Good Advice about How to Survive Reform Damage
In response to the post from North Carolina teacher Kris Neilsen on why he quit, this teacher has good advice on how to survive the deluge of mean-spirited policies now raining down on students, teachers, and schools. My suggestion: Hang in there until this house of cards collapses, as it will.
As a twenty-year veteran of public education (secondary ELA) I found many of my fears and frustrations in this letter. I could well have written it myself, but I would be hard-pressed to refrain from vituperation. Kris was so much more eloquent than I could have hoped to be. Recently, my colleagues and I have made a pact: We’re determined to share the good things that are happening in our classrooms. We are committed to supporting
As a twenty-year veteran of public education (secondary ELA) I found many of my fears and frustrations in this letter. I could well have written it myself, but I would be hard-pressed to refrain from vituperation. Kris was so much more eloquent than I could have hoped to be. Recently, my colleagues and I have made a pact: We’re determined to share the good things that are happening in our classrooms. We are committed to supporting
Will the East Coast Learn from the Gulf Coast?
Thomas J. Adams, on the faculty of Tulane University, has a startling and funny column at Huffington Post about what the East Coast can learn from the Gulf Coast.
Now, New York, New Jersey, and other states have had their own version of Hurricane Katrina. Ours is Sandy.
Adams says we can do what New Orleans did:
Now, New York, New Jersey, and other states have had their own version of Hurricane Katrina. Ours is Sandy.
Adams says we can do what New Orleans did:
The absolute first thing you have to do is fire all your public school teachers. Just fire them. We all know education is broken in this country and that teachers are to blame. So why not take this opportunity to do what you helped us do back in 2005? It might create a bit of confusion when the power gets turned back on and the debris gets removed, but that’s a small price to pay for our children’s future. Besides, if there’s a shortage of teachers we can help with that the same way you helped us. We certainly have a surfeit of energetic recent
School Libraries Matter!
Read here about the “Manchester Miracle,” about an elementary school in Pennsylvania that had only 40 fiction books on its shelves.
The community came together, renovated the library, and stocked its shelves with books.
And then there is the bad news. In Pittsburgh, only 14 of 51 schools have a full-time librarian. Most librarians spend only one day a week at each school.
This is the part I don’t understand.
When I went to public school in Houston many years ago, every school I attended had a library and a librarian. Some had more than one.
Our society is now immeasurably richer than it was then.
Why can’t every school have a library and a librarian?
Why don’t hedge fund managers support libraries?
Andrew Carnegie did, and it made him a hero for all time, enabling people to forget about labor practices at his
The community came together, renovated the library, and stocked its shelves with books.
And then there is the bad news. In Pittsburgh, only 14 of 51 schools have a full-time librarian. Most librarians spend only one day a week at each school.
This is the part I don’t understand.
When I went to public school in Houston many years ago, every school I attended had a library and a librarian. Some had more than one.
Our society is now immeasurably richer than it was then.
Why can’t every school have a library and a librarian?
Why don’t hedge fund managers support libraries?
Andrew Carnegie did, and it made him a hero for all time, enabling people to forget about labor practices at his
Michelle Rhee Shows Her True Colors
Michelle Rhee is endorsing and funding rightwing candidates across the nation, showering cash on those who are opposed to teachers’ rights and unions and support privatization of public education.
In Ohio, she is using her StudentsFirst millions–collected from anonymous billionaires, millionaires and corporations–to support opponents of public education.
An Ohio blogger writes:
Now, here in Ohio, Michelle Rhee’s true colors simply cannot be ignored. Rhee has chosen to fund multiple candidates in Ohio who are running for the Ohio House this year, citing their individual votes to support the
In Ohio, she is using her StudentsFirst millions–collected from anonymous billionaires, millionaires and corporations–to support opponents of public education.
An Ohio blogger writes:
Now, here in Ohio, Michelle Rhee’s true colors simply cannot be ignored. Rhee has chosen to fund multiple candidates in Ohio who are running for the Ohio House this year, citing their individual votes to support the
After the Hurricane
Many people have written via Twitter or email to ask if I am okay, and the short answer is yes.
Unlike many in New York City, I and my family emerged unscathed. There was a lot of wind and rain, but no damage to body or property.
Many people, including good friends, did suffer terribly. One lives in a neighborhood that was devastated by a terrible fire. Others experienced flood damage.
And the city remains crippled.
The mass transit system is out of commission, so people can’t get to work and children–in this city so
Unlike many in New York City, I and my family emerged unscathed. There was a lot of wind and rain, but no damage to body or property.
Many people, including good friends, did suffer terribly. One lives in a neighborhood that was devastated by a terrible fire. Others experienced flood damage.
And the city remains crippled.
The mass transit system is out of commission, so people can’t get to work and children–in this city so
Ohio Teacher Responds to “I Quit”
This teacher wrote a comment responding to Kris Neilsen’s explanation of why he could no longer teach in North Carolina. I found her note moving and sad. What are state legislatures doing to their teachers? Why do they think they will get better schools by demoralizing teachers? Why is the U.S. Department of Education encouraging this punitive behavior through its Race to the Top program?
I teach in Ohio and although we are allowed to strike, things aren’t different here. We are all tired and run down. I work in a high needs district, where nearly 80% of the kids are on free or reduced lunch and we haven’t met the
I teach in Ohio and although we are allowed to strike, things aren’t different here. We are all tired and run down. I work in a high needs district, where nearly 80% of the kids are on free or reduced lunch and we haven’t met the
A Parent Group in Arizona Joins the Honor Roll
In case you are lucky enough to live in Tucson, Arizona, you should know that there is a terrific organization there called Voices for Education. Its leader is Robin Hiller, a parent dedicated to the needs of Tucson’s children and its underfunded public schools.
Voices for Education joins our honor roll as a hero of public education.
It is a parent advocacy group that supports public schools, reduced class size, and a sound education for all.
On its website, Voices for Education points out that state law limits class size for barbers to twenty students per teacher, but in kindergarten there is no limit. Current kindergartens in Arizona are typically 32-35 students. Why
Voices for Education joins our honor roll as a hero of public education.
It is a parent advocacy group that supports public schools, reduced class size, and a sound education for all.
On its website, Voices for Education points out that state law limits class size for barbers to twenty students per teacher, but in kindergarten there is no limit. Current kindergartens in Arizona are typically 32-35 students. Why
The Pennsylvania Cyber Gold Rush
Pennsylvania has 16 full-time cyber charter schools. Of the twelve that have been around long enough to report on test scores, only one made AYP this year. Last year, two made AYP. Eight are in corrective action status. None has ever been closed. The other four were authorized earlier this year.
Last summer, the offices of the state’s largest cyber charter school was raided by the FBI, which apparently had many questions about where the money is going in an enterprise that collects more than $100 million every year. The board of that school fired its top staff but the investigation continues.
A review of the cyber charters by CREDO at Stanford University concluded that they get terrible results: their
Last summer, the offices of the state’s largest cyber charter school was raided by the FBI, which apparently had many questions about where the money is going in an enterprise that collects more than $100 million every year. The board of that school fired its top staff but the investigation continues.
A review of the cyber charters by CREDO at Stanford University concluded that they get terrible results: their
What If “No Child Shows Up”?
Recently, school officials in El Paso were investigated and found guilty of pushing certain students out of school to prevent them from taking the state tests. The purpose was to boost the district’s scores and make it appear to be doing better than it was. Some children were literally excluded from school and never finished. The superintendent was convicted and sentenced to jail. This was disgraceful, and it was an indictment of the officials’ personal ethics, but also an indictment of the absurd high-stakes testing regime foisted on the nation by No Child Left Behind and Race to the Top. School officials in some district will do literally anything to get their scores up, even though it hurts children. This is wrong. And the system which it incentivizes this behavior is also wrong.
This blogger has a different take on the El Paso incident. He tends to view it as an example of “opting out” of
This blogger has a different take on the El Paso incident. He tends to view it as an example of “opting out” of
MORNING UPDATE: LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 10-30-12 Diane Ravitch's blog
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] The Biggest Problem in U.S. Education Is….? by dianerav Chris Lehman has written an excellent post pulling together solid data about the “reformers’” solutions and the issue that refuse to address: poverty. What is the problem in U.S. education? What is the cause of low test scores? Is it bad teachers, as the reformers claim? Or is it poverty, where the U.S. leads the advanced nations of the world? Can school reform cure poverty? Has it? If you don’t address the causes, you will never solve the problem of low... more »
Diane in the Evening 10-30-12 Diane Ravitch's blog
Diane Ravitch's blog: Teacher Who Said “I Quit” Responds to Some Critics by dianerav Kris Neilsen is the teacher who wrote the post explaining why he quit in North Carolina. His post went viral. He has posted several comments on the blog. Here is one of them: *Victims are the ones who stay, play by the crushing rules, and churn out students who are good at passing tests.* *I am not that. I am an activist. I got the attention of the leadership in my state, and I plan to engage them over * Is Rocketship the Wave of the Future? by dianerav Experienced journalist Tom Toch visited a... more »