tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5113479300897983388.post765970112387736797..comments2024-01-06T06:09:29.140-05:00Comments on An Urban Teacher's Education: The Politics of Performance Payjames boutinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09625944306253098621noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5113479300897983388.post-30965308846362799112010-04-13T21:38:22.066-04:002010-04-13T21:38:22.066-04:00Anon at 928: I completely agree. That boggles my ...Anon at 928: I completely agree. That boggles my mind. If you didn't think the RIF was intended back when she hired all those new teachers over the summer (myself included), this is about as much proof as you're going to get. Rhee has said over and over again she's willing to "bend" (read: break) the rules to get things done.<br /><br />Maybe she has the students' best interest at heart (I have no idea, but I'm pretty sure if they're there, they're messed up with something else), but I can't believe that she thinks she can so blatantly disrespect such a large group of employees and move merrily on her way. The woman needs a serious lesson in leadership and political tact.james boutinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09625944306253098621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5113479300897983388.post-89354044903228642002010-04-13T21:28:24.619-04:002010-04-13T21:28:24.619-04:00Latest from Rhee, she can't do the math. Ok, ...Latest from Rhee, she can't do the math. Ok, this is now getting F'ing weird. (Rhee's budget surplus revelation angers teachers) unionshttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/13/AR2010041302834.html. How can we vote for this now, how can we trust her about anything?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5113479300897983388.post-76799469894176371262010-04-11T20:48:34.037-04:002010-04-11T20:48:34.037-04:00Anon at 728: Thanks for the comment. I agree that...Anon at 728: Thanks for the comment. I agree that one of the interests fighting this pay for performance movement is that of ineffective teachers who don't want to lose their jobs. And I agree that we saw some of that at the rally. However, I believe there are certainly other interests fighting here - those who truly are afraid that many of Rhee's reforms will lead to a decrease in the quality of education.<br /><br />I'm trying to keep an open mind, but more and more I find myself drawn to their side. I sincerely fear the use of private money in public education. I'm afraid of a pay for performance system being embraced across the country that will do little to improve education, but a lot to undermine the profession of teaching.<br /><br />Why do I think this will undermine the teaching profession? As I mentioned in my post, I really don't think IMPACT (or any system like it) can do much more in the way of providing quality evaluations of teachers than many systems we already have. Yes - it can add to the discussion surrounding what good teaching really looks like, but when it comes down to it, any administrator who doesn't like you (or doesn't know how to teach themselves) will likely lower your ratings unfairly, thereby possibly harming your pay or job security, despite the fact that you may be doing an amazing job. I'm afraid that when teachers discover this to be the case, they'll decide that few people truly respect the amazing amount of detail and effort that goes into truly excellent pedagogy. They will leave the profession for a place where they will be treated with more dignity and respect for their practice.<br /><br />I acknowledge that I could be wrong here, but I don't think I am. I agree that Rhee has done many good things for DCPS, but I'm afraid her ultimate stand in education reform will be to the enormous detriment of so many kids that need a better education, not higher test scores.james boutinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09625944306253098621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5113479300897983388.post-82289491816378475542010-04-11T19:28:11.047-04:002010-04-11T19:28:11.047-04:00I have a lot of sympathy with the unhappy teachers...I have a lot of sympathy with the unhappy teachers. But we really are well paid here in the District, and getting even better paid. In their heart of hearts, teachers know that quite a few of their colleagues have given up on the students, and lay everything at the door of socio-economic problems. As a trained educator, it is easy to notice that many will shoulder any responsibility for education. They go thru the motions. It is very sad. Rhee is the first superintendent ever who has tried to measure and help, or when those efforts seem hopeless or are rejected, put the ineffective teachers out to pasture. That is a good thing, and I think the rally showed that to be the case in terms of how it was framed and the attendance. Few young teachers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5113479300897983388.post-15201461016394461282010-04-11T09:30:49.989-04:002010-04-11T09:30:49.989-04:00Yeah, that Article 40 scares the c**p out of me. ...Yeah, that Article 40 scares the c**p out of me. I am going to be at least one of the Q&A sessions, and I am VERY curious to see how Parker explains that.Wyrm1noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5113479300897983388.post-62591836189046840212010-04-10T18:22:00.603-04:002010-04-10T18:22:00.603-04:00Anon at 125: I agree. I think a lot of teachers w...Anon at 125: I agree. I think a lot of teachers will feel like it's now or never to vote yes on this. I just wanted to share something that Nathan Saunders pointed out today at the Department of Education. <br /><br />Article 40 of the contract says: "Nothing in this agreement shall be construed as a promise that Congress, the DC Council, or any other organization shall appropriate sufficient funds to meet the obligations set forth in this agreement." <br /><br />Please read the full contract at http://www.wtulocal6.org/custom_images/file/Final%20WTU%20DCPS%20Tentative%20Agreement.pdf before you make any decisions!james boutinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09625944306253098621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5113479300897983388.post-25750108291330088452010-04-10T16:25:57.491-04:002010-04-10T16:25:57.491-04:00Excellent reading, thank you E-favorite and P.S. M...Excellent reading, thank you E-favorite and P.S. Montessori. The new direction of DC public schools is very troubling, the carrot is dangling with just enough honey that the starving teachers in our school might just bite, the contact has been a long time in the making that teachers now feel that it is now or never.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5113479300897983388.post-76987451076051355932010-04-09T21:16:09.119-04:002010-04-09T21:16:09.119-04:00Thanks for the suggestions. Just watched the TED ...Thanks for the suggestions. Just watched the TED clip - very interesting.james boutinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09625944306253098621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5113479300897983388.post-91492156156315724222010-04-09T17:39:03.812-04:002010-04-09T17:39:03.812-04:00Commenting on a comment :) In the same vein as Pin...Commenting on a comment :) In the same vein as Pink, also try ALL of Alfie Kohn's books (if you haven't already).P.S. Montessorihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18162728010675647901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5113479300897983388.post-23094191085590083122010-04-08T20:43:35.979-04:002010-04-08T20:43:35.979-04:00Here is my reading list on human motivation:
Yout...Here is my reading list on human motivation:<br /><br />Youtube by “Drive” author, Dan Pink http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_pink_on_motivation.html<br /><br />If you have time, read his book – it’s a new bestseller and an easy read. It is not about some theory he has developed, it is about numerous, long-standing, empirically-proven and well-respected studies on human motivation.<br /><br />Here are two interviews with Pink, one from NPR and another from an educational organization. http://www.publicschoolinsights.org/carrots-and-sticks-are-so-last-century-conversation-author-dan-pink#comment-2742<br />http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122221202<br /><br />And here is a separate Harvard working paper on the same general subject. It’s a very quick read: http://www.hbs.edu/research/pdf/09-083.pdfE Favoritenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5113479300897983388.post-35439256491395801442010-04-07T17:22:49.610-04:002010-04-07T17:22:49.610-04:00Excellent Post!Excellent Post!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5113479300897983388.post-60615193800003852062010-04-07T16:26:23.143-04:002010-04-07T16:26:23.143-04:00Great post - offhand I'd say the contract is 1...Great post - offhand I'd say the contract is 100% political and any benefit to kids is serendipitious.<br /><br />E FavoriteAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com