Comments on: Is the Ron Clark Academy a scalable model of school excellence? http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2009/10/is-the-ron-clark-academy-a-scalable-model-of-school-excellence.html Technology, leadership, and the future of schools Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:42:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: CS, PhD http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2009/10/is-the-ron-clark-academy-a-scalable-model-of-school-excellence.html/comment-page-1#comment-88906 CS, PhD Sun, 01 Jan 2012 19:39:04 +0000 http://annahein.com/2009/10/is-the-ron-clark-academy-a-scalable-model-of-school-excellence.html#comment-88906 I personally like Ron Clark and wanted to comment because I now have aspirations to start my own Academy/private school. The reason why I wanted to start my own was because I know how limited public education can be with the approaches we can use to teach students. As an educator, I am a firm believer that just offering to pay teachers more with upcoming governmental programs is not enough for public education. We also know that calling schools failures is not working either. Thus, teachers need to have the freedom to teach with fun and innovative approaches (scripted or not-the fun and motivational teaching needs to appear). I am a complete advocate for this and I am convinced that private school teaching approaches need to be allowed in public schools. The sad part is that there will be the court of public opinion among those already in charge who might create the resistance. Parents and teachers need to buy into the approaches and since Ron Clark pays more, this is where Pay For Performance would apply. When teachers volunteer for more money based on scores, then they should be required to be trained in this way. I personally like Ron Clark and wanted to comment because I now have aspirations to start my own Academy/private school. The reason why I wanted to start my own was because I know how limited public education can be with the approaches we can use to teach students. As an educator, I am a firm believer that just offering to pay teachers more with upcoming governmental programs is not enough for public education. We also know that calling schools failures is not working either. Thus, teachers need to have the freedom to teach with fun and innovative approaches (scripted or not-the fun and motivational teaching needs to appear). I am a complete advocate for this and I am convinced that private school teaching approaches need to be allowed in public schools. The sad part is that there will be the court of public opinion among those already in charge who might create the resistance. Parents and teachers need to buy into the approaches and since Ron Clark pays more, this is where Pay For Performance would apply. When teachers volunteer for more money based on scores, then they should be required to be trained in this way.

]]> By: Steven Parkes http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2009/10/is-the-ron-clark-academy-a-scalable-model-of-school-excellence.html/comment-page-1#comment-50639 Steven Parkes Mon, 03 Jan 2011 00:31:17 +0000 http://annahein.com/2009/10/is-the-ron-clark-academy-a-scalable-model-of-school-excellence.html#comment-50639 When a teacher can reach one extra student by any method in a lifetime, then every effort is worth it. It is significant to that learner, and every person whose life is somehow connected to that learner. Talking numbers takes away from humanity. I chose to teach in a community where there are generations of low performers in the hope of reaching, not groups and crowds of learners, but groups and crowds of individuals. Let's get humane. When a teacher can reach one extra student by any method in a lifetime, then every effort is worth it.
It is significant to that learner, and every person whose life is somehow connected to that learner.
Talking numbers takes away from humanity.
I chose to teach in a community where there are generations of low performers in the hope of reaching, not groups and crowds of learners, but groups and crowds of individuals. Let’s get humane.

]]> By: Kathleen Kosares http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2009/10/is-the-ron-clark-academy-a-scalable-model-of-school-excellence.html/comment-page-1#comment-39570 Kathleen Kosares Tue, 16 Nov 2010 14:41:00 +0000 http://annahein.com/2009/10/is-the-ron-clark-academy-a-scalable-model-of-school-excellence.html#comment-39570 In Washington DC, yes our nation's capitol, $15,000 is spent per student (don't remember the source) and has the worst educated children in the nation. Ron Clark, anybody. A motivated principal and willing teachers can change the atmosphere of the school and the dynamic their classrooms. Using some of his ideas is certainly better than none. In Washington DC, yes our nation’s capitol, $15,000 is spent per student (don’t remember the source) and has the worst educated children in the nation. Ron Clark, anybody. A motivated principal and willing teachers can change the atmosphere of the school and the dynamic their classrooms. Using some of his ideas is certainly better than none.

]]> By: Nassoma http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2009/10/is-the-ron-clark-academy-a-scalable-model-of-school-excellence.html/comment-page-1#comment-20661 Nassoma Fri, 16 Jul 2010 23:12:30 +0000 http://annahein.com/2009/10/is-the-ron-clark-academy-a-scalable-model-of-school-excellence.html#comment-20661 Ron Clark throws kids out of his school at the slightest chance they won't be able to keep up. In Jan 09 he tossed 10 students out from the 30 he just admitted in Sept 08. 16 Students that left a good public school(hard to get into) found they could not get back in their old school after Mr. Clark gave them the boot. All that glitters is not gold, and sadly some children are getting hurt behind this, but he doesn't seem to care. It's getting to be all about the $$$ Ron Clark throws kids out of his school at the slightest chance they won’t be able to keep up. In Jan 09 he tossed 10 students out from the 30 he just admitted in Sept 08. 16 Students that left a good public school(hard to get into) found they could not get back in their old school after Mr. Clark gave them the boot. All that glitters is not gold, and sadly some children are getting hurt behind this, but he doesn’t seem to care. It’s getting to be all about the $$$

]]> By: Marshall http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2009/10/is-the-ron-clark-academy-a-scalable-model-of-school-excellence.html/comment-page-1#comment-9818 Marshall Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000 http://annahein.com/2009/10/is-the-ron-clark-academy-a-scalable-model-of-school-excellence.html#comment-9818 Scalable? Sadly, no. 1) This model is built on personality. Good inspiration and motivation and fun, but not all can pull off this type of energy. 2) Grant funded, tuition, limited to 100 students - yes a costly little undertaking per student. With direct payment also comes parental involvement. These stats SHOULD indicate good scores. If not, it is clearly LIMITING their learning. Public school options here? Few. 3) How about that first lawsuit for negligence when a student who was encouraged to jump on a table and dance falls and has major injuries? I would say that would really hamper this approach in terms of "reckless endangerment" - remember those involved parents? Scalable? Sadly, no.

1) This model is built on personality. Good inspiration and motivation and fun, but not all can pull off this type of energy.

2) Grant funded, tuition, limited to 100 students – yes a costly little undertaking per student. With direct payment also comes parental involvement. These stats SHOULD indicate good scores. If not, it is clearly LIMITING their learning. Public school options here? Few.

3) How about that first lawsuit for negligence when a student who was encouraged to jump on a table and dance falls and has major injuries? I would say that would really hamper this approach in terms of “reckless endangerment” – remember those involved parents?

]]> By: Marshall http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2009/10/is-the-ron-clark-academy-a-scalable-model-of-school-excellence.html/comment-page-1#comment-9819 Marshall Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000 http://annahein.com/2009/10/is-the-ron-clark-academy-a-scalable-model-of-school-excellence.html#comment-9819 Anyone better aquainted with the legal process want to weigh in on the legal aspect of #3 in my last post? Is RCA mitigating their potential losses by doing something besides insurance? Am I wrong to think that this is an opportuntiy for an upset parent (and they will be no matter what they say in advance) and a personal injury lawyer to see this as a dangerous activity for middle school students promoted regularly by people acting as custodians of these kids? In loco parentis...or something like that, right? Anyone better aquainted with the legal process want to weigh in on the legal aspect of #3 in my last post?

Is RCA mitigating their potential losses by doing something besides insurance?

Am I wrong to think that this is an opportuntiy for an upset parent (and they will be no matter what they say in advance) and a personal injury lawyer to see this as a dangerous activity for middle school students promoted regularly by people acting as custodians of these kids? In loco parentis…or something like that, right?

]]> By: Judy H. http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2009/10/is-the-ron-clark-academy-a-scalable-model-of-school-excellence.html/comment-page-1#comment-9820 Judy H. Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000 http://annahein.com/2009/10/is-the-ron-clark-academy-a-scalable-model-of-school-excellence.html#comment-9820 Even those not "passionate" about teaching can easily become more effective. They must be one willing to think outside the box, to be flexible, and at least approach new ideas with an open mind. They must also be willing to take advice, one of the hardest things for people to do. Create games to teach the mundane, such as prefixes and suffixes. I don't consider myself a Ron Clark, but after 12 years of teaching, I have created art projects, poems, songs, etc. to help make the mundane more interesting for the kids. You have to find a way to connect the information with what interests the kids and they will learn. After a year of battling the "Oh, this is boring" and the kids not retaining the meanings of prefixes and suffixes, I came up with "Supersuffix" and "Powerful Prefix" games and now, the kids enjoy it, ask for it, cheer it, and remember it. That's all it really takes. Find ways to engage the kids and they will learn. Grammar lessons can include a scavenger hunt, math lessons become playground games — there are all sorts of ways to be a good teacher. Even those not “passionate” about teaching can easily become more effective. They must be one willing to think outside the box, to be flexible, and at least approach new ideas with an open mind. They must also be willing to take advice, one of the hardest things for people to do.
Create games to teach the mundane, such as prefixes and suffixes. I don’t consider myself a Ron Clark, but after 12 years of teaching, I have created art projects, poems, songs, etc. to help make the mundane more interesting for the kids. You have to find a way to connect the information with what interests the kids and they will learn.
After a year of battling the “Oh, this is boring” and the kids not retaining the meanings of prefixes and suffixes, I came up with “Supersuffix” and “Powerful Prefix” games and now, the kids enjoy it, ask for it, cheer it, and remember it. That’s all it really takes. Find ways to engage the kids and they will learn. Grammar lessons can include a scavenger hunt, math lessons become playground games — there are all sorts of ways to be a good teacher.

]]> By: Tina http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2009/10/is-the-ron-clark-academy-a-scalable-model-of-school-excellence.html/comment-page-1#comment-9817 Tina Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000 http://annahein.com/2009/10/is-the-ron-clark-academy-a-scalable-model-of-school-excellence.html#comment-9817 The Ron Clark Academy looks like a wonderful school. But is it realistic to expect a significant number of our teachers to teach like this? This is the original question. No, it is not a realistic expectation for a significant number of teachers to teach like this. Does that really matter? If one or an insignificant number of teachers learn to teach and be engaged like Ron Clark and it makes a difference to one or an insignificant number of students won't that be worth it? Is it realistic to ask for a significant number of teachers to embrace a new teaching idea or method before it is given value? Technology use in education started with insignificant numbers of teachers and administrators embracing an idea and has become extremely significant. The Ron Clark Academy looks like a wonderful school. But is it realistic to expect a significant number of our teachers to teach like this?
This is the original question.
No, it is not a realistic expectation for a significant number of teachers to teach like this.
Does that really matter? If one or an insignificant number of teachers learn to teach and be engaged like Ron Clark and it makes a difference to one or an insignificant number of students won’t that be worth it? Is it realistic to ask for a significant number of teachers to embrace a new teaching idea or method before it is given value? Technology use in education started with insignificant numbers of teachers and administrators embracing an idea and has become extremely significant.

]]> By: Jeremy Aldrich http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2009/10/is-the-ron-clark-academy-a-scalable-model-of-school-excellence.html/comment-page-1#comment-9816 Jeremy Aldrich Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000 http://annahein.com/2009/10/is-the-ron-clark-academy-a-scalable-model-of-school-excellence.html#comment-9816 The field trips and out-of-class experiences (and thus the expense) are PART of Ron Clark's approach, and can't be separated from it. Blame it on lazy teachers if you want, but it would require quite a few changes in funding and policies to extend his (very successful) method to even an entire school district much less every school district. Yes, enthusiasm and hard work are part of it, but don't insult teachers by pretending they can do what he's doing within the typical constraints of public schools. The field trips and out-of-class experiences (and thus the expense) are PART of Ron Clark’s approach, and can’t be separated from it. Blame it on lazy teachers if you want, but it would require quite a few changes in funding and policies to extend his (very successful) method to even an entire school district much less every school district. Yes, enthusiasm and hard work are part of it, but don’t insult teachers by pretending they can do what he’s doing within the typical constraints of public schools.

]]> By: Dan McGuire http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2009/10/is-the-ron-clark-academy-a-scalable-model-of-school-excellence.html/comment-page-1#comment-9814 Dan McGuire Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000 http://annahein.com/2009/10/is-the-ron-clark-academy-a-scalable-model-of-school-excellence.html#comment-9814 This is not an issue of what we choose to inspire us to be better teachers; the question at the top of this post asks - is the RCA a scalable model. The answer to that question is a clear NO. We can all be inspired to do better, and maybe watching the RCA video will trigger some creative thoughts in teachers or administrators. The model of the school is not, however, scalable to large districts. This is not an issue of what we choose to inspire us to be better teachers; the question at the top of this post asks – is the RCA a scalable model. The answer to that question is a clear NO. We can all be inspired to do better, and maybe watching the RCA video will trigger some creative thoughts in teachers or administrators. The model of the school is not, however, scalable to large districts.

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