Comments for Iowa House of Representatives http://iowahouse.org Thu, 22 Mar 2012 23:59:10 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 Comment on Republicans Play Shell Game with Education Reform by Lori Kramer http://iowahouse.org/2012/03/15/republicans-play-shell-game-with-education-reform/comment-page-1/#comment-89369 Lori Kramer Thu, 22 Mar 2012 23:59:10 +0000 http://iowahouse.org/?p=6341#comment-89369 As a parent with children in a school that suffered from serious over crowding this year, I find this unacceptable. Research shows small classes of 20 students or fewer in k-3 grades to one teacher has a tremendous impact on student education. This ratio is the equivalent of adding an additional YEAR to a child's education over the course of those formative years. Not only does the research support this, my personal experience bears it out. My son had 34 students in his 3rd grade class at the start of the year. He was by no means the only class suffering from these high numbers. All sections of the 3-6 grades were bursting, as high as 35 children in a class. Our first grade classes had over 27 and our kindergarten 25 plus. The classrooms had no room to move, were full of commotion, the learning was slowed, students had to sit in halls, or other areas as specials rooms were not large enough, equipment had to be shared (pe) or kids had to sit out and much energy was expended on behavior direction. Behavior became the focus of the classes and learning took a back seat to getting and maintaining classroom control. Our parents wrote a petition to the administration and school board to press for more teachers across the district. (it was not only at our school, it was a district issue) With the unprecedented 0% growth there was no money to tap into with the exception of the reserve. 76 The board and the administration took a risk and used the funds to bring in 17 teachers to relieve the worst overcrowding. Our school gained 2.5 teachers and the entire building changed. My son now has one on one time with his teachers, is able to focus in a room that isn't full of distraction from too many bodies, there are now enough resources for the classes.I find it appalling that our representatives are unable to put class sizes in the forefront. There is tremendous fiscal waste across the state and to short change our children's educational future is not acceptable. As elected officials no one sent you there to gut and try to trick us by moving around the funds and pretend you are doing the right thing. How about you step up and do the job your constituents sent you to do not the job the lobbyists want you to do. Education is the future of our state, don't sell it down the river. As a parent with children in a school that suffered from serious over crowding this year, I find this unacceptable. Research shows small classes of 20 students or fewer in k-3 grades to one teacher has a tremendous impact on student education. This ratio is the equivalent of adding an additional YEAR to a child’s education over the course of those formative years. Not only does the research support this, my personal experience bears it out. My son had 34 students in his 3rd grade class at the start of the year. He was by no means the only class suffering from these high numbers. All sections of the 3-6 grades were bursting, as high as 35 children in a class. Our first grade classes had over 27 and our kindergarten 25 plus. The classrooms had no room to move, were full of commotion, the learning was slowed, students had to sit in halls, or other areas as specials rooms were not large enough, equipment had to be shared (pe) or kids had to sit out and much energy was expended on behavior direction. Behavior became the focus of the classes and learning took a back seat to getting and maintaining classroom control. Our parents wrote a petition to the administration and school board to press for more teachers across the district. (it was not only at our school, it was a district issue) With the unprecedented 0% growth there was no money to tap into with the exception of the reserve. 76 The board and the administration took a risk and used the funds to bring in 17 teachers to relieve the worst overcrowding. Our school gained 2.5 teachers and the entire building changed. My son now has one on one time with his teachers, is able to focus in a room that isn’t full of distraction from too many bodies, there are now enough resources for the classes.I find it appalling that our representatives are unable to put class sizes in the forefront. There is tremendous fiscal waste across the state and to short change our children’s educational future is not acceptable. As elected officials no one sent you there to gut and try to trick us by moving around the funds and pretend you are doing the right thing. How about you step up and do the job your constituents sent you to do not the job the lobbyists want you to do. Education is the future of our state, don’t sell it down the river.

]]> Comment on Bill Tracking by David Kaus http://iowahouse.org/bill-tracking/comment-page-1/#comment-89237 David Kaus Wed, 21 Mar 2012 19:40:09 +0000 http://iowahouse.org/bill-tracking/#comment-89237 The proposed amendment to hf2434 which would eleminate the 911 council and give oversite to the interoperability board will do nothing to save the state monies. It is in fact a ploy for the interoperability board to gain access to the surcharge monies now used strictly for 911 network improvement. Under the interoperability oversite these funds could and will be used for other expenses at the state and county level. This will be done at the expense of the citizens of Iowa as the surcharge is paid by users of the services which in reality is nothing more than a tax under another name. The proposed amendment to hf2434 which would eleminate the 911 council and give oversite to the interoperability board will do nothing to save the state monies. It is in fact a ploy for the interoperability board to gain access to the surcharge monies now used strictly for 911 network improvement. Under the interoperability oversite these funds could and will be used for other expenses at the state and county level. This will be done at the expense of the citizens of Iowa as the surcharge is paid by users of the services which in reality is nothing more than a tax under another name.

]]> Comment on Court Knocks Down Branstad Veto That Closed 36 Job Centers by dewdingrinch http://iowahouse.org/2011/12/09/court-knocks-down-branstad-veto-that-closed-36-job-centers/comment-page-1/#comment-89119 dewdingrinch Tue, 20 Mar 2012 00:10:16 +0000 http://iowahouse.org/?p=5545#comment-89119 it's clearly obvious we've got us one of them really concerned republican governers, set to 'out do' the likes of fellow rep gov's such as scott walker for example. he's out to impress the tea-baggers, at the costs to iowegians everywhere. yup, taint no good, no goodd t'all... it’s clearly obvious we’ve got us one of them really concerned republican governers, set to ‘out do’ the likes
of fellow rep gov’s such as scott walker for example.
he’s out to impress the tea-baggers, at the costs to iowegians everywhere. yup, taint no good, no goodd t’all…

]]> Comment on Education Reform by Mary Burke http://iowahouse.org/educationreform/comment-page-1/#comment-88592 Mary Burke Thu, 15 Mar 2012 02:47:23 +0000 http://iowahouse.org/?page_id=5422#comment-88592 I am disturbed with the zero growth in spite of the 3 million plus in the budget. it seems as if Mr Brainstead wants our students to fail, and our teachers to be punished for it. Now we are trying again to fail children when our educational system is in a race to failure, instead of providing them with the resources, including qualified and well trained teachers who are adequately compensated, that they need to succeed. Are we trying to dumb down the electorate?? Bringing in people to consult who are under investigation for abuses of children is beyond the pale. WHO is paying for this insanity, and why can't we spend that money providing actual training to teachers? I am disturbed with the zero growth in spite of the 3 million plus in the budget. it seems as if Mr Brainstead wants our students to fail, and our teachers to be punished for it. Now we are trying again to fail children when our educational system is in a race to failure, instead of providing them with the resources, including qualified and well trained teachers who are adequately compensated, that they need to succeed. Are we trying to dumb down the electorate?? Bringing in people to consult who are under investigation for abuses of children is beyond the pale. WHO is paying for this insanity, and why can’t we spend that money providing actual training to teachers?

]]> Comment on Education Reform by Larry Blake http://iowahouse.org/educationreform/comment-page-1/#comment-88455 Larry Blake Mon, 12 Mar 2012 22:51:34 +0000 http://iowahouse.org/?page_id=5422#comment-88455 The governor's plan does nothing to help educators do their job. In fact, it blames them for some perceived drop in education in Iowa. I could write a long comment, but instead I would direct you to Richard Doak's editorial in the March 11 Des Moines Sunday Register. He eloquently explains the real "problem" with education in Iowa - and it is not the teachers. He even puts forth some excellent ideas on how to help, yes help, our dedicated teachers do their job. None of those ideas include ramping up testing, by the way. I highly recommend that every member of of the Assembly make sure they read this editorial, it points out the extremely large elephant in the room. The governor’s plan does nothing to help educators do their job. In fact, it blames them for some perceived drop in education in Iowa. I could write a long comment, but instead I would direct you to Richard Doak’s editorial in the March 11 Des Moines Sunday Register. He eloquently explains the real “problem” with education in Iowa – and it is not the teachers. He even puts forth some excellent ideas on how to help, yes help, our dedicated teachers do their job. None of those ideas include ramping up testing, by the way. I highly recommend that every member of of the Assembly make sure they read this editorial, it points out the extremely large elephant in the room.

]]> Comment on Education Reform by Mark Alan Cooper http://iowahouse.org/educationreform/comment-page-1/#comment-88448 Mark Alan Cooper Mon, 12 Mar 2012 18:52:08 +0000 http://iowahouse.org/?page_id=5422#comment-88448 Required reading for all state legislators: this article hits the issue right on the head. http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20120311/OPINION01/303110029/1036/opinion01/Doak-What-education-reform-misses-big-share-kids-poverty Required reading for all state legislators: this article hits the issue right on the head.

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20120311/OPINION01/303110029/1036/opinion01/Doak-What-education-reform-misses-big-share-kids-poverty

]]> Comment on Education Reform by Jerry Pierce http://iowahouse.org/educationreform/comment-page-1/#comment-88334 Jerry Pierce Sun, 11 Mar 2012 02:20:12 +0000 http://iowahouse.org/?page_id=5422#comment-88334 I developed a process to teach any kid who can add correctly how to do division, multiplication, fractions, decimals, and basic algebra in less than 5 minutes; and all you have to do is to be able to add correctly; and it takes 3 lines of notebook paper. Once the students learn this process for 1 number, they can go home and set it up for all the other numbers if they can add correctly. Imagine how much time that would free up in our elementary and middle schools to teach other things. I taught it to all of my grandchildren before they started kindergarten because they all knew how to add correctly. I also developed a 12-step, yes-or-no, 135-word process to teach the infinity of English sentence structure. If 3 grader or earlier teachers taught this structure to their students, they would learn those important control words and would be able to read better; and then we wouldn't have to hold back 3rd grade students because they would all be reading at 3rd grade level or better. I have also used this same process to teach the infinity of English sentence structure to non-English-speaking students. I do this in 2 hours a day, 3 days a week for 3 months. I used this same process to teach my 100 8th grade English-speaking students in five 40-minutes periods for 3 months. They scored at the 12th grade, 6th month level in English on the Iowa Test of Basic Skills. I spoke to Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds about this on Friday, March 9, when she and Governor Terry Brandstad spoke in Ames. She said she was going to try to set up an appointment with people in the Department of Education in Des Moines. I hope to hear from her soon. There were several people who heard me tell the Governor about this and asked me to show them these things after he finished his talk. They were all amazed about both the math and the teaching of English, and asked me why they were not being done in our schools. Our Department of Education should set up inservice programs for schools and teachers so they could learn these things. I am sure if they contacted the various college and universities in this state and then informed them about having a conference about the above and asked the Superintendents to have their teachers attend, we could begin the process. I would be happy to show this to you if you want to see it when you are in Ames. Just email me jpierce95iatoy@aol.com and suggest a time. I have to go to a wedding in Spain at the end of this month and won't be back until the first Saturday in April. Jerry Pierce, 1995 Iowa Teacher of the Year and Historian and Co-Chair for International Relations for the National State Teacher of the Year I taught school in Russian in 1997, the Czech Republic 201, the Ukraine in 2003, and Guam and Taiwan the summer of 2005. There is a lot more you should know about me because I teach 11 different subjects from science, history, brain research, Russian, English, and some Chinese. I have read 4 or 5 books in math and science every month for the past 30 years or so. I even have a self-published book about much of what I said in the first several paragraphs above. I developed a process to teach any kid who can add correctly how to do division, multiplication, fractions, decimals, and basic algebra in less than 5 minutes; and all you have to do is to be able to add correctly; and it takes 3 lines of notebook paper. Once the students learn this process for 1 number, they can go home and set it up for all the other numbers if they can add correctly. Imagine how much time that would free up in our elementary and middle schools to teach other things. I taught it to all of my grandchildren before they started kindergarten because they all knew how to add correctly.

I also developed a 12-step, yes-or-no, 135-word process to teach the infinity of English sentence structure. If 3 grader or earlier teachers taught this structure to their students, they would learn those important control words and would be able to read better; and then we wouldn’t have to hold back 3rd grade students because they would all be reading at 3rd grade level or better. I have also used this same process to teach the infinity of English sentence structure to non-English-speaking students. I do this in 2 hours a day, 3 days a week for 3 months. I used this same process to teach my 100 8th grade English-speaking students in five 40-minutes periods for 3 months. They scored at the 12th grade, 6th month level in English on the Iowa Test of Basic Skills.

I spoke to Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds about this on Friday, March 9, when she and Governor Terry Brandstad spoke in Ames. She said she was going to try to set up an appointment with people in the Department of Education in Des Moines. I hope to hear from her soon. There were several people who heard me tell the Governor about this and asked me to show them these things after he finished his talk. They were all amazed about both the math and the teaching of English, and asked me why they were not being done in our schools. Our Department of Education should set up inservice programs for schools and teachers so they could learn these things. I am sure if they contacted the various college and universities in this state and then informed them about having a conference about the above and asked the Superintendents to have their teachers attend, we could begin the process.

I would be happy to show this to you if you want to see it when you are in Ames. Just email me jpierce95iatoy@aol.com and suggest a time. I have to go to a wedding in Spain at the end of this month and won’t be back until the first Saturday in April.

Jerry Pierce, 1995 Iowa Teacher of the Year and Historian and Co-Chair for International Relations for the National State Teacher of the Year

I taught school in Russian in 1997, the Czech Republic 201, the Ukraine in 2003, and Guam and Taiwan the summer of 2005. There is a lot more you should know about me because I teach 11 different subjects from science, history, brain research, Russian, English, and some Chinese. I have read 4 or 5 books in math and science every month for the past 30 years or so. I even have a self-published book about much of what I said in the first several paragraphs above.

]]> Comment on Education Reform by Janet Peterson http://iowahouse.org/educationreform/comment-page-1/#comment-88313 Janet Peterson Sat, 10 Mar 2012 14:18:33 +0000 http://iowahouse.org/?page_id=5422#comment-88313 If we truly want better outcomes in our education system, then we have to start with early childhood. Currently, our child care system is under the guidance of the Department of Human Services. Although they do a wonderful job of helping people in need, the department is not equipped to provide what is needed to tap into this educational window of opportunity when a person's brain is at it's most important stage of development. Our child care system needs to be part of our Department of Education. DHS can still play a role in providing support to families in poverty who need help paying for child care. The standards, support programs, and professional development requirements should come from the Department of Education. If we truly want better outcomes in our education system, then we have to start with early childhood. Currently, our child care system is under the guidance of the Department of Human Services. Although they do a wonderful job of helping people in need, the department is not equipped to provide what is needed to tap into this educational window of opportunity when a person’s brain is at it’s most important stage of development. Our child care system needs to be part of our Department of Education. DHS can still play a role in providing support to families in poverty who need help paying for child care. The standards, support programs, and professional development requirements should come from the Department of Education.

]]> Comment on Education Reform by Ross McIntyre http://iowahouse.org/educationreform/comment-page-1/#comment-88279 Ross McIntyre Fri, 09 Mar 2012 22:23:44 +0000 http://iowahouse.org/?page_id=5422#comment-88279 The teachers union may ask for 'more time' to excel (ostensibly in the pupils' interests). But the reply to that should be: what did you do with last years' time? How much time does a trained professional need to get around to excellence? How many private-sector professions would not be laughed out of the conference room upon such a suggestion? The teachers union may ask for ‘more time’ to excel (ostensibly in the pupils’ interests). But the reply to that should be: what did you do with last years’ time? How much time does a trained professional need to get around to excellence? How many private-sector professions would not be laughed out of the conference room upon such a suggestion?

]]> Comment on Education Reform Public Hearing Scheduled by Mary Crichton http://iowahouse.org/2012/02/28/education-reform-public-hearing-scheduled/comment-page-1/#comment-88277 Mary Crichton Fri, 09 Mar 2012 21:55:45 +0000 http://iowahouse.org/?p=6061#comment-88277 Students attending schools that teach via the virtual world would be ideal in allowing students to advance at their own pace and still provide social interaction to hone social skills. I see students from K thru 12th grade taking classes that have been designed as their home computer games where they are able to pass to higher levels once they have mastered the level they are working on. No more A-F scenarios-just pass or fail the course level being attempted, and it doesn't matter whether the student is 8 or 18. The local community colleges already have these programs in place for GED testing. Should a student struggle and not master the level they are working on THEN they would work with a "teacher/tutor" who would assist them in mastering the level they are struggling with-be it one on one or in a group setting. Every morning they would log into English, Math, Reading, and History courses. (Languages should be considered as a Core class also in my opinion). The last three hours of the day can be used for tutoring sessions, "Electives" and various sports and social organizations that interests a student. Electives, Sports, and Social Organizations should all be weighted the same in order for the student to focus their attention on what is important and of interest to them. For Physical Fitness it would be mandatory for all students to log off their computers and do a 20 minute walk between each of the four Core courses. Online Core courses would last for 40 minutes each (allowing for logon and logoff time) + the 20 minute walk about =4 hours for the Core classes each morning. Lunch would last 1 hour THEN the last 3 hours of the day would involve tuturoing labs, electives, sports, and social clubs. School would begin at 8 am and end at 4pm daily with tutoring labs available on Saturdays 8am until 12pm. All computer lab results will be uploaded to a statewide data base that will be monitored by the new Iowa virtual Academy and would provide daily reports on each child in order to track students needing assistance and assigning a specific tutor to get them on track. That assigned specific tutor will be held accountable for the student's success in passing whatever level they are struggling with. School should be attended throughout the year, including the summer months. Yes, it would be possible for a 12 yr. old to graduate from high school and my hope would be that the teachers hired are in the top 10% of their graduating class as they will be directly involved in creating a statewide computer program for their specific expertise that will drive Iowa children to the top of the Science, Math, English, and History fields worldwide. My email could have been labeled FOOD FOR THOUGHT. It is my opinion this would be a win/win situation for all. It was simply my opinion/suggestion on how virtual schools could be structured to allow social interaction using the buildings in existence which would still house PreK-5th graders, 6th thru 9th graders, and 10th thru 12th graders and the staff currently employed. It is my suggestion that virtual classrooms structured around a "gaming" format would be fun and engage students as do their home computer games (dependent upon the course material needed according to the the top 10 teachers in their respective core courses and the programmer's expertise in programming of the course material into a gaming format), less intimidating (especially for those with special needs), less costly (need for books,paper, pens, colors, etc. certainly reduced as all log into statewide online data base), immediate feedback vs waiting days/weeks for pinnacle (in our case) to update assignments/efforts. Efficiency should improve as teachers/tutors will see immediately who needs help in what area as the system reports students' areas of difficulty. It is my opinion social skills are as important as core subjects and being exposed to other human beings on a daily basis helps to hone these skills by giving real world experience. Isolating students in a virtual world daily without social interaction would not be wise BUT it is quite obvious what we are doing is not working as well as we would like and change is needed in the physical classrooms. Sincerely, Mary Crichton Students attending schools that teach via the virtual world would be ideal in allowing students to advance at their own pace and still provide social interaction to hone social skills. I see students from K thru 12th grade taking classes that have been designed as their home computer games where they are able to pass to higher levels once they have mastered the level they are working on. No more A-F scenarios-just pass or fail the course level being attempted, and it doesn’t matter whether the student is 8 or 18. The local community colleges already have these programs in place for GED testing. Should a student struggle and not master the level they are working on THEN they would work with a “teacher/tutor” who would assist them in mastering the level they are struggling with-be it one on one or in a group setting. Every morning they would log into English, Math, Reading, and History courses. (Languages should be considered as a Core class also in my opinion). The last three hours of the day can be used for tutoring sessions, “Electives” and various sports and social organizations that interests a student. Electives, Sports, and Social Organizations should all be weighted the same in order for the student to focus their attention on what is important and of interest to them. For Physical Fitness it would be mandatory for all students to log off their computers and do a 20 minute walk between each of the four Core courses. Online Core courses would last for 40 minutes each (allowing for logon and logoff time) + the 20 minute walk about =4 hours for the Core classes each morning. Lunch would last 1 hour THEN the last 3 hours of the day would involve tuturoing labs, electives, sports, and social clubs. School would begin at 8 am and end at 4pm daily with tutoring labs available on Saturdays 8am until 12pm. All computer lab results will be uploaded to a statewide data base that will be monitored by the new Iowa virtual Academy and would provide daily reports on each child in order to track students needing assistance and assigning a specific tutor to get them on track. That assigned specific tutor will be held accountable for the student’s success in passing whatever level they are struggling with. School should be attended throughout the year, including the summer months. Yes, it would be possible for a 12 yr. old to graduate from high school and my hope would be that the teachers hired are in the top 10% of their graduating class as they will be directly involved in creating a statewide computer program for their specific expertise that will drive Iowa children to the top of the Science, Math, English, and History fields worldwide. My email could have been labeled FOOD FOR THOUGHT. It is my opinion this would be a win/win situation for all. It was simply my opinion/suggestion on how virtual schools could be structured to allow social interaction using the buildings in existence which would still house PreK-5th graders, 6th thru 9th graders, and 10th thru 12th graders and the staff currently employed. It is my suggestion that virtual classrooms structured around a “gaming” format would be fun and engage students as do their home computer games (dependent upon the course material needed according to the the top 10 teachers in their respective core courses and the programmer’s expertise in programming of the course material into a gaming format), less intimidating (especially for those with special needs), less costly (need for books,paper, pens, colors, etc. certainly reduced as all log into statewide online data base), immediate feedback vs waiting days/weeks for pinnacle (in our case) to update assignments/efforts. Efficiency should improve as teachers/tutors will see immediately who needs help in what area as the system reports students’ areas of difficulty. It is my opinion social skills are as important as core subjects and being exposed to other human beings on a daily basis helps to hone these skills by giving real world experience. Isolating students in a virtual world daily without social interaction would not be wise BUT it is quite obvious what we are doing is not working as well as we would like and change is needed in the physical classrooms. Sincerely, Mary Crichton

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