Secondary Schools Task Force

Minutes

November 14, 2005

 

I.                    Welcome and Introductions (Mary Jo)

 

II.                 Revisiting the Charge of the Group (Mary Jo)

 

III.               Setting the Norms for the Group (Dana)

 

a.        Share the air

b.       Be fully present to the work

c.        Honor start and end times

d.       All opinions valued

e.        Keep all students at the center

 

·  All norms ok?

                -  Add:  Have some fun

                 Shut cell phones off??

 

IV.              Discussion of Homework Assignment

 

                  ·      Dana had attendees break up into groups of 5 – try to separate groups

                                with diversity in mind (not all DHS folks together).  There were four total

                                groups.   Articles were assigned to groups. 

        Final Word Protocol.  From the homework assignment, a person from the

        group will pick a “headline” (quote in text) that that person

        feels stands out.  Each of the other group members would get a chance to

        comment on this headline with the final word being from the person offering the headline. 

        This would continue until each individual has chosen a headline and it has been

        discussed.  The group will decide on the headline that would be reported out.

 

                        a.     Article:  Tab 3; Thinking K-16(comments reported out)

        · Do we want to focus on schooling or learning?  Article focused on schooling (college

        ready, efficient schools, etc.) did not discuss learning for life, school, etc.

        ·  Why aren’t more kids being pushed to take rigorous high level courses?  (page 17) 

        (Kevin) Peer pressure, fairness with individuals

 

b.     Article:  Tab 4; Research Brief Middle Grades to High School mending a weak link

        (comments reported out)

·  Schools who have higher expectations for teachers foster higher student learning.  (Tica) Accurate.  Students are inspired by teachers who can focus students to look toward college.  Without passionate teachers there is less inspiration. 

·  Teachers have an awesome responsibility in building aspirations in content and context for their students.  (Dana)  Had group look at graph 5 on page 9.  Students were given test to determine skills in English, math and science.  25 students who scored lowest on test were placed on lowest quartile and so on.  Tested on both students who chose college prep. and lower level courses.  Did students make these choices?  Did parents “push” students to choose specific courses?

Secondary Schools Task Force                  Page Two                     November 14, 2005

 

V.                 A Look at Data

 

School Presentations

                Protocol:

                                                Presentation – 10 minutes

                                                Clarifying questions – 5 minutes

                                Feedback – 10 minutes

                                                Response – 5 minutes

                                                Conversation

 

VI.                 New Homework Assignment

 

(David Ruff) <handout> Look at Powerpoint presentation from commissioner.  Section 4 of

notebook “We must offer equal access to knowledge”

 

Next Meeting

December 6, 2005

University of Southern Maine, Portland Campus

Glickman Hall, 7th floor

4:00 – 7:00 p.m.