Custom
Particular Issues
Student/Teacher Ratio Too High
"California has the second highest ratio of students per teacher in the nation, even after a major effort began in 1996 to reduce ratios for K-3 and 9th grade. California K-12 schools have an average of 20.9 students per teacher, compared with a national average of 16.1." RAND Corporation study, 2003
If each classroom only had 20.9 students each, how wonderful that would be, but those deceptive numbers are derived by including administrators and counselors and resource teachers, not just actual teachers in classrooms. Too many classes in Pomona schools have more than 32 students. Classes with 35 students in them are unacceptable. Teachers cannot move around the class to check on work and to keep the class under control. Our own students identified this problem, saying, "Schools need enough room to allow students to move around, areas designed for special activities such as science labs and library/media centers, and space in which to display and store student projects." PUSD Survey 2007
If drastic cost cutting measures require a temporary increase in student/teacher ratios, I will insist that it only be implemented in those classrooms designed to hold more students. Teachers need to walk around the classroom, and doorways need to be clear enough for an easy exit in case of fire or danger.
Put Parents in the Classroom, too
Let's encourage more parental involvement in the schools by planning from the start how to incorporate this valuable resource in the classroom. As Instructional aides are sadly cut due to budget crunches, teachers and administrator need to be prepared with fulfilling work for parents to do - reading to children, sitting with destructive students, decorating bulletin boards, planning shows and outings, using parent skills to expand afterschool programs, sharing real-life stories.
One of the best things I ever did for my child's classroom was come in once a week for twenty minutes to read from an exciting book that I loved as a child. The teacher got twenty minutes of catch up time and appreciated the fact that it was a historical novel and I used maps to show where the action took place. Ten years later I still have students from that class remember that time and ask me about the book.
Expect Excellence - Reward Effort
Raise the level of academic expectations for all students. Give students the necessary support to achieve at those higher levels by providing intervention earlier and informing families when a student is not performing as needed. Greater individualized contact, especially with counselors, helpers and teachers.
Do more to reward good effective, motivated teachers and to weed out ineffective teachers
Secure our Schools - Safety is #1
Safety training needs to be a priority for teachers and administrators. In this day of terrorism and violence, more than fire drills are needed to be prepared. Personnel must be trained in emergency response to violence and terrorism on campuses.
Study school layouts to see if they are too open, too accessible. Require school visitors to pass through a single check point. Help parents to identify patterns of poor behavior at home and how to respond to it.
Provide early intervention programs that offer skill building on dealing with challenging situations
Keep graffiti, smoking, and drinking outside of the restrooms in high schools, even if we have to hire restroom monitors. Better train proctors and teachers to deter poor student behavior. Help parents beging behavior modification at home, sharing troubles and concerns with appropriate school staff.
Counselors Needed
Add a college specific counselor in each high school dedicated to improving the college application process and acceptance rate of PUSD students
Other parent requestss included the following comments. Offer more leadership opportunities for students
Devote more attention and resources to the serious mental health needs of students
Address the difference in the condition of the physical environment of the schools to achieve greater parity.
Empower Parents as Partners
Parents are an integral part of solving most school problems. Let's streamline the requirements for adults to volunteer in their child's class and school. It should be easy and natural to help in class.
Educate parents on how they can participate in their children’s school and who to contact about specific issues. Structure more time for teachers to meet with parents one-on-one.
Develop opportunities for the voice of parents to be heard. Empower parents with information and resources in dealing with hard issues within the families.
Here's a new concept to consider, let's promote "Family learning" by encouraging illiterate parents to learn along with their chidlren, fostering parent interaction and friendly competition within the family. My children learned best when they were quizzing their father, who had only a 6th grade education and spoke Spanish first, and they loved to catch his mistakes in spelling or beat him to answering the math problem in an arithmetic relay!
