Real Life in a “Turnaround” School
Mayor Bloomberg and Secretary Duncan like to describe the firing of teachers and the closing of schools as a wonderful reform strategy.
Something magical is supposed to happen because of clearing out half or all of the staff and starting over with a new team, or half a new team.
The public knows nothing about the details, reads that “reform” is happening, and is satisfied to know that someone is doing something even if they don’t know what it is.
There is an implicit assumption that the teachers who got fired must be “bad” teachers because they work in a “failing” school.
Change the teachers, goes the story, and the school won’t be a failing school anymore, It will be a “turnaround”
Wisdom from an Experienced Urban Teacher
Something magical is supposed to happen because of clearing out half or all of the staff and starting over with a new team, or half a new team.
The public knows nothing about the details, reads that “reform” is happening, and is satisfied to know that someone is doing something even if they don’t know what it is.
There is an implicit assumption that the teachers who got fired must be “bad” teachers because they work in a “failing” school.
Change the teachers, goes the story, and the school won’t be a failing school anymore, It will be a “turnaround”
Wisdom from an Experienced Urban Teacher
A reader comments with hard-won knowledge. I would summarize it as being prepared with a variety of approaches and strategies and knowing when to apply the one that is right for the situation. No single approach is right for all.
| Diane, I’m an inner city teacher with 14 years of experience.The guiding principle I see for teachers’ practice is to create a teaching style that plays to one’s own strengths as a person and a member of the educational community. I believe that a great diversity in approaches creates a healthy learning experience for all.But this also means that there is a place for the driven disciplinarian.Despite the poorly thought out tone of the excerpt you shared, there is a need for something of an assertive no-nonsense approach to teaching, especially in the most challenging environments. I’m talking about environments with no functioning discipline in the hallways or in administrator’s offices. In some inner city |
