The following letter was sent to teachers in Patchogue-Medford, Long Island, in New York state by the superintendent, Dr. Michael J. Hynes. Hynes is a hero of public education. He joins the honor roll of this blog for his thoughtfulness, his care for his staff and students, and his willingness to stand up and speak out. When State Commissioner of Education MaryEllen Elia met with Long Island superintendents to help them understand why they must take a firm position against opt outs, Superintendent Hynes of Patchogue-Medford, Superintendent David Gamberg of Greenport-Southold, Superintendent Steven Cohen of Shoreham-Wading River, and Superintendents Joe Rella of Comsewogue, were not invited. All have been outspoken against the state’s misuse of standardized testing. Gamberg and Cohen did not encourage opt outs, but they both sent letters home to parents explaining that there was no penalty for opting out.
August 28, 2015
Dear Ms. ——-,
The purpose of this letter is to let you know that I DO NOT CARE what your state growth score is. Let me be clear … I DO NOT CARE. It does not define you. Please know that I understand nobody likes to be reduced to a number.
The fact is, you are much more than a number; not only to me, but most important to the children and parents you serve. Keep your head up and your eye on what is more important … your students and your teaching craft. The Patchogue-Medford School District fully supports you as an educator, regardless of what this meaningless, invalid and inhumane score states. Let me know what you need and it is my sincere hope you have a great year.
With warm regards,
Signature
Michael J. Hynes, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Diane Ravitch's blog 
As I typed when I saw this on FB, this is the ONLY type leadership that will save public schools.
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Bravo, Dr. Hynes!
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The sort of thing grade-school children do.
“You can’t play marbles with us!”
Elia is just pathetic.
She is an absolute embarrassment to the great state of New York.
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It’s heartwarming to the teacher profession that superintendents recognize the value of teachers and are taking a stand. Kudos to those professionals who would put their careers on the line.
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This shows great courage and integrity.gotta love this leader. Sort of reminds me of Joshua Starr.
But like Starr, superintendents change; so do school boards. Teachers generally have a longer lifespan.
So while I don’t question Michael Hynes, I wonder about his successor – and I worry about the teachers and the next memo.
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I don’t know, but doesn’t this sound like she’s backed off a bit?
“We haven’t done enough communication,” Elia said. “But if parents understand it and they still want their child to opt out, that certainly is their right.”
She admits the tests “have problems” and are “too long.”
I think it’s wise to try actually talking to them instead of punishing, patronizing or scolding them. Ohio decided the Common Core tests were too long when parents and teachers objected, too.
http://wamc.org/post/elia-clarifies-position-opting-out#stream/0
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“We haven’t done enough communication” is code for “If they only understood, they would not opt out”
The irony is that the parents who are opting out “understand” quite well — certainly far better than Elia does.
Elia’s exclusion of superintendent’s who disagree is a sure sign of her actual intentions — and that she herself has “learned” precisely nothing.
Of course, it’s “wise” to talk rather than punish, but the current policies are not wisdom/knowledge based
Elia is completely transparent — quite literally “trans[on the other side of] parent”.
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I agree, but I think code for “they don’t understand the plan” is progress from “they’re too scared and/or stupid to embrace the brilliant plan” which is the approach ed reformers have adopted until now. They seem to have trouble with the “public” part of public schools.
I also agree that opt out parents seem really engaged in their public schools and are better informed than the vast majority of the public on testing. It was both stupid and arrogant to alienate them.
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Here’s an instant classic in the genre of “ed reformers lecture the public”
This article has no relation whatsoever to the reality of “market based” ed reform in my state over the last 15 years, none, yet I’m supposed to take direction from this person.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/09/01/why-liberals-should-to-learn-to-love-charter-schools.html
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This is MY boss!
I am so lucky and proud to be a teacher in this district!
Take that Governor Cuomo !!!
# SUPER-Intendent, #CommisionerHynes, #TeachersForHynes, #HynesForPresident
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How marvelous!! Wish I’d worked for Dr. Michael J. Hynes. Can he be cloned many times? What a compassionate thinking person. He recognizes that teachers are valuable and competent in their jobs.
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I want my child in that school district where I know he has a better chance of getting a well rounded education than in most of the rest of the districts in the nation.
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What at an amazing man. Ironically, teachers will work twice as hard for someone they admire than for someone who threatens them.
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Reblogged this on and commented:
this is some of what school is for, learning how to stand up and speak out
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The “informed” public , as per A. Schopenhauer
“The human intellect is said to be so constituted that general ideas arise by abstraction from particular observations, and therefore come after them in point of time. If this is what actually occurs, as happens in the case of a man who has to depend solely upon his own experience for what he learns — who has no teacher and no book — such a man knows quite well which of his particular observations belong to and are represented by each of his general ideas. He has a perfect acquaintance with both sides of his experience, and accordingly, he treats everything that comes in his way from a right standpoint. This might be called the natural method of education.
Contrarily, the artificial method is to hear what other people say, to learn and to read, and so to get your head crammed full of general ideas before you have any sort of extended acquaintance with the world as it is, and as you may see it for yourself. You will be told that the particular observations which go to make these general ideas will come to you later on in the course of experience; but until that time arrives, you apply your general ideas wrongly, you judge men and things from a wrong standpoint, you see them in a wrong light, and treat them in a wrong way.This might be called the natural method of education.
Contrarily, the artificial method is to hear what other people say, to learn and to read, and so to get your head crammed full of general ideas before you have any sort of extended acquaintance with the world as it is, and as you may see it for yourself. You will be told that the particular observations which go to make these general ideas will come to you later on in the course of experience; but until that time arrives, you apply your general ideas wrongly, you judge men and things from a wrong standpoint, you see them in a wrong light, and treat them in a wrong way. So it is that education perverts the mind.
This explains why it so frequently happens that, after a long course of learning and reading, we enter upon the world in our youth, partly with an artless ignorance of things, partly with wrong notions about them; so that our demeanor savors at one moment of a nervous anxiety, at another of a mistaken confidence. The reason of this is simply that our head is full of general ideas which we are now trying to turn to some use, but which we hardly ever apply rightly. This is the result of acting in direct opposition to the natural development of the mind by obtaining general ideas first, and particular observations last: it is putting the cart before the horse. Instead of developing the child’s own faculties of discernment, and teaching it to judge and think for itself, the teacher uses all his energies to stuff its head full of the ready-made thoughts of other people. “
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What incredible courage and leadership! These outstanding superintendents consistently demonstrate integrity, intelligence and humanity. I am absolutely in awe of these brave Long Island superintendents, and their rare and needed leadership. To think Commissioner Elia purposely chose not to invite these proactive leaders to her Long Island gathering, shows exactly how she will be proceeding in her new role. If she isn’t listening to opposing, concerned voices in leadership positions, she certainly isn’t planning on listening to parents, teachers or tax payers.
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Not near enough doing this.
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Parents should continue to opt out!
The test have to go completely away! Any compromise on testing continues to enrich Pearson and the educational – industrial complex, moneymaking machine! The only way to return your public schools to your community is to opt out of these unreliable and and verifiable, common core aligned monstrosities, designed to systematically dismantled public education!:
http://unitedoptout.com
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There are still a few, very few people with the intestinal fortitude to do the right thing. Whatever one may think of President Kennedy i loved his book; Profiles in courage”. So VERY much of the things we enjoy today is because of these people who cared more about right than trying to save their own skin. Few people wish to be crucified, drink their hemlock, even for a great cause. Those that do though are sometimes remembered in history while the nonentities “have their reward”. Most of these heroes laid it ALL on the line and did not know what the outcome would be.
I think of all our military who go and lay their lives on the line and the politicians are more concerned about their jobs than of the future of their children, their nation et al..
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Agree that this type of leadership inspires teachers…most superintendendents would say nothing or say they are opposed to the tests/common core/rate-gate, but then make their teachers jump through all those hoops that drive us crazy. I can’t see paying these folks their huge salaries if they don’t have what it takes to stand up to something that is clearly so wrong. Can the state fire superintendendents? I don’t know…If not than they must the tip of the spear in this fight. They are (we must believe) the most experienced in all aspects of the education system. They are the true experts with the most clout.
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When I found my growth score in my school mailbox today I thought about Dr. Hynes and wished that his letter had been in my envelope. I wonder if other professionals are given their performance review in an unsealed envelope left in their office mailbox.
Wham, bam, thank you mam!
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SUPER INTENDENT HYNES
Dr. Michael Hynes – Education’s “Real-Life” Super Hero
Patchogue-Medford School District.
#SUPERintendent
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