Robert Shepherd, a frequent contributor to this blog, has started his own blog.
Our of our brilliant friend’s first contributions is a “Reformish lexicon
” in which he attempts to translate the language of “reform” into plain English.
If you have more words for him, send them in. There are many more. He has only scratched the surface.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Thanks for posting this, Diane, and thank you, heart and soul, for your tireless efforts on behalf of the children of our country.
LikeLike
Bob [I can call you Bob, right?, with all due respect for the work you have put into contributing to this blog and creating the Reformish Dictionary, I was surprised to notice an omission under “Teacher.”
You forgot definition #4. “Preferred current usage in world-class charters: eduproduct delivery specialist; not to be confused with the higher-ranked classroom aide.”
See? Now was that so hard?
Krazy props…
😎
LikeLike
wonderful. to be added!
LikeLike
I have often wondered what to call you, other than Krazy Smart and Krazy Witty. 🙂
LikeLike
I’ve got one for you, Bob:
“roll out. Force a new mandate on educators that will throw the current system into complete upheaval requiring more learning time for implementation of said mandate in addition to the countless hours of planning, preparation, record keeping, parent communication, etc. After all, educators need more to do to justify their Cadillac compensation packages.”
…or something to that effect. I have heard that term used over and over by reformers, but once my principal began to say it in every staff meeting when referring to the implementation of each of the bazillion new reforms we are enduring this year, it stuck with me.
Great list, BTW. 🙂
LikeLike
I know that two districts in different states hold pep rallies and spirit week in the week leading to the high stakes testing event in nearly the same fashion. Not sure if school districts all around the nation do this or not though – but am guessing they do. So I would add these terms to your ironically delightful glossary!
School Spirit Week: in the week leading up to the high stakes test, an entire school is given “freedom” to follow a day to day protocol for “fun” proving that even fun should be controlled and can only happen when focused on testing.
Pep Rally: Cookie cutter pre high stakes test “celebratory event” usually held in the school gym to get 3rd-6th grade students excited about failing a useless test that has wasted their entire academic year of learning and molded their view of learning as torture.
LikeLike
This would be very funny if it weren’t so true!!! That applies to the whole Reformish Lexicon, of course.
LikeLike
I’m confused. Is the disappearance of Robert K. shepherd related to the arrival of Bob Shepherd?
LikeLike
Robert D. Shepherd and Bob Shepherd are the same animal. 🙂
LikeLike
I’m sure you can come up with a suitable definition for the term “unpack.” Teachers and curriculum specialists are busily unpacking the CCSS. I suspect that it has something to do with trying to make some sense out of them that can then be tested relentlessly.
LikeLike
Oh yes. This one appears a lot in the Reformish grimoires!
LikeLike
unpack – an activity that requires the use of the Sarah Palin syntax translation program; necessary in order to make sense of senseless standards written to confuse, trick, and trap teachers and students.
LikeLike
as in
“I’m sure if we open up the dictionary, we could prove that with semantics that are various, we can prove that there is a definition of slavery that absolutely fits the bill there, when I’m talking about a bankrupt country that will owe somebody something down the line if we don’t change things that is.” –Sarah Palin, CNN Interview with Jake Tapper Tapper, 11.12.2013
LikeLike
Precisely!
LikeLike
I suggested: RIGOR = RIGOR MORTIS
LikeLike
Yvonne Siu-Runyan: if you hadn’t mentioned this, I would have.
Krazy props!
If I may, a slight addition, to be added at the end of Bob Shepherd’s definition:
Borrowed directly from forensic pathology, “rigor mortis,” to denote the stiffening of the joints and muscles soon after death; in education, to denote the fatal inflexible stiffening of learning and teaching in pursuit of $tudent $ucce$$ extracted from OTHER PEOPLE’S CHILDREN. *See OTHER PEOPLE’S CHILDREN; THEIR OWN CHILDREN.*
As always, KrazyTA here to lend a hand to a teacher.
😎
P.S. To Bob Shepherd—
OTHER PEOPLE’S CHILDREN: the source of $tudent $ucce$$ for the leaders of the new civil right movement and their principal enforcers and enablers. Synonyms: non-strivers; uneducables; unwashed rabble; unworthy many; those kids; ELLs; Special Education students; test suppressors; somebody else’s problem; finger snapping eye followers; hewers of wood and drawers of water; data points.
THEIR OWN CHILDREN: offspring of the leaders of the new civil rights movement and their principal enforcers and enablers. Synonyms: our most precious assets; worthy few; to the manor born; future leaders; destined for greatness; test raisers; the divine and natural elect; valued individuals; the guarantors of future American greatness.
LikeLike
ELLs. Somebody else’s problem.
Alas, yes
LikeLike
Bob, great blog. I loved the definitions and browsed through your other entries. Your critique of the CC$$ ela standards stated — much more eloquently than I have — the problems I’ve had with my 9th grader’s ELA assignments this year.
LikeLike
how about “billionaire” and “Pearson” (which could be “always $earning” instead of always learning”). Someone needs to create a song for Deasy to the tune of Daisy, Daisy from the early 1900’s. I’m too stressed with grading papers and completing lesson plans for a national accreditation visit to feel inspired today,
LikeLike
Congrats Robert. Great Job
Please add Virtual Library Packages – electronic books rejected by defunct librarians. Good enough for public schools, unacceptable by the elite for their children at private schools.
LikeLike
I have a major issue with the devaluing of grit and tenacity as qualities leading to success in Bob’s Lexicon.
My reply to Bob:
OK, I see the validity of many of your points, Bob. But grit and tenacity are CRUCIAL for those of us whose families not only don’t support us, but may even actively oppose our getting an education. I have taught HS English for over 25 years, but I got here only by grit and tenacity. Sure, that included doing what my teachers required of me, sometimes in subjects that weren’t my all-time favorites. Whatever I did, I can assure you it was the OPPOSITE of being “SERVILE” or even “obedient” if I felt the order was immoral! (P.S.– If you’re interested, Google my name and see what happened c.1994).
LikeLike
No one thinks that grit and tenancy and perseverance are not superb qualities to some ends. But a lot of us are horrified to see these described in the context of a report from the United States Department of Education describing the measurement of these with invasive retinal scanners and wristbands for real-time measuring galvanic skin response so that scores for them can be recorded in an Orwellian national database. The promotion by the DOE of such an Orwellian system for Total Information Awareness is just horrifying, for obvious reasons.
LikeLike