Comments on: Rise & Shine: Teachers aides to stay, plus a school on an island http://gothamschools.org/2009/08/26/rise-shine-teachers-aides-to-stay-plus-a-school-on-an-island/ Sat, 20 Mar 2010 12:50:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Accredited Online Universities http://gothamschools.org/2009/08/26/rise-shine-teachers-aides-to-stay-plus-a-school-on-an-island/comment-page-1/#comment-183607 Accredited Online Universities Mon, 31 Aug 2009 07:31:47 +0000 http://gothamschools.org/?p=21642#comment-183607 Ineffective teachers should be supported–and I mean truly supported with a mentor and with vocal affirmation from administrators. Ineffective teachers should be supported–and I mean truly supported with a mentor and with vocal affirmation from administrators.

]]> By: Mary http://gothamschools.org/2009/08/26/rise-shine-teachers-aides-to-stay-plus-a-school-on-an-island/comment-page-1/#comment-183282 Mary Sun, 30 Aug 2009 12:02:58 +0000 http://gothamschools.org/?p=21642#comment-183282 In countering some of the results of this latest book, here's someone's take on it. http://giftedexchange.blogspot.com/2009/08/can-gifted-kids-become-not-gifted.html In countering some of the results of this latest book, here’s someone’s take on it. http://giftedexchange.blogspot.com/2009/08/can-gifted-kids-become-not-gifted.html

]]> By: Mary http://gothamschools.org/2009/08/26/rise-shine-teachers-aides-to-stay-plus-a-school-on-an-island/comment-page-1/#comment-182249 Mary Sat, 29 Aug 2009 12:07:26 +0000 http://gothamschools.org/?p=21642#comment-182249 ONE book should change the gifted programs in NYC? There are other books, Genius Denied for example, that state testing should begin before third grade. ONE book should change the gifted programs in NYC? There are other books, Genius Denied for example, that state testing should begin before third grade.

]]> By: Smith http://gothamschools.org/2009/08/26/rise-shine-teachers-aides-to-stay-plus-a-school-on-an-island/comment-page-1/#comment-180792 Smith Fri, 28 Aug 2009 01:03:22 +0000 http://gothamschools.org/?p=21642#comment-180792 Jr. High Teacher - I had the same reaction and the same questions. The piece was dreadful. Brill basically quoted DOT sources without rebuttal while cherry picking a couple of rubber room cases that illustrated his thesis. He blames the union for the drawn out process but was vague about the reasons. I guess he doesn't want to trouble the reader with context. Jr. High Teacher - I had the same reaction and the same questions. The piece was dreadful. Brill basically quoted DOT sources without rebuttal while cherry picking a couple of rubber room cases that illustrated his thesis. He blames the union for the drawn out process but was vague about the reasons. I guess he doesn’t want to trouble the reader with context.

]]> By: Jr High Teacher http://gothamschools.org/2009/08/26/rise-shine-teachers-aides-to-stay-plus-a-school-on-an-island/comment-page-1/#comment-179965 Jr High Teacher Wed, 26 Aug 2009 19:05:30 +0000 http://gothamschools.org/?p=21642#comment-179965 Also, don't miss the New Yorker article. It's heinously slanted to favor the Bloomberg/Klein administration. Writer Steven Brill almost totally dismisses the possibility that teachers are rated poorly or falsely accused for personal or political reasons. Here's how he frames it: "Should a thousand bad teachers stay put so that one innocent teacher is protected?" Actually, that's deputy chancellor Chris Cerf's logic, which Brill just repeats to Randi Weingarten, apparently without any analysis of his own. That said, it was surprising to find out just how long and costly the incompetence (3020a?) hearings are. It should not take a full year and hundreds of thousands of dollars to dismiss just one teacher. That is beyond "due process." Ineffective teachers should be supported--and I mean truly supported with a mentor and with vocal affirmation from administrators--not just getting U'd and written up all the time. But if a year or more of support has happened and the teacher continues to show poor classroom management and poor instruction, it's time to give that teacher an expedited hearing in front of an independent arbitrator and let that settle it. I've seen a principal trump up charges against experienced teachers primarily because of their (totally appropriate!) outspokenness and union activism. But I don't see why the hearings have to take so long and be so costly, just because of due process. Anybody got more insight on this? Are there things I need to read about these hearings from people other than the obviously biased Steven Brill? Also, don’t miss the New Yorker article. It’s heinously slanted to favor the Bloomberg/Klein administration. Writer Steven Brill almost totally dismisses the possibility that teachers are rated poorly or falsely accused for personal or political reasons. Here’s how he frames it: “Should a thousand bad teachers stay put so that one innocent teacher is protected?” Actually, that’s deputy chancellor Chris Cerf’s logic, which Brill just repeats to Randi Weingarten, apparently without any analysis of his own.

That said, it was surprising to find out just how long and costly the incompetence (3020a?) hearings are. It should not take a full year and hundreds of thousands of dollars to dismiss just one teacher. That is beyond “due process.” Ineffective teachers should be supported–and I mean truly supported with a mentor and with vocal affirmation from administrators–not just getting U’d and written up all the time. But if a year or more of support has happened and the teacher continues to show poor classroom management and poor instruction, it’s time to give that teacher an expedited hearing in front of an independent arbitrator and let that settle it.

I’ve seen a principal trump up charges against experienced teachers primarily because of their (totally appropriate!) outspokenness and union activism. But I don’t see why the hearings have to take so long and be so costly, just because of due process.

Anybody got more insight on this? Are there things I need to read about these hearings from people other than the obviously biased Steven Brill?

]]> By: Jr High Teacher http://gothamschools.org/2009/08/26/rise-shine-teachers-aides-to-stay-plus-a-school-on-an-island/comment-page-1/#comment-179964 Jr High Teacher Wed, 26 Aug 2009 18:36:47 +0000 http://gothamschools.org/?p=21642#comment-179964 Sure thing. I've visited Governor's Island several times on weekends, and more than once, I've seen Harbor School students there, working on arts projects or weaving fishing nets. They seem enthusiastic about the school. I hope everything works out for them. I can imagine the biggest obstacle will be transportation. I'm guessing it will be tough to get all those students to commute from Brooklyn and the rest of NYC by ferry to Governor's Island every morning, September through June. But (speaking of putting the island to good use) there are a lot of vacant army barracks on the island that could be converted to dormitories. Could the Harbor School become a public boarding school? That would be exciting. Sure thing. I’ve visited Governor’s Island several times on weekends, and more than once, I’ve seen Harbor School students there, working on arts projects or weaving fishing nets. They seem enthusiastic about the school. I hope everything works out for them. I can imagine the biggest obstacle will be transportation. I’m guessing it will be tough to get all those students to commute from Brooklyn and the rest of NYC by ferry to Governor’s Island every morning, September through June. But (speaking of putting the island to good use) there are a lot of vacant army barracks on the island that could be converted to dormitories. Could the Harbor School become a public boarding school? That would be exciting.

]]> By: Fer Camberos http://gothamschools.org/2009/08/26/rise-shine-teachers-aides-to-stay-plus-a-school-on-an-island/comment-page-1/#comment-179960 Fer Camberos Wed, 26 Aug 2009 18:29:15 +0000 http://gothamschools.org/?p=21642#comment-179960 Thanks for the clearing up Jr. High, I'm sure it'll be interesting to see it develop regardless, and I'm happy to see the city put the island to good use. Thanks for the clearing up Jr. High, I’m sure it’ll be interesting to see it develop regardless, and I’m happy to see the city put the island to good use.

]]> By: Jr High Teacher http://gothamschools.org/2009/08/26/rise-shine-teachers-aides-to-stay-plus-a-school-on-an-island/comment-page-1/#comment-179959 Jr High Teacher Wed, 26 Aug 2009 18:27:11 +0000 http://gothamschools.org/?p=21642#comment-179959 The Harbor School is not moving to Governor's Island until next year. According to the article and the school website, they'll be moving in 2010. The Harbor School is not moving to Governor’s Island until next year. According to the article and the school website, they’ll be moving in 2010.

]]> By: Fer Camberos http://gothamschools.org/2009/08/26/rise-shine-teachers-aides-to-stay-plus-a-school-on-an-island/comment-page-1/#comment-179939 Fer Camberos Wed, 26 Aug 2009 17:40:23 +0000 http://gothamschools.org/?p=21642#comment-179939 I gotta stay with and comment on the 'harbor' school opening at Governor's Island and the 125k school about to open. What an exciting time to be commenting on GothamSchools. Whether these small schools do well or not, the creativity and excitement is definitely stepping up (at least a little) this fall. I'm not sure if there's a fishing or marine plant life Regent's Exam though... I gotta stay with and comment on the ‘harbor’ school opening at Governor’s Island and the 125k school about to open. What an exciting time to be commenting on GothamSchools. Whether these small schools do well or not, the creativity and excitement is definitely stepping up (at least a little) this fall.

I’m not sure if there’s a fishing or marine plant life Regent’s Exam though…

]]>