kb | 2010/03/21

Many schools are failing because children with special needs are held to the flame of teach for the test, take the test, score the test, place the test scores in a row, judge the test, fail the school because, "Hey! Hear this: children with disabilities may be limited in what they can achieve, even with the most magical of teachers!" We love them. We want them to achieve. But we can only do so much.

Sam | 2010/03/20

If this administration continues this approach to education, public education will cease to exist. This might satisfy those who embrace annihilation as a solution, but what it really means is that Democrats and Republicans have linked arms in the destruction of our profession all the while professing to be "reformers." George Orwell could not improve on this travesty.

Nancy | 2010/03/19

I started teaching in 1979, and have seen teaching go from a profession that valued individual teacher's skills to one that wants a "cookie cutter" type of plan to teach students. It's as if the districts don't trust us to be professionals and know what our students need. Now everyone is expected to teach the same thing the same way. I think morale for teachers in general the lowest I have ever seen. All thanks to NCLB. Now the new plan that the Obama administration has come up with offers more of the same testing, testing testing. Teachers know it doesn't help, kids are tired of being over- tested and no one is happy. I never thought I would want to quit teaching, but but I have to say I am getting more and more discouraged about my profession. It's as if all the joy in teaching has been sucked out. And replaced with a test.

Tony | 2010/03/19

I have felt from the beginning that Obama and Duncan have no clue as to what to do with failing schools. As a result, I believe they are just trying to destroy the union just as the republicans have been tearing down the AFL-CIO. I also believe that Obama has been financially influenced by Bill Gates, who is not an educator, but is looking for another profit making scheme to his benefit only. When is the last time you saw Duncan or Gates in a classroom? I also agree with many of the comments expressed here that no one holds parents responsible for what their children do not do in school. I feel that the generation we are seeing today in school are the result of children dumped in day care centers which care nothing for the children but love the $$$ coming in. There is no substitute for good mothering and parenting!!! As a teacher, I cannot be held responsible if Johnny refuses to do his school work or pay attention in school, especially if his parents do not show any interest in his education or reinforce the need to complete homework [Explicit] or to pay attention in school.

gamehog1964@yahoo.com | 2010/03/19

obama was a mistake. like grandholm in michigan was a mistake. they get our PAC money and do as they well please. they do not represent me or the views of our union. time to punish them with drastic cuts in PAC funds. let obama try to work with the repubs next time. he is going to nail us again in 2018 when he heavily taxes our heath care benefits (his plan), if we even have benefits by then. merit pay won't even cover our taxes. god help this profession!

Rachel | 2010/03/19

I could not agree with your comment any more...it is so true. I have been saying this for over 8 yrs now. Parents need to do their jobs too, the gavernement and parents alike are putting on the blame on the teacher. We work our tails off day in and day out, for what? So Obama and his administration can dictate our salaries based on testing and merit. If someone is willing to be a teacher, that should be MERIT enough!

Nicole | 2010/03/18

Without parent accountability, you will never see success. Stop blaming teachers for inadequate parenting!

Greg | 2010/03/18

Here is another reason why I am ending my 14 year career teaching the Social Sciences to some wonderful public high schoolers in Placer County, California. I'm leaving at the end of the school year to take a job at a private non-denominational school who strives at teaching excellence without the pressure of Standardized Testing. It hurts that this is one of my reasons but between the horrible state California is in with public education and then constantly forming our subjects to fit a lawmakers wishlist, is becoming ridiculous. I truly believed the administration would overhaul NCLB but it doesn't look like it at all. It also makes me happy that I'm driving around with the sticker: Don't Blame Me, I Voted for Hillary.

Marshall | 2010/03/17

NEA needs to do a better job in this state fighting for teachers. We are expected to work 24\7 as stated in contracts. We must stay after for meetings. Now will be required to do after school activities or we will not be considered at standard teachers. All of this extra after hours work for no pay. When I worked in a state with a strong teacher union we were always compenstated for any after hours work and never asked to stay without compensation. We are expected to produce scores from children who are low performers. They keep putting more and more pressure on us. You can go to other jobs with higher pay and less pressure or the same pressure and I believe teachers are starting to think of doing that. I feel like we are fighting a losing battle with testing. The joy of teaching is leaving the profession. We have so much to teach in one year. We are making them the jack of all trades and masters of none because we do not have time to teach mastery, just teach and move on to the next concept.

JillAllison | 2010/03/17

I do not believe many teachers are aware of what the Obama Adminstration has just added to NCLB. Forcing states to add more charter schools, not to negotiate with unions and having merit pay. My local union endorsed President Obama when he was running for election, so did most other teacher unions. This legislation is a slap in the face to all public school teachers. The public needs to be aware that the Obama administration is just business as usual in politics and does not care about teachers or students.

Ryan | 2010/03/17

The Blueprint does give more local control on how our fed dollars are spent. When rating a school, it also factors in other areas like school climate and attendance. Finally, it rewards the great teachers, an incentive that all shall rise to acheive.

Angela | 2010/03/16

Once again the Obama administration letting us down. Not surprised. When the economy comes back watch all of the teachers walk and go do something else.

Brad | 2010/03/16

We often have ignored rich resources that could be bought for free. For instance, any public school near a university has a rich resource of help there that the government could "encourage" (increase interest rates of students unwilling to help in public schools or require time in public schools for federal grants) college students to come in and sit with students who are struggling or lack focus. I have often noticed from both sides (as a teacher and as one sitting in) that many students will respond differently if someone is sitting beside of them. Also, these college students could become part of the solution for remediation in the afternoons when teachers are simply worn out from a day of dealing with children and administration. And yet, no help of that nature is coming from the feds. Some help would be likely if schools would just ask for it, but much more would be done if required as part of our programs to fund universities. Let's be honest with ourselves for just a moment. Standardized tests are going to be the only affordable reliable tests that the government can give to a large group of students. However, the standardized tests themselves are not standardized between states. Each state writes its own test. While portfolios would be nice, grading them with your job on the line would result in every student passing. I was student teaching when Algebra was allowed to be taught as 1A and 1B and 1B was tested. All students had to take 1A and were not allowed to pass it until basically they could pass the 1B exam. I can't imagine a fair game with the money that is at stake without standardized tests. Yes I will also agree that measuring growth is important, but at some point a child must be able to perform the functions required. When we talk about holding students and parents accountable, what are we really talking about. In any financial sense, students ultimately will be held accountable for their skills (students without skills will not be as adept at functioning in society). Parents also will ultimately pay the price as many children come back home to live with their parents when they cannot afford to live on their own. While I can't imagine the system that would manage the program, I could imagine the justification for garnishing a student's future wages for repeated behavior problems and lack of effort. In my mind, it is the same as taxing cigarettes heavily because of the extra burden placed on medicare by smokers who develop lung cancer. But in real terms, the only immediate consequences that I can really understand for parents and students is grade promotion. In NC it seems that the schools will now promote just about every student that they can with or without student effort so now grade promotion is no real consequence for most students. Tell me how else you hold students and parents accountable for skills developed (not effort and behavior). I understand completely that the Obama administration needs to get across the point that low performing schools will not be tolerated and that their only source of power is Title I financing. However, I don't see success coming from the removal of money or changing the schools that those students go to. While I would agree that a change of location is sometimes beneficial for a child (rising to the skills of other students in another school), wholesale migration of students from one school to another will simply bring down a high performing school. I know that I don't have the answers to school problems, but I would like to hear more details about solutions from others so that people reading these comments don't get the idea that we just want to shift blame away from teachers and be left alone. I'm listenting.

rickrowland-hotmail | 2010/03/16

Duncan/Obama/Vallas all represent the Chicago view of education that schools should be privatized or chartered, they are anti-union, and really against the profession of education. New Orleans is the model and 30+ of their schools have already been chartered out to private organizations who hire teachers , who are certified after a one summer workshop.

rickrowland@hotmail | 2010/03/16

I taught for 26 years in New Orleans - retired and now sub in 2 counties in NC - The Chicago crowd - Obama, Duncan, and the current NOLA superintendent - are all set on privatizing the schools - New Orleans is the model of the 66 schools - 30 are charter and essentially private schools - what we are seeing is a resegregation of schools according to wealth (or the have and have-nots) We are seeing the return of the "pauper" schools (public schools) and "academies" (private,charter schools) in place of the comprehensive schools we went to as children.

Sara | 2010/03/16

Why doesn't the dinosaur die?

Jeanine | 2010/03/16

Once again this pits the public schools against the charter schools. As a public school teacher who's forte is reaching the low performing ELL student, I'm penalized and pointed out as being the reason why our society is failing. I believe that not all students learn the same way and alternative schools are needed, but that doesn't mean that what I am doing isn't valuable. I'm working twice as hard as when I take the "high" group, yet I could see my pay being reduced because I choose to work with the struggling learners. I would like to see us all work together for the best for all students, until the politicians see that what I am doing for a student that was in a school in Mexico on Friday and is sitting in front of me on Monday is just as important as a teacher who has to fight off the "helicopter" parents, then we won't see real reform, we'll just see more white flight and punitive action for those of us who choose to teach the low ses students whose parents can't fill out the form for the lottery to the charter schools.

Jessica | 2010/03/16

Too many times, teachers are being held accountable for all issues in society. If education were just about what goes on in the classroom, I could understand holding teachers accountable. Sadly, its not. Its about socioeconomic factors outside their control as well. It is not reasonable to ask that teachers make everyone ready for graduation when every child is not the same, nor do they come to school prepared in the same ways. As a special education teacher, I have seen the ins and outs of standardized testing. It does NOT accurately capture the full picture of a child's abilities, and too many times it is used to make major decisions about a child's future. I think using such measures for such an "unstandardized" medium is ridiculous and scary. It will become just another reason good teachers move out of the public sector into other professions.

Carolyn L. Cooper | 2010/03/16

Education is a 10th amendment, states' right issue. The federal gov't. should be involved ONLY to guarantee the civil right of equal access to public education. With national math and English curricula already in place and the Obama admin.giving Title I funds only to those systems which adopt those, we can look forward to national history and social studies coming next, ready vehicles for brainwashing according to the political agenda of those in power. I can see it coming: enforced union membership, loyalty oaths, one thought-control, federally-mandated textbooks series.I have yet to hear an administrator or politician tell parents that theirs is the first responsibility in educating their child. Everyone is afraid to mention that the lge. influx of non-English speaking Hispanics has a considerable impact on grade scores, that black minority children with only one parent, usually on welfare, and other negative situations do not inspire their children. Black parents should be listening to Bill Cosby instead of Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. My black male students from stable, positive backgrounds achieve as well as my white students. Money won't solve the problems. (I've been teaching much of the time since 1959, k-adult; I know what I'm talking about.)

Cassie | 2010/03/15

When will those who are trying in all earnesty to "fix" education realize the students come to us as individuals none of them have the exact same skill set or experieces. No matter how hard we teach the children who come to us "behind" will not catch up with the others because the others continue to grow to. High stakes testing causes us to focus on the lower achieving students. A model that measures student growth would be so much better for all the students and us as well. I would also like to add, looking at other comments, we cannot effect change in students' home life and what looks like disinterest on the parents part is often a distrust of school and a lack of knowledge of how school works. We can work in the classroom and make positive changes in the children there.

V. B. W. | 2010/03/15

I do not use profanity, and I resent having my comment rejected for such a claim. I protested the continuation of the NCVLB program because it is an unrealistic, unreasonable, and unfair plan for children and for GOOD teachers. I taught for nearly 40 years, and no one ever gave me a bonus if I "passed" all my children, nor was I penalized if a child failed a test. My superiors had trust in my honest ability to teach, and my love and caring for my children. Teachers are not allowed to love their children these days, nor to teach the children to love themselves and others.JOY HAS LEFT PUBLIC SCHOOLS!

Jennie | 2010/03/15

As an EC teacher for 30+ years, it pains me to see my students having to be stressed out by being on the pacing guide for math when most of them will never use permutations or combinations. We need to revive vo-tech schools so that students can learn a trade and be productive members of society. Not everyone is cut out to go to college.

Teacher too | 2010/03/15

It is so disheartening to read the blueprint and see that not one section addresses what we all know to be true: education starts at home. Parents needs are considered in demanding that they reamain informed. What does this plan do to address the paretns who never even read the notes we already send home? So many children have parents who are totally uninterested in what they do at school. I had more inquiries this year about the handling of birthdays than any other subject. People who don't attend conferences, don't help their children study at home, and don't keep in contact despite constant notes and phone calls allow their children to slip through the cracks. Parents are the essential link in a child's education. Everyone talks about school choice as an issue when we all know that PARENTING cannot be left out of this equation. I know that I want the best for all of my students, and work hard to ensure I give them my all. But sometimes I wonder...do the parents do the same?

kathleen | 2010/03/15

Until people recognize that teachers are not the only parties who need to be accountable, no threats,etc. are going to make a difference. If the parents of my students,and my students, do not think education is important than my efforts are wasted. Another teacher suggested that if we taxed the parents of students who are underachievers we might get them to "buy in" and make their children accountable. It sounded silly at first, but it is beginning to make sense to me.

John | 2010/03/15

Without a strong commitment to education and teachers the government might as well spend the education funds on prisons. We need to go to the top performing schools and see ?How and What? they are doing to find the formulas for success. No child left behind has several flaws, the first and foremost is the lack of accountability in regards to parents. We can the parents in jail for their Childs truancy but if the child doesn?t do his home work or acts up in school nothing happens. What is needed most of all is better pay for a college educated professional teachers, and parents to be held to the same standards as the teachers. If teachers are accountable then parents should be too

Amy | 2010/03/15

I have worked at both high performing and low performing schools. One thing that they have in common, dedicated teachers. One thing that they don't have in common, involved parents and students who buy into the fact that they are responsible for what they learn. It pains me to see teachers in low performing schools, who work harder and are more stressed than their counterparts lose their jobs. Why are teachers being blamed for societal and parental shortcomings?

A.M. | 2010/03/15

I heard the idea of a strike mentioned. It amazes me that this state does not allow for "real" teachers unions in which doing so would be possible. The governement wants us to do more for less. I obviously did not choose this profession for the pay, but something has to give. No wonder teacher turnover is so high. This is nuts!

Kelsey | 2010/03/15

And it is a wonder why it was nicknamed no teacher left standing! I wish that this would be tossed and the Secretary of Education would get a clue! And to the President and NEA, please get a clue as to what we deal with in the classroom! And now NC wants to put children with below average IQs into the regular education classroom with end of course exams! Really, do you even know what we do???

Betty Tarantelli | 2010/03/15

Of course this administraton WOULD leave out Parent's and Teacher's input because these 2 groups truly know best! Education is a local issue, not a National one that can cover all or know what is best for all! Let's work on the family and the school, let's trust them to educate youth! Government only needs to support these agendas, not IMPOSE one way on all! It will not work! Individuals are unique! How can a government provide a total plan for all? It is ridiculous, and I see it nothing more than one more way to control our lives! I will vote against anyone in Washington or in my state who supports this trash! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! Leave the kids alone, Mr. Obama! Everyone I know who is in the special education department does NOT agree with this reform!

Leyla | 2010/03/15

Ok, they want us to compete with other countries and graduate students that are college ready that sounds good. The problem is that most of these countries track students very early on and not all student are prepared for college only those place on that track. Here, however, we are expected to prepare all students for college which is just not realistic. Sorry but that is the truth. You can't compare apples and oranges.

Ms. B. | 2010/03/15

Teachers are so busy doing their jobs that it's hard to make time to make ourselves aware of the issues blowing up around us. It's time to wake up the membership! Check out this blog for a series of articles and links about what's going on. http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian The NEA is not doing a very good job of representing its membership -- but maybe the Administration just isn't interested in what teachers have to say. Duncan isn't a teacher and doesn't know how to do our job. He hasn't a clue about the intricacies involved in running a classroom. Dump Duncan! Here's a petition about that -- have no illusions that anyone is listening, but why not? http://www.petitiononline.com/2010abcd

Loray | 2010/03/14

Where is the accountability for PARENTS? Until this issue is mandated, nothing will change. Speaking as a member of the AFT in a poor, urban district, the abuse teachers take is real - but not JUST from the kids - we get it from the parents, as well, who are demanding our heads, but doing little to support our efforts! And - we need to be truthful, here - there are many students who do NOT want to be in school, and will NOT make the effort to attend and/or work toward graduation (nor will their parents make them), as they are, frankly, lazy and do not want to do the work necessary to succeed in school. They prefer to live off entitlement programs (touchy subject, but we are being truthful, remember?) or deal on street corners, making "easy" money. There is NO teacher training, anywhere, that will change this, and it impacts the best of efforts and program changes, no matter what the funding levels. Additionally, there is no mention of vocational education - college is NOT attainable or appropriate for everyone. I highly doubt that any of these program designers would come back a second day, after subbing in one of our typical urban classrooms for the first day. They have no idea of what so many teachers have to deal with, on an hourly basis, well beyond curriculum-planning and delivery issues. The issue is not the schools - the issue is the culture of the community at large.

Kris | 2010/03/14

I'm SO tired of ALL of this! It's no wonder some teachers become apathetic. You really do feel like there's nothing you can do to improve the situation after awhile. If they won't listen & take our input seriously, then we NEED to do something drastic! I'm all for the strike idea mentioned in a prior comment!

Bob | 2010/03/14

We examine all the variables that cannot impact the problem, and ignore the ones that might change things because of political correctness. Welcome to "No Child Left Behind". Let the prisoners of this system fight with each other over the scraps we offer, and avoid the real issues of poor/incompetent management, underfunding, and responsibility of parents and students for school performance. it must be the Unions or bad teachers! Typical political theater. Elected and appointed officials in most cases are looking to shift accountability away from themselves point toward someone else. Is Chicago any better off because of Arne Duncan's tenure there? Why do you expect any better treatment now?

Brian | 2010/03/14

Mr. Van Roekel: Dear Leader, you can't just say your against standardized testing. You havd to go beyond that. Many schools use better measures such as performance exbitions and portfolios to better reflect what kids know and can do. In order to reframe the debate on accountabilty you have to start listing these better measures in your speeches and articles.

Cathy | 2010/03/14

Well...here we go again!! Education being directed by politicians!! I support NEA and the points made in this article. However, wouldn't it be a good idea to stop playing the political game, too? Let's get ready for change, and be the ones to make the change. What do you think would happen to your country's education system if the largest teachers' union had a strike for one day to make sure what we are saying is heard? I bet parents and politicians would listen! Is there anyone in up there in NEA who is brave enough to stop playing the 'game' and start being the referree?

Rebecca | 2010/03/14

I do not know how teachers all over the country feel, but I do know how many of us in the poorest, urban schools feel. We are frustrated beyond belief at the abuse (yes, abuse)and disrespect we receive. Even worse though is the way our students, the neediest group the politicians claim to be protecting, are denied experiences their suburban counterparts receive due to high stakes testing. I would love to see some type of teacher exchange program where those of us in low performing districts switch places with performing schools for a little while. It would be an eye opener for everyone and I do not think you would see scores drastically rise. I am disappointed that we, as a union, are merely "disappointed" with the president and Arne Duncan. We should be OUTRAGED.

molly | 2010/03/14

So we are continuing the disfunfuntion of our current system, and at the same time encouraging the negative, hurtful actions towards students in low-economic areas. At the same time, we are also allowing our state politicians to have too much "power". In Ga, we have had furlough days and 2+% paycuts off the top of our salaries, and as a nation we are going to compete for national funds to educate our children (our future)? Things are at aln all time low, but I have a feeling its about to get worse. Can we give the makers of this "Blue Print" performance pay?

STEVE | 2010/03/13

In the real world there will always be some students that cannot finish the "race"... making a race to the top inherently unfair to selective needs of students.

Jessica | 2010/03/13

I also read the NY Times and what they have written and recapped there makes it sound like it could work. As a teacher of a subject other than Math, science or English, its nice to know the focus will now be put on the school/student as a whole. There's also nothing wrong with having the student prepared for either college or the work force upon graduation. In today's world the latter is happening more often than not.

Stacy Gutner | 2010/03/13

That is not what I just read in the NY Times. Read the Times piece and it's much better then that. Everyone is not the same and they are finally realizing that!!

Lori | 2010/03/13

Should we expect any less from politicians making rules for education? Listen to the educators...they are the ones in the trenches!

Meg | 2010/03/13

Wish I could say I am surprised but I am not. We have all been listening to rhetoric that was never supported by actions from Duncan or Obama. Where is the accountability for students?