I am a veteran teacher who does agree with most of what is being said on the blog, but I believe the superintendent along with her associates have a bigger plan and it doesn't matter what teachers say, especially since she has their backing.
I would like to address a couple of points:
Teachers ARE NOT to blame! I have taught on all levels in my career and it has always come down to NUMBERS! We're in this mess partly do to administrators pushing students on to the next grade when they have not acquired the necessary skills. I've witnessed this at the middle school where teachers are threatened with losing their job if they do not comply.
We wonder why some students at NBHS are not succeeding.These administrators (including superintendents) can play dumb, but they are part of the problem. Take a good hard look at the people at the top. We need to go back to the basics and forget about the numbers. Until that is done we will never fix these problems.
Special needs students are not being serviced according to their Individualized Educational Plans, which are legal documents. Violations have been brought to the attention of the principal of the building, as well as the Assistant Superintendent and it has yet to be addressed, since the infractions continue. How would you like this happening to your child?
Lastly, there can be no learning without STRUCTURE and DISCIPLINE in a classroom. Didn't the commissioner of education say that ALL students are entitled to a fair education and if any student denies others that right to learn, they must to be removed?
As a veteran teacher it saddens me to see the current state of affairs that exist in the New Bedford Public Schools.
3 comments:
Very well written. You made valid clear points. Why aren't these issues addressed? Teachers have been asking for these kinds of changes for years but nothing is ever done. Firing teachers does not fix bad practice.
Your CHIEF concern has been duly noted, and I am in full agreement!
"We're in this mess partly do to administrators pushing students on to the next grade when they have not acquired the necessary skills."
This fact has been sucking the life right out of me for several years! I am a career changer and absolutely love teaching, when the students have the prerequisite skills! Not fair to anyone involved when they don't. Not them, not their classmates, not the teacher, not their own future, not their self esteem. I wonder if self esteem is ever taken into account when pushing them along. Is there some thought of guarding their self esteem by falsely promoting them. Well, it catches up with them. Doing them NO favors by this.
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