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MR said PPS is data driven, so let's have some data- one year from now, can we have a comparison of value added scores of the 15% of teachers with the highest rank v. the rest of the teachers, broken down by NCLB subgroups?
Whether or not someone is a "great teacher" is largely irrelevant in the PPS.
What makes a great teacher great? One quality is the ability adjust a lesson, almost minute by minute, to fit the needs of the class.
In today's PPS, this is not only discouraged, it can get you fired. Everyone must follow the same script at the same time.
Most readers of PureReform know this already.
Quick story. I worked with a truly great English teacher. He did more than present the lesson, he tried to immerse his students in the lesson. When doing a Shakespeare lesson, he would dress as Shakespeare and humorously act out small parts of the story.
He was great. But what he did was not in the script. His supervisors put so much pressure on him that he quit. I don't know where he is now. Hopefully, a more appreciative district snatched him up.
City residents, contact your Board members early and often. Tell them how you feel.
In PPS, only the "great" teachers get dismissed or flee the district as quickly as possible. By definition, a "great" teacher cannot survive in PPS. All ratings are subjective since there is not a definition that recognizes "great" teaching. Those administrators who have spent a substantial amount of time in classrooms have a sense of the climate and quality of interaction between teachers and students. Human resource people, psychologists, gym teachers, counselors, etc. who have risen to evaluative positions need a formula and a checklist. They are not capable of determining the quality of instruction, learning, or relationships that characterize "great" teachers. Students know "great" teachers instinctively!
12:14-It is also worth noting that Linda Lane is Broad/Gates trained and was brought to PPS with and through MR. Her initial contract directly connected her with Broad Fdn. process, training and selection.
So, was introducing Linda Lane front and center at the Diane Ravitz' Reign of Error event the ultimate paradox or was it covering all of the bases in an attempt to “appear” credible?
9-16 @ 2:12 PM I have just one thing to say, you may not be impressed with the classification of leaders who are in Central Office positions but my past gym principal didn't need a checklist or any formula to know who the outstanding teachers were in our school. More importantly, she knew how to grow a teacher's practice. I'm proud to say that this classroom teacher is a product of her mentoring and so are the many others that came after me.
Don't be ridiculous. This has nothing to do with great coaches. You're talking about people who have put in decades and are suddenly deemed lacking thanks to a kabal full of women who were wash-outs in the classroom and wish to cut staff---read, experienced staff---and their salaries. This is what RISE is all about. Cut teacher salaries. And you want to make mention about coaches??? Pure insanity.
Nowhere in her missive does Esther Bush point the finger at parents. Not once. This is beyond cowardly and indicative of the leadership we see today. She wouldn't dare--not for one minute--tell the truth. She wouldn't dare talk about good education beginning in the home. No way, right Esther? You'd catch too much flak who enjoy playing the blame game and placing it squarely on teachers.
A self-serving "article" by an individual who consistently offers no solutions. Hey, she ought to run for governor. She'd fit right in.
Esther Bush...another kool-aid drinker apparently easier to just pass on kool-aid than care about kids ,black or white in this city. 10:55 has it right...it is a plan to lower costs by constantly rotating rookie teachers. Please tell me in what field YOU want to choose the rookie? Surgeon? PItcher? Or do we bring them along until they are excellent at their trade? This is yet another scam to pretend we are helping urban youth...while our quality staff trots off to the burbs wihere they are appreciated. Talk about selling out!
The rest of the country benefits as we hire carpet bagging out of state teachers, TEACH FOR AMERICA followers who only plan to stay in the "career" for two years. The last line in this article says it all, "He and other recruiters look to Pennsylvania schools, he said, because those education programs do prepare the people well to become teachers." Yes they do, but the certainly dont want their students to learn their craft in the "scripted burb"
At the Wednesday board meeting there was a discussion about Westinghouse moving from City League/WPIAL District 8 to WPIAL District 7. Mr. Sumpter very succintly presented some concerns. Most prominent among them was the issue of whether or not we have enough players to field a team that can go toe-to-toe with WPIAL teams in District 7. If a player is playing both offense and defense is he putting himself at risk for injury? Sorry, but somebody has to ask, do these coaches have delusions of grandeur? Is anyone tracking lost classroom time due to injury?
Combining CAPA with Westinghouse for sports was also discussed. Does that make sense? If schools are being combined, why not combine those that are closest to eachother (ie CAPA with U prep and Obama with Westinghouse)?
CAPA should have its own sports teams. No football of course. But they can do well in cross country, tennis, golf.
Perhaps a basketball and volleyball squad.
Problem with CAPA sports and the city league includes the times of games. The afternoon times cut deeply into the arts times. However, most WPIAL competitions occur in evenings.
Sports teams with kids from various schools are hard. It isn't fair for the school. But, no sports opportunities are way worse. The kids get ripped off.
Putting Westinghouse with Allderdice might make more sense vs Obama. But, that combo might not be permitted by state sports rules.
Each sport and each school with each student needs to be considered as teams are set. To ponder out of the box solutions is welcomed.
Do we even know if the CAPA kids care to field any sports team? Perhaps the rigors of their talent preclude participating in a sport. To be fair to a CAPA kid, would practices have to be held at 3:30 or 4:00 to allow for an entire school day and transportation to a partner school? Anyone know what the coaches' thinking might be when requesting moving to D-7?
16 comments:
MR said PPS is data driven, so let's have some data- one year from now, can we have a comparison of value added scores of the 15% of teachers with the highest rank v. the rest of the teachers, broken down by NCLB subgroups?
Whether or not someone is a "great teacher" is largely irrelevant in the PPS.
What makes a great teacher great? One quality is the ability adjust a lesson, almost minute by minute, to fit the needs of the class.
In today's PPS, this is not only discouraged, it can get you fired. Everyone must follow the same script at the same time.
Most readers of PureReform know this already.
Quick story. I worked with a truly great English teacher. He did more than present the lesson, he tried to immerse his students in the lesson. When doing a Shakespeare lesson, he would dress as Shakespeare and humorously act out small parts of the story.
He was great. But what he did was not in the script. His supervisors put so much pressure on him that he quit. I don't know where he is now. Hopefully, a more appreciative district snatched him up.
City residents, contact your Board members early and often. Tell them how you feel.
In PPS, only the "great" teachers get dismissed or flee the district as quickly as possible. By definition, a "great" teacher cannot survive in PPS. All ratings are subjective since there is not a definition that recognizes "great" teaching. Those administrators who have spent a substantial amount of time in classrooms have a sense of the climate and quality of interaction between teachers and students. Human resource people, psychologists, gym teachers, counselors, etc. who have risen to evaluative positions need a formula and a checklist. They are not capable of determining the quality of instruction, learning, or relationships that characterize "great" teachers. Students know "great" teachers instinctively!
12:14-It is also worth noting that Linda Lane is Broad/Gates trained and was brought to PPS with and through MR. Her initial contract directly connected her with Broad Fdn. process, training and selection.
So, was introducing Linda Lane front and center at the Diane Ravitz' Reign of Error event the ultimate paradox or was it covering all of the bases in an attempt to “appear” credible?
PR, PR, and more PR?????????????
9-16 @ 2:12 PM I have just one thing to say, you may not be impressed with the classification of leaders who are in Central Office positions but my past gym principal didn't need a checklist or any formula to know who the outstanding teachers were in our school. More importantly, she knew how to grow a teacher's practice. I'm proud to say that this classroom teacher is a product of her mentoring and so are the many others that came after me.
Give them great coaches...
Among great afterschool programs,
With great year round training opportunities,
In efforts with fellow classmates and teammates...
Don't be ridiculous. This has nothing to do with great coaches. You're talking about people who have put in decades and are suddenly deemed lacking thanks to a kabal full of women who were wash-outs in the classroom and wish to cut staff---read, experienced staff---and their salaries. This is what RISE is all about. Cut teacher salaries. And you want to make mention about coaches??? Pure insanity.
Nowhere in her missive does Esther Bush point the finger at parents. Not once. This is beyond cowardly and indicative of the leadership we see today. She wouldn't dare--not for one minute--tell the truth. She wouldn't dare talk about good education beginning in the home. No way, right Esther? You'd catch too much flak who enjoy playing the blame game and placing it squarely on teachers.
A self-serving "article" by an individual who consistently offers no solutions. Hey, she ought to run for governor. She'd fit right in.
I know it has nothing to do with great coaches, that is why I mentioned it.
Esther Bush...another kool-aid drinker apparently easier to just pass on kool-aid than care about kids ,black or white in this city. 10:55 has it right...it is a plan to lower costs by constantly rotating rookie teachers. Please tell me in what field YOU want to choose the rookie? Surgeon? PItcher? Or do we bring them along until they are excellent at their trade? This is yet another scam to pretend we are helping urban youth...while our quality staff trots off to the burbs wihere they are appreciated. Talk about selling out!
http://www.pghcitypaper.com/Blogh/archives/2013/09/18/the-diane-ravitch-interview-directors-cut
The above is a link to the Chris Potter interview With Dr. Ravitch.
http://triblive.com/news/education/4681205-74/education-teachers-pennsylvania#axzz2fZtaPU58
The rest of the country benefits as we hire carpet bagging out of state teachers, TEACH FOR AMERICA followers who only plan to stay in the "career" for two years. The last line in this article says it all, "He and other recruiters look to Pennsylvania schools, he said, because those education programs do prepare the people well to become teachers."
Yes they do, but the certainly dont want their students to learn their craft in the "scripted burb"
http://triblive.com/sports/hssports/soccer/4771189-74/canon-mcmillan-brashear#axzz2fxRrtNtG
and great coaches... bad PR for PPS athletics.
Re: Athletic Program
At the Wednesday board meeting there was a discussion about Westinghouse moving from City League/WPIAL District 8 to WPIAL District 7. Mr. Sumpter very succintly presented some concerns. Most prominent among them was the issue of whether or not we have enough players to field a team that can go toe-to-toe with WPIAL teams in District 7. If a player is playing both offense and defense is he putting himself at risk for injury? Sorry, but somebody has to ask, do these coaches have delusions of grandeur? Is anyone tracking lost classroom time due to injury?
Combining CAPA with Westinghouse for sports was also discussed. Does that make sense? If schools are being combined, why not combine those that are closest to eachother (ie CAPA with U prep and Obama with Westinghouse)?
CAPA should have its own sports teams. No football of course. But they can do well in cross country, tennis, golf.
Perhaps a basketball and volleyball squad.
Problem with CAPA sports and the city league includes the times of games. The afternoon times cut deeply into the arts times. However, most WPIAL competitions occur in evenings.
Sports teams with kids from various schools are hard. It isn't fair for the school. But, no sports opportunities are way worse. The kids get ripped off.
Putting Westinghouse with Allderdice might make more sense vs Obama. But, that combo might not be permitted by state sports rules.
Each sport and each school with each student needs to be considered as teams are set. To ponder out of the box solutions is welcomed.
Do we even know if the CAPA kids care to field any sports team? Perhaps the rigors of their talent preclude participating in a sport. To be fair to a CAPA kid, would practices have to be held at 3:30 or 4:00 to allow for an entire school day and transportation to a partner school? Anyone know what the coaches' thinking might be when requesting moving to D-7?
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