Read the full article on: http://colorlines.com/archives/2
Never, never did I expect to be facing this kind of attack on teachers from this President. I do not support Race to the Top. My lifework has been as a testing specialist, mainly with special needs students. I started in 1975, so I feel I am a "credible witness" to the damage inherent in "standardized" testing.
There is a place for reflection, assessment, and evaluation, but it's not this punitive, controlled and utterly political agenda that started with No Child Left Behind. I can tell you we are leaving a generation of children behind. No question.
We need to humanize our schools, not turn them into narrow-minded and competitive entities. Our children's learning depends on all society. Support your teachers, especially the good ones. Keep the special programs -- art, music, sports, drama -- especially in public schools! Those people who put their children into private schools will have all those opportunities -- increasing the gap between the rich and the poor and the rest of us in the middle.
Good teaching, good parenting, good governing depends on collaboration. We need to share good ideas and practices, not hold back and compete against other schools, other colleagues.
The corporate world does not create good teachers or good education. Their goals are not "for the good of the public".
Bottom line: Who controls education, controls the culture. Ever wonder how much money these corporate testing companies make? A lot.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
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2 comments:
You are absolutely right. This administration's approach has been downright disappointing and wrongheaded. Why do teachers always get the blame?
It's easy to blame teachers. Because everyone has gone to public school, they feel entitled to comment, like "experts".
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