Louisiana State Superintendent often expresses his contempt for the teachers he supervises.
When news came out that the rate of teacher retirements spiked, and teachers said they were leaving because of White’s punitive assessment system, White claimed that those who were leaving were the worst teachers.
Time after time, he makes clear his disdain for teachers.
White’s experience consists of a year or two working as a TFA teacher.
A major editorial board suggested that White should exercise caution before spouting off.
They said:
“We also hope that White learns to employ the “seven-second rule.” Think about what you’re going to say for seven seconds before the words leave your mouth.
The great teachers of Louisiana — even those who are choosing to retire — might appreciate that.”
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Ouch! Perhaps John and water boy Mike will learn from this editorial. Let us call it a “teachable moment.”
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The 7 second rule is a good one for all of us to consider, including me.
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I finally agree!
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Personally I need the 24 hour rule but that’s just me!
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Reading the linked article, I learned the Mr. Walsworth will be working as a substitute teacher to better know the challenges of teaching. All who attempt to lead and reform should do the same. They should substitute in a district with high levels of poverty, ELLs, and students with IEPs. And it should not just be a single day, but a commitment of at least a week, if not longer. Maybe then they won’t be so quick to jump to condemning teachers for not doing their jobs.
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Problem is, Walsworth will have his lesson plans prepared for him by the classroom teacher. He won’t get the true experience by subbing a day here and a day there.
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Exactly. If it wouldn’t be unethical (imagine the harm caused to the students that would have to try to learn from an incompetent-oh, I’m sorry, I forgot that “anyone can teach”) to put these totally unqualified blowhards in the classroom for at least three years just to get a feel for what we “real” teachers do. Might interfere with their greedy money making schemes also.
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I agree about all who atempt to lead and reform, with a big but. They cannot turn this into a photo op, or let any of the students know who they are. To get a real idea of what teachers do the students have to believe you are their substitute.
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More: Just being a substitute for one day doesn’t give you an idea of what teachers actually do.
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Which is why their commitment should be a few weeks, at least. WIth grading and lesson planning and cafeteria duty as part of the job.
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Hall duty, bathroom duty, parent teacher conferences, attending after hours plays, performances, sport events, and the worst professional development days, etc. . . .
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…recess duty in the winter, and of course, attending a PLC, which truly has to be the closest approximation to Hell on earth.
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I guess this falls under, the purges will continue until morale improves.
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I would not like to be the teacher who has to write the plans. As a matter of fact, the teacher should not have to write the plans: in this climate the teacher would be blamed for any problems. And the administration has to resist the urge to hover. Snicker is right; the kids have to believe you are the substitute. And no “model” schools! Brenda is right that they have to experience some of the challenges of teaching.
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Good point about the plans. My best friend from high school who’s a 20 year teacher (whom I’ve mentioned before) was brought down in large part by her junior high principal who subbed for her one day. He ranted and raved that he had “no idea” how to implement her lesson plans and that the classes were “total failures”. She’d been writing lesson plans the same way for 19 years before that and no one had ever complained (including any prior sub), so who’s fault is it that he couldn’t implement her plans? And even in the off chance that her plans were bad, if he had a clue what he was doing he could have found a way to make the classes something better than “total failures”.
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Sounds to me like the principal didn’t know how to teach and blamed his failures on the plans. It amazes me that some of those who supervise and evaluate us wouldn’t last a day in a classroom. I have more teaching experience than my principal, but somehow she knows more about it than I do.
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