National PTA has just lost its credibility!

The PTA has grown into a powerful lobbyist over the years. My children attended Forest Oak Elementary School where I was very involved with the PTA–I served on many committees and was elected president for a total of four years. Our PTA received many awards from Delaware PTA while I was president. I have to say that I am beyond disappointed in the letter that was sent to the DE PTA. I never thought I would see the day that a national association who’s primary mission is to advocate on behalf of children would send this message to parents!

Below is from the National PTA website where they speak of family engagement. The letter they sent seems to point towards family disengagement.

Today’s PTA is a network of millions of families, students, teachers, administrators, and business and community leaders devoted to the educational success of children and the promotion of family engagement in schools. 

Here is the letter that was sent to Delaware PTA.

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Questions from DE PTA to National PTA and National PTA’s response.

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AP Courses, Are DE Students Actually Receiving College Credits?

Governor Markell gave his final State of the State address on Thursday in the House Chambers. In his speech, he spoke about AP courses —“We have made more rigorous courses available. Delaware students are taking and passing 1,000 more AP exams than four years ago.” The question that I would like answered, how many of those AP credits are actually counted at the colleges Delaware students attend?

As Governor Markell stated more Delaware students are taking and passing AP tests every year, a passing score is 3. See College Board for more information. Parents and students are under the impression that if you pass the AP course exam their child will receive college credits, that is not necessarily true. Many colleges require a 4 or a 5 in order for a student to earn college credits and that is not being explained to families. Families have to pay about $92 for each AP test. Here is the University of Delaware AP Credit List, you will see that in order for a student entering the University of Delaware, a student must score a 4, in most cases, in order to earn college credits. Parents are paying for the AP courses and then paying for college.

Bucknell University AP Credit List

Cornell University AP Credit List

Duke University AP Credit List

Penn State AP Credit List

University of Pittsburgh AP Credit List

 

 

Check out E.R. Educators to the Rescue

Please take a minute and “LIKE” E.R. Educators to the Rescue on Facebook. This page was developed by two Delaware public school teachers. Below is information about their page.

This page is for public education teachers and those who support public education in Delaware. We sincerely want to improve the learning experiences of our students/children.

This page is meant to provide information all public school teachers and parents must know about testing; the who, what, when, where, why and hows of its creation, its longevity and the intensity that never lets up.

Our classrooms have transformed from actively engaging, creativity-based, vibrant learning environments that promote learning and foster a love of learning to a monotone atmosphere of digitalized learning, scripted lesson plans, assessment-laden daily activities. A severe disconnect from the joys of learning and discovery has occurred. The lights have gone out in our classrooms. Young children especially need interaction with a human teacher and one another, not a computer or tablet for a large portion of their day. They need to hear and see and feel and do and experience and observe. High-stakes testing has robbed us of our profession and taken the joy from teaching and from learning.

This intent of this page is to be nonpartisan and will support any and all political figures that provide assistance in helping to rescue our students from the over-use and developmentally inappropriateness of high stakes testing.

Simply put, you can hold schools, their teachers and administrators accountable for their job duties and end high-stakes standardized testing.

Join our group, get informed and start taking action. We ask all members to maintain conversations and comments to a professional level. If you fail to do so, you will be dismissed from the group and all offensive material will be deleted.

“Do the best you can until you know better. When you know better, do better.” Maya Angelou