Mayor Michael Bloomberg has decided that rating teachers by their test scores and publishing their names in the paper is the last hill he will stand on in his struggle to establish a legacy. He says it is time to hold teachers’ feet to the fire. He would rather cut the budget than let teachers “off the hook” on teacher evaluations.
The mayor is a busy man. We can’t expect him to know anything about education research. He is making his judgments based on his gut instincts. It’s a shame that no one at the New York City Department of Education will tell him that what he believes in doesn’t work. The teachers of English language learners, special education students and gifted students are likely to look like bad teachers. I’m guessing no one at Tweed has the nerve to speak up. They are all in awe of him.
As his third term dwindles down to its closing days, the public has lost confidence that he can reform the schools. In the latest poll, only 25% approved his stewardship of the schools.
I wish he would call me. I could help him.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
I find it amazing that so few teachers in NYC realize the implications of this evaluation. Either their heads are in the sand, which is what the UFT prefers, or they just don’t care. Meanwhile in the state of Hawaii, over 80 schools have joined a protest that was started by one group of teachers at one school just a few short weeks ago. Even the governor stuck his nose in and told teachers that they can be forced to “volunteer” and work any hours necessary. That only riled up more schools to join the weekly protest. Meanwhile, the Hawaii state legislature is granting themselves a raise and expect teachers to take a 5% cut. God Bless grassroots movements like this one. God Bless the Chicago teachers.
Sadly, I have yet to see one NYC school say to Bloomberg, “Hell, NO!!” to VAM.
The problems with NYC public schools go so much deeper than just the Mayor’s misunderstanding of teacher evaluations. As a music teacher fresh out of college, I had numerous interviews this past spring and summer at NYC public schools, where I got a chance to observe and get a feel for administrators’ feelings towards fine arts education. At one school, I was informed that a teacher laid off at another school was given the position, and the principal asked if I wanted to teach either physical education or art instead. Dismayed by her offer, I respectfully declined. At another school, I had to wait 5 hours before the principal had time to interview me. After the interview, I had to write a generic essay on how I would attempt to raise math scores in his school. At yet another school I witnessed elementary school children left un-supervised in the hallway outside a classroom as a form of discipline. It was like a revolving door–the same 2 children would get kicked out of class for about five minutes at a time. This process repeated about 3 or 4 times while I waited in the hallway (there were no other adults to supervise these children while I was there). It is very clear that unqualified teachers are clinging to their positions in many NYC public schools, where they get few opportunities for professional development to keep their skills sharp and learn about new pedagogical techniques.
I am now very happily employed in a Catholic school in Manhattan, but as a summa cum laude graduate from a top tier school, I would have loved to have given back to the public schools in NYC that need good teachers so badly.
Emily, since you are a new teacher, don’t be so quick to judge the teachers that have gone before you. I hope you can survive teaching for the next 5 years, because odds are, you won’t. Most new teachers leave within the first 5 years because of lack of support. I find your tone arrogant and condescending.
Also, I question how well Emily knows the public schools. This is such a tough job — much tougher than working in a Catholic school (I’ve done both). I am amazed that NYC has so many good, dedicated teachers, considering how badly we are treated.
Emily, As was already pointed out, most teachers leave in their first 5 years for many reasons. Just because you graduated at the top of your class from a top university doesn’t mean you’ll be a great teacher. That comment, and your idea that “unqualified” teachers are keeping their jobs shows that you really have no clue about public education and its challenges. Teachers have plenty of professional development opportunities. Have you considered the high levels of poverty in many urban schools? That is the problem that needs to be addressed.
It’s apathy. I wrote about such a thing almost 2 years ago; http://www.southbronxschool.com/2010/12/apathy-and-ignorance-at-doe.html
Emily, since you are a new teacher, don’t be so quick to judge the teachers that have gone before you. I hope you can survive teaching for the next 5 years, because odds are, you won’t. Most new teachers leave within the first 5 years because of lack of support. I find your tone arrogant and condescending.
It’s time to take a stand. If Hawaii teachers can stand up, if Chicago teachers can stand up, then CERTAINLY NYC teachers can stand up! And guess what!?. You can do it without UFT! Sadly, our parent unions are not leading the way for us at this time. However, grassroots organizers are willing to dig in and do what needs to be done! There’s support from every corner of the US. From an upstate New Yorker, we are ALL New Yorkers and we ARE uniting across the state! It’s an exciting time.
Could “holding feet to the fire” be done for all public servants? There are numerous positions paid with the public tax dollar; where is the equity in evaluating performance by other state and municipal workers?
not to mention the “geniuses” on Wall Street who when they mess up are rewarded with huge bonuses.
Gail is correct–there IS support from all over! Parents are starting to see the truth about choice, testing, charters and all the rest. I’m not a New Yorker, but I’m firmly on the side of teachers everywhere. It’s time to unite and DIG IN.
There is a Month Python sketch that tells why no one will tell Bloomberg “No”.
Thanks. I needed that!
Such a little man with such a big ego and so much money…funny how he constantly needs his ego stroked. Don’t let the emperor down….he is so fragile…he needs perpetual praise for his puny persona. This is much more important than educating poor children.
When in an illogical situation, leave it the Python crew to make sense of it! Thanks, that was hilarious.
I put the video on my FB. It’s hilarious and ironically it shows the mayor in action with his Tweedies.
I wish there was a LIKE button for each and every comment above.
With the exception of Emily’s comment. She is clueless 😦
Yes–but remember, young teachers are always told that it’s the more experienced teachers that are the problem. It gets drilled into you — she’s just reflecting that. Some drink the kool-aid. Then, if they are smart, they wise up later on in their careers, or somehow find a way to work in management, for those that can’t handle the stress of urban teaching.
Ms. Ravitch, anyone that would have the mayor anything other than your wish is my command, sire, has already been fired and replaced with another puppet.
FIRE DUNCAN! Hire Ravitch.
I believe that Mayor Bloomberg should have all of the work he has done for the City of NY laid before the public, judged by the those who were directly affected by his decisions, and each and every one of those judgements should be published by the NY Times.
Oh… and I would like to see the cost of al those decisions, how much public funding went to pay for all of his consultants on each project, the cost of maintaining the project to completion, the justification for the projects, the value of the projects done over the ones that were not done and all that this may entail.
Then… when they publish the teacher’s class test results, let’s give a clear reference to each and every student who tested as to where they began the year and how much progress the student made at the end of that school year. For the students who had little to no growth, let’s take a look at that student’s academic history, attendance, family circumstances and other things that may have had an affect on their learning. Then, let’s compare those test scores with students from affluent areas and their academic growth over that same school year. Of course, interventions would need to be considered as would private tutors.
Now, after they are done with that, lets move on to the charter schools and… shall we do the same? Every detail should be considered. It would be interesting to see the ratio of special needs students to those without special needs from the beginning of the schol year until the end of the school year.
But, dare I dream of a true democratic process? Well… i’ve got asthma anyway, so I really can’t hold my breathe….
FIRE Duncan HIRE RAVITCH
Amen!
I sure hope he is 100% effective at his job! With 25% approval, I think not!! Where is his evaluation? He only needs a majority to be successful! We have one shot, one administrator, one day in some cases. Crazy! Hold OUR feet to the fire? Then walk over the coals we do everyday! Be a teacher, parent, counselor, and mentor to 125+ students I do in a day who suffer from emotional disorders to say the least because mom left and dad was a negative on a paternity test. The cherry on top is the pay and disrespect we get for the hard work, sweat and tears we put in because of ignorant, uneducated a$& wholes like himself. Makes my blood boil!!
“He is making his judgments based on his gut instincts.”
No, he is making his judgments based on the best interests of his and his cronies’ wallets.
Dear Diane,
After ten years the mayor has surrounded himself, NYCDOE HQ, with followers, not leaders and experts in education. Please be reminded that mayoral control of education was prevalent in fascist times. We need you in Washington DC. You are overqualified to work for Blussolini.
I’ve lived in Seattle for 23 years – if we had some Big Shot Billionaire surrounded by Big Credentialed Sycophants, you could be sure that our teacher union ‘leaders’ would be rushing to meet that Big Shot Billionaire at every newly defined right wing mid-point…
oh, wait … we DO have our Big Shot Billionaire! LOMG!
rmm
Regarding the bombardment of testing, one issue that remains uncovered is what kids are being asked on these tests. This matter is critical, and yet no one is talking about it yet. In my 2nd grade classroom, students are expected to read two lengthy narratives, and answer comparative questions about BOTH stories. This test is given prior to teaching the skill if we follow the pacing plan of our school district. This may be accomplished if the student is a competent reader. For the struggling reader, or the English language learner, it is a near impossible task. This is the fire under our feet.
NY’ers aught to hold his feet to the fire; figuratively of course. What a legacy! A 25% approval rating, the destruction of several notable high schools, free rent and real estate to “high profit” and “bonus awarding” charters, an abject disrespect of teachers, the pimping and pandering of VAM, and the unleashing of Joel Klein on the world and Michelle Rhee on DCPS and DC and by proxy Kevin “Sweet 16” Johnson on Hartford, CT and Sacremento, CA to name a few. I haven’t even touched on his social initiatives like baby breast milk and sodas. Next up I guess is the ‘slice’. So, I guess his enduring legacy will be the humiliation of teachers with a number that means absolutely nothing to be published in the papers and his continued rooting for the Sox, rather than the NY Yankees. As Cindy Adams would say, Only in New York kids.
I can not believe his language. Evaluation is something every professional adult is subject to, provided that the evaluation is done in good faith, by a fair measure, by trustworthy evaluators. The minute you say you want to hold my feet to the fire, I know you don’t want to see whether or not I’m a good teacher, celebrate my skills and help me improve my weaknesses – you just want me out.
I can not stand another month of being beat up every time I open a newspaper, after spending hours (my own time) writing awesome and engaging lessons, and creating materials (since the DOE gives me nothing) that are specific and responsive to my specific and real population of students. Stay up til 1am planning lessons, read the newspaper, cry on my way to work, spend a day in my classroom trying to build confidence and faith that the world is open to them, that the system is not rigged, that if you work hard, go to college, grad school, pick a decent and socially responsible profession you will succeed, be fairly compensated, and respected. Go back, read the paper, cry again. It is really awful, Mr. Bloomberg. You have no idea.
“Hold my feet to the fire”. What are you threatening with budget cuts? I already pay for all my own school supplies. I buy class sets of text books. I haven’t had a nickel raise in three years, even as my rent goes up and the subway fare raises again. You’re going to make this worse for me somehow? You want me to quit?
After you’ve completely destroyed the professionalism of teaching, once you’ve rallied the press to declare that anyone who goes into teaching is corrupt and suspicious, lazy and stupid – what kind of amazing self-confident and self-respecting recruits are you hoping to replace me with?
Ms. Caesar et al,
You are all overthinking this. This is not about children-this is about one thing. This is about big business causing schools to fail so that corporate takeover is simple. It will either be done through faulty evaluations or through the defunding of education or both. This has nothing to do with children- you are trying to rationalize and you simply can’t. The reason is you are not seeing children as commodities the way corporations are now viewing our children. You are seeing children as living, breathing, feeling human beings, with your at-risk students possibly having health issues, learning disabilities, family problems,and addictions. They might be homeless or living in extreme poverty. You are going through the stages of grieving right now, the anger, the sadness, the denial, etc. You are grieving for a profession that you are losing. I have gone through the stages and have come out the other side, ready to fight for the profession that I have loved for 34 years. It isn’t personal-it’s all about money-it’s all about the newest frontier in investments, our kids.
Mayor Bloomberg should come to a classroom of 35 or 40 second graders which has a
healthy dose of various special ed. students of different needs as well as a dozen English language learners speaking 12 different languages and show all the ‘ineffective’
teachers how to do it right. Since he is worth millions, I’m sure he has all the answers on HOW to teach students with multiple learning styles, disabilities, and languages.