Karen Francisco is an outstanding writer for the Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette in Indiana.
For her fearless coverage of the right-wing attack on public education, she joins our honor roll.
Unlike so many journalists who report what is in the press release, she digs deeper and informs the public
In her most recent column, she explains that defeated State Superintendent Tony Bennett was using his last days in office to continue his attack on the teaching profession. Before the election, in which he was decisively defeated, he proposed to lower standards for new teachers and for principals. Her column appeared before yesterday’s meeting of the state board.
Despite the voters’ clear rejection of his policies, the state board of education agreed to lower standards. The proposal, called REPA2, allows anyone to teach if they graduated college with a 3.0 average and passed a test. No training or professional preparation is necessary. A person can get a license to be an administrator with only two years as a teacher (it was previously five), either in school Orin higher education.
Francisco also explained the Republican plan to shift transfer control of decision-making over important issues from the state superintendent to the political appointees on the state board of education. This would nullify the recent election results and strip the new superintendent of power to change the privatization and anti-professionalism policies of the defeated Bennett.
She called it right.
Here is a report from an observer at the board meeting yesterday:
From: Vic Smith
Subject: Vic’s Statehouse Notes #100 – December 5, 2012
Date: December 6, 2012 1:14:53 AM EST
Vic’s Statehouse Notes #100– December 5, 2012
Dear Friends,
The State Board of Education passed REPA 2 with three changes today by a vote of 9-2. The way they did it, however, leaves a string of legal questions which lawyers will no doubt be studying in the days ahead to determine if the action taken today will stand.
It was historically appropriate that the final meeting held in the Riley Room today before the IDOE moves to new offices was an overflow crowd. The first meeting held in the Riley Room in 2001 was also an overflow crowd protesting the first version of PL221 rules, known by some as the “orange sticker protest.” Those were the good old days when a huge show of opposition at a public hearing could actually influence the State Board and the State Superintendent to change direction. On that occasion, PL221 was tabled and completely rewritten. Not so today. A huge show of opposition in public comments led to three changes, but an effort to table REPA 2 today failed and the package of licensing rules which will lower standards for both teacher and administrator licenses passed.
The remarkable turnout and the long list signing up for Public Comments led Dr. Bennett to change the agenda and take Public Comments first rather than last, as the printed agenda showed. Before beginning the Public Comments, Dr. Bennett called on Glenda Ritz to address the board. She explained that she had requested that the action items be tabled so that her administration could determine the fiscal impact of the proposals. She said that when that request was denied, she requested time to address the board in order to ask them directly to table REPA 2. She said, “Preservice training is important. We can’t put unqualified teachers in the classroom.”
Such sentiments opposing REPA were echoed with clarity and passion by 20 speakers during Public Comments, while 4 speakers favored it as is. School of Education leaders from Butler, Indiana University, IUPUI and Indiana Wesleyan asked for specific changes. Individuals came from Indianapolis, Columbus, Bloomington, Warren Township, Winimac and Fort Wayne to speak against lower standards for licensing. Officials representing the Indiana Association for Teacher Education, the Indiana Middle Level Education Association, the Indiana Federation of Teachers, the Indiana PTA and the NAACP spoke out against REPA 2. My testimony, attached for those who want more details, raised the legal question of whether the rule can be revised in the major ways announced last Friday without triggering another round of public hearings.
After an hour and a half of Public Comments, the board considered REPA 2. After an hour of detailed discussion, Mike Pettibone, the only K-12 administrator on the board, after saying, “I’m not against REPA 2, but I don’t have a final draft in front of me and I need a final draft before I buy it,” moved to not adopt it now but to consider it at a future meeting.
His motion failed for lack of a second.
After additional discussion, Neil Pickett moved to approve REPA 2 with two changes. The first change would be to remove ENL (ESL) licensing from the list of areas that could be added to a teacher’s license by passing a test. The second change was to add a pedagogy requirement to the “Adjunct Teacher Permit”, referring to the provision allowing any person with a Bachelors Degree to get a five year license if they have a 3.0 GPA in a content area and pass the content area test.
A dizzying round of comments then began which left observers who honor parliamentary procedure scratching their heads. Sarah O’Brien asked if “High Ability” could be added to “ENL” on the list of programs that could not be substituted with a single test. Neil Pickett initially objected to the addition, but eventually changed his mind and, apparently, simply added “High Ability” into his motion. An idea to have “Adjunct” teachers take a pedagogy test after their 5th year was rejected by Mr. Pickett, saying that the initial “Adjunct” license should require some pedagogy. Dr. Bennett then offered the concept of the “Workplace Specialist” in which vocational area specialists, such as welders, are hired as teachers but take pedagogical courses as they are teaching during their first year on the job. That sounded fine to Mr. Pickett, and without clearly restating the wording of the motion, he summarized his position that ENL and High Ability should be excluded from the list of “test only” areas and that Adjunct permits should be tied to Workplace Specialist requirements. Dr. Bennett quickly called for second to the motion and then called for a voice vote.
The motion passed 9 – 2. Jo Blacketor, James Edwards, Dan Elsener, Neil Pickett, Sarah O’Brien, David Shane, Tony Walker, B. J. Watts and Tony Bennett voted yes. Mike Pettibone and Cari Whicker voted no. Mike Pettibone was concerned that board members did not receive a final version of the rule before voting and expressed the thought that the current method of giving emergency licenses takes adequate care of shortage areas. Cari Whicker expressed concern as a classroom teacher that she thought principals who evaluate teachers should be required to have more than 2 years of classroom teaching experience. The last version of REPA 2 cut the requirement from 5 years to 2, and also in a new controversial provision allowed experience in higher education teaching to count toward these 2 years.
What are the Potential Legal Problems Hanging over this Action?
Some have speculated that the shaky parliamentary procedure and imprecise motions might put the action in legal limbo. The deeper problem, however, relates to the law governing the passage of rules. Indiana Code 4-22-2-29 says:
IC 4-22-2-29
Adoption of rules; adoption of revised version of proposed rule
Sec. 29. (b) An agency may not adopt a rule that substantially differs from the version or versions of the proposed rule or rules published in the Indiana Register under section 24 of this chapter, unless it is a logical outgrowth of any proposed rule as supported by any written comments submitted:
(1) during the public comment period; or
(2) by the Indiana economic development corporation under IC 4-22-2.1-6(a), if applicable.
It would be easy to argue that the final REPA rule “substantially differs from the version” printed in the official record. It changes the authority to approve teacher education programs from the IDOE to the State Board. It cuts the years needed for an administrative license from 5 down to 2 and allows higher education teaching to count for this purpose without defining how much higher education teaching constitutes a year. It changes authority for content area tests for licensure from the IDOE to the State Board. Finally, in the revision made today, the “workplace specialist” pedagogy was required for Adjunct teachers.
It seems clear that “workplace specialist” pedagogy was not “supported by any written comments submitted during the public comment period” as the law requires. This idea wasn’t introduced until the last ten minutes of the discussion.
Any reasonable person watching today would think that a board considering an issue such as this should table it for further study to clarify final language before the vote. This board, no doubt for political reasons, did not want to wait. A motion was quickly patched together and passed that lawyers will now be reviewing to see if the final rule “substantially differs” from the version printed in the Indiana Register. If opponents are resolute, a lawsuit is possible citing failure to follow procedures in the law quoted above. A successful lawsuit could result in additional public hearings at a later time, during the Ritz administration.
Will a lawsuit actually be filed? Only time will tell. The ways things were handled on the crucially important issue of teacher licensing since last Friday when revisions were first revealed has left the door open to a potential legal challenge. If no legal challenge materializes, the whole episode has left a huge number of educators, parents and community leaders incensed that standards for teachers and administrators in Indiana are being lowered.
Best wishes,
Vic Smith vic790@aol.com
I urge you all to join the Indiana Coalition for Public Education by going to http://www.icpe2011.com for membership information.
Some readers have asked about my background in Indiana public schools. Thanks for asking! Here is a brief bio:
I am a lifelong Hoosier and began teaching in 1969. I served as a social studies teacher, curriculum developer, state research and evaluation consultant, state social studies consultant, district social studies supervisor, assistant principal, principal, educational association staff member, and adjunct university professor. I worked for Garrett-Keyser-Butler Schools, the Indiana University Social Studies Development Center, the Indiana Department of Education, the Indianapolis Public Schools, IUPUI, and the Indiana Urban Schools Association, from which I retired as Associate Director in 2009. I hold three degrees: B.A. in Ed., Ball State University, 1969; M.S. in Ed., Indiana University, 1972; and Ed.D., Indiana University, 1977, along with a Teacher’s Life License and a Superintendent’s License, 1998.
Hi Diane As I watch my grandchildren in middle and high school, there are many young inept teachers, who do not understand the Common Core Standards and students are now told to correct their own homework. My 15 year old grandson is now being tutored for math, a big explosion in the tutoring field b/c teachers are not being trained for the CCS. Why are these teachers allowed to teach? Some of the older teachers are not willing to learn and are just waiting to retire. Many Special Ed teachers are not mastered in what they do. Many teachers are not willing to learn the proper paperwork for the inclusion of these special needs children in their classroom. The unions seems to be protecting this corruption and it is ending up where their rights are more important then teaching the children. Parents are afraid to confront a teacher about their methods for fear that their child will be targeted, and it is happening. There are some very good teachers that are picking up the slack for the teachers who are going against the grain and running to the unions b/c they feel they are being “picked” on. And the unions are protecting these teachers that should be fired, yes fired. This is why the unions are so corrupt today, protecting those who are whining and crying b/c they have their rights, where are the children in all of this? Your’s truly, Sylvia Lafferty ________________________________
Sylvia: Some thoughts from a distant observer.
1) Who’s responsible for teachers not being trained on Common Core Standards? It sounds like you’re blaming the teachers, but such training is the duty of district administrations and allocation of funding for that training is the duty of legislatures. In our rush to approve Common Core Standards, we predictably left out the appropriation of funds for training.
2) By “mastered in what they do” I presume you mean they do not possess maters degrees. Have you not noticed that among the “tenets of corporate education reformers”, advanced degrees are of no practical value.
3) If teachers are unwilling to “learn the proper paper work”, that is a problem for administrators. Such teachers, if that claim is true, should have it noted upon their evaluations. The unions can and will protect teachers from improper claims, but if it can be documented that they are at fault, nothing the union can do would change that. Proper documentation is the foundation for firing, all the union does is require proper documentation.
Sylvia,
Nice try at sneaking in the deformer’s message here.
Are you a teacher/have you ever taught? If so what level/subject?
Duane
Reblogged this on Transparent Christina.
So, if I understand this posting correctly, the Indiana State Board of Education passed, by a vote of 9-2, a new rule that is not yet in its final form? Sounds to me like they’ve just given departing superintendent Bennett a blank check with which to assault incoming superintendent Ritz. Moronic! Positively moronic. Such a blatant disregard for professionalism and public responsibility should lead to the removal of all nine board members who voted in favor.
In Vic’s letter, above, he made reference to his own testimony to the board. You can read it at:
http://neifpe.blogspot.com/2012/12/public-comments-by-dr-vic-smith-to.html
I have a few thoughts on this topic, and yes, I personally know Karen Francisco. While she is a foe, she is a hard working person, who I will respect.
1. Teachers who taught vocational education at in career education programs, such as those at Anthis in Fort Wayne, do not need an education class or any training. One of Fort Wayne’s beloved radio DJ’s left radio this past summer to become a teacher in media arts. She has NEVER taught a class in her life, but had a 16 year daughter at the school. The school system thought she could connect with the students.
2. I took classes in education during my undergraduate program. They were sadly, very watered down, and I was not fond of them. I graduated with a Liberal Studies degree, and went in the business development/sales. During my sales years, I substitute taught to make extra money. I discovered that substitute teaching would be the wiser way for 2nd career seekers to obtain experience, than an alternative certificate or 2nd degree. Substitute teaching allows individuals to work in numerous situations from inner city schools to suburban schools to rural schools, work in all situations from ESL to special education to regular education. In addition, you learn strong classroom management skills – those that are not even taught in college courses.
3. In K-8th grades, I really do see a need for an education degree. However, in high schools, I often question for some specialty areas – business, communication, media arts, health care, home econ, etc. – if the teachers really need a degree in education.
I often substitute taught for a business professor who was awful, really awful, who could not even put together a slide show or a business plan, but was teaching entrepreurship. He never started a business, either. Not even a paper route or yard mowing service as a teen, yet was trying to teach teens how to start businesses. I have started two businesses, one failed and the other is rapidly growing. Yet, until now, I could not teach those skills in a high school setting. With my combined sub teaching experience, business knowledge and bachelor’s degree, Dr. Bennett has allowed me to do something awesome – impact the next generation in a classroom setting.
3. Two years IS not enough time to have enough skills to become an administrator. That being said, I have a contact who was asked if he had a principal’s license. A local charter school administrator wanted to tap him for a principalship position at the sister school. My contact who has an MBA runs the local Boys and Girls Club, who has an afterschool tutoring program that works with students who struggle on ISTEP test. He seems to have a good knowledge on what works and what does not work for educational programming. This is contrary to the PE turned athletic director turned principal that they hired. The charter school only kept the PE teacher for two years, until he went back to teaching PE at a Catholic School.
4. Speaking of Catholic schools – they are awful! One of the things I have learned is this: Catholic school principals who come from the public school system are awful. They know they could pass the leadership muster for the public school system, so they jumped ship. Those who can’t lead in public schools, operate private schools. With the implementation of vouchers this is a scary thought.
JConsult, your concern with catholic schools has me concerned. Should I use a voucher for my kids? I was considering it, but now I don’t know. Why would the legislators pass a law like that if catholic schools are so bad?
@JConsult–why in the world would you consider Karen Francisco to be your foe? If you personally know her (as you claim), you would know that she is very soft spoken and fair minded. I am a bit confused.
1. Phyllis Bush – Karen and I don’t agree on political grounds, I am an ultra-conservative Republican and she is a ultra-liberal democratic. Hence, we are foes. We know each other through a nonprofit leadership program; we were classmates.
2, Muffinman – Catholic schools’ test scores are largely due to strong parenting skills, and sometimes (not always) a good principal who has the guts to remove a bad teacher mid-year. The old Catholic school cadre of teachers and leadership were that teachers rose up through the ranks and lead the schools. As Catholic’s have sought out improvements to test scores, administration want public school teachers to take pay cuts (One of the Catholic schools I work with pays their principal a mere $15,000 a year!), and lead the pack. The problem is that the Catholic schools generally get the worst of the crop, because 1. pay issues; 2. principal want-to-be’s assume that being in a Catholic school is easier due to increased parenting assistance and less discipline, and a smaller staff and 3. public schools help develop the up and rising stars. Administration in public schools often encourage and guide other teachers to become good leaders to fill those shoes of soon to be retired leaders. Those who are leave for Catholic schools, are those who are leftovers, those who could not get a blink of the eye from a public school principal.
I am not a fan of vouchers – they strip away the Catholic’s parents duties in multiple ways. (Another subject, for another time.) However, if you choose a parochial school in Indiana, I will am strong supporter of Lutheran schools. For the fact that the majority of their leadership came up through the ranks and trained by Lutheran colleges, and the majority of the schools don’t take vouchers. The principals in Lutheran schools seem to ensure that academics are strong and theology is equally as strong.
This is a self-fulfilling Privitization prophecy drummed up by the GOP to takeover public education in Indiana.
1. Pass law to water down teacher standards
2. Lower teacher standards leads to lower school test scores
3. Lower school test scores allow State takeover
4. Private Schools owned by the GOP’s buddies step in. Cycle complete.