Jersey Jazzman reports a true story about students in New Jersey.
It is about character, not test scores.
He writes: “I’ll say it until the day I die: I am proud to be an American public school teacher. I am proud of the great kids of this country. I am proud to be a part of a system that produces such fine young men and women.”
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Absolutely agree! So proud to be a teacher librarian at a Florida public middle school that facilitates thinking, engages minds, listens, encourages, supports, cultivates and learns with students every day. Although I am “VAMMED” on the entire schools reading scores, been doing this long enough to know that if we are doing the aforementioned, we are doing the right thing. Told someone the other day “the future looks bright, you better wear shades!”
LikeLike
KKK could NOT do a better job of keeping inner city blacks illiterate.
LikeLike
Funny you should mention the KKK. You could stand to do some research about the role of racism in keeping blacks confined to the inner cities in the first place.
LikeLike
And you are comparing teachers to the KKK? Shame on you.
LikeLike
I thought the reformies were being compared to the KKK…
LikeLike
Right On!!
It is GREAT to read news about what is GREAT about our public schools and to read Jersey’s Jazzman’s proclamation of pride in being a public school teacher.
Here is some more good news about spreading pride in our public schools…
Meet public school superintendent, Dr. Michael Paskewicz, of Northview Public Schools in Grand Rapids, Michigan who has stepped up on his district Superintendent’s Blog to promote a program called “Significant Relationships – Everyday Evidence that Public Schools Work” to spread the pride parents, students, administrators and teachers feel about their public schools.
Superintendent Paskewicz, you ROCK!!! You publicly acknowledge, appreciate and LIFT UP your teachers, your students, your parents and your administrators while celebrating our public schools.
In the Northview Public School system, three times EACH WEEK parents, teachers and students tell their stories of why they believe in their public schools and Dr. Paskewicz posts the letters on his Superintendent’s Blog.
And guess what? The stories are sent straight to Michigan’s Statehouse! Yes, Dr. Paskewicz sends the personal stories celebrating teachers, students, administrators and Northview’s Public Schools to Governor Snyder and ranking Senators and Representatives on the Education Committees with the following introduction:
(With Dr. Paskewicz’s permission, I have posted his Superintendent’s Blog link at the end of this comment)
Dear Governor Snyder, Senator Jansen, Representatives MacGregor, Lyons, and Hooker,
Thanks to Governor Snyder for the veto of SB59. One of the reasons why public education works is the emotional and spiritual relationship between schools and their community members. Dr. James Comer states “no significant learning occurs without significant relationships.” Over the past four months, we have sent you evidence that public schools in Northview work. The unthinkable tragedy in Newtown, CT also brought to light how parents feel about the safety and security in our school district.
I hope you have enough time to read the email message from a parent below and then try to answer my “every email question set.” You will find one new question as well.
• When was the last time you made a public statement that public schools work?
• When was the last time you shared our EDE with your legislative colleagues?
• Have you taken the time to send our EDE to those in your circles of influence?
• Do you know a Master Teacher? A para-professional who has 17 years of service? A kindergarten teacher?
• Do you know and can you list the innovations and improvements that your local school district has implemented in the last two years?
• Do you know the implications of the Oxford Foundation/Michigan Public Education Finance Act of 2013 draft on the community you represent?
….. and a new question “how many State of Michigan Legislators are graduates of a public high school in Michigan? Are you?”
Innovations happen when the local community gives permission. Permission is granted when local communities trust their school district. Trust between our community and our schools is one reason why public schools work.
Sincerely,
Mike Paskewicz, Superintendent
Northview Public Schools
Every Day Evidence That Public Schools Work
Hi Mike,
I thought I would send our Northview Story for you to share For EDE:
My grandfather, Russell Braman helped to form the first Board of Education when Northview began. His daughter,(my mother) Mary Climie was a master teacher at Northview for 30 years, teaching K-2nd and a readiness program and loved by this community. My parents had 4 children who all graduated from Northview, all 4 of us had our children attending Northivew at one time or another. My husband Todd Fenech, sister Beth Olson and her husband, Steve Olson all graduated from Northview and had our children graduate from Northview and they are ALL successful young adults. I was a paraprofessional for Northview for 17 years, as my children were growing up and coached our Northview Community Swim Program for 6 years. Our oldest son Matthew Fenech is now a Kindergarten teacher at East Oakview, His grandmother, Mary Climie retired from East Oakview after her last year teaching Kindergarten. The education and feeling of community is what makes Northview the best district in the area! I know MANY graduates from Northview who now work in the district and have come back to raise their children in the “Northview Family”.
Thank you for all you do for our district!
https://sites.google.com/a/nvps.net/superintendent-blog/blog/significantrelationships-everydayevidencepublicschoolswork)
LikeLike