Dear Toni
I read your hit with great interest, especially the elementary section of it, and,
as I expected,
the issue of collaboration and flexible scheduling was prominent.
While we all agree that planned collaboration and co-operative teaching is
important if we are to do
the very best job, and many principals acknowledge this already, the reality
usually comes down to a
staffing budget issue. I don't know how the US system works but presumably schools
have a certain
number of staff based on enrolments and any extra come out of the school's budget
for other things.
The main argument I have come across (and because I mark university assignments on
this topic, I
come across it a lot) is that to take the LMS off covering teacher prep time means
using extra money
to employ someone to do that role, and consequently, other programs will suffer.
Here are my questions for you to put to the principals AFTER you have convinced
them of the value of
CPT (collaborative planning and teaching).
1. Are you convinced that the value of CPT deserves your support? What more would
you need to know?
Who would be the best person to supply you with this information?
2. If having CPT working effectively in your school will mean a re-allocation of
the budget, how can
you work with your LMS to convince staff and administrators that this re-allocation
is critical,
even if it is at the expense of something else? (If principals / administrators
just make the
decisions without consultations, it is the LMS who will wear the flak and CPT is
even less likely).
And for those of you in Texas whose principals come back from Toni's address and
ask you to work
with them, what arguments will you have ready to present to staff? Maybe you will
need to do some
reading and research on the value of CPT (more than just the Ohio study) and how it
will lighten the
teachers' load, not be an added layer.
Perhaps, as a follow-on from Toni's questions, we could now share articles and so
on that look at
this issue, so our Texas colleagues can be well-prepared.
Barbara
Barbara Braxton
Teacher Librarian
Palmerston District Primary School
PALMERSTON ACT 2913
AUSTRALIA
T. 61 2 6205 6162
F. 61 2 6205 7242
E. barbara@iimetro.com.au
W. http://www.palmdps.act.edu.au
"Together we learn from each other."
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