Monday Report is published by the College of Education at Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI 48197. Previous issues of Monday Report are at http://www.emich.edu/coe/monday. Send items and comments to alane.starko@emich.edu.

NOTES FROM THE DEAN’S DESK

I recently had the opportunity to read a pre-publication copy of Nelson Maylone’s Teacher Education and Practice article titled, “Why Teacher Educators Should Care About the No Child Left Behind Act.” In the article, Dr. Maylone examines the impact of NCLB on schools, teachers, and teacher educators. He cites the dilemmas of teacher educators who, on one hand, should teach best practice in the area of assessment, and on the other hand must prepare students for schools in which assessment is used in inappropriate ways. What do we do with the nuances of performance assessment and complex tasks when standardized tests are the coin of the realm? How do we encourage our most capable students to take on the challenges of at-risk schools when their best efforts may lead to constant labels of failure?

The questions are daunting, to be sure, reflective of the perpetual tension between preparing students for the schools we want versus the schools we have. At a minimum they call for understanding both the letter of the law and how it is playing out daily in the schools around us. Only then can we have the conversations that will allow our students to move forward in professional ways.

Teaching: the earth doesn’t move every time, but when it does, what a rush!—Cameron Beatty

BREHM SCHOLARSHIPS: MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN SPECIAL EDUCATION

Fifty-six years ago, Delores Soderquist did not see college in her future plans. But a $50 scholarship from Eastern Michigan University changed her life. She graduated from EMU with a major in special education-mental impairment and a minor in English, and went on to teach special education and to advocate for children in many ways.

Now, Delores (Soderquist) Brehm, who graduated from EMU in 1952, and her husband, William, are donating $1 million to EMU to establish an endowed scholarship in special education. The first million-dollar scholarship endowment in EMU’s history is targeted at students preparing to be Special Education teachers. Interest on the endowment will provide approximately fifteen Brehm scholarships each year beginning with 2005-2006. They will be awarded to students majoring in special education who meet several criteria, the most important of which is commitment and service to children and adolescents with disabilities. This year there are eight Brehm Scholars: Ellen Arble (CI), William Bolton (CI), Michele Danilowicz (VI), Benjamin Darragh (SLI), Amy Mangan (CI), Kristy Metz (HI), Kathy White (POHI/CI), and Dustin Saalman (EI).

A NEW JOURNAL AT EMU

A new electronic journal is housed in the Department of Teacher Education. The EcoJustice Review: Educating for the Commons is an international juried forum created to address the revitalization of the world’s diverse commons. The EcoJustice Review is founded upon the understanding that consumer-based cultures are responsible for the interrelated loss of cultural, biological and linguistic diversity across the planet.

This journal provides a site for critical discussion around the contribution of ecojustice education to revitalization efforts through the reform of public schools, universities and other educational relationships. The journal is edited by Rebecca Martusewicz with production support by SOFD graduate student John Lupinacci. For a call for papers and more information go to http://www.ecojusticeeducation.org

COE IN THE NEWS

The October 8 Ann Arbor News was full of good news from the College of Education. In addition to a major article on the Brehm endowment, the paper featured an article on Jenny Clark and the CATE lab, which provides a variety of assistive technologies for students with disabilities. Emphasis in the article was on technology that easily converts print to Braille or voice.

FACULTY AND STAFF NOTES

On September 14, 2004 the Michigan State Board of Education adopted a resolution commending Jerry Robbins, former dean of the College of Education, for his service to EMU and to professional education in the state. The resolution was presented to Robbins during the MACTE Fall Conference, held October 11, 2004 at the University of Michigan-Dearborn.

With the support of the College of Education, the Office of Collaborative Education, and the Social Foundations program, Rebecca Martusewicz organized and hosted EcoJustice Education Retreat 2004:Revitalizing Detroit's Commons. The retreat was held October 1-3 in conjunction with the first annual Great Lakes Regional Grassroots Conference on Hunger, Homelessness, and Housing, sponsored by the Michigan Welfare Rights Organization. Participants in the three-day conversation included a host of Detroit community builders, grassroots activists, ecojustice educators from across the US and Canada and graduate students and faculty from EMU SOFD graduate students Elizabeth Smith and Scott Whitehouse presented initial findings from thesis projects examining grassroots activism as ecojustice education in Detroit.

Joe Bishop recently returned from Washington D.C., bringing with him a group of visiting Ukrainian educators. While in Washington Joe presented as part of a panel, “PiE (Partners in Education) Orientation Week: Educating Global Citizens: Forming International Partnerships in Civic Education” at meetings sponsored by the American Council for International Education. He was also an invited discussion leader for the presentation “Preparing for the Summer Workshops” at the same meetings. For several years Dr. Bishop has been active in civic education exchange activities with various areas of Eastern Europe.

Cathy Fleischer’s article, “Professional Development for Teacher Writers” is featured in the October edition of Educational Leadership. Dr. Fleischer is a member of the English Department and part of our secondary methods faculty.

Last week Ron Williamson was in Chicago to chair the fall meeting of the Board of Directors of the National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform. The forum is a consortium of professional organizations, researchers and middle grades advocates funded by the Edna McConnell Clark, Knight and Kellogg Foundations.

John Palladino was recently elected as a member of the International Academy for Research in Learning Disabilities (IARLD).

This month Norma Taylor-Bishop, of the Office of Collaborative Education, celebrates 25 years at Eastern.

On October 15, Q.S. (Ric) Samonte (Professor Emeritus) participated in launching his new book, At The Table With The Family, at the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. along with other Filipino American authors of books published in 2004. On October 16th, he had a book reading and signing at George Washington University of Washington, D.C. and on October 23rd, the Philippine Studies Group of UM has scheduled a similar event at the University of Michigan.

KAPPA DELTA PI

Pi Chapter of the honor society Kappa Delta Pi will be holding its Fall Initiation on Sunday, November 7 at 2:00 in the Ballroom of McKenny Union.

Undergraduate students are eligible for membership in Kappa Delta Pi if they have a grade point average of 3.2 or higher and if they have been admitted to the College of Education. Post-baccalaureate certification students must have a grade point of 3.5 or higher and must be admitted to the College of Education. Graduate students must have a grade point of 3.5 or higher and must have completed 15 semester hours of credit in their graduate degree program.

Pi Chapter is an "ACE" (Achieving Chapter Excellence) chapter, having won that designation in 1999 and 2003. It also sponsored the first chapter in the Republic of Mexico in 1994.The chapter is active and sponsors many functions for the welfare of the students in the College of Education. For information about Kappa Delta Pi see the Web Site: http://www.kdp.org For local information, contact Dr. Elizabeth Johnson, Counselor-Elect or Dr. Thomas Gwaltney, Counselor. Dr. Johnson will assume the responsibilities of Chapter Counselor at the November 7 Initiation.

ALUMNI NOTES

The Ann Arbor News recently featured Willow Run's annual Hall of Fame awardees. These included alum Donald G. Stewart. Stewart played football for EMU, became head coach at Willow Run, then moved to Naples, Florida where he teaches and coaches. He has been named Southwest Florida's Coach of the Year six times.

The Livonia Observer told the story of another educator with an emphasis in physical education: Taylor Elementary physical education teacher Charles O'Loughlin, affectionately known as “Mr. O.” Principal Andrea Oquist called O'Loughlin "an amazing educator." "He combines kindness and compassion with a consummate knowledge of his craft. . . As a staff member, he exudes an enthusiasm and collaborative nature amongst his colleagues, which is contagious.”

Willow Run High School's yearbook, The Paradigm, received a silver medal in a contest sponsored by the Michigan Interscholastic Press Association. The yearbook was recognized for its theme, "Red, White, and You," that chronicled the school's 60th anniversary. Jennifer Thornsberry is a technology teacher at Willow Run and teacher sponsor of the yearbook.

OPPORTUNITIES

Michigan’s superintendent of instruction, Tom Watkins, has announced Presidential Awards for the Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST), designed to honor outstanding K-12 math and science teachers. The annual awards alternate between K-6 and 7-12 teachers. Nominations for 2005 are for secondary teachers. Information and application materials are available at http://www.paemst.org. The award includes a $10,000 National Science Foundation grant and a trip to Washington, D.C.

THEME STATEMENTS

Caring professional educators for a diverse and democratic society. (CPED²S) (Initial program)

Inquiry, advocacy, and leadership in education for diverse and democratic society. (Advanced programs)

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