I've been in public education a long time. Enough to watch the pendulum swing many times. This time, however, the pendulum has come loose and we are in uncharted territory.
Public education is being set up for failure and it is INTENTIONAL. There is money to be made by for profit charter schools, textbook companies, and testing companies... most of which are part of the Pearson Corporation.
Without a fight.....public schools will be a thing of the past. All of this is being done behind the backs of the average parent. This will cause the demise of education as we know it and put big bucks in the pockets of a few. Our children are not money makers. They are learners that deserve the BEST!
- a teacher in Metro Nashville School District
Public education is being set up for failure and it is INTENTIONAL. There is money to be made by for profit charter schools, textbook companies, and testing companies... most of which are part of the Pearson Corporation.
Without a fight.....public schools will be a thing of the past. All of this is being done behind the backs of the average parent. This will cause the demise of education as we know it and put big bucks in the pockets of a few. Our children are not money makers. They are learners that deserve the BEST!
- a teacher in Metro Nashville School District
That teacher isn't the only to have an "aha" lightbulb moment and realize what is really going on. She sees clearly that the Emperor has no clothes on. Every day, parents and teachers across the state are realizing that these reforms are not helping our children, but they ARE making some people very, very rich with our tax dollars.
There is a widening disconnect between public school parents and the people who are at the top making big decisions. Indeed, the pendulum has swung too far. In fact, in this digital age, clocks no longer even have pendulums. We are in frighteningly fast (and incredibly profitable for some) territory. Money is being spent on things that aren't helping. Teachers and support staff are being cut from our schools to pay for mandates from the top. Data is being manipulated to show progress that doesn't exist (have you seen the TCAP scores yet?). Teachers are bullied into silence and compliance. Parents are being excluded from the process. This is all so wrong and it must stop.
There is a widening disconnect between public school parents and the people who are at the top making big decisions. Indeed, the pendulum has swung too far. In fact, in this digital age, clocks no longer even have pendulums. We are in frighteningly fast (and incredibly profitable for some) territory. Money is being spent on things that aren't helping. Teachers and support staff are being cut from our schools to pay for mandates from the top. Data is being manipulated to show progress that doesn't exist (have you seen the TCAP scores yet?). Teachers are bullied into silence and compliance. Parents are being excluded from the process. This is all so wrong and it must stop.
from a smart Nashville Dad's blog on 5/23/14:
"I’ve always believed these test scores were finessed to tell the
political story that was desired at the time."
“We’re doing great. We need to continue with the same policies.”
or
“We are doing terrible. Its time for change”.
"I’ve always believed these test scores were finessed to tell the
political story that was desired at the time."
“We’re doing great. We need to continue with the same policies.”
or
“We are doing terrible. Its time for change”.
It was an unspoken truth that “cut scores” changed annually. Problem was, test were so lacking of transparency that you could never cite evidence to 100% prove that they were manipulated and the message was so controlled that it was hard to dispute."
"The integrity of the (TCAP) test and its results have been placed on such a pedestal that it has now become the focus to a large portion of the population for several months a year. The ramifications of test scores have grown exponentially. Commissioner Huffman was willing to stake teachers careers on test results. Parents hire tutors and make decisions on extra curricular activities based on the test. Remember, Little Leagues don’t play games during test week. Teachers and administrators lay awake at night fretting about how to wring more points out of their children. After all, if they lose their jobs due to test scores, the mortgage gets hard to pay. They try to use that to justify attention diverted from their own families. Yes, Mr Huffman, teachers have families, but that’s another story for another day. Today’s story is how you took all this focus and made it for naught."
"The integrity of the (TCAP) test and its results have been placed on such a pedestal that it has now become the focus to a large portion of the population for several months a year. The ramifications of test scores have grown exponentially. Commissioner Huffman was willing to stake teachers careers on test results. Parents hire tutors and make decisions on extra curricular activities based on the test. Remember, Little Leagues don’t play games during test week. Teachers and administrators lay awake at night fretting about how to wring more points out of their children. After all, if they lose their jobs due to test scores, the mortgage gets hard to pay. They try to use that to justify attention diverted from their own families. Yes, Mr Huffman, teachers have families, but that’s another story for another day. Today’s story is how you took all this focus and made it for naught."
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