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LIRascal
drama. daily.
Member since 3/11 7287 total posts
Name:
Michelle
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Betsy DeVos picked for Trump's education secretary
Don't get off of your soapbox. I couldn't agree more, and it's the reason we sit down for an authentic thanksgiving meal where I bring in succotash, oat cakes and lobster. We have ice cream to learn about the mass production and commercialization of freon as a result of the Manhattan Project. I don't necessarily defy directives, per se, but food projects certainly aren't on the Regents exam. I love food, and I love my job.
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Posted 11/24/16 8:59 AM  |
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KarenK122
The Journey is the Destination
Member since 5/05 4430 total posts
Name:
Karen
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Re: Betsy DeVos picked for Trump's education secretary
Posted by bookworm
Posted by KarenK122
I am reserving my opinion until I see exactly what her plan is going to be. What mandates she wants in place and how the federal aid will be disseminated. I do not have any issue with charter schools or school of choice in theory but without certain mandates it will be disastrous for special education students. I also have no issue with revamping the unions because I do not believe in tenure. I would much rather they leave decisions to the state or local governments - and then work to revamp NY education laws.
I just want to say something about tenure (this goes out to Lululu as well) since its reputation has veered so far away from the intentions behind its inception, which were to give teachers the latitude and intellectual freedom to do what was best for students despite the political climate. It was in a time when people trusted teachers as the adults outside the home who knew their children best, better than any bureaucrat making rules or hiring and firing.
I know full well it has been abused by under-performers. (These people exist in every field, and it's not right to paint the lot with this one brush. The police brutality issue is suffering from this same disease.) Hard-working teachers like me and probably a lot of other women on this board hate that just as much as you do. It's a slap in the face when you're burning the midnight oil and taking time away from your family to give more of yourself to students while someone counts paper clips in an office on the same salary. We get it.
HOWEVER, I cannot tell you how many times I have disregarded administrative directives about curriculum in the midst of this testing and standardization craze that has dominated the decade+ that I have been in this field. I did it because I knew what was good for the kids in front of me, and that didn't include cutting literature or projects or sound writing instruction to subject them to several weeks worth of canned testing drills to ease the anxiety of administrators wanting to fluff the data for their own CYA and advancement. I could not have done that without the protection of tenure.
Most of us love your kids and are passionate about achieving real gains with them, and I have personally used my tenure as a force of good rather than a crutch to become complacent. Just so people on the outside understand what's really happening on the inside, but I'm getting off my  now.
I think that is terrific that you were able to stand up for your what you believed in and in no way am I saying I don't value what teachers do. I do. I think it's one of the hardest jobs out there and I have had some fabulous teachers who went above and beyond. I have also had and worked with teachers that should not be in the profession and have done more harm than good. I also have seen some of the best teachers I have encountered fired because they have not received tenure yet and there were layoffs. That is a shame. I am all for your work showing your worth and not contingent on time served. Anyway this isn't the place to debate tenure/unions but I just wanted to make clear that I value the teaching profession.
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| Posted 11/24/16 9:06 AM |
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Re: Betsy DeVos picked for Trump's education secretary
Posted by bookworm
Posted by KarenK122
I am reserving my opinion until I see exactly what her plan is going to be. What mandates she wants in place and how the federal aid will be disseminated. I do not have any issue with charter schools or school of choice in theory but without certain mandates it will be disastrous for special education students. I also have no issue with revamping the unions because I do not believe in tenure. I would much rather they leave decisions to the state or local governments - and then work to revamp NY education laws.
I just want to say something about tenure (this goes out to Lululu as well) since its reputation has veered so far away from the intentions behind its inception, which were to give teachers the latitude and intellectual freedom to do what was best for students despite the political climate. It was in a time when people trusted teachers as the adults outside the home who knew their children best, better than any bureaucrat making rules or hiring and firing.
I know full well it has been abused by under-performers. (These people exist in every field, and it's not right to paint the lot with this one brush. The police brutality issue is suffering from this same disease.) Hard-working teachers like me and probably a lot of other women on this board hate that just as much as you do. It's a slap in the face when you're burning the midnight oil and taking time away from your family to give more of yourself to students while someone counts paper clips in an office on the same salary. We get it.
HOWEVER, I cannot tell you how many times I have disregarded administrative directives about curriculum in the midst of this testing and standardization craze that has dominated the decade+ that I have been in this field. I did it because I knew what was good for the kids in front of me, and that didn't include cutting literature or projects or sound writing instruction to subject them to several weeks worth of canned testing drills to ease the anxiety of administrators wanting to fluff the data for their own CYA and advancement. I could not have done that without the protection of tenure.
Most of us love your kids and are passionate about achieving real gains with them, and I have personally used my tenure as a force of good rather than a crutch to become complacent. Just so people on the outside understand what's really happening on the inside, but I'm getting off my now.
Yes to this. This woman doesn't know a thing about education but will be making decisions? Come on.
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| Posted 11/24/16 2:53 PM |
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Re: Betsy DeVos picked for Trump's education secretary
I find this reminiscent of Cathie Black, who Bloomberg hired to be the NYC Schools Chancellor several years ago. She lasted less than six months if I remember correctly. But that job was a lot more hands-on. We shall see what she actually does.
I no longer live on LI and I am pleased with my public school system, but there are also minimal other options here as far as private and parochial schools go. Travel would be an additional cost, I assume. I don't know how we'd be impacted but I am nervous to find out.
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| Posted 11/24/16 4:13 PM |
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DaisyGirl
LIF Adult
Member since 2/08 1650 total posts
Name:
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Re: Betsy DeVos picked for Trump's education secretary
Posted by lululu
I will take all the heat about this but I am 10000% anti union so this is great to me. And as a parent I don't mind the common core. If they could only do away with tenure too that would be a home run! Unions and tenure are a thing of the past. Only in the teaching profession can you absolutely suck at your job and have no repercussions. My daughter is suffering right now from a teacher who won't change but can't get fired. It's infuriating.
This is an administration problem much more than a teacher problem. The idea that is out there that tenure protects bad teachers and there is nothing administration can do is wrong. Tenure makes it harder to get rid of teachers but it is not impossible. Far too often administrators don't want to deal with the headache and choose to do nothing. In my district (where I teach) administrators deal with ineffective teachers by putting them on improvement plans and making them make changes. I also know several teachers who were denied tenure. It makes me so angry to hear about teachers like your daughters. They give the rest of us, genuinely hardworking and good teachers, a bad rep and it is not fair to kids.
As for the original post, I am not thrilled with this choice either. Charter schools and vouchers are not the way to improve education in this country.
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| Posted 11/24/16 9:13 PM |
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Chai77
Brighter days ahead
Member since 4/07 7364 total posts
Name:
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Re: Betsy DeVos picked for Trump's education secretary
Let's see--- has no experience in public school. Never held political office. Pushes charter schools. Probably pro Common Core. Spent millions trying to buy a law in MI to reduce oversight of charter schools.
Father in law started AMWAY, husband was the president of AMWAY, and she is a BILLIONAIRE. Surprised? No. pay to play, baby. And our kids, teachers and communities will pay the price.
I hope the unions make a big stink over this.
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| Posted 11/25/16 8:32 AM |
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MissJones
I need a nap!
Member since 5/05 22132 total posts
Name:
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Betsy DeVos picked for Trump's education secretary
Yup. Awesome.
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| Posted 11/25/16 8:55 AM |
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LIRascal
drama. daily.
Member since 3/11 7287 total posts
Name:
Michelle
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Re: Betsy DeVos picked for Trump's education secretary
Write to your Senator, urging them to vote "NO" to DeVos' appointment if you are in support of improving public education.
Link to form letter
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| Posted 11/25/16 8:57 AM |
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Chai77
Brighter days ahead
Member since 4/07 7364 total posts
Name:
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Re: Betsy DeVos picked for Trump's education secretary
Posted by LIRascal
Write to your Senator, urging them to vote "NO" to DeVos' appointment if you are in support of improving public education.
Link to form letter
Done.
I hope everyone sends a letter or calls their representatives about this outrageous appointment.
Message edited 11/25/2016 11:00:50 AM.
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| Posted 11/25/16 10:07 AM |
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ElizaRags35
My 2 Girls
Member since 2/09 20494 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: Betsy DeVos picked for Trump's education secretary
Posted by LIRascal
Write to your Senator, urging them to vote "NO" to DeVos' appointment if you are in support of improving public education.
Link to form letter
Done.
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| Posted 11/25/16 10:53 AM |
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muffaboo
LIF Adult
Member since 12/10 3797 total posts
Name:
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Re: Betsy DeVos picked for Trump's education secretary
Dr. Hynes, Patchogue-Medford Superintendent
Message edited 11/25/2016 10:08:54 PM.
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| Posted 11/25/16 11:29 AM |
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LIRascal
drama. daily.
Member since 3/11 7287 total posts
Name:
Michelle
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Betsy DeVos picked for Trump's education secretary
 LOVE this Dr. Hynes guy. Preach!
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| Posted 11/25/16 1:16 PM |
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| Pages: 1 [2] |
