Test scores. No honor. Just blame.
I can tell you that every teacher I know is outraged at the past week’s events in New York. The publication of phony evaluation data based on phony test scores by the New York Times. The attack on individual teachers by Rupert Murdoch’s Post.
It is a witch hunt. And teachers are the new witches.
It was therefore very ironic on Monday night when our school board recognized honor schools in our district. Including mine.
I have often mentioned that I teach in a great school. We are small, with less than 400 students. We have terrific teachers. We have a large number of students with Special Needs and we work hard to make inclusion work. Great kids. Hard working parents who support what we do.
A new principal who doesn’t.
However, it’s not surprising that given all that, our students do well on the state’s ISAT test.
And so the board declared us an honor school.
At Monday’s school board meeting the principal was called up to receive a certificate recognizing the high scores.
But no teacher.
No teacher was called up.
No teacher received a certificate.
No teacher was invited to the school board meeting.
No teacher was told of the honor prior to the meeting.
No teacher.
No honor.
Just blame.
Are you serious?
You are a grade school art teacher. It must be rough using glue, crayons and tape all day. Get a grip- you act like your more important than anyone else.
Try making a real living in the real world where there are no second chances. I doubt you could make it in the for profit corporate world called America!
How many chances do bad teachers get?
You have no idea how important a role the arts can play in the life of a child. My nephew was very troubled as a teenager. He was acting out and failing until the day a public school music teacher put a saxophone in his hands and taught him how to play it. The music turned him around and helped him get his act together. He became an honor student and now attends a major university. I have no doubt Fred has done the same for countless kids who have come through his art classes.
Boo Hoo, Mr. Art teacher. Now start teaching the kids art instead of complaining for working less than 6 hours a day.
Really? I only have to work less than six hours? I wish you had told me that 30 years ago. All these years my contract has said that I had to be at work 7.5 hours, plus meetings, an hour longer every Wednesday, parent conferences, open house, staffings and prep. And stupid me for coming in every day an hour earlier than contract hours so that the kids work gets displayed and exhibited. I guess you weren’t watching over me all that closely or you would have known that, wouldn’t you?