Fix Schools First : Blueprint for Achieving Learning Standards

by Bowsher, Jack E.

• ISBN13: 9780834219045
• ISBN10: 0834219042
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-02-01
• Publisher: Jones & Bartlett

Summary

For decades the American public school system has been in crisis. In 1983 the report, A Nation at Risk, sounded the clarion call, outlining specific goals for educational reform--which haven't yet been implemented. FIX SCHOOLS FIRST outlines an innovative, practical method based on sound management principles. In this book, you will learn: --How the United States can meet the eight national goals by the year 2010 --How your school can meet the student learning standards set by your state department of education and local school district --Why costs have risen so dramatically since 1983--and how you can apply a proven cost containment action plan --How you can realize 25 success factors for achieving breakthroughs in student learning For every administrator, school board member, and teacher--and any organization and individual concerned with U.S. education FIX SCHOOLS FIRST is a must-have, must-read book on educational reform!

Author Biography

Jack E. Bowsher is a professional educator and former Director of Education for IBM who has studied the issues of education reform for 14 years.

Table of Contents

Foreword	xiii
Preface	xix
Acknowledgments	xxiii
Introduction	xxvii
PART I---OVERPOWERING REASONS FOR CHANGE	1	(52)
Educators Ring Alarm Bell on Quality	3	(16)
How Serious Are the Quality Issues?	4	(2)
What Is the Definition for Success?	6	(3)
Where Do You Find Successful School Districts?	9	(1)
What Are the Major Excuses for Failure?	10	(6)
Time to Do Away with Excuses	16	(3)
Ring Another Alarm Bell for Escalating Costs	19	(16)
First or Second Largest Line Item of Government Expense	19	(2)
Inequalities of Rich and Poor Districts	21	(2)
What Are the Realistic Costs for Operating Schools?	23	(1)
Schools Are a Business	24	(2)
Federal Role in Funding Schools	26	(1)
Other Sources of Investment	27	(1)
Additional Costs for Failure	28	(1)
How High Will the Costs Go?	29	(6)
Why Systemic Change Is the Only Alternative	35	(18)
Are Schools Better Than Ever?	35	(3)
What Are the Alternatives for Future Education Reform Programs?	38	(2)
Theory of Upper Limits	40	(3)
What Are the Real Educational Problems That Must Be Addressed?	43	(5)
Why Superintendents and Principals Are Not Leaders of Learning	48	(1)
New Attitude for Education Reform Is Required in Schools	48	(1)
What Happens If Educators Do Not Support Systemic Change?	49	(1)
Time To Focus on the Real Problems in Learning	50	(3)
PART II---GOOD INTENTIONS FOR ALMOST TWO DECADES	53	(72)
Low-Cost, Quick-Fix, and Sound-Good Programs	55	(20)
Adopt-a-School	55	(1)
Site-Based Management	56	(1)
Create Smaller Schools	57	(1)
Test the Teachers	58	(1)
Hire Noncertified Teachers	59	(2)
Obtain More Parental Involvement and Support	61	(1)
Volunteer Programs	62	(1)
Uniforms for Students	63	(1)
Learning Contract	63	(1)
Implement Total Quality Management	64	(1)
Instructional Grouping	65	(1)
Single-Sex Schools	65	(1)
Scheduling Adjustments	66	(1)
Standardized Lesson Plans	67	(1)
Move the Most Effective Teachers to Inner-City Schools	68	(1)
Hire More Minority Teachers	68	(1)
Warranty Pledges for New Teachers	69	(1)
Eliminate Tenure	69	(1)
Raise the Bar for Academic Performance	70	(1)
Recognition and Rewards	70	(1)
More Male Teachers in Elementary Schools	71	(1)
Summary of Low-Cost, Quick-Fix, and Sound-Good Solutions	71	(4)
High-Cost and Long-Term Programs	75	(26)
Busing Students to Integrated Schools	75	(1)
Business Roundtable Adopts States	76	(1)
Education Research	77	(1)
Social Promotion	78	(1)
Longer School Days	79	(1)
More Days per Year	80	(1)
Breakfasts and Lunches	81	(1)
School-Based Health Centers	81	(1)
More Years of Schooling for High School Graduates	82	(1)
Universal Preschool for Four-Year-Old Students	83	(1)
Computers	84	(1)
Cooperative Learning	84	(2)
Schoolwide Reform	86	(2)
Enhanced Professional Development Programs	88	(1)
Additional Compensation	89	(2)
Hire Better Teachers	91	(1)
Pay for Performance	91	(2)
Tutoring	93	(1)
Number of Students in the Class	94	(2)
Economic School Desegregation	96	(1)
Build First-Class Facilities	96	(1)
Overhaul Governance	97	(1)
Summary of High-Cost and Long-Term Programs	97	(4)
Move the Educators and Students	101	(24)
Choice	101	(1)
Vouchers	102	(5)
Magnet Schools	107	(1)
Charter Schools	108	(7)
Privatization of Schools	115	(3)
Home Schooling	118	(3)
Summary of Good Intentions for Two Decades	121	(4)
PART III---THE SEARCH FOR BREAKTHROUGHS IN LEARNING	125	(108)
Goals, Standards, and Accountability	127	(18)
Establishing National Goals	127	(4)
Standards To Achieve Goals	131	(2)
Accountability To Achieve Standards	133	(5)
``Beating the System'' and Cheating	138	(2)
Backlash on Testing	140	(1)
Small Improvement Is Not Victory	141	(4)
Need for a World-Class Curriculum	145	(20)
Definition of Standards, Curriculum, and Lessons	145	(1)
Requirement for Integrated Curriculum	146	(1)
Directors of Curriculum Are Essential	147	(1)
Need for a World-Class Curriculum	148	(10)
Alternative Classroom or School for ``Problem'' Students	158	(1)
Workplace Education and Training	158	(1)
High-Potential and Gifted Students	159	(1)
Special Education	160	(1)
Education for Immigrants	161	(1)
Curriculum Planning Is the Foundation for Student Learning	161	(4)
Why Learning Systems Are Essential in Classrooms	165	(22)
Definition of a Learning System	166	(1)
Concepts of a Learning System	166	(1)
Base Information for Good Learning Systems	167	(2)
Design of Teaching Guides and Course Materials	169	(2)
Why Instructional Systems Design Methods Are Essential	171	(1)
Interactive Tutoring	172	(1)
Multiple Intelligence in Learning Systems	173	(2)
Professional Development for Teaching	175	(1)
Measurement and Management of Learning	176	(2)
Closing the Achievement Gap with Minorities	178	(1)
Will Teachers Accept Learning Systems?	179	(2)
What Are the Consequences for Not Using Learning Systems?	181	(1)
Learning Systems Are Critical to Success in Most Classrooms	182	(5)
Development and Affordability of Learning Systems	187	(32)
Personnel Required for Learning System Development	187	(1)
Who Will Develop Learning Systems?	188	(3)
New American Schools	191	(1)
Schoolwide Reform Models	192	(1)
School Reform Models That Are Available	193	(3)
Other Sources for Learning Systems	196	(1)
Proof-of-Concept Case Study	197	(3)
Opportunity for Federal Department of Education	200	(1)
Affordability of Learning Systems	201	(3)
Cost of Failure and Retention	204	(2)
Case Study on Affordability	206	(3)
Incremental Funds in 1999 and 2000	209	(1)
Increased Compensation for Teacher Creativity	209	(1)
Selection of Learning Systems	210	(3)
Learning Systems for Mainstream and At-Risk Students	213	(1)
Empowerment of Teachers and Administrators	214	(5)
Need for an Exciting New Vision	219	(14)
Example of a New Vision	220	(1)
Important Success Factors	220	(7)
No Excuse for Poor Performance	227	(1)
Vision Achieves Better Teaching	228	(2)
Benefits of This Vision for Teachers	230	(3)
PART IV---HOW TO INSTITUTIONALIZE CHANGE	233	(102)
Need for a New Management System	235	(24)
Schools Must Be Managed	235	(1)
New Multilevel Organization for Working Partnerships	236	(5)
Systems Approach for Academic Performance	241	(2)
``Better Teaching'' Requires ``Better Management''	243	(2)
New Statewide or Districtwide Administrative System	245	(1)
Three Basic Types of Administrators	246	(1)
Other Key Positions Required for the New Vision	247	(1)
Administrator's Institute for Management	248	(1)
Requirement for a New Position: Master Teachers	249	(2)
Requirement for Para-Educators	251	(1)
Counseling Students	251	(1)
Job Training for Nonteaching Staff	252	(1)
Case Study of Management	253	(1)
Achieve Total Quality Management in Schools	254	(5)
Need for a Change Management System	259	(24)
From Traditional Model to a Learning-Centered Model	259	(1)
Guidelines for Creating and Managing Change	260	(4)
Who Is Responsible for Creating Change?	264	(2)
Difference between Pilot Schools and Charter Schools	266	(1)
Training Required To Create Change	266	(1)
Lessons of Change from New American Schools	267	(1)
What Role Does Technology Play in the Change Process?	267	(7)
Case Study for an Instructional Technology Program	274	(1)
Size Will Evolve To Be an Advantage	275	(1)
Case Study of Change	276	(2)
What Happens If Change Management Principles Are Not Used?	278	(1)
Change Is Not Easy, but It Does Happen	279	(4)
Why Stakeholders Will Endorse the New Paradigm	283	(24)
Political Leaders	283	(1)
Business Leaders	284	(1)
Media	285	(1)
Advocacy Groups	285	(1)
Colleges of Education	286	(4)
Secretary of Education and Federal Department of Education	290	(1)
State School Officer and State Department of Education	291	(1)
Accreditation Agencies	292	(1)
School Boards	292	(1)
Superintendent and District Staff	293	(1)
Principals and Vice-Principals	293	(1)
Teachers	294	(2)
Teacher Unions	296	(4)
Parents	300	(2)
Taxpayers	302	(1)
Students	302	(1)
The Challenge	303	(4)
Call for Dynamic Leadership and Action	307	(28)
Reasons for Slow Progress	307	(1)
Why Teachers Cannot Lead the Required Changes	308	(1)
Requirements for an Outstanding Management Team	309	(2)
What Are the Sources for Outstanding Candidates?	311	(2)
Performance Audit of a School District	313	(2)
The Need for Outstanding Principals	315	(1)
New Role of the School Board	316	(1)
Organization Leadership Is Required	317	(1)
Role of Foundations To Solve Leadership Challenge	317	(2)
Successful Case Studies of Leadership	319	(1)
Is Public Shaming Really Needed for Accountability?	320	(1)
New Lawsuits Will Motivate Change	321	(1)
Need for Dynamic Action Plans	322	(1)
Stop the Backlash on Standards	323	(1)
Brief Review of Other Countries	324	(3)
Conclusion	327	(8)
Suggested Readings	335	(6)
Appendix A: Definitions of Various Systems Used throughout an Education System	341	(4)
Index	345	(10)
About the Author	355