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Thomas: New School Year Brings Focus On Learning
August 10, 2016
As about 40,000 students head back to school today in Escambia County, Superintendent Malcolm Thomas says the district is ready for a successful school year.
“The schools are up to the challenge,” Thomas said. “And we need students and parents to do their part. We need students coming to school prepared to learn. Our expectations are high, but we believe in every student.”
Thomas said his teacher won’t be “teaching the test” — focusing on teaching only what might be on standardized state tests — this year. “Learning is the most important, not the test,’ he said.
Each high school student in the district will receive a Chromebook computer early in the year, while middle and some elementary school students will receive a Chromebook later in the year, likely by Christmas. The shift to Chromebooks will help better prepare students, the superintendent said.
Libraries and media centers will continue to be known as Makerspaces this year — DIY spaces where students can create, invent, explore and learn using everything from arts and crafts to board games.
“It’s going to be a great year,” Thomas said.
Comments
4 Responses to “Thomas: New School Year Brings Focus On Learning”
Text books should be the norm. Technology in classroom is not great. Kids now are allowed to use phones allowed to be given chrome books. Kids now text take selfy pics of friends while in school and other things that are far.more worst. Escambia County is not.not . the place.to try chrome books many will never be returned at the tax payers expense.there are many children whose family cannot afford Internet or don’t want it in their home.a text book every child can use. Schools are nonprofit not for profit should be ran that way.
Great that they are going back to teaching more than the Test. The chromebooks scare the beans out of me though. So glad I don’t have any kids in school anymore. I see very bad things happening, and parents being forced to replace stolen or broken Books. Hope it goes better than I expect it to.
I’m very happy to hear that teaching will be going back to actually, involving the students into the learning process & not just studying for standardized tests. What a relief for the students, as well. I’ve seen the students become so upset over these “do or die” tests. It has just become too much stress for everyone concerned; students, teachers & parents, as well. I think the school year will be a much better year for everyone.
Glad to hear that they’re not going to be “teaching to the test”. That was a disaster and has resulted in the US falling in our education levels. I think the Chromebooks are a good idea, too. Kids need to learn how to use technology, early. Just have to be careful with what they can and can’t access. But I believe we have a good Superintendent and look forward to a good year!