This teacher is tired of getting instructions from inexperienced policymakers and politicians.
He writes:
“Really! We always seem to pay the price for self proclaimed “know-it-alls” when it comes to Schools. Why is it those who have never stepped foot in a school since the day they (dropped out) or graduated seem to think they can do better than those who have invested in a higher education as well as time, blood/sweat/tears working to change the tide?
“I agree, we should focus on other BAD people. How about BAD Politicians, BAD Doctors, BAD Nurses BAD (fill in the blank). For example lets make Doctors accountable for their patients recovery rate! Surely, there are lots of tests and measures to determine “adequate yearly progress” for Doctors! But, lets be fair… why don’t we pay everyone based on the “test scores” of the recipients of goods and services they provide?”
Diane Ravitch's blog 
I believe Bill Gates said on many occasions “we know what works”!
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We do? Well I guess Billy ought to know, eh!
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I just commented on a different post that the people who are making the decisions in education today have no experience in education but don’t let that fact bother them.
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Good point. If the same “accountability” was applied to other professions as is being applied to teachers by these phony reformers, workers would revolt en masse.
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We are apparently overlooking the fact that the ONLY thing that matters is the business definition of “efficiency”. That might be fine if it were truly efficient for all. Businesses want the profits to land in the pockets of the very few, but NOT in the pockets of the actual workers. Schools are the newest victims.
Yes, change happens. Always has. But it happens too rapidly now for humans to adjust. Too many fall through the cracks. And too many just don’t care. When materialism of the few supersedes survival of the many, humanity is lost.
We are lost.
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He’s got a point there!
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Let me posit a dark premise: the constant record of increasing failure in education is hardly accidental. The first strains of “bad teacher” had hardly been heard when the campaign of a purposeful, “Garbage in, garbage out” curriculum insured the spiraling test scores would accelerate as would the vitriol against teachers being the source of not only educational demise, but every social ill known to man. The perfect scapegoat.
After the pyromaniacs had set the public school edifice on fire, corporate America disguised themselves as “firemen” with a stream of charters to come to the rescue. Hardly an accidental history. Since the corporate goal was measured in dollars, businessmen took the helm of many public schools, such as Denver, Colorado’s system. Did now, Senator Bennett make in depth studies of productive, tested theory to raise the district’s academic accomplishment. Hardly. Did he gain insight from his experienced faculty members? Hardly. What DID he do? Instituted the “Business Plan” into the construct. Just as the title conveyed, the basic premise was a monetary thrust. Rid the faculties of “Older/more experience” teacher and replace them with “Baby/TFA innocents.” The carnage was predictable as has been the results in the dropping academic district scores. Then he employed his “Business talents” by investing AFTER the first implosions of ’07/’08 in “Risky”, “Exotic” derivatives that crashed faster than the district’s faculty morale. That curious venture has left DPS with a huge and growing financial debt. So, when one looks at the wisdom of putting businessmen at the helm of a educational ship, the shoals seem closer and educational excellence a fading dream. Wasn’t such a disaster predictable? Seems “elementary” and less than a product of well meaning novices, but more a desired goal of corporate America to raid the tills of public education.
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The business plan doesn’t even work for businesses – businesses fail all of the time.
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Sadly true, but it’s PUBLIC $ that they are playing craps with, to say nothing about the destruction of a pillar of democracy.
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How true. Have people forgotten the bailout money that was given to so many big corporations not too long ago by the Federal government?
Why isn’t that ever brought up in the so called “educational reform” movement?
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The ed policymakers have been evaluated “ineffective” if the recent polls are correct. What happens to them? Must they be remediated or face dismissal? Maybe their individual evaluation ratings should be published? Maybe they should be replaced with interns or pages? Maybe a billion dollar nonprofit called Legislate For America needs to be started?
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“Maybe a billion dollar nonprofit called Legislate For America needs to be started?”
I’ll take the first two years!
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Note to “This Teacher”…..I hope you realize many the concerns you have are attributed to the devil the teacher’s union have embraced, the Democratic Party which WANTS govt. to oversee and control much of what citizens and institutions do.
When the teachers of America (don’t depend on your union) join with conservatives (YES, Tea Party folks) who see the damage Federal govt does, perhaps we can reverse this downward spiral.
The US DOE should BUTT OUT of education, and allow it to be determined at the state level, not on the desires of Arne Duncan or Bill Gates.
Common Core is the last nail in the coffin of public education as teachers/administrators
are being cast aside as the very people “This Teacher” warns us about…are becoming the authority which set national standards.
ajbruno14 gmail.com
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Do not go looking to the Republican party for salvation. The party has historically opposed public education as a welfare program for the poor. Taking the USDOE out of the equation may end federal interference but it will not stem the tide of state legislation, produced by ALEC, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Business Roundtable.
You may dream of a tea party future where the poor get to choose a poor education and the rich continue to choose a rich education and somehow our country sustains itself and the equality we were all created with doesn’t evaporate.
Me, I’ve been alive long enough to know that the selfish in this country will take all they can and give back as little as possible and they control both political parties now.
I could never overlook or overcome the inherent racism and homophobia of the Republican tea party nor can I ignore the gun extremists and the fact that most Republican tea party members are hands off government for themselves, their guns, their money, and their schools but they loudly support and demand hands on government in the bedrooms of singles and glbts and the doctor’s office for women. No controls on business and money but personal religious beliefs become laws for everyone else, whether they share your beliefs or not. No thanks.
I can’t pretend these things don’t live alongside all that is the far right conservative tea party and I have spent my life opposing these things so there will be no coming together there.
Perhaps we are coming to a time in our country’s history where a third party can be forged by those who support public education and the other issues can be kept apart.
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Chris,
Where do you get your knowledge of the GOP. First, I did not mention Republicans, only conservatives, there is a difference.
Please direct me to some saying they against public ed. DON’T
conclude questioning spending means no.
But, conservatives do believe in competition…and if that means
parents choose superior private schools so be it.
About racism/homophobia….I’ll speak for ME…..racism is a canard,
played expertly by Democrats…where any Black who disagrees is
tarred and feathers…as an Uncle Tom, so much for diversity (of thought or speech) Consider the state of the inner cities or the mood of Blacks.., can the polices have failed? Yet, no one has
the courage to say so.
About homophobia….an over used word, like racism, both incorrectly
used. If I believe being gay is “abnormal” (which I do) am I a homophob? Or simply who find it abhorrent behavior?
Saying a person disagrees with public education, discriminatory policies should be argued, not become a food fight.
One last point…consider my position on Common Core,
not to believe the propaganda” which is similar to other liberal replies when they prefer not to have a discussion. (Guess Ravitch and thousands of teachers also believe propaganda)
I do enjoy the blog…and the many thoughtful comments..
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Wouldn’t you have to be a know it all to come out of a ten weekend training program an be a EXPERT in your field? Eli BROAD, maker of education experts in ten easy weekends! Why bother devoting yourself to a the passé idea of career development; the BROAD Academy can give you the gravitas only money can buy!
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http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/08/04/the-problem-with-the-paul-vallas-brand-of-school-reform/
Sprinter superintendents neither have the breathing capacity nor motivation to ask and answer these questions. They are too busy eyeing the finish line. Marathoners spend time and energy on these questions although 2 and 3 get skimpy attention from even the best of the long-distance runners. Still, urban children are better served by superintendents willing to go the distance rather than those swift runners who flash by without a backward glance.
Paul Vallas is (or was)* a sprinter at a time when marathoners are needed for turning around failing districts.
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Amen, Amen!
Why NOT apply those standards and efficiency models to other professions, and let’s see how THEY measure up, particularly to those politicians for life in Congress?
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Combine ignorance, arrogance, condescension, paternalism, deceptiveness and venality, add billions of investment and “philanthropic” dollars.
The Result? So-called education reform and its insufferable touts, boosters and hustlers.
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