What results have the politicians attacking our schools gotten?

     This is why I advocate for a "what's good for the goose" approach for ratings/evaluations: politicians should also be subject to termination if measures of their success are less than effective. Childhood health, poverty, employment, median income, crime, quality of life...fill in whatever is important (number of wealthy friends/supporters does not count here). 

     The claim that outside of school factors can be overcome by magical inspiring teachers is great stuff for movies and one-in-a-million stories, but even those become more rare as the reform zombies look for other ways to profit (after jobs were slaved away to Asia and the middle class home-owner market was bled dry). Stand our ground. Surely if one lonely public school teacher (charters and private schools won't have to take the most challenging kids)can be expected to climb this mountain, then a well connected politician can climb one of their own.

Schools failing to prepare kids for college?

The Educator's Room, which I follow on Facebook, had an interesting article about how students are entering college unprepared, often needing remedial courses. Some of the article and comments reflected opinions that support the "schools are doing worse and worse" point of view, ignoring the fact that the demands on schools are "more and more". Here are my comments:

     Two-fifths not prepared? I think the structure of the society that awaits students should be considered. The contrast between the 1-2% of the wealthiest Americans and the rest of the population is not actually disconnected from how schools function. We can't all be in that 1-2%. We can't all be CEO's, Wall Street lawyers, investors/hedge-fund managers, doctors, lawyers, physicists...even simple, humble school teachers. We will always need students to follow paths and grow into jobs they are suited for and hopefully pursue. When will we NOT need construction workers, butchers, truck drivers, cashiers...? There are many essential jobs that could be filled through internships, apprenticeships, and alternative education/training rather than demanding that all students be "college/career ready" when they leave high school. Critics of American public education ignore the fact that public schools are being mandated to move ALL students to a more standardized end, despite the fact that students can't be standardized.   

     Along those lines, what is called "watering down the curriculum" might be the result of pushing public schools to serve ALL students, expect them to ALL meet standard requirements, but still knowing that any progress is success in some situations and with some students. Instead of mandating, policy should ALLOW public schools to serve ALL students, and use professional judgment and collaboration (not test-n-punish/demands for college readiness) to form curriculum and course. Public schools for all: Resources for the most capable and high-achieving will appear. Watch it happen.

Data about your children, shared without your permission?

New York State, along with Colorado, Illinois and Massachusetts, intends to provide confidential student information to a private corporation called the Shared Learning Collaborative, funded by the Gates Foundation, which in turn will make this data available to for-profit companies to develop and market their commercial learning products. 

This confidential data will include student names, addresses, test scores, grades, attendance, economic and special education status, IEPs, and disciplinary records. All this is being done without parents’ knowledge or consent, and represents a shocking violation of our children’s right to privacy.

That is how this petition signing request begins. Testing is one thing, but when confidential data begins to pass freely into the hands of for-profit testing companies (whose primary goal is increasing our reliance on their tests) that is another.

The link, then my edited version of their form letter. It allows you to delete, insert, share your own thoughts instead of theirs.

http://www.classsizematters.org/stop-slc-capture-kids-data/

To: NYS Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and the Board of Regents

cc: Gov. Andrew Cuomo; Commissioner John B. King, Jr.; Chancellor Dennis M. Walcott; Stacey Childress and Jeff Raikes, Gates Foundation

I am opposed to the disclosure of confidential NYC student information to a private corporation called the Shared Learning Collaborative by the NYS and NYC Education Departments. This highly sensitive information, which will include students’ names, addresses, test scores, grades, attendance, economic and special education status, IEPs, and disciplinary records, will be held in a “data store” and made available to vendors, to help companies develop and market their learning products.  This unprecedented sharing of children’s confidential information is occurring without the knowledge or consent of parents.

Full disclosure: I am a teacher, so I am intimately aware of the hurried and disingenuous way agreements and evaluative measures have been pushed upon public schools by policy-makers. Public school teachers have been forced to put their reputations and careers on the line FIRST, absent valid quality assessment practices. The real-world classroom experience and knowledge of students (of all types) actual educators bring to the table has been dismissed and disrespected.

I am also a father, and I'm telling you I am a good one, and my children come first. When a governor that avoids email to reduce his own accountability; a Commissioner who demanded/threatened to get eval agreements and tried to make state tests the foundation-despite not having good tests/practices in place; a former Chancellor that went to work for a data collector; a data collector involved in partisan/sensational news (who also speaks in favor of publishing paparazzi photos of naked royalty and has been linked to phone-hacking)...when these folks are involved in the education of my children in any way-the father in me is as concerned as the educator.

The "free marketization"  of any child is wrong. The willingness of the most suspicious to force public scrutiny upon others, avoiding accountability themselves is also wrong. I would not give permission to these people to have access to information about my child. I will keep track of that information myself, and I trust their teachers.


There are huge risks involved in this violation of our children’s privacy, including potential data leaks. Until the state holds hearings to explain the purpose of sharing this data and the safeguards that will be put in place, and provides parents with the right to consent, as currently occurs with our children’s medical records, we urge you to ensure that this unethical and possibly illegal sharing of confidential data does not occur.

NEA...Hello? What exactly do you do?

NEA,

I am a little disappointed in the unconditional union support of President Obama. I understand  that the most visible alternative is entirely disconnected and uninterested in the "middle out" approach that Mr. Obama preaches. I know that if Mr. Romney finds his way to the oval office, the "Bain-ification" of many public entities and resources is likely to begin. I know that a vote for an "outsider" is likely to be a net loss for Obama. But from the Obama quote on the cover of the Fall 2012 issue: "...no child should have her dreams deferred because of a crowded classroom or a crumbling school." one gets a stark contrast between what the President says, and what he has done. Continuing the misguided policies of RTTT and NCLB has fostered a public school environment like the one he denounces. Dangling funds out of reach and investing instead in reactive test and punish policies has empowered and enriched those far removed from the classrooms and lives of students, at the expense of the students and those most involved. When pressed, the current administration does little more than pay lip-service to public education and give themselves a little deserved pat on the back for the very policies that have helped usher in the current turmoil in public education.

Almost the same, to the NY Post fluff piece.

The best thing I can say is that your paper is just a notch above "Bat Boy" or "Elvis Spotted Working at a Gas Station!". Like other carefully orchestrated education reform efforts, the participants and strategies are no surprise, and what is presented as honest analysis is offered up by those with the most to hide. Having just read and responded to an opinion piece by Michael Gerson, I am now confronted with the Post editorial "Hollywood's Teachable Moment". I can respond to that piece in nearly the same way:

Throwing around Ms. Weingarten's name with her honest and accurate assessment of this movie does not adequately support your attack on the teaching profession, or less honest opinions of teacher unions, or those that serve despite the burdens ignored in the "reform" debate. Your "Teachable Moments" reveals itself for what it is when you suggest that the interests of unions and teachers are not aligned with parents and students. Sensationalist propaganda is an attempt to lend weight  to dishonest agendas and weak opinions. You even close the piece suggesting that liberal, union loving Hollywood is what stands in the way of a "best picture" award. Do you think that maybe it being crappy and predictable works in its favor? Did Bat Boy write that editorial?

I cannot speak for teacher unions as a whole, but I can speak as a parent, a teacher, and a union member. The fact that the wealthiest players, and the loudest and inexplicably most revered voices in the reform debate include folks who spent as little (or no) time as they possibly could in the classroom, and/or have a career spotted with questionable ethics goes unmentioned in ideological or bought and paid for opinion pieces.

And somehow, even though Won't Back Down (just like Waiting for Superman) is exactly that sort of misguided propaganda, paid for by people who stand to profit greatly from the damage they hope it will cause, that goes unsaid.

This movie is a distraction from what is truly needed. Public education needs to be wrestled away from the counter-intuitive testing/publishing and data mining industries growing fat off of the misguided education policy they have somehow managed to push upon us. The power to guide learners needs to be returned to the skilled educators who have dedicated their lives and their gifts to that endeavor, and the opinions of temp teachers ushered quickly into high-paying superstar status need more examination-less automatic respect. Funding needs to be returned to schools, not withheld pending acquiescence with time-consuming and counter-productive mandates. The large-scale "job creators and investors" who have abandoned the United States need to bring stable employment back to our communities to build local economies and create the supportive home environments that in turn support student success. In order to compare more favorably to education leaders in the world like Finland, we should adopt similar policies. There is much more we could do, and the research exists to support those efforts, but instead we continue to test, test, test...and expand reactive measures instead of those that are proactive. Why is THAT not examined?
I am a teacher, with more than ten years experience, three children of my own, making less than median income. I have no plans to illegally gain access to text messages, promote the publishing of nude royalty photos, of duct-taping kids mouths, leaving teaching for legislative councils, lobbying, speaking tours (making more for one show than I now make in a year) or movie-making. Like most, I give most of my time out of the classroom (summers included) to preparing for the classroom. I give my spare time, money, food and whatever pieces of my heart I can to kids when I see a need. I am eternally grateful for involved, caring parents. I'm not special or unlike most teachers I know. I cannot abide your disrespect of me, my colleagues or those protecting us, or your fervent support of those who would attack us with caricatures in a movie. Sensational is one thing. Shameless is entirely another.

Gerson and Me

Michael Gerson wrote this opinion piece regarding Won't Back Down, not only drinking the kool aid, but suggesting it wasn't nearly strong enough considering the deplorable state of schools. I might use some awful language at the poker table occasionally, but I won't here. Just know I'm %!$$3& off.

Here is a link to his piece:


Here is my response:


Mr. Gerson,

I don't think union officials find the movie "Won't Back Down" "offensive", and throwing around Ms. Weingarten's name with her honest and accurate assessment of this movie does not adequately support your attack on the teaching profession, your opinion of teacher unions, or those that serve despite the burdens ignored in the "reform" debate. Your "Still leaving our kids behind" reveals itself early for what it is when you attempt to compare the movie to Sinclair's "The Jungle". An attempt to lend weight to weak opinions.
I cannot speak for teacher unions as a whole, but I can speak as a teacher and a union member. The fact that the wealthiest players, and the loudest and inexplicably most revered voices in the reform debate include folks who spent as little (or no) time as they possibly could in the classroom, and/or have a career spotted with questionable ethics goes unmentioned in ideological or bought and paid for opinion pieces.
And somehow, even though Won't Back Down (just like Waiting for Superman) is exactly that sort of misguided propaganda, paid for by people who stand to profit greatly from the damage they hope it will cause, that goes unsaid.
You did get one thing correct, though your additional steps and mine likely don't match. There is a lack of urgency. More than a movie is needed. Public education needs to be wrestled away from the counter-intuitive testing/publishing and data mining industries growing fat off of the misguided education policy they have somehow managed to push upon us. The power to guide learners needs to be returned to the skilled educators who have dedicated their lives and their gifts to that endeavor, and the opinions of temp teachers ushered quickly into high-paying superstar status need more examination-less automatic respect. Funding needs to be returned to schools, not withheld pending acquiescence with time-consuming and counter-productive mandates. The large-scale "job creators and investors" who have abandoned the United States need to bring stable employment back to our communities to build local economies and create the supportive home environments that in turn support student success. In order to compare more favorable to education leaders in the world like Finland, we should adopt similar policies. There is much more we could do, and the research exists to support those efforts, but instead we continue to test, test, test...and expand reactive measures instead of those that are proactive. Why is THAT not examined?
I am a teacher, Mr. Gerson, with more than ten years in, three children of my own, making less than median income, and with no plans of leaving for legislative councils, lobbying, speaking tours (making more for one show than I now make in a year) or movie-making. Like most, I give most of my time out of the classroom (summers included) to preparing for the classroom. I give my spare time, money, food and whatever pieces of my heart I can to kids when I see a need. I am eternally grateful for involved, caring parents. I'm not special or unlike most teachers I know. I cannot abide your disrespect of me, my colleagues or those protecting us, or your fervent support of those who would attack us with caricatures in a movie.

To the Obama Campaign

My contact with the Obama campaign began with a form fill-in link through a twitter post, I believe. I took issue with RTTT probably, and the de-funding of public education. Here is the response.

Dear Dan,

Thank you for taking the time to contact President Obama and his reelection campaign. Your message has been read, reviewed, and recorded.  

As a grassroots organization built by the American people, messages like yours help shape the course of the campaign.  Although we may be unable to respond to your message individually, we do appreciate hearing from you.

If you would like to continue this discussion with the campaign in your community, you can locate the contact information for your local office by visiting www.barackobama.com/offices.

For more information on the upcoming election, and President Obama’s policies, please visit: www.barackobama.com. 

Thank you again for your input.

Sincerely,

Ann Marie Habershaw

Chief Operating Officer

Obama for America

Here is my return.




Thank you for your response. I will use the links you sent. 

I want you to know that I am torn right now. Despite my union's suggestion that Mr. Obama is the best choice, I will never be a "lesser of two evils" voter. 

Mr. Obama's support of legislation that serves to gut public schools and dangle funding in return for demeaning, costly and time consuming clerical tom-foolery instead of  inspired and responsive teaching...that is what could push me to an outsider with a platform that actually supports education that will support the middle class.