Let’s give credit where credit is due.
Because of Race to the Top, most states are now evaluating teachers based in significant part on student test scores. The American Educational Research Association and the National Academy of Education say that the methodology for doing this is inaccurate and unstable. The ratings bounce around from year to year. Such ratings reflect which students were in the class, not teacher quality.
Because of Race to the Top, more states are permitting privatization of public schools.
Because of No Child Left Behind and Race to the Top, all schools are labeled by their test scores.
Because of Race to the Top, there is more teaching to the test, more fear and anxiety associated with testing, more narrowing of the curriculum, more cheating.
Because of Race to the Top, many schools in poor and minority neighborhoods will be closed.
Because of Race to the Top, many principals and teachers will be fired.
Is this what President Obama meant when he referred to the “results” of his Race to the Top? It explains why Romney applauded it and specifically hailed Arne Duncan.
This reader has a different view of Race to the Top:
In addition to the intimidation and demoralization of teachers, Race to the Top is having its intended results: the destabilization, fragmentation and privatization of the public schools.
In their public utterances on education, Obama and Duncan are frauds, but the education reform complex is being managed by very intelligent and far seeking -venal, but far-seeking – people. They know exactly what they are doing, and more often than not are getting their way.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
And if Obama loses his job, his basketball buddy keeps his. Everyone loves Arne.
Arne proves that it is possible to play for both teams at the same time.
Diane
No way will Arne Duncan survive if Obama is not president. In fact, it is debatable if the US Department of Education will survive if Romney is president.
Who else might Romney have in mind for the position? Jindal?
Who does Romney have in mind for that position? Jindal?
If A Romney win means getting rid of the Dept of Ed — Jimmy Carter’s “gift” to teachers — that is a good thing to me. I am blown away by people who think Obama is a better choice than Romney. Bush’s NCLB wasn’t as bad as Obama’s RTTT. Don’t let the “D” in front of his name fool you. Obama is NO friend to teachers! Just remember his words about Central Falls — and his silence re: Chicago as his friend Emanuel bullied teachers.!!
Someone on this blog said it best: RttT is NCLB on steroids.
Obama is a big disappointment when it comes to education.
Race to the Top is a result of needing to hold on to wealthy political donors and listening to “educational experts” like Rhee who are able to bring in big amounts of money. The “reform” movement is not about driving improvements in public schools. We all know public schools are in need of steady reliable funding that is not used to pay for relentless testing. I personally feel that President Obama is not listening to the educators who are supporting him. Arne Duncan and Rahm Emanuel are simply feeding the “reform” frenzy.
This started with NCLB which was an 8 year unfunded mandate that drained public schools funding. That was followed by numerous Republican Governors taking office in 2010 and cutting public school funding and increasing vouchers for charter schools. Now our public schools have limited funds, are losing students and have even higher standards to meet with state testing. This is reform???
Reader hit nail on the head. Duncan and Obama are frauds on education. No respect for people who say one thing, then do the exact opposite.
Because of RTtT Florida teachers still have not seen there evaluations from last school year. VAM is not only unreliable but so complicated that the state can’t finalize the numbers until at least halfway through the first semester of the following school year.
So what should Secretary Clinton and shadow report authors be telling the UN OHCHR about RttT? In the last UPR, RttT was hailed as a success. If ICERD concludes the US is noncompliant, it may recommend voiding Parents Involved (with Swann and Milliken) and consolidating metro area school districts (where not already consolidated) to allow for race-based school integration–a silver bullet among shadow report authors. If that consolidation happens, teachers may be forced to reapply for their positions in the new, consolidated districts. Given Reed demonstrated success with impoverished students would become a district wide criteria for teacher (re)hiring and retention.
On the other hand, if Secretaries Clinton and Duncan (with Attorney General Holder) perpetuate a human rights whitewash (per ACLU) by sticking to administration talking points on RttT, does that become an impeachable offense? That would mean voters (with early voting underway in some states) don’t know if a vote for President Obama is actually a vote for President Biden, should the House impeach and Senate convict.
Wow. Talk about unintended consequences. (Or did the right wing bastards NEA counsel Chanin warned of have this planned all along? John Boehner becoming Vice President? Biden/Boehner 2013?)
Is it now 3 minutes to midnight on the public education doomsday clock? We really ought to be keeping track…
Because of Race to the Top, many educators have become disillusioned … and risk not voting. Please, Mr. President, give them back that HOPE.
Change : It does a country good.
#NotJebsBrandOfMilk
how is it we can constantly say “Obama is a better hope than Romney”? Let’s examine the facts: Romney will get rid of the DOE, put states back in control of ed; Obama is doing NOTHING for ed…RTTT cited THREE times in the debate and we all know where that is taking us…hmmm, aren’t we already used to fighting in Tally?…Parent Trigger died in state houses around the country…ALL politics is LOCAL people…and the NEA lines up and bends over to give up that “endorsement”…all the while Chicago Teachers are fighting the public fight we ALL fight on a daily basis
SO, if the President gives us no reason to vote for him…
and ROMNEY gives us no real reason to vote for HIM…
then why the HELL should we vote for either one of the bastards?…our BEST HOPE is Obama?…I’m not that damn certain…
I believe you are wrong about eliminating the DEA and giving states control. The so called reform movement is alive and well doing their dirty work at the state level.They are well funded by the likes of Bill Gates and the Walton family.Pressure has to be put on Democrats that support so called reform to support real reform through policies from the DOE. The first thing is to get rid of slick Arnie and replace him with someone who is willing to address the real reason for low acheivement in education.It would require getting rid of NCLB and RTTT and replacing them with sound education policy.
I want: The HOPE for Audacity NOT the Audacity of Hope. This country is broken and Obama is fixing it for his friends…big business. The DEMs and the REPs are one party – BIG BUSINESS. This is called POLITICS in America. The NON-DEBATE and both Obama’s and Romney’s during their opening statements that “…”the problem is education.” made me puke. Yes, write a letter to Obama. What he does about it should say a lot! Obama is an elitist, just not as bad as Romney. Romney is MORE ARROGANT, and DUMB, like any MBAer and marketer. Obama is SLICK, like any lawyer. Both suck. Why do we even bother with them? Vote third party.
Romney is against Common Core being jammed down states throats. He has said it was not fair for states to be tricked into signing on with the promise of money.
Seriously? R’s version of public education better than O’s?
R’s version:
Those who can afford private go private;
Those who can’t afford private get vouchers;
Those who want public get the basics; and screw the rest, &
Those with disabilities, living in poverty, English Language Learners – no charters for you, vouchers won’t help because you’ll be counseled out.
Say what you will about Arne and President Obama – at least they get equity, social justice, and every child being educated; they’ve just lost their way in getting to it. R and R couldn’t care less about equity, social justice, and every child being educated.
1) Tallk to anyone in education in Massachusetts in the twenty-ohs (Arizona’s ELL law passed, more $ to charters than public-to-public choice…) (And, any of that #1 stuff he bragged about in the debate – ask Commissioner Driscoll who did all the work? Him – not the Governor)
2) read Atlas Shrugged
3) Return it all to the states? So Kansas can teach evolution? So religious education can be taxpayer funded? So civil rights and special education cases drag on forever?
Wake up and smell the coffee folks – and vote. Not voting? You don’t get to comment or blog or reply for four years.
Why on earth would I want to read Atlas Shrugged? I’d sooner read the phone book.
Why Atlas Shrugged? Because it is the playbook for the GOP. VP candidate Ryan had every person on his staff read it (of course now he has backed off from). Any idea where public education fits into that philosophy and society? That’s why.
I am in Massachusetts, where Romney was our governor. The world didn’t end. Actually, things ran well. I’ve witnessed math teachers freaking out about the new Common Core curriculum that they have to implement without any new textbooks. The “new math” is a disaster, and many teachers aren’t on the same page re: how to teach it. English depts are being told that fiction and poetry will be taking a backseat to articles and non-fiction pieces. Nothing like robbing kids of creativity. It’s all about STEM and test taking these days. How can anyone say that RTTT isn’t a nightmare? Shame on Obama and the DNC for slutting around with the WON’T BACK DOWN crowd (Rhee, Broad, Gates, Walton Media, etc.).
After Obama blew the debate he may reconsider how he has treated teachers and realize they could be the difference he needs. Nah, cancel that thought, he has endorsements that he thinks mean votes. He does not have mine yet. I am not convinced he is better for education than his opponent. I think at this point the difference between them is rather meaningless. They both hate my profession and blame me for all of societies ills. They both will invite me to join the miserable masses. Will they care about me when I am unemployed? They will at least pay lip service to me then.
We are moving towards a totalitarian, repressive, out of touch government. I was so upset that BOTH Obama and Romney when both said, “The problem is education.” What a sweeping lie. Real agenda: Control the minds and souls of the citizenry. Do whatever one can to destroy public education. Two obvious ways this destruction is being played out is via testing, testing, testing, using the DEFORM ccss. It will get worse. I have no hope that Obama and Romney will support education. They are for corporations who contribute to their coffers. They are both lame and they hit below the belt…just their styles are different. We have education DEFORM going on in this country.
Yikes. Have you ever heard Mr. Obama or Mr. Duncan talk about teachers? about social justice? equity? Yes – they care deeply about all. You will NEVER hear R speak well about teachers, social justice or equity.
They need a wake up call but let’s not go crazy here. They are faced with hundreds of thousands of kids who ARE NOT ACHIEVING. Their approach is wrong but their motives are right.
You KNOW where R & R stand on those kids not achieving. Survival of the fittest. Screw the 47% Vouchers for a few of them to go to privatized for-profit schools.
Sorry – this is not about employment, it’s about kids but they DO care about you if you are unemployed. Mr. Obama ADDED 100,000 TEACHERS in the face of major criticism by the GOP haters – and until they unfunded it.
As for Mr. Obama chiming in in Chicago or Wisconsin … those are STATE issues – not federal. The fallout would be far worse than dealing with education. He will comment in general and I hope he does in speeches/debates – but he cannot get literally involved in local and State bargaining.
PLEASE – Let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater. Be angry about privatization. Be angry about layoffs. Be angry about anything – but not voting or supporting those who live by Atlas Shrugged? Well – imagine what you’ll be writing about in a year or two?
Would you rather have someone stab you in the face or stab you in the back? Because Obama is stabbing teachers in the back. At least Romney tells you exactly what he thinks and he’s going to do. I respect that more than someone who pays lip service but sucks around education deformers.
Reed, I agree. STABBING TEACHERS IN THE BACK IS RIGHT! I am not an educator and I know what’s up. Look at what’s happening in the world. History repeats itself once again.
Jere,
I agree in part. Democrats speak the right language, but isn’t it interesting that Romney praised Race to Top and Duncan during debate? I think what you hear on this blog is a deep sense of betrayal. Why a Race to the Top instead of equal educational opportunity? What part of Race to the Top would Romney reject other than Common Core? Why is Obama education plan so closely aligned with NCLB? What part of Race to the Top will increase social justice and equity?
Diane
What am I angry about? I’m angry about the NEA– the organization that takes my dues money–supporting the destruction of the teaching profession because the president pushing it right now is a Democrat. I am assuming and hoping that will change if we have a Republican in the White House. Somehow I can’t imagine the NEA giving an early endorsement to Romney. That alone gives me a reason to vote for him.
I want two parties again. I want my union back. I want a union that will fight the White House when the president tries to destroy my profession. That won’t happen as long as it is a Democrat in the White House destroying my profession.
I’m sick of the unions “sitting at the table” with Obama as he does more damage to teachers than Bush did. I want to fight for my profession, and that will not happen until Obama is out of the White House.
Don’t hold your breath for the NEA to stop spending OUR money on candidates only because they have a “D” in front of their names — not because these candidates best represent OUR wishes/needs. Has the union ever asked teachers to vote on which presidential candidate should get OUR money? No. Sometimes I wonder why I bother paying union dues when I don’t feel properly represented. A union’s job is to protect wages, hours, and conditions. Considering how all three of those things are going downhill, teachers might be better off hiring their own lawyers when need arises at work. Seriously.
Well if Romney is on the Throne..the DOE NEA will all be history as what public school will be able to compete with the small classroom populations in private schools compared to 40 children in the public sector. Gone are the computer labs….along with educational equity!
Jere, please note that Obama had NO problem speaking out about Central Falls. He said firing all the teachers was a good thing. He only remained mute in Chicago because the election is around the corner. He’s hoping teachers are stupid enough to forget how he threw us under the bus. He wants our votes and union donations.
lib.ohchr.org (UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights) has compliance docs from the Obama administration, where we learn:
“In November 2009, the Administration announced the Race to the Top program, a $4.35 billion fund that is the largest competitive education grant program in U.S. history. It is designed to provide incentives to states to implement large-scale, system-changing reforms that improve student achievement, narrow achievement gaps, and increase graduation and college enrollment rates.”
If not RttT, what is the best way to spend $4.35 billion to promote the stated goals? Which candidate will be the best steward of the funds available for public education?
Reed, you are right again.
Diane et al
I get it. Mr. Obama has not delivered. His original four education goals could have been accomplished without this RTTT approach and holding on to the vestiges of NCLB.
The debate? Romney complimented everything Obama has done to play both sides of the fence: He complimented RTTT, ObamaCare, and everything else so the undecided Dem-leaning folks would consider him AND he followed it all up with “But it’s the STATE’S role to carry them out” to keep his boys happy and knowing full well what would happen in the tea party hater states. MORE WISCONSINS.
I really do get this and I will sign any letter (you know how I feel about that) after November 6. Until then, I will do everything I can to illustrate what Public Education looks like under an Ayn Rand philosophy, under a “the hell with the 47%” philosophy, and education in Massachusetts philosophy.
For those angry at the unions – then scream louder – but get the folks who care about 100% of the kids in office first and then scream at them. Why?
First – you won’t have jobs when everything is privatized and Teach For Awhile / Michelle Rhee folks get in the Oval Office.
Second – and most important on this and many issues: The Supreme Court. If that goes 6-3 there won’t be unions to support in the public sector.
Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. Schedule the rallies against RTTT for November 7
You are right. We are in a lesser-of-two-evils situation, and Romney will end public education for sure.
We want the President to know what we think now. And we want him to know what we think later. No one on this blog is leading an action to elect Romney. At least not me.
Hi Jere,
I was drafting my 11:29 response to your 9:58 post when you posted at 11:22. Please take a careful look at that earlier response.
I’ve encouraged Diane’s readers to familiarize themselves with the oath-sworn duties of the officeholders they seek to influence. Among those duties are implementation of CERD, a UN human rights convention which scrutinizes the US achievement gap (and much more).
Obama supporters might want to avoid collusion to obstruct implementation of human rights treaties. A get well plan for RttT is overdue.
Furthermore, public education exists so future voters critically evaluate rhetoric like “tea party hater states” and “the hell with the 47%.” As Justice Souter noted just 3 weeks ago, American students are expected to learn the responsibilities of officeholders and hold the officeholders accountable on election day. (Did schools in you district watch the Souter video for Constitution Day?)
Finally, it would be unethical for public school teachers to participate in a human rights whitewash.
Amen, Dr. Ravitch. Love your, “…it would be unethical for public school teachers t participate in a human rights whitewash.”
“First – you won’t have jobs when everything is privatized and Teach For Awhile / Michelle Rhee folks get in the Oval Office.”
Jere,
The Teach for Awhile / Michelle Rhee folks already ARE in the Oval Office.
Oh my goodness. I have read all the comments here. first shame on anyone for considering to NOT vote! You are the apathetic majority that has lead this country to ruin. When less than 30% of the registered voters vote in any election…you end up with extremists. Please reconsider using your vote.
Now as for which candidate is a better choice? It is a toss up when you consider the congress has been in gridlock for a long time. Even when it had a Dem majority almost nothing of substance got done. Thousands of pages were added to Obamacare of which I am in favor of as it has begun to close the Medicare part D Gap of $4750. As for Education….everyone has thought even when I taught in the 1980’s, that tests were the best way to evaluate what a child knew. I still believe it IS testing to find out how much knowledge has been acquired. But on a grand scale..it becomes teaching to the test and that is never a good idea. The question becomes..What then do we as a Nation care about most? What skills should our public schools be inculcating to our children? How are we to move forward in this technologically driven world. And how long before a solar flare causes a massive EMP that shuts down tech as we currently know it? Or will it be a War that uses this EMP device from space to devastate another country’s electrical grid?
Should we worry about the future or care about the now? Which candidate cares about the country as a whole from the poorest areas to the most affluent? I believe the one that keeps the fewest secrets is the better candidate. That would be Obama. At least he has a budget which Mr. Romney has not. Instead his vice president has put one out. That is not very leader-like! How can Romney run for president and being a businessman have not submitted a budget proposal? I cannot vote for a leader who lacks that basic skill. Is it beneath him to lead? Is it too tiresome to say exactly where he would cut the budget and cause a massive jobs growth? Because he has yet to say anything to win me over.
I truly wish it was Santorum that was running against Obama..at least he’d have a budget because he would! I liked his ideas. At least we could then see if there is a choice. I believe congress may have even worked with him. But Romney not so much. And if we as a people put newer people into congress perhaps the gridlock will end. I do not know. But we as a people have got to get on the phone and tell our Congress to do the work they were elected to do! It is time we stop sitting idly by as victims of the Global Financial Meltdown caused by the USA elite. It is time we took our destiny back from politicians who care about their paycheck, benefits, for life, and incentives (or call them for what they are BRIBES!) to get the best deals to stay wealthy while people like myself who has finally got a savings account of $120 dollars for the first time in 10 years. Yes I now have a savings account. That has been a wonderful feeling and Obama caused that to be so.
As a retired teacher I will vote for Obama this year. I still do not like federal tests for all states as it is a very broad brush and every teacher knows it is bad news and fails miserably. But there does need to be accountability somewhere, somehow. That is for teachers to get together and put forth ideas. I know it will not be a quick fix. I cannot be quick..it won’t work. It needs to be guided and have a goal that spans twenty or more years into the future. Perhaps businesses can help the education system by letting us know what is the needs of the society in Wherevertown, USA.
I wish us all the best in the coming two years and four years with whomever wins the election. I know I will vote. Will you?
I apologize for my grammatical errors. I missed at least one “what needs are” not is…… But my sentiment remains. We need to make the system work again. It is time!
FWIW, more from the OHCHR website. Addressing our nation’s human rights obligations would put some time back on public education doomsday clock.
People of African Descent in the United States:
Accomplishments and Challenges in Complying With the International Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
Submission of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law to the U.N. Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
NCLB highlighted the achievement gap but created incentives for states to lower their standards and other unintended negative consequences. While NCLB has done much to bring more transparency and accountability to education by requiring better information about the progress of most students, much more needs to be done especially to eliminate racial disparities in schools. Moreover, more is needed to improve the accuracy of data collection, allow for better enhancement of accountability measures and to permit greater flexibility in responding to struggling schools.
…
Standardized tests, while accused by some of inherent race and cultural bias, nonetheless provide quantifiable evidence of the achievement gap at primary and secondary schools.
Guest.
Are you really saying we would be better off – kids, teachers, unions – if Mr. Romney and Mr. Ryan are elected?
If so – please see Dr. Ravitch’s note above: “We are in a lesser-of-two-evils situation, and Romney will end public education for sure.”
If your concern is union preservation – there won’t be public unions
If your concern is fighting privatization – that’s all there will be
If your concern is testing, standardization, and narrow curriculum – they will prevail until half of the kids in the U.S. are written off and the other half bored to tears
Dr. Ravitch is on target pointing out the reality of RTTT. She has provided a wake-up call and started a movement on issues and commentary that barely made the local news two years ago – now it’s on the national agenda and in the spotlight.
However – with less than 30 days to go – I doubt we’ll hear any policy changes – so let’s make sure there IS public education to complain about on November 7 – and then go after it.
“If your concern is union preservation – there won’t be public unions
If your concern is fighting privatization – that’s all there will be
If your concern is testing, standardization, and narrow curriculum – they will prevail until half of the kids in the U.S. are written off and the other half bored to tears”
Jere,
The above is, in effect, exactly what Obama has been working on implementing over the past four years. No different from Romney, except that with Romney in office some Democrats may actually start defending us again. Obama, by joining forces with the Ed Deformers, has made us political orphans. We lost our Democratic supporters and our unions. Obama is not the lesser of two evils. He is the more effective evil. The Republicans in their wildest dreams could never have accomplished the damage he has done to public education because, being a Democrat, he was able to do it without opposition.
By telling Obama that you are going to wait until he is reelected before protesting his policies, you are telling him and other Democrats who have abandoned us that they can continue to betray us without any real consequences. That’s counterproductive.
To tell you the truth, I am wavering between voting for Jill Stein and Mitt Romney.
Wow! Who would have ever thought that sentence would be written by anyone any place on this planet. 🙂
In any event, I won’t be voting for Obama. And I know I’m not alone in this. Few teachers whom I know are voting for him. Most are either staying home, voting third party, or voting for Romney for the same reasons I’m thinking of doing so. I mean, if we are going to have a teacher-hater in the White House, it might as well be someone that our unions and the Democrats will be willing to fight.
Please consider a vote for a third party candidate. I believe participation by more parties is the only possible way to effect any change in the rigged system. We need to vote in large enough numbers in this election that others will also vote 3rd party without thinking they are ‘wasting’ their vote. Anyway, a vote cast is not a vote wasted.
I appreciate the explanation but I sure disagree with your logic.
To get this correct – because you are angry with the President and you think he is destroying unions – (and while he has left the door open to privatization – I don’t see where he is behind any union busting)… it is then ok that…
* The Supreme Court has a 6-3 ultra-conservative majority during the next four years?
* Public schools – especially in urban areas – are disintegrated AND NOT REPLACED
* Unions in the public sector are totally eliminated (remember – there won’t be a Congress or Supreme Court to reverse executive action and bully pulpit)
* Poverty will sky rocket
* Medicare will become a voucher plan and the elderly left with nothing
* Curriculum will be totally dominated by State Boards which means evolution will be out of the books not only in Kansas but every red state in the union
* College will not be an option for half of the students in the country.
Are you that angry that your union isn’t kicking butt in DC and that Mr. Obama isn’t more agressive that you would give up America as we know it (that’s right – you joked at my Atlas Shrugged note before but HAVE YOU READ IT? That is the play book – the rich get richer – survival of the fittest / richest).
If you are right, I hope you get an invitation to the Coronation in January – because it will not be an inauguration.
A Romney can be openly fought, he does not pretend to be our friend, he is not subtle about what he would like to do. I think he is less charismatic and could be defeated in the arena of ideas. I also doubt he will win. If the Democrats really thought they were in trouble they might re-examine some of their policies. I am more focused on the congressional elections. We will be better served in Congress and state legislatures. As for the Supreme Court, that is always a crap shoot. Congress must give consent and approval. Also, the conservative justices aren’t the youngest on the bench. As I said, my vote is still up for grabs, I can not conceive of voting for Romney, that is not an option.
There is the theory out there that this reform madness, not reform at all, will implode faster under Romney. With Obama it will continue to be a drip, drip, drip until we all collapse. This madness it is not sustainable. It is just a matter of time.
One last one on this as there are so many thought provoking new posts to discuss.
If Mr. Romney wins, I assure you Race to the Top will be about 10th on the list of concerns for teacher, unions, parents, and most importantly next year’s kindergartners who will graduate from college (that will be an isolated and selected few) in 2030.
Yes – Mr. Romney will cause this reform madness to implode and implode quickly, but there will be no innovative, public, teacher-friendly phoenix to rise in its ashes.
Jere, no offense, but you are not in the trenches of the classroom. You are a Superintendent, which to many teachers equals “out of touch.” When was the last time you taught in a classroom — decades ago? I suggest you sub in an inner city public high school classroom for a week ASAP. Don’t just “visit” — SUB. For more than one day. Your eyes will open to what is really happening to teachers. After your first “Eff you!” you’ll understand people’s frustration here.
Reed, I respect your critique. I am “in” classrooms all the time and have been for decades but I will be the first to say it’s not the same as where you are. I feel the same way about the state policy makers who have never sat in my position and never had to implement all that they impose on us (in spite of our numerous warnings of what how what they have designed will implode and not be good for kids).
As for out of touch, I understand the perception, but get to know where I stand on a few topics first.
As for the topics above, this string all shifted to anger at the President for doing nothing about NCLB/RTTT, charters, and privativizing schools. I understand that.
Since I am not in the trenches – perhaps that helps me see the forest AND the trees. Again, I get the anger and frustration – my point is bigger than RTTT in 2012 – – if R & R are in the WH, half of the public education forest and trees will be decimated to parking lots and we’ll have much bigger things to complain about than RTTT.
Thanks for listening. And, if that is an offer to sub one day, why not? I’ll give it a try.
It is already decimated…we do it slowly or quickly…what does it matter? RTTT IS the much bigger thing to complain about. You seem to be more concerned with saving some votes for Obama…I say it isn’t really going to matter.
Do more than sub, switch with one teacher for a full week and plan all his/her lesson…follow the schedule….do it all. Then tell us more about the forest and the trees.
Jere, if you were truly interested in understanding our frustration, you wouldn’t wait for an invitation to sub in an inner city classroom for a week. You’d arrange it on your own. And no offense, but your visits as Superintendent to classrooms are not the same as RUNNING a classroom. I’ve heard many admins say they’re “in” classrooms, and that they “get” what teachers go through, etc. Teachers laugh behind the backs of admins who make these claims. You don’t know what it’s like until you’ve walked our walk and felt our stress. Principals and other admins are spinning you re: what’s happening in their schools, and the teachers are too afraid to tell you the truth. They’ll be hazed out of their jobs by the principal if they let you see behind the curtain during one of your visits/check-ins. But what do I know? I’m only an inner city teacher. Replace me with a TFA teacher who knows everything after a few weeks! (Insert heavy sarcasm.)
Maybe this super is a TFA dropout who became an “expert”? There are so many these days…they multiply like rabbits. They don’t even know what they don’t know.
Linda, Jere isn’t a TFA teacher turned admin or Broadie. He is someone who has been around a long time and is now out of touch with the realities of the inner city school system, where the ravages of RTTT are truly being felt. I don’t mean that to be offensive, Jere, but it’s true. You’re not in touch with the real war on education. You’re on the sidelines reading about it and thinking you know about it from the suburbs. Seriously — go sub for a week in a true inner city public high school. Chicago would be the perfect place to check out firsthand instead of reading about it. See what Obama’s buddy Emanuel has done to those teachers and kids.
Diane, Linda, and Reed – you are right. I am not in touch with an inner city classroom.
I respect the work you all do. I have heard the stories (that’s correct – only “heard the stories”) of city teachers. And, I agree, that is my teaching and as Reed says, hearing that ef-you.
On the other hand, wouldn’t you rather have a superintendents in the state who at least try to get it. Our voices aren’t much louder than yours (and who was in the room when APPR was written – your union and the Commissioner ONLY) – but if unless you have a complete alternative to even having superintendents and principals – I would hope you allow comments from those who at least claims to get it – even if out of touch. (By the way the Governor and Commissioner have a solution for getting rid of us outside the big five: regional / county wide districts).
Linda, with all due respect and if you are a classroom teacher I do have that respect – please get to know me before you make assumptions. I’d be glad to share that with you. But at least a few points: You might ask your union leaders who jumped up before they did and criticized the Chancellor at the Board of Regents meeting she claimed yet again that it would be ok for the full 40% of achievement be based on the same single test. You might ask them who told her at the Board table “You can’t do that – it’s not in the law.” You might read my blog or follow my public comments at Board meetings about my thoughts on releasing of teacher test scores (egregious). You might find that our district is one of a few in the state NOT doing “SLO’s” (we do have to use the “slo process” to set targets. So our teachers evaluations are only based on one test for those in “tested subjects” required by law or if not a tested subject, the ONLY “test” used for their evaluation is their local assessment – not two of them. I am not in your shoes nor am I in the city – but I do know and will speak up about what is fair and not on some issues regarding teachers – and I am sure we will disagree vociferously about others.
Reed – you are right. I am in a suburban district – full range of SES wealth and middle class and not so much of either – 24% Hispanic enrollment with a large ESL enrollment and a significant f & r lunch enrollment. So unlike the city – the challenges are very different – still challenges – but I absolutely admit, they are no where close to the shoes you walk in.
I attempted to jump into this discussion with similar issues about RTTT and testing from a different perspective and stayed with it because of November 6.
I did not jump into this string to make any claims of how the union members feels about the union leadership and the horrors of RTTT and/or the feds selling out public education. I jumped into it for the reasons cited in replies above – if tens of thousands of union members give up on Mr. Obama now – and there will not be a policy change in 30 days and the last thing he needs is the GOP to think that there’s dissention among his previous supporters – then as I have said there will be no need for these blogs are letters to Presidents because public education will not exist as we knew it, know it, or want it.
Thank you for listening. I hope we are still having this lively discussion on November 7.
To put it simply, you appear to be mostly concerned with campaigning for Obama. I voted for him once. I will not vote for him
again. He is not listening to educators. He is controlled by those with lots of money and a stake in profits, not the welfare of children.
From Schools Matter:
Perhaps some day, the President will come out on stage and say, “Let’s invest the money we are spending on tests and data and provide every child with eyeglasses or dental care or food and housing.” Let’s return to a time when field trips to museums, art, music and physical ed were part of the curriculum and children looked forward to going to school because their souls were nurtured and they could play, socialize and dream. Now there would be someone I could vote for.
And:
Yes, through Race to the Top desperately needed funds were distributed across the country to schools in need. Tragically, however, the policies and priorities focused on evaluating teachers and students on test scores and the Common Core Standards will only amplify an already failing education reform agenda. This is a calamity for students, teachers, parents and the future of our country in general. The beneficiaries will be the corporations and privatizers who will continue to profit from the excessive, never ending testing, data mining and takeover of this $500 billion dollar market, all at the expense of the present and the future.
Just as we discussed how not to alienate parents by painting them with the same brush, I feel that we should do the same for administrators who are open to having a dialogue. We need to get as many people on board as possible if we are to derail edukational rheeform. I, for one, was originally voting for Obama, but arguments presented in this blog are chiseling away at my resolve. I do have the luxury of living in a blue state with few electoral votes, so if I want to vote for a third party, I can do so knowing that my vote does not really matter anyway. I do think a message needs to be sent to the DINOs out there who are ignoring their voter base. My opinion would probably be very different, however, if I were living in a swing state.
Link here:
http://www.schoolsmatter.info/2012/10/its-not-you-its-them.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+schoolsmatter%2FSISc+%28Schools+Matter%29
Jere,
Thank you for taking the time to respond thoughtfully.
That is what heroes of public education do.
They have clear values.
They listen.
They act in the best interests of their students and their community.
Thank you,
Diane
“To put it simply, you appear to be mostly concerned with campaigning for Obama”
You right – today I am absolutely focused on the election. IT IS A MEANS TO AN ENDS.
I am concerned with a 6-3 Supreme Court that will take us back to pre-1954 days before Brown v. Board of Education, PL 94-142 (IDEA), Plyler V. Doe, Title IX (have you read Todd Akin’s latest about equal pay for men and women)…
This election is a means to EITHER a Supreme Court that will allow publlic money to go to private / parochial schools or not.
It is a means to either race based schools or not.
It is a means to either the continuation of unions for public employees or not. (I hope you recognize that this is a superintendent defending the presence of unions)
Dare we go to other non-education issues?
You are right – I’ll get back to the fight the fight about RTTT, APPR (well, I do that in my day job), Common Core, standardized testing, class size, early childhood, and many other topics again very soon.
If you and others do not see the forest for the trees of disdain for Arne et al, you wont have to worry about RTTT or any other issues because Mr. R will dismantle the whole thing faster than Bush passed NCLB.
Linda, I admire your conviction and passion for kids and what is right for teachers and education. If I do not walk in the shoes of teachers like Reed and you, at least I can learn a little by reading your words and taking them to heart.
So – off to grade papers (yes – I “hear” from dozens of teachers in graduate class) – off to prepare for a statement superintendents are preparing to counter the Governor’s Commission report, and – to watch the Cardinals – Nationals game 🙂
Enjoy your Sunday…as we all get ready for another school week. Best to you, your teachers and students.
p.s. speaking of the original post about RTTT – another area completely missed in this mess is early childhood. Heck, even Reagan and Bush the First’s “Goals 2000” got this one right but never delivered. And, I am sure none of the current Ed.Gov has read Hart and Risley.
For Poor Children – A Poverty of Words.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/07/nyregion/for-poor-schoolchildren-a-poverty-of-words.html?hpw
I see classrooms of 40+ children where in 1986 I had 33 + 6 that is 33 children with 6 mainstreamed students. they called it legal. I do not I still needed 39 chairs, 39 books I personally bought 40 Dictionaries and without reimbursement. The schools back then lacked the necessities. Do more demonstrations rather than allow the children hands on experience. Without a President who is trying to care, and replacing him with a person of whom we all know does not care, is egregiousness. Do not let any administration getaway with watering down education and continue to take away the arts and sports. To have every state afford the programs themselves will only further put state funds in the deficit column which we all know is a dangerous state of affairs. We cannot write check because we have them, we need the money behind the check, every check written.
Again I wrote with my heart and not my head. So please read the above statement adding the needed spaces and quotation marks. I am very passionate and a poor typist. And I hit send too quickly.
The lesser of two evils is still evil. I will not vote for Obama this election. My friends, my family and I are voting for Jill Stein.