Melissa Heckler, a certified teacher and librarian, wrote the following letter to the New York State Board of Regents. She feels sorry for Dr. King. She wonders why the Regents selected as state commissioner someone with so little experience as a teacher or administrator. She doesn’t blame him for his present predicament. She blames the Regents, who selected someone so young and so inexperienced, so lacking in the wisdom that comes with maturity. After Dr. King made a hash of his first parent forum in Poughkeepsie, first lecturing parents for over an hour, then interrupting parents who tried to express their views, the meeting descended into chaos, and King canceled the other four events he had announced. The Regents determined that they had to back their Commissioner, no matter how inept and arrogant he is, so they have now announced that there will be 16 such parent meetings across the state, but Dr. King will be accompanied by one or more Regents at each meeting. Maybe they will bring a stopwatch to cut him off when he goes into lecture mode. Oddly enough, the Regents did not include New York City, where 1/3 of the state’s students are enrolled, in their list of parent meetings.
To: The Board of RegentsFrom: A N.Y. State certified School Librarian and N.Y. State certified K-6 state certified TeacherRe: The Commissioner of EducationOctober 20, 2013To my way of thinking you have done a terrible disservice to Dr. John King by putting him in a leadership position for which he is not yet qualified. I did not expect to feel compassion for this young man with whom so many, including me, disagree, knowing that his policies harm children and education. With his lack of experience, he is not even qualified to be a principal or superintendent in any New York public school. Yet, you appointed him to lead those of us who arehighly qualified for the positions we hold. John King might have had, and might yet have, a brilliant career in education, but he is not yet a veteran, highly qualified educator. How you could do this to such a capable young person is beyond imagining. He may speak eloquently, even brilliantly, in a lecture, but he clearly has not developed the communication skills to respond to teachers, administrators, or parents when they express deep concerns about his policies. What he lacks, in a word, is wisdom.I struggle to understand how you appointed, and continue to support, as the Commissioner of Education a man who has so little teaching experience and none in the public schools. He, as far as I know, never achieved tenure in the public school sector as a teacher or administrator. How could Dr. King be remotely qualified to guide and lead educators without the required experience? He may be extremely bright, and put on a fast track to become an administrator, but that does not mean he has achieved the experience and wisdom to guide teachers and communicate effectively with those who challenge his policies. As a senior teacher, I am appalled by his recent behavior in Poughkeepsie. It is embarrassing to our profession to have someone at the helm of education react so defensively and dismissively to parents who were clearly anguished by what they witnessed happening to their formerly school loving children. I hold each of you responsible for appointing a man whose policies have harmed children, their families, and teachers. Why compassion for him? He clearly didn’t know how to handle this challenging situation because he was not adequately prepared and was put by each one in an untenable position.The appointment of such a singularly unqualified individual as New York’s educational leader begs the question: How much do you understand of the long, hard path to becoming a highly qualified teacher or a wise administrator? In my forty years plus in education, as a teacher, librarian, and parent, I have witnessed all kinds of teachers. The singular qualities that define all great teachers: They are life long learners and passionate in discovering the unique methods for reaching and teaching every child. The best senior teachers often look back and reflect on what they did not know as young teachers. Although beginning teachers may be outstanding, it takes years to become a seasoned, veteran teacher— able to single out the exact learning/teaching approaches that will best inspire a love of learning and activate each student’s potential. No single curriculum fits every student’s needs; it takes constant professional development and education (not training) to hone these skills. As any beginning professional— doctors, lawyers, accountants and a host of others— needs years to develop wide ranging professional intelligence, so, too, does the teaching profession require years to develop an ability to reach and support all kinds of minds and communicate compassionately and knowledgeably with the families we serve.Would you give your children medicine for which there is no research? That is what you are doing with the forced implementation of the Common Core State Standards. They were not developed with the expertise of educators or child development professionals. Are there good, even excellent, points in these standards? Yes. The way to develop a sound foundation for what is good in them, is to include teachers, administrators, and child development experts (pediatricians, psychologists, psychiatrists) in their development. What has been pointed out repeatedly, and pointedly ignored, is that the U.S. does not have an achievement gap, it has POVERTY gap. With one broad brush you have painted all schools as failing schools and implemented programs for which there is NO research. You have actually lowered education standard and achievement in many schools once filled with excellent creative teaching; worse, you are destroying schools in impoverished areas that could actually use some of the billions spent on the CCSS, to implement researched programs and hire qualified teachers.I remain hopeful you will listen to the public outcry from teachers, administrators, parents, and students and rescind your policies and begin the long hard road to addressing the real problems facing education: poverty, class size, the financial crisis in New York education caused by the 2% tax cap and unfunded, unresearched mandates. If you believe in every student’s right to a high quality educational experience that will address unique learning needs, then your actions must prove it. It you want to preserve the career of this young man, Dr. John King, then remove him and let him get the experience and wisdom that you require of all New York State educators. You have done him a disservice, harmed children, and undermined the teaching profession by placing him in this position.Sincerely,Melissa A. Heckler, MS ECE, MLSCross River, New York
Wonderful letter that could apply to many other appointees in public education. I spent 50 years in public/private education (teacher, administrator, college professor). The letter focuses on the crucial importance of maturity of judgment, wisdom based on experience, and skills for working with others in an organizational setting. Too often, the “exceptionally bright” are confused as having the necessary skills to operate with teachers, parents, community. Too often the “politically astute” are thought to be a “slam dunk.” Melissa Hacker has summarized these points with clarity and wisdom!!!!!
Yes, as any good teacher knows there is a fine line between challenging a person and setting them up for failure. I think this guy was set up for failure (even if that was unintended).
Here’s NY Education Commissioner
John King behind-the scenes:
The 16 new parent forums will not only be chaperoned and tightly choreographed, but they will also be scheduled during the afternoon so that many teachers and parents will be unable to attend. They may even be invitation only with previewed questions.
Thank you to Melissa for compassion even in the face of so many destructive policies.
We do know that King’s affinity for charter schools was a big plus that contributed to his appointment. We see this play out on a national level, too. Aughhhhh. But still, how like a librarian to “Choose kind!”
Wow. I couldn’t have said it better.
The Emperor’s New Clothes” (Danish: Kejserens nye Klæder) is a short tale by Hans Christian Andersen about two weavers who promise an Emperor a new suit of clothes that is invisible to those unfit for their positions, stupid, or incompetent. When the Emperor parades before his subjects in his new clothes, a child cries out, “But he isn’t wearing anything at all!” The tale has been translated into over a hundred languages.[1]
The King’s New Tests (US; NYS) is a [hopefully very] short tale by Andrew Cuomo about two carpetbaggers (Dave and Arnie) who promise the King a new set of uncommon tests that appear reliable and valid only to those unfit for their administrative position, too stupid and inexperienced, or too grossly incompetent to have control over the people’s schools. When the King parades his new tests before his state subjects [teachers, parents, students] a young child cries out, “But I don’t understand these questions. They are confusing, convoluted, developmentally inappropriate, and contain arcane vocabulary and syntax which any normal. plain spoken adult would never dare speak [or write] to a child like me or my friends!” The administrators gasped and the King ran and hid from his subjects, never to be seen [hopefully] again. Sam for the new tests. And the former King’s subjects lived happily ever after.
that would be Sam[e]
Wonderful letter. I am encouraging everyone I know to join your blog group.
How tender was this librarian’s note . . .
I feel about as much sympathy for John-I’m-an-opportunist-King as I do for Ghengis Kahn.
Now that Mr. King’s sugar mommy – make that sugar “mummy” – Merryl Tisch is taking the show on her own road, it will be interesting to see how the Regent’s very own Catwoman and Boy Blunder fare with the righteously angry citizenry.
Where’s Batman when you need him . . . . ?
BATman is coming and his true identity is Mark Naison!
NYSED just sent out emails informing school districts across the state that they are officially SUSPENDING THE PARCC EXAMS for 2014-2015 and the future of New York state’s commitment to the PARCC exams is very much in doubt. The email cited reasons for the suspension including, cost to districts and technology logistics. Ding-dong the
Poor Mr. King, indeed. I wish that he would have some sympathy for the students, parents and teachers that he is traumatizing with his words and actions. EXCELLENT letter, by the way!
Oh, poor little John. Too bad he didn’t recognize these shortcomings himself and withdraw his name from consideration. That’s what the rest of us do, but of course he’s special.
Ms. Heckler is a far bigger person than I.
Observing King’s lack of experience, arrogance, hypocrisy and contempt for students, parents and teachers, she feels compassion, whereas I see only the need for him to be publicly repudiated and made an example of.
Tar and feathers good enough! I’ll bring the guillotine, just in case!
Why not do both?