In Defense of the Teachers’ Unions
Many readers have been critical of their unions and wish they were more militant in fighting the corporate suits. This reader disagrees and explains why:
| I’m going to go out on a limb here because the comments I am about to post are probably not going to be very popular with anyone who has commented in this discussion.So many people want their state and national teachers unions to launch a campaign of all-out protest toward the corporate reform movement.If anyone here has not yet noticed, there is a great deal of public dissatisfaction with the mere idea of public unions, let alone their actions. It would be political suicide for unions at any level to come out with “horses on fire and guns a- |
Why I Became a Teacher
A reader writes:
I didn’t BECOME a teacher until after I taught for two years, left to become a stay-at-home mom, and then returned. I was one of those statistics, leaving the classroom at the beginning of my career.
But the five years I spent, watching my son grow, getting a masters degree, learning and growing myself, propelled me back with a passion to do whatever I could to help students feel confident about their own learning. Now, I’m ready to retire after a 38-year career that spanned grades K-12, from special ed and remedial levels to
I didn’t BECOME a teacher until after I taught for two years, left to become a stay-at-home mom, and then returned. I was one of those statistics, leaving the classroom at the beginning of my career.
But the five years I spent, watching my son grow, getting a masters degree, learning and growing myself, propelled me back with a passion to do whatever I could to help students feel confident about their own learning. Now, I’m ready to retire after a 38-year career that spanned grades K-12, from special ed and remedial levels to
Bunk Science in Ohio
Ohio had the misfortune of winning Race to the Top funding, which means that teachers must be evaluated by the test scores of their students, in part.
In Ohio, it is in large part, because test scores will count for 50% of their evaluation. That is as bad as it gets but typical for rightwing states that want to harass teachers.
A reader sent me an interesting story from Toledo in which everyone shows that they are trying to comply but
In Ohio, it is in large part, because test scores will count for 50% of their evaluation. That is as bad as it gets but typical for rightwing states that want to harass teachers.
A reader sent me an interesting story from Toledo in which everyone shows that they are trying to comply but
A Labor Day Gift: Samuel Gompers on Public Education
Thanks to Thomas J. Mertz, who sent me this item from his regular blog.
This post contains Samuel Gompers’ views on the importance of public education for working people and for democracy.
In his time, the rich took care of their children, as they always had, with private tutors, boarding schools, and private academies. The role of public education was to make possible a good public school for all of the people.
This post contains Samuel Gompers’ views on the importance of public education for working people and for democracy.
In his time, the rich took care of their children, as they always had, with private tutors, boarding schools, and private academies. The role of public education was to make possible a good public school for all of the people.
Why He Resigned from ASCD
From Fred Klonsky’s blog:
Plaudits for US Public Education
NASA’s rover called Curiosity landed on Mars on August 5. It is now exploring that planet, in a spectacular demonstration of space technology.
Professor Ralph E. Shaffer wondered about the team of scientists and engineers responsible for this great breakthrough. He discovered a website with bios of the 141 people involved.
He wondered, where did they go to school?
This is what he learned:
104 of the 141 were products o
Professor Ralph E. Shaffer wondered about the team of scientists and engineers responsible for this great breakthrough. He discovered a website with bios of the 141 people involved.
He wondered, where did they go to school?
This is what he learned:
104 of the 141 were products o
What Test Scores Tell Us
Kenneth Bernstein regularly blogs at The Daily Kos. He is an experienced teacher with National Board Certification.
He shares his views here on test prep and testing:
For a number of years, until I decided I had ethical problems with doing so, I earned money
He shares his views here on test prep and testing:
For a number of years, until I decided I had ethical problems with doing so, I earned money
A Brave Local School Board
Wherever we find signs of bravery and intelligence in education, we must celebrate it.
The school committee of Taunton, Massachusetts, took the following wise action. It
“voted unanimously to send a letter to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education opposing the amount of testing that school districts will be required to implement with the adoption of the Common Core
The school committee of Taunton, Massachusetts, took the following wise action. It
“voted unanimously to send a letter to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education opposing the amount of testing that school districts will be required to implement with the adoption of the Common Core
Ms. Katie Explains How Poverty Matters
I am hoping that the economist and others who comment on why poverty is “relative” and really not as bad as we think, will comment here.
Katie Osgood responded to the post “Ignoring Poverty Is Callous” with her own post:
She writes:
http://mskatiesramblings.blogspot.com/2012/09/reformers-just-dont-know.html
Katie Osgood responded to the post “Ignoring Poverty Is Callous” with her own post:
She writes:
http://mskatiesramblings.blogspot.com/2012/09/reformers-just-dont-know.html
“As anyone who has ever read my blog knows, I work as a teacher on an inpatient psychiatric unit for
The Ugly Face of Tea Party Educators
Tony Bennett (not the singer) is State Commissioner of Education in Indiana.
He follows the ALEC script in everything he does.
Vouchers, charters, reducing or eliminating standards to become a teacher, for-profit schools, for-profit online
He follows the ALEC script in everything he does.
Vouchers, charters, reducing or eliminating standards to become a teacher, for-profit schools, for-profit online
Profiteers Circle Schools
A reader discovered the agenda for a big conference of equity investors, technology corporations, and supportive foundations.
A high-level official of the U.S. Department of Education will be there too.
Folks, read the agenda.
Public education is up for grabs.
Lots of corporations are licking their chops.
This is scary.
Remember reading about “the Great Barbecue
A high-level official of the U.S. Department of Education will be there too.
Folks, read the agenda.
Public education is up for grabs.
Lots of corporations are licking their chops.
This is scary.
Remember reading about “the Great Barbecue
Can Standardized Tests Measure a Teacher’s Worth?
This teacher says that, for him, teaching is a “labor of love.”
Can it be measured by standardized tests?
Can his value be reduced to a number, fed into a data storage warehouse and
Can it be measured by standardized tests?
Can his value be reduced to a number, fed into a data storage warehouse and
Ignoring Poverty Is Callous
A reader comments:
I believe an excellent education can make a difference to children living in poverty, but it is insufficient. As one writer said in response to a previous posting on this blog, to say that good teachers can “solve” poverty trivializes the hardships that poor children endure. It’s like saying something like this to a child living in poverty: You have an excellent teacher so it doesn’t matter that you are hungry. It doesn’t matter that you live in a shelter or a run-
I believe an excellent education can make a difference to children living in poverty, but it is insufficient. As one writer said in response to a previous posting on this blog, to say that good teachers can “solve” poverty trivializes the hardships that poor children endure. It’s like saying something like this to a child living in poverty: You have an excellent teacher so it doesn’t matter that you are hungry. It doesn’t matter that you live in a shelter or a run-
A Journalist Who Gets It
Daniel Akst writes editorials for Newsday, the Long Island, New York daily.
He just wrote an excellent editorial.
Long island has some great schools that are the heart of their community.
He just wrote an excellent editorial.
Long island has some great schools that are the heart of their community.