not someone who deserves to have a posting like this put up about him. Really, if you are upset with things he did - I get it. Then post those things and lets discuss how to overcome them. Our voices do count and there are avenues to take in an effort to right a wrong.
What's even more absurd than the childish comments here is that they are very likely the same poster who accused the rest of us of picking on Lisa Render.
If anyone wants something more grown-up to discuss, there are a couple of letters to the editor about merit pay. Thoughts? Or if your tired of that issue, here's one I don't think we've discussed. Education Week has an article reporting that civil rights groups are claiming that the Race to the Top competition doesn't give enough attention to English-language learners. What do you think?
The whole idea of a race in academic achievement is wrong. Race to the Top is another educational gimmick that forces all focus on test data and relies too heavily on students' mental abilities.
Some students, like some adults, are just not as intelligent as others. That's OK; that's a given, except when you place them in an academic race. Golf gives handicaps. What not the Race to the Top?
Diane Ravitch is now speaking out against NCLB and Race to the Top and their reliance on test scores. It's always interesting to hear a person admit openly they were wrong about an educational idea. She is doing just that!
I disagree with Diane Ravitch. I agree with Malcolm Gladwell, Jane Elliot, Robert Rosenthal, Lenore Jacobson, and countless others who have shown through science that intelligence isn't nearly as much of a factor as we once thought and that hours of practice, teacher expectations, and teacher competency are all much MORE of a factor than we once thought. I have issues with some of the details of merit pay and race to the top. But I am a huge proponent of education reform. And the first step is to fire all teachers who don't think its possible to educate all of the children in their classroom. I don't mean fire everyone who is unsuccessful. We learn from our failures. But we have to acknowledge it as a failing and figure out something new to try next time.
I've read Raditch, Gadwell, Elliot and Rosenthal, and don't find any contradiction in the student expectation component of what they say. Raditch simply says this competition is counter-productive to the cause of developing quality schools. When competition is introduced suddenly I am not willing to share my new and effective strategy with you since we are in competition. Raditch also speaks against high stakes testing being the single benchmark for quality education. Good test scores should be the side effect of a quality education not the goal of a quality education. All schools should be able to offer to students a quality education aimed at well rounded students, ready to live in the world, not kids ready to take another test.
And as we have seen in our own schools this emphasis on test scores causes us to look at students like numbers and data instead of individuals. We look at the kids who are close to passing tests and really put all our emphasis on trying to get them to pass. If you are far away from passing, or have passed...tough luck...you will get 25% of the teachers attention, while the close to passing group gets 75%.
Yes, those are some of the problems with the details I have as well. But Ravitch is against reform and any objective form of accountability. That's more dangerous than Race to the Top or merit pay. Those programs may be flawed, but they're leaving behind fewer students than were being left behind before. Replacing these programs with more effective programs I'm open to. Going back to the 70s would be national suicide.
I dont believe that the Race to the Top or merit pay is leaving fewer students behind. It may actually be leaving more behind. What has been created is a system that manipulates numbers and lies on reports in order to receive money.
The above debate is why I support school choice. Even the experts don't agree on the answers. It makes sense to let parents and teachers choose schools that "match." I don't want to send my kids to a school where they teach that competition and choice are bad. And I wouldn't want to teach at such a school either. Likewise, community schools and similar projects should be free to explore a more holistic approach to education without having to follow competitions and high-stakes testing that go against their philosophy. As long as enrollment is voluntary, there's room for everyone.
I remain curious about the recruitment process for teachers and low standards that our universities set for those now entering education as a career.
In Finland, I learned prospective teachers are competitively selected from the pool of college graduates—only 15 percent of those who apply are admitted—and receive a three-year graduate-level teacher preparation program, entirely free of charge and with a living stipend. Unlike the United States, where teachers either go into debt to prepare for a profession that will pay them poorly or enter with little or no training, Finland made the decision to invest in a uniformly well-prepared teaching force by recruiting top candidates and paying them to go to school. Slots in teacher training programs are highly coveted and shortages are virtually unheard of.
Since around 1970 the quality of US teachers has dropped as have our SAT scores. We now have teachers who cannot speak using proper grammar, cannot spell, cannot write a simple sentence without error, and who are not equipped with enough content knowledge to teach our children. It appears that any high school graduate who wishes can now enroll and be accepted into a university's teacher training program. In top-ranking nations, 100% of the teachers come from the top 1/3 of their college graduating classes. Here in the US currently only 23% of our new teachers come from the top 1/3 of their classes, and even worse, only 14% of our new urban school teachers come from the top 1/3 of their university graduating classes. This is sad.
I was in the top 25% of my class and I enjoy my job teaching in IPS. Eugene White is the 4th Indtendent I've worked under, I was here before and I'll be here after, him.
I think he has little to do with people working for IPS. You can either cut or not. I've heard many a person go on and on about how they felt "called" to work with the poor children in IPS. Usually those are the ones who quit on the first or second day of school. Some of them actually last out the whole year and then quit. I give them more respect than those who pontificate about how they are going to save the "poor and down trodden" and then quit after a week.
Not everyone can teach in IPS. Those of us who do are a dedicated and talented bunch of teachers who work harder than any teachers in the state.
Eugene White is .......far too forgiving of his Broad Ripple H.S.Principal Linda Davis who, from the "where there's smoke there's fire" camp, has created a hostile working environment toward staff with her lack of support, and was so inebriated at the BRHS homecoming game that she could not even crown the queen. Eugene! Pay attention! How soon do you want this on the evening news???
Geesh, I might see an adult getting a bit tipsy at their college homecoming but being inebriated at a high school homecoming where you happen to be the principal? Did many people notice?
Do you not understand this is part of Dr. White's strategy, many of his underlings are so flawed they would never be hired in any other district, so they are absolutely loyal to him. Two years ago at a Friday night faculty get together at a local bar an administrator got so drunk he/she tried to put their own coat on upside down, after downing 7 doubles in less than 2 hours, they had to be driven home by several faculty members. Since this occurred in a public place it got back to down town. The advice was not to stop drinking and seek help, but to find a more private place to drink.
It's so sad that so many people (at different locations) can tell you all about Linda's inebriated antics. Even as you read this blog, comments have been made about her drinking. And yet she supervises staff and students. Kids aren't dumb.
Probably you should add these people because they still wouldn't be where they are in IPS if they weren't White's cronies:
Jackie Greenwood Phyllis Barnes Prudence Bridgwaters Cassandra Shipp Any children belonging to Greenwood, Barnes, or Bridgwaters
I can imagine any number of fine IPS teachers who'd be snapped up in a second for an opening at a township school or any school in Hamilton County or Zionsville, but can you imagine any of the above people mentioned being snapped up by any other school at any other location?
Not only can I not imagine any of these people being hired by another district, if they were hired they wouldn't last five minutes. The exception being Corey Greenwood who seems to be an effective manager of assets, if he was in charge of discipline he'd be a wink and nod discipline guy. He's doing a good job at his current assignment.
Everyone please look at the rejects we have at central office. They CAN NOT get another JOB.
1. Bridgewater fired From IPS & St louis Public Schools 2. Willie Giles Fired from St Louis Public School for sexual misconduct 3. Jane Kendick fired from Anderson Public Schools 4. L A Johnson has been in this country for 25 years and still cant speak english (B.K.on her record and sleeping with Dr. White)
Giles, Johnson and Kenderick will never work anywhere else, but IPS. I feel so sorry for our children.
Did you ever stop to think that some people may use this as their outlet to be "vicious"? The can get things off of their chest, and then move on. Clearly, you have not come into the crosshairs of one of the above listed individuals. Those people are whom you should be calling vicious.
As I talk to people across IPS I keep hearing the same thing over and over, there are people who have worked in IPS for years, love IPS, their kids, their colleagues, but don't believe what has been going on for the last five years is right. And now they have been targeted, multiple observations, write ups, performance improvement plans. It is clear, if you are working in the best interest of students, have been vocal, and are older you are a target. I can count 15 people I know who fit this profile, too many to be a coincidence.
Dr. White and his minions are responsible for this.
If you are part of this group you need to contact IEA, and your building AR.
Li Yen Johnson cannot even manage her own personal finances. The shame of working in a district with a poverty rate like IPS and not being able to make ends meet while earning well over $100,000. what kind of idiot runs up $70,000 in credit card debt> What kind of idiot of properties coast to coast that are foreclosed. What kind of idiot pays the kind of money that she did for cell phones, cable tv, hair and nail care and shoes!! She is a horrible role model.
..But how can you explain the continued employment of Jane Kendrick? She has been nothing but negative since she arrived at IPS after being fired from her last job.
Phyliss Barnes shouldn't be included in the ugly list above. She was so great to work with at John Marshall and proved she truly has a heart for kids! Zionsville or any other district would be smart to pick her up, but she is too dedicated to IPS.
An ancient relic.
ReplyDeleteEugene is The Intendent. He sure isn't super!
ReplyDelete...is an egotistical arrogant power hungry idiot.
ReplyDeletenot as great as he thinks he is but not as bad as some people make him out to be either.
ReplyDeleteOne of those people who is on the road to hell, remember the road to hell is lined with good intentions.
ReplyDeletenot someone who deserves to have a posting like this put up about him. Really, if you are upset with things he did - I get it. Then post those things and lets discuss how to overcome them. Our voices do count and there are avenues to take in an effort to right a wrong.
ReplyDeleteIs either dumb as hell or has done a great job at convincing himself he is smart. Someone tell the emperor he is not wearing any clothes.
ReplyDeleteis the Ice Cream Man!
ReplyDeletea thuper thcool thuperintendedt. Theriouthly.
ReplyDeleteWhat's even more absurd than the childish comments here is that they are very likely the same poster who accused the rest of us of picking on Lisa Render.
ReplyDeleteIf anyone wants something more grown-up to discuss, there are a couple of letters to the editor about merit pay. Thoughts? Or if your tired of that issue, here's one I don't think we've discussed. Education Week has an article reporting that civil rights groups are claiming that the Race to the Top competition doesn't give enough attention to English-language learners. What do you think?
ReplyDeleteHe's a liar
ReplyDeleteThe whole idea of a race in academic achievement is wrong. Race to the Top is another educational gimmick that forces all focus on test data and relies too heavily on students' mental abilities.
ReplyDeleteSome students, like some adults, are just not as intelligent as others. That's OK; that's a given, except when you place them in an academic race. Golf gives handicaps. What not the Race to the Top?
Diane Ravitch is now speaking out against NCLB and Race to the Top and their reliance on test scores. It's always interesting to hear a person admit openly they were wrong about an educational idea. She is doing just that!
I disagree with Diane Ravitch. I agree with Malcolm Gladwell, Jane Elliot, Robert Rosenthal, Lenore Jacobson, and countless others who have shown through science that intelligence isn't nearly as much of a factor as we once thought and that hours of practice, teacher expectations, and teacher competency are all much MORE of a factor than we once thought. I have issues with some of the details of merit pay and race to the top. But I am a huge proponent of education reform. And the first step is to fire all teachers who don't think its possible to educate all of the children in their classroom. I don't mean fire everyone who is unsuccessful. We learn from our failures. But we have to acknowledge it as a failing and figure out something new to try next time.
ReplyDeleteWow, that's pretty powerful stuff. I never really looked at it quite like that. It's certainly something to chew on.
ReplyDeleteI've read Raditch, Gadwell, Elliot and Rosenthal, and don't find any contradiction in the student expectation component of what they say. Raditch simply says this competition is counter-productive to the cause of developing quality schools. When competition is introduced suddenly I am not willing to share my new and effective strategy with you since we are in competition. Raditch also speaks against high stakes testing being the single benchmark for quality education. Good test scores should be the side effect of a quality education not the goal of a quality education. All schools should be able to offer to students a quality education aimed at well rounded students, ready to live in the world, not kids ready to take another test.
ReplyDeleteAnd as we have seen in our own schools this emphasis on test scores causes us to look at students like numbers and data instead of individuals. We look at the kids who are close to passing tests and really put all our emphasis on trying to get them to pass. If you are far away from passing, or have passed...tough luck...you will get 25% of the teachers attention, while the close to passing group gets 75%.
Yes, those are some of the problems with the details I have as well. But Ravitch is against reform and any objective form of accountability. That's more dangerous than Race to the Top or merit pay. Those programs may be flawed, but they're leaving behind fewer students than were being left behind before. Replacing these programs with more effective programs I'm open to. Going back to the 70s would be national suicide.
ReplyDeleteI dont believe that the Race to the Top or merit pay is leaving fewer students behind. It may actually be leaving more behind. What has been created is a system that manipulates numbers and lies on reports in order to receive money.
ReplyDeleteWe have some important lessons to learn. Check out this interview from yesterday's Education Nation.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.educationnation.com/index.cfm?objectid=0344C9CE-CB31-11DF-8853000C296BA163&aka=0
The above debate is why I support school choice. Even the experts don't agree on the answers. It makes sense to let parents and teachers choose schools that "match." I don't want to send my kids to a school where they teach that competition and choice are bad. And I wouldn't want to teach at such a school either. Likewise, community schools and similar projects should be free to explore a more holistic approach to education without having to follow competitions and high-stakes testing that go against their philosophy. As long as enrollment is voluntary, there's room for everyone.
ReplyDeleteI remain curious about the recruitment process for teachers and low standards that our universities set for those now entering education as a career.
ReplyDeleteIn Finland, I learned prospective teachers are competitively selected from the pool of college graduates—only 15 percent of those who apply are admitted—and receive a three-year graduate-level teacher preparation program, entirely free of charge and with a living stipend. Unlike the United States, where teachers either go into debt to prepare for a profession that will pay them poorly or enter with little or no training, Finland made the decision to invest in a uniformly well-prepared teaching force by recruiting top candidates and paying them to go to school. Slots in teacher training programs are highly coveted and shortages are virtually unheard of.
Since around 1970 the quality of US teachers has dropped as have our SAT scores. We now have teachers who cannot speak using proper grammar, cannot spell, cannot write a simple sentence without error, and who are not equipped with enough content knowledge to teach our children. It appears that any high school graduate who wishes can now enroll and be accepted into a university's teacher training program. In top-ranking nations, 100% of the teachers come from the top 1/3 of their college graduating classes. Here in the US currently only 23% of our new teachers come from the top 1/3 of their classes, and even worse, only 14% of our new urban school teachers come from the top 1/3 of their university graduating classes. This is sad.
If you were in the top of your class and worked hard to achieve a degree in education, would you want to work for Eugene White??
ReplyDeleteI was in the top 25% of my class and I enjoy my job teaching in IPS. Eugene White is the 4th Indtendent I've worked under, I was here before and I'll be here after, him.
ReplyDeleteI think he has little to do with people working for IPS. You can either cut or not. I've heard many a person go on and on about how they felt "called" to work with the poor children in IPS. Usually those are the ones who quit on the first or second day of school. Some of them actually last out the whole year and then quit. I give them more respect than those who pontificate about how they are going to save the "poor and down trodden" and then quit after a week.
Not everyone can teach in IPS. Those of us who do are a dedicated and talented bunch of teachers who work harder than any teachers in the state.
let's be really childish and discuss more on tubby and the princess affair....
ReplyDeleteEugene White is .......far too forgiving of his Broad Ripple H.S.Principal Linda Davis who, from the "where there's smoke there's fire" camp, has created a hostile working environment toward staff with her lack of support, and was so inebriated at the BRHS homecoming game that she could not even crown the queen. Eugene! Pay attention! How soon do you want this on the evening news???
ReplyDeleteGeesh, I might see an adult getting a bit tipsy at their college homecoming but being inebriated at a high school homecoming where you happen to be the principal? Did many people notice?
ReplyDeleteDo you not understand this is part of Dr. White's strategy, many of his underlings are so flawed they would never be hired in any other district, so they are absolutely loyal to him. Two years ago at a Friday night faculty get together at a local bar an administrator got so drunk he/she tried to put their own coat on upside down, after downing 7 doubles in less than 2 hours, they had to be driven home by several faculty members. Since this occurred in a public place it got back to down town. The advice was not to stop drinking and seek help, but to find a more private place to drink.
ReplyDeleteRule of thumb:
ReplyDeleteIf you're gonna drink, don't drink with co-workers.
...or eat Hot Pockets non stop.......
ReplyDeleteIt's so sad that so many people (at different locations) can tell you all about Linda's inebriated antics. Even as you read this blog, comments have been made about her drinking.
ReplyDeleteAnd yet she supervises staff and students.
Kids aren't dumb.
She is in her office. I don't know that she supervises anyone or does anything actually.
ReplyDeleteDr. White's cronies: Dexter Suggs, Victor Bush, Linda Davis, Larry Yarrell and others I am sure I am missing.
ReplyDeleteProbably you should add these people because they still wouldn't be where they are in IPS if they weren't White's cronies:
ReplyDeleteJackie Greenwood
Phyllis Barnes
Prudence Bridgwaters
Cassandra Shipp
Any children belonging to Greenwood, Barnes, or Bridgwaters
I can imagine any number of fine IPS teachers who'd be snapped up in a second for an opening at a township school or any school in Hamilton County or Zionsville, but can you imagine any of the above people mentioned being snapped up by any other school at any other location?
Nope
ReplyDeleteNot only can I not imagine any of these people being hired by another district, if they were hired they wouldn't last five minutes. The exception being Corey Greenwood who seems to be an effective manager of assets, if he was in charge of discipline he'd be a wink and nod discipline guy. He's doing a good job at his current assignment.
ReplyDeleteSarah Bogard would have been put out to pasture years ago except she is protected by White.
ReplyDeleteEveryone please look at the rejects we have at central office. They CAN NOT get another JOB.
ReplyDelete1. Bridgewater fired From IPS & St louis Public Schools
2. Willie Giles Fired from St Louis Public School for sexual misconduct
3. Jane Kendick fired from Anderson Public Schools
4. L A Johnson has been in this country for 25 years and still cant speak english (B.K.on her record and sleeping with Dr. White)
Giles, Johnson and Kenderick will never work anywhere else, but IPS. I feel so sorry for our children.
Some people on here are just vicious. I can't even imagine if you are a teacher or a parent with that much anger in you being around children.
ReplyDeleteDid you ever stop to think that some people may use this as their outlet to be "vicious"? The can get things off of their chest, and then move on.
ReplyDeleteClearly, you have not come into the crosshairs of one of the above listed individuals. Those people are whom you should be calling vicious.
"The" in the above post (second sentence) should be "they".
ReplyDeleteAs I talk to people across IPS I keep hearing the same thing over and over, there are people who have worked in IPS for years, love IPS, their kids, their colleagues, but don't believe what has been going on for the last five years is right. And now they have been targeted, multiple observations, write ups, performance improvement plans. It is clear, if you are working in the best interest of students, have been vocal, and are older you are a target. I can count 15 people I know who fit this profile, too many to be a coincidence.
ReplyDeleteDr. White and his minions are responsible for this.
If you are part of this group you need to contact IEA, and your building AR.
Teachers aren't the only one fed up with IPS.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.indystar.com/article/20101001/NEWS04/101001001/Charter-school-enrollment-doubles-Ind-group-says?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|IndyStar.com
Li Yen Johnson cannot even manage her own personal finances. The shame of working in a district with a poverty rate like IPS and not being able to make ends meet while earning well over $100,000. what kind of idiot runs up $70,000 in credit card debt> What kind of idiot of properties coast to coast that are foreclosed. What kind of idiot pays the kind of money that she did for cell phones, cable tv, hair and nail care and shoes!! She is a horrible role model.
ReplyDeleteSleeping with Vickie Nowlin. Why else would she still have a job unless she was giving him some...
ReplyDelete..But how can you explain the continued employment of Jane Kendrick? She has been nothing but negative since she arrived at IPS after being fired from her last job.
ReplyDeletePhyliss Barnes shouldn't be included in the ugly list above. She was so great to work with at John Marshall and proved she truly has a heart for kids! Zionsville or any other district would be smart to pick her up, but she is too dedicated to IPS.
ReplyDeleteout for himself and... finding it quite easy in Indianapolis Public Schools.
ReplyDeleteblaming all of IPS's problems on teachers. In the Washington Post. Have you seen it?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/07/AR2010100705078.html