tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-445182336292537663.post6955014045773368953..comments2024-02-20T03:57:11.723-05:00Comments on Teaching Underground: Diane Ravitch at NCSS 2011Steven Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01877542687619173741noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-445182336292537663.post-62057343130269770382012-01-30T19:22:07.789-05:002012-01-30T19:22:07.789-05:00Norm, wish on...
I can't help but think that R...Norm, wish on...<br />I can't help but think that Ravitch's message is accessible to most educators and/or policy makers who wish to hear it. Even if they'd sat in I'm not sure how much difference it would make. Policy makers seem to be pretty narrowly focused on a "corporate reform minded" agenda.<br /><br />As for the demise of SS education, you might find our recent post "Victory or Defeat" interesting. It's about the Virginia plan to eliminate social studies testing in third grade in order to better prepare for math and reading.Steven Turnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01877542687619173741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-445182336292537663.post-35713015780278725302012-01-30T15:47:15.917-05:002012-01-30T15:47:15.917-05:00Wish Massachusetts DESE had sat in on Ravitch'...Wish Massachusetts DESE had sat in on Ravitch's address. We are seeing the marginalization, the demise of SS education statewide & nationwide, and all anyone cares about are test scores in math and ELA. Shameful. Her address was on target, and thank you for putting your take out there.Norm Shacochis MCSS President-electnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-445182336292537663.post-21612320716890695732011-12-16T13:48:24.814-05:002011-12-16T13:48:24.814-05:00Sorry should have proofread...change their to ther...Sorry should have proofread...change their to there! I know you all will catch that!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-445182336292537663.post-69075183386694374802011-12-16T13:47:03.043-05:002011-12-16T13:47:03.043-05:00I have more questions that I wrote down than you. ...I have more questions that I wrote down than you. Will schools improve if states eliminate job protections? <br />She responded that it will make the profession less secure and docile. It is an effort to destroy the profession and she asked the question, who will want to teach? <br /><br />How did we become so obsessed with testing and evaluation? She went on to talk about how there used to be two agendas, a Dem and a Rep now their is only one agenda and she asked who lost the dem agenda (pd)? She mentioned Finland and made some key points: they have no standardized test, they use teacher made tests, every teacher has a master's degree, they ID students in early grades, higher education is free, less than 4% of children live in poverty, it is a capitalist country and they say they borrowed most of their education system from the U.S. <br /><br />Last question - Why have we reduced education to test scores? She said a heavy reliance on this distorts their value and makes them less reliable. So what next?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-445182336292537663.post-84250676234086626322011-12-08T11:41:36.674-05:002011-12-08T11:41:36.674-05:00Will competition improve schools?
Hasn't yet....Will competition improve schools? <br />Hasn't yet. Guess we'll have to give it 10 more years. <br />Answer will still be no.<br />Should children compete for care and love?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-445182336292537663.post-54410925793496439412011-12-07T15:57:11.729-05:002011-12-07T15:57:11.729-05:00Should teachers and principals have professional t...Should teachers and principals have professional training?<br />Dr. Ravitch stated "Of course they should...that's a stupid question." <br /><br />Then she briefly went further on into the issues that arise from alternative licensure and the weeks of preparation that Teach For America members receive. Acknowledging they do valuable work, but pointing out that for too many it amounts to a "temp" job. Not what we need. <br /><br />All I know is everyone in our division talks about adding more "professional development" time into our calendar and what I am often forced to endure does little to increase my ability or skills. It merely undermines my confidence and annoys me. Not all is like that, but a lot is. Great post. <br /><br />Should she seek Arne Duncan's job?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com