Legislature(1997 - 1998)
02/03/1997 09:30 AM House HES
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
JOINT HOUSE/SENATE HEALTH, EDUCATION
AND SOCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEES
February 3, 1997
9:30 a.m.
HOUSE MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Con Bunde, Chairman
Representative Joe Green, Vice Chair
Representative Brian Porter
Representative Al Vezey
Representative Tom Brice
Representative Allen Kemplen
HOUSE MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Fred Dyson
SENATE MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Gary Wilken, Chairman
Senator Loren Leman, Vice Chairman
Senator Jerry Ward
Senator Johnny Ellis
SENATE MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Lyda Green
OTHER MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Georgianna Lincoln
Representative Eldon Mulder
Representative Reggie Joule
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
Presentation by the Milken Foundation Award Recipients: Frederica
Buffmire, David Gillam, Ledwina Jones, and Judy Kuhn
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 97-6, SIDE A
Number 001
CO-CHAIR CON BUNDE called the Joint House/Senate Health, Education
and Social Services Committees to order at 9:30 a.m.
PRESENTATION BY THE MILKEN FOUNDATION AWARD RECEIPIENTS
CO-CHAIR BUNDE announced that the Milken Award Recipients were
present to meet and talk with the committee. As a former teacher,
Co-Chair Bunde was in awe of these teachers' accomplishments. He
informed everyone that the Milken Family Foundation National
Educator Awards program recognizes elementary and secondary
teachers, principals and other education professionals, who are
furthering excellence in education as well as offering a financial
reward. Co-Chair Bunde reviewed the goals, as listed in the
committee packet, of the Milken Foundation Award. Each Milken
Educator Award carries with it an unrestricted award of $25,000 in
order to further the recipients endeavors in education. Co-Chair
Bunde introduced the award recipients and invited them to speak
regarding the challenges in education and ways in which to improve
education in Alaska.
Number 094
DAVID GILLAM, an 18 year teacher, said that he had seen much change
in Anchorage, the community itself, as well as in the classroom.
Those changes have not always been positive. The changes reflect
changes in families and their expectations. When Mr. Gillam began
teaching in Anchorage, he saw children from two parent families
where both parents put time into their children. Those families
are being replaced by more and more children from families where
education is not a priority. Some children come to school with
their first priority being food. Mr. Gillam believed that many
teachers in Anchorage are going beyond the call of duty working
late hours and weekends. The teachers are trying to make a
difference.
FREDERICA BUFFMIRE informed the committee that she was a product of
the Fairbanks school system as well as the university. The
challenge educators face, apart from the challenges in the
classroom that Mr. Gillam mentioned, is marketing. Teachers have
not adequately articulated what they are doing well and the
challenges they face. Ms. Buffmire indicated that education is
required for teachers to stay current. There needs to be a new
piece in the equation in order for teachers to address the social
and educational needs of today's children. Ms. Buffmire reiterated
that the teachers at her school were working late hours and
weekends.
Number 173
LEDWINA JONES began by introducing her students, who had all done
drawings on her kuspuk. Ms. Jones was concerned that the Native
Alaskan language was being lost. The emersion program has been in
existence for only two years and is drawing many observers. She
requested support for teaching any language in Alaska as a
priority. Ms. Jones emphasized the importance of parents and
strong families.
JUDY KUHN, Alaska Teacher of the Year, felt that teachers were the
bridge between the children and the policy. The beginning
education of a child is very important. Ms. Kuhn pointed out that
teachers and schools are asked to do many things that the family
once did. The dysfunctional family has changed the schools, often
children come to school from fights, abuse, alcoholism and divorce.
Can a student concentrate with all that is on their mind? Ms. Kuhn
did not believe so, therefore, the teacher must balance the needs
of the children in the classroom with the teaching of the
curriculum and the policies.
Number 243
Ms. Kuhn emphasized that teachers are dedicated and care about the
children and excellence in education. Teachers are in the field,
the classroom, and are experts on how to do this balancing.
Whenever policy is made, a teacher's presence and input is very
important. Ms. Kuhn noted that teachers hold some veto power in
that the teacher implements the policy. The way the policy is
implemented is determined by the teacher's support or opposition.
Ms. Kuhn recommended that anytime policy is being determined,
teachers and principals be involved.
CO-CHAIR BUNDE recognized the presence of Rosemary Hagevig and
asked if she would like to make any comments. She declined.
REPRESENTATIVE JOE GREEN noted that this was a new area for him.
He recognized that only part of a teacher's day is spent educating;
the other part of the teacher's day is spent acting as a mediator
or an understanding adult for these children. Where can the
limited resources available be spent to attack this problem?
JUDY KUHN stated that funding for teacher training is necessary.
There also needs to be a manner in which teachers can network on
issues and ideas. With regards to the type of training, Ms. Kuhn
said the training necessary would be broad and touch many issues.
REPRESENTATIVE GREEN asked Ms. Kuhn if the little time these
children are in school could undo the two-thirds of the time
children spend away from school in the dysfunctional family.
MS. KUHN believed in many ways that could be achieved by providing
a stable environment, loving discipline, a hot lunch program,
counseling services, the hope that there is a better future and
that education does matter.
Number 305
REPRESENTATIVE GREEN said that the teacher was being treated as an
omnibus, is that too much to ask the teacher whose primary purpose
is to educate.
MS. KUHN did not know whether or not it was fair, but it is the
reality.
MR. GILLAM emphasized that the baggage a child brings to the
classroom cannot be separated from the learning in the classroom.
As a teacher, both academics and the social issues must be
addressed. He agreed that was asking a lot of a teacher,
especially when there are overcrowded classrooms.
As a teacher, LEDWINA JONES stated that it was very rewarding to
see the positive side of a student come out.
REPRESENTATIVE TOM BRICE pointed out that the Governor has
developed the Compass Program which uses the schools as the hub of
service provision. He indicated the need for discussion regarding
the elimination of barriers so that teachers have access to
resources in the community versus being the front-line providers.
Representative Brice asked Ms. Buffmire to address the new piece to
which she referred.
FREDERICA BUFFMIRE said she had the opportunity in the last couple
of years, as part of the executive board of the Elementary School
Principals and the Alaska Council of School Administrators, to be
involved because the commissioner has attempted to broaden the
input, to be the bridge between policy. She said they have been
able to participate in some of the development of the Quality
School Initiative, the accountability piece that is a good start.
Referring to Representative Green's question about what can be
done, she thought the answer lies in approaches like the Compass
Program and the Quality School Initiative. Ms. Buffmire emphasized
the need for training and funding in order to accomplish it.
Although teachers are not trained to be counselors they are
spending more time doing just that, as well as spending a
significant amount of time teaching parents how to be more
effective.
CO-CHAIR BUNDE noted the presence of Senator Lincoln,
Representative Joule and Representative Mulder.
Number 370
SENATOR LOREN LEMAN commented that it is obvious that we have not
done as good a job as we should in our schools when Alaska ranks in
approximately the 50 percent category compared to other states. He
said he has questioned what can be done to make education better,
but he did not necessarily believe that adding more dollars was the
most effective way to accomplish that. Although he believes the
teachers are somewhat responsible, most of the responsibility for
educating children rests on the parents; that is where the system
is failing. He suggested everyone has to work together to change
how we function in society and as families, otherwise teachers will
continue to have problems in the classroom.
SENATOR JERRY WARD congratulated the award recipients; teaching is
one of the greatest callings. Senator Ward said that the
recipients were the role models and charged them to live and honor
sobriety and those who do so as well. He felt that approach could
eliminate some of the problems that have been discussed. Senator
Ward asked the recipients to review the Alaska Native Federation's
Sobriety Pledge and pass it on to the children of Alaska.
Number 431
CO-CHAIR GARY WILKEN also congratulated the award recipients. He
commented that Alaska has a quarter of one percent of America's
population, but have three percent of the Milken Award recipients
this year which reflects our quality of education. The education
system, because of the "baby boomers" and the retirement system,
will undergo a big change in the coming years. There will be
numerous new teachers in the education system. Co-Chair Wilken
expressed interest in the recipients' thoughts regarding how that
change will effect how children are educated.
REPRESENTATIVE BRIAN PORTER also extended congratulations.
CO-CHAIR BUNDE invited the award recipients to visit with committee
members individually. On behalf of the committee, congratulations
and thank you.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the joint committee, the
meeting was adjourned at 10:02 a.m.
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