Teacher: Why the last school year was ‘crushing’:

Teacher: Why the last school year was ‘crushing’

By Valerie Strauss, Published: July 22 at 6:00 amE-mail the writer

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New York City Public Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott recently sent a letter to the city’s Education Department staff describing the 2012-13 school year as “extraordinary.” Here, Katie Lapham, an elementary school English-as-a-Second-Language teacher, responds in a letter of her own that describes a very different view of the school year. This appeared on theCritical Classrooms, Critical Kids blog.

Dear Chancellor Walcott,

I am writing in response to your ‘Extraordinary Year’ email, which you sent to NYC DOE staff on June 26, 2013. In the spirit of diversity, I wish to share with you my year end reflections, which differ from yours. In my view, there appears to be a disconnect between your office and working teachers; thus, my intention is to help bridge this gap.

I prefer to describe the 2012-2013 school year as crushing.

This spring, for example, I felt the heavy weight of your initiatives while commuting 

  

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by Valerie Strauss / 2h