Comments on: Rise & Shine: Polakow-Suransky wants to see more, better tests

By: interesting

interesting — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 02:54:19 +0000

I don’t understand why anyone would say SPS worked in a classroom that was “certainly not a tough underserved neighborhood.” He was in Harlem and in the Bronx–he wasn’t on Madison and 75th. (and by the way, those kids deserve good teachers too. I’m just saying, he didn’t have kids that basically came ready to learn…)

And I know that International schools (with which he has been affiliated–he started an International) are big on NOT giving the standardized tests and making their own, better assessments for all those interim testing periods. Assessments that actually had kids do meaningful stuff, not just bubble in circles.

I mean there’s a LOT to complain about in this world. SPS is not part of that list, for me. I think we’re super lucky on this one..

By: Mama Bear

Mama Bear — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 00:42:55 +0000

I absolutely agree about teaching the whole child and providing arts and music. I don’t see how making better tests in addition to all of that is bad. I’ve seen some of the test prep stuff and it’s poorly worded, edited and designed, in my opinion. Since there are going to be tests, let’s make them accurate and fair. This is how I read the NY Times’ article. I didn’t see anything against teaching arts and music or anything in there that was anti-teacher.

By: Smith

Smith — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 00:09:45 +0000

Has Ms. Black met with any teachers yet?

By: Bronxactivist

Bronxactivist — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 20:30:23 +0000

Haimson the question is do they even care? This guy spent a few years in the classroom certainly not a tough underserved neighborhood. They claim by adding test even down to kindergarden they will improve education. I believe we received a wonderful education just with a chalkboard and a wonderful caring teacher in front of us. We also had a principal that was a teacher for many years and A.P.’s that were master teachers with experience. How about making principals and ap a job you have to earn by teaching well for years. Even becoming chancellor you can get by being politically connected.

By: Leonie Haimson

Leonie Haimson — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 18:46:20 +0000

I fear we are headed towards an even more dystopian future — with lengthy standardized tests in every grade and every subject, four times a year, given by computer, because that is what the oligarchy has as its vision of education. Brave New World indeed. Billions spent in wasted money and time, and even less learning. This is what the core curriculum, which seemed rather inoffensive at first, may come down to. And the people running the show are absolutely clueless as to the destructive impact of it all.

By: Norm Scott

Norm Scott — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 15:29:02 +0000

Shael’s comments are anti-teacher – like without standardized tests we won’t know how kids are doing – as if teachers never give their own tests. See posts on this at ed notes and at Perdido St. School blogs.

By: Bronxactivist

Bronxactivist — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 15:08:35 +0000

Well how about listening to parents that want less testing and more of a focus on creativity such as through art, music, performing arts, foreign languages which most schools no longer offer. How about developing the whole child? The most advanced countries retain their teachers and are trained. These countries focus on improving teachers not bashing them. When international teachers come to nyc schools they leave because they say that in their countries teaching is a respected profession. Teachers and suppourted to make sure they carry out their jobs to the best of their abilities for their whole carreers. Remember teaching is not suppoused to be a job its a devotion to teach no matter what politician is in power our focus is the kids.

By: Mama Bear

Mama Bear — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 13:41:25 +0000

I’m glad to hear Suransky thinks there should be better assessments and tests. I’d love to hear what company currently writes and edits them. Based on what I’ve seen on the test prep reading assessments and some of the math tests, a complete overhaul is needed.

By: Michael M.

Michael M. — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 13:19:31 +0000

Re Item 1: SPS is in favor of more testing? OMG, I do believe the sun doth rise in the east.

Re ““Until we start seeing assessments that ask kids to write research papers, ask them to solve unfamiliar problems, ask them to defend their ideas, ask them to engage with both fiction and nonfiction texts; until those kinds of assessments are our state assessments, all we’re measuring are basic skills,” Mr. Polakow-Suransky said in an interview.”

All very laudable, but I’m confused; isn’t that what GRADES used to be all about?

By: Jeff S

Jeff S — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 12:34:04 +0000

Does anybody think our cadre of wonderful Leadership Academy Principals, few of whom would know a good lesson from a poor one, are capable of following these forms and properly evaluating teachers? And this garbage that for every teacher you deny tenure you can hire somebody free of the restrictions almost sounds like an ultimatum. We’ll see what the UFT can do about it, if anything.