FAST FACTS:
(Memphis 8/17/2009) Memphis city schools started just a week ago and already school board leaders are getting an earful about major changes made to class schedules.
Parents and teachers packed the Memphis City Schools Board of Education chambers to voice their concerns.
But before those concerns were heard Superintendent Dr. Kriner Cash gave his State of the District address.
He spoke about an improvement in proficiency scores and graduation rates over the past six years and how "if one percent more of our students in Memphis graduate, you get a billion dollars back in the coffers. A billion. And then we can have any schedule we want."
That shot about scheduling was aimed at the teachers who packed the room, armed with signs protesting the switch this year to block scheduling.
" Right now it's broken. It needs fixing, " exclaimed Yvonne Acey, a teacher and former head of the teacher's union
The change to block scheduling means teachers now have to teach seven classes instead of five. The extra time comes from their planning period.
Overton High School Junior Wesley Glover says it's an equation that doesn't add up to success for students.
"Teachers get less time to teach and students have less of an opportunity to learn because we don't get to see the teachers as often."
Margaret Williams teaches at Northside Innovative Academy. She says over the school year the new scheduling adds up to fifteen to twenty percent less instruction time. " We want these kids to make strides in the future. How is that going to happen with less time?"
- Students and teachers upset about scheduling change in classroom
- Teachers say it means less instruction time for students
- Teachers and students voiced concerns to Memphis City School Board
(Memphis 8/17/2009) Memphis city schools started just a week ago and already school board leaders are getting an earful about major changes made to class schedules.
Parents and teachers packed the Memphis City Schools Board of Education chambers to voice their concerns.
But before those concerns were heard Superintendent Dr. Kriner Cash gave his State of the District address.
He spoke about an improvement in proficiency scores and graduation rates over the past six years and how "if one percent more of our students in Memphis graduate, you get a billion dollars back in the coffers. A billion. And then we can have any schedule we want."
That shot about scheduling was aimed at the teachers who packed the room, armed with signs protesting the switch this year to block scheduling.
" Right now it's broken. It needs fixing, " exclaimed Yvonne Acey, a teacher and former head of the teacher's union
The change to block scheduling means teachers now have to teach seven classes instead of five. The extra time comes from their planning period.
Overton High School Junior Wesley Glover says it's an equation that doesn't add up to success for students.
"Teachers get less time to teach and students have less of an opportunity to learn because we don't get to see the teachers as often."
Margaret Williams teaches at Northside Innovative Academy. She says over the school year the new scheduling adds up to fifteen to twenty percent less instruction time. " We want these kids to make strides in the future. How is that going to happen with less time?"
