State Education News Roundup (March 31)
A Launch Michigan online poll of 16,000 Michigan teachers, administrators, support staff and para-professionals may be the largest ever conducted of Michigan educators. It revealed key problems experienced by educators and revealed divides between professionals and Lansing legislators. Meanwhile, state Social Studies standards have been revised to reinsert information that the GOP recently cut out of them – such as climate change, gay rights, and Roe v. Wade. Read more at the link about educator priorities and what went back into the textbooks.
Michigan teachers: Standardized tests are useless and classes are too big
Michigan’s standardized tests don’t accurately measure student learning, schools aren’t ready for third graders who will flunk because they are poor readers, and there are too many kids stuffed into classrooms. Oh, and only one in four educators would recommend the profession to others. That’s according to a survey of more than 16,000 Michigan educators, released today by Launch Michigan, an education reform alliance of business, education, labor, philanthropy and community organization leaders. It demonstrated that many priorities of front-line teachers differ from the policies pushed by Michigan politicians, but also some areas of agreement with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
Gay rights and climate change are back in Michigan social studies standards
The phrase “democratic values” will remain. So will teachings on Harriet Tubman, gay rights, climate change, and Roe v. Wade in the latest draft of social studies standards for Michigan public schools. The revisions, posted Tuesday on the State Board of Education agenda for its April meeting, follow public uproar over an earlier, conservative-tilted draft that would have changed how some history would be taught in state classrooms. The new draft will be presented to the State Board of Education at the board’s meeting April 9, where it will likely receive a positive reception from the Democratic (big D) majority board. The public will have an opportunity to comment on the revised standards, both online and in a series of public meetings.
