Saturday, December 19, 2009

P.F Debate, Teacher Merit-based-pay (NEG)

This is the Negation case that I wrote for the December Public Forum topic. Concerning teacher merit based pay: My partner Devin Stone and I remain the undefeated champions of PF.

My partner and I stand in Absolute Negation of this resolution: Resolved: That merit pay based on student achievement should be a significant component of K-12 teacher compensation in United States public schools. We the negation will argue the Theoretical Correctness and legitimacy of the resolution; the very theory and concept of teacher merit based pay is a terrible idea. My partner and I find 3 basic flaws in the concept of the merit based pay-transcended by the resolution. The three main points we will primarily focus on to elucidate our stance of ablolute negation are:

1. Student achievement is not reflective of Teachers ability.

2. It Encourages Cheating

3. It creates an unfair competition between teachers and schools


1. Student achievement is not reflective of Teachers ability.
There are several problems with basing how much a teacher should make based on student performance. The most important: there are too many other variables besides teacher effort that determine an individual's and a class' performance, like attitude, personality, health considerations, learning abilities, family stability, .Etc. Teachers only have so much control over how much and how fast a child can learn. Socrates once said, “Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel.” Even if the teachers are willing to go the extra mile to fill the vessel, and kindle this flame, in the end it is the students who must put forth the effort to learn the concept, and thus igniting the flame inside them.


2. It Encourages Cheating
In a recent study, economist Steven D. Levitt proved that dozens of teachers in the Chicago School District who were involved in a merit pay program altered test scores to influence their salaries. Did the teachers cheat because they were bad people? Not likely, we the Negation believe that it was because the teachers were motivated by the monetary gain granted by the resolution and a merit based pay-based on said student achievement- and as it is seen here- student achievement is easy to manipulate and cheat- to the teachers advantage. You must realize, As long as there’s the temptation to alter student’s performance for an increase in pay, there will be teachers who will be willing to cheat and take advantage of the system, for money.


3. It creates an unfair competition between teachers and schools
Merit based pay-will create competition amongst teachers. Teachers will quarrel over who gets the “smart kids” and who teaches A.P. and Honors Classes, because it will mean an increased result of test scores, and thus granting the teacher of said A.P classes and Honors classes an instant pay raise. A school is a place where teachers work together to better the student, how will teachers work together if they are to preoccupied with earning more money? It will also create competition amongst schools where teachers would rather teach at school “X” than school “Y” because school “X” has better test scores, and thus more pay for the teacher. No teacher would want to teach at a low-income or high transient school. You see if a merit based pay is implemented it will not only cause teacher separation, but educational balkanization.


The very idea of teacher merit based pay is so fundamentally flawed, containing so many fallacies in logic and theory that it can’t possibly be considered as a legitimate alternative to our current education-pay system.

In conclusion, seeing the superfluous majority of fundamental flaws to Teacher merit-based pay all adding to its vast illegitimacy, n, Merit based pay for teachers Is an indubitably fallible concept; relying solely on the faith that it will someday work out for the better. Will it though? Will merit based pay-for teachers ever work for the betterment of education, and the students? We the negation according to the case presented submit that it will not. Please vote NEG!

Wow America

Wow America
By: Jason Knavel

Wow has always been a word

Where amazing is thought of when it’s heard

A word of joy, of Triumph, and admiration.

A word associated with our great nation.

wow look at America they lead the way.

America the greatest everyone would say.

But as of today this is not the case.

Now…Wow is a word of a different race.

This word….It went through the American heart and sole.

The day our nation took its toll

Wow what kind of evil could ever stand

to seek to destroy the American land?

Because of this evil so many Americans are dead

And that day will forever be embed.

That day in September….. our nation stood still.

When this malicious evil sought out to kill.

When liberty and freedom itself seamed beat

Our nation achieved an amazing feat.

Our nation rose up and thought as one.

And said never to give up until we’ve won.

We want to fight back and retaliate.

And make the evil feel the very same fate.

For this event we can’t amend

So we won’t give up till we reach the end.

Wow for this there’s one thing our nation can’t lack.

Brave heroes to rise up, fight back.

And wow these heroes brought us back into the light

They took a stand; rose up and wanted to fight.

Our police, our firemen worked themselves sore

And our brave young troops…..sent of to war.

Because of that day in September; the day of pillars of smoke, of fire, and ember.

The day I thought everyone would have to remember.

Now since that day 8 years have passed.

And were reaching the end finally at last.

Now we want to leave; and were not even done

Its not over, we haven’t won.

Absolute victory has ALWAYS been key,

But we want to give up? This cannot be. . .

And wow things now are not the same

Suddenly people think the government’s to blame.

Attacking our leaders for there alleged lies.

But never the freaking real bad guys.

Wow, America!!...did we forget?

The day our freedom and safety were hit.

Come on America cant we see.

Should we fight the terrorists? Indubitably

America, America, we have to learn

That it’s always better to fight- stand firm!

What manner of evil did we entice?

But now for justice, we are forced to pay the price

And once upon a time- we were willing to pay.

Oh how I long once more for that day.

America when thought of people used to say wow!

But look what happened, look at us now

Our economy’s bad: 11 trillion in debt

And this is the beginning it’s not over yet

I look at our nation and I think wow

I’m scared for the future and im worried about now

Our nation is changeing for the worse-without me and you.

But I often wonder what I can do?

And I tell you: we are the future we must take a stand.

To fight! Hope! And Succeed in saving this American land!

I am A BLUE

I recently finished "The Color Code" By Taylor Hartman. It is a book about people, and personalities. And I guess I'm a BLUE! And the traits that describe a "Blue person" are the same traits that describe how I view myself, looking for some insight into who I am? Just read this.....I am however Charactered in RED.

BLUES are motivated by INTIMACY. They seek to genuinely connect with others, and need to be understood and appreciated. Everything they do is quality-based. They are loyal friends, employers, and employees. Whatever or whomever they commit to is their sole (and soul) focus. They love to serve and give themselves freely in order to nurture others' lives.
BLUES have distinct preferences and have the most controlling personality. Their personal code of ethics is remarkably strong and they expect others to live honest, committed lives as well. They enjoy meaningful moments in conversation as well as paying close attention to special life events (e.g. birthdays and anniversaries). BLUES are dependable, thoughtful, and analytical; but can also be self-righteous, worry-prone, and moody. They are "sainted pit-bulls" who never let go of something or someone, once they are committed. When you deal with a BLUE, be sincere and make a genuine effort to understand and appreciate them.

Blues are motivated by altruism. (More like charity, in this case...) They love to do nice things for others. they look for opportunites to give up something in order to bring another person happiness. selflessness rather than selfishness is their guiding philosophy. Blues seek intimacy. They want to be loved and to love. A true blue will sacrifice a successful career to improve an important relationship. Blues crave being understood. They are gratified when they are listened to, when they feel understood and appreciated. Blues may have thier hearts broken more than most people, but they also spend much more time in love. Blues are directed by a strong moral conscience. They have a moral code that guides them in their decision making, their value judgements, and their leisure time. A blue would rather lose than cheat. Ethically, blues are people who should be in positions of power, but seldom are.


BLUE STRENGTHS

AS AN INDIVIDUAL
sees life as a serious endeavor
appreciates beauty and detail
has strong aesthetic sense
stable and dependable (plow horse versus race horse)
sincere and emotionally deep
analytically oriented (concerned with why one behaves as he/she does)
high achiever
deep sense of purpose

AS A COMMUNICATOR
able to enjoy sensitive and deep conversation
strong skills in empathizing with others
remembers feelings and thoughts shared in conversation
willing to give conversations time to run their course
prefers small groups

AS A GOAL SETTER
highly disciplined
receptive to other's suggestions
strong goal orientation
plans well and superb follow through

AS A CAREER PERSON
excellent behind-the-scenes worker
respectful of employer because of employer's position
enjoys detail and schedules
receptive to creative thinking
gives more of self than required or expected

AS A PARENT
encourages academics and/or trade development in children
excellent trainer of skills (i.e., manners, study habits)
very observant
empathic and sensitive
sincere and loyal to children
keeps home clean and cozy
seeks to understand children's behavior
self-sacrificing
excellent in long term commitments

AS A CHILD
proper and behaved
easily disciplined verbally
concerned about being a good family member
sensitive and concerned about other family members
loyal to parents and siblings regardless of relationship
seeks learning opportunities

AS A FRIEND
loyal forever once friendship is established
genuine concern for other persons well-being
remembers special holidays and promotes celebrations
encouraging in times of trouble
willing to commit time to the relationship

AS A COMMITTED COMPANION
priorities the relationship over other activities
considers spouse first in decision-making
responsible for making ongoing contributions to relationship
enjoys sharing intimate feelings with companion
values intimacy and places high priority on it

PERSONALITIES WHO APPEAR TO BE BLUES
Abraham Lincoln Barbara Bush Walt Disney

BLUE NATIONS
United States England Denmark

BLUE LIMITATIONS

AS AN INDIVIDUAL
highly emotional
smug and self-righteous
controlling and/or envious of other's success when too easily obtained
strong perfection and performance orientation

AS A COMMUNICATOR
tends to lecture and overkill issues
feels intense on many issues
rigid with principles and unwilling to negotiate
fears risking self in conversation
argues primarily from emotional perspective
strong expectation for others to be sensitive and deep
expects others to read his or her mind and know his or her feelings

AS A GOAL SETTER
sets unrealistic goals
easily discouraged when unsuccessful in accomplishments
easily frustrated with lack of team cooperation
expects others to understand his or her goals and make them a priority

AS A CAREER PERSON
feels others are not capable of doing things as well as he or she craves security in career
feels inadequate with natural talents and creativity
shys away from public exposure and performance
establishes high and often unrealistic expectations for self and others
tend to over-plan and over-prepare
critical of self and others work
over-extends self

AS A PARENT
blames children for being unappreciative of parenting efforts
can be moody and unpredictable
easily irritated by others mistakes and shortcomings
usually loves others with strings attached
tends to give heavy doses of guilt to children
lacks ability to relax
requires a purpose in order to play
controlling of childrens lifestyle and overprotective
too precise and exact with expectations
feels a clean home is a high priority
accepts quite feelings too easily and readily
not spontaneous with activities
frustrates children with unrealistic expectations
strong sense of right and wrong-badgers child when perceived as wrong
lectures children

AS A CHILD
easily frustrated
feels guilty over minor concerns
moody and emotional (cries instead of facing issues)
feelings are easily hurt
martyr-like and complains about life
self-esteem is dependent on outside influences
has difficulty relaxing and often feels uncomfortable
withholds affection if angered
waits for parent to initiate ideas and then criticizes unacceptable suggestions

AS A FRIEND
highly insecure about others acceptance and approval
feels rejected easily
when depressed or depressive-feels it is friends job to understand
can be revengeful and bitter if crossed or scarred emotionally
critical of friends principles or activities if not similar
expects friends to maintain strong loyalty
wishes friends would communicate more often
rarely playful and spontaneous

AS A COMMITTED COMPANION
blames others for his or her unhappiness ("if only you were more...")
demands affection and intimacy
demands time and attention or partner
highly manipulative in seeking support or understanding
suspicious of other's motives (distrustful)
unforgiving of past misunderstandings and wrong doings
clings to companion too much
withholds feelings when frightened he or she may be rejected

HOW TO DEVELOP A POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH BLUES

DO
Emphasize their security in the relationship
Be sensitive and soft spoken in your approach
Be sincere and genuine
Behave appropriately and well-mannered
Limit their risk level
Promote their creativity
Appreciate them
Allow ample time for them to gather their thoughts before expressing themselves
Be loyal
Do thorough analysis before making presentations

DON'T
Make them feel guilty
Be rude or abrupt
Promote too much change
Expect spontaneity
Abandon them
Expect them to bounce back easily or quickly from depression
Demand perfection (they already expect too much from themselves)
Push them too quickly into making decisions
Expect them to forgive quickly when crossed
Demand immediate action

CAREERS MOST LIKELY TO ATTRACT BLUES
Note: Blues are most capable of adapting in the career world.

Teacher Banker Nurse
Homemaker Clergy/Minister Engineer
Psychotherapist Accountant Librarian
Computer Programmer Politician Journalist
Musician Architect Carpenter
Lab Technician Massage Medical Assistant
Medical Coder Biller Medical Office Nursing Assistant
Pharmacy Assistant Phlebotomy IV Radiologist Ltd
Rehabilitation Internet Programming Internet Specialist
System Analyst Visual C++ Programmer Cisco Routers
Hardware Tech Networking Administrator Network Engineer
Telecommunication Web Designer Database Manager
Desktop Publisher

Together as one, As one separated

Together as one---as one: separated
By: Jason Knavel

I’ve really had it with the Pain and the tears,
The inevitable mess, which keeps coming this year
There is conflict up top, and there’s pain deep inside,
I’m longing, I’m asking, I’m hoping, I’m trying to hide.
And I long to be free, so I scream and I shout,
And I’m trying, to run- trying to figure this out,
Then I fall to my knees, and I’m starting to cry,
I look up to my god, and I simply ask “Why?”
Why, do I hear people say, that this is just the way that life goes?
I refuse to believe that, because nobody knows:
All the sorrow I’ve seen, all the anguish and strife
All the suffering that comes so very freely with life
And there is so much evil in this world, in this world that is so….
Fixated with greed, power, and pride we all know-
But its going to get better- this we can swear!
And we all must step up, and actually try…if we dare,
For all good things and bad, lie deep in the Heart
And if we just take the chance, we can split them apart,
Then elation we’ll find, find it before it’s too late,
To try and get out of this oh depressive state-
I’ve tried things alone…But with you all by my side.
We can make it through life, and we won’t have to hide.
Because I trust you my friend, it is you that I love,
And help from you guys is like help from above.
And we’ve really had it with the Pain and the tears,
The inevitable mess, which keeps coming this year
There is conflict up top, and there’s pain deep inside,
We’re longing, we’re asking, we’re hoping, and we’re trying…..To Try.