This is a letter that I received:
I have been following you for the last 10 years and am in awe of your continued efforts to turn public education in the right direction.
I read your article this morning about a teacher who had had enough.
It could have been my story.
I am a retired NYC Department of Education pre-k teacher in an under represented community. I taught pre-k for 16 consecutive years in the same school. I was fortunate that I was able to introduce many innovative programs to support my students not just in academics but the more important social/emotional piece that schools often neglect.
I brought to my classroom American Sign Language, Yoga, Mindfulness, Cooking and Baking, Caterpillars into Butterflies and as much art and music as I could fit in a day.
My students thrived. Sadly, each year it became more and more difficult to protect my students from the “rigor” and academic push for 3 and 4 year olds.
This past year, I was evaluated by not just my supervisors but from NYC Instructional Coordinators, a Social Worker who came once a month and no longer worked with students and their families, but was there to teach me classroom management, and an Educational Coach who came to help me learn how to better assess my students.
In addition, NYC has contracted ECERS:
Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale.
The Instructional Coordinators returned to review the ECERS report on the premise of helping me attain a better rating the next year. They removed my television which I used to play videos for yoga and ASL for my students so they could see children their own age doing yoga and ASL.
They said ECERS did not allow more than 20 minutes a week for technology.
I tried to explain that the television was not technology but the television was removed.
They removed my oven because they believed it to be dangerous.
They removed my students yoga cushions because they said they were not sanitary despite the fact that they had washable covers.
The final blow came when in the ECERS report it stated that I had an inappropriate book; The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle.
The ECERS evaluator said it promoted violence and bullying because the grouchy ladybug wanted to fight.
Either she had never read the book or had read it and did not understand its value.
I no longer had any autonomy in my classroom and I could not in good conscience do what the IC’s and other outside people wanted me to do with my children.
It was a very difficult decision.
I had legacy families where I had taught 7 or 8 members of extended families.
Many families started teaching their children how to pronounce my name as soon as they were able to sit up.
My story is just one small grain of sand but I am confident that it is being replicated all over the country.
I left not because I was in an under represented community and not because many children had challenging issues but rather because the lack of support and understanding about what it means to be a teacher was draining the life out of me.
I am hopeful to continue to have a voice for children, particularly the ones that few want to teach.
If you post my story, please do not use my name.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
This is incredibly sad. Where does this kind of bureaucratic BS come from?
This looks like a ed school-created program. Was it a bad idea from the start, or just implemented amazingly poorly?
The bureaucratic BS comes from “reformers” who support things like standardized tests and “accountability” and charter schools and “improving student performance”. In other words, people like you.
No Dienne,
This is created by a school district, using a program created by a traditional ed school program; probably with the assistance of a highly paid consultant. It is a dysfunctional response and an example of why people believe that our current system needs reform. Either a publicly elected school board or the superintendent they hired made the decision to implement this, true?
Sure, John, go ahead and overlook the fact that this particular district has long been on the forefront of “reform”.
Highly paid consultants, incidentally, are one of the hallmarks of “reform”. Rephormers always believe that practically everyone other than teachers is qualified to tell teachers how to teach.
John, one thing I taught my kindergartners is that they must question effectively. What this teacher experienced is my story also and teachers throughout the country are being subjected to the same gaslighting techniques whereby we are suddenly incompetent after 20 years or more. Readers of this blog are familiar with this technique and the question that needs to be asked is why do our union ‘leaders’ not seem to care that such treatment is destructive to our profession? In L.A. the union, United Teachers Los Angeles assists in destroying teachers’ careers and we can only conclude that the leadership benefits materially. Here, about 5,000 have been forced out while UTLA sits on 3,000 grievances that they have ignore for as long as 10 years.
It is teachers like this woman that need to now reach out to the community and start a PRE-K of her own. She might only have a few paying students but it is the contribution she can make to even one student. All of the teachers that are leaving need to come together in the community and find innovative ways to circumvent the system. If EVERY retired teacher would donate (FREE) time to a community home school consortium can you just imagine the impact we could have??? Come on. This is America. We ARE NOT going to stop what is happening in our public schools. There is way too much money to be made the greedies are not going to unhook their teeth from all that money. So we need to ignore them and implode the system ourselves. We are Americans. We can find ways to help some of these kids that will never be truly educated. We need to get back to basic education and parents need to get back to being accountable parents. Time to STARVE THE BEAST!!!
I know nobody here wants to hear this, but this is an example of why educators start charter schools. This type of dysfunction between administration and teachers is what most charters strive to avoid, with building level decision making and very flat org charts.
Most charter folks I know want all schools freed from crap like this. That’s one of the reasons I find lumping “reformers” together not helpful.
This top-down imposition of programs is pretty unique to the dysfunctional relationships between school boards, superintendents, state Ed departments, teachers, unions, admins, state legislatures, etc. in traditional public schools.
Charters schools have their own top down management structures. Many are zero
tolerance, boot camp environments. Others are test prep mills. Most do not educate high needs children or children who are just learning English. There is a high turnover rate in charter schools which has been documented. As to Head Start, it is a kindergarten test prep program. It was not when first designed. Quality Stars is no better than ECERS or CLASS except that classrooms receive materials from what I have been told, I may be wrong. There is a lot of oversight in that program as well. The teachers in our early childhood programs are well educated in Early Childhood. They are experts in the field, especially as they become seasoned. But the whole premise of early childhood education has become not readiness for life, but readiness to become drones. Let our early childhood educators (Pre-K andK) provide a loving environment that is open to exploration and inquiry and we will have children ready to want to truly learn in the grades. Teachers do know how to provide this environment without all the “rigor” of mandates, data and oversight from outside sources all because they want accountability for where their money is spent, not because they want to know how truly successful a said program is educating young children. Schools need trained administrators to guide and encourage new teachers., they need resources and they need space to create wonderful learning environments.
Just FYI, Public Pre-K programs do take in a wide variety of children. I know, I taught them. And so do Head Start programs. I’m sure it varies by neighborhood, but both programs are open to all children. In fact the public school population in Pre-K is pretty much determined by the DOE computer system. Often more than not, if we get a high registration in a certain year, and ask for another classroom, schools are denied. Then those parents have to find a day care or Head Start program to attend.
Agree with this former teacher that this tragic scenario is playing out over and over again, all across the country. Outside consultants, by the nature of their jobs, have to nit-pick. If they came in and said “everything is fine here,” they wouldn’t be able to justify their fees.
The Grouchy Ladybug is a story about overcoming the desire to fight. The consultant who ordered it removed, AND the administrators who hired that consultant, should all be fired.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Grouchy_Ladybug
With a few tweaks, this could be my story. I taught Pre-K at my school for 18 years. I taught in day care and head start for 10 years. I took 10 year off to raise my own children and before that taught kindergarden in the public schools. I substitute taught all the elemetary grades for two years. I too taught children fromt the same families. Many went on to be quite educated and successful. I did not need people on my shoulders, ECERS or Engage NY curriculae to tell me how or what to teach. With guidance from excellent educators, I learned how to manage a classroom (from Pre-K to 6th grade), ask open ended questions and developed my own multicultural, integrated, age appropriate curriculum that got children excited about learning and helped to develop inquiry, a love of reading and wanting to know more about the world around them. I enjoyed teaching. But the last few years was difficult. I always had to fight to defend what I knew was right for my children and for learning in general. It was time. I sadly retired at the end if this school year. But I did not retire from being an advocate for public education that is age appropriate and diverse for our children. This I will continue to do in whatever capacity I am able.
This is exactly what can happen without due process rights. The administration can drive out teachers that question authority or policy, or it could simply be because they teacher “makes too much money,” or the administrator has a relative that needs a job. They can bully, belittle, and micro-manage teachers until they quit.
Hate to tell you, but due process does NOTHING to help teachers, because administrators are all in bed with each other and back each other up, even when one of the administrators has egregiously violated policy. I am speaking from personal experience.
It is unfortunate that I need to unsubscribe; this is a useful blog. But upward of ten posts a day is just too much. Some focus and restraint, please.
Robin Alexander
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Why don’t you just read it on-line? Check the website once or twice a day.
Really. Grouchy Ladybug promotes violence.
Reads like those who wanted Sylvester and the a magic a pebble removed because the police in the story were portrayed by pigs (this was 1969).
Or how And Tango Makes Three promotes the gay lifestyle.
Ugh.
I feel sorry the children who are being boxed in by those with blinders.
(I apologise for the typos. iPhone typing.)
OMG, idiots are in charge.
Even worse than that for they are idiots with an idiology!
This is probably for another discussion, but The Grouchy Ladybug ultimately teaches about cooperation, sharing resources and goodwill. There is a ton of children’s literature that teaches children, even those in Pre-K, that there are things in the world to fight for and against. Forcing us to take this literature and hide it or throw it away is insane for a one day review by folks a who in most cases do t know the story content or who enforce the reformer end speak for money.
Same for the autocrat’s judgment about this teacher’s focussed use of TV.
There should be some questioning of this checklist. It appears to be the only one in wide use. If it actually includes a list of “prohibited” and recommended books that should be known with reasons presented. The surveillance systems being put in place and justified as if essential for “data-driven decisions” offer up the pretense of objectivity, and reliability, and some circular reasoning dances to claim validity when in truth these systems are well beyond legitimate concerns for health, safety, caring, and well-informed activities for early learning.
ECERS has banned Three Billy Goats Gruff and Abiyoyo as well for being too violent.
I was once sited by ECERS for a book in Dr. King that the observer said was violent.
Utter stupidity by the Powers That Be! I hope this wonderful teacher is now teaching in some place that u derstsnds real education & appreciates her talents
All of this is so sad because I love teaching. I don’t want to think about retiring, at least not at the traditional age. I’m in great shape, strong and energetic. I could last for a while and all the while I’ll be getting better. But the stupidity is sucking the life out of me. It’s all very simple. Teachers are trained professionals who should be sitting at the top of the chain of power. Teachers are the intellectuals, the pedagogues, the masters of their subject, Everyone else needs to fall in line and provide support as WE determine. The system is simply sitting on its head. It’s ironic because all of these misguided, self absorbed bureaucrats are making so much more than teachers for no good reason at all!
One way this could be prevented is by restricting the number of school officials that never see a student. If all members of the administration had to spend time in the classroom, including coaches, who often claim they know kids because they are I. Someone else’s classroom, we would not see this type of educational offal.
Roy,
I agree with this, but worse yet are admins that aren’t even in schools.
And the ones that are in business to make money off of schools. How much is spent on this or that program because someone went to a conference and got hooked on an idea.
I call NYC DOE the anti-child school district.
Is anything real anymore? The weird passes as sane … and we’re stuck in a new Twilight Zone.
Not sure at times if I’m in a real moment or not. An elementary book about ladybugs banned because … are you ready? … it promoted violence. Yup. The bug stood up for herself. Ranks right up there with the poor kid who accidentally chewed his Pop Tart into a maybe-gun … and got treated to a suspension. A bloody outlaw at age seven. Sentenced to counseling.
A classroom stove is now a clear and present danger … as though few have ever seen such a menacing machine. And a television is suddenly anti-educational … which sort of puts Big Bird on notice that he might prepare himself for a second career at … I dunno … KFC?
And then there’s recess … one of this season’s most yakked about educational issues. To recess or not to recess … that is the question. It is? Holy crap! We are in deeper trouble than I ever imagined. Imagine wasting time … lots of time … defending recess. Pleading with state legislatures to actually pass laws about … P L A Y … you know, monkey bars and kIckball. Putting the issue up for debate and grown adults … supposedly big people … actually musing about it for weeks! What the hell is wrong with us? Who directed this bad B movie? And how do we get out of it?
Who started the Great Recess War anyway? In fact, who declared a Pop Tart a weapon? And tag a form of aggression? Why don’t we ever see these faceless, mindless folks who make these rules and imagine these punishments … for babies … doing baby things. Who owns such a mind? Such an unhealthy mind?
And how about the poor cherub who spontaneously pecks a girl on the cheek … and then earns sex offender status as an 80 month old? Who’s the twisted fool who saw something smutty in that moment of innocence? He’s the one who shouldn’t be around children. Ever. He belongs in a book … about psychiatry.
And then there’s this. Some brain-bruiser suggesting that parents who read to their children are “unfairly disadvantaging other people’s children”. Professor Adam “Not So” Swift said that reading to your own child is something you, “should definitely at least feel kinda bad about it sometimes.” Feel kinda bad about? I kinda feel bad for this dope … for having paraded his dumbness before the world. He also belongs in that psychiatry book.
This could go on and on and on … ‘cause I haven’t even mentioned the really juicy silliness about testing, sit and stare, curriculum abuse and close reading for cereal boxes. Haven’t even mentioned fleeing teachers and kids retained because their parents stiff-armed the testing tyrants. The absurdity never ends.
I think a National Day of Ridicule is in order. A whole day! A day to highlight all of this nonsense that’s barnacled itself to public education.
We’re all worn out from doing battle with the ridiculous. Let’s just give them their day. And make hese idiots famous. Then maybe they’ll go away.
Over and out.
Denis Ian
I honestly believe that the Twilight Zone/Rabbit Hole aspect of reform is a feature – not a bug. Policies, ideas, and products that are so ridiculous that no one I describe them to has trouble believing that I am telling the truth. Yes, reform that defies the human imagination. Reform that makes the suspension of disbelief impossible. Reform that the human brain simply refuses to process simply because these policies, ideas, and products are just so inane.
Washington state Department of Early Learning is doing exactly the same thing not only in schools and childcare centers, but also in family home childcares. These children are being pushed academically, learning through play is being deleted, in fact play at all is being discouraged. Children learn at different ages and stages, the early learning system is discouraging individuality and spontaneity. I have followed the trends in early learning for over 30 years, the wellbeing of and for the children is disappearing under the guise of “newer and better” early learning techniques. Let the children be children. Teach, but allow them the time to experiment and express themselves!
Reblogged this on Poetic Justice and commented:
I am reblogging this from Diane Ravitch.
This is how bad our schools have become. They are children-unfriendly and teacher-unfriendly.
“I left not because I was in an under represented community and not because many children had challenging issues but rather because the lack of support and understanding about what it means to be a teacher was draining the life out of me.” ~ a NYC pre-K teacher who chooses to remain unnamed.
I can’t even tell you how DISTURBING this is. I can’t tell you what I wish on all those educational intruders. The moron who decided the Grouchy Lady Bug was inappropriate-literary scholar. I wish she named folks involved so we could post a wall of SHAME. John King would be the first one on the list-wait Bill and Melinda Gates.
Not at all surprised by this story. When New York State made the political decision to fund UPK through the public school districts it forever damaged (or destroyed) the essential character of early childhood education. There are many models of ECE that have evolved over time that are far superior to what NYSED has created. Even Head Start, although they have evolved into Kindergarten prep as well, is a far superior model of ECE.
And the damage has only just begun- now NYSED has grants out for prekindergarten for our 3 year olds.
NYSED now has multiple grant programs for prekindergarten. At least 5 or 6 and each one has different “quality ” criteria , it is a logistical nightmare for communities, parents, children and teachers.
One quick fix, to ensure children are not suffering in poor quality programs , would be to require that ALL NYSED funded ECE programs be overseen by the Quality Stars NY program. Preschool programs operating in public school districts have NO oversight from any regulatory agency, subject to only their own misguided and developmentally inappropriate reform agendas.
ADDITIONALLY >>> In my community public Pre-K has created an economic division for young children. Economically disadvantaged children are shuffled into Head Start while those not eligible for Head Start attend the public PreK located in the school building. WHEN did it become acceptable to segregate children?????
Here is one knowledgeable principal:
https://deyproject.org/2016/06/30/yes-you-are-allowed-to-do-that-one-principals-mission-to-bring-back-play-in-school/
I was scored down because the toilet in my classroom, one the same size as a home toilet, was too big. I did not watch my 4-5 year olds go to the bathroom. The center divider for the block area and the house keeping area in my room was a dress up hangy thingy and there were dress ups that got hung on the block side. Heaven forbid! The children (for the first time all year) did not choose to play in the house keeping area. The school doorbell was too high on the front door of the school. I had the Grouchy Ladybug hidden, but Jack and the Beanstalk was out, oops! The worse possible instrument! ECERS is a sell out to CC.
I too am a retired Early Childhood Educator. I started in pre-school, then Childcare, then applied for Universal Pre-K. In reading this letter, I am so grateful that I retired just as the DOE was implementing more rigorous academic standards for UPK. I had my program from 1999-2008. My experience in dealing with the DOE was a very positive one. I had a quality program and always felt much appreciated by the people in the Region office. I too, taught multiple children in many families. Parents couldn’t wait until their younger children could enroll in my program.I saw the “writing on the wall” and took early retirement. I still miss the profession, but definitely NOT the bureaucrats. I got out before I had anything more than a Consultant who was assigned to my school. Reading your letter makes me feel so grateful for leaving when I did. Unfortunately it is all of the children who are missing out on age-appropriate quality education!