NYTimes Upfront: Cyberbullying Article

From the Teen Voices Section


http://teacher.scholastic.com/scholasticnews/indepth/upfront/voices/index.asp?article=v090610

Change Agency: What if…

What if…: "

What if…

We evaluated, paid, and fired doctors based on the % of patients who are obese, diabetic, drug-addicted, etc.?
We evaluated, paid, and fired dentists based on the % of patients who have cavities or gum disease?

We evaluated, paid, and fired police officers based on the crime rate?

We evaluated, paid, and fired firefighters based on the number and frequency of fires in the community?

We evaluated, paid, and fired soldiers based on success or failure of battles?

——————————

None of the work of the professionals listed above involves the production of “widgets” — all involve a human element that is out of the individual professional’s control.

Teaching is the same as the professions listed above. Students are not widgets. We do not work on a production line. We are not producing products — we are working with people (students and their parents) who must share in the responsibility for success of the work.

My point — our current focus on evaluating, paying, and firing teachers based on test scores — tests taken by students on one day of the year — is not an effective or fair method. Consider the “what if…” scenarios above — these are all very similar to this current approach to teacher evaluation.

"

Alan Sitomer: Merit Pay Does Squat; Theory Implodes... No duh!

Merit Pay Does Squat; Theory Implodes... No duh!: "

A study being billed as the most rigorous of its kind has just determined that merit pay does practically squat when it comes to elevating student achievement.

And to that I say, 'No Duh.'

I say, 'No Duh,' because I am familiar with the work of Daniel Pink. His book Drive speaks to an aspect of the merit pay issue.

I say, 'No Duh,' because student achievement is being assessed by bubble tests, a means of gaining insight into the work of real teachers and real students that is so flawed I'd find less holes in a brick of Swiss cheese.

Stenhouse Publishers: Preview three new books online

Preview three new books online: "

We just posted the full text of three new titles online!

Kathy Paterson, author of Teaching in Troubled Times, examines the impact of fear in modern classrooms. She addresses children’s heavy exposure to violence and stereotypes and shows teachers how to explore the major issues in the lives of their students.

The Writing Triangle: Planning, Revision, and Assessment, helps students move from generic writing process guidelines to specific and practical strategies related to important writing forms, including description, narration, poetry, exposition, persuasion, and exploratory. Author Graham Foster discusses each form and gives suggestions for exploring key features, planning strategies, revision criteria, and assessment techniques.

Katherine Luongo-Orlando is the author of The Cornerstores to Early Literacy: Childhood Experiences That Promote Learning in Reading, Writing, and Oral Language. She shows teachers how to create active learning experiences that are essential to building early literacy. This step-by-step guide to the early years also offers practical pathways that will guide young learners on their first steps to lifelong literacy.

"

Larry Ferlazzo: The Best Posts & Articles About The Teacher-Bashing “Waiting For Superman” Movie

Keep yourself educated here :)

The Best Posts & Articles About The Teacher-Bashing “Waiting For Superman” Movie & Associated Events | Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day...

60 MInutes Piece on Park 51

Bill Maher on Firing Teachers

New Rule: Let's Not Fire the Teachers When Students Don't Learn -- Let's Fire the Parents

Change Agency: Dear Ms. Winfrey�|�Change Agency

Dear Ms. Winfrey�|�Change Agency

A strong and measured response to Oprah's and Superman's limited point of view...

Larry Ferlazzo - “Don’t bother me with facts, son. I’ve already made up my mind”

“Don’t bother me with facts, son. I’ve already made up my mind”: "

“Don’t bother me with facts, son. I’ve already made up my mind,” said Foghorn Leghorn, the animated chicken who appeared in numerous Warner Brothers cartoons.

I wonder if he’s now working for the United States Department of Education.

Days after the most intensive study on teacher incentive ever done was released and showed it had no effect on student achievement, today the United States Department of Education announced grants of $442 million to….support teacher incentive pay.

Here are some links to read more about the Vanderbilt University study:

Study: Teacher Bonuses Don’t Improve Test Scores, NPR

Nashville Incentive Pay Experiment, Thoughts On Education Policy
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Larry Ferlazzo: Attacks On Teachers & Non-Charter Schools Continue

Attacks On Teachers & Non-Charter Schools Continue: "

I am dumbstruck by this week’s relentless series of attacks on teachers and non-public schools.
We’ve had Oprah’s terrible show, the release of “Waiting For Superman” and now today’s NBC “Education Nation” travesty. Enough has already been written about them, so I don’t feel a need to write more. Here are links to good posts about what’s going on:

Grading ‘Waiting for Superman’ by Dana Goldstein, The Nation
Education Nation & Ideological Blindness by Gary Stager
Booker Outclasses Winfrey on Education by David B. Cohen
Oprah Winfrey & Schools
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