Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and State Commissioner of Education John King spoke at the Wagner School at New York University. This comment came from a graduate student at that institution. Her insight was so on target that I thought I would share it.
She writes:
“I am an NYU Wagner graduate and a public school parent. I was unable to attend Commissioner King’s speech and Secretary Duncan’s appearance. I hope a bright Wagner student asked how two men entrusted with our children’s education could miss so many of the fundamentals taught at the Wagner School. A Wagner education includes the analysis of case studies. If they are not already doing so, I hope Wagner students will soon be studying the Common Core as an overwhelming failure and as an example of what not to do in order to create change. The Federal Government and New York State have set shining examples of top-down management at its worst. Instead of building support from stakeholders, parents and teachers have been alienated and demoralized. Instead of valuing each and every student, Commissioner King and Secretary Duncan have sought to rank and sort students into losers and winners. Instead of fostering collaboration, competition and the survival of the fittest are their goals. Great leaders possess large quantities of humility. King and Duncan exemplify hubris.”
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Reblogged this on Transparent Christina.
Great leaders inspire those under their charge to want to be the best they can be. Duncan and King are far from this. I do hope that the Ed department at NYU is doing a giant case study on the disaster that has been PR spun as “ed reform” and that they will put these studies constantly “in the faces” of those enforcing the ever-so-hideous “ed reform policy”. Glad to read a grad student (also a public school parent) calling out the nonsense.
The “ed reform leaders” inspire frustration, rage, great sadness at the mandated destruction of helpless young lives thanks to their reforms… they do not operate in a democracy… and I do believe that in the end the truth does reveal itself. I just hope that their destructive policies are put to a halt soon because in the end it is the lives of our nation’s young that are so at risk. There are so many educators filled will passion and concern who so desire to bring joy into the education process despite these times. And frankly, POVERTY MUST BE DEALT WITH before our nation’s neediest children can come to school fully ready to learn. All the hot air and steam and “no excuses/grit” mantra of the “corporate ed reformers” will not change the horrific toll of poverty. Firing teachers, privatizing education to create a dog eat dog winner and loser endeavor does not make for a strong nation.
Public school teachers want public education restored so that professionals with real education experience can work together to make changes while hopefully this nation starts to REALLY address poverty. But in the meantime, there are many of us teachers who are trying our best to bring the kind of joy into these students’ lives that makes them believe that it is still worth being curious about the world… despite being treated like “human capital” … pawns treated as if they were brought into the world solely to perpetuate the narrative of being competitive in a global economy. Do not think for a moment that our neediest students are not fully aware of how they are being treated. The sad part is that over the long haul, it becomes internalized for them. And over the long-haul, talented and caring teachers are leaving the profession that “has left them” (as one person recently said) because they cannot stand to see their students treated this way and to be so disrespected professionally.
Happy, educated, self sufficient people make for a strong nation – which if you take the time for reflection makes for success in the “global economy” because happy self sufficient people can be productive. But our power and money-driven leaders don’t get it or worse yet do not care about the larger picture. Miserable people cannot strengthen a nation. It is time to stop the “ed reform” NONSENSE!
Pasi Sahlberg says that EQUITY in society is important for an educated citzenry. We sure don’t have equity here in this country, that is for sure.
It’s a perfect reply. I doubt they are listening, but there are many of us who are paying attention.
Fantastic!!!
Sent from my iPad
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Perfect.
artseagul reinforces the NYU grad student statement. I am sending this to all my colleagues, and even the naysayers. And yes, Yvonne, the Finnish school system is based on happy and productive students and teachers…not on the oligarchal business models.