(Back)packing heat
Should college students be allowed to carry guns on campus? And would that make them any safer?
It’s a debate that renews after each senseless shooting on a college campus, the most recent being the tragedy at Northern Illinois University in which five students and the gunman died.
Utah is the only state that allows persons with concealed gun permits to pack heat on campus. But several other states have passed or are considering legislation to allow it.
Oklahoma bans weapons on public campuses, and I haven’t heard any talk from administrators about changing that. But what do students, faculty and campus police think about changing the law? It will be hot topic if shootings ever occur on a campus here.
Let’s hope that day never comes.
E-mail me your comments at ssimpson@oklahoman.com
Susan Simpson, Education Writer
Bloggers pick up suspended superintendent story
The story about Oklahoma City Superintendent John Porter’s suspension is more than just front-page news: It’s national news.
By virtue of the fact that Porter used to work for a school district just outside D.C., The Washington Post picked up the story Tuesday. (www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/07/AR2008010702942.html)
Bloggers are picking up the story, too — some from Oklahoma, and some not.
I am not endorsing any opinions expressed on any of the pages, but want to share these as a way to show and promote the continuing dialogue surrounding the recent days’ events.
-The McCarville Report Online: The Gadfly on the Boardroom Wall: “Oklahoma City’s now-suspended school superintendent, John Porter, is fighting tooth and toenail to keep the job he’s held for slightly more than five months. But Porter’s strategy to keep that job, accusing Board of Education Chairman Cliff Hudson of things Hudson said never happened, or happened differently than Porter claims, is a poor way for Porter to wage his campaign.” (Read more: http://wwwtmrcom.blogspot.com/2008/01/gadfly-on-boardroom-wall.html)
-The Green Flame: My Take on John Q. Porter: “I wish that we could say, ‘We’ve all learned a valuable lesson here, and we will do better together in the future.’ That only works in sitcoms. Perhaps the board could allow Dr. Porter the opportunity to state how he would change his procedures to comply with board policy. I think he could become a good community leader. But I fear he has been weakened too much to do the job he was hired to do.” (Read more: http://greenlynn.blogspot.com/2008/01/my-take-on-john-q-porter.html)
-Moving at the Speed of Creativity: Political Fireworks in Oklahoma City Public Schools: “Clearly ‘interesting politics’ are involved in this situation. It will be instructive to follow this news thread in the weeks ahead.” (Read more: www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/01/06/political-fireworks-in-oklahoma-city-public-schools)
-Peyton Wolcott: ‘Family emergency’ – or ‘vacation’? “Could it be that because John was an assistant (superintendent) and information officer in Maryland before taking over the top spot in OKC in July that he was not used to the daily demands of the new job? Or was this a clash of work ethics and cultures? … We’re watching something play out in Oklahoma City Public Schools which goes to the core of one of the most fundamental issues in public education in America today: Who really runs our schools?” (Read more: www.peytonwolcott.com)
Wendy K. Kleinman
Education Reporter
Goodbye Dr. Pennington
A few weeks ago, I dined with a college president. Dr. William Pennington arrived solo at the Spaghetti Warehouse in Bricktown, no entourage in tow. We ate lasagna and talked about the many things happening at Murray State College, a small two-year school in Tishomingo.
Pennington, 64, didn’t boast about his campus. He simply told me about the growing nursing program, the rise in enrollment at the main campus and at an outreach campus in Ardmore, and an upcoming historical symposium about former Oklahoma Governor “Alfalfa Bill” Murray.
I told him about my rural roots, and the community college I attended and thrived at, many years ago. We talked about his historical portrayals of Murray, a difficult yet brilliant man responsible for drafting much of the state constitution. We talked about Dr. Pennington’s marriage on July 7, 2007 (Lucky 7s) to Marty Pedersen, a professor at East Central University. It seemed to me that at age 64, Dr. Pennington had found great joy and happiness.
I left the meeting wanting to visit Murray State and knowing I could call Dr. Pennington anytime.
The last thing he said to me was that he was sorry he couldn’t buy my lunch that day. (Our company policy prohibits that.) I haven’t turned in that $6 expense yet to my bosses and I probably won’t. It was my pleasure to spend an hour with a man that reminded me a lot of my dad, a down-to earth guy that valued history, family and learning.
Susan Simpson, Education Writer
Lives in Motion
I spent the last week at Columbia University in New York learning about the missions and challenges of community colleges across the nation.
The Hechinger Institute fellowship was an amazing opportunity to hear from college leaders, policy analysts and researchers about two-year colleges, which educate nearly one-half of our nation’s college students.
But one of the most inspirational moments took place not in the historic halls of Columbia’s Teachers College, but on the airplane ride home.
On the short flight from Dallas to Will Rogers, I met a young man named Luis. The high school senior from Boulder, Colo., was enroute to his sister’s home in Oklahoma City and then to apply for enrollment at Oklahoma City Community College.
Luis, who lives in a Colorado housing project, wants to study music and business. American Idol aside, this first-generation American has a passion for singing but knows he needs a college degree to succeed in any field.
He can’t afford the University of Colorado, but was told by a high school counselor to check into community colleges. While out-of-state tuition at OCCC is less than he’ll pay if he stays in Colorado, he hopes to qualify for financial aid as an emancipated minor.
Today, I planned to go through my notes from my week in New York and prepare a schedule of stories about community colleges. Instead I’ve been thinking about Luis and the journey he’s taking. It seems so much more momentous than anything I’ll do.
Susan Simpson, Education Writer
An education in election issues
Presidential campaigns are in full swing. Every candidate wants your vote.
The Oklahoman runs an “On the Campaign Trail” box every day to tell you what the candidates are up to. But if you want to know more about their positions and ideas on education — from big ideas to small comments — there’s a good place for you to find out more.
The Education Writers Association maintains a Web site that chronicles the candidates’ musings on education, which voters consistently rank as a top concern.
The blog entries are short and simple.
Want to know which candidates say they’re comfortable reading “King and King,” a book with a same-sex relationship theme, to their children and other schoolchildren? Or what’s in John Edwards’ “Restoring the Promise of America’s Schools” plan? Or why Rudy Giuliani has a controversial record on higher education?
Visit http://edelection.blogspot.com to find out, and to stay educated on election-related education issues.
A timely task force
An award-winning superintendent from McAlester now has 29 colleagues to help her meet a challenge by state schools Superintendent Sandy Garrett to research the possibility of expanding both the school day and the school year.
Garrett previously announced that Lucy Smith would lead the Time Reform Task Force, and on Thursday she announced the other members of the group.
The task force will look into adding one hour to the school day and at least five days to the school year. Currently, minimums for public schools are six hours of instruction a day for 175 days.
“Oklahoma’s school day and school year are below the national average,” Garrett said in a press release. “This is significant when you consider that our nation’s schools require significantly less instructional time than competing nations in Asia and Europe do.”
Here are the newly named members:
-Don Parker, Bank of Oklahoma’s chief information officer and executive vice president from Tulsa;
-Helen Parker, Norman High School PTA president (no relation to Don Parker);
-Monica Barbour, parent of a special needs child from Tulsa;
-James Branscum, Metro Technology Center superintendent;
-Brooke Bisel, University of Central Oklahoma student;
-Alan Ingram, Oklahoma City Public Schools’ executive director of federal programs;
-Matthew Livingood, Tulsa Public Schools Board of Education member;
-Judith Ann Barber, education consultant from Grove;
-Patricia Hardre, University of Oklahoma faculty member;
-Joe Siano, Norman Public Schools superintendent;
-Lisa Horn, El Reno Public Schools’ director of special services;
-Gene Hunt, retired minister from Oklahoma City;
-Danny Rennels, Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association executive director;
-Bobby Russell, Pauls Valley Public Schools superintendent;
-Teresa Bryant, Cordell teacher representing the Association of Professional Oklahoma Educators;
-Lyndol Fry, retired educator from Hugo;
-Glenda Cobb, Duncan Public Schools assistant superintendent;
-Bruce Demuth, chief of staff for the state Department of Career & Technology Education;
-Silvya Kirk, Midwest City-Del City Public Schools’ high school principal;
-Ken Lease, Oklahoma School of Science & Mathematics’ vice president of academic services;
-David Pennington, Ponca City Public Schools superintendent;
-John Privett, Tahlequah resident and former education reform advocate in Texas;
-Terri Silver, with the Oklahoma State School Boards Association;
-Connie Sloan, 2006 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year finalist from Canadian;
-Kathryn Turner, Fletcher Public Schools superintendent;
-Stan Bryant, Oklahoma City teacher representing the Oklahoma Education Association (no relation to Teresa Bryant);
-Cathy Williams, Vinita Public Schools elementary principal;
-Bill Bentley, Dibble Public Schools superintendent; and
-Ed Allen, president of the Oklahoma chapter of the American Federation of Teachers.
Pomp and Pageantry
UCO President Roger Webb generated chuckles today when talking to faculty about the university’s many accomplishments.
Chief among them was the crowning of UCO student Lauren Nelson as Miss America 2007. The reigning Miss Black Oklahoma and Mrs. Oklahoma also were UCO students.
The Edmond campus attracts brains AND beauty, Webb said.
“If you’ve got a son that’s a senior in high school, this is the place to be,” Webb quipped at the annual fall meeting of staff and faculty.
Executive Vice President Steve Kreidler had beauty on the brain as well. Before touting the university’s environmental efforts, he gave the signature Miss America wave to the audience — hand cupped then rotated slowly.
Thank goodness it wasn’t the ballgown competition.
Susan Simpson, Education Writer
Some NCLB responses
I wanted to share two responses I received after I posted thoughts on NCLB and whether Oklahoma was making more progress before the landmark federal law took effect. I realize two responses don’t represent anything close to the totality of views on NCLB, but they’re interesting nonetheless.
This is from Vicki Harbert, counselor at Tishomingo High School (The emphasis is hers; I’ve broken up the paragraphs.):
“No Child Left Behind is a wonderful idea in theory, but a dismal failure in reality. The truth is, there are children being left behind. It is utterly ridiculous to think that all children will achieve to set standards without regard to cognitive ability, economic status, English speaking or not, parental involvement, etc.
“I feel that rural schools in poorer counties in Oklahoma are at a distinct disadvantage in meeting the letter of the law in NCLB. Several reports I’ve recently read tout the fact that student achievement is rising due to NCLB. In actuality, teaching for the test is rising. Why spend time on topics that are not “tested,” even though a teacher may feel they are extremely important to growing a child of integrity, character and knowledge?
“Teachers cannot afford the luxury of a well-rounded education because of the constraints of NCLB. Counselors are being overwhelmed with paperwork, reports, training and testing preparation for the ones helping administer tests, helping students and parents with test anxiety (and even some teachers who feel like their jobs are on the line if their students perform poorly), in addition to the security of the tests! I became a school counselor to counsel and advise students, not to give tests!
“I will leave public education before I am required to add one more test to measure the “success” of NCLB.”
This one is from M. Gene Henderson, a retired 20-year superintendent from Missouri (I’ve changed a few things, but not much.):
“I’m a retired 20-year superintendent, 16 at Francis Howell of St. Charles County, Missouri. FH was the first school to operate a four-cycle, year-round program. We tested to discover the effect. Finally got smart and asked the teachers.”Teachers have already said it loudly and clearly. NCLB is a disaster on the way to a calamity.
“Each responsible administrator should interview a ‘random sample’ (all or 30) of a unit’s teachers. The interview questions should be constructed by interview, then interviews conducted by an (verifiable leader) administrator. Each school has its own result with, we would think, (would) overlap.
“Isn’t it a shame that test scores are sought instead of asking the teacher? Test scores, handled carefully, can tell some things about a group, but almost nothing we want to know about individuals. Too many of us think a number can reveal info about extremely complex matters. ”
Keep ‘em coming. Click below to e-mail me.
Back to the Future (with all due respect to Hollywood)
I spoke with Bob Mooneyham, the executive director of the National Rural Education Association, today, and came away with some things to ponder.
Now, I’ll say from the get-go that I’m not gonna take the time to compare test score trends from a decade ago to today’s to post in a blog. But I may revisit the topic for a future story.
By Mooneyham’s reckoning, the one-size-fits-all formula of No Child Left Behind Act actually stifled progress Oklahoma and other states already were making — in some cases, had been making for some time.
I’ve heard this argument before; I just didn’t realize it may apply here. Typically, those who must implement NCLB prefer to focus on the progress the state has made since its passage than the progress that could have been made (or perhaps not made) had the state been left to continue doing what it had been doing.
I’m sure the law puts them in an odd place — defending accountability measures with which they may justifiably disagree – but that’s nothing new for public servants.
I can’t say I have ever picked up on this from state education officials, but I can’t imagine it’s not at least somewhat true. Push for (or fight against, as the case may be) reforms only to see them pre-empted by federal law.
“It changed the reforms that were already in place,” Mooneyham said of the 2001 act that required a range of targets for schools and districts to meet. “If anything, the one-size-fits-all strategy of No Child Left Behind was counterproductive,” he said.
Was Oklahoma making more progress before NCLB than it is now? Is it making enough progress now? How would things have been different had NCLB not been introduced?
I don’t know the answers to these questions but am curious about what others think. Click on my name to e-mail me or call me at (405) 475-3364.
Leaping Lawyers!
If you graduated from law school in 2006, then you probably are too busy working to read this post.
That’s because nearly 91 percent of grads gained employment within the first year.
The Association for Legal Career Professions says the employment market for new lawyers has remained relatively strong and stable for about a decade. (I’ll let you decide why that is … more lawsuits, more crime, more politicians?)
But not all the new attorneys are making big bucks. Only 14 percent were making more than $135,000 a year. Four in ten were earning $55,000 or less.
Here’s more:
* 75 percent got jobs for which passage of the bar was required.
* Just 2 percent were pursuing an advanced degree like an LLM
* The most common employment setting was private practice within a law firm.
* Public service employment, like public defenders and government jobs, accounted for 27 percent of jobs.
* Women were more likely to take government, judicial clerkship and public interest jobs.
What do you think? Do we need more lawyers, and do they get the respect they deserve?
Let me know at ssimpson@oklahoman.com
Susan Simpson, Education Writer
