Comments on: SPECIAL REPORT: What guv candidates say they’ll do about education

By: Michele Strasz

Michele Strasz — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 13:25:33 +0000

Did you know that 3 out of 10 3rd graders in Michigan do not have basic proficiency in reading? Up until 4th grade kids learn to read. After that they read to learn. Without basic literacy skills and quality early childhood experiences including parenting, preschool and child care, Michigan students will continue to struggle to meet reading and math proficiency outcomes set by both the MEAP and the National Assessment for Educational Progress (NAEP). Michigan needs to balance K-12 and higher education funding with health and home visiting services. These programs help parents prepare their children to read, and identify children early for developmental (speech, hearing, cognitive) delays. If we want students to graduate and succeed in the new economy it all starts in the the first 5 years of life.

By: Chuck Fellows

Chuck Fellows — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 14:16:31 +0000

None of the candidates addressed early education, the education investment that provides the highest long term returns for taxpayer dollars and the one action that will resolve many of the problems that currently cost school districts millions. (see data from the Early Childhood Investment Corporation)

Observe early elementary children going to and from school. They are excited, energized and eager to learn. At the middle school stage they are becoming indifferent and quickly lose interest, just watch them. At the secondary level it has become an exercise of grade 9 through 12 “senioritis.” If you charted the desire to learn on a graph you would see a long downward slope. Ask any parent, teacher or principal. Listen to what they have to say.

What is it about our current system of education that diminishes the natural human desire to learn? Money is a symptom, not the problem. Turn of the century industrial disciplines and behavioral directives masquerading as pedagogy and standards are not the solution. Doing the same things over and over again and expecting different outcomes is insanity, not to mention a huge waste of taxpayer funds.

In case no one noticed, merit pay schemes in the private sector, if they improve productivity and quality at all, are very short term in duration. They, along with “carrot and stick” management disciplines can be effective if the work is linear and repetitive, the direct opposite of a teachers task.

Maybe we should just let teachers teach. How much does that cost?

By: Frank Cusumano

Frank Cusumano — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 19:38:01 +0000

I was at the Townhall Meeting with Rick Snyder when he mentioned the bonus pool. I like his fresh ideas. We need to think outside the box and innovate. We need to reign in the health care insurance and pension costs, or at least phase them out. Let’s honor our commitments but fix for the future. Frankly, it is unsustainable and we will have to confront it sooner or later. Meanwhile, draining the equity funds we have built up is just throwing money away.

Our economy is what really needs to be fixed, and REASONABLE, RATIONALE and RESULT ORIENTATED funding for schools will follow.

WE THE PEOPLE…. It was a packed audience at the Romeo Tea Party Meet the Candidates Forum on July 19, 2010. The political signs covered the berms like the circus had come to town. The speeches were limited to 3 minutes and were video taped.

I spoke about the need to get to the truth and not self serving political spin. We are being distracted from the reality of our situation. I am committed to shoring up our manufacturing base through creative use of patents and licenses related to the technologies which we create at our public universities. The middle class’ income must be stabilized since all government functions we rely on are paid by the middle class; including schools, roads, water and sewer. Let’s get on the same side of this fight to protect our way of life.

I was endorsed by the Free Press because I am willing to work with other legislators, even Democrats, if they have good ideas.

http://www.freep.com/article/20100715/OPINION01/7150397/ENDORSEMENTS–Macomb-County-State-House-districts

If you agree with me, visit my web site at http://www.frankcusumano.com and remember to VOTE AUGUST 3 – 10-15% of the registered voters decide who will be on the ballot in November.”

Keep the faith, and finish the race. God Bless Michigan.