By Lakotamom

February 5, 2009 5:41 PM | Link to this

Just a few more years and my kids will be done with Lakota- then we can get the heck out of dodge- The taxes are going to be outrageous! In the mean time, when are the next elections? And please, to all the people who will actually get to vote on Strickland’s ideas- Vote NO!

By max

February 3, 2009 5:16 AM | Link to this

Sylvia - I also believe that we do not compare apples to apples when comparing US students to those in other countries. In this country, we do not do our kids who do not want to go to college justice. In Montgomery County, schools like ISUS are booming because they are teaching the kids AND giving them a skill/trade. I would be curious to know what schools could do if they had the money to run their buildings as they see appropriate and not what some government bureaucrat thinks as appropriate. BTW - I also will be voting Rep, I am not excited about higher fees on many of the services that I use.

By Sylvia

February 2, 2009 8:00 AM | Link to this

Being a teacher, I have one thing to say, “There has to be a Rep. canidate to run against and defeat Strikland.” Everyone compares the USA children and other world children. We teach the Whole, other nations when the child becomes an 8th grader, they are given a test to see if they go to college or trade school. We are not comparing apples to apples. Why don’t we address that area? I get tired of hearing “we don’t measure up”. We would if we did it the “rest of the world way”. We had a Spainish boy in our home for a year, he passed the test and got to go to high school instead of trade school. He was very bright. Another boy we had was so bright, the math teacher let him teach math instead of her. This boy is now a math prof. at Fl. State Un. Strickland, compare apples to apples. There is no way you can compare a 160 IQ with a 90 IQ and get the same results. Try as you and the rest of the govt. may, it will never happen. My husband had a student (in NC) who could only write his name, but he could take apart and put together any car made. He is now marriedto another slow gal, BUT they have both made a nice living and have paid cash for everything they have bought. They chose not to have children. They are low in their IQ but in their common sense, they are very bright, maybe brighter than their smart counter part. They own their house, cars and boat. Comparing them to a college prof., the U.S. would look low,that’s why you must compare apples to apples, not apples to oranges.

By Concerned

February 1, 2009 1:26 PM | Link to this

So if teachers have to do a program like a medical doctor at they going to pay them a medical doctor wage? Doctors start at $80,000 and a teacher at $30,000. I am a teacher who loves the job but I am a poverty professional. I owe $30,000 in student loan debt and I have not ever been able to buy a new car, own a home, or have my own children. I have watched my non college degree family members get the American Dream because they are not in debt to student loans. My student loan takes away a full weeks wage each month and I struggle to keep up with paying my rent and student loans. The state requires teachers to go to the University to get more graduate credits to keep your job every 4 years now. It used to be every 8 years but of course they want you to spend more money at the University. So having to come up with another $3,000 to $4,000 to pay for more classes and more college credits even well after you get your Masters Degree keeps many of us in a circle of on going debt. Many young people today are coming out of college with over $50,000 in student loans who are just beginning their teaching career. I know one teacher who can’t even get an apartment on her own due to her student loan being higher than her beginning teacher wage. She has to live with her parents. She can’t get a car loan either. So she is a Master Degree professional riding the RTA bus. This is unfair to any professional who has student loan debt to continue to be in a life cycle of huge debt just to do a job that they love!

By Lizzie

February 1, 2009 1:19 PM | Link to this

This is never going to happen. Schools are being closed left and right across the U.S. States are broke, massive layoffs. In the very near future I see LESS school days, followed by LESS hours, LESS teachers, LESS everything because the money is not there to support it.

By Laura

February 1, 2009 10:01 AM | Link to this

No, DeeDee, I am not talking about “traveling” coaches. We have full-time, 5 day a week, Math and Reading coaches. And we are not one of the schools in the most serious academic trouble. I know of other schools (who are in serious trouble) who also have full time reading and math coaches.

By Deedee

January 31, 2009 11:52 PM | Link to this

Oh, Laura, are you referring to the 5 or so former building coaches who now travel to a different building each day? I don’t see how someone who is in a different school every day can possibly accomplish anything. Such a waste. All teachers, especially “master” teachers, should have student contact. Strickland’s plan has some great ideas, I just hope there is money to implement them. How about the same type of residency program for administrators?

By ddudewc

January 31, 2009 5:26 PM | Link to this

Amazing how some teachers talk of how they need the summers to do work like taking classes. but then when there is talk about working in the classroom during this time, they are against it. The governor is only talking about a change in geography. If this does pass (I don’t think the extended school year will pass), I still doubt teachers will leave. If the teachers do leave, they will be giving up the time towards their retirement. As well as many districts everywhere are admittedly hiring teachers with the least experience they can find. The “best teachers being hired elsewhere” concept just isn’t out there. Also, if the extended school year improves education, other states are going to follow; the extended school year is what many other countries that are beating us already in education already have. There are a lot of questions that will need to be answered. Most are simply logistical. The biggest one for me is to prove this plan, with the extended school year, will not cost the districts any more money. For, the unions will be crying for higher salaries with more days teaching. To counter that, I think districts should merge. Every school can still be run exactly like it is. But, if two (or more) districts merge, they all would be paying for only one central office, not one central office each. The savings would be a minimum of hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. Only logistics would need to be worked out, like the differences in teacher salaries, possible differences in the school days (for bus service), etc., everything that can easily be worked out.

By Laura

January 31, 2009 5:14 PM | Link to this

Deedee, We DO have both a math and reading coach in my school and in all of the schools that teacher friends of mine teach in. They do not go by any other title. However, regardless of what you want to call them, they have no student contact in our building or in the buildings I know about. They didn’t even prepare the bi-weekly assessment we were required to give last year. No one seems to know what they do.

By Deedee

January 30, 2009 9:52 PM | Link to this

Laura,DPS has not had reading coaches since June of 2007. Are you still complaining about that?

By Terri

January 30, 2009 6:32 PM | Link to this

Teachers would be paid while in residency - just like doctors are.

By Joe

January 30, 2009 1:15 PM | Link to this

I received my teaching degree/license recently. Student teaching was a very important experience, probably the most valuable in the coursework. BUT, it was incredibly expensive for me. 3,000-4,000 in tuition plus the gasoline to drive 45 minutes to and 45 back from my school. I was completely broke when I was finished, and I was even living with my parents! I went to OU and came back home to student teach and “save money” by living at home. The best part was when I could not find a full-time teaching job anywhere in Ohio for my content area (Art). I subbed for a while, and found a full-time position not in teaching. Teaching was very rewarding to me, but not in the $ sense. Obviously I didn’t study education for the big paychecks :) I would like to get back into it someday, but I have to pay some debts down first. The residency plan is a good concept , but there needs to be a grants/stipends available for prospective teachers. I was lucky to have an understanding teacher who I could ride up with a couple times a week. If I had to do that for a year I’d have to borrow an other 20K for college/living costs. I’m already swamped with debt. Someone has to pay for this additional time/training. Taxes assessed on Property Values have been repeatedly ruled as unconstitutional. I’m interested to see how Governor Strickland finances this. I do applaud his willingness to start the conversation about education in Ohio.

By Terri

January 30, 2009 1:10 PM | Link to this

Scrapping the OGT in favor of the ACT would save the state money. If Ohio does what other states do they use the ACT to meet NCLB requirements but graduation does not depend on a certain score. This means Ohio would pay for each student to take it only once unlike the OGT. The state pays for some students to take it up to 5 times. Ohio would not have to buy calculators for every student, as it does now. Ohio would no longer need to pay for a new test every year, nor to have it scored. There is data that shows all day kindergarten “does a child good.” All day kindergarten does not mean having 5-year-olds sitting at desks all day. There is plenty of unstructured play, reading aloud of books, naps, etc. Many students in half day kindegartens today go to daycare centers the rest of the day where they continue to participate in kindergarten like activities. A residency program for new teachers does not mean that they would spend 4 years in another teacher’s room. They would be mentored by a veteran teacher who would meet with them regularly, observe them, etc. Many districts already have this for at least the initial year of teaching. This would extend the current 2-year provisional license to 4, giving new teachers additional time to become accomplished teachers. With the current trend that almost half of new teachers leave the profession within 5 years, we need to support the rookies as much as possible. It would also mean that bad teachers would be less likely to attain tenure. Adding 20 more days to the school year and more hours to the day is a positive thing. For those you say we have been doing fine with 180 days I say - watching tv on a 15” screen is fine too - but I want a better view. I want better for the students. And of course teachers should be compensated for 4 more weeks of work.

By larry

January 30, 2009 12:26 PM | Link to this

Early childhood education readiness would be the biggest area for improvement for Dayton schools and other districts with higher proportions of economically and educationally disadvantaged families. I don’t see Pre-K addressed in the education plan. My wife has taught in Dayton and Centerville. From the first time they were tested to the second, Dayton students improved their scores more than Centerville students. That indicates the average Dayton student was a successful learner and schools were effective educators, but the average Dayton student started school with less educational readiness activity in their families: reading, museum and zoo visits, computer learning activity, music and arts, pre-school and parents’ education activity. The biggest difference between students at the finish line is their starting line. I hear the argument that that should be a family’s responsibility. But as a society, focusing attention on early childhood educational readiness is far more efficient and effective than the effort and money to help students catch up later in life.

By Josh

January 29, 2009 8:41 PM | Link to this

I am a teacher in the State of Ohio and I just read Mr. Strickland’s plans in regards to school reform. I would like to give you feedback from a teacher in the field. First of all, I like ideas about adding money for funding the schools and the idea that all students take the ACT test to inspire higher education. I do not agree with adding 20 days to the school year and full day kindergarten. I would suggest you spend a full week teaching 5 full days of kindergarten. Some kindergarteners are ready for this but not all kindergarten kids have the focus to learn for an entire day. Some children require an “easing in to school.” This should not be mandatory and should be left to each particular district/parent to decide on. In addition, if you increase the school year 20 days, do you also plan to increase teacher pay? This profession is already one of the lowest paying jobs relative to the education that is required for teachers to have and the summer break is one perk that draws great talent and justifies the low pay. As one aspect of no child left behind teachers are also required to continue their education to renew their teaching license and a majority of teachers take these classes during the summer. Increasing the school year has additional problems. Teachers will want more money if you require 20 additional days which contradicts plans to cut cost. This also will increase operation cost at school. In addition to those two aspects, because of no child left behind, teachers are now taking courses at various colleges around the country during time off to meet the mandates that government requires for maintaining a teaching license. Please do not make this profession even more difficult on the teachers. Please do not make this more difficult on students as well. I do not know if you are aware, but most schools in Ohio do not have air condition. In my particular school district, it is very common for school to be closed for heat problems at the very beginning of the year. At times, temperatures in the classroom are close to 90 degrees. This makes it almost impossible for students to learn and focus. If we increase the amount of school days they will most definitely increase the days in the heat of the summer. Most schools do not have air conditioners to support this part of the plan. Have you thought of the job losses that 20 additional days will create? Teachers will demand more pay for the extra time they spend working. Districts will have to pay more money and will have to cut teaching jobs to afford this. Ohio does not need anymore job losses. The plan increase state funds by 3%, and all the teachers will blow the 3% out of the water for an additional month of work. This will lead to layoffs, more people taking trips to Montgomery County Job and Family Services, more tax money going to help the Jobless. If you do not believe me, I talk from experience. Last year I enjoyed 10,000 dollars of tax payer money from being cut from a teaching job. Later I was recalled after the district passed a leavy. In conclusion, if you would like to drive even more highly qualified people from our already low pool of highly talented teachers and have additional job losses in Ohio, you should stick to increased school year plans and the 20 additional days that are proposed. If however, you want to continue to attract talented people to the field of teaching and keep kids focused in the classroom, you should not require 20 additional days per year for school. Thanks for your time, J.O.

By max

January 29, 2009 6:06 PM | Link to this

Schools might be more apt to suspend students, if that suspension did not count against the school’s attendance rate. Attendance rates are necessary to make AYP for No Child Left Behind and to receive the most funds from the State. Unfortunately, from the State and Federal Government view, an absence is an absence. Suspensions should not count against a school/district when determining their attendance percentage.

By Grumpy

January 29, 2009 5:04 PM | Link to this

We have too many creative people already. Why does Strickland think we need more?

By Laura

January 29, 2009 4:55 PM | Link to this

So, Gov. Strickland wants teachers to spend four years in “residency”. Does anyone have any idea who could possibly afford to become a teacher? There is no way the state can afford to pay teachers for a four year residency while they work with a “master” teacher and no way can students or parents afford to finance 8-9 years of college to earn what a teacher earns. Then, there is the question of the “master” teachers. Where is the state going to get all of these “master” teachers? There is no way there are nearly enough truly master teachers. Or will it go the way of the reading coaches in DPS. When it first started, they were supposed to all have a master’s degree in reading. They couldn’t begin to fill the positions so they started taking anyone a principal recommended. (We all know how that one works.) Now, they will pretty much take anyone. Which is really OK, since they don’t work with kids. In fact, no one seems to know exactly what they do.

By null

January 29, 2009 2:37 PM | Link to this

We wonder why children arent doing well in school, yet we are expecting our 4 and 5 year olds to perform way above their developmental ability. We need to start pushing the start date back so that our babies are “ready” to start to learn abc’s and 123’s. We expect the teachers to be miracle workers, yet if a young child is not ready to learn, we are held accountable.Where are the parents? Why is no one asking the teachers what their opinions are. We are the ones working with the children all day long. I love being in the classroom and don’t care if the year is extended, IF it has a purpose. If children are too young to be in an academic setting, more days will not help. focussing on Early Childhood issues is the key to our schools and our children being a success. We have tons of research telling us what is best for young children, but we don’t listen to it. Children speak when they are ready. They walk when they are ready, they crawl when they are ready, yet as soon as they are 4 and 5 they are expected and required to learn how to read and write with no regard to individual readiness. We are setting them up for failure right from the beginning. Their are solutions if the “officials” would ask and listen to those of us who are in the trenches everyday.

By Stan

January 29, 2009 2:25 PM | Link to this

He ran on the promise of fixing education in Ohio. Then we waited two (2) years for this? You have to be kidding me! Everyone knew that he was going to come back with “the state will pay more and schools will be less dependent on property taxes”. Wow, we knew that two years ago. This plan has absolutely no meat. If the bumbling Taft had come up with this plan, he would have been drug through the mud. 2010 can’t come soon enough!

By null

January 29, 2009 1:56 PM | Link to this

The real issue that is never addressed, but that is critical is the training and accountability of school administrators. THEIR lack of training and competence flows down to the teachers and can create a HUGE BARRIER to being able to teach effectively. Why doesn’t Gov. Strickland address this issue if he wants REAL change to occur?

By Patty

January 29, 2009 12:05 PM | Link to this

Nationally our kids are not failing at math and science. That is a myth we need to debunk. The School System and the media keep saying that, so that they can import more foreign students. They have been saying we were behind for decades, yet we still have the best schools in the world. I agree CommonSense our schools have been liberalized to say 2+2=5 very good, you tried. Many of the teachers promote the problems and refuse to acknowledge. We all know teacher’s pet. The football players and cheerleaders get special treatment. They are cool and the mathematicians are nerds. The teachers basically promote peer pressure, whether they acknowledge it or not. In college if you have trouble with a professor or you just can’t seem to learn from the professor you have the choice to drop the class. Select a professor that is able to teach to you. Our children in elementary, middle, and high school. Have no choice. They are stuck with the teacher they have. Teacher’s explain in one manner and we are all different. Sometimes you need things said in a different way to understand. Many teachers and counselors determine at the kindergarten and first grade level if you are worth their time. They decide whether you are capable of college and your record contains those notes and follow you down the line. I was not even aware of college prep classes, they geared me towards vocational schools. I like algebra and did good in it until we changed schools and could not understand the new teacher. I ended up with a D. As an adult I went to college. Received all As in algebra and calculus. Graduated with a 4.0. Beavercreek! Teachers have too much power. There are many good teachers as there are bad teachers. Throwing money at them does not fix the problem. Look at your child’s history book. They are teaching your children lies. Our school system is very anti-american. Why do you think so many people now homeschool?

By brunnegd

January 29, 2009 11:41 AM | Link to this

How many days do students now attend class? Get rid of all of the spring breaks and other off days during the year, and between Labor Day and the end of May are 190 days, with an allowance for Christmas/New Years. Running school from mid-Aug to mid-June is stupid. Some states mandate that school cannot start before Labor Day, and from what I know, they have some smart kids.

By chief

January 29, 2009 11:38 AM | Link to this

I’ve taught in the high school setting for 30 1/2 years. I coached 17 of those years. What happens to a child for 18 hours a day, when under the supervision of a parent(s),has little chance of being changed in a 6 hour day at school. This is a fact. Until these low achieving children are taken from the home, change will not happen. Education is a business. If you haven’t been in the profession you won’t understand what is involved in it’s success or faliure. The changes the Gov. proposes are not backed by facts. These are based on the phrase, “We need to do this I know it will work.” Remember it wasn’t the non-educated people who got us into this mess we currently have with our economy. It was the highly educated Ivy League school type. Now imagine if we had 3 times as many educated people. WE would still be in the same mess. The difference is, we would have more college educated people jobless with huge education debt yet to pay. Not a good picture.

By Jack

January 29, 2009 11:04 AM | Link to this

Seems to be a Democratic staple these days, make big headlines…yet, dont provide any substance.

By Rick

January 29, 2009 10:38 AM | Link to this

No mention of the 3 Rs. That worries me. He did mention cultural awareness (i.e., political correctness); that worries me. I support Max’s comments about the need for data. What is the advantage or disadvantage of the ACT over the OGT?

By rj

January 29, 2009 10:36 AM | Link to this

I believe that the Rev. Gov. Strickland needs to spend his time on the Ohio economy with legislators rather than political posturing using education as his publicity machine. I want to hear from professional educators and their ideas and much, much less from Strickland and his political babble.

By john

January 29, 2009 10:15 AM | Link to this

Strickland’s reform: Big ideas but how will we pay for it? Dha…. Increased taxes maybe? Or, it will take so long that it won’t EVER happen? Or, the president will wave his magic wand and PUFF! All better now. What a time for the governor to come up with education reform—you have to love it!

By Patty

January 29, 2009 9:42 AM | Link to this

Not all schools have problems. Throwing money at a problem does not fix the problem. First we need to debunk the myth that we do not have quality education in America! We do! Education starts at the home and the parents have to be involved and they have to parent. If not yes, that child could possibly not achieve all that is possible. That does not mean the majority are not being educated. Pay the teachers more is not necessarily the problem either. We all have had good teachers and bad teachers, regardless of their salaries. Many go into the field, not cause they want to help or educate kids, they want the summer off. If teacher’s salaries are extremely high, then people will go into the job because of the salary, not because they care. Look at our politicians, are they humble servants? No, they are wealthy off of our backs. They are not suppose to get rich working for the people. They have power and their inflated high salaries corrupts them. Notice Strickland will raise fees on us we the average citizen. He does not look at being efficient and removing waste. How many districts have you heard of that built fancy administration buildings. How much is spent on administration and is it needed. Where is the pork in the schools. College. Public College Presidents, Deans, Coaches, Professors have extremely highly inflated salaries. OSU President more than 1 million a year. College professors write their textbooks and then the students are forced to pay the highly inflated price. I could go on, there is so much waste they refuse to look at cause they have to keep their rich buddies happy. We taxpayers are funded all of this waste!

By Commonsense

January 29, 2009 8:45 AM | Link to this

Some of the plan is good: longer school year, easier to fire bad teachers, and better training for the teachers. However, I see some major flaws in this plan as well. Obviously, where is the money going to come from? DPS is proof positive that it doesn’t matter how much money and “resources” you throw at certain districts, it isn’t going to make a difference if the parents and the culture simply don’t care about education. There also needs to be a system that will allow teachers and administrators to discipline students in an appropriate manner. Kids that misbehave in today’s educational system are given a pass because teachers fear repercussions from both their bosses and parents. Heck, many teachers don’t even use red pens to grade anymore because of the negative perception that red gives. We, as a nation, need to realize that some kids are smarter than others. Not every kid is going to make it. We are hurting are smartest kids back to the level of the dumbest kids. Schools are eliminating “gifted” programs because it isn’t “fair” to other kids. I would love to see this issue addressed. Although, maybe the government wants to hold our kids back so they depend more on the strong arm of the government. Finally, why does Strickland place so much emphasis on creativity? Our kids are failing miserably in Science and Math, yet there is no mention of this. Instead, he wants to focus more on “creativeness” and “cultural awareness.” I’m sorry, but I don’t think this plan is solid enough to make a substantial difference in our kids lives.

By Concerned Taxpayer

January 29, 2009 8:09 AM | Link to this

All this sounds fine and dandy, except it fails to address one critically important item: The HUGE cost of education. It’s great tht more state money will be used for education, but seriously people, strickland and local officials talk as if it grows on trees! “Don’t worry — the state will pay for it” Well where do you think the state gets there money?? Taxpayers! Until the state and local school districts can understand how to control expenses, school quality and funding will always be an issue!

By Oldprof

January 29, 2009 8:08 AM | Link to this

I guess many here have no memory. Strickland’s plan is being criticized for what it doesn’t do (propose a budget—which comes next month). I recall when the state’s plans were criticized because they were intrinsically unsound. A few points in order: (a) teachers are, alas, NOT good when they graduate from our unworldly colleges of education, it takes most of them a half-dozen years to learn on the job; the residency plan is long overdue (b) the ODE won’t need to add staff, they’ll just need to refocus their priorities (c) the OGT was not a valid, reliable test; the ACT will be a big improvement and will provide national norms so Ohio can have a basis for comparison (d) they can pay for lots of teachers and support services if they cut back on the number of administrator. Perhaps some have seen this article: http://www.usnews.com/articles/education/2009/01/15/the-surprising-causes-of -those-college-tuition-hikes.html—which is about higher ed, but similar conditions exist in K-12.

By max

January 29, 2009 8:02 AM | Link to this

Everything in education is driven by data, assessments, test scores. So where is the data that supports all day kdg leads to better results? Where is the data that is going to support lengthening the school day AND school year is going to improve education? Where is the data that is going to support a 4 yr residency type program for educators is going to put a “better” teacher(whatever that means) No other state is doing this, so how is this going to attract teachers to Ohio. Where are the districts going to get the extra possibly 15% extra revenue to pay all the staff??? I can’t wrap my brain around this one. No where does this address parental influences and holding parents accountable for their child’s attendance AND behavior in the classroom. I don’t want to hear about how we MUST compete w/ Japanese students. Not everyone MUST compete w/ Japan. We still need bus drivers, tradesmen, trash collectors - it takes all to make our world function. Change the OGT? Where is the data that supports the ACT is a better indicator of what the student has learned? Not every student needs or wants to go to college. I don’t need the electrician to have a Masters degree, my HVAC guy doesn’t either. I just want them to fix what needs to be fixed. Sounds pretty costly when there isn’t any money to support what we already are trying to do.

By christina

January 29, 2009 7:44 AM | Link to this

As a teacher I see the need to make changes. What I don’t see is educators (teachers not administrators) being asked to be apart of deciding the changes that will improve education. Adding 20 days to the school year will not work if there isn’t a plan. How about students go to school for 8 week intervals and during that time they have the state standards to master. If they do not master the requirements set for those 8 weeks they have to then go to school for 2 weeks for intervention. At the same time those two weeks can be used for enrichment for those that mastered the standards. Treating new teachers like doctors can be a great idea if they had the potential to be paid like doctors….instead you will lose many great teachers who do not want to give up a year of their life. Set up better mentoring programs like the ones they have over in Europe. I could go on and on….Education could be great in this country, but the bottom line is, it needs the support of the people and MONEY…without both education doesn’t stand a chance…

By Kate

January 28, 2009 10:53 PM | Link to this

While all these ideas may or may not be fantastic, at least he’s attempting to find a solution. My biggest issue though, is that the state is deeply cutting school funding for next year because of the economic woes. There is no way that Strickland’s plans can be met by spending less money.

By Barb

January 28, 2009 8:34 PM | Link to this

Last thing DPS has the need for is more people who are not responsible for students and spend so much of their day assisting the principal, who needs an assistant, or drinking their coffee in lieu of working with students. What the gov. needs to know that in an urban classroom 3 things will spell success, a good teacher, parental input and smaller class size so instead of putting in more overseers how about actually having these people responsible for students.

By mskiles

January 28, 2009 5:49 PM | Link to this

In order: 1. As schools manage to adapt effectively to the new tests, they go and change the rules. Do you know how much PD money has been spent on the OGT? Before that the 9th Grade test? Pick something and stick with it. Stop tinkering. Even less time to maintain buildings, and US teachers have the fewest planning hours already. You’re burning out talented staff by forcing them to teach too many classes and not allowing them enough prep time. Longer year, ok i see nothing wrong with that if you pay for it. All day everyday? Finland doesn’t even start their schooling until age 7 and they do well on international tests. No cause for change. Your master teachers are busy teaching. Good teachers are good right out of college, and get better. Bad teachers can have 40 years of ‘residency’ and still be bad. All in all, I’d call this list boring without novel concepts. Strickland has disappointed me for the first time.

By Tom

January 28, 2009 5:45 PM | Link to this

Good ideas but all require higher taxes. The school funding “problem” could be easily fixed with one year of the state income tax reductions of 4%. Will he follow through and take over low peforming districts like Dayton? Will the public support funnelling more dollars to those low achieving urban districts?

By Basil

January 28, 2009 5:25 PM | Link to this

Wow. Governor Strickland rattled off many wild-eyed dreams in that speech today. It was a bunch of platitudes with no funding attached at all. Experience tells me that there will never be any funding attached. There will be ridiculously high expectations with no resources to produce any of the program. If Strickland wants better teachers, he needs to do something to increase the pay so that our best minds will be attracted to the profession. More school days? Hah! There is too much wasted time now!

By JB

January 28, 2009 5:03 PM | Link to this

From the Communist Manifesto: Abolition of property in land and application of all rents of land to public purposes. A heavy progressive or graduated income tax. Abolition of all rights of inheritance. Confiscation of the property of all emigrants and rebels. Centralization of credit in the banks of the state, by means of a national bank with state capital and an exclusive monopoly. Centralization of the means of communication and transport in the hands of the state. Extension of factories and instruments of production owned by the state; the bringing into cultivation of waste lands, and the improvement of the soil generally in accordance with a common plan. Equal obligation of all to work. Establishment of industrial armies, especially for agriculture. Combination of agriculture with manufacturing industries; gradual abolition of all the distinction between town and country by a more equable distribution of the populace over the country. Free education for all children in public schools. Abolition of children’s factory labor in its present form. Combination of education with industrial production, etc. Welcome to the USSA (United Soviet States of Amerika)

By John

January 28, 2009 3:18 PM | Link to this

Massively growing the Ohio Department of Education and adding 20 days to the Ohio school year in itself adds nothing to the quality of education. It doesnt add quality, only quantity, which directly results in the need for additional funding (from where?). I believe taking the resources we currently have and ensuring they are effectively utilized will give us the best return on our investment. Has anyone talked to the kids in these schools to find out what is broken and what needs to be fixed? Believe it or not, they know.

By Barry

January 28, 2009 3:04 PM | Link to this

Why not sell advertising space on school buses the way the rta does?

By jkj

January 28, 2009 2:48 PM | Link to this

Typical politician…talk, talk, talk all these big plans and then have no idea where the money is supposed to come from. I’m sure he will expect the taxpayers to cough it up!!

By Joel Brown

January 28, 2009 2:35 PM | Link to this

I attended one of Gov. Strickland’s town hall meetings held at various locations around the state last year, in which he was looking for citizen’s suggestions on how to improve the state’s schools. I recall that he made it clear at the outset that the plan for improvement would come first, and that after the plan, he would come back to the citizens to discuss how to pay for it. I’m not disappointed that he hasn’t solved the funding issue yet. He’s the first politician in memory to do it in the right order. Currently and for many years past, the legislature decides how much money it has for education, then decides how to spend it (or leaves that problem to the districts). Strickland is the first to come up with a comprehensive plan, then work on how to pay for it. The plan can be debated and adjusted, but at least it’s a starting point. Now the legislature, and the citizens, can start discussing the funding. One step at a time.

By Dave

January 28, 2009 2:30 PM | Link to this

I have two concerns (off the top of my head). First, are kindergarteners able to handle all day classes, or is the fatigue factor too large? I’d love to hear what kindergarten teachers say. Second, it is fine and dandy to talk about adding “enrichment programs”, but without someone to develop specific enrichment programs, we end up with more wasted time. Will this be addressed?

By Shoot for the moon

January 28, 2009 2:28 PM | Link to this

Seems like he’s simply setting the bar high in hopes of getting some of his ideas in place. They’are all valid and would probably work. But, it’s not practical to get most of them enacted anytime soon. One of the easiest: all day kindergarten. Many districts already have it. A more dramatic move would have been to mandate some level of universal pre-school. All the early brain development research points to those pre-school years as being CRITICAL to expanding learning opportunities. On the other end of the spectrum, the one idea that is a non-starter is expanding the school year. Besides the cultural issues that will block it, somehow you would have to PAY for it. Just for starters all school-year contract employees would have to be paid an additional 10-15%. Plus, there’s the added costs for repairs and maintenance on school property and buses. As for replacing the tests: dumping the OGT is a good idea. Swapping the OAT’s for something else is just that: swapping one test for another. All you would be doing is chaning the curriculum from teaching one test to teaching another. Dump them ENTIRELY.