tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17020107.post6391079219389112561..comments2023-07-10T06:14:33.273-04:00Comments on Teaching Montessori: Dumb down class, asks principal memoUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17020107.post-79738805407759332792007-12-14T10:12:00.000-05:002007-12-14T10:12:00.000-05:00Politicians make report cards, politicians passed ...Politicians make report cards, politicians passed the No Child Left Behind Act. <B>Do parents trust politicians over teachers?</B><BR/><BR/>If its politicians, then yes it will get worse. If it teachers, and teachers join together and take back the educational process, it will get better.<BR/><BR/>I think we have the parental support. I know most teachers are concerned. But there is no outcry yet.W Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14201586607127043249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17020107.post-19099303617381009062007-12-14T09:27:00.000-05:002007-12-14T09:27:00.000-05:00Honestly, what happened really doesn't surprise me...Honestly, what happened really doesn't surprise me. Additionally, in light of the new "report cards," which threaten the very existence of many schools, merit pay, and all of these other reinforcements meant to improve performance, it's only going to become more commonplace. <BR/><BR/>I don't think that anyone that has been in the teaching field for any period of time hasn't felt this type of pressure. <BR/><BR/>When I first started teaching, I was told by older teachers "don't fail too many kids, or else the AP's will start asking questions." Sure enough, the teachers that had higher than normal failure rates always seemed to draw red flags, as well as the ire of administration, even when they had the data to back up their grades. Teachers have also been told to pass students, with the motivation from an administrator of, "do you really <BR/>want this kid again next year?"<BR/> <BR/>I think this brings us back to the idea of these exams being given so much weight. Think about the cheating scandal last year in Uniondale, when it was found that kids' test were actually altered by teachers. <BR/><BR/>It boils down to survival. Teachers, et al., are people. People with kids, houses, mortgages, car payments and college loans. Tell any of us that our kids won't have roofs over their heads if our students don't make the cut. Watch what happens. <BR/><BR/>This is only the beginning. It's going to get worse.Mr Teslerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05111646706142380665noreply@blogger.com