tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097158142844550473.post3794302395970717953..comments2023-10-01T06:53:05.812-04:00Comments on The Washington Teacher: Why Not Blame DC's Teachers ?Candi Petersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12266880795971626269noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097158142844550473.post-20466647723371596072010-08-12T13:10:20.538-04:002010-08-12T13:10:20.538-04:00Please tell me when someone is going to address th...Please tell me when someone is going to address the AYP scores correctly. As we know most people who are TRUE educators know that you do not base grades, student progress on one test. <br />Since we know that MR and company are not true educators, then we would not expect for them to understand that this is not acceptable or logical in the true educational community to use one testing instrument to evaluate and rate teachers. Unfortunately this year (only this year) we had a principal who did not allow and time during the day for teaching of test takings skills and reviewing. Whereas, in many opther schools the major complaints have been too much teaching and reviewing of test taking skills. the end result was the majority of the schools fell down in test scores this year.<br />I just retired this year, but because I am so committed to education that I feel that I want to see something done that will improve the educational environment in our city for our students and our educators.<br />I would like to see all DCPS educators hired and retired have a protest in front of the 1200 first street. The terminator needs to go along with the mayor.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097158142844550473.post-40327341719446957992010-07-27T07:40:33.375-04:002010-07-27T07:40:33.375-04:00The LC Moore building rep was seen sucking up to K...The LC Moore building rep was seen sucking up to Kevin Johnson at the Ward 7 straw pool event.<br /><br />Remember, the rep also encouraged the crooked principal (a Rhee excellent principal) to dismiss teachers who questioned the changing of students grades. She also supplied "work packages" to failing students in many different subject areas.<br /><br />Talk to some of the teachers who were excessed out of LC Moore.<br /><br />I have also been told that this individual considers herself to be an advisor to Rhee.<br /><br />Two faced shameless one. It is time for you to go home.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097158142844550473.post-52616100660208843392010-07-26T03:08:43.264-04:002010-07-26T03:08:43.264-04:00So let me get this right. You can be a first year...So let me get this right. You can be a first year teacher, and you will be scored 50% on if your students do well on ONE standardized test, with no comparison as to where they were the year before? Then, if because of this score you are found minimally effective you can get fired at the end of that year?! With no mentoring or help to improve? that's just it?nhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01581100729379897021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097158142844550473.post-87154802190362136032010-07-26T03:00:12.195-04:002010-07-26T03:00:12.195-04:00Are the TFA teachers held to the IMPACT observatio...Are the TFA teachers held to the IMPACT observation tool as well? Have any of them been fired before their two years are up?nhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01581100729379897021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097158142844550473.post-91271154624636271122010-07-25T12:02:03.209-04:002010-07-25T12:02:03.209-04:00@July 21 @7:16PM, I understood and agree with you....@July 21 @7:16PM, I understood and agree with you. What DCPS is going through now is pure Rhee-formation.<br />We are working with a novice make-believe-pretend superintendent. In the 1960's the Hippies always said, "never trust anyone over 30".<br />That saying could be used today, instead of over 30, how about under 40. Rhee and Fenty are both under 40 years of age, and it shows. Neither one of them has a clue about running a school system.<br />I have never, nor will I ever let Rhee and Co. define my teaching skills or abilities. Impact is a sham, and so is Rhee.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097158142844550473.post-29086998760387603922010-07-22T15:14:28.786-04:002010-07-22T15:14:28.786-04:00Candi,
Did you see Bill Turque's new post? A...Candi,<br /><br />Did you see Bill Turque's new post? Apparently DCPS Kaya Henderson said a "sizable" number of teachers will be fired because of IMPACT. Have you heard anything??Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097158142844550473.post-45098280526426167982010-07-22T14:44:05.473-04:002010-07-22T14:44:05.473-04:00I don't think teachers have to cut off their e...I don't think teachers have to cut off their ear to prove to anyone that they are committed to educating their students. This is nonsense. Those who expouse (sp?) this rhetoric are those de-formers interested in privatizing our public schools. This is part of their agenda.<br /><br />Please stop apologizing. No one can define you or your level of commitment. No other profession has to bow down and apologize. This is one of those times when I say offering the middle finger is appropriate. Lets put a period here and move on.The Washington Teacherhttp://thewashingtonteacher.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097158142844550473.post-89008502505851756052010-07-22T14:37:50.284-04:002010-07-22T14:37:50.284-04:00Anonymous @ 842
You make a good point. I am not s...Anonymous @ 842<br /><br />You make a good point. I am not sure if your point has been made by anyone but is is a possibility that the elections comm. made this point. Randi Weingarten nor George Parker are trying to be reasonable and if they were they would have had an election of officers by now. <br /><br />Parker constantly violates the rule of law in our union and then is perplexed when others call him on it. Trying to ask Parker or Weingaren to do the right thing is like asking a venemous snake not to bite.The Washington Teacherhttp://thewashingtonteacher.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097158142844550473.post-3467686254128715002010-07-22T13:27:11.819-04:002010-07-22T13:27:11.819-04:00Candi,
I'm sure that every teacher in group 1(...Candi,<br />I'm sure that every teacher in group 1(testing teachers) have worked extremely hard th prepare their students for the DC-CAS. We as teachers understood that 50% of our IMPACT scores rested on the test results.(which is unfair) I am terribly upset and insulted when anyone implies that maybe some teachers didn't do their best to prepare their students or even didn't care whether their students did well or not. If anything is true I'm sure most of us wanted to prove that we did work hard with our students inspite of the unfavorable working and learning environments.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097158142844550473.post-85107920008556776262010-07-21T17:35:58.731-04:002010-07-21T17:35:58.731-04:00To Anonymous at 12:54:
I didn't root for stud...To Anonymous at 12:54:<br /><br />I didn't root for students to do poorly on the recents tests. I just know that we reap what we sow. I was glad to see Rhee reaping what she has sown sooner rather than later - after I have left the school system and no longer keep up with the happenings here.<br /><br />If the scores had not gone down this year, they would go down eventually simply because Rhee is not supporting the teachers like she should. It was inevitable. Don't expect the upper grades to sustain their progress over the next two years either under these circumstances.usereasonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097158142844550473.post-78744976844641889282010-07-21T14:42:30.474-04:002010-07-21T14:42:30.474-04:00Candi,
Sorry my comment is not about this post bu...Candi,<br /><br />Sorry my comment is not about this post but I want to share a thought with you about the whether or not George Parker should be eligible to run for WTU president.<br /><br />I don't know the details about George's claim that the former election committee had no authority b/c he says it was not set up properly. <br /><br />Let's say that this is true. My point is that George should have notified all WTU members that the deadline for submitting nomination petitions for the WTU leadership would be delayed until a proper election for election committee members took place. This should have been sent out at the very latest in April.<br /><br />Instead no such communication occurred and all members were left with the assumption that the deadline was hard and fast. I really think this is the only evidence that one needs to show that he is not eligible to run.<br /><br />Do you know if this point has been made? Has George or Randi ever explained why no such notification happened?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097158142844550473.post-41762507266549210262010-07-21T13:16:05.934-04:002010-07-21T13:16:05.934-04:00from anon.7/21/10. I think that what I was trying...from anon.7/21/10. I think that what I was trying to convey was misunderstood. I thought that the person who originally wrote this comment was trying to show how before MR came to DCPS Dr. Janey had all of the components for effective teaching and learning in place, and for the first two years that MR was in control, she had no clue what to do so she left everything in place. Which means during those two years students'test scores were improving and teachers were feeling good about what they were teaching and how they were teaching. MR's first two years were successful not because of her, but because of what Janey already had in place.<br /> Then by the 3rd year MR came out with all her MESS that is in effect now. Heck no please don't think I was singing her praises ,I was just trying to let others who might not have known what things were already in place and working for our children long before there was Michelle Rhee. Sorry if anyone got the wrong impression that I was giving her credit for anything other then the mess that we are in today because of her.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097158142844550473.post-43573423946845730452010-07-21T10:48:45.587-04:002010-07-21T10:48:45.587-04:00I teach because, as a teacher, I have enormous pow...I teach because, as a teacher, I have enormous power to affect my students. Almost everyone I talk to have at least one teacher who literally changed their lives. If you subscribe to the fatalistic, self-serving point of view that teachers cannot affect student achievement, you truly need to find another line of work.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097158142844550473.post-54542952306585328142010-07-21T09:04:24.267-04:002010-07-21T09:04:24.267-04:00I don't know any teacher rooting for bad test ...I don't know any teacher rooting for bad test scores just to stick it to Rhee or some unpopular principal. We're about to get our finalized IMPACT ratings. Everyone will be getting at least 5% for school-value-added. Around 20% of DC teachers are group 1, where 50% of their IMPACT rating is based on their students' test scores. In addition, those group 1 teachers eligible for a step increase won't get one if their final rating is not in the effective or highly effective range. And most of all, as dedicated teaching professionals, we want our students to do well and show how smart they are through decent CAS scores.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097158142844550473.post-87774526499823003332010-07-21T08:01:25.801-04:002010-07-21T08:01:25.801-04:00Additional response to anonymous at 12:54
Rhee’s ...Additional response to anonymous at 12:54<br /><br />Rhee’s damage to the kids is already done and is ongoing. What I’m rooting for is stoppping it, so the school system can get back on track as soon as possible.<br /><br />As I_educ8 points out, the public should be more informed about the facts of her destructiveness. <br /><br />Just yesterday in a published email to WP reporter Bill Turque, Rhee stated: “The fact is that over the last three years, DCPS students have made unprecedented gains in academic achievement, according to every measuring stick available to us (DC CAS, NAEP, graduation rates).”<br /><br />Based on official, published information, this is completely untrue regarding NAEP (unless you interpret “unprecedented” to mean “never happened.”)<br /><br />Please see the NAEP scores from the late 90’s until 2009 that I listed there:<br />http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dcschools/2010/07/test_scores_whose_good_news.html#commentsEFavoritenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097158142844550473.post-63786559587938151292010-07-21T07:11:21.546-04:002010-07-21T07:11:21.546-04:00I hear that IVA (individual valued added) points f...I hear that IVA (individual valued added) points for those teachers in the testing grades will be added on to their IMPACT scores by this Friday. This counts for 50% of their evaluation. Additionally 5% for SVA (school value added) that most all other groups receive as well, based on school DCCAS scores, will be calculated by Friday. For many elementary school teachers, THIS WON'T BE PRETTY. At my friend's school, they dropped 20points in reading. My school also took a hit. Candi baby, follow this closely.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097158142844550473.post-35415812929683805142010-07-21T06:54:38.798-04:002010-07-21T06:54:38.798-04:00Moderated reply to Anonymous:
wth r u talking abo...Moderated reply to Anonymous:<br /><br />wth r u talking about? Of course this is rhetorical question. U make no sense. Comprehend the written word. You sound like you drank the Rhee kool-aid & just trying to start trouble.<br /><br />This blog was created so that people could have a venue to discuss issues and their real feelings about education without fear of retaliation or censure. Rhee is so insignificant in this equation. Stop with your guilt tripping.<br /><br />Happy trails!<br />________________________________________<br />Anonymous writes: I don't get it. There are so many teachers rooting for bad results on tests and other kinds of bad outcomes--to embarrass Rhee if they can. But aren't they just damaging the children? Aren't the DCPS run for the children?The Washington Teacherhttp://thewashingtonteacher.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097158142844550473.post-22438412085821475712010-07-20T23:23:03.463-04:002010-07-20T23:23:03.463-04:00Hi Candi,
I certainly will not take the credit fo...Hi Candi, <br />I certainly will not take the credit for the following comment. I was reading some of the 96 comments written about an article recently written by Bill Turque on 7/14/10, titled. "D.C. Elementary Schools lose Ground on Test;Secondary Gains Continue." On the 4th page of comments I found this great summary of the MR regime. It is quite long but really accurate and informative and a must read. If you choose not to post it due to the length I will understand. Here it is......<br />It should not be forgotten that a structured and systematic approach to teaching identified learning standards based on specific learning objectives was instituted in Dr. Janey's administration under the leadership of Dr. Wilmar Bonner. A rigorous professional development program supported on-going instructional support for teachers was actively in place. Many teachers complained about posting standards in the classroom and having to be accountable to teaching the standards,however, within a year a positive difference could be observed in learning environments, teaching practices and the way teachers talked about teaching and learning. Students were responding to those teaching practices in measurable ways that were visible in their work and test scores. When Michelle Rhee took over the school district in June 2007, she made no changes in the instructional program for 2007/2008 or 2008/2009 school years, nor did she support or reinforce the academic reform instituted by Dr. Janey. Her focus was elsewhere. Teachers continued to do what they were taught to do, but learning standards slowly came down from classroom walls and teaching to specific objectives was left up to individual teachers. For two years the instructional program was essentially ignored by Michelle Rhee. Her academic leadership was inconsistent and unstable as evidenced by the high turnover of central office personnel in charge of the academic programs. The test results this year reflect the decline in the rigorous academic program and support that was implemented under Dr. Janey and still practiced after he left as nothing else was in place. Changes to the academic program, professional development and teacher support began to change in the spring of 2009. The effects of the changes to the academic program instituted under Michelle Rhee's administration are refelected in the test scores this year and are telling.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097158142844550473.post-19203035619253094142010-07-20T22:44:07.599-04:002010-07-20T22:44:07.599-04:00Anonymous @ 4:12
The error has been taken care of....Anonymous @ 4:12<br />The error has been taken care of.<br /><br />Anonymous @ 10:28<br />I left off Mary Collins, WTU Field rep was also on the WTU Contract Negotiation team as well.The Washington Teacherhttp://thewashingtonteacher.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097158142844550473.post-11295554088545146452010-07-20T22:12:11.705-04:002010-07-20T22:12:11.705-04:00Hi Candi, I am anon.7/20 @12:02 I noticed that my ...Hi Candi, I am anon.7/20 @12:02 I noticed that my very long post was posted three times in a row. I'm sure that you didn't mean for that to happen. I hope that it wasn't a mistake made on my part. If so I'm so very sorry.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097158142844550473.post-20483862797253144792010-07-20T21:24:44.138-04:002010-07-20T21:24:44.138-04:00Clearly, Rhee will use teachers as scapegoats espe...Clearly, Rhee will use teachers as scapegoats especially veteran educators. "Why Not Blame DC's Teachers?"<br /><br />Rhee's favorite quote to Fast Company magazaine 2010, "I got rid of teachers who had hit children, who had had sex with children, who had missed 78 days of school. Why wouldn't we take those things into consideration?" Manufactured Reduction in Force - November 2, 2009.<br /><br />BEWARE TEACHERS!! Rhee is waiting for the perfect moment to present termination letters to Elementary Teachers who administered the DC CAS assessment and have low IMPACT scores.<br /><br />Please have a Plan B and C to fall back on!! Secondary Educators are next in line. <br /><br />DCPS Fact: Only two DCPS High Schools made AYP in 2009!!Sheila H. Gillnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097158142844550473.post-15897674648828303752010-07-20T17:28:43.175-04:002010-07-20T17:28:43.175-04:00EFavorite,
Regarding the “whys and wherefores” be...EFavorite,<br /><br />Regarding the “whys and wherefores” behind Rhee's teacher bashing (or recent lack thereof), I think, undoubtedly, there are those inside and outside of the District who applaud her efforts. However, for District residents whose lives have been upended for capricious, baseless, subjective, personal and arbitrary reasons by vindictive administrators (both in the schools and central office), there is great potential for voter backlash. <br /><br />Why Rhee has quieted her venomous rhetoric likely has more to do with Fenty not being able to afford alienating any more voters during this critical time in the campaign cycle. <br /><br />Just as Candi reported months ago, Rhee promised to terminate many teachers in July and we see that her promise has been realized. There was no fanfare or rallies/protests (as was the case in October 2009), but the end result is the same. So many times, we get caught up in the drama and miss the behind-the-scenes machinations. I’d like to know just how many educators were “separated” this month and what was the breakdown regarding years of service, age, race, etc. I’d also like to know how many teachers were excessed in June and have now failed to find a new placement for 2010-2011. How many new hires have there been and what were the dates of their hire? How many of her appointees (principals and teachers) have been deemed ineffective by the data?<br /><br />I don't think we need to focus our efforts on psychoanalyzing Rhee or pondering her motives. Rather, let's keep her lies, discrepancies, and LACK OF POSITIVE RESULTS/SUCCESS on the front burner.I_educ8noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097158142844550473.post-28623246960406337362010-07-20T16:51:45.753-04:002010-07-20T16:51:45.753-04:00Anonymous @10:28 The people on the WTU contract ne...Anonymous @10:28 The people on the WTU contract negotiations team were:<br /><br />George Parker - Chief Negotiator<br />Randi Weinagten- AFT President<br />Joe Carillo, Vernon Williams (retired Spingarn), Erich Martell (Wilson), Emily Washington (Luke C Moore) and<br />one other person who I am blocking her name right now. She use to work at Stoddert.The Washington Teacherhttp://thewashingtonteacher.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097158142844550473.post-57025453318565891092010-07-20T16:28:17.138-04:002010-07-20T16:28:17.138-04:00Candi- Who were the people on the contract negotia...Candi- Who were the people on the contract negotiation team. In previous years we knew. This time around they seem to be anonymous.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097158142844550473.post-39476453651825031422010-07-20T14:01:09.892-04:002010-07-20T14:01:09.892-04:00The sad part about this Rhee/Fenty/WaPo/Kaplan mes...The sad part about this Rhee/Fenty/WaPo/Kaplan mess is, that DCPS will suffer for years. Teachers that might have otherwise try to get a teaching job here, will say, no way will I work in a hostile environment. DCPS which is now a part of the DC Government will reap what they have sowed, letting Rhee/Fenty/WaPo/Kaplan unleash all of this negativity on this city. This city, just like so many urban cities will never get rid of disadvantaged families. We are in a World Wide Depression. The city council could have done more to help DC teachers, but they are not a school board. A school board would have been of value, when it comes to true educational reforms. Rhee& Co. did more harm than good. We will now sit back and wait for the test results. Any person with a brain knows that the hostile environments that many teachers and staff have worked in for four years, also had students present when all of this ugly unprofessional behavior by the Rhee/Fenty/WaPo/Kaplan, et al. was carried out. How does one think our students fared. Not very well.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com