Until I see either one spending an unassisted week in a classroom, neither has credibility.
I defer to previous posters who provided Bennett's record in his home school district. How can Bennett lead Indiana's educators to successfully teach our children when his school system couldn't make AYP?
OK, Tully and/or Bennett.......(or White or Ballard)
You each need to get your substitute license, then appear in any school, at any grade level, for one day. Just one day. By yourself. Alone.
Heck, it could even be in Summer School. You'd just have to survive four and a half hours. By yourself. Alone.
We do it every day. By ourselves. Alone.
We show up because we see a need, and use all our talent to fulfill that need. We don't publicly shame or humiliate our students, as that creates animosity and rebellion.
It doesn't work with adults, either.
My IPS teachers in grades K - 12 weren't hamstrung by state mandates, test scores, or pacing guides.
Awesome post! However, I think one month would be better than a day. that would give them a little better look at what goes on in the schools each day. Wouldn't it be great if the people telling teachers what to do were actually in there doing these things themselves? They'd immediately see that their perceptions and ideas are not applicable in the real world.
Arlington and Northwest have to reconstitute their schools. In other words, 51% of the faculty for the 2010-2011 must be new to the building. Lets see who Larry Yarrell will blame when good teachers refuse to work at Northwest. He such a wonderful instructional leader.
The last time White roamed our halls, he commented how hot it was. He then gingerly dabbed his brow with his pocket hankie (which did, in fact, match his shoes) and exited the building.
Does anyone have the map to get back to the original post?
We're not in Kansas anymore.
(Although in Kansas City, Missouri, their public school system closed half of the schools and eliminated half of their office and teaching staff. Our school board is doing this, too, just a little bit at a time.)
Those comments that make fun of a speech impediment simply show your ignorance and weakness. Perhaps the comments the man made about "60 percent" weren't far from reality.
The blogmaster should eliminate those comments!
As for air conditioning, some genius on an upper floor of your building is probably opening the windows and screwing all in the building from having and A/C. It is a closed system meaning the A/C is over-compensating for the one open window or windows in a single classroom.
"As for air conditioning, some genius on an upper floor of your building is probably opening the windows and screwing all in the building from having and A/C. It is a closed system meaning the A/C is over-compensating for the one open window or windows in a single classroom."
Our building is the last on the list for rehabbing. Three areas have A/C: office, media center, kindergarten. Remainder of the building swelters.
When you are a egotistical, vindictive, arrogant asshole, you leave yourself open for ridicule. Normally I would not see the humor in making fun of a lisp but in this case of this nutjob poor excuse for an administrator, keep doing it.
well then ridicule him for those things that makes him an "egotistical, vindictive, arrogant asshole" not a speech impediment. That is the lowest of the low.
It seems that may on here perhaps may be a part of the "60%" that Dr. White discussed! Funny how some people have a problem with any employer. Smile more and be thankful. You might find your whole world will change.
The fact that you have bought into Asshole White's 60% fiction shows that you are either uninformed or an administrator trying to earn points with your abusive employer.
"It seems that many on here perhaps may be a part of the "60%" that Dr. White discussed! Funny how some people have a problem with any employer. Smile more and be thankful. You might find your whole world will change."
Or you truly ARE part of that 60%, and choose to display your inferiority to the world. We'll know you by your insipid grin.
Unlike those of us who are in the top 40% who know when to duck!
Tully, in supporting Tony Bennett's simplistic solution to low scores and low graduation rates shows his being stuck in the 19th century. Bennett didn't have the critical mind or creativity to get Indiana a chance at the "Race to the Top" money, so he creates a scape goat---bad teachers being protected by the Union. Tully jumps on the bandwagon and says the young, energetic teachers riffed in order to abide by the seniority rule; when Matt Tully needs a heart bypass surgery, does he want an intern or an experienced surgeon. A degree does not a teacher make; it takes experience. We have a PIP program in place to help struggling teachers, or as Tully & Bennett would clump them(bad teachers); this gives the unthinking public the idea that educational leaders are doing something.
Let's Have our new Topic be about Summer School is it worth having it for only 3 weeks............with student attendance being so low. Question: Should Summer School be mandatory?
Mandatory summer school...... No. While IPS spent thousands of dollars for the NatGeo Reading, Voyager Reading, and MathPacks, I've taken three trips back to my home school for supplies, since we were provided pencils and paper for our students. We can't simply use Silver Bullets and expect miracles, especially in twelve days.
If these products are so great, why aren't they in use during the regular school year?
Year-round schools have been proven to to eliminate the summer loss of learning. Let's do that, once all schools have appropriate climate control.
Summer school attendance is low because the kids have passed to the next grade without being told they had to attend summer school. Many of these kids shouldn't have been passed in the first place. But to retain a student at my school this year you had to fill out almost 10 pages of forms.
Summer school is an excuse to keep 12 month administrators on the payroll. Welfare for Eugene's friends........few materials, only 12 days, too many hours in one day, very poor attendance, expensive programs purchased that aren't here yet or distributed........a huge waste of taxpayers' money
Yes...you're correct! So why are you teaching? I decided to spend my time with my family. Catching up on family time, trips, fun places, etc. Family time is the most important. So, I do believe teaching summer school may be a waste. Not only should he not pay administrators, but teachers also. We're never pleased. Always talking about issues we know nothing about. I may not like their actions. But my silly peers don't make the teaching profession easy either.
So, stop payinig teachers also. Maybe some of us could get jobs doing other things. O yeah...no place will pay us as much as we're making teaching summer school. So, if you're not happy...shut up and do something else.
After all, you're educated, well informed, and smart enough to get a job making great money doing something different. It may very well give you the much needed exposure to come back in the fall better prepared with a better attitude to teach the students. Instead of always complaing about what the students don't know and how bad they are.
Last time I check, my principal wasn't in the classroom. My principal here or in other places didn't teach the students that came to me. Is it possible that many of our students are having to go to summer school because some of our peers never really engaged them or took the time to teach the child. If we spend as much time teaching them and understanding them and less time running our mouths about social issues inwhich we have no true academic knowledge then maybe they would succeed.
Have you ever thought that many of us may very well be part of the issue! We're so stuck on blaming students, parents, administrators, their community, that maybe we're simply wanting our own pockets filled.
You don't like the amount of supplies you have? Shut up and go buy some with the money you're making off the backs of the very students that most of us complain about.
If you don't like the conditions...leave! Some of us are really shamefule and are hurting the very students we claim to love!
Summer school is welfare. Welfare for teachers too who get paid to educate, but some of us leave the students in a more horrible condition.
WARNING!!!!! The above post is from an administrator who has joined Eugene's Bash Teachers Club. The point is that if we are going to have summer school then let's do it right and what will benefit the students.
"Last time I check, my principal wasn't in the classroom. My principal here or in other places didn't teach the students that came to me. Is it possible that many of our students are having to go to summer school because some of our peers never really engaged them or took the time to teach the child."
I truly believe you're correct. No educator would have submitted the above blather without editing or rereading it......even theinfamous 60% would have done a better job.
Sure wish that we could actually have real summer school. Offering electives and classes for kids to get ahead like the old days. Instead we are stuck with just doing things to try and bring kids up.
It would sure be nice to see kids get ahead and take extra AP classes because they have had summer school.
Just doing the basics without electives and other areas is a shame.
I hope our elected officials are proud of themselves.
Class sizes are REALLY small as the students are not enrolling in summer school. What a waste of money but it will be good for the handful who do attend. Some schools/programs are even paying students to attend.
How about the Indy Works relationship with summer school? Those enrolled in this program to learn job skills and how to work are spending three weeks working at $8 an hour working and three weeks going to school at $50 a day. The kids are paid $50 a day to be at school. Yes, you read that right. $50 a day.
The topic centers on Tony Bennett's job performance; where's the outrage that he couldn't get Indiana the money from the "Race to the top" incentive?? He had a 2nd chance to try, but he didn't even try! Where's the outrage!
What are your predictions for changes within IPS next August? Which schools will be closed/modified? Will the Cadre continue? What programs will survive, and which will fade away? How will our new Math series accommodate the students who choose not to read (fyi-K through 8 math will be predominately math problem solving and extended response). Will the newest, youngest principals be provided the latitude to be agents of change, or simply continue to be bombarded with 911 paperwork/busywork that serves no purpose other than creating data points for charts and graphs? Will the content areas' pacing guides be revised...again?
Will we get to teach to our strengths, or continue as Stepford educators?
Will Curriculum mapping continue to be a driving force? I have yet to see its benefit to our children.
As long as Eugene White is superintendent and Mary Busch is on the school board....there will be no positive changes...and we will continue to move backwards. I hope the new school board members will speak up. They will be outvoted but they could speak up enough that we can get rid of the negative board members like Busch and Gore.
I see IPS headed in the wrong direction next year with curriculum mapping required again. We will still be required, as a safeguard to prove to DOE that "we" are teaching the standards. The evidence is to show curriculum mapping to "quests". The standards will still be posted on my boards as required and the students still ask me why? I always tell them management requires that we know what standard we are teaching. I have yet to see its benefit to our students and the Benchmarks are the same value - nothing. The sad part is teachers are graded on the Benchmarks scores, not withstanding that each paceing guide is out of balance, except for math, they are as close as possible. The nice news is that my own personal "trust fund" is at the level that I could retire, except I have four more years for retirement from TERF. That little nest egg will allow me to retire to a small apartment in Spain or Italy or Ireland.
The best thing Dr. White could do at this point - to salvage some sort of decency for us - is to cancel our Back to School Convo with him. It is a waste of teacher prep time, it wastes gas, and it does nothing to boost morale.
Without our Back to School Convocation, how will we pick up our Flanner & Buchanan canvas bags?
Its cancellation will also deprive B-S 10% of our comments (ruby slippers, especially!).
The reading curriculum mapping I've seen has been downloading existing maps, changing one or two items, and replacing names. The reading coach seems to be the only person checking the maps, unless the principal notices that they are missing from the lesson plan box.
This is upsetting to all teachers: In bold move, Colorado alters teacher tenure rules. The Capitol in Denver, State Senator Michael Johnston one of the sponsor to the new change in the rules: Colorado is changing the rules for how teachers earn and keep the sweeping job protections known as tenure, linking student performance to job security despite outcry from teacher unions that have steadfastly defended the system for decades.
Many education reform advocates consider tenure to be one of the biggest obstacles to improving America's schools because it makes removing mediocre or even incompetent teachers difficult.
Colorado's legislature changed tenure rules despite opposition from the state's largest teacher's union, a longtime ally of majority Democrats. Gov. Bill Ritter, also a Democrat, signed the bill into law last month.
It requires teachers to be evaluated annually, with at least half of their rating based on whether their students progressed during the school year. Beginning teachers will have to show they've boosted student achievement for three straight years to earn tenure.
Teachers could lose tenure if their students don't show progress for two consecutive years. Under the old system, teachers simply had to work for three years to gain tenure, the typical wait around the country.
After the bill survived a filibuster attempt and passed a key House vote, Democratic Rep. Nancy Todd, a 25-year teacher who opposed the measure, broke into tears.
"I don't question your motives," an emotional Todd said to the bill's proponents. "But I do want you to hear my heart because my heart is speaking for over 40,000 teachers in the state of Colorado who have been given the message that it is all up to them."
"Many education reform advocates consider tenure to be one of the biggest obstacles to improving America's schools because it makes removing mediocre or even incompetent teachers difficult."
I agree with this point, since there are far too many variables that affect student achievement to pin academic progress on one educator. Think about those students who survived the mediocre and/or incompetent "teacher". How can one professional make up for a child's wasted year?
"OK, Tully and/or Bennett.......(or White or Ballard)
You each need to get your substitute license, then appear in any school, at any grade level, for one day. Just one day. By yourself. Alone."
Perhaps this could be recommended to those in Colorado's legislative body who want education to be driven by isolated test scores.
I am a special education teacher at Eastern High School in Greentown, Indiana. I am taking time out of my busy schedule to write to you today in response to your e-mail asking for input from educators across the state. It is my understanding my pay and my teaching license may very well depend on how much gain my students make on standardized tests and you, along with Governor Daniels wholeheartedly support this reform. I think it is only fair I have the opportunity to commend you and Governor Daniels for your gains as well.
Since we all agree that circumstances and factors beyond our control have little to no impact on our overall effectiveness, I think you too will be proud of the gains you have made. In fact, in many categories, you have helped Indiana lead the nation.
* Indiana's unemployment rate has increased from 5.3% in 2004 to 10.1% in 2009. * The amount of children in Indiana under the age of 18 living in poverty has grown from 15.7% in 2004 to 17.9% in 2008. * Since 2004, 16,330 students have been added to the free/reduced lunch program. * In 2004, Indiana schools only had 31,956 limited English speaking students, now we have 45,885. * From 2004 to 2006, Indiana gained 54,267 more individuals receiving food stamp assistance. * Since 2004, the percent of 12th graders NOT taking the SAT has grown by 4%. * Indiana has expanded their student enrollment in public school by 46,263 students since 2004. * In just one short year, 2007 to 2008, Indiana dramatically increased bankruptcy filings by 20.8%.
The gains you and Governor Daniels have made in the state of Indiana are nothing short of remarkable. You have set the standard on how one can be effective regardless of the circumstance. Initially I was skeptical of the impact of tying student performance on tests to teacher pay and retention but now I realize that not only am I an effective teacher, I am also a prime candidate for Superintendent of Public Instruction and Governor.
Sincerely, Crystal Bramel
Crystal Bramel Special Education Teacher Eastern High School (765) 628-3333 ext. 352
Yes, and I wish people would stop reprinting it. It makes us all sound like idiots. It's the logical equivalent of saying firemen should be punished because crime rates are high. It's not clever. It's not funny. It's only evidence that Ms. Bramel (and those who agree with her) lack critical thinking, logical reasoning, and rational debating skills.
I'm glad I'm not the only one who finds that letter grating. I'm not a big fan of Daniels or Bennett, but the letter is just nonsense. Politicians are elected, so obviously they are held accountable by voters. Asking for accountability measures for teachers isn't hypocritical of the public or of politicians. I think academic gains are a reasonable way to measure teacher effectiveness, but if people have better methods, they need to focus their arguments on those methods. Trying to convince the public that it's unfair for teachers to be held in any way accountable for teaching students (like this letter insinuates) is absurd. If we want students and voters to think of us like professionals, we need to first view ourselves as professionals. What professionals aren't recognized for excelling at their profession and reprimanded when they consistently underperform? Every time we separate ourselves from other professionals, we, well, separate ourselves from other professionals. Is that what we want?
I am not impressed.
ReplyDeleteWho? Matt Tully or Tony Bennett?
ReplyDeleteUntil I see either one spending an unassisted week in a classroom, neither has credibility.
I defer to previous posters who provided Bennett's record in his home school district. How can Bennett lead Indiana's educators to successfully teach our children when his school system couldn't make AYP?
Why doesn't Bennett talk about the failing school system where he was superintendent until elected State Superintendent???
ReplyDeleteTully has dropped in my opinion to about as low as Bennett. The Indianapolis mayor is also dropping fast.
ReplyDeleteIt's no longer his problem. Oh, to have selective memory!
ReplyDeleteBut let's not forget the bonus Dr. White "earned" when HE worked so hard to improve our test scores!
OK, Tully and/or Bennett.......(or White or Ballard)
ReplyDeleteYou each need to get your substitute license, then appear in any school, at any grade level, for one day. Just one day. By yourself. Alone.
Heck, it could even be in Summer School. You'd just have to survive four and a half hours. By yourself. Alone.
We do it every day. By ourselves. Alone.
We show up because we see a need, and use all our talent to fulfill that need. We don't publicly shame or humiliate our students, as that creates animosity and rebellion.
It doesn't work with adults, either.
My IPS teachers in grades K - 12 weren't hamstrung by state mandates, test scores, or pacing guides.
Please let us teach.
Awesome post! However, I think one month would be better than a day. that would give them a little better look at what goes on in the schools each day. Wouldn't it be great if the people telling teachers what to do were actually in there doing these things themselves? They'd immediately see that their perceptions and ideas are not applicable in the real world.
ReplyDeleteOne day. By himself. Alone.
ReplyDeleteThat would be like jumping into a frigid lake. After a while, the jumper would become accustomed to the water temperature.
So, perhaps a month, but each day, a different subject in a different grade level at a different building in a different neighborhood.
Thirty different plunges. Alone.
Please let us teach.
How about getting our School Board and Superintendent in the classrooms first?
ReplyDeleteBy that, I don't mean Micheal Brown roaming the hallways of Northwest.
Arlington and Northwest have to reconstitute their schools. In other words, 51% of the faculty for the 2010-2011 must be new to the building. Lets see who Larry Yarrell will blame when good teachers refuse to work at Northwest. He such a wonderful instructional leader.
ReplyDeleteWhen I read the article I was very upset with the mind set of Tully and Bennett. Bennett, Ballard, and Daniels has to be voted out of office.
ReplyDeleteMichael Brown only lurks in the halls of Northwest to intimidate Yarrell in protecting Brown's relatives who misbehave while in school.
ReplyDeleteThe last time White roamed our halls, he commented how hot it was. He then gingerly dabbed his brow with his pocket hankie (which did, in fact, match his shoes) and exited the building.
ReplyDeleteWhen are our students getting air conditioning?
Was he wearing the infamous ruby red slippers???
ReplyDeleteNo. Those are just his "thpeech" shoes. Thothe thlipperth thtay in his clothet unleth he is publicly thpeaking.
ReplyDeleteThorry to dithappoint you.
Oh, no, you didn't.
ReplyDeleteLet's not go there.
oh, let's do
ReplyDeleteOK. I'll thtart.
ReplyDeleteThee the thudentth? Thee the thudentth try to thuctheed?
Thee the pathing guide? Follow the pathing guide tho your thudentth can thudy and path the benchmarkth.
Be thertain to include the thate thandardth in all of your lethonth.
Thee the teacherth with their fruthtrationth? They need a good retht.
I'm tho happy it'th thummer I could thpit.
Now it'th your turn.
Does anyone have the map to get back to the original post?
ReplyDeleteWe're not in Kansas anymore.
(Although in Kansas City, Missouri, their public school system closed half of the schools and eliminated half of their office and teaching staff. Our school board is doing this, too, just a little bit at a time.)
Oh, lord. I needed a good laugh!
ReplyDeleteI am so enjoying the lisping contest! Way to go bloggers!!!
ReplyDeleteThat would be "lithping contetht" and "bloggerth".
ReplyDeleteMutht do lethon planth for thummer thchool before thcool thartth after theven. Hope it'th thtill thunny on our firtht thethion.
Firtht, though, I mutht review my Thunday Thcool lethon for Thunday'th thervice at church.
Those comments that make fun of a speech impediment simply show your ignorance and weakness. Perhaps the comments the man made about "60 percent" weren't far from reality.
ReplyDeleteThe blogmaster should eliminate those comments!
As for air conditioning, some genius on an upper floor of your building is probably opening the windows and screwing all in the building from having and A/C. It is a closed system meaning the A/C is over-compensating for the one open window or windows in a single classroom.
"As for air conditioning, some genius on an upper floor of your building is probably opening the windows and screwing all in the building from having and A/C. It is a closed system meaning the A/C is over-compensating for the one open window or windows in a single classroom."
ReplyDeleteOur building is the last on the list for rehabbing. Three areas have A/C: office, media center, kindergarten. Remainder of the building swelters.
When you are a egotistical, vindictive, arrogant asshole, you leave yourself open for ridicule. Normally I would not see the humor in making fun of a lisp but in this case of this nutjob poor excuse for an administrator, keep doing it.
ReplyDeleteI am sorry, but I was laughing so hard, sorry but that is Dr. White.
ReplyDeletewell then ridicule him for those things that makes him an "egotistical, vindictive, arrogant asshole" not a speech impediment. That is the lowest of the low.
ReplyDeleteIt seems that may on here perhaps may be a part of the "60%" that Dr. White discussed! Funny how some people have a problem with any employer. Smile more and be thankful. You might find your whole world will change.
ReplyDeletemany, that is, not may.
ReplyDeleteToday's Indianapolis Star has several excellent letters to editor regarding the Bennett/Tully piece.
ReplyDeleteThat's just an FYI in case you tire of assisting in the White bashing.
The fact that you have bought into Asshole White's 60% fiction shows that you are either uninformed or an administrator trying to earn points with your abusive employer.
ReplyDelete"It seems that many on here perhaps may be a part of the "60%" that Dr. White discussed! Funny how some people have a problem with any employer. Smile more and be thankful. You might find your whole world will change."
ReplyDeleteOr you truly ARE part of that 60%, and choose to display your inferiority to the world. We'll know you by your insipid grin.
Unlike those of us who are in the top 40% who know when to duck!
I'm so sorry.
ReplyDeleteTully, in supporting Tony Bennett's simplistic solution to low scores and low graduation rates shows his being stuck in the 19th century. Bennett didn't have the critical mind or creativity to get Indiana a chance at the "Race to the Top" money, so he creates a scape goat---bad teachers being protected by the Union. Tully jumps on the bandwagon and says the young, energetic teachers riffed in order to abide by the seniority rule; when Matt Tully needs a heart bypass surgery, does he want an intern or an experienced surgeon. A degree does not a teacher make; it takes experience. We have a PIP program in place to help struggling teachers, or as Tully & Bennett would clump them(bad teachers); this gives the unthinking public the idea that educational leaders are doing something.
ReplyDeleteI would like a topic to discuss obsessive compulsive people who keep posting the same message over and over.
ReplyDeletePerhaps it's a stutter. If so, don't poke fun.
ReplyDeleteSome folks can't get into the spirit of the discussion.
Oh, no, you didn't.
ReplyDeleteLet's Have our new Topic be about Summer School is it worth having it for only 3 weeks............with student attendance being so low. Question: Should Summer School be mandatory?
ReplyDeleteMandatory summer school...... No. While IPS spent thousands of dollars for the NatGeo Reading, Voyager Reading, and MathPacks, I've taken three trips back to my home school for supplies, since we were provided pencils and paper for our students. We can't simply use Silver Bullets and expect miracles, especially in twelve days.
ReplyDeleteIf these products are so great, why aren't they in use during the regular school year?
Year-round schools have been proven to to eliminate the summer loss of learning. Let's do that, once all schools have appropriate climate control.
Lucky you. We didn't get paper and didn't even have enough pencils for all the classrooms. I don't even have a stapler.
ReplyDeleteSummer school attendance is low because the kids have passed to the next grade without being told they had to attend summer school. Many of these kids shouldn't have been passed in the first place. But to retain a student at my school this year you had to fill out almost 10 pages of forms.
ReplyDeleteSummer school is an excuse to keep 12 month administrators on the payroll. Welfare for Eugene's friends........few materials, only 12 days, too many hours in one day, very poor attendance, expensive programs purchased that aren't here yet or distributed........a huge waste of taxpayers' money
ReplyDeleteYes...you're correct! So why are you teaching? I decided to spend my time with my family. Catching up on family time, trips, fun places, etc. Family time is the most important. So, I do believe teaching summer school may be a waste. Not only should he not pay administrators, but teachers also. We're never pleased. Always talking about issues we know nothing about. I may not like their actions. But my silly peers don't make the teaching profession easy either.
ReplyDeleteSo, stop payinig teachers also. Maybe some of us could get jobs doing other things. O yeah...no place will pay us as much as we're making teaching summer school. So, if you're not happy...shut up and do something else.
After all, you're educated, well informed, and smart enough to get a job making great money doing something different. It may very well give you the much needed exposure to come back in the fall better prepared with a better attitude to teach the students. Instead of always complaing about what the students don't know and how bad they are.
Last time I check, my principal wasn't in the classroom. My principal here or in other places didn't teach the students that came to me. Is it possible that many of our students are having to go to summer school because some of our peers never really engaged them or took the time to teach the child. If we spend as much time teaching them and understanding them and less time running our mouths about social issues inwhich we have no true academic knowledge then maybe they would succeed.
Have you ever thought that many of us may very well be part of the issue! We're so stuck on blaming students, parents, administrators, their community, that maybe we're simply wanting our own pockets filled.
You don't like the amount of supplies you have? Shut up and go buy some with the money you're making off the backs of the very students that most of us complain about.
If you don't like the conditions...leave! Some of us are really shamefule and are hurting the very students we claim to love!
Summer school is welfare. Welfare for teachers too who get paid to educate, but some of us leave the students in a more horrible condition.
WARNING!!!!! The above post is from an administrator who has joined Eugene's Bash Teachers Club. The point is that if we are going to have summer school then let's do it right and what will benefit the students.
ReplyDelete"Last time I check, my principal wasn't in the classroom. My principal here or in other places didn't teach the students that came to me. Is it possible that many of our students are having to go to summer school because some of our peers never really engaged them or took the time to teach the child."
ReplyDeleteI truly believe you're correct. No educator would have submitted the above blather without editing or rereading it......even theinfamous 60% would have done a better job.
Go Nate!
ReplyDeleteGreat letter in today's Star!
Thanks for representing me!
What is the story about summer school this year? What are the classroom numbers like? Just wondering.
ReplyDeleteSure wish that we could actually have real summer school. Offering electives and classes for kids to get ahead like the old days. Instead we are stuck with just doing things to try and bring kids up.
ReplyDeleteIt would sure be nice to see kids get ahead and take extra AP classes because they have had summer school.
Just doing the basics without electives and other areas is a shame.
I hope our elected officials are proud of themselves.
PIMP white is a man BITCH.
ReplyDeleteClass sizes are REALLY small as the students are not enrolling in summer school. What a waste of money but it will be good for the handful who do attend. Some schools/programs are even paying students to attend.
ReplyDeleteIs the Blog Master on Summer Vacation..........? We need a new topic immediately!
ReplyDeleteStart you own topic!! Just go to the top and follow directions.
ReplyDeleteHow about the Indy Works relationship with summer school? Those enrolled in this program to learn job skills and how to work are spending three weeks working at $8 an hour working and three weeks going to school at $50 a day. The kids are paid $50 a day to be at school. Yes, you read that right. $50 a day.
ReplyDeleteWhere is this money coming from to pay these students?
ReplyDeleteTony Bennett has a hot wife. What in the world does she see in him?
ReplyDeleteThe topic centers on Tony Bennett's job performance; where's the outrage that he couldn't get Indiana the money from the "Race to the top" incentive?? He had a 2nd chance to try, but he didn't even try! Where's the outrage!
ReplyDeleteTony Bennett wants to destroy public education so he can turn our schools over to his Charter School and private corporate friends.
ReplyDeleteHis wife is hot. That is the best comment ever posted on this blog.
ReplyDeleteNew topics.
ReplyDeleteWhat are your predictions for changes within IPS next August? Which schools will be closed/modified? Will the Cadre continue? What programs will survive, and which will fade away? How will our new Math series accommodate the students who choose not to read (fyi-K through 8 math will be predominately math problem solving and extended response). Will the newest, youngest principals be provided the latitude to be agents of change, or simply continue to be bombarded with 911 paperwork/busywork that serves no purpose other than creating data points for charts and graphs? Will the content areas' pacing guides be revised...again?
Will we get to teach to our strengths, or continue as Stepford educators?
Will Curriculum mapping continue to be a driving force? I have yet to see its benefit to our children.
You omitted one....
ReplyDeleteWill White wear his ruby slippers with his ivory suit during our "Come to Jesus" meeting at Tech?
As long as Eugene White is superintendent and Mary Busch is on the school board....there will be no positive changes...and we will continue to move backwards. I hope the new school board members will speak up. They will be outvoted but they could speak up enough that we can get rid of the negative board members like Busch and Gore.
ReplyDeleteI see IPS headed in the wrong direction next year with curriculum mapping required again. We will still be required, as a safeguard to prove to DOE that "we" are teaching the standards. The evidence is to show curriculum mapping to "quests". The standards will still be posted on my boards as required and the students still ask me why? I always tell them management requires that we know what standard we are teaching. I have yet to see its benefit to our students and the Benchmarks are the same value - nothing. The sad part is teachers are graded on the Benchmarks scores, not withstanding that each paceing guide is out of balance, except for math, they are as close as possible. The nice news is that my own personal "trust fund" is at the level that I could retire, except I have four more years for retirement from TERF. That little nest egg will allow me to retire to a small apartment in Spain or Italy or Ireland.
ReplyDeleteThe best thing Dr. White could do at this point - to salvage some sort of decency for us - is to cancel our Back to School Convo with him.
ReplyDeleteIt is a waste of teacher prep time, it wastes gas, and it does nothing to boost morale.
Without our Back to School Convocation, how will we pick up our Flanner & Buchanan canvas bags?
ReplyDeleteIts cancellation will also deprive B-S 10% of our comments (ruby slippers, especially!).
The reading curriculum mapping I've seen has been downloading existing maps, changing one or two items, and replacing names. The reading coach seems to be the only person checking the maps, unless the principal notices that they are missing from the lesson plan box.
Yes, the cadre will continue next year. It is a two year program. It has already been confirmed for the next year.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to see what White wears to the Back to School convocation this year.
ReplyDeleteThis is upsetting to all teachers:
ReplyDeleteIn bold move, Colorado alters teacher tenure rules. The Capitol in Denver, State Senator Michael Johnston one of the sponsor to the new change in the rules: Colorado is changing the rules for how teachers earn and keep the sweeping job protections known as tenure, linking student performance to job security despite outcry from teacher unions that have steadfastly defended the system for decades.
Many education reform advocates consider tenure to be one of the biggest obstacles to improving America's schools because it makes removing mediocre or even incompetent teachers difficult.
Colorado's legislature changed tenure rules despite opposition from the state's largest teacher's union, a longtime ally of majority Democrats. Gov. Bill Ritter, also a Democrat, signed the bill into law last month.
It requires teachers to be evaluated annually, with at least half of their rating based on whether their students progressed during the school year. Beginning teachers will have to show they've boosted student achievement for three straight years to earn tenure.
Teachers could lose tenure if their students don't show progress for two consecutive years. Under the old system, teachers simply had to work for three years to gain tenure, the typical wait around the country.
After the bill survived a filibuster attempt and passed a key House vote, Democratic Rep. Nancy Todd, a 25-year teacher who opposed the measure, broke into tears.
"I don't question your motives," an emotional Todd said to the bill's proponents. "But I do want you to hear my heart because my heart is speaking for over 40,000 teachers in the state of Colorado who have been given the message that it is all up to them."
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"Many education reform advocates consider tenure to be one of the biggest obstacles to improving America's schools because it makes removing mediocre or even incompetent teachers difficult."
ReplyDeleteI agree with this point, since there are far too many variables that affect student achievement to pin academic progress on one educator. Think about those students who survived the mediocre and/or incompetent "teacher". How can one professional make up for a child's wasted year?
"OK, Tully and/or Bennett.......(or White or Ballard)
You each need to get your substitute license, then appear in any school, at any grade level, for one day. Just one day. By yourself. Alone."
Perhaps this could be recommended to those in Colorado's legislative body who want education to be driven by isolated test scores.
Indiana abolished tenure several years ago.......
ReplyDeleteHas anyone seen this before?
ReplyDeleteDear Superintendent Tony Bennett,
I am a special education teacher at Eastern High School in Greentown, Indiana. I am taking time out of my busy schedule to write to you today in response to your e-mail asking for input from educators across the state. It is my understanding my pay and my teaching license may very well depend on how much gain my students make on standardized tests and you, along with Governor Daniels wholeheartedly support this reform. I think it is only fair I have the opportunity to commend you and Governor Daniels for your gains as well.
Since we all agree that circumstances and factors beyond our control have little to no impact on our overall effectiveness, I think you too will be proud of the gains you have made. In fact, in many categories, you have helped Indiana lead the nation.
* Indiana's unemployment rate has increased from 5.3% in 2004 to 10.1% in 2009.
* The amount of children in Indiana under the age of 18 living in poverty has grown from 15.7% in 2004 to 17.9% in 2008.
* Since 2004, 16,330 students have been added to the free/reduced lunch program.
* In 2004, Indiana schools only had 31,956 limited English speaking students, now we have 45,885.
* From 2004 to 2006, Indiana gained 54,267 more individuals receiving food stamp assistance.
* Since 2004, the percent of 12th graders NOT taking the SAT has grown by 4%.
* Indiana has expanded their student enrollment in public school by 46,263 students since 2004.
* In just one short year, 2007 to 2008, Indiana dramatically increased bankruptcy filings by 20.8%.
The gains you and Governor Daniels have made in the state of Indiana are nothing short of remarkable. You have set the standard on how one can be effective regardless of the circumstance. Initially I was skeptical of the impact of tying student performance on tests to teacher pay and retention but now I realize that not only am I an effective teacher, I am also a prime candidate for Superintendent of Public Instruction and Governor.
Sincerely,
Crystal Bramel
Crystal Bramel
Special Education Teacher
Eastern High School
(765) 628-3333 ext. 352
Yes, and I wish people would stop reprinting it. It makes us all sound like idiots. It's the logical equivalent of saying firemen should be punished because crime rates are high. It's not clever. It's not funny. It's only evidence that Ms. Bramel (and those who agree with her) lack critical thinking, logical reasoning, and rational debating skills.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I'm not the only one who finds that letter grating. I'm not a big fan of Daniels or Bennett, but the letter is just nonsense. Politicians are elected, so obviously they are held accountable by voters. Asking for accountability measures for teachers isn't hypocritical of the public or of politicians. I think academic gains are a reasonable way to measure teacher effectiveness, but if people have better methods, they need to focus their arguments on those methods. Trying to convince the public that it's unfair for teachers to be held in any way accountable for teaching students (like this letter insinuates) is absurd. If we want students and voters to think of us like professionals, we need to first view ourselves as professionals. What professionals aren't recognized for excelling at their profession and reprimanded when they consistently underperform? Every time we separate ourselves from other professionals, we, well, separate ourselves from other professionals. Is that what we want?
ReplyDeleteI would LOVE to see Dr White or Dr Bennett to teach in our classrooms
ReplyDeleteEspecially the Phoenix Academy.
ReplyDelete