Letters: Demand public education support – and read to kids

NEIFPE member Susan Berry sent this letter to the editor. In it she supports a Journal-Gazette editorial in support of public education.

Demand public education support – and read to kids

Published: March 30, 2017

Karen Francisco’s well-researched editorial “An Educated Mess” on March 12 reminded us – once again – that private schools accepting voucher money from the state are not accountable to the government that will give them $146 million this school year – a total of close to a half billion dollars since 2011. Even more alarming is that students attending these “voucher schools” are scoring lower on reading, language and math tests than students in public schools.

Is there a fair way to help all children be successful in school? Research consistently tells us that test scores correlate with ZIP codes, meaning children in poverty don’t score as well as their richer classmates, no matter the school. Can we fix this poverty issue? We can begin by electing legislators truly committed to helping all families. For now, we can contact those who represent us and tell them firmly about our concerns. Legislators control the dollars and have the power to help those most in need.

We can also set up and reinforce programs that educate parents about how to help their children with school readiness. Reading daily to a child helps close that readiness and (eventually) achievement gap. Unfortunately, low-income parents are less likely to have heard this message. Jennifer Bryan, from “Read Aloud 15 Minutes,” states that “Reading to every child every day from birth won’t solve every health and education problem we face, but it will help level the brain development playing field.”

Reading to our babies, our preschoolers, and even our older kids is the place to start. We can break the poverty cycle by reading to our children. The bonus – besides having kids who love to read – is higher test scores and guaranteed success in any school.

Susan Berry

Fort Wayne

###

Election letters

The following letters from NEIFPE members Donna Roof and Susan Berry are in support of Zubair Khan, candidate for school board in Northwest Allen County Schools.

Khan fights for kids
November 03, 2016

A vote for Dr. Zubair Khan, running for Northwest Allen County School Board, is a vote for public schools.

He is tenacious in his community outreach and involvement in the area.

As a resident in the district, he knows the quality education NACS schools provide his children.

He and his wife, owners of Kiddie Academy of Fort Wayne, realize the importance of early childhood education.

School funding, overtesting of students and teacher salaries are major concerns for him.

From his business acumen, he knows that school finance is critical in having successful schools.

I highly recommend Zubair Khan receive your vote.

Donna Roof

Fort Wayne


Khan did homework
October 28, 2016

I am a member of Northeast Indiana Friends of Public Education and attend (as well as help sponsor) many educational and legislative events in Fort Wayne and Indianapolis. Zubair Khan is always there! He attended the superintendent of public instruction debate, the showing of the Education Inc. movie and the Network of Public Education conference in North Carolina. Khan is learning about issues in education, is the father of three young children and cares about all kids. He deserves your vote in Northwest Allen County Schools.

Susan Berry

Fort Wayne

###

Letters: Budget plan victimizes public schools, students

NEIFPE member Susie Berry wrote this letter about the school budget.

Letter to the editor: Education 'reform' is hurting our children

February 18, 2015 1:01 AM

Budget plan victimizes public schools, students

Voucher and charter schools have received more money from the state each school year since 2011. No wonder there was a School Choice Week celebration Jan. 27. The bad news is that as the private schools celebrate, the public schools must scramble to find money to transport their students to school. Gov. Mike Pence claims to be the “education governor,” but the increases he has proposed affect the private and charter schools very positively while – once again – the public schools are barely getting any increases.

The percentage increases – if Pence’s budget is approved – for “choice” schools (that includes charter schools and private schools accepting voucher money) is 13.1 percent, while the traditional public schools would see an increase of only 2.4 percent, which is really only 1.2 percent per year. Giving families a “choice” sounds great, but the traditional public schools and their students are the victims in this scenario.

SUSAN BERRY

Letters: Education 'reform' is hurting our children

NEIFPE member Susie Berry wrote this letter in October about School "Reform."

Letter to the editor: Education 'reform' is hurting our children

Friday, October 11, 2013 - 12:01 am

How is all this education reform – with its increased testing and decreased funding – affecting the classrooms in schools in Indiana? Experienced teachers who have seen the “before” and are now seeing the “after” of all these “reforms” are feeling increased pressure to ensure that their students score high on these tests. Here are two examples of how classes are coping with these changes:

My grandson’s teacher (a kindergarten class) has eliminated second recess. Her explanation: She says new standards are more academic, and her salary depends on high test scores from her 5- and 6-year-olds. So these young learners have only 20 minutes of recess in their full day of kindergarten. This is contrary to research that shows young children need a play time or recess to process all that they have learned.

I know a high school teacher who needs computers in a computer lab for mandatory testing and has 38 students but only 30 computers. There are two problems here – large classes and an insufficient number of computers. The combination of increased testing and less money to pay for additional computers is creating a difficult situation.

Indiana spent $33 million on testing in 2011-2012. The next year that amount was increased to $46 million. In 2011-2012 the state gave out $15 million in vouchers for private schools and increased that amount to $37 million in 2013-2014. These increased expenditures have been made at the expense of students and teachers in public schools.

Our children deserve better!

Susan Berry

Letters: Testing takes away from time for learning

NEIFPE Member Susie Berry wrote this letter about the overuse of testing last fall...

Monday, September 2, 2013 - 12:01 am

As a former teacher, the beginning of the school year always makes me nostalgic for my many days (many years, really) of teaching kindergarten and first-grade students.

Since my retirement four years ago, the curriculum has changed, dramatically. More is expected of our youngest learners, and teachers must teach to this curriculum and to the increasing number of tests.

I wonder if children have time to act out rhymes and stories.

I wonder if teachers have time to read stories for the simple joys of reading and listening. I wonder if children have time to use manipulative to learn sorting, counting, adding and subtracting.

And I wonder if children have time to play — to process all they have learned during their busy school days.

Moving, reading, listening and playing are ways young children learn. Taking paper-and-pencil (and even computer) tests do not fit into a developmentally appropriate curriculum.

Call your legislator. Say “no” to all this testing time.

Susan Berry