Teacher of the Year with Berne PHD in California

Is this program legit?

http://www.ascribe.org/cgi-bin/spew4th.pl?ascribeid=20041015.104950&time=11%2049%20PDT&year=2004&public=1

Fri Oct 15 11:48:44 2004 Pacific Time

California Teacher Named 2004 Middle School Social Studies Teacher of The Year
WASHINGTON, Oct. 15 (AScribe Newswire) -- The National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) named Brent E. Heath, a middle school teacher from Ontario, Calif., the nation's top middle school social studies teacher. Heath currently teaches seventh and eighth grade social studies and English at De Anza Middle School in Ontario. He will receive the award Friday, Nov. 19 at the 84th NCSS Annual Conference in Baltimore, Md. Heath will be honored with an award of $2,500 and public recognition during the conference, which is the largest gathering of social studies educators in the nation.

The NCSS Middle School Teacher of the Year award is presented annually, recognizing an exceptional classroom social studies teacher. Scholastic Inc. is the sponsor for the monetary award. As part of its sponsorship of the NCSS Middle School Teacher of the Year Award, Scholastic Inc. will provide Heath with a classroom subscription to Junior Scholastic (r) magazine and do a feature article about the teacher in Junior Scholastic Teacher's Edition(r). Candidates must teach social studies regularly and systematically in an elementary, middle or junior high, or high school setting, or at least half time in a departmentalized school setting.

The criteria for nomination require documentation that demonstrates exceptional abilities in at least six of seven specific categories. Some of these abilities include developing or using instructional materials creatively and effectively; incorporating innovative instructional strategies and techniques; demonstrating the ability to foster a spirit of inquiry; and fostering the development of democratic beliefs and values, and the skills needed for the students to become effective citizens.

Heath currently teaches seventh and eighth social studies and English classes and serves as the social studies department chair. He has been a teacher for 29 years, the last 24 in the Ontario-Montclair School District. Heath was the recipient of the 2003 California Council for the Social Studies (CCSS) Middle School Teacher of the Year award, and also received the Inland Empire Council for the Social Studies Middle School Teacher of the Year award in 2001.

During the NCSS conference, Heath will present a session titled "Ten Practical Classroom Strategies for Middle School Social Studies," Saturday, November 20, 8:00-9:00 a.m., in Room 319 in the Baltimore Convention Center.

A gifted teacher, Heath stopped using a regular social studies textbook in his classroom over 10 years ago. He discovered a perfect curricular mix for employing instructional materials creatively and effectively. He likens the mix to a three-legged stool. Leg one is the use of primary source materials to establish historical context and allow students cognitive opportunities to understand the people, conflicts, and relevance of a time period. Leg two is the use of historical fiction novels that allow students in-depth immersion in cognitive and affective tools through close reading, collaborative, and critical thinking activities. Leg three is the use of the humanities to allow students to make more extensive cognitive and affective connections to content through an array of art, literature, and music activities.

Embedded in all of Heath's instructional materials are geography, economics, history, and the other social science skills. Nothing is taught in isolation. The knowledge, skills, and thinking activities of his instructional stool is a novel, relevant approach that helps students become active, participating, informed citizens for the 21st Century. Heath's innovative and effective instructional techniques were verified in his doctoral dissertation completed in 2002, which demonstrated that using historical fiction significantly increased students reading outside the classroom.

Heath is vice-chair of the NCSS Instruction Committee. He has consistently demonstrated outstanding professional leadership skills while serving on and chairing a large number of other committees of the CCSS, the NCSS, and other academic organizations. Heath has also presented many workshops and sessions at local, state, and professional conferences.

A widely published author, Heath has written several books as well as many articles for a number of social studies publications such as The Social Studies Professional and Social Studies Review. He has been instrumental in creating numerous teacher handbooks and developing curriculum to accompany novels that are appropriate for middle school students.

Heath's expertise in the classroom has earned him a number of other awards including the San Bernardino County Teacher of the year in 1994, California Teacher of the Year award nominee in 1994.

Heath earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Seattle Pacific University, in Seattle, his Master of Arts degree in secondary education from California State University at Northridge, and his Doctorate degree in secondary education from Berne University International Graduate School in St. Kitts-Nevis, West Indies and Wolfeboro Falls, N.H.

Scholastic Inc. is a global children's publishing and media company. For more information go to http://www.scholastic.com/aboutscholastic/index.htm.

More than 4,000 social studies professionals are expected to attend the 2004 NCSS conference in Baltimore. This year's theme is "Democracy and Diversity: Social Studies in Action." For further information concerning the 84th NCSS Conference visit the NCSS website, http://www.socialstudies.org.

Founded in 1921, the National Council for the Social Studies has grown into the largest association in the country for social studies professionals, with 25,000 members in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and 69 foreign countries. Membership includes K-16 classroom teachers, curriculum supervisors and specialists, curriculum writers and designers, and teacher educators. The NCSS serves as an umbrella organization for K-16 teachers of civics, history, geography, economics, political science, sociology, psychology, anthropology, and law-related education. Social studies is the integrated study of the social sciences and humanities to promote civic competence. Visit the NCSS web site at http://www.socialstudies.org.

----

For More Information: Al Frascella, NCSS Communications & Government Relations, 301.588.1800, Ext. 113 [email protected]

Note to Editors: The NCSS Conference Media Center will be located in the Baltimore Convention Center Nov. 18 - 21. Media registration will be available on site during the conference at the conference registration desk. Media badges allow free access to all sessions, workshops, events, and social functions not requiring tickets or special invitation.

 

Excellent.

Shows that one doesn't need a real PhD to excel.

We need more cases like this.

 

true, one can excel

but folks will still question you

To: Al Frascella, NCSS Communications & Government

Reference the news story at:

http://www.ascribe.org/cgi-bin/spew4th.pl?ascribeid=20041015.104950&time=11%2049%20PDT&year=2004&public=1

Your teacher of the year has a fake PHD

If he was in Michigan he would get in trouble with the state for
listing the degree

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/Non-accreditedSchools_78090_7.pdf

same in Oregon and Pa

http://www.osac.state.or.us/oda/unaccredited.html

Perhaps you should look further into your prize winners background.

Dean Hughson

 

Isn't a Ph.D. kind of overkill for a middle school social studies teacher?

If the degree isn't necessary for his position, then I don't think that it matters a whole lot whether it's accredited, provided a) the degree isn't being misrepresented as being "RA equivalent" or "GAAP" (Berne graduates are fond of doing that), and b) it isn't being used to justify additional education incentive pay. Of course, this guy's award might justify additional pay, so it might be moot.

I've long been a critic of Berne's questionable claims to "RA equivalence" and "GAAP". But I don't know that it's completely worthless either. I imagine that it could be similar to SCUPS or a school like that.

Of course, Alan Contreras said something about a lawsuit, but I don't know anything about that. Maybe more dirt on Berne has surfaced that I don't know about.

 

With no child left behind around all sorts of teachers have degree's they don't need.

 

ethics

Well, if he is calling himself Doctor and isn't really, what is the lesson for kids? realize we are talking middle school but I guarantee you that pay is made based off of his doctorate...we'll see what happens when the school district studies it...always interesting to see these type of things..have to thank Dr. John Bear for opening my eyes to this stuff a few years ago.

 

The National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) can give awards to whomever they please. Some may wonder, however, if the lack of due diligence (or intentional oversight) concerning Mr. Heath’s credentials was influenced at all by the fact that he is the vice-chair of the NCSS Instruction Committee.

 

Hello,

Knowing Mr. Heath personally, several assumptions need to be clarified that are wrong in this string.

-He does NOT get additional pay for his doctorate! He works for a k-8 district that does not have a category!

-He was was widely published and involved in the activities long before he got his doctorate. His awards are not because of his doctorate.

-He has 25 years experience and has only gotten the degree in the last few years. He is was widely published and respected long before the degree.

-The degree took him a number of years and a full dissertation was performed.


I may or may not agree with the Berne designation but he deserves the recognition whether he had the degree or not and would have.

So please do not make assumptions with out the facts.

 

Listing the Bogus Degree is Fraud

He surely didn't need the doctorate but should be a laughing stock for listing that bogus degree. In some states he'd be fired. He is using VERY poor judgment, to be sure. As a community college professor, I believe a doctorate is overkill at this level. I believe it is FAR more important for faculty to be able to teach a few subjects very well than to be so narrowly educated. For instance, I have graduate degrees in business, computers, and communication. I teach computers fulltime, but also teach a speech class... and next semester will add a journalism class!

 

Unfortunately,

People make their best decisions which you may not agree with.

If you spent several years, did a full research dissertation in front of a committee, you would not think or feel it is BOGUS! You would feel proud and that you EARNED the designation.

Point.

The ease with which others condemn on this board and the level of negative rhetoric has increased recently. It gets tiresome. There is a lot of gray area in this type issue and easy to be misled. We need to educate each other and not condemn.

 

Re: true, one can excel

I don’t know of many knowledgeable people who would call a Berne degree fake. Unaccredited, sure. Suspect, maybe in the eyes of many. But I know of more than one state education regulator who has served on the Berne faculty.

What’s the purpose of mentioning Michigan, Oregon and Pennsylvania? He’s not in any of these states. There are probably hundreds of things at are legal in California but illegal in one or more of these states. It reminds me of a little kid who tells the teacher every time he sees a "wrong."

You wouldn’t be a little jealous would you?

 

But that doesn't mean that everyone has to sit back and smile as phony degree claims pass. That just corrupts the system.

I think that there's a legitimate issue here. We've talked about it before, when we discussed whether one should list a non-accredited degree on a resume.

My own answer was that I would list a non-accredited degree under 'degrees' if I thought both that the degree was sound and that I could successfully defend it, and that I would list it under 'other education' if I thought that it had educational value despite being substandard. I wouldn't list a worthless degree at all, but then again, I wouldn't waste my time acquiring one.

So how would I list a Berne degree? I don't really know very much about Berne. It seems to be another one of those vaporous intangible things that makes loud claims about its political status but can't point to any activity in the academic or professional worlds to back it up. I've tried to Google it without very much success. You used the words "full research dissertation in front of a committee", but I've been unable to find very much evidence of that. I was unale to find Berne papers being published, Berne taking part in research collaborations, Berne presentations at conferences, other researchers referring to Berne work, and so on. Berne seems to be a classic example of what Alan Contreras calls an "international mystery school".

My own position, at least at this moment, is to question arguments that Berne is "RA equivalent", at least until somebody produces some convincing evidence that it is. I'm unmoved by, actually repelled by, arguments that try to confuse its academic and political status.

But as long as this guy isn't taking additional pay under false pretenses, as long as a Ph.D. isn't required for his position, and as long as nobody is being harmed, I'm inclined to shrug it off. Is he lying about his education? I don't honestly know. (Though I have my suspicions.) Of course, if he expected me to recognize the academic legitimacy of his degree, I would want to see some evidence why I should.

But I do have to say that there are several non-accredited schools out there that I'd be very happy to attend myself. So I'm not gonna trash all of them simply because they aren't accredited. But if a school isn't accredited, then the burden of proof falls squarely on the school and on its supporters. There's no obligation that the rest of us accept it sight-unseen.

 

To Dean Hughson:

Before you send e-mails declaring someone's degree is fake, maybe you should read a little more about the subject. You claim to be a consumer advocate. A good advocate gets his facts straight before he intentionally harms others.

This appears to be a teacher we would all love to have.

What have you done in your life to help kids besides selling them eggs?

Are you a divorce attorney? What credentials do YOU have to give legal or psychological advise?

Randy

 

Permit me to comment on Dean Hughsons’s posting, which I can only characterize as a manifestation of irresponsible behavior with potential to hurt this forum. In general, I have found this forum to be quite open to facts and the truth (verifiable information), and therefore, I have elected to share the following with you. Clearly, Dean Hughson does not subscribe to the code of “speak the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth”. If he did, at the very minimum, he would have updated his knowledge and understanding of this matter before maliciously contacting the National Council for Social Studies. Be assured that this information will also be shared with that Council.

Over the years this forum has brought “concerns” about many universities and colleges to our attention. International Education Systems is of special interest to me especially since I plan do research and publish papers in this area, therefore, I have meticulously followed up on some of the concerns (including those related to UoP and Berne). However, at this time, I will comment on Berne only.

AACRAO’s most recent claim (attributed to ACU – Association of Commonwealth Universities), which is posted on the Oregon ODA’s web site, states that the University of the West Indies (a public institution) is the only recognized institution in the Federation of St. Kitts & Nevis. If this is assumed to be correct. then one should conclude that Berne University, Ross University and the Fitzroy Bryant College among others are not “recognized”, but this is not true.

The Office of the Director of ACU subsequently issued the following when AACRAO’s claim was brought to their attention.

"I suspect a misunderstanding has arisen. ACU is a voluntary association and is not therefore in a position to accredit universities nor to validate the qualifications they offer. Whenever such questions arise, we advise that enquiries be made of the Ministry of Education in the appropriate country." (Association of Commonwealth Universities, dated 8/12/04 and regarding the status of Berne University)

Also, the US Department of Education (USDE) Title IV issue was not related to Berne's accreditation, and furthermore, the USDE does not get involved in establishing degree equivalency. Also, in the context of Title IV, you should note that the definition of “foreign school” is not quite literal (as located in another non-USA country only). It also pertains to the structure of the program and the percentage of time given to distance education versus in-class instruction. Given this definition it is quite likely that major foreign institutions may not qualify as “foreign institutions” for the purpose of the Title IV program. Fortunately, there are professionals such as lawyers and NACES members who are educated and intelligent enough to understand these nuances of language, and therefore, negotiate and arrive at appropriate resolutions.

Here is an excerpt of a statement from the USDE on this subject:

"Please note that it is not a function of the U.S. Department of Education to evaluate or guarantee the quality of educational programs and academic standards at domestic and foreign postsecondary institutions that participate in FSA programs. Neither does the Department make determinations on the equivalency or validity of foreign earned academic credentials." (M. Geneva Coombs on behalf of Secretary Rod Paige, dated 6/15/04)

Furthermore, it is well-established that Berne University is a foreign institution, fully accredited and chartered by the Ministry of Education, Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis. This status can be verified by simply contacting the Accreditation Board (Federation of St. Kitts & Nevis). Additionally, this information is detailed in the following authoritative publications of UNESCO/IAU (International Association of Universities), which are the reference sources used by AACRAO, NAFSA, NACES, academic institutions and the Government to determine the validity and recognition of foreign academic credentials.

1. International Handbook of Universities (17th edition)
2. World List of Universities and Other Institutions of Higher Education (24th edition)
2. World Higher Education Database 2003/4 CD-Rom
3. Universities of the World - The Complete List
http://www.unesco.org/iau/world-universities/index.html

It is also my understanding that at least three NACES members have endorsed Berne University degrees as equivalent to those awarded by RA institutions in the USA.

Please feel free to independently contact the agencies mentioned to confirm the information contained herein.

Thanks for your attention to this matter, and focus on the message (content) rather than the messenger.

 

A number of very uncomplimentary things have come to light regarding Berne University. IIRC - Berne used to advertise that they were approved for reimbursement by the Department of Education. After an investigation by the US government this status was revoked. They were declared illegal by the state that they operate from (New Hampshire or maybe it was New Jersey?). Multiple people have reported to John Bear that Berne quickly waved their "residency" requirement in order to get their money. It was reported that it was physically impossible to squeeze all the credits into the residency portion of the program due to there only being 24 hours in a day. There was also an ex-adminstrator that came here and exposed something that I forget. In any case, Berne appears to be a degree mill that requires a substandard amount of work. Note that this is all from memory. If I've confused my facts then I'm happily awaiting correction because I also seem to remember that there's a number of highly assertive readers that always seem to surface and rip into whoever dares to mention that Berne University is substandard.

 

I'm not sure that it is well-established that Berne is a foreign institution. It remains very likely that the school is run from the US by Americans.

I don't think that the fact of its St. Kitts accreditation is in dispute. The questions are about what that accreditation actually means and about how it should be interpreted.

But the issue here isn't whether Berne is listed in a book, it's whether Berne is academically sound and RA-equivalent.

If the book lists every university approved by a national education ministry, if some of those ministries have weak standards or standards that exist only on paper, if people outside those countries can acquire off-shore "flag of convenience" accreditations in the manner of St. Regis and (perhaps) Berne, and if credential evaluators remain blissfully uncritical, we have a giant loophole ready-made for substandard schools to exploit.

That's precisely why off-shore accreditations (Africa seems to currently be the continent of choice) seem to be popping up everywhere.

But credential evaluators are totally incompetent to make that judgement, aren't they? They don't inspect universities first hand, they just defer to the locals to police their own systems. What credential evaluators actually do is compare syllabi. I'm sure that Berne syllabi do resemble American syllabi, since Berne is owned and operated by Americans. But that tells us next to nothing about the underlying institution.

All you have really told us is 'Shut up and accept that St. Kitts accreditation is equivalent to regional accreditation'.

But I still want to see some credible evidence tha Berne is functioning as a doctoral research university and that it is recognized by the academic and professional communities for something more than its political status on a Caribbean island.

 

Hi Bill Huffman:

If according to you:

“uncomplimentary things” + adverse action by USDE = “Diploma Mill”

Then numerous RA institutions would be similarly classified (diploma mill).

Fortunately, that is not the case. Also, you should be aware that there are many RA schools that cannot advertise, recruit or otherwise operate in certain States in the USA. To simply do so would be deemed illegal, but this does not and would not make the school a “diploma mill”. See for example UoP, Liberty University, Union Institute & University, etc.

I thought you would have commented on the FACT that the statement being circulated by AACRAO (and attributed to the ACU – Association of Commonwealth Universities) has been denounced (very uncomplimentary for AACRAO!!) by the ACU in writing. Now let’s talk about AACRAO!!! What say you?

 

don't lose sight

I'm not the one claiming a doctorate from a school that is one of the schools listed as a diploma mill. Berne is one of the bad actors and this guy is listing it as a degree. If he has done a traditional doctorate he sure picked a weird school to do it at.

Even an eggman can read the newspaper and see the articles and read the transcripts of the hearings in washington to realize that this is a suspect school and this guy has taken a shortcut that will hurt him, and his school.

attack the messenger but the message stands. Berne is listed on just about EVERY list there is as a diploma mill. California doesn't have a state agency like Oregon and Michigan and PA that provides lists but after some investigation my guess is that his school district will quickly realize this degree is questionable.

Check my background out if you feel like you must and I stand proud for my achievements. But I'm not here talking about mine..I'm talking someone listing a Berne degree.

Dean

 

articles calling Berne a diploma mill

http://www.woai.com/troubleshooters/story.aspx?content_id=1DFC2F81-6CD8-46C4-AD18-50AE30BD26E7

http://chronicle.com/free/v47/i28/28a03401.htm

http://govt-aff.senate.gov/index.cfm?Fuseaction=Hearings.Testimony&HearingID=176&WitnessID=631

http://list-of-diploma-mills.wikiverse.org/

I could go on for pages...are they all wrong?

 

"A drowning man will clutch at a straw" seems to describe your situation (desperate to hurt), and this borders on abnormal psychology. Be careful now!!! Did you write this?

Here is what we know about the sources your have cited (including related ones).

http://www.wikiverse.org/disclaimer.html

"WIKIVERSE MAKES NO GUARANTEE OF VALIDITY
Wikiverse is an online open-content encyclopedia and is not affiliated with the Wikimedia foundation. That is, a voluntary association of individuals and groups who are developing a common resource of human knowledge. Its structure allows any individual with an Internet connection and World Wide Web browser to alter the content found here. Therefore, please be advised that nothing found here has necessarily been reviewed by professionals who are knowledgeable in the particular areas of expertise necessary to provide you with complete, accurate or reliable information about any subject in Wikiverse."


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_unaccredited_institutions_of_higher_learning

This one is another big joke. It lists UoP and UNISA (RA /GAAP institutions) as diploma mills. Now, go figure!!

And yes the State of Michigan has confirmed that NACES-member evaluations are acceptable for employment and promotion in that state (you may contact them yourself). Also, there are many colleges and universities in Michigan that accept the listing of an institution in the International Handbook of Universities as indication of its recognition and acceptability in the USA.

Se the following by Dr. John Bear:
http://www.centerdigitaled.com/converge/?pg=magstory&id=3822

Also, if you are at least a good qualitative researcher (as in phenomenology) , it would not take you long to discover the commonality in the links provided. In other words, is there a common source for information that seeks to hurt Berne University, its students and graduates?

Let your conscience be your guide!!!!