IT'S TIME IN CLASSROOM THAT COUNTS
Miami Herald, The (FL) - Thursday, January 6, 2000
Author: Herald Staff
Miami-Dade School Board member Marta Perez ought to renew her proposal to conduct teacher training during summer breaks, school holidays and after school . She withdrew the proposal in December when told that a Herald computer-assisted analysis of teacher absenteeism was flawed.
The analysis did prove flawed, largely because Henry Fraind, Supt. Roger Cuevas's obstructionist gatekeeper to information and staff, refused to allow school analysts to discuss data bases with The Herald's reporter. The board ought to demand a more-open and -responsive administration from Mr. Cuevas.
As a consequence of Mr. Fraind's stranglehold on information, The Herald's analysis showing teachers absent an average of 18 days in the school year failed to exclude summer-school assignments; a subsequent district analysis included this important data and reveals a less-alarming average 13 days absent. Parents and others concerned about the state of public education can take comfort in that.
There is no comfort to be taken from the fact that many of the absences are attributable to training sessions that take teachers out of the classroom and away from their students. No one denies teacher training is important, but more important to learning is the time teachers are able to spend with students - especially in the county's 26 failing schools.
If teacher training can be done when school is not in session, students will be the winners.
The analysis did prove flawed, largely because Henry Fraind, Supt. Roger Cuevas's obstructionist gatekeeper to information and staff, refused to allow school analysts to discuss data bases with The Herald's reporter. The board ought to demand a more-open and -responsive administration from Mr. Cuevas.
As a consequence of Mr. Fraind's stranglehold on information, The Herald's analysis showing teachers absent an average of 18 days in the school year failed to exclude summer-school assignments; a subsequent district analysis included this important data and reveals a less-alarming average 13 days absent. Parents and others concerned about the state of public education can take comfort in that.
There is no comfort to be taken from the fact that many of the absences are attributable to training sessions that take teachers out of the classroom and away from their students. No one denies teacher training is important, but more important to learning is the time teachers are able to spend with students - especially in the county's 26 failing schools.
If teacher training can be done when school is not in session, students will be the winners.
Memo: PUNCHLINES AND PLAUDITS
Edition: Final
Section: Editorial
Page: 8B
Record Number: 0001070037
Section: Editorial
Page: 8B
Record Number: 0001070037
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