Correction: Chicago Teacher Salary Average Is $74,000
It became commonplace in he media to say over and over that the average salary for Chicago teachers is $71,000-$76,000.
I heard this and didn’t question it. I didn’t think it was inappropriate or extravagant as compensation for a
I heard this and didn’t question it. I didn’t think it was inappropriate or extravagant as compensation for a
Who Are the Members of Florida’s Board of Education?
This blogger wondered who was appointed to the Florida state board. This is a powerful board that selects the state commissioner of education and sets policy for the children, teachers, and schools of the state. The board has given the green light to charters, vouchers, online schools, for-profit schools, any alternative that anyone can
What Pedro Noguera Got Wrong about Chicago Strike
Michael Klonsky in Chicago disagrees with Pedro Noguera’s views in the Nation about the Chicago teachers’ strike. Here he sets the record straight:
Pedro Noguera claims that the CTU, “has not been willing to acknowledge that more learning time and a clear and fair basis for judging teacher effectiveness are legitimate issues that must be addressed.”
I’m a big fan of Pedro but his latest criticism of the union is not only ill-timed, but dead wrong as well. The union doesn’t oppose “more learning time” for students as Pedro Claims. From the start, they supported the idea of a
Pedro Noguera claims that the CTU, “has not been willing to acknowledge that more learning time and a clear and fair basis for judging teacher effectiveness are legitimate issues that must be addressed.”
I’m a big fan of Pedro but his latest criticism of the union is not only ill-timed, but dead wrong as well. The union doesn’t oppose “more learning time” for students as Pedro Claims. From the start, they supported the idea of a
Can Great Teaching Overcome Poverty?
Alex Kotlowitz asks this important question in the New York Times on Sunday.
The question is important for several reasons.
First, because the self-proclaimed reformers assert that great teachers can and do overcome poverty. You might say that this slogan is their anti-poverty program. Wendy Kopp, Bill Gates, and Arne Duncan have all said on many occasions that if there is a “great” teacher in every classroom, that will take care of poverty. Or, in a variation, fix the schools first, then fix poverty.
They never explain how a great teacher overcomes homelessness, hunger, poor health, and other conditions
The question is important for several reasons.
First, because the self-proclaimed reformers assert that great teachers can and do overcome poverty. You might say that this slogan is their anti-poverty program. Wendy Kopp, Bill Gates, and Arne Duncan have all said on many occasions that if there is a “great” teacher in every classroom, that will take care of poverty. Or, in a variation, fix the schools first, then fix poverty.
They never explain how a great teacher overcomes homelessness, hunger, poor health, and other conditions
What’s Missing in Chicago Debate
Pedro Noguera knows that closing public schools and shifting kids to charter schools is not a remedy to the huge economic and social problems of Chicago.
What else is needed?
What else is needed?
A NYC Parent Replies to Mike Petrilli
Jan Carr is a NYC public school parent and a children’s book author. I have met her at parent events in NYC.
Last week she posted about the harm done by standardized testing and other of the “reforms” of our time, and especially about the inability of teachers to focus on critical thinking.
At my invitation, Mike Petrilli responded.
That led to a good discussion.
Jan responded too. Here is what ahe said:
Diane, thanks for sending out my blog post. It’s interesting for me to read Mr. Petrilli’s response as well as the
Last week she posted about the harm done by standardized testing and other of the “reforms” of our time, and especially about the inability of teachers to focus on critical thinking.
At my invitation, Mike Petrilli responded.
That led to a good discussion.
Jan responded too. Here is what ahe said:
Diane, thanks for sending out my blog post. It’s interesting for me to read Mr. Petrilli’s response as well as the
How Are Teachers in Finland Evaluated?
Amanda Ripley, who usually writes pro-corporate reform articles in TIME, has an article in the Wall Street Journal about how teachers in other nations embrace “reform.”
Her first example is Finland.
That is a curious example for a devotee of today’s carrot-and-stick reforms because Finland would never permit a teacher with five weeks of training to teach. As she notes, they must complete a rigorous four-year college program PLUS a master’s degree. There is no “Teach for Finland.”
Furthermore, there is NO standardized testing in Finland. Ripley doesn’t mention that.
And teachers are not evaluated by the test scores of their students, because
Her first example is Finland.
That is a curious example for a devotee of today’s carrot-and-stick reforms because Finland would never permit a teacher with five weeks of training to teach. As she notes, they must complete a rigorous four-year college program PLUS a master’s degree. There is no “Teach for Finland.”
Furthermore, there is NO standardized testing in Finland. Ripley doesn’t mention that.
And teachers are not evaluated by the test scores of their students, because
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 9-16-12 Diane Ravitch's blog
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Five Things You Should Know About Teachers by dianerav Just received in the email an interesting commentary: *If you’ve been trying to talk politics with teachers lately, you know that many seemingly neutral statements have become political land mines.* *In spite of a few divisive issues, however, teachers still share a lot of common ground that can lead to productive discussions.* *Below you will find five statements almost all teachers agree with. They are also addressed in this 11-minute, * This House ... more »