tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4558558660408647921.comments2023-05-14T04:56:08.417-04:00The Quotable TeacherRandy Howehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08324058644517850309noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4558558660408647921.post-45992071735595792502021-05-03T03:23:54.669-04:002021-05-03T03:23:54.669-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Robert lawsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07915186361225853356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4558558660408647921.post-32410504751608671812010-03-09T20:11:07.995-05:002010-03-09T20:11:07.995-05:00aybe we'll get better than average flavors in ...aybe we'll get better than average flavors in the ice cream shop of life!!<br /><br />The Blueberry Story: The teacher gives the businessman a lesson by Jamie Robert Vollmer<br /><br />"If I ran my business the way you people operate your schools, I wouldn't be in business very long!"<br /><br />I stood before an auditorium filled with outraged teachers who were becoming angrier by the minute. My speech had entirely consumed their precious 90 minutes of inservice. Their initial icy glares had turned to restless agitation. You could cut the hostility with a knife.<br /><br />I represented a group of business people dedicated to improving public schools. I was an executive at an ice cream company that became famous in the middle 1980s when People Magazine chose our blueberry as the "Best Ice Cream in America."<br /><br />I was convinced of two things. First, public schools needed to change; they were archaic selecting and sorting mechanisms designed for the industrial age and out of step with the needs of our emerging "knowledge society". Second, educators were a major part of the problem: they resisted change, hunkered down in their feathered nests, protected by tenure and shielded by a bureaucratic monopoly. They needed to look to business. We knew how to produce quality. Zero defects! TQM! Continuous improvement!<br /><br />In retrospect, the speech was perfectly balanced - equal parts ignorance and arrogance.<br /><br />As soon as I finished, a woman's hand shot up. She appeared polite, pleasant -- she was, in fact, a razor-edged, veteran, high school English teacher who had been waiting to unload.<br /><br />She began quietly, "We are told, sir, that you manage a company that makes good ice cream."<br /><br />I smugly replied, "Best ice cream in America, Ma'am."<br /><br />"How nice," she said. "Is it rich and smooth?"<br /><br />"Sixteen percent butterfat," I crowed.<br /><br />"Premium ingredients?" she inquired.<br /><br />"Super-premium! Nothing but triple A." I was on a roll. I never saw the next line coming.<br /><br />"Mr. Vollmer," she said, leaning forward with a wicked eyebrow raised to the sky, "when you are standing on your receiving dock and you see an inferior shipment of blueberries arrive, what do you do?"<br /><br />In the silence of that room, I could hear the trap snap…. I was dead meat, but I wasn't going to lie.<br /><br />"I send them back."<br /><br />"That's right!" she barked, "and we can never send back our blueberries. We take them big, small, rich, poor, gifted, exceptional, abused, frightened, confident, homeless, rude, and brilliant. We take them with ADHD, junior rheumatoid arthritis, and English as their second language. We take them all! Every one! And that, Mr. Vollmer, is why it's not a business. It's school!"<br /><br />In an explosion, all 290 teachers, principals, bus drivers, aides, custodians and secretaries jumped to their feet and yelled, "Yeah! Blueberries! Blueberries!"<br /><br />And so began my long transformation.<br /><br />Since then, I have visited hundreds of schools. I have learned that a school is not a business. Schools are unable to control the quality of their raw material, they are dependent upon the vagaries of politics for a reliable revenue stream, and they are constantly mauled by a howling horde of disparate, competing customer groups that would send the best CEO screaming into the night.<br /><br />None of this negates the need for change. We must change what, when, and how we teach to give all children maximum opportunity to thrive in a post-industrial society. But educators cannot do this alone; these changes can occur only with the understanding, trust, permission and active support of the surrounding community. For the most important thing I have learned is that schools reflect the attitudes, beliefs and health of the communities they serve, and therefore, to improve public education means more than changing our schools, it means changing America.<br /><br />Copyright 2002, by Jamie Robert VollmerMFhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18079348551411992453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4558558660408647921.post-79611445847373457512010-03-02T09:50:21.237-05:002010-03-02T09:50:21.237-05:00HI Randy,
I posted a review of Teacher Haiku at m...HI Randy,<br /><br />I posted a review of Teacher Haiku at my haiku web site. I wanted to do a "haiku interview" with you about it but can't find a contact email for you. Mine is kelly at haiku by two dot com.<br /><br />Here is the review: <br />http://www.haikubytwo.com/teacher-haiku-by-randy-howe/Kellyhttp://www.haikubytwo.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4558558660408647921.post-40596786902071111262010-02-18T23:02:22.124-05:002010-02-18T23:02:22.124-05:00McGraw-Hill's college division used to do some...McGraw-Hill's college division used to do something called PowerWeb, which supplied professors with a weekly resource of articles. I wrote a philosophy article for them for almost two years. And I have no idea how it all came together! Eight years and two kids later, my memory is shot. I literally have no idea how that worked out. :-)Randy Howehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08324058644517850309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4558558660408647921.post-45564850699974273442010-02-18T21:44:49.531-05:002010-02-18T21:44:49.531-05:00Great stuff. Thanks for all the advice! How did yo...Great stuff. Thanks for all the advice! How did you find jobs writing educational articles? And who did you write for with that?<br />KerstinAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4558558660408647921.post-47670600517619585762010-02-18T11:29:20.043-05:002010-02-18T11:29:20.043-05:00PS Don't bother with an agent (or reader) who ...PS Don't bother with an agent (or reader) who wants money up front. Only contact those that will take a percentage of your advance and royalties. That way they will actually work for you, rather than being content to earn a fee...Randy Howehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08324058644517850309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4558558660408647921.post-81937691931229115912010-02-14T13:40:46.487-05:002010-02-14T13:40:46.487-05:00Geez, I feel like it's an uphill battle, but n...Geez, I feel like it's an uphill battle, but now that incline just got steeper. I wish we could see it in comparasion to China, some countires in Europe, or Japan. <br /><br />On the other hand, it won't stop me from doing my job to the best of my ability. And it definitely reinforces that I won't be entering administration level any time soon.MFhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18079348551411992453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4558558660408647921.post-37948849012603328262010-02-13T07:41:51.178-05:002010-02-13T07:41:51.178-05:00Worth a read:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/02/o...Worth a read:<br /><br />http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/02/opinion/02engel.htmlFred Schweizernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4558558660408647921.post-38489036013345753062010-02-12T21:35:01.318-05:002010-02-12T21:35:01.318-05:00Should the NCTQ have graded on a curve???Should the NCTQ have graded on a curve???Aliciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11563912676832323485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4558558660408647921.post-52024215940824060272010-02-12T19:06:00.500-05:002010-02-12T19:06:00.500-05:00I have found that when students are presented with...I have found that when students are presented with reasons to "buy into" their learning they want to be prepared. Giving open notebook quizzes and options for assessments help them to connect.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4558558660408647921.post-85639228181929276652010-02-08T06:11:14.369-05:002010-02-08T06:11:14.369-05:00UPDATE!!!
When I wrote this blog, little did I kn...UPDATE!!!<br /><br />When I wrote this blog, little did I know it would be chubby guys in tidy whities I'd be worried about! The cleavage shots of men far outweighed the suggestive shots of women and the back-to-back underwear ads (Hanes and something else) were enough to make me lose my appetite. Or maybe it was just the fact that I'd had more than enough steak, chili, chips n dip, so on and so forth! <br /><br />Congrats to the Saints and the city of New Orleans. And what a great shot of Drew Brees and his baby boy after the game. Better than a trip to Disney, it was downright priceless...Randy Howehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08324058644517850309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4558558660408647921.post-45231024299405313722010-02-07T13:33:22.727-05:002010-02-07T13:33:22.727-05:00I'm only wtching so I can sing the Superbowl s...I'm only wtching so I can sing the Superbowl shuffle again . . . It's the closest I'll ever get to the superbowl.MFhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18079348551411992453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4558558660408647921.post-34191836347220991032010-02-07T12:02:17.290-05:002010-02-07T12:02:17.290-05:00Good to hear some good news, Mere. Congrats and th...Good to hear some good news, Mere. Congrats and thanks for sharing!Randy Howehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08324058644517850309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4558558660408647921.post-975995799300734112010-02-07T12:00:40.762-05:002010-02-07T12:00:40.762-05:00I am against CBS's decision, but also understa...I am against CBS's decision, but also understand that it's their network and they have the right to make those decisions. I think the better halftime show would have been to pit the LGBT football team against the Focus on the Family football team in a all-out, full-on tackle football game: the winner would get a 30-second ad spot in the 2nd half!Randy Howehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08324058644517850309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4558558660408647921.post-20744962848366820612010-02-07T10:19:05.124-05:002010-02-07T10:19:05.124-05:00I have similar issues with my students, and with s...I have similar issues with my students, and with school not being a priority in most of these kids' lives, it is sincerely frustrating. <br /><br />I co-teach a math class for the 6-8th graders at a school for kids with severe emotional disabilties. I think because we get them early, we are at more of an advantage than in the HS years.<br /><br />In any event, last Thurs., I gave a math test, and for the first time in 9 months, I had 1 kid actually use his notes without a reminder, and another said that he'd prefer a step-by-step checklist over using his notes! These 2 kids about bowled me over!<br /><br />I think the concept of using the tools we give them finally may have sunk in! <br /><br />The kids are encouraged to think about the concept of transitioning pretty much each day becuase that is our goal as a school--get them back to their home school. As a result they are reminded that we, as thier teachers, won't be there forever, and that they need to advocate for themselves.<br /><br />I think it takes getting them early, and to continually have the concept of cheat sheet or other support drilled into them for every class for it to sink in just a little bit.<br /><br />So from here, I'm not sure where it'll go for these kids, but the praise they got for using good student skills hopefully will stick for the next time.MFhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18079348551411992453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4558558660408647921.post-31152348868811111312010-02-07T08:55:14.553-05:002010-02-07T08:55:14.553-05:00Lol, Randy! I can't stand football. HOWEVER (s...Lol, Randy! I can't stand football. HOWEVER (screw you high school grammar teacher who told me to never begin a sentence with however), coming from a football city (Kansas City), I don't disagree with football and the revenue/fun/etc. it brings...I just don't enjoy it. But (haha) I get people that do. Anyway, about your entry, I totally agree. On another note...did you know that CBS refused two different LGBT dating ads (not racy, just the traditional match.com lovey dovey kind) and then allowed a Focus on the Family Ad about abortion? Not sure where your politics stand, but that aside, it just seems like bad business.Megan Highfillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01483282647647173724noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4558558660408647921.post-28656725944518495752010-02-07T07:27:26.216-05:002010-02-07T07:27:26.216-05:00I don't know people who can't stand footba...I don't know people who can't stand football because I refuse to know people who can't stand football! i'm off to play in 14-degree weather now. Who dat?!Randy Howehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08324058644517850309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4558558660408647921.post-6749235767630080452010-02-06T22:18:29.871-05:002010-02-06T22:18:29.871-05:00Go Saints!! The game is a SHOW now. I know peopl...Go Saints!! The game is a SHOW now. I know people that can't stand football, but watch it for other reasons (half time show, ads). I can't imagine not being focused on the game itself. And as a player, I would hate all the hoopla. Good article.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05916471238959556926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4558558660408647921.post-12302719464807660722010-02-06T13:23:30.948-05:002010-02-06T13:23:30.948-05:00As a SpEd teacher, I am always trying to figure ou...As a SpEd teacher, I am always trying to figure out how to get my kids to generalize the skills I've taught them. I wonder how much of it, performance-wise, has to do with the confidence that comes with having a trusted teacher there in a one-on-one or small group situation versus taking a test in a large group and, even before that disastrous exam period, trying to put together the cheat sheet while all alone at home...Randy Howehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08324058644517850309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4558558660408647921.post-2602268735664653222010-02-06T12:22:05.665-05:002010-02-06T12:22:05.665-05:00As I work with largely the same group of students ...As I work with largely the same group of students you are referring to, I can obviously feel your pain and frustration. My largest struggle is dealing with the apparent apathy of many of the lower-level students, which is likely a learned behavior in many who have struggled their whole lives and often failed - the old, "I'd rather look like a lazy bastard than stupid" belief. I think I've been somewhat successful in at least occasionally fostering a sense of desire to be successful when the students are in the classroom with me, but I have struggled with how to get students to carry that with them outside of the walls of the classroom. In other words, I have no idea! I'll think on it a while and get back to you with any amazing inspirations that come to me in my fleeting moments of sleep.mjkoonzehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13992158733013212653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4558558660408647921.post-499638045721315382010-02-06T07:38:20.479-05:002010-02-06T07:38:20.479-05:00Reading skills and vocabulary were a huuuuge probl...Reading skills and vocabulary were a huuuuge problem the first half of this year, in both instruction and assessment. I work mostly with freshmen and am trying to develop a program to better introduce our kids to our aquaculture (both science and tech) program. As part of that I asked academic teachers to give me some key words, but that didn't seem to help. I will definitely look into Larry Bell. Thanks!Randy Howehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08324058644517850309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4558558660408647921.post-11213539085459553572010-02-05T21:54:05.751-05:002010-02-05T21:54:05.751-05:00I think the way content is taught will make a diff...I think the way content is taught will make a difference on how a student will perform on a test. I think its important to mix authentic assessment with practice tests for state testing. College prep tests and state tests are difficult to study for because they are testing all knowledge...it comes down to strategy. I particularly like Larry Bell's vocabulary and reading strategies. Aren't all tests about reading skills also? Maybe we should start there :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com