If everyone believed they had a voice...

     I recently received a telephone call from a member of the Governor's Task Force to ask my opinion about a bill passed in Tennessee that would require that certified education personnel received a minimum of three hours of suicide or bullying prevention

training each year.  This could be in the form of a workshop, online program, self-study, etc.  It would not be required in addition to the regular in-service points required by the state, but would serve as part of that requirement.

     My immediate response was an overwhelming YES!  Then I began considering the training nightmare and inequities that resulted from the passage of the ESOL requirements, and decided that this could be a wonderful benefit if done thoughtfully.  It could also be a potential nightmare of accountability if it was not given the appropriate planning.  I begin making a list of pros and cons, and some suggestions about how this might work best.

     The greatest "PRO" is that it would clearly set Prevention as a priority within the state, which I am convinced will save lives and improve the "quality of life" for students, teachers, and administrators.  It would allow districts to allot funding for training that is crucially needed to give educators and administrators the tools they need to deal with these situations.  Finally, it would open the door to frank discussion about many practices that have devastated the climate of Florida classrooms, driving both parents and professionals out of the system in search of some alternative.  The "CONS" I could come up with would only arise if this opportunity 

for growth is turned into another fruitless exercise that puts teachers through their paces simply for the purpose of documenting that districts have gone through the motions. (ie. C.Y.A.)  Here are my suggestions, but I can only look at this from my own personal perspective.  Please take the time to look this over and respond so that we can have the widest amount of feedback.  We would like to move forward with this next session with a plan that EVERYONE will support and embrace with their whole heart.  I will forward all suggestions to Tallahassee for consideration.  My suggestions are listed below...

 

  I would like the bill to require that beginning in 2010, all professional certificate renewal applicants will have a minimum of six credit hours of in-service in the area of Prevention/Mental Health.  This is not in addition to the 60 hours now required to renew, but would just fall into the general knowledge category.  Courses could include suicide prevention, bullying, cyber-bullying, substance abuse, gang-related violence, sexual identity and gender preference, depression, eating disorders, grief counseling, anger management, bio-feedback, or any number of subjects that we deal with every day.  I liked the idea of lumping it into the renewal requirements so that it didn't become just one of the long list of subjects that have to be cranked out during pre-school.  This spreads out the process of tracking it over a period of five years so the classes aren't all slammed like they were with ESOL.

Extending the deadline also allows time for the state to identify quality programs to be offered, and for the development of a wider variety of programs to suit the interests and needs of educators in very diverse areas around the state.  I am not certain how this would effect the college requirements for teachers, but I do feel that this should become an identified part of all Methods training for new educators, and that colleges might even want to look to creating a course that covers this information, even if it is an elective.  Of course, there are many changes that I would love to see in public education, but I really would love to hear what others have to say.  Please send me your feedback, and feel free to address any additional concerns you might have.  You never know if your idea might be the one that changes the world.