After Commissioner John King had a disastrous meeting with parents in Poughkeepsie, he canceled his remaining five open meetings. But the Board of Regents decided what was needed was even more meetings, so King is now holding more meetings around the state, though so far not in New York City.
At his first new round of meetings, one principal got up and spoke fearlessly about what was happening in the state. This was his statement:
“Dr. King, My name is Tim Farley, from Kinderhook, NY, and I am the proud father of four school-aged children and I happen to be an educator of 22 years. Since this is now a listening tour, I would like to offer you three suggestions from the field followed by a question.
1. We do not want your corporately-backed Common Core. We don’t like it. We don’t like it as parents and we certainly don’t like it as educators. Common Core has not been properly field tested and we do not want our children used as guinea pigs for one of Bill Gates’ newest whims.
2. We do not want inBloom or any 3rd party vendor to have access to our children’s once private and confidential information. We know it’s now legal because those in power literally changed federal law in 2011 just so they can do what they are currently doing. We demand and immediate cease and desist on this wide-spread data collection and specifically, the now mandated “Data Dashboard”.
3. We demand an end to high stakes testing. It isn’t NYSUT that wants to curtail tying student scores to teachers’ ratings of effectiveness; it is us, the parents. We know that the ratings are meaningless and it is unfair to the students and to the teachers.
Now for my question: We know that the NYS Education Department used SAT scores of 560 in reading, 540 in writing, and 530 in mathematics, as the college readiness benchmarks to help set the “passing” cut scores on the 3-8 NYS Tests. These NYSED scores, totaling 1630, are FAR higher than the College Board’s own “college readiness” proficiency cut scores for students as young as 9 years of age. Why did you anchor the cut scores to 1630 on the SATs instead of the College Board’s 1550? And I have NYSED’s benchmark study here for your reference.
Thank you.”
What did he say in response?
I’d love to hear/read the response! Inquiring minds want to know!
This is what John King really thinks of
parents who “opt out”, or even complain
about his “education reform.”
http://www.southbronxschool.com/2013/10/fine-dining-with-new-york-state.html
King draws an asinine analogy between
parents bitching about Common Core, or
excessive or inappropriate-for-grade-level
testing or whatever…
to…
the lack of restraint to a customer
would show at a restaurant when that
customer has a problem with
the wine or food served to him:
http://www.southbronxschool.com/2013/10/fine-dining-with-new-york-state.html
He puts himself in a higher order of class
than those belly-aching parents because
when a waiter brings him substandard
food or wine… well… in such a situation,
he doesn’t complain, or send it back. He
sits there and eats it whether he likes it
or not…
(*** actual quote… no joke***)
JOHN KING: “When I’m in a restaurant,
and the waiter opens the bottle of wine for
me to taste, I never say ‘No,’ send it back,
even if it’s horrible. The same with my
meal; if I don’t like it I’ll eat it anyway.”
AND DAMN IT!!! THAT’S WHAT THE
PARENTS AND STUDENTS IN NEW
YORK STATE SHOULD DO AS WELL!!!
John King sounds like our Louisiana Superintendent of
Education, John White…I believe New Yorkers are familiar with him
as well. Apparently if we get tainted food, we should eat it and
like it, just like Common Core. NO THANKS.
Ladies & Gentlemen out there…
haven’t you all caught on
by now? King doesn’t give
a sh#% what any principal
or parent says or thinks.
BELOW is what John King really
believes about comments from
people like Farley, or from
parents who “opt out”, or even
complain about his “education
reform.”
http://www.southbronxschool.com/2013/10/fine-dining-with-new-york-state.html
King draws an asinine analogy
between parents bitching about
Common Core, or excessive or
inappropriate-for-grade-level
testing or whatever…
to…
the lack of restraint to a customer
would show at a restaurant when
that customer has a problem with
the wine or food served to him:
http://www.southbronxschool.com/2013/10/fine-dining-with-new-york-state.html
He puts himself in a higher order
of class than those belly-aching
parents because when a waiter
brings him substandard food or
wine… well… in such a situation,
he doesn’t complain, or send it
back. He sits there and eats it
whether he likes it or not…
(*** actual quote… no joke***)
JOHN KING: “When I’m in a
restaurant, and the waiter opens
the bottle of wine for me to taste,
I never say ‘No,’ send it back,
even if it’s horrible. The same with
my meal; if I don’t like it I’ll eat it
anyway.”
AND DAMN IT!!! THAT’S WHAT
THE PARENTS AND STUDENTS
IN NEW YORK STATE SHOULD
DO AS WELL WITH MY
COMMON CORE TESTING
AND CURRICULUM!!!
Yes, does anyone have the response of a video of this event.
Bravo to Mr. Farley. Keep it going NY parents, students and teachers. We support you.
BRAVO!!! WELL DONE!!! TIM FARLEY IS A HERO!!!!!
Marge
Tim has nailed it with facts and common sense. He is more than an angry, frustrated parent; he is someone with insight based on knowledge and experience as an educator. He is reflecting the thoughts and concerns of thousand of educators, and parents, from around the state, and indeed, from around the nation. The task is to spread the information so that millions will understand what is going on…..
Well said, Mr. Farley! I’d love to know how King responded.
After the so-called “town hall” was
over, -THIS- is how King “responded”
Mr. Farley’s concerns in a private
meeting with his advisors:
read more about the New York Data Dashboard here: “http://usny.nysed.gov/rttt/data/data-dashboard-selection-guide.pdf
Massachusetts is starting with Preschool to get marketing data.
It is in their pockets in the child’s home to “read books” and “play games”
and they are data mining. They say because the parent signed up to get
the “toy and games” that the parent gave permission to gather all the marketing
data. Folks, In Bloom cannot be trusted. This preschool data gathering in
Massachusetts is by “Footsteps to Brilliance” (yes, their title is stupid)….
It is all marketing data like the data mining the pharmaceutical companies do when they go to the pharmacy and see which doctors are writing their prescriptions for a certain medicine; then they pressure all the docs in the region who are NOT writing that scrip. It is marketing, merchandising, and sales…. it has nothing to do with a quality education
And read the BS slogan: Our Students. Their Moment.
Do they think everyone is stupid?
That’s all the kiddies are entitled to: a moment.
The title reeks of self revelation. “Our kids” means deformers taking control of your kids, and “Their moment” is the length of their critical thinking, their dignity, and their capacity to build personal wealth.
The plutocrats are not kidding . .
Pearson is pushing this market strategy as part of the “Data Dashboard” in New York.
I know superintendents who have tough choices such as “should I buy the microscopes the high school is requesting or the phonics books for first grade.” (direct quote from Superintendent he didn’t have funds for both options.) When we added security guards and electronic screening equipment to the schools that money came out of the curriculum budget and it was never put back…. This is what will happen because the technologies are so expensive and they are UNPROVEN. For the technology programs that have been proven effective see the publications Henry Levin. Joint Dissemination Review Panel provided evidence for technology effectiveness. What Works Clearinghouse provides data to the schools. These companies are “tagging along” saying that their “stuff” works because it is like the technologies proven effective only each company claims to be better!!! When cigarettes and tobacco companies were losing customers they created LIES; they said if you keep smoking you will prevent alzheimer’s. we need to be ever vigilant for this kind of marketing. There is a difference between “evidence based” and “research” cobbled together from different places to sell products.
This is about being “Vigilant” Credo has a thank you letter for textbook publishers.
quote:
“Friend, Despite pressure from the Texas State Board of Education to insert pseudoscience and climate denialism into textbooks, publishers have submitted revisions that remain scientifically sound. That’s why I just signed the thank-you card to the publishers to let them know I have their backs. “
And the answer?
These “so-called” LISTENING Tours are a SHAM. It’s not listening. It’s an opportunity to spout more propaganda. Glad the parents are catching on.
King claims that at the disastrous
Pougkeepsie town hall, that those
loudmouth parents who spoke out
at the town hall (in the video) were
phony agents of “special interests”
out to disrupt the event, and deny
“the real parents” an opportunity to
learn and dialogue about Common
Core and school reform. (Is King’s
thought process here the kind of
critical thinking he wants taught in
Common Core?)
A MESSAGE TO ANY OF THOSE
WHO SPOKE ON CAMERA:
Were any of you actual parents?
OR
Were you just pretending to be
parents so you could then disrupt
the town hall event on orders from
your “special interest” masters?
OR
Were you perhaps actual parents
as well as “special interest”
provocateurs out to sabotage
the event, and thus deny
the non-special interest parents
the benefits of the town hall?
Inquiring minds want to know.
And to Commissioner King…
exactly WHO are these nefarious
“special interest” puppeteers who
masterminded the destruction
of the Common Core town hall
event?
Whoever they are, they need
to be rooted out at once, and
exposed for these destructive
forces—the enemies of true
school reform—that they are!
Tell the world!
Let’s study the video once again,
so we can start the process
of identifying and exposing them:
Once those speaking on the
video are subjected to a thorough
interrogation, we can get them all
to “flip”—as they say on THE
WIRE—and give up the names of
those “special interest” bastards who
put them up behave and say what
they did at the town hall!
Is there anyone out there who is
a current/former teacher or parent
at the Montessori school where
King sends his kids who can
shed light on the accuracy of King’s
claim that his kids’ Montessori
school strictly adheres to
Common Core?
King makes this dubious claim at
about 17:00 on the video:
I was hoping that someone had
actual information about the Montessori
school where King sends his kids.
So far, I’ve yet to find out exactly
what occurs during a typical
school day at that specific Montessori
school—schedule, curriculum,
activities, subjects taught, etc.
(without naming the school, of
course, less King try again to hide
behind his kids… “My kids are
out-of-bounds! How dare you
attack my kids!” No, no one is
attacking your children, John;
millions of NY state parents
are rightfully questioning your
choice to keep them as far
away from the questionable
curriculum and testing that
you’re demanding millions of
other NY state children must
endure.)
Thankfully, both Montessori’s
official site and its Wikipedia
page details what happens at
almost all Montessori
schools—i.e. the ones that are
functioning in a way consistent
with the Montessori educational
philosophy and methods. If
the Montessori to which King
sends his children does not
operate this way, they are an
exception, and not a true
Montessori school—sort of like
a restaurant purporting be a
McDonald’s and uses the name
McDonald’s, but instead that
sells hot dogs instead of
hamburgers.
However, I was able to discover
a blog post from Carol Burris
who DOES have information about
the Montessori school to which
King sends his kids. It’s at the
top of the COMMENTS section:
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/finding_common_ground/2013/06/when_the_ny_state_education_dept_complained_about_this_blog.html
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
CAROL BURRIS (regarding the
Montessori school where King
sends his kids):
“A friend whose employee attends
the Montessori School (and
therefore knows that the children
attend it) informed me that the
school does not give all of the
tests at all of the grade levels.
“Teachers are not evaluated by
the scores, nor is the school
evaluated by the scores.
“That has been confirmed.”
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
In the video, King described
his children’s Montessori school
being part of NY state’s
“community of schools”.
Apparently, not all of NYS’s
educational institutions
are in sync with the policies that
King demands that the public
schools follow—i.e. the
non-public school where he
sends his own children.
The article that this COMMENT
is responding to is pretty
incendiary as well. It’s from
the “FINDING COMMON
GROUND” blog, written by
elementary school principal
Peter DeWitt.
According to the webpage,
DeWitt “writes about students’
social and emotional health,
and how educators can help
young people find common
ground. He was selected as
the 2013 New York State
Outstanding Educator of the
Year by the School
Administrators Association
of New York State.”
The story is about how
officials from the N.Y. State
Education Dept. harassed
him at his school office in
response to comments he
wrote about… you guessed it…
the subject of King’s sending
his children to a Montessori
school.
The attempts to intimidate,
censor, and implicitly threaten
DeWitt are as creepy as
anything to do with the recent
Town Hall fiasco.
For example, Tom Dunn,
King’s Director of Communications,
volunteered to DeWitt…
“It’s not like I’m going to call your
superintendent … ”
… to complain about DeWitt,
should DeWitt refuse to cooperate
and do what he says—i.e. edit out
the stuff about King’s kids
attending a Montessori school.
That remark has a very mafioso-ish
type ring to it—along the lines of…
“It’s not like we’re going to go
and harm your wife and kids if
you don’t play ball with us. We
wouldn’t want anything to happen
to them, now. Would we?”
C’mon. If you’re not going to
do something, and you’re not
actually threatening to do so,
then why even bring it up?
These are the final paragraphs
of DeWitt’s article in their entirety:
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
PETER DEWITT:
“(Ed. Commissioner King’s)
communications director should
spend less time trying to coerce
and intimidate educational
bloggers who are trying to get
out the truth, and spend more
time listening to the voices of
teachers, parents, students and
principals.
“Collectively, there were thousands
of them who converged on Albany,
NY yesterday for the June 8th Rally.
I hope some leaders from State
Ed were in the crowd because
one thing is for sure…our voices
won’t be stifled. ”
“My concern over the phone call
is ‘what’s next?’ One phone call
for an error. A second one
because I used strong language
or criticized the commissioner?
“What will be the next thing I
write that State Ed does not like?
If there is something untrue about
my blog, post a comment at the
end or send an e-mail like everyone
else.
“My secretary is too busy to take
calls about my blog, nor should
she have to. I don’t post blogs at
school, and my students and staff
are my first priority. We are trying
to meet the deadline of getting
through our End of the Year SLO’s.
“Unfortunately, Mr. Dunn’s phone
call seemed less about correcting
an error (which may or may not be
true) and more about flexing his
NY State Education muscles. We
have about as much time for State
Ed phone calls as they do for
ours.”
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Again, you can read the whole
thing at:
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/finding_common_ground/2013/06/when_the_ny_state_education_dept_complained_about_this_blog.html
There were several town halls
scheduled to sell Common Core to
the parents of New York state
schoolchildren. N.Y. State Education
Commissioner was the presenter,
with the events organized and
presented by the N.Y. State PTA.
However, after yesterday’s first
suchtown hall, N.Y. State
Education Commissioner King
strong-armed the N.Y, State PTA
into cancelling the remaining town
halls with the following statement:
https://www.facebook.com/nyspta
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
“While our goal was to provide
an opportunity to learn and share,
based on review of the initial
October 10 meeting, the
Commissioner concluded the
outcome was not constructive
for those taking the time to
attend.
“Please know that NYS PTA
will continue to work with all
education and child advocacy
partners to keep our members
updated andinformed on
education, health, safety and
welfare issues affecting children
and families.
“We apologize for any
inconvenience this may cause
and express our sincere
appreciation to those who have
given their time to assist with
organizing this initiative.”
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Well, you can “review” for yourself
the crucial final 20 minutes of
yesterday’s town hall here—
the colorfully titled YouTube video
“Commissioner King Gets Spanked”:
This meeting was a Rhee-like
farce where King spoke for 2
hours straight, and was scheduled
to to be followed by 1 hour of
public comments and questions.
Note that… ***was scheduled to
be followed…***
The best laid plans…
Indeed, 20 minutes in, neither
King nor the NYS PTA
moderator “could stand the
heat, so they got outta the kitchen.”
They were totally unprepared by
how well-informed and
onfrontational these parents were.
At about the 10 minute mark, one
parent brought up the fact that King
sends his own kids to a Montessori
School which has a curriculum that
is the antithesis of Common Core
as a Montessori school is…
(to quote its wikipedia entry)
– – – – – – – – – – – – –
“… characterized by an emphasis on
independence, freedom within limits,
and respect for a child’s natural
psychological, physical, and social
development….
“… and has these elements
as essential:[1][2]
” — Mixed age classrooms, with
classrooms for children aged
2½ or 3 to 6 years old by far the
most common
“— Student choice of activity
from within a prescribed range of
options
“— Uninterrupted blocks of work
time, ideally three hours
“— A Constructivist or ‘discovery’
model, where students learn
concepts from working with
materials, rather than by direct
instruction.
“Specialized educational materials
developed by Montessori and her
collaborators
“— Freedom of movement within
the classroom
” — A trained Montessori teacher
“In addition, many Montessori
schools design their programs
with reference to Montessori’s
model of human development
from her published works, and
use pedagogy, lessons, and
materials introduced in teacher
training derived from courses
presented by Montessori
during her lifetime… ”
– – – – – – – – – – – –
This disclosure and implied attack
on King pretty much ended things.
King made the dubious claim that
his Montessori school scrupulously
follows “Common Core”
“This totally enraged the audience
of parents as it was and is a
ludicrous and demonstrably false
claim that was rightly met with
skepticism and loud booing,
enraging the crowd… if for
no other reason that folks
don’t like to be lied to or have
their intelligences insulted.
The flustered moderator then
quickly wrapped it up, “We’re going
to allow two more people to speak.”
At which point people began
screaming even louder:
“WHAT HAPPENED TO ‘ONE
HOUR’ ?!!!”
This is absolutely riveting video.
Again, you can see that crucial
final 20 minutes at:
On another humorous note, I just found
this over at STUDENTS LAST:
————————————————
THE KING’S DICTIONARY:
New York – The reigning Commissioner of Education for the State of New York, John King, has released the following dictionary of terms that he would like distributed at any other town hall meetings he deigns to attend.
accountability — fireability, what the King is above
child — learning unit available for sale to corporations (notable exceptions include: King’s child(ren))
critical voices — that to which the King is deaf
democracy — a form of government in which people choose their leaders and their leaders choose not to listen to them because it is time-consuming and inconvenient
dissent — that to which the King is impervious
education — marketplace
educators — pawns
experience — overblown requirement for teaching
evidence — that which does not exist to support the use of Common Core Standards
knowledge — facts, information and skills not necessarily required before implementing state-wide learning standards
money — short cut around democratic process
parent — easily manipulated adult unit in charge of child (see above)
Ravitch — she who must not be named
respect — what silent acquiescence shows
rigor — developmentally inappropriate
schooled — what the King got on October 10, 2013 in Poughkeepsie, NY
special interests — those who disagree with the King’s policies
Town Hall meeting — gathering at which the King speaks and you listen
——————————————–
This is at:
http://studentslast.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-kings-dictionary.html
Priceless!
Merryl Tisch, most of the Board of Regents, and John King must ALL be terminated . . . . .
I can’t think of a better adjective.
We mustn’t have ideologues, politicians, and philosphers. We need cognitive scientists and first rate educators as the majority policy makers.
Also, as MORE is trying to reinvent the UFT from within, so too must there be oppositional factions within NYSUT who do NOT want Dick Ianuzzi’s leadership style, who do NOT want deference to AFT policy moves, and who CLEARLY want leadershiup that is confrontational, aggressive, and oppositional, especially when it comes to perncious, non-empirical, and immoral policies like tying test scores to teacher employability.
Shall we test doctor employment by the number of patients healed and restored? Shall we test lawyers by the number of cases won in court and the number of favorable legislative statutes passed? Shall we judge police by the number of people stopped, frisked, and arrested? Shall we judge soldiers by the number of deaths, enemy-related or collateral damage?
The biggest irony in this all is that if the power brokers who make up these dreck policies were to teach, they would al – or almost all – be rated developing or ineffective and be terminated under their own system.
Of course, this system is good for other people’s children only.
Upper middle class tony districts throughout the United States that are increasingly resisting these policies MUST stand up for districts that have large numbers of poverty ridden children and English language learners, who deserve to ahve jsut as much equity , resources, funding and corrected policies in their schools as do the well heeled. This is a fight for all children, regardless of socio-economic status.
If you think not defending the poor won’t trickle into middle class and upper middle class suburbs, you’re spot on wrong . . . .
I urge everyone to join in with parents as parents and/or private citizens and residents and continue to speak out against what Diane rightfully and accurately deems to be an American education hoax. . . .
Now is the time.
The truth cannot hold itself back; it will always be like water seeking its own level . . . . .
I am curious as to the answer to principal Farley’s question. Hats off to Principal Farley! I hope he does not loose his job over this; his students, teachers and the students and teachers and administrators across new York as well as the rest of the nation need him.
Ladies & Gentlemen out there…
I’m sorry to keep repeat-posting
this, but you need to snap
out of your dream world that
these town halls will give you
any decision-making power
or input of any kind.
Haven’t you all caught on
by now? King doesn’t give
a sh#% what any principal
or parent says or thinks.
BELOW is what John King really
believes about comments from
people like Farley, or from
parents who “opt out”, or even
complain about his “education
reform.”
http://www.southbronxschool.com/2013/10/fine-dining-with-new-york-state.html
King draws an asinine analogy
between parents bitching about
Common Core, or excessive or
inappropriate-for-grade-level
testing or whatever…
to…
the lack of restraint to a customer
would show at a restaurant when
that customer has a problem with
the wine or food served to him:
http://www.southbronxschool.com/2013/10/fine-dining-with-new-york-state.html
He puts himself in a higher order
of class than those belly-aching
parents because when a waiter
brings him substandard food or
wine… well… in such a situation,
he doesn’t complain, or send it
back. He sits there and eats it
whether he likes it or not…
(*** actual quote… no joke***)
JOHN KING: “When I’m in a
restaurant, and the waiter opens
the bottle of wine for me to taste,
I never say ‘No,’ send it back,
even if it’s horrible. The same with
my meal; if I don’t like it I’ll eat it
anyway.”
AND DAMN IT!!! THAT’S WHAT
THE PARENTS AND STUDENTS
IN NEW YORK STATE SHOULD
DO AS WELL WITH MY
COMMON CORE TESTING
AND CURRICULUM!!!
Who gave King a doctorate (if its for real)? Maybe we should ask about why they allowed somebody so incompetent and power hungry to graduate. Has he actually read an educational theory…? Did his doctoral degree provider require any actual reading of relevant education theory?
Mr. Farley,
You have my utmost respect and admiration for speaking up. I wonder if folks know just how difficult it is. I’m a teacher and pretty nervous about who I express my views to-besides other teachers, of course. I’m getting bolder though, and people like you inspire me to never give up!
“We demand and immediate cease and desist on this wide-spread data collection and specifically, the now mandated “Data Dashboard”.
Can someone tell me the connection or intersection between the CC and the “Data Dashboard”?
Did NY agree to a “complete” CC package that includes the Dashboard, or is the Dashboard a separate program?
As I understand the CC in Ohio, there are two components – the standards and a new testing regime. How does the daily data collection w/the Dashboard fit in?
NY was one of the “winners” in the federal Race to the Top contest.
States earned points by meeting certain criteria, including, 1) Adopting CCSS and companion assessments, 2) Implementing a teacher evaluation system tied to test scores (APPR), 3) Easing regulations on charter schools, and 4) Developing a system for collecting test response data (the dashboard). New York rung every bell and “won” the maximum award of $700 million.
The stick (CCSS/APPR/PARCC tests/Data dashboard) was a lot bigger than the carrot ($700,000,000).
NY has suspended its commitment to computerized PARCC assessments for 2014-2015 and the future commitment is in doubt.
I believe our use of Pearson tests aligned with CC is enough to maintain our RTTT status.
I’d bet Bill Gates all of his $70 (?) billion that he couldn’t pass this test:
Click to access 2013.05.09_-_ela_regents_nti_document_final.pdf
Certified bank check please, Mr. Gates
I challenge John King to pass the same CCSS/ELA test developed by Pearson.