So I read this line recently, “Student learning is the most meaningful measure of all instructional practices and must remain the litmus test, or gateway, to determining future teacher practice.” [ Dwayne Chism (Omaha Public Schools) via The Marshall Memo's write up of “Excavating the Artifacts of Student Learning” by Dwayne Chism in Educational Leadership, February 2018 (Vol. 75, #5),] It troubles me. It troubles me because it posits that the way we can assess teacher performance and success is by measuring something called “student learning” but that concept cannot be quantified, let alone measured, especially as a direct consequence of the particular teaching.
If our focus as teachers is not in imparting a set of concrete facts but giving students the skills to be lifelong learners then we can’t know if we have succeeded until we measure life long learning, many years down the line. At that point, it is also impossible to know if the end result is linked conclusively to any singular or specific teaching many years earlier.
All of our various methods (formative and summative assessments, standardized tests, exit portfolios…whatever) which supposedly measure learning simply don’t. They measure a whole lot of stuff but not “learning”. We have no baseline performance and cannot account for variables related to test taking skills or external pressures. We can’t include bad days, or antipathy towards a teacher or subject. We have a hard enough time differentiating between true understanding and positive performance and struggle trying to distinguish between the rewards for effort and native skill.
I don’t mean to throw my hands up in resignation, but we keep thinking that concepts such as learning and teaching can be charted and definitively measured so that we can improve them. I don’t have an answer but I know that if we start with false goals, we are never going to get anywhere.
Wednesday, February 21, 2018
Tuesday, February 20, 2018
Torah on the Table
The assembling of the various pieces required to furnish the mishkan is of central importance in Parshat T’rumah and each piece is said to import both its literal purpose and deeper, symbolic value. One of the objects discussed is a table for the “show bread”. What is amazing is that this parsha, in 25:23 is actually the first use of a word which is now commonplace, shulchan. In fact, the only instances of the word shulchan in the chamisha chumshei Torah, 2 as shulchan and 17 as hashulchan, occur in relation to this object. No one sits at a table, eats at a table, judges at a table or plays solitaire at a table. Admittedly, as far as my research shows, no one in the 5 books plays solitaire, but if someone did, I think precedent makes it clear that he or she would not do so at a table. A shulchan is a table in common use now but that doesn’t explain why this piece, with its staves and shelves (most unlike anything I have yet to see on sale at Ikea under “tables”) is called a shulchan.
This shulchan has an important role. It holds the 12 loaves of bread which stayed fresh all week (Menachos 96b) as a constant display of a public miracle. Its structure included a “zir” a rim or crown which represented, according to Rashi on Yoma 72b, the crown of kingship. The gemara there also includes the statement that each of the various crowns (zir) is such to one who merits it, but is a stranger (zer) to one who does not. So now, we have 12 loaves of a wonderous bread, a word whose meaning we have had to table and a rim, shot through with meaning and symbolism. All of this somehow is tied into the notion of Hashem’s providing food for all the people of the earth and sustaining them (as per the Rabbeinu Bachya on Sh’mot 25:23) which is seen as the role of the one who has true sovereignty and kingship.
Etymologically, the word might be connected to spreading out (as in an animal skin) though Ernest Klein’s A Comprehensive Etymological Dictionary of the Hebrew Language for Readers of English only provides his evidence as to why the conventionally suggested history is actually wrong. He does not provide any alternative. Matityahu Clark’s Etymological Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew: Based on the Commentaries of Samson Raphael Hirsch provides a possible connection when he discusses the use of the final letter nun as a suffix to a three letter root (page 298). In Hebrew, often an addition of a final nun to a three letter root indicates a relationship of a person/character to a trait, behavior or action. A slothful person is an atzlan, from the root a-tz-l, plus the final nun; a bayshan is someone embarrassed, from the root for shame plus that nun. Maybe it is possible to see shulchan as related to the sh-l-ch root associated with a person or people.
The word shalach is about spreading out, and is used textually to refer to being sent out. Moshe and Aharon repeatedly implored Par’oh to “shalach ami” (as in Sh’mot 8:16), and we have an entire parsha named after that “being sent out” in Parshat B’shalach. With this “shalach” in the recent memory of the people, calling this table a shulchan would have resonated. The people are the shulchan, those that were sent out. It had to symbolize that person or group that was sent, and as it held the 12 loaves, this would be a direct reflection of the 12 sh’vatim. Bnei Yisrael are the ones associated with being sent and they, who have been sent out, only can stay “fresh,” vibrant and alive as a miracle which comes as a direct result of the crown of Hashem’s sovereignty. Only by recognizing that kingship of Hashem and allowing the crown of kingship found on the shulchan to be in sway does that zir not become zer, stranger; that crown endows the people with the privilege of being recipients of Hashem’s blessing and continued sustenance – he fulfills a role as king over us only when we accept him as such.
We use that word shulchan so often today that we lose sight of its power. It symbolizes a relationship imbued with incredible power and uniqueness. We rest on it and rely on it (as the 12 loaves rests on the table and is supported by it) and it represents us, as those who were brought out of Egypt by the mighty and miraculous hand of Hashem. It teaches our responsibility to accept ol malchut shamayim and our potential as proper ovdei Hashem to be a constant and public symbol of his eternal presence in the world.
This shulchan has an important role. It holds the 12 loaves of bread which stayed fresh all week (Menachos 96b) as a constant display of a public miracle. Its structure included a “zir” a rim or crown which represented, according to Rashi on Yoma 72b, the crown of kingship. The gemara there also includes the statement that each of the various crowns (zir) is such to one who merits it, but is a stranger (zer) to one who does not. So now, we have 12 loaves of a wonderous bread, a word whose meaning we have had to table and a rim, shot through with meaning and symbolism. All of this somehow is tied into the notion of Hashem’s providing food for all the people of the earth and sustaining them (as per the Rabbeinu Bachya on Sh’mot 25:23) which is seen as the role of the one who has true sovereignty and kingship.
Etymologically, the word might be connected to spreading out (as in an animal skin) though Ernest Klein’s A Comprehensive Etymological Dictionary of the Hebrew Language for Readers of English only provides his evidence as to why the conventionally suggested history is actually wrong. He does not provide any alternative. Matityahu Clark’s Etymological Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew: Based on the Commentaries of Samson Raphael Hirsch provides a possible connection when he discusses the use of the final letter nun as a suffix to a three letter root (page 298). In Hebrew, often an addition of a final nun to a three letter root indicates a relationship of a person/character to a trait, behavior or action. A slothful person is an atzlan, from the root a-tz-l, plus the final nun; a bayshan is someone embarrassed, from the root for shame plus that nun. Maybe it is possible to see shulchan as related to the sh-l-ch root associated with a person or people.
The word shalach is about spreading out, and is used textually to refer to being sent out. Moshe and Aharon repeatedly implored Par’oh to “shalach ami” (as in Sh’mot 8:16), and we have an entire parsha named after that “being sent out” in Parshat B’shalach. With this “shalach” in the recent memory of the people, calling this table a shulchan would have resonated. The people are the shulchan, those that were sent out. It had to symbolize that person or group that was sent, and as it held the 12 loaves, this would be a direct reflection of the 12 sh’vatim. Bnei Yisrael are the ones associated with being sent and they, who have been sent out, only can stay “fresh,” vibrant and alive as a miracle which comes as a direct result of the crown of Hashem’s sovereignty. Only by recognizing that kingship of Hashem and allowing the crown of kingship found on the shulchan to be in sway does that zir not become zer, stranger; that crown endows the people with the privilege of being recipients of Hashem’s blessing and continued sustenance – he fulfills a role as king over us only when we accept him as such.
We use that word shulchan so often today that we lose sight of its power. It symbolizes a relationship imbued with incredible power and uniqueness. We rest on it and rely on it (as the 12 loaves rests on the table and is supported by it) and it represents us, as those who were brought out of Egypt by the mighty and miraculous hand of Hashem. It teaches our responsibility to accept ol malchut shamayim and our potential as proper ovdei Hashem to be a constant and public symbol of his eternal presence in the world.
Saturday, February 17, 2018
Are you a dad?
Are you a crazy dad?
1. Your flight is at 6PM, Thursday. The airport is 30 minutes away. When do you leave the house?
a. 5:30PM
b. 2PM
c. 11AM
d. The preceding Tuesday.
2. At what temperature should the thermostat be set?
a. 72 F
b. 70 F
c. 68 F
d. Trust me and just don’t touch it.
3. How much snow is too much before you don’t let your child drive?
a. 6 inches
b. 2 inches
c. A coating
d. Within the next 10 days.
4. How long does a clothes shopping trip take?
a. 25 minutes
b. 1 hour
c. 3 hours
d. Click. Done.
5. Your shopping list has 3 items on it. How many do you buy?
a. 3
b. 60
c. 8
d. 2. We don’t need to spend money on flour. We can make our own.
6. How long does a “5 minute errand” take?
a. 5 minutes
b. 15 minutes
c. Up to an hour
d. 4 minutes and 13 seconds and I WIN!
7. Do you need help with all those bags?
a. Sure, please take this one
b. No, I should be OK, but I’ll let you know
c. Don’t sweat it – I’ll take multiple trips
d. Don’t touch anything – I have them balanced just right. Just point me to the house and have the door open in exactly 7.2 seconds.
8. Right now my phone is at what percent?
A. 25
B. 50
C. 75
D. 100, plugged in and don’t touch my phone
9. Where do you go for gas for the car?
a. Wherever I happen to be
b. I like this place near home
c. The place I have the special credit card for
d. I will drive to Saudi Arabia to save 3 cents per gallon
10. Is your 17 year old daughter going out dressed like that?
a. You are NOT going out like that
b. We should talk about how you are dressed
c. You are old enough to make certain decisions – clearly you aren’t ready to make this one
d. I thought I locked you in your room more securely.
11. What do you want to talk about?
a. My day
b. Nothing, I’m good
c. Our summer plans
d. The following 6 items as listed on this printed agenda.
1. Your flight is at 6PM, Thursday. The airport is 30 minutes away. When do you leave the house?
a. 5:30PM
b. 2PM
c. 11AM
d. The preceding Tuesday.
2. At what temperature should the thermostat be set?
a. 72 F
b. 70 F
c. 68 F
d. Trust me and just don’t touch it.
3. How much snow is too much before you don’t let your child drive?
a. 6 inches
b. 2 inches
c. A coating
d. Within the next 10 days.
4. How long does a clothes shopping trip take?
a. 25 minutes
b. 1 hour
c. 3 hours
d. Click. Done.
5. Your shopping list has 3 items on it. How many do you buy?
a. 3
b. 60
c. 8
d. 2. We don’t need to spend money on flour. We can make our own.
6. How long does a “5 minute errand” take?
a. 5 minutes
b. 15 minutes
c. Up to an hour
d. 4 minutes and 13 seconds and I WIN!
7. Do you need help with all those bags?
a. Sure, please take this one
b. No, I should be OK, but I’ll let you know
c. Don’t sweat it – I’ll take multiple trips
d. Don’t touch anything – I have them balanced just right. Just point me to the house and have the door open in exactly 7.2 seconds.
8. Right now my phone is at what percent?
A. 25
B. 50
C. 75
D. 100, plugged in and don’t touch my phone
9. Where do you go for gas for the car?
a. Wherever I happen to be
b. I like this place near home
c. The place I have the special credit card for
d. I will drive to Saudi Arabia to save 3 cents per gallon
10. Is your 17 year old daughter going out dressed like that?
a. You are NOT going out like that
b. We should talk about how you are dressed
c. You are old enough to make certain decisions – clearly you aren’t ready to make this one
d. I thought I locked you in your room more securely.
11. What do you want to talk about?
a. My day
b. Nothing, I’m good
c. Our summer plans
d. The following 6 items as listed on this printed agenda.
Sunday, February 11, 2018
Let's talk Shiva
Along with my posts about what I want for my funeral, I realize that it is important for me to state my clear and governing wishes for my Shiva. In Jewish law, after someone passes away, close relatives observe a time of intense mourning which can be as long as 7 days. This is referred to as "sitting Shiva." I have gone to a couple of Shiva houses recently and decided that I need to lay out exactly what I want for my Shiva. Like my funeral, I won't really be able to check so this is all about the honor system, or any one person's fear of reprisals from beyond the grave, because this ghost will not give up anything. By the way, for the original Death Wishes post, go here and then ctrl-f to 'my death wishes'.
The mourners at the Shiva have to sit on low chairs. I can't do anything about this, but I'd like to request low recliners. Like La-Z-Babies or something. If these don't exist, I ask that someone invent them. I'm not expecting to need them imminently, but if it is worth doing, and it is, it is worth doing right now.
Food service -- yes, please. The mourners generally pick at food. The visitors sit around awkwardly not knowing what to do. So maybe a carving station or two would be good.
Not everyone who comes to comfort my relatives will know me well. True, that's their loss, but I have to account for it. So I've been thinking -- you know how at bar and bat mitzvahs, there is that 20 minute slide show/montage, with pictures synced up to a variety of songs? I think that I want that -- a video montage played at the top of every hour. But here's the thing -- I don't want it played in the main room where the mourners are sitting. Instead, people should be lined up outside, and let in at the top of the hour to a separate room where they have to watch the montage before they are admitted to the main room. Then, they sit in the main room and make the requisite uncomfortable small talk and leave. Meanwhile, the new group is lined up outside waiting to be admitted.
Inside the main room there should be a selection of my writing. A few VDT's can be set up with this blog site (AND NOTHING ELSE) so people can read what I said (no doubt, "again"...). All of my witticisms on Facebook should be printed and bound and made required reading (if possible, assigned as a pre-requisite, with a quiz administered once people show up...if they pass, they can leave. If not, they have to stay for the full time, and must take an exit assessment to be let out). My poetry should be collected, typed up nice and neat, and used to cover all the walls. And each morning must open his conversation with any of the mourners with a short paragraph (no fewer than 150 words) detailing his or her favorite piece of my writing, and explaining how it has changed his or her life.
I know that the tradition requires that the visitors wait before talking to the mourners, as the mourners have to open the conversation. This, though, is a terrible imposition on the mourners who then feel the need to play the host, and recognize each visitor and welcome him or her. Otherwise, the visitor just sits there in silence. So I'd like the mourners to record themselves saying a variety of welcoming phrases, like "Hey, what's up," "Thanks for coming," or "You can sit anywhere, just not on my La-Z-Baby" and have that recording playing as people enter, so each visitor has already been "welcomed" and can then speak without fear of committing a religious faux pas.
The conversation tends to get stilted, or even peter out some times. So, to forestall that eventuality, and taking a page from the Oscars practice of hiring chair fillers, I'd like the mourners to hire a few conversation fillers -- professionals who have been briefed on me and my life and who can interject interesting trivia or relevant memories so when the mourners flag, or the conversation dips, the pro can step in and step it up. Also, as people walk in, they should be given a sheet with appropriate questions to ask, and topics of conversation. If anyone asks about my not being allowed in the baseball hall of fame, that person should be escorted out.
There is a practice to light candles that will last for the 7 days. I want scented candles. Something manly, please.
I would like there to be an ongoing contest (maybe one of those jars filled with something relevant like unreturned student papers, and the whoever guesses the right number wins a coupon to an oil change place) or competition. What about musical chairs? That sounds reasonable. I will allow wailing, but discourage the gnashing of teeth. Go gnash on something else.
More updates as events warrant.
The mourners at the Shiva have to sit on low chairs. I can't do anything about this, but I'd like to request low recliners. Like La-Z-Babies or something. If these don't exist, I ask that someone invent them. I'm not expecting to need them imminently, but if it is worth doing, and it is, it is worth doing right now.
Food service -- yes, please. The mourners generally pick at food. The visitors sit around awkwardly not knowing what to do. So maybe a carving station or two would be good.
Not everyone who comes to comfort my relatives will know me well. True, that's their loss, but I have to account for it. So I've been thinking -- you know how at bar and bat mitzvahs, there is that 20 minute slide show/montage, with pictures synced up to a variety of songs? I think that I want that -- a video montage played at the top of every hour. But here's the thing -- I don't want it played in the main room where the mourners are sitting. Instead, people should be lined up outside, and let in at the top of the hour to a separate room where they have to watch the montage before they are admitted to the main room. Then, they sit in the main room and make the requisite uncomfortable small talk and leave. Meanwhile, the new group is lined up outside waiting to be admitted.
Inside the main room there should be a selection of my writing. A few VDT's can be set up with this blog site (AND NOTHING ELSE) so people can read what I said (no doubt, "again"...). All of my witticisms on Facebook should be printed and bound and made required reading (if possible, assigned as a pre-requisite, with a quiz administered once people show up...if they pass, they can leave. If not, they have to stay for the full time, and must take an exit assessment to be let out). My poetry should be collected, typed up nice and neat, and used to cover all the walls. And each morning must open his conversation with any of the mourners with a short paragraph (no fewer than 150 words) detailing his or her favorite piece of my writing, and explaining how it has changed his or her life.
I know that the tradition requires that the visitors wait before talking to the mourners, as the mourners have to open the conversation. This, though, is a terrible imposition on the mourners who then feel the need to play the host, and recognize each visitor and welcome him or her. Otherwise, the visitor just sits there in silence. So I'd like the mourners to record themselves saying a variety of welcoming phrases, like "Hey, what's up," "Thanks for coming," or "You can sit anywhere, just not on my La-Z-Baby" and have that recording playing as people enter, so each visitor has already been "welcomed" and can then speak without fear of committing a religious faux pas.
The conversation tends to get stilted, or even peter out some times. So, to forestall that eventuality, and taking a page from the Oscars practice of hiring chair fillers, I'd like the mourners to hire a few conversation fillers -- professionals who have been briefed on me and my life and who can interject interesting trivia or relevant memories so when the mourners flag, or the conversation dips, the pro can step in and step it up. Also, as people walk in, they should be given a sheet with appropriate questions to ask, and topics of conversation. If anyone asks about my not being allowed in the baseball hall of fame, that person should be escorted out.
There is a practice to light candles that will last for the 7 days. I want scented candles. Something manly, please.
I would like there to be an ongoing contest (maybe one of those jars filled with something relevant like unreturned student papers, and the whoever guesses the right number wins a coupon to an oil change place) or competition. What about musical chairs? That sounds reasonable. I will allow wailing, but discourage the gnashing of teeth. Go gnash on something else.
More updates as events warrant.
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