A Note to Eric Fingerhut: This Think Tank
Gives Ohio Mostly C's in School Innovation
The Center for American Progress state-by-state report card gives Ohio mostly C's in innovation. That can't be good news to Eric Fingerhut, chancellor of the Ohio Board of Regents. On the other hand, perhaps this portfolio won't be his to worry about that much longer. There's growing speculation that the former Congressman might be among those running for Cuyahoga County executive next year, after voters recently approved the county "reform" measure. In any case, you can review an earlier mention of Fingerhut here.
14 Comments:
I say Finger, you say Hut! Finger! Hut! Finger! Hut!
Sounds like the holiday may have sapped your mental juices, whoever you may be.
I am biased.
That being said, I can safely continue. (I almost blindly support my party's side).
It appears that Ohio was dang near the top of the chart/section. Nonetheless, as a fan of Mr. Fingerhut from way back, I'd welcome him to an expanded forum. Provided he holds the same lines, he understands what it's like to be working class.
I'd agree with that, Erin. On the whole over his career, he's been an honorable public servant, and a smart one. That combination isn't exactly in abundance these days.
So, clearly I'm not up on Ohio politics, but is Fingerhut related to Dick Celeste? He could be the former governor's younger cousin. In more serious commentary, innovation is not all its cracked up to be in education. Of course you want to be current, but my county's school system often invests in new programs and creative programs, without sticking with them long term or checking in with parents for their input. One of the most successful "innovations" in our town is simply a revival of an old concept: night school, for kids who have to work or attend to family obligations and fit in high school studies at off hours.
I mean "it's cracked up to be"
You make a good point about educational innovations, Britta. Point taken. And Kim, my apologies on directing an earlier point to the mysterious "Erin." Even I can't hazard a guess at where that might have come from.
I wondered who Erin was. I suspect we could blame the first commenter for sapping mental juices on the whole post.
I guess it depends what "innovation" means (as Brita alluded to)...sometimes I think some of these "trends" aren't necessarily in the best interest of the child, they are not tried and true. Some of the older teachers ARE wiser when they are using time-tested drills that seem to be working well. However, if you have a child who is a little above or behind the curve, sometimes they are not able to teach to that--not believers in individualized plans or they tend to avoid "new" methods, and favor drills, and they teach to the middle.
By the way, I called someone by the wrong name on my blog once too! Unfortunately for me though it wasn't in the comment section, it was to the guest host for the day! Oops.
Some educational innovations have to do with incorporating more of what's actually proven to work into schools at various levels. Some has to do with being given the management flexibility to position the best veteran teachers in the most challenging assignments, which is often at war with union contracts. No easy fixes here.
Kristine (and Kim): I finally remembered why I happened to refer to Erin in that earlier reply to Kim's comment: because I happened to be multitasking yesterday, and just as I was responding to that comment, I was also reading an incoming email about my friend Erin O'Brien, the original wild woman writer. As is her habit, she tends to take up a lot of oxygen and mental space, as she did for me yesterday. So that's what happened.
i think this so called "reform" in county government will leave a lot of people scratching their heads after a couple of years. Never trust anything pushed so hard by a person like Bill Mason.
mfh
You can say that again.
Innovation. Creativity. Imagination. There is research that suggests ways to promote these, and there is also research that shows how they're conditioned out of us.
School certainly tends to try to beat it out of us, in many cases.
Post a Comment
<< Home