This morning I went to hear Randi Weingarten speak to a major group of business and civic leaders in New York City. Present also were the state’s education leaders, including Regents Chancellor Merryl Tisch as well as College Board President (and Common Core architect) David Coleman.
Randi praised the Common Core as the most important innovation in education in our generation, but warned that it would fail unless there is time and support for proper implementation: professional development, curriculum, materials, collaboration, field testing, etc.
New York State and City plunged right into testing without adequate preparation. Randi predicted that Common Core was doomed unless there was enough time to do it right. She urged the importance of a field test. She suggested to the business leaders that none of them would roll out a new product without field testing.
The leaders with the power to make Randi’s proposal into reality were in the room. Let’s see what they do now.
Here is her announcement:
Dear Supporter,
This morning I addressed a group called the Association for a Better New York and spoke about the Common Core State Standards for math and English language arts that have been adopted by 45 states and the District of Columbia. I predicted these standards will result in one of two outcomes: They will lead to a revolution in teaching and learning, or end up in the dustbin of abandoned reforms. Educators want these standards to succeed—we know; we’ve asked them. But, in order for that to happen, we must have a chance to implement them before someone starts assessing how they’re working.
So today I called for a moratorium on the consequences of high-stakes testing associated with the Common Core standards until states and districts have worked with educators to properly implement them. Stand with me.
We are committed to the success of getting the transition to Common Core right. To do that, we must help teachers and students master this new approach and not waste time punishing people for not doing something they haven’t yet been equipped to do. Can you imagine doctors being expected to perform a new medical procedure without being trained or provided the necessary instruments? That’s what is happening right now with the Common Core.
We have the ability to transform the very DNA of teaching and learning, to move away from rote memorization and endless test taking, and toward problem solving, critical thinking and teamwork—things I know we have been advocating for years. It’s kind of amazing that we have to call on states and districts to implement the Common Core State Standards before making the new assessments count. But that’s what we’re doing.
Send a message to Secretary of Education Arne Duncan:
When states and districts get the alignment right—which will require moving from standards to curriculum to field testing to revising—success will follow. But, until then, a moratorium on the stakes is the only sensible course.
Making changes without anything close to adequate preparation is a failure of leadership, a sign of a broken accountability system and, worse, an abdication of our moral responsibility to the kids we serve. The Common Core standards have the potential to be a once-in-a-generation revolution in education, but there must be a tangible commitment from leadership that says very clearly, “We support you, and the Common Core, and these are the concrete steps we are going to take to help you and them succeed.”
Stand with me, because if we are able to put our foot on the accelerator of high-quality implementation, and put the brakes on the stakes, we can take advantage of this opportunity and guarantee that stronger standards lead to higher achievement for all children.
Help me send that message.
In unity,
Randi Weingarten
AFT President
Moratorium, ok, but Randi never spoke to me…
Does anyone know where Dennis Van Roekel is in this conversation? I know he came out in support of the Seattle teachers’ boycott of the MAP test but I haven’t seen much on his stance on CCSS, standardized testing, and corporate education reform. I am an NEA member and passionate about union work. I have even run for office in the union, but I just don’t see NEA out there speaking up like I have AFT. Have I missed something?
I would agree that in my perspective the NEA has been silent. As a matter of fact, i don’t think i’ve heard anything from the NEA since summer ’11’s early endorsement of Obama.
Summer? I think they had endorsed him in March!
(Without, I might add, even surveying the lowly rank-and-file.)
Then–rubbing even MORE salt into the wounds, Veep Biden comes to speak at the convention (neither Arne nor POTUS bothers/has the guts)–the bro of Florida-Biden-Charter-$chool-King!
How d’ya like them apples, NEA members?
Randi makes sense and also is savvy. Thanks Diane for getting this out so fast! I will pass this along in CT to those with more power regarding Arne Duncan.
What the former member of the Broad Superintendent’s Academy is really saying is that she and her ilk need more time to condition the American people to accept Common Core. I hope the moratorium on testing does not give anyone the false impression that this issue has been resolved. Get ready for a slew of bogus studies about the effectiveness of Common Core.
Headline should read “Union Boss Sells Out Yet Again”
Words no longer have meaning. Action does. And so far everything she has done, including her endorsement of CC, shows that this speech was nothing more than theatrics on her part. In organizational theory, there is something called “Theatrics of the Absurd”. It’s when an organization makes you believe they are going to do something so people will feel calmer. Yet no real action is taken. Talk is cheap. And perhaps there was a wink and a nod that Diane missed. In fact, I am sure of it.
On another topic. sadly only 17% of all working teachers voted in the UFT elections. The majority of the votes were from retirees. Yet, with approximately 25% of all voters voting, Mulgrew is claiming an 80%+ victory. Numbers are funny that way. This apathy is obviously greater than expected, and it doesn’t speak well of teachers either. My real concern is that Julie was vilified for being a working parent and working teacher, and no one with real clout stood up for her. I really think this issue of apathy needs to be addressed, because teachers are not the only losers, but so are the students.
How about a pemanent ban on high stakes tests for 3rd graders?
“Randi praised the Common Core as the most important innovation in education in our generation.”
I would disagree with Randi’s observation. The most important innovation in the field of education was: her selling out the members of NYC’s UFT and then the AFT’s WTU in Washington, DC, along with her hob-knobbing around corporate chieftains, celebrity educators like: Rhee, Duncan, Klein, et alia, and those privatizing/pirates. That I believe was the most important innovation in the field of education…today…IMHO.
“celebrity educators like: Rhee, Duncan, Klein, et alia, ”
There is not one educator in the group. I think you mean “celebrity non-educators.”
I agree…but too many they are and it makes things simple to refer to them as such. But, in an unintentional way, they are educating people in the bull-headed notion that 5 weeks of training and a few hours of pretend teaching make for a great teacher. I can’t wait for the day when they are referred to with the term ex- in front of their name and /or some other sobriquet or other status pending.
Please add Weingarten to that group of non-educators: she “taught” for six months while she was being groomed to take over the UFT.
Like the others, she is also a fraud.
Diane,
I’ve tried to make the same argument about the Framework for K-12 Science Education and Next Generation Science Standards: Don’t undermine their potential in a rush to consequential testing. Whether or not the content of the Common Core State Standards or the NGSS are on target or age appropriate, I think separating the standards quality and consequential testing debates makes strategic sense.
About testing and the NGSS:
“Taken together, the framework and science standards have the potential to generate a wave of improvement, but only if we prevent their promise from crashing on the rocky shores of high-stakes, all-purpose testing………..Decisions about high-stakes assessment of science and engineering will determine whether the new standards generate a wave of improvement or just another ripple in the pond.”
For the full article, go to: http://www.arthurcamins.com/?p=164
Some may agree with Pres. Randi W. that surrendering to CC is the best and only strategy–plead with the closely aligned business and govt. elites to do CC better than they are doing now, by heeding the fears of career educators. This strategy aims to collaborate with the authorities who are accepted as the sole legitimate force to initiate changes in school practices and conditions. If Randi’s pleas actually win a delay, it is always possible that educators can derail this dishonest and undemocratic regime called CCAS. A tactic of delay may open opportunities to undermine the regime threatening to undermin our schools. However, there is another alternative, though, one already underway and not ruled by the authorties in business, govt., foundations, or teacher unions–building opposition from the bottom up, as Diane’s brilliant blog has been doing for a year now, and as are others encouraging parents to opt-out, students to walk out, teachers to boycott testing and to go on strike, and administrators to drag their heels at every possible opportunity and to refuse to punish teachers or students who opt-out. This second way is promising; it develops exactly what we need in the short and long term, a coalition of stakeholders consolidated locally and regionally to oppose the forced, rash, unprofessional dumping of testing on our pub schls. AFT and NEA have both been non-combatants, unfortunately. Rank-and-file opposition beneath AFT and NEA leadership is moving ahead of the union presidents. We have the wisdom and richness of our everyday classroom practice and childraising on our side(teachers and parents). We have known for some time already what our precious public schls need to build at last the democratic society we’ve heard so much about. Instead of Pres. Randi W’s plea to authorities for a delay, I’d urge pursuing the road we’re already walking, patiently building opposition from the bottom up, finding each other via media like Diane’s blog, support for every teacher boycotting or striking, for every student opting-out or walking-out, and for every parent defending their kids’ rights to small classes, rich curricula, well-equipped local schools, stability, and well-trained, profesisonal educators.
Ira Shor,
When parents win, as they did today in Florida, I will spread the news, to encourage others that resistance can succeed. When Angry Moms in Texas turn the legislature around, I will tell their story. When students speak out, as students in Providence did today by giving their “State of the Student” address to pre-empt the State Comissioner’s paean to high-stakes testing, they can count on me. I will not get into the middle of internecine union quarrels, but I will use whatever megaphone I have to help those who are fighting for a better day in education.
Diane,
I thought a bit about your words and they make sense. In the past I have been a little frustrated that you seem reluctant to expose Weingarten for what she at least very much seems to be — but on reflection I can see why you do what you do.
Yes, it’s probably best that you not get in the middle of “internecine union quarrels”.
Meanwhile, union members really need to wake up and see Weingarten for what she is. She doesn’t own the union — we can be rid of her if we want to be.
Union quarrels? I thought we were discussing education policies many of which she is in agreement with the reforms you use this blog, your books and PAC to expose. For instance, didn’t you post many of Jersey Jazzman’s opposition to the Newark deal which Randi helped implement, but never really mentioned her involvement. And your post regarding inBloom and Gates which she is also involved. And CC, and VAM, and RTTT and Duncan and Gates,,,,,so how is this any different??
And let’s also remember she supports teacher evaluations being tied to these tests, hence more staff development so we can teach to these tests. Does this really make sense???
I’m glad Randi asked for a moratorium on high-stakes.
That said, the rest is very disturbing, “The Common Core standards have the potential to be a once-in-a-generation revolution in education” is that magic bullet B*** S*** again. If standards were the be-all for transforming “the very DNA of teaching and learning,” then the numerous states that adopted standards over the past couple decades should have shown dramatic improvements –regardless of whether their standards were the same or different from the standards in other states.
And clearly Randi knows nothing about child development or how cracking the academic rigor whip at Kindergartners and younger is more likely to turn them off to school from the start than it is to encourage lifelong learning. Grrrr…
So sorry to hear about the low teacher turn-out at the UFT election and Julie Cavanaugh’s loss. What are NYC teachers thinking?????
“What are NYC teachers thinking?????”
Since I am out of the mind numbing trenches now, I can speculate that most of the teachers are not thinking. The union is probably not seen as very relevant to everyday teaching, and the teachers don’t have the energy to waste on what they see as pissing wars. Apathy and exhaustion are a dangerous combination.
Understand that I am not a New Yorker and am reading some of my own experience with unions into their situation. Not fair, I know, but take it for what it is.
Perhaps this is typical of how the extremely powerful cede a tiny piece of their agenda in order to save the whole mess of privatization?
Randi suggests only a slight delay in the overall terrible plan to privatize public education.
If the all mighty modify their agenda slightly, will the protestors jump for joy? Protestors had claimed at the start that implementing a ridiculously heavy testing schedule before the CC curricula is in place is sure to create chaos and failure.
I’m not teary-eyed b/c Randi now finally agrees.
But I can see her utility to the all mighty.
Astute post, thanks!
Where exactly did she say to end tying test scores to teacher evaluations? Something tells me they knew what she was going to say or helped her write it…they’re just throwing us a bone and along the same path they will travel. I wouldn’t trust any of them to care about teachers. They have nothing but disdain for us and our profession.
Just a question:
Did I miss something, or did Randi advocate for a moratorium only on high stakes tests FOR STUDENTS?
I think the corporate reformers are realizing that high stakes tests for students (as graduation requirements) are going to have to go the way of publishing individual VAM-based teacher evaluation scores, and for much the same reason. They put a weapon in the hands of the resistance.
In the case of publishing individual VAM-based teacher evaluation scores, the plan had to be sacrificed when it was realized that this would provide data revealing that VAM-based evaluation scores fluctuate wildly over time, which could be used to attack the system — so it became a pawn that had to be sacrificed.
With standardized tests being made high-stakes for students, I think the corporate reformers are starting to realize that instead of enraging the parents against the teachers, the parents are beginning to become angry at the privatization-friendly reformy systems themselves — and that’s cause for some serious backpedaling.
All that being said — my expectation is that over the next few years we will see an abandoning of standardized tests being used as high-stakes for students. The interesting thing to watch will be the justification for continuing to use the same tests as tools for measuring teachers’ “value added” scores.
I am certain that some people are already working on the rhetoric.
If that is happening Ron, it won’t be because of Randi’s efforts, but the efforts of grassroots organizations like the parents of Texas and Florida and the teachers of Seattle and even Chicago.
No doubt it will be in part because of grassroots (parent) organizations — but the corporate reformers will ALLOW their efforts to bear fruit because they know that angry parents cannot be spat on and laughed at like angry teachers can be.
They will scuttle the use of high-stakes tests as barriers to graduation in order to pacify angry parents who might otherwise end up joining forces with angry teachers, counting on their pacification keeping them out of the fray when the same tests are used to judge teachers (this time with no incentive for students to even try to do well on them).
“The interesting thing to watch will be the justification for continuing to use the same tests as tools for measuring teachers’ “value added” scores.
I am certain that some people are already working on the rhetoric.”
BINGO!
If the parents get “too rowdy”, I agree.
Rhetoric shift, then the tests will only be about assessing teachers.
Still spend tons of $ and time on them. Still narrow the curriculum, teach to the test and wast everyone’s time.
But the parents might cool out if their kid is not punished over results.
Because these tests were always about helping some get fabulously wealthy and gutting the public schools…never about learning, teaching or closing gaps… they cannot be abandoned, but the reported purpose can shift.
Watch for it.
Arne Duncan speaking today at the Hilton Hotel in San Francisco at 3:45pm.
http://rethinkingschoolsblog.wordpress.com/2013/04/26/reclaim-aera-protest-arne-duncan-speech/
Hi All,
Question from a red state teacher…
You know, no union, no collective bargaining,, so no clue how that stuff works.
How did Randi get her job?
She is the boss of the teachers union, right?
I heard the radio interview that Diane posted about yesterday and Randi was quoted.
Her remarks did not strike me as having either the teachers or the kids best interest at heart.
And now she is cool with national standards that as I understand them are:
pushed from the top down, written by a small select circle with no field test or pilots, that the states had to be bribed into signing on to and we are instructed to refer to (disingenuously) as state standards.
I am a bit confused.
A very concise summary and spot on. You are not confused, but baffled by bull$___.
This just entered my in box:
Dear Linda,
This morning I addressed a group called the Association for a Better New York and spoke about the Common Core State Standards for math and English language arts that have been adopted by 45 states and the District of Columbia. I predicted these standards will result in one of two outcomes: They will lead to a revolution in teaching and learning, or end up in the dustbin of abandoned reforms. Educators want these standards to succeed—we know; we’ve asked them. But, in order for that to happen, we must have a chance to implement them before someone starts assessing how they’re working.
We are committed to the success of getting the transition to Common Core right. To do that, we must help teachers and students master this new approach and not waste time punishing people for not doing something they haven’t yet been equipped to do. Can you imagine doctors being expected to perform a new medical procedure without being trained or provided the necessary instruments? That’s what is happening right now with the Common Core.
We have the ability to transform the very DNA of teaching and learning, to move away from rote memorization and endless test taking, and toward problem solving, critical thinking and teamwork—things I know we have been advocating for years. It’s kind of amazing that we have to call on states and districts to implement the Common Core State Standards before making the new assessments count. But that’s what we’re doing.
Send a message to Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and your state education commissioner: When states and districts get the alignment right—which will require moving from standards to curriculum to field testing to revising—success will follow. But, until then, a moratorium on the stakes is the only sensible course.
We have the ability to transform the very DNA of teaching and learning, to move away from rote memorization and endless test taking, and toward problem solving, critical thinking and teamwork—things I know we have been advocating for years. It’s kind of amazing that we have to call on states and districts to implement the Common Core State Standards before making the new assessments count. But that’s what we’re doing.
Send a message to Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and your state education commissioner: When states and districts get the alignment right—which will require moving from standards to curriculum to field testing to revising—success will follow. But, until then, a moratorium on the stakes is the only sensible course.
Making changes without anything close to adequate preparation is a failure of leadership, a sign of a broken accountability system and, worse, an abdication of our moral responsibility to the kids we serve. The Common Core standards have the potential to be a once-in-a-generation revolution in education, but there must be a tangible commitment from leadership that says very clearly, “We support you, and the Common Core, and these are the concrete steps we are going to take to help you and them succeed.”
Stand with me, because if we are able to put our foot on the accelerator of high-quality implementation, and put the brakes on the stakes, we can take advantage of this opportunity and guarantee that stronger standards lead to higher achievement for all children. Help me send that message.
In unity,
Randi Weingarten
AFT President
“Educators want (CC) standards to succeed. We know because we asked them.”
Raise your hand if you were asked.
Not me, never, ever….no one gives a crap what we think. Lie, lie, lie, lie, lie, lie, lie…
Like Johnny “Pineapple” King would ever listen to a teacher.
It seems like Randy wants to be adored by everyone. Doing more damage by the minute. One step forward lately now two steps back.
There is some good news in this event. Randi, her antennae always sensitive, feels the need to respond to the growing opposition to high stakes exams based on the Common Corporate State Standards. Parent, student and teacher opposition is starting to force a change in the terms of debate, and she feels the need to re-position herself.
Beyond that, this speech is just theater for the membership’s consumption, so she can point to her “opposition” to testing when a teacher points out how catastrophically awful things have become under her leadership.
It’s also a signal to the corporate-philanthropic-academic-advocacy complex that she’s still on the team when it comes to the Common Corporate.
Over the years she has accepted virtually every premise of so-called education reform, and spends a good deal of her time co-managing teachers under the high stakes testing, school closing, teacher firing, privatization regime.
Even if the proposals were something other than a staged event for her members, there is zero chance of them being voluntarily adopted by the people in that audience, and she knows it. More likely, they were there to return a favor for past services rendered, and help her keep the proles pacified.
I’m just not feeling it in. I can’t understand why she objects so loudly to the idea of Common Core being similar to a “doctor being trained to perform a procedure before being trained” and yet silent on the idea of a doctor prescribing a drug before any clinical trial or proper evaluation is complete. Personally, I wouldn’t take an untested drug nor encourage an untrained doctor. Why doesn’t she object to both? Positions like this one are the reason people say the unions only care about teachers, not children, and people believe them.
Other than Karen Lewis, teacher “union” leadership only care about themselves. How much do these supposed leaders make in a year, not to mention the various perks????
Amen to that! Teachers need a new leader and parents need a leader!
In unity? I’m nauseated. She needs to go. Who has a suggestion for a viable replacement?
Karen Lewis of course.
She’s got her own stuff to deal with in Chicago, but seriously — if she ran, I think she’d win. I HOPE she would, anyway.
I am sure she has good people who will follow in her footsteps and she would never abandon Chicago. Unfortunately, teachers don’t vote for AFT leadership. And the people that due the selection are part of the UNITY team. Lewis is a member of CORE.
If I could just make a political suggestion, the way to approach this is to focus on the time and money that will be spent on testing.
In Ohio, the CC will add hours of testing. The tests are to be conducted online, and many, many rural districts do not have the hardware or broad-band to achieve this.
Apparently, CC supporters gave very little thought to what this is going to cost districts. We simply don’t have the money in areas of the state where the median income is 35 or 40k.
The OH regime requires a computer for every 2 students. Most small or rural districts have nowhere near that number. Additionally, we don’t even teach keyboarding until 4th grade and the highest stakes test begin in 3rd grade.
Who is paying for this?
Don’t you see? The communities you mention could easily fund this much needed testing if those fat, lazy teachers would only agree to take even modest cuts in pay! But will they? NO! LOOK at ’em! They must HATE your children!
“Apparently, CC supporters gave very little thought to what this is going to cost districts.”
Of course they did give it thought-How much money they were going to make off of it!
“So today I called for a moratorium on the consequences of high-stakes testing associated with the Common Core standards until states and districts have worked with educators to properly implement them.”
Is it just me, or does it sound odd that she calls for a moratorium on the CONSEQUENCES of CC testing?
She is NOT calling for a moratorium on CC testing.
Rand is saying only the tests’ consequences should be delayed, i.e. don’t evaluate teachers now on those scores.
Seems like she is advising the corporate suits that in order to save privatization, they need to complete curriculum, field testing, and revisions.
I am not impressed with Randi’s long-awaited effort.
She is not advocating for the children.
She is not advocating much for the teachers.
She is advising corporations how to save CCS and testing and teacher evaluations.
She gives no hope that the crazy number of standardized tests kids’ suffer through now will be cut.
But it is a very slick speech.
P.S. Her hyperbolic comment about changing the DNA of education —
Does Randi really think that there are a lot of teachers who use rote memorization and ignore critical thinking?
And that CCS is the only solution to that problem?
But I don’t think she is close to being right.
It is insulting to her union members.
But I think her speech is slick, very slick indeed.
I don’t know how slick the speech was, but I like your comment. She really is insulting all the teachers who spent their careers challenging students to think for themselves. Didn’t lots of teachers try to do that a lot of the time, before NCLB?
If the “Common Core” is implemented per David Coleman’s instructions (spending weeks deciphering a 7,000 word passage, practicing something “100 times” if it’s going to be on a test, using too-difficult reading material, eliminating context in discussing a reading passage, and so on) it will be a giant step backwards. Expect even more boredom, frustration, stress symptoms, and dropouts than we already have. This is the kind of revolution we don’t need.
To all fans of “academic rigor” for K-12 students, I recommend Race to Nowhere, a documentary released in 2009. More heartache on the way, and for what?