middle school model

The administration appears determined to implement the middle school model here in Irvington. Topic is up for discussion at the Board meeting tomorrow night. I imagine it's a done deal.

Apprised of these facts, Ed said, "We should go to that meeting."

No way.

Let someone else go to that meeting.

We have one more year in this school -- well, one and a half -- then it's so long and farewell!

This is my feeling.

I must say, the new principal does have some political savvy. I like the guy, and I don't particularly feel like attending the Board meeting in order lob hand grenades at the middle school model.

So I've contented myself with lobbing one great big, pulsing hand grenade via the Irvington Parents Forum.

That one fell into my lap. A friend emailed asking whether I knew anything about the middle school model.

I did.

What I didn't know was that the NMSA website, the officially cited organization that is to middle schools what the NCTM is to math, contains pages and pages of Public Relations Resources for "middle level educators."

Nor did I know that the NMSA is of the opinion that:

There may be no task more important today for middle level educators than public relations. National Middle School Association (NMSA) is committed to helping you build support for quality middle level schools. Join us in taking action to gain visibility for successful middle grades programs and practices by using the following resources designed to help you be a successful public relations practitioner.

Oh yeah, that's the hard sell.

My line on public relations for educators is:

Any organization or corporation that has to develop marketing campaigns to convince parents of its worth is an organization or corporation selling something I don’t want to buy.



Quick PR Ideas

"practical, low-cost, proven public relations ideas that have worked in schools everywhere"

such as -

Have Parents Speak Up for You

Encourage your PTA or PTSA to sponsor a "Get to Know X Middle School—It's a Great Place to Learn" night at feeder elementary schools. Invite the elementary parents to the meeting and have your parents explain the value your school provides students. Encourage questions. Your parents can deliver a highly credible message to other parents.

or:

Let Students Demonstrate Their Computer Skills

Create a program where your students teach senior citizens computing skills. Email can help seniors keep in touch with their family and the world, but many of them aren't confident using computers. Your students can teach them the basic skills. Students might also play computer games with seniors and write them occasionally. Let seniors know that the school can serve them.

or:

Use Themes

Themes can communicate what people can expect from your school. If you don't have a meaningful theme, get one. Then look for every possible place to use it-school newsletters, home page of a school web site, lunch menus, report cards, calendars, school letterhead, and even envelops since more people see the envelop than the letter.

yup

That ought to do it.

You've got parents so ticked off about curiculum, pedagogy, and student achievement that they're voting down bonds, walking out of math nights, and writing blogs - TIME TO CREATE A THEME!

TIME TO CREATE A THEME AND USE IT EVERYWHERE INCLUDING REPORT CARDS, SCHOOL CALENDARS, AND EVEN ENVELOPES BECAUSE MORE PEOPLE SEE THE ENVELOPE THAN THE LETTER!



how to write an op-ed

What Is an Op-Ed Article?

An Op-Ed or Opinion Article is an opinion piece published in a newspaper but written by someone who is not on that newspaper's staff. Many large dailies, smaller dailies, and weekly newspapers use op-eds somewhere in their editorial section. On many large newspapers, that paper's editorials, the editorial cartoon and columns by staff writers will appear on one editorial page. Opposite that page, the op-ed articles will be run, and that's where the term "op-ed" comes from—it's opposite the editorial page.

The important point is that these articles provide anyone with the chance to publish his or her opinion. You don't have to convince a reporter to cover something; you can express your opinion. You may see that the president of the chamber of commerce is published in the op-ed columns. This opportunity is available to you, too.

question: Do middle level educators not know what an op-ed article is?

This stuff must be mortifying to actual middle school teachers.


how to write an op-ed article, part 2

So What Do I Do?

First, determine whether newspapers in your area use op-ed articles. You can do this simply by reading the editorial pages. See if national columnists or local officials are published. Read these articles. Become familiar with style, length, format, messages, and anything else that makes them stand out.

Second, decide what you would like to write. Sample topics for educators might include:

• How parents can help students learn
• What's right with education
• Success of our local school
• The importance of middle level education
• The need for resources in education
• How the community can support its school

I'm starting to grasp the obvious reality that these organizations are even more condescending to teachers than to parents.

Or not.

The sample op-ed article, provided to middle level educators for their use, is a 666 word essay (666!) advising parents on ways to ways to help young adolescents grow.


theme contest

So say you were a middle level educator trying to drum up enthusiasm for the middle school model.

What theme would you pick?

Entries should be dated no later than midnight February 28, 2007; no limit on number submitted per household.