With A Brooklyn Accent Go BATs All Week
The Rich Who Hate Unionized Government Workers
I have rarely met a wealthy person who does not publicly express contempt for unionized public workers- police officers, firefighters, sanitation workers, teachers- and doesn't think they are lazy and over paid. Many blame them for bankrupting government and undermining the dynamism of the American economy. This from people whose salary and compensation often exceeds those they are attacking in mu
YESTERDAY
Thoughts on Socialism, Liberty, and Government and Corporate Powe
As long as there is a huge concentration of wealth at the top of the society, as we have now in the US, we cannot assume that centralized government initiatives will have positive consequences. Government at all levels has become the tool of powerful corporations. This makes the historic socialist identification with strong government highly problematical. In the US today, policies which are e
JAN 02
otorious Phd’s Quick Tips for College Teaching in the Liberal Arts.
Notorious Phd’s Quick Tips for College Teaching in the Liberal Arts.1. Make sure that the reading materials you assign are inspiring as well as informative. Don't be afraid to include literature as well as non-fiction. Students need to use their imagination as well as intellect.2. When you are lecturing, always stop and say. "Do you understand what i am trying to get across." "Do yo
DEC 31 2013
Restore Recess Party New York State- Education Program REVISED!
1. Restore Recess. No use of Recess or Physical Education time for Test prep2. Cut the state testing budget in half and use the money to lower class size and fund arts programs, sports programs and school counselors.3. No Data Sharing. No information about children can be shared with anyone outside of the school district without parental permission4 Create a new Education Policy Committee to repla
DEC 30 2013
Standing Up for Children and for Freedom of Speech
As we approach the New Year, I am more and more grateful for the existence of BATS United Opt Out and Lace to the Top. Every day, I read, or am sent, stories of teachers being intimidated by administrators for speaking out against new curricula and evaluation methods, and micromanaged to the point that all joy departs from their jobs. Along with these come stories of children tested to the point o
DEC 29 2013
What BATS Do
Last night, somebody asked me what BATS do. Here is what I answered - with a few additions1. Working to elect people to school boards, union offices, city councils and legislatures who stand strong for public education and rolling back testing.2. Testifying at all of the institutions represented above when they hold public forums.3. Supporting ballot initiatives and petition drives which work tow
DEC 27 2013
Tough Questions to Ask About Charter Schools
The powers that be in the Democratic Party, including our President, have made Charter Schools their main vehicle for educational renewal in low income communities. And there are more than a few civil rights leaders, and elected officials in Black and Latino communities who view them as a chance to give families in their neighborhoods better educational opportunities. We have now had six years of
DEC 21 2013
The Child Abuse Taking Place in our Classrooms - A Bronx Teacher Reflects on the Toll from Uncontrolled Testing
I had a student leave my classroom in an ambulance last year during the middle of a practice test. He was having an asthma attack brought on by panic. He kept saying, "I can't do this." As his teacher, I knew him. I knew that "school" was hard for him and he was trying his best. We all were trying our best to support him: his mom, brother, teachers old and new, staff at school,
Ras Baraka for Mayor of Newark
Another important Mayoral election in the struggle to protect public education- this time in Newark- where Cami Anderson is the Superintendent and former Mayor Corey Booker worked arm in glove with NJ Gov Chris Christie to privatize local schools. The lead Mayoral candidate, Ras Baraka, is a public school principal and the most outspoken opponent of the Christie/Anderson strategy to turn Newark in
DEC 18 2013
What Veteran Teachers Should Do to Protect Themselves From Being Driven out of the Profession
The more I talk to teachers around the country, the more I am convinced that School Reformers and Government Officials are making a systematic effort to drive the best veteran teachers out of the profession, both to save money and destroy the historic memory of a time when teachers had real autonomy and input into decisions about pedagogy and curriculum. The harassment and micromanagement such tea
Video of Dr Mark Naison, Co-Founder of BATS, Calling for Resignation of NY State Regents Chair Merryl Tisch
Link to Video of Dr Mark Naison, Professor at Fordham University, and Co-Founder of Badass TEachers Association, Calling for the Resignation of Regents Chair Merryl Tisch at Common Core Forum in the Bronxhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-z1Vyrfh6r0
DEC 17 2013
The 2 Falso Principles on Which School Reform is Built
It never ceases to amaze me how many people who should know better buy the following dominant principles of the School Reform narrative 1. American schools as a whole are failing because American students are being pampered, both by their parents and teachers. We need to demand more of them to meet Global Competition 2. Schools in high poverty and moderate income neighborhoods are failing becaus
DEC 14 2013
The Crisis in Public Education is Caused by Bad Policies, not Bad Teachers
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
DEC 12 2013
Why A "One Size Fits All" Curriculum is a Catastroph
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
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 2013
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 2013
“Change Course or Get Lost” Speech to Bronx Common Core Forum
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 impo
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 2013
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 2013
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
DEC 04 2013
My Personal Stake in Defending Teachers
My parents, children of immigrants who became public school teachers, were harder working and more capable than any wealthy and prominent people I met in my journey from Brooklyn streets and schoolyards to an Ivy League college and a Professorship at Fordham. And so is my wife Liz, a public school principal. Attacking the dignity and integrity of such people, while undermining their autonomy and j
DEC 03 2013
Job Description for New Teachers
Job Description: New Teacher.Your Mission: To Squeeze Excellent Test Results out of Frightened and Angry Children and Shatter The Achievement GapThings to Ignore: Hunger, Homelessness, Disability, Language, Chronic Illness, Family and Neighborhood Violence, Children's Talents, Personalities and Aptitudes.Things to Sacrifice: Play, Recess, The Arts.Job Security: Dependent on Results on Standardized
DEC 02 2013
A Tennessee Teacher's Letter to President Obama
November 29, 2013Dear Mr. President,I generally don't remember my dreams, and I generally don't dream about presidents, but this time, I did both. Go figure. Anyway, in my dream, I had the opportunity to meet you and talk to you face to face. You have to understand, in my dream, I am totally excited- this is a historic moment for me- since I voted for you twice, think you are an incredibly intelli
