of misinformation such as the merit bonuses resulting in pay cuts and computers replacing teachers.
"Time is going to prove the doomsday scenario that was painted by the opposition just hasn't materialized. There's not a crater where there used to be a school," he said.
Luna also explained teachers within the same school would not be competing for bonuses because merit pay based on student performance would be distributed to an entire school as opposed to individuals. The doomsday scenarios are more likely to come if the propositions are voted down, he said.
"If you want to see disruption and chaos we can see all the things that will change if these laws will go away because of the impact that will have on school funding," said Luna, adding $40 million of funding for districts would go away, possibly including the merit bonuses teachers should receive in November.
A major criticism Luna has received for the laws is that they took away the voice of Idaho teachers.
"I've started hearing this recently, and I don't know where it's coming from," Luna said. "The argument that somehow we are limiting the opportunity for teachers to speak up on behalf of students is just not true."
Luna said the laws open more doors for teachers and there has not been a circumstance where a teacher has been denied the opportunity to speak on behalf of students.
"It's not the perfect path and we need to make changes going forward, but the worst thing we can do is go back to where we were before because of the disruption it will cause in our schools and our districts and the opportunities that will be lost for students," he said.
-------------------------------------
Seeya at the polls, Moscow, because . . . 
"Moscow Cares"http://www.MoscowCares.com
  Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho 
"We're a town of about 23,000 with 10,000 college students.  The college students are not very active in local elections (thank goodness!)."
 - Dale Courtney (March 28, 2007)

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