Reactions to yesterday’s story about Montclair High teacher Damion Frye giving parents homework apparently created a maelstrom at Montclair’s BOE – and enough of a media frenzy to warrant a press statement from Superintendent Frank Alvarez. From the BOE website:
“While we encourage and value parental involvement in our students’ academic lives, we certainly don’t demand it,” said Superintendent of Schools Frank Alvarez of the district’s policies regarding student homework. “We also recognize that it’s not always possible or in the parents’ interest to participate in their children’s education to the extent of doing homework along with them.”
Reader responses were closed by the Times after 348 comments were logged.
Meanwhile, in Caldwell, there’s another controversial homework assignment making the news. A sixth-grade social studies assignment on slavery has been removed from the curriculum at Grover Cleveland Middle School after complaints that it was offensive and insensitive.
From CBS13:
The project instructed students to create an advertisement defending the use of slave labor to run a newly built plantation in South Carolina. Students are told to come up with a ‘”catchy” name for the plantation and give three reasons why slave labor is the “best idea” and to add illustrations.
One student, who is not being identified because of his age, read to CBS what he wrote for the assignment: “Slave labor is the way to go because slaves aren’t paid, so all money is profit.”
Parents are astonished by the assignment’s nature…One question parents and officials are asking is whether the 11- and 12-year-olds even understand the lesson which was given to them.
Daniel Gerardi, superintendent of the Caldwell-West Caldwell schools, told the Star Ledger the assignment was a two-part project that also required students to look at slavery from the point of view of abolitionists in the north. Montclair Historian Stacey Patton also spoke to the Star Ledger
“I actually think it is a great way to teach the students, to get students to step into that time period. …You need to understand how people defended the practice,” Patton said. “It is important for students to understand both sides.”
But Patton said she thought students in middle school were too young.
The Times had 348 comments, and the Baristas had 15. Ouch.
I consider all this “stunt” teaching. (Give the parents homework! Make an “ad” to convince your Aunts that slavery is ok).
Frankly, the slavery assignment could be good, if students had to make an argument instead of “create an ad.” Dumb.
As for the parental homework, I’d laugh in this guys face, then remove my kid from his class. Or maybe I’d find out what “he’s” doing at home since he’s so concerned with me……
Is teaching now so hard that this is the best we have? (Don’t answer).
prof,
the guy is a great teacher — the homework thing is blown completely out of proportion. He is an exceptionally well-prepared and actively engaged teacher. It’s a shame that his “homework” point is so misdescribed and that our own BOE spells his first name wrong (it’s Damion).
Ah, walleroo, but ours were witty flailings. There is a difference. Naturally, too, people of such taste and discernment are outnumbered by the groundlings who read the Montclair Times.
My best memory of homework is the nun-dictated instruiction to write “JMJ” in the upper left-hand corner. (Would that fly today in public school even from the devout?)
And the kid who wrote in his paper that “all money is profit” because slaves weren’t paid clearly needs a good lesson in 19th century economics.
An observation: on a plantation outside Charleston, there are restored brick two-bedroom slave cottages, which even come with an extra sleeping loft. Even the black docent laughed when I noted that they might go today for $1 million or better in New Jersey today.
“And they’re better than anything I saw for sale in Hoboken, honey,” she added.
Considering the article feature many of his words “in quotes” (e.g. “Parents complain about never getting to see their kids’ work,” he said. “Now they have to.”) it’s hard to see how this is “misdescribed.”
But please, explain.
And I’ll say it again, does he want me following up with his homelife? I don’t think so.
And the kid who wrote in his paper that “all money is profit” because slaves weren’t paid clearly needs a good lesson in 19th century economics.
An observation: on a plantation outside Charleston, there are restored brick two-bedroom slave cottages, which even come with an extra sleeping loft. Even the black docent laughed when I noted that they might go today for $1 million or better in New Jersey today.
“And they’re better than anything I saw for sale in Hoboken, honey,” she added.
Sorry about the double post, just an accident.
I also see this as the state’s (he’s a gov employee) interference with a
parent’s right to raise his or her child. That the child is penalized for the parents behavior puts this on curious legal ground.
Because it is MY right as a parents to NOT help my kid with homework (dumb, yes. But my right). However, Mr. Frye has reached into my home and interfered with my right to raise my child as I choose.
What’s next, making sure my kids brushes his teeth, exercises, eats right? Is he going to make my kid list all the food in the home so he can decide if it’s healthy?
And again, does he want me looking into his private life?
I think this teachers assignment was creative and commendable. It really shows how easy it is to defend anything. Consider the abhorrent conditions in Chinese manufacturing plants. We know about it, we know the people are suffering, and we know they are being crushed by their government for the benefit of companies but how do we justify it? “Lower prices” and a little Wal-Mart happy face.
Prof-
You’re are totally missing the point. There is no legal issue here. A dumb parent does not support their kids. Do you have anything to add to your kids education? Have you been a witness to history? If you can answer yes to either of these, than you can benefit your child by participating. Your different experiences and interpretations can only enhance your child’s education. Some day, your kids will be able to give first-hand accounts of 9/11 to their kids. If a teacher asks for their input, will it be “interference with a parent’s right to raise his or her child”?
The fact is so many parents are already TOO invloved with their kids assignments, so this is a great way to use the parents. Instead of criticising it and being negative, why not be open-minded about a novel idea.
A post from mikeeeee! above, yeehah! (Speaking of someone who could still stand some homework assignments…..)
Lord have you missed the point, students are penalized for the parents behavior. That’s the point.
I don’t need this guy to tell me what I should be doing at home with my kids. And whether or not I “share” with my kids is NOT HIS BUSINESS. That’s where he is interfering with my right as a parent.
His job is to educate the kids in his class (not their folks), something many have done (and still do) very well without this “novel idea.”
And for the third time, when do I get to look into his private life?
Also Lord, where should this end, as I wrote before: What’s next, making sure my kids brushes his teeth, exercises, eats right? Is he going to make my kid list all the food in the home so he can decide if it’s healthy?
Prof-
Do you regularly question your doctor? He’s a professional. Isn’t a teacher a professional also and don’t they/he deserve the same respect as your doctor. And yes, the next thing could be seeing if your child is well fed and healthy. He may not ask to list the food, but he has a responibility to the child. Stop worrying about you and think about the kids. What does it hurt to get more involved and do some homework? You are never too old to learn.
I like you profwilliams!
“And yes, the next thing could be seeing if your child is well fed and healthy. [The Doctor] may not ask to list the food, but he has a responibility to the child. ”
Hey! It is the next thing!
(isn’t nanny wonderful?)
To encourage parents to participate in their child’s education is one of the goals of all teachers, as it is the best of both worlds; to assign it as a homework assignment is very short sighted. The family dynamic at any given time is much more complicated than “leave it to beaver”. At worst you would cause more disharmonies in an abusive environment.
There are much better ways to encourage the parents who can, or choose to be involved. The best teachers involve their students in ways that excite them, not their parents.
As another example of poor teaching, I think the practice of some teachers to exclude peer study groups is to promote illiteracy, not cheating. I say this being involved with students in GR and WO. The GR schools assign groups, WO, on the whole, discourages to the point of failing grades. The school rankings speak for themselves.
The marketing of slavery as a school assignment is only an argument against tenure.
The marketing of slavery as a school assignment is only an argument against tenure.
Get bent. No one can help it if some parents are intellectual cowards or that they just don’t get it. At the heart of it is people are not media literate. They don’t know how to parse the information that comes at them. This assignment helps in this regard.
(Lord, I’ll bite your diversionary tactic)… Hells yes I question my doctor. But really. both professionals yes, however for a moment compare the education of a doctor (and what’s a stake) to that of a teacher. And as an educator, I hold my professional in high regard, but I’ll say it, it’s hard to compare it with that of a Doctor (and what’s at stake).
I’ve survived several really bad teachers. Not sure how many chances you get with really bad doctors.
— BUT THIS IS OFF TOPIC LORD—
My point is choice (something folks love to talk about around here). My choice to be involved or not with my child’s education. And let me say this, we agree with how important it is. BUT I don’t need this guy (or any other BOE member) to tell me how to raise my kid.
And for the last time, when do I get to find out about Mr. Frye’s personal life to see if he’s worthy of educating my child……..
At the heart of it is people are not media literate. They don’t know how to parse the information that comes at them.
highlighted without comment.
A mind is a terrible thing to waste. Please give generously to the United Lasermike College Fund.
prof, the article makes clear that there’s really no penalty (when parents simply refuse, he doesn’t penalize the kids and, what the article doesn’t make clear is that it’s a miniscule portion of the homework part of the grade, which in itself is only 15% of the overall grade — my math on the worst case scenario result if he did actually reduce the grade is that the impact would be about 1.3%). This teacher responds to each and every assignment, runs a very detailed feedback website for parents (updated every single day) and makes himself available round-the-clock for his students. I cannot recall encountering a more responsive and involved teacher than this one. Best of all, he sets very high standards for the students — NO CODDLING at all. They respond to his energy and zeal with real effort.
Prof, I agree with your main point.
But I’m wondering — who provided all of that education to all of those doctors?
Mikeybrain (he said gingerly), I think you missed the point entirely with ambidextrous’s post, and I’m no friend of the lad/lass.
T’was quite nasty of you to reply as you did. Quite sexist and anti-gay too. So here goes: ban laserboy for rudeness! Ban laserboy for dumbness! Ban laserboy for fun!
Sorry LM, but the stylization of slavery adds nothing to the teaching of both it’s historical or contemporary existence and how wrong it was (is).
“Existential experiment, travel required, apply with the Dehomag company”*; if anything, rather than a teaching tool, it is insulting.* Holocaust reference
There is always hope, even LM, if he can open what mind he has.
The point of “worst case scenario” is not getting involved in home dynamics. My father wouldn’t let a black friend of mine in his house, never mind take part in an assignment. It has to much negative potential to be regarded as a teaching tool.
Prof–the only part of your visceral reaction which makes sense (to me) is a preference to make the parents’ participation voluntary, not mandatory. Other than that it is an excellent idea to involve parents in an intellectual discourse with their teenage kids.
Furthermore, if you don’t get your kids to brush their teeth (ever) and neglect their well being in other ways which adversely impacts their health, schools and other public officials are on solid ground if they get involved, provided the effects are egregious. Parenting is an obligation, and society should protect our young people if their parents fall down on the job.
In any subject. (can’t even blame preview button anymore.)
A, It does teach them about the power of marketing and propaganda. If we were a bit more media savvy would could of… i don’t know… avoided a war.
Martta, please send the money to my bank account.
I celebrate your return to this forum, professor, but with regard to Frye, you (like some other parents) are making a mountain of a molehill. As appletony said, this guy is one of the most hard working teachers I’ve ever seen, and nobody really gets penalized. (That’s his real Achilles heel–he has to say it’s part of the grade, but in effect it isn’t, because he really can’t require parents to do work.) He’s just a bright guy trying to make something happen in the classroom. This is the wrong place to make a stand on principle.
“Stunt” thinking….or creative thinking?
That’s the question…
I don’t think schools foster “creative” thinking enough.
Creative thinking requires the student to view an issue from different perspectives.
That’s what this assignment was about.
And just for the record…I do agree that a lot of parents in Montclair are wayyy to involved in their kid’s homework.
Some parents want their kids to achieve “so bad” that they make sure that there is no stumble along the way…
Even if that means assisting with their assignments.
Of course we all know that’s where we will always really learn….from the stumble.
A whole lot of frothing going on…”The mind is a terrible thing”……..ProfPAZ…..>(8o})8*****/
whatever,
there’s a difference among to, too, and two.
Guess which one really goes here:
“I do agree that a lot of parents in Montclair are wayyy to involved in their kid’s homework.”
My child had Frye, and I never minded doing the “assignments” (although I was surprised at first to receive one!) because they were presented respectfully and were meaningful. In case any of you have missed the experience of having a high school student, it can be really great to have a teacher say, “you have to talk to your parents about this.” We had a lot of great conversations which were sprked by the fact that he had to involve me in his homework. Frye uses the “penalty” as incentive to make sure the kids tell their parents about it – again, its very easy for a teenager to say, “My parents wouldn’t do it” when in fact they know nothing about it. If a parent was unable to commit the time, or objected to doing the very brief “assignment”, Frye totally let them off teh hook.
On the other hand, a middle school teacher “assigned” an essay to parents at the beginning of the school year. It was not done with respect, but rather with condescension: “write a first draft, then put it aside for a night and look at it again the next day. Correct any misspellings or errors.” Blah! I wrote something, but it was tongue-in-cheek, meant to make my daughter laugh.
Its all in the presentation.