With A Brooklyn Accent Go BATs All Week
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Gates, Duncan, Broad et al say they want to attract more talented people to the teaching profession but they 1. Support teacher evaluation frameworks combine humiliating observation protocols (Danielson rubric) with scripted curricula (Common Core) and use of student test scores in such a way that the most talented veteran teachers are leaving the profession in droves.2. Give financial support for an alternative certification program, Teach for America, that recruits talented undergraduates not to become teachers for life, but to spend two years in low performing schools en route to other care
Today, I had lunch in Riverhead with parent activist Al Wicklund. Our meeting symbolized the new alliances being forged in the anti-testing movement- the Cop and the Professor; the Marine Corps Veteran and former anti-war protester united in an effort and to prevent Common Core and uncontrolled testing from demoralizing students and driving out our best teachers.The lunch was illuminating in many respects, but none was more dramatic than learning how many skills Al possessed that I have no aptitude for at all. Al who told me he struggled in high school academically, not only can fix any car, h
Regent Chair Tisch: As a teacher and coach for more than 45 years, as a Professor of African American studies and History at Fordham, and as someone who spent years doing community history projects in Bronx schools before they were driven out by the misuse of testing to rate schools and teachers. I am here to ask for your resignation as Chair of the NY Board of Regents. Well before the recent imposition of Common Core aligned ELA and Math tests, policies you approved were destroying teaching and learning in Bronx schools. A toxic combination of school grades, test based teacher evaluations, sc
DEC 12
When Common Core Is Viewed as "Just War"- The NY State Ed Dept's Politics of Cynicism
After seeing NY State Regents Chair Merryl Tisch in action at the Bronx Common Core Forum without Commissioner King present, I am convinced the Regents are approaching the transition to Common Core as a "just war" in which they are willing to accept a very high number of casualties. The only way to stop them, since their own children will not be among the casualties, is to make the pric
DEC 11
The Regents and Collateral Damage- Thoughts from a Bronx Common Core Forum
The amount of "collateral damage" those who call themselves "School Reformers" are willing to endure in their quest to prepare children ( including those not yet born) ready to compete in the Global Economy never ceases to amaze me. They claim to be motivated by idealism and a passion for equity, yet they are totally unmoved by stories of real life hardship, difficulty and abus
DEC 10
Summary of My Remarks to Regents Chair Tisch at Common Core Forum in the Bronx
What I will say to Regents Chair Tisch after describing the fear and humiliation and demoralization among students and teachers in Bronx schools that have been inspired by testing, test based evaluation of schools and teachers, school closings, and now the imposition of Common Core aligned tests scored artificially low by the New York State Education Department, thereby designating over 70 percent
DEC 08
Terry Pruess Announces Her Candidacy for Presidency of Broward Teachers Union- With My Endorsement
FROM: Terry Preuss, NBCT, Career Public Educator, BTU Executive Board Member, District Advisory Council Appointee @ www.terrypreuss.comFOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND PHOTOS CONTACT:Terry Preuss, NBCT, SBBC Teacher 954-665-5052 terrypreuss@yahoo.com www.terrypreuss.comMark Naison, BAT Co-Founder, Professor, Fordham University (917) 836-3014! mnaison@aol.comHerman Smith, SBBC Guidance Counselor (95
DEC 05
BATS and the Pedagogy of Joy
One of the reasons that BATS continue to grow and thrive is that we expound a Pedagogy of Joy that stands in sharp contrast to the Pegagogy of Fear and Pain which dominates current education policy. The Arne Duncans and Michelle Rhees and John Kings of the world advocate using schools to "whip students in shape" to meet the demands of global competition. Their vision turns teachers into