Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/602151
Compiled by MIKE MYSLINSKI "I wouldn't teach anywhere else but at a Title 1 school because I want to show people that these kids can do well. ey can achieve. ey can have high-level discussions. From my experience, the kids can definitely handle whatever you give them ; you just have to have high expectations for them, so the kids will rise to them." — Ann Park, an Oakland Unified teacher at Greenleaf Elementary, in a Nov. 3 Contra Costa Times story about her being named one of five 2016 California Teachers of the Year. "Tests should not occupy too much classroom time, or crowd out teaching and learning. Tests should enhance teaching and learning." — President Obama, announcing on Oct. 24 in a White House Facebook video his administration's surprising plan to reduce testing in schools to no more than 2 percent of classroom time. "To have a politician say the only thing wrong with schools are the unions, or if we could get rid of unions, schools would be able to flourish — what does he know about what my union is doing to make sure your kid and his teachers have what they need? ey should be thanking us instead of kicking us." — NEA President Lily Eskelsen García, in an Oct. 29 Washington Post Magazine story about her recent tour of Southern states to discuss toxic standardized testing and the flaws of NCLB. "The idea is working with people to enable them to come together, decide together, stand together, act together, do together, and pursue their common interests. That is really where organizing comes into the picture." — Harvard lecturer and legendary union organizer Marshall Ganz, speaking about leadership to CTA State Council delegates at their October meeting. Watch highlights of his speech at cta.org/mediacenter. "Stories are the secret reservoir of values: Change the stories individuals and nations live by and tell themselves, and you change the individuals and nations." — Nigerian poet and novelist Ben Okri, quoted by CTA President Eric Heins in his Oct. 24 speech to State Council delegates about the need to harness the power of storytelling to promote change for students and the teaching profession. Quotes & Numbers 112 Average number of mandatory standardized tests that an American public school student takes through 12th grade, according to a survey of 66 urban U.S. school districts, released in October by the Council of the Great City Schools. 9 Number of hours per day, on average, that U.S. teenagers spend using various media for entertainment and social interaction, according to an October study of more than 2,600 youths by Common Sense Media of San Francisco. Using media for homework was not included in the estimate. 22.7% Percentage of California children living in poverty in 2014, according to new U.S. Census Bureau data in a September report by the California Budget and Policy Center. $350 MILLION Amount per year in additional state funds that the San Diego Unified School District estimates it would need to provide an adequate education for its 132,000 students, allowing it to extend the school year, lower class sizes, and add counselors, nurses, language specialists and other staff. $49.3 MILLION Average amount in the largest retirement accounts of 100 CEOs among Fortune 500 CEOs. An Oct. 30 Mother Jones magazine story about a study by the Center for Effective Government and the Institute for Policy Studies also notes that, in contrast, the U.S. median balance in 401(k) accounts at the end of 2013 was $18,433. 13 November 2015 e Numbers