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Ifay Chang for/on Education
Response to The Questions from The Journal News about School
Board Election(4/07)
School Board Statements (IFC)(4/07)
Press Release
Public Forum Related to School Board
Once-In-A-Life-Time Art
Performance
Somers Central School District
(SCSD) had the fortune to host the Special Experimental High
School (SDSZ, of Beijing Normal University) to visit and perform
their arts program (dance, chorus and music instrument) at the
Somers Middle School on January 29, 2010. As an exciting global
exchange event, the SCSD mdidle school and high school students
performed for the visitors and the visiting SDSZ group held a
public performance at the SMS auditorium. The auditorium was
filled to capacity with many dignitaries and school supporters
attended including State Senator, Assemblyman, County Government
and Somers Town Supervisor. SDSZ is not only a famous school
with achievements, it is chartered to be a model school for
China's public school systems in terms of pedagogy and education
reform.
Beijing SDSZ Arts Performance
SDSZ Program
Be The Change for Kids
We are all concerned about the
education for kids. "Be the Change for Kids" is the slogan of
the New York State School Board Association. While NYSSBA is an
organization supporting school boards and their members, its
ultimate purpose is focused on kids' education. There are many
issues facing our public schools and education in general. These
issues are not just the school boards' concerns, they are really
yours, parents and community residents. The school board need
your inputs and support to weigh in on the issues and to find
the right solutions. As the representative of Somers Central
School District to the WPSBA (Westchester & Putnam County School
Board Association) Legislative Action Committee, I urge you to
pay attention, to get involved and to Be the Change for Kids.
Please take four minutes to watch the following video and take
an action.
http://www.bethechangeforkids.org/
New Year Resolution - Race To
The Top
The Federal Government proposed a
federal program - Race To The Top with four billion dollars
funding to help States to raise school standards, train
effective teachers, build instruction data system and turn
around low achieving schools. New York responded with an
application for the RTTT funding seeking all schools to endorse
and participate by signing a MOU by January 8th, 2010. We
should all view this as a new year resolution for our public
schools. Let's all work to race to the top! Somers
Central School District for one will sign the MOU!
http://usny.nysed.gov/rttt/
(12/21/09)
Do You Know Why Contract
Negotiation with Teacher's Union Is So Difficult?
Any one who is concerned about
school contract negotiation (ultimately impact your school tax)
should read the article,
BTA Negotiating Impasse Statement. It is a very well written
document which lead you to understand how the process works and
what are the crucial issues involved.
Are Journalists Helping
Education Enough?
The Brookings Report obviously
believes that Journalism is not doing a fair share when comes to
education both within K-12 and outside of K-12. I tend to agree
with the assessment. The recent passage of Tier V Pension Law
(vigorously lobbied by NYSUT) draws complaint hindsight may be
attributed to the lack of effort on Journalists' part in
dissecting the bill and making adequate reporting on the issue
to the public to influence the legislators.
A
push for education journalism to think outside the K-12 box (12/2/09)
McMahon: Teachers clean up on 'pension reform' (12/2/09)
Should Our Law (Court) Always
Side with Minority Interest Even at the Expense of the
Majority's Rights?
The news below strikes me as
another case a minority group or even a few individuals can make
the law to deprive the rights of the majority in a public school
system just to "uphold" a minority view which does not even
benefit the minority necessarily. What harm might singing
celebratory religious songs at Christmas time in a school
concert do to the young minds? versus What harm might preaching
acceptance (tolerance seems not enough) of false sex identity,
unnatural sexual behavior and same sex 'marriage model'
practiced by a minority do to the physical and mental
development of all children? It is unbelievable how our law and
constitution can be twisted by a few activists.
NJ
school's ban on religious songs upheld
(11/25/2009)
Beware of Misleading Data on
School Spending
Though school spending per pupil
in Westchester County are very high in general, the comparison
between school districts in the county must be examined more
carefully. For instance, the Somers Central School District's
expense per pupil number calculated and reported included the
entire capital expenditure (bond for construction) in 07-08
budget year which obviously skewed the data incorrectly. The
following article pointed out such incorrect assessment.
Database lists local schools' spending
(11/19/09)
Dropouts Are Serious Issues in
Education
31% of students who didn't
graduate in 2009 will cost the United States $335 billion -- as
dropouts continue to earn less and face higher unemployment
rates over their 50+ years of life span -- on top of the tax
dollars wasted in schools. $260,000 is the estimated lifetime
earnings difference between a high school dropout and a high
school graduate. It is important for school administration to
track students from elementary school to high school graduation
to account for the effectiveness of our public education system.
Dropouts to cost state billions
Reading Comprehension
Reading comprehension depends on
having prior knowledge of the subjects in the reading material.
The only way of building prior knowledge on any subject is to
read more on that subject. Hence a simple strategy of enhancing
reading skill in students is to stimulate interests (curiosity
or thirst of knowledge) in students in as many subjects as
possible. Expose students to all sorts of interesting reading
materials on a broad category of subjects from newspapers,
magazines and books will lead to good readers. That is good
readers are well-read readers! I recommend all English
teachers read
Prof. Williamham's article.
Healthcare Cost in School
Systems
This Consrotium report contains some factual information.
More on "True Tolerance"
When children are still in
physical and mental development stage, it is logical and safe
for schools to take neutral and non-aggressive position in
informing children about complex sex-identity issues. The
following link, in my opinion, offers a simple, fair statement
and a good advice to parents and children without being
aggressive and narrow-minded.
http://www.truetolerance.org/
http://www.truetolerance.org/keyfacts.pdf
http://www.truetolerance.org/action.html
"Tolerence", "Mandatory", and
"Democracy"
When a 3-2 vote of a school board elected by a
small number of voters to 'mandate' a 'LBGT Lesson #9' to all
kinder gardeners in public school under the banner of learning
"Tolerance" along with the other behavior issues such as
'Bullying', it seems that we have a problem with our democracy.
Often activists can mandate a minority will onto a silent
majority through a "democracy". Is that the fault of our
democracy? No, it is the fault of being silent. The following
news in California perhaps can be a wake-up bell to the silent
majority. The public education system needs a true majority to
support it, to get involved with it and to express the majority
voice about issues.
Mandatory 'Gay Day' for K-5 Students
http://worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=99442
Congratulations to all in the
Somers School District for passing the school budget with >2:1
votes.
Rachel's Challenge - An Excellent School Seminar presented
at Somers High School on 3/25/09. I enjoyed very much this Key
Note on SHS seminar day. The messages were powerful. After
listening to the presentation, we (my family) and many of the
audience all signed the banner to accept Rachel's five
challenges: 1. find the best in others, 2. dare to dream, 3.
choose positive influences - what goes in comes out, 4. Kind
Words and 5. Start a
Chain reaction - express compassion. If you missed this
talk, you may visit the website at
www.rachelschallenge.com
Paterson proposes cutting state's teacher center;
supporters to lobby March 24 in Albany
(3/2/09)
The Teacher Center is a good concept, but its administration
is failing it. Its strong tie with teacher's union discolors the
objective of providing teacher's training and development. Like
any other profession, teachers need training and skill upgrade
to remain competent and competitive. Cutting the program is an
irresponsible act of dodging the real issue - How can the State
support an effective teachers' development program? Can
the State provide a single virtual Teacher Center for the entire
State offering training programs, guided online study courses,
and workshops and seminars in collaboration with the State
University system, for instance?
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Trimmed bill still offers vast sums for education
(2/9/09) The stimulus plan passed by
Senate contains a significant amount of funds for education,
$83B for child care, public schools and universities. let's hope
the funds will be spent wisely. All public schools should look
out for any new federal program for education.
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Personal income decreased $25.3 billion, or
0.2 percent, and
disposable personal income (DPI) decreased $25.1 billion,
or 0.2 percent, in December, according to the
Bureau of Economic Analysis.
Personal consumption expenditures (PCE) decreased $102.4
billion, or 1.0 percent. The trend is worsening..... It is time
for everyone to consider voluntary reduction of annual raises,
benefits hike, discretionary increases and any bonuses. Let's
give and share a little to ease the pain of job losses and
financial troubles of many others. Let's start in schools, teach
humanity and social conscience with examples.
The full text of the release on BEA
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Global Barter Stimulus Program - An Idea Just May Work - by IFC
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Quote from Dr. Wills, Superintendent of Briarcliff School
District
"On Saturday, January 18, I spent some time in
the morning in the middle school’s multi-purpose room, enjoying
the celebration of Chinese New Year and graduation with the
Chinese School that leases our facility. As I noted in my
remarks to the celebrants on that day, the opportunity to
maintain and celebrate individual culture and language is a
wonderful and uniquely American vision of diversity and freedom.
Meanwhile, at that same moment, in the middle school gym, youth
basketball was in full swing, with fathers gathered to watch
their sons play. In the high school, Varsity practice was in
progress. Our schools are Briarcliff’s community center of
activity and social networking, providing opportunities for
friendship, comfortable familiarity and connection nourished in
Briarcliff’s special small-town environment. These are the
special qualities that we strive to sustain in a most
challenging 2009-10 budget planning process."
-------------------------------Public Debate on the school
facility usage fee
For the first time since a long while, there was
a open debate in Somers Central School District School Board
Meeting; the subject issue was debated on 1/13/09. The board is
apparently not unanimous on the issue whether community
non-profit organizations should be charged for their usage of
school facilities. At the meeting, representatives of boy scouts
and girl scouts have expressed their opinions eloquently.
-------------------------------"Someone said:
Fiscal crisis is a terrible thing to waste"
"What New Yorkers should insist on is that the
pain be shared fairly.
What they shouldn't tolerate is politics as usual
— even if they think it might help them in the short run. This
crisis is a chance for the state to change its bad fiscal
habits, which it has to, even as it distinguishes itself as a
place that still cares, which it must."
By LAWRENCE C. LEVY
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Summary of Local Government
Efficiency (LGE) Workshop (10/14/08)
LGE is a New York State Grant
Program evolved from SMSI (Shared Municipal Services Incentive
Program) designed to encourage operational efficiency and
savings through consolidated and shared services.......
The grant has 4 categories:
.........
As for what areas may be of interest
to Town of Somers and Somers Central School District,
..............
This summary is published in
mwsearch.com/schoolboard/LGE.htm; for more information about
LGE visit
http://www.dos.state.ny.us.
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Freedom of Expression
(Dow Jones Newswires 05:41 AM ET 01/05/2009)
Google Inc'A' (GOOG) (328.05 +6.73)
SHANGHAI (AFP)--China announced Monday it was cracking down on
major Web sites, including search engine giants Google and
Baidu,over the spread of pornography and other material that
could corrupt young people. China's Ministry of Public Security
and six other government agencies announced the crackdown at a
meeting Monday, the official China Internet Illegal Information
Reporting Centre said in a statement. "For those Web sites that
repeatedly ignore warnings, we will publicize a few, punish a
few and even close down a few," Cai Mingzhao, deputy chief of
the cabinet's Information Office, said in the statement. Cai
said some Web sites had taken advantage of government policies
and loopholes to publish "low-class, crude and even vulgar
contents, which severely corrupted the public mentality." "The
vulgar trend has deeply harmed the mental and physical health of
young generation...Many parents are calling out: 'Save our
children'
More
(1/6/09)
COPA dies quietly in Supreme Court
(1/22/09, A federal law intended to restrict children's access
to internet pornography died quietly Jan. 21 at the U.S. Supreme
Court, more than 10 years after Congress overwhelmingly approved
it.)
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Should Teachers Be Permitted to Wear Political
Buttons in Schools
Teachers Union can endorse a political
candidate but is wrong to urge teachers to wear a political
button which supports a political candidate. Schools are for
learning, not a political forum; teaching American political
process and democracy must refrain from preaching or giving any
partisan statement. Wearing a candidate's button is making a
biased political statement which is clearly violating the law.
It is amazing that Randi Weingarten is fighting a DOE decision
on this issue.
Education officials clamp down on teachers' political buttons
(10/2/08)
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A Splendid PTA Idea - Soup Day
A bunch of parents (Helen et al) organized a
wonderful event at Somers Intermediate School, called Soup Day.
The PTA volunteers cooked several kinds of delicious soup using
the vegetables planted and harvested at SIS by its students. The
soups with a variety of breads are served on 9/26 to the entire
student body from 3rd to 5th grade. Telling the children about
eating healthy and conscious of environment preservation, the
soups were served with bowls made of sugar cane, spoons made of
potato and napkins made of recycled paper. Witnessing the kids
and the Moms (also Dads) having a great time and a learning
experience at this event, I must say out loud, caring and
volunteering (parents) are the best medicine for our schools and
our kids.
(9/26/08)
SIS
Principal, Mr. Griffiths took a few photos for this event. Classroom
breakfast a hit with pupils (A news article of interest)
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A free volunteer afterschool program for developing
children's learning habits through game playing will be offered
at the Somers Intermediate School this coming Fall (2008). The
focus will be introducing SIS students the Award-Winning
National School Scrabble Annual
Tournament for 5-8th graders. Children will be encouraged to
play Scrabble and develop vocabulary learning skills (which are
also critical in winning Scrabble Games and Tournaments).
The
children-oriented Scrammble Tic-tac-toe, Scrammble Go-Fish,
Scrammble Mastermind and Scrammble Word games invented by Somers
Resident Dr. Wordman will be used to help children develop
vocabulary learning and spelling skills. Starting from 3-5th
grade, children can develop a life-long critical learning skill
through these games, which also can help them win the
National School Scrabble Tournament if they wanted to
participate when they reach 5-8th grade. In Middle school they
can continue to form a NSS club to continue the games. (8/28/08)
-------------------------------------------- According to the
National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration, in 2005 and 2006, five New Jersey teenagers
were killed in alcohol-related traffic accidents in prom and
graduation season; in Connecticut, one teenager was killed in
2006, down from two in 2005. The Century Council in Washington
said that in 2006, 714 youths under 21 died nationally in
alcohol-related traffic fatalities in April, May and June.
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Advanced Placement, Computer- based teaching and learning,
encouraging kids to learn in different and more effective
ways...Harvard
professors' article resonates with Ifay Chang's views while
he was developing I-CARE (Internet
Cyberspace Assisted Responsive Education). There are issues,
however, one most critical is how to motivate teachers to
embrace computer and technologies so they can motivate their
students to learn more and better. This is an Issue NY State
Teacher Centers ought to focus on in close collaboration with
school districts.
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Is it a joke or truth? The secret of Bernanke’s success: School
board service (8/18/08)
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Intel et al awarded six best schools in math and science
instruction:
Schools that received math recognition were
Sojourner School in Milwaukee, Ore.; DeLay Middle School in
Lewisville, Texas; and Sabino High School in Tucson, Ariz.
Schools that received science recognition were Laguna Elementary
School in Scottsdale, Ariz.; Key Peninsula Middle School in
Lakebay, Wash.; and Townsend Harris High School in Flushing,
N.Y.
The winners received their larger-than-life checks
of $10,000 from the Intel Foundation and an award package that
includes curriculum materials, professional development
resources, hardware, and software valued at more than $160,000.
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About IFC's
Educational Interest
Word Puzzles for SIS Students
After School Word Games geared for National
School Scrabble Competition See above and call SIS office
Supplemental Teaching Material Prepared for SIS 4th Grade
Science
Community
Education - Scrammble Word Game Tournament and TV Show
IFC's
Bio's
IFC's
Publications
Short
story - Blue Golf Ball for Christmas
Short
story - Outopians
Teaching Web Site for Northern Westchester Chinese Language
School
Ifay Chang's Work
at TLC Information Services and Its Public Web Sites
Federal Resources for Education - Lesson Plans on Various
Subjects
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