Why Physical Education is Important

Herophilus once said, "Without health and fitness, wealth is without value, knowledge is useless, art cannot become manifest, and music cannot be played."

Physical education has long been a staple in schools on a K-12 level and beyond, with all students required to participate in some form of physical education. Also referred to as "gym class" students participated in activities such as team sports, (volleyball, soccer, basketball, etc.) walking or running (running a mile was common), cardiovascular and strength training exercises (such as pull-ups and push-ups) and even swimming.

Physical education provides children with an opportunity to exercise during the day. It gives children early exposure to team sports, and promotes good physical fitness. Children who participate in physical education get a workout, and they also learn the importance of exercise as a lifelong habit.

Physical education is clearly an important course in schools, with many benefits for children. In addition to helping kids learn healthy habits and stay off drugs, physical education can also increase learning by getting the blood flowing and increasing oxygen levels, which promote concentration. Sports and PE help children build self esteem and help them learn important lessons in teamwork. Physical education is extremely important and should be protected in schools, despite budget cuts.

That is why I support The Student Health and Fitness Act (HOUSE BILL 196) requiring that a public school student in elementary school be provided a daily program of physical activity totaling at least 150 minutes of physical activity each week, including at least 90 minutes of physical education; requiring that the program of physical activity for a specified category of student be consistent with a specified plan for the student; requiring public elementary schools to designate a specified group to plan and coordinate specified activities; etc.

 Orlando J. Bego 

Candidate, School Board District 8

www.VoteOJBego.com

Why Is Teacher Development Important?

Teachers are lifelong learners. In fact, ongoing education is a requirement for teachers of every public school level, from kindergarten through 12th grade. Known as professional development, this education -- usually in the form of workshops, seminars and training courses -- helps teachers stay up to date with new trends and learn fresh strategies, techniques and methods for classroom challenges. The overriding idea behind professional development is that increased knowledge helps teachers improve student achievement. That's because professional development focuses on what each teacher needs to fine-tune his or her classroom practice.

On December 8, 2011, the Senate introduced their bill to reauthorize the Enhancing Education Through Technology Act of 2001 -- The Achievement Through Technology and Innovation Act (ATTAIN). ATTAIN builds upon the successful education technology programs that began with No Child Left Behind and focuses more on systemic school redesign through the innovative use of technology. I am pleased to see that there is an increased focus on teachers and funding for sustainable and ongoing professional development. 

However, we must at the local level ensure that our teachers in Prince George's County are given adequate resources to remain successful in the classroom.

With an approved FY2013 budget of $1.6 billion, I am sure that Dr. Hite and our elected School Board can find means to restore an appropriate level of funding for Professional Development. The maintenance of this core service and program directly impacts teaching and learning.

Dr. Hite states, "Our mission is to drive the system’s efforts around strategic educational reform through hiring and developing a highly effective workforce.  The Division of Human Resources supports academic excellence with a key focus on high student achievement, ensuring highly effective teaching, and maximizing efficient and effective operations to support school system goals."

Dr. Hite is correct but this is only achievable if our teachers are given the proper tools to remain effective in the classroom.  I agree that Professional Development is critical to an effective workforce and student success.

I just wish that our Superintendent & Board would put...more, some, a little, any amount of money where their mouth is.

Orlando J. Bego, Candidate
Board of Education, District 8
www.VoteOJBego.com 

The Value of School Libraries in Learning

Since FY08, the School Librarian/Media Specialist position in Prince George's County Public Schools has been cut some 55%.  In the age of information technology with the push for innovative teaching techniques, it is evident that our school system is adversely impacting the learning environment by drastically reducing a key supportive position.

By mid 2001, researchers affiliated with the Library Research Service of the Colorado State Library and the University of Denver had completed four statewide studies on the impact of school library media programs on the academic achievement of U.S. public school students: 

* Information Empowered

* Measuring Up to Standards

* How School Librarians Help Kids Achieve Standards, The Second Colorado Study

* Good Schools Have School Librarians:

Philosophically, these studies are rooted in the Information Power model espoused by the American Association of School Librarians and the findings from six decades of research related to the impact of school library media programs on academic achievement.

Information Power

The latest edition of the American Association of School Librarians' Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning (1998) identifies three roles for school library media specialists (LMS). In a learning and teaching role, the LMS advances the instructional goals of the school. As a provider of information access and delivery, the LMS develops collections and services and facilitates their use. And, as a program administrator, the LMS serves as the library media center (LMC) manager as well as a school-wide advocate and trainer for information literacy. 

As Learning & Teaching the LMS:

• is part of a planning and teaching team with the classroom teacher,
• teaches information literacy, and
• provides one-to-one tutoring for students in need. 

In Information Access & Delivery the LMS:

• maintains quality collections of books and other materials selected to support the curriculum and
• maintains state-of-the-art technology that is integrated into the learning/teaching processes.

In Program Administration the LMS:

• advocates for information literacy with the principal, at faculty meetings, and in standards and curriculum committee meetings,
• provides in-service programs for teachers on resource-based learning, integrating information literacy into the curriculum, and getting the most out of technology, as well as teaching students. 

If Prince George's County Public Schools are to regain its status as a top educational institution in the United States it must reconsider its position on School Librarians/Media Specialist. School library media programs should be funded sufficiently to employ both professional and support staff and to have both information resources in a variety of formats and the technology necessary to extend the LM program beyond the walls of the library media center. Library media specialists should be recognized and utilized by principals and teachers as professional colleagues in the teaching and learning enterprise.

Support Our Librarians!

Meeting With Dr. Hite

Several weeks ago I was invited to attend a meeting with Dr. William Hite, Superintendent of PGCPS.  Based on the mailing list, all non-incumbent candidates for the Board of Education were invited to attend this meeting (Dr. Hite later stated that he also invited the current Board).

Although the email did not specify the intent of the meeting or its nature, I did not perceive a conflict.  However, there were those who found out about the scheduled meeting and promptly called me and ask that I not attend.  Not only that, but I was asked to write a letter stating that this meeting was an inappropriate request.

After much deliberation, I decided not to write the letter and confirm my attendance. After all, how could I, in good conscious, say no to a meeting with the Superintendent.  My candidacy is one that believes that any dialogue is good for the sake of students living in District 8.  The opportunity to have a discussion with Dr. Hite regarding the school system is very much needed and welcomed.

The meeting lasted a hour with approximately 12 in attendance including one incumbent.  There were six (6) areas discussed including Revenue, Enrollment, Poverty/ESOL, Innovation, Teacher/Leader Effectiveness and Maintenance and Repair.  Allow me to highlight my findings on Revenues.

Revenue - The total projected revenues for FY 2012 were $1.614B with 99% from three sources State 41%, County 38% and Federal 6.6%.

• Historically, over the past 5 years, the school system budget has seen a decline of 5%, representing $72,195,794.   

• What is a travesty is the fact that since FY08 the positions with the most cut are Guidance Counselors with a 15% reduction, Teachers with a with a 15% reduction, Therapist with a 23% reduction, Social Workers with a 50% reduction, and Librarians with a 55% reduction.

• Montgomery County spends $3,000 more per pupil than Prince George's County.  This in part is due to more funding allocated by the county to education.

• PGCPS has no revenue authority besides rental usage fees.

I'm no rocket scientist but how are "Children First" when critical services are continuously cut?  The resources that both our students and educators need must stay preserved for the sake of a brighter future in Prince George's County.  There is a systemic problem if by any sense of the imagination we are to believe that our school system is on the path of improvement with these drastic cuts to critical services.

Enrollment will continue to decline if students are not challenged with a curriculum that caters to different learning styles; Innovation is obsolete if educators are not given the proper tools to make it viable; ESOL communities will continue to struggle if unable to make cultural adjustments; Teachers cannot maintain effectiveness if year after year they are stripped of supportive resources; and Repairs will continue to plague our schools if creative partnerships are not employed.

It is time that we take a stance and get involved in our education system.  Join your local PTA/PTO at a neighborhood school or become a member of an organization that care about our students, but whatever you decide to do, do it with expediency!

MISeducation of Students

To educate means to train the mind. To enlighten means to give greater knowledge to. Teachers are charged with this grave responsibility of educating and enlightening our students. High school graduates are leaving without both. Additionally, graduates are leaving high school without the ability to perform basic math computation and some of them can't write a coherent paragraph.

However, the blame for the MISeducation of students cannot be placed on the teachers alone. Parents and have to assume the lion's share of this responsibility as well.

Parents have to attend PTA meetings; they have to check their children's homework; check their test scores; and monitor their children's study habits.

Some may say that some parents don't know themselves, how to assist their children. This may be true, but this does not excuse the parent. Enrolling children in study groups and after-school programs are examples of how parents can assist.

All it takes is some time and effort. If only this effort could be transferred to helping with homework and attending PTA meetings.

Education has the power to transform. I have listed a few easy to implement changes that can assist our children with learning. 

1.     Modernize the educational curriculum. There should be civic courses offered every semester to teach students how to engage the political systems in society. This will help give them a sense of pride because they would have been identifying with their culture.

2.     Students should be given mental tests yearly or as needed. Early detection of domestic problems or learning difficulties will assist in the proper care and placement of students in programs that can cater to their needs.

3.     Teachers need additional resources if they are to be held to a higher standard. Teachers should be allowed to teach without corrective action if their techniques are proven to be effective.

Education From The Top

With the adoption of No Child Left Behind in 2001, School Boards have been faced with the challenge of creating learning environments that will eliminate the achievement gap. To achieve this goal schools have struggled with assessing past practices and policies that either support or inhibit the learning success of all students.

Thus, schools administrators, teachers and Board members have sought ways to refine their individual as well as collective efforts for systemic change. As we clearly identify in Prince George's County, change of this magnitude requires both pressure and support from leaders. 

"An organization that changes practices without changing beliefs will quickly revert to the old practices."

An effective School Board member must be clear of those changes that will lead to what I label "Social Justice Advocacy." Social justice advocacy ensures that ALL learners have access to high quality instruction in a positive learning environment. This can only be achieved in District 8 if we have a School Board member who will:

• Question the way policy is administered
• Participate in the agenda setting as they raise significant issues
• Target political systems “because those systems are not responding to people’s needs”
• Are inclusive and engaging
• Propose policy solutions
• Open up space for public argumentation

I believe that leadership experience in these challenging times will provide a new set of skills which will serve to engage constituents, administrators, teachers and other School Board members in the creation of instructional equity in an inclusive learning environment.

It is time to commit to working together in pursuit of the school mission, that above all else, “Children First.”

Orlando J. Bego, Candidate

Prince George’s County School Board District 8

www.voteOJBego.com