tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5113479300897983388.post7534660997219650676..comments2024-01-06T06:09:29.140-05:00Comments on An Urban Teacher's Education: What Makes a Great Teacher?james boutinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09625944306253098621noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5113479300897983388.post-23654129501535081052010-01-13T08:31:58.877-05:002010-01-13T08:31:58.877-05:00funny that Ripley couldn't find a TFA example ...funny that Ripley couldn't find a TFA example of an effective teacher.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5113479300897983388.post-5389131562505561442010-01-13T14:07:43.752-05:002010-01-13T14:07:43.752-05:00I absolutely thought the same thing. I am so sick ...I absolutely thought the same thing. I am so sick of TFA being held up as some example. Sure, they are filling a need by staffing inner city schools with high turn over rates and low test scores, where no veteran teacher wants to go. But no suburban district would want them: parents there would demand experienced, credentialed teachers. Though some good veteran teachers are committed to staying in high poverty schools, most get out when a less demanding school has a vacancy.No namenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5113479300897983388.post-33751735124650470062010-01-13T14:56:41.230-05:002010-01-13T14:56:41.230-05:00and why do they have to staff these schools with t...and why do they have to staff these schools with the so called "best and brightest" (defined as elite school grads who didn't plan on going into teaching), then give them quickie teacher training and a low-cost master's degree. Why not open it up to people who actually want to teach? Especially when the research shows that the TFA kids don't do any better and can do worse than other teachers?<br><br>I'll tell you why - all the prestige would be gone and so would the turn-over.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5113479300897983388.post-67723003577361332192010-01-13T20:40:30.270-05:002010-01-13T20:40:30.270-05:00TFA stories remind me of dead young blond stories...TFA stories remind me of dead young blond stories. Remember a few years ago when people started complaining that murders didn't get reported or investigated unless the victim was a young blond? - i.e. very desirable and ergo considered a real tragedy.<br><br>It's the same with TFA. Urban education is worthy of reporting only in the context of TFA coming to the rescue. The plight of the kids and work of the other teachers doesn't matter much. Urban education is most newsworthy when glamorous TFA takes center stage.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5113479300897983388.post-7172741099035891382010-01-14T17:05:29.307-05:002010-01-14T17:05:29.307-05:00I literally squealed when I saw your shout out on ...I literally squealed when I saw your shout out on Bill Turque's blog! :)Dee Does DChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07412392619550107211noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5113479300897983388.post-64195027224691100852010-01-14T17:46:29.329-05:002010-01-14T17:46:29.329-05:00Yes, I was happy to see it also. Bill Turque is a...Yes, I was happy to see it also. Bill Turque is a friend to the truth and to teachers.Linda/RetiredTeacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01613269510654597179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5113479300897983388.post-70372223327403553822010-01-14T18:11:38.304-05:002010-01-14T18:11:38.304-05:00I, I think along with many others, sent Bill Turqu...I, I think along with many others, sent Bill Turque emails suggesting he contact you or connect to your blog. I can see a new career for you already. Keep on speaking out and investigating the truth. I always thought it would be interesting to investigate the real story about Rhee's teaching career in Baltimore. It can't be that difficult to find out the truth about the test scores (not if they were as extraordinary as she said), or how good a teacher she was, it would just take time and someone asking the right questions to the right people. No so much to unmask her as a liar and a fraud, but to show that it takes time to become a great teacher; there is a learning curve, and it's not possible to be a great teacher after a 5-week crash course. Please research this story, it would be a great one to tell, and would inspire all new teachers not to give up!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5113479300897983388.post-19441249085551862312010-01-14T20:41:48.556-05:002010-01-14T20:41:48.556-05:00Amen, amen, amen. Excellent post.Amen, amen, amen. Excellent post.lodesterrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04875792642302052800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5113479300897983388.post-23716984949404138102010-01-15T09:47:40.484-05:002010-01-15T09:47:40.484-05:00Amen brother. I too checked out of teaching this p...Amen brother. I too checked out of teaching this past November as well after teaching in DCPS six years. What's extremely dangerous about this new wave of reform is that it uses pop culture gimmicks to trick parents into thinking our children are learning more when clearly they are not. Today's students are the children of those who were grossly undereducated by DCPS in the 80's. They do not understand what achievement is because they were initially denied it- TFA literally is profiting from this...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5113479300897983388.post-36272288013131162692010-01-15T17:34:09.174-05:002010-01-15T17:34:09.174-05:00I understand your skepticism about Mr. Taylor'...I understand your skepticism about Mr. Taylor's success at Kimball because it is unusual; however, I can substantiate the claims in the article. I now work at Mr. Taylor's school and teachers told me months ago how disciplined and engaged his students are. I asked him was he sure that no student had put their head on their desk in 3 years, and he thought about and assured me that it just doesn't happen in his class because students are having fun and also as a sign of respect for him (he does ask them how would they feel if he put his head down while they talked to him). <br><br>He never said teaching was easy, but he does enjoy what he does and he builds relationships based on respect with students.another Kimball teachernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5113479300897983388.post-71098186281273709212010-01-15T18:32:09.449-05:002010-01-15T18:32:09.449-05:00TO No Name who said, "Sure, they are filling ...TO No Name who said, "Sure, they are filling a need by staffing inner city schools with high turn over rates and low test scores, where no veteran teacher wants to go. But no suburban district would want them: parents there would demand experienced, credentialed teachers. Though some good veteran teachers are committed to staying in high poverty schools, most get out when a less demanding school has a vacancy" ...<br><br>ISN'T THAT THE POINT?!! Every child deserves a teacher willing to go to the ends of the earth for him/her. If the "good, suburban" teachers aren't going to do it, someone has to! Your comment is a little frightening because it seems to suggest that you don't believe children in urban (or rural for that matter) deserve the same opportunities as suburban children. Maybe Teach for America is not the answer, but at least someone out there is attempting to do something.VDBhttp://theeruditefactory.tumblr.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5113479300897983388.post-136782159345088072010-01-15T19:03:25.685-05:002010-01-15T19:03:25.685-05:00another Kimball teacher: Thank you for the insight...another Kimball teacher: Thank you for the insight. I was kind of hoping to hear from someone who works with him. I appreciate it.The Reflective Educatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09625944306253098621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5113479300897983388.post-44883746317555443532010-01-15T20:34:40.288-05:002010-01-15T20:34:40.288-05:00VDB - of course every kid deserved a good teacher,...VDB - of course every kid deserved a good teacher, but what's the magic of having a band of elite teachers putting in a couple of years before getting out of the ghetto and getting a law degree? What about other teachers who have spent or are willing to spend a career with these kids. Are they scum? There have always been teachers willing and even eager to teach these kids, without getting a special deal or expecting special recognition. They should be treated better. Conditions for the kids should be a lot better. Instead, we spend time praising the precious TFA teachers.Kingsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5113479300897983388.post-85962627127572555972010-01-15T21:34:09.180-05:002010-01-15T21:34:09.180-05:00F** you if you actually believe I don't think ...F** you if you actually believe I don't think all students don't deserve an excellent teacher, especially urban learners who come to school with a whole lot more baggage than middle class suburban children. None of us teaching in DCPS, as most of us here do believe that. I just don't think a 24 year old recent college grad from TFA is an excellent teacher, with their program's scant preparation. Sure, maybe in five years, they'd become an excellent teacher. If they really want to teach, be a teacher. Not a two-year teacher, but a teacher. Do it for a living. Stay in it. Either major in education or get a teaching certificate. That's what people do who want to teach.<br>Kings, thank you. TFA gets all this special recognition. And the underlying theme is really this: they think they're so smart and special and despite that, they go into teaching, like it's some kind of missionary work.No namenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5113479300897983388.post-43385735357980748452010-01-16T11:14:48.106-05:002010-01-16T11:14:48.106-05:00VDB: I really don't think No name was at all i...VDB: I really don't think No name was at all intending to suggest that every inner-city child doesn't deserve a fine teacher. What No name was suggesting is that it's a shame that they don't get one given the environment that has been set up in many inner-cities where excellent teachers with experience are not prone to last given the horrendous school environments that exist. I believe No name was saying that what every child deserves is the environment that will attract and retain excellent, experienced teachers. And we won't have that until we make some drastic organizational changes in the way we do things.The Reflective Educatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09625944306253098621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5113479300897983388.post-18818734464760719022010-01-16T17:00:50.873-05:002010-01-16T17:00:50.873-05:00Not only does TFA buy into the idea that teachers&...Not only does TFA buy into the idea that teachers' unions are a major obstacle in improving education especially in urban schools, they also think veteran/career teachers bear a large share of the blame as well. They think they need to come in on their white horses and rescue the ill-served urban learner from the bedroom slipper wearing worksheet giving teachers' college graduates who are the faculty at most inner city schools. Believe you me, TFA rubs a lot of career teachers the wrong way. And then can't control their kids. BTW, I'm neither TFA or a teachers' college grad so I can see both sides of this.No namenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5113479300897983388.post-40213049311657112172010-01-17T02:22:14.542-05:002010-01-17T02:22:14.542-05:00Mr. Taylor's bluetooth earpiece bothered me to...Mr. Taylor's bluetooth earpiece bothered me to no end! I have seen many DC teachers "teach" while taking calls on bluetooth, and it's absolutely heartbreaking. <br><br>Of course the kids are fond of him. Those of us familiar with urban kids know that they are so used to emotional cruelty that they adore you if you show them the slightest attention. <br><br>I'm not buying Ripley's piece AT ALL. Effective teaching requires 110% of your attention. If you are taking calls, you might be physically in the room, but you are not there mentally.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5113479300897983388.post-53892731529804635332010-01-17T12:45:57.899-05:002010-01-17T12:45:57.899-05:00Maybe Mr. taylor is getting signals from his bluet...Maybe Mr. taylor is getting signals from his bluetooth on when to switch learning styles and when to assure his students that he thinks they can succeed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5113479300897983388.post-55855255464823242172010-01-17T15:59:36.567-05:002010-01-17T15:59:36.567-05:00Anon at 1245: Hilarious. I wish they would have t...Anon at 1245: Hilarious. I wish they would have told me that was an option before I had my evalsThe Reflective Educatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09625944306253098621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5113479300897983388.post-54218888263754098102010-01-19T20:23:21.193-05:002010-01-19T20:23:21.193-05:00I read this and sighed. I'm working at a titl...I read this and sighed. I'm working at a title-1 school and am already looking for another job. Reading over the qualities of a 'decent' teacher made me cringe a bit and solidified my desire to leave. Test scores are the first thing administration worries about in my school. Because the whole building is focused on tests my curriculum suffers. <br><br>I'm supposed to teach on a schedule, not according to a reasonable pace for my students. Talk about re-teaching and reviewing exams happens but, the time to accomplish these tasks is supposed to be pulled from thin air. If I stay I know that I will become lazy. If I stay I will lose the motivation to be a 'decent' teacher. If I stay I will keep cutting corners. I have to leave so I can relish writing comments on essays yet again knowing that there is time to review, revise and learn.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5113479300897983388.post-48575065021051868342010-02-02T04:31:00.281-05:002010-02-02T04:31:00.281-05:00The Ripley claims aren't so outrageous, are th...The Ripley claims aren't so outrageous, are they? Yes, she's a storyteller, and so the article ends up having a vaguely utopian feel to it - she needs an angle as a journalist, after all. Any actual teacher understands that. On the other hand, doesn't it seem as if there is a point to all this? That quantitative studies can at least contribute to answering questions of teacher effectiveness? That what makes a good teacher ought to be measured by student learning and not by the hopes and desires of the teachers and administrators? I don't think the Atlantic article was implying that there is some magic youthful teacher corps out there that doesn't require training or practical knowledge, only the magic aura of their fashion sensibilities. I think it was implying the exact opposite. If you're interested, there is an interesting take on what DOESN'T make a good teacher here:<br>http://www.wanderingacademic.com/from-the-editor/what-doesnt-make-a-great-teacher/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com