An open letter to the community:
Teachers are the bedrock of our schools and the single most important key to student success. To ensure great results, every student deserves a great teacher and every teacher deserves a fair and accurate evaluation process that will strengthen their professional practice without threatening their positions or insulting their capacity to grow and improve.
With the best interests of children front and center, the School District of Philadelphia must do everything it takes to recruit the best and the brightest teachers, encourage and reward high performers, provide assistance and support to those who struggle and implement a system of ongoing opportunities for career and talent development.
We stand with President Obama and Education Secretary Arne Duncan in placing an aggressive and unrelenting focus on teacher effectiveness. If our commitment to student success is genuine, then it is up to us -- teachers, administrators, parents, policy-makers and legislators -- to make a commitment in equal measure to the professional success and equitable placement of their teachers. We are morally obligated and collectively responsible to ensure anyone entrusted with the education of our children is doing a great job, recognized for their excellence in performance and justly rewarded for results. Again I say if we care about the success of our students, we have to care about the success of their teachers and treat them as the professionals they are.
Last week, the New Teacher Project released a comprehensive research report on the "nation's failure to assess teacher effectiveness, treating teachers as interchangeable parts." The two-year study describes a "Widget Effect" (www.widgeteffect.org) that restricts schools and districts from "recognizing excellence, providing support, or removing ineffective teachers." The report illustrates a national "failure to acknowledge and act on differences in teacher effectiveness" and faults teacher evaluation systems that reflect and codify the "Widget Effect" by treating teachers as essentially interchangeable parts -- allowing the excellence of some to go unrecognized and the need for improvement in others to go unaddressed. The authors noted less than 1 percent of 40,000 teachers in the study were ever rated "unsatisfactory." The Philadelphia story is no different. Out of a teaching force of over 10,000 in the district, only 13 received "unsatisfactory" ratings and only five were removed from the classroom.
We cannot hope to close the opportunity and achievement gap and help students from all backgrounds achieve high standards or realize the goals of Imagine 2014 without the professional skills and personal influence of great teachers. To meet the needs of children and schools fairly, we need the freedom to be flexible in staffing and matching the talents of teachers with subject, site and area needs.
Some Philadelphia students have access to good schools, great teachers, effective principals and excellent programs. A measure of "some but not all' is unacceptable. All Philadelphia's children deserve a fair chance to dream and succeed, equal access to opportunities and skillful classroom teachers who understand their need for love and limits as they strive to learn.
Teachers matter a lot to every child in every school at all times. That said, is it fair one child is being taught "the key to success" is filling-in the right bubble for the right multiple-choice answer to other people's questions, while another is learning success comes from finding your own voice, thinking critically and discovering your rightful place in the world? The answer is a simple and categorical "No."
To the Editor:
Teresa Vitullo thinks because we are being forced to switch to a digital TV signal "it's getting to be a Communist country" ("Word on the Street," June 18). Ms. Vitullo is shockingly uninformed on this topic. You'd think this transition began Jan. 21, 2009 -- the day of President Obama's inauguration. In fact, the Obama administration pushed for an extension for the switch because of a lack of funds for the conversion, which was supposed to occur in mid-February. Some stations have been showing digital programming for years -- NBC has been preparing for digital since the early '80s and "The Tonight Show" has been broadcasting digitally since 1999. Last year -- under the Bush administration -- the government made almost $20 billion selling the old analog channels to -- the Russians? The Cubans? The Chinese? No, they sold most of them to those "red" companies like AT&T and Verizon to use for that "Commie" stuff like TV for cellphones, Wi-Fi, etc.
So no, Ms. Vitullo, the government isn't "staying up all night, thinking of ways to 'get' the middle class" -- at least, not when it comes to the analog/digital conversion.
Article:
Tickled by Elmo
Article:
Groundhog Day
Article:
January warmth
Article:
Chronic hopelessness
Article:
Punk patrol
Article:
Questioning the toque system
Article:
Writing on the wall
Article:
The credibility gap
1. G.J.Maffei said... on Jun 26, 2009 at 04:29AM
“Dear Editor: The present day condition of this country was brought about by several Federal Administrations over the years. We the American people have a tendency to vote a straight party line. Many of the candidates are good politicians but we also drag along the worst of them too as a result of our voting practices. I object to the Federal Government now being an active partner in big business. Also to the various methods of taxing the public. Our healthcare is now going to take a hit by taxing your company's healthcare plan to you. How much more can the average person be taxed? We are worried about going "Green". How about if we use some of the oil and shall reserves we have in this country. There is talk that this winter our energy costs could double. If we utilized what resources we have on hand this would not have happened. It has been many years since any new refineries have built in this country. Maybe congress should look at that situation and see what could be done. This administration has dabbled in everything else why are they not holding gas prices in check. If they can regulate pay checks for CEO's in bailout companies they should be able to regulate gas and oil prices as well. As it is now they can go up and down any time OPEC decides its in their best interests. Take notice when summer puts more people on the road the gas prices jumped way up. I wonder why? I think the President is trying his best but he relies too much on the people around him Some of them lack the credentials for the positions they presently hold. Come the 4th of July, we will see what North Korea has in store for us with their missile program. This will be the first real litmus test of our Federal Government. ”
2. Gloria Endres said... on Jun 26, 2009 at 11:03AM
“SORRY, BECAUSE OF THE SIZE OF MY FONT, I MUST USE CAPITALS. IT IS NOT MEANT TO BE A "SHOUT"ALTHOUGH READING DR. ACKERMAN'S REMARKS, I AM TEMPTED TO SCREAM. THIS IS A VERY CLEVERLY CRAFTED ORWELLIAN PIECE FILLED WITH DOUBLE AND EVEN TRIPLE ENTENDRES. PEOPLE READING IT AT FIRST THINK, WOW, WHAT A GOOD IDEA. HOLD TEACHERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR STUDENT LEARNING. MATCH THEM TO THE BEST SITUATIONS AND "REWARD" THOSE WHO DO THE BEST JOB! IT IS NOT WHAT SHE REALLY MEANS.. WHAT SHE MEANS IS THAT SHE WANTS TOTAL CONTROL OF THE WAY TEACHERS (AND PRINCIPALS) ARE ASSIGNED, EVALUATED AND PAID SO THAT THERE WILL BE NO NEED FOR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING . FURTHERMORE, SHE IMPLIES THAT TEACHERS WHO DO NOT TOE HER LINE WILL BE "PUNISHED" IN SOME WAY ALL THE WAY UP TO DISCHARGE. I NOTE A SLIGHT CHANGE IN HER RHETORIC. SHE TALKS ABOUT "CRITICAL THINKING" VERSUS "FILLING IN THE RIGHT BUBBLE". THAT IS INTERESTING, SINCE ALL CHILDREN, EVEN THOSE WHO ARE SPECIAL EDUCATION AND BEING INSTRUCTED BELOW THE READING LEVEL OF THE TEST, ALL CHILDREN MUST TAKE THE STATE TEST. HOW. PRAY TELL, DOES THAT FOSTER "CRITICAL THINKING"? WHAT IT FOSTERS ARE HYSTERICAL CHILDREN WHO MUST BE BRIBED AND CAJOLED TO SIT AND "FILL IN BUBBLES" JUST AS SHE DECRIES IN HER PIECE. WHICH DO YOU WANT, ARLENE? THE REAL SURPRISE COMES WHEN A TEACHER ACTUALLY PUSHES AND PRODS HER STUDENTS INTO IMPROVING THEIR SCORES. THAT TEACHER IS THEN OFFERED HER OWN BRIBE OF "MERIT PAY" AND THEN....WHOA NELLIE...SHE IS SHIPPED AGAINST HER WILL TO ANOTHER SITE WHERE SHE IS TOLD TO REPEAT HER MIRACLE. IT DOES NOT MATTER THAT THIS TEACHER HAS A RAPPORT WITH HER COMMUNITY AND THE CHILDREN OR THAT HER EXAMPLE IS A BOON TO NEW TEACHERS IN THE BUILDING. SHE GETS "FORCE TRANSFERRED TO A SCHOOL WHERE THE SCORES ON THOSE AWFUL BUBBLE IN TESTS ARE NOT SO HOT. GONE WILL BE SENIORITY, TIES WITH HOME AND SCHOOL COMMUNITY, COLLEGIALITY AND TEAM SPIRIT. IT WILL BE EVERY MAN FOR HIMSELF, COMPETING FOR THOSE PAVLOVIAN TREATS HANDED OUT BY THE GRACIOUS CEO. ONLY THE PARADOX IS: THAT WITH THAT MERIT PAY COMES THE THREAT OF DISPLACEMENT. WHO WOULD WANT TO ACCEPT A TEACHING POSITION UNDER THOSE CONDITIONS? ”
3. chaloots said... on Jun 28, 2009 at 05:37AM
“Dr. Ackerman's letter sounds like she wants to break the Teacher's Union and make good teachers go to bad schools. I don't think it will float! But what I want to know Dr. Ackerman, is where is your moral obligation to the lower paid staff like NTA's that assist in the children's education and safety? Dr. Ackerman you know there are people working for the school district that are paid below poverty level wages with inadequate health insurance. These are good hard working people who truly care about the children. They certainly aren't there for the pay or the inadequate health benefits. Dr. Ackerman doesn't even mention these dedicated hard working contributors to our children's educational success. I think that the lower paid staff that are truly dedicated and deserving, receive a pay that reflects their contribution to the school systems success. The principals know who deserves better than what the District is giving, and they should be able to reward these underpaid employees for their dedication”
4. Gloria Endres said... on Jun 28, 2009 at 11:33AM
“CHALOOTS, IF YOU KNOW ANYONE WHO IS AN AIDE IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, YOU SHOULD WARN THEM THAT THEIR JOBS ARE ALWAYS EXPENDABLE. ONE OF THE WAYS THEY CUT BUDGETS IS TO ELIMINATE JOBS AT THE LOWER END OF THE SCALE, ESPECIALLY NTA'S AND SECURITY GUARDS. SOME PEOPLE THINK SHE IS LAYING ON THESE HARSH DEMANDS SO THAT SHE CAN HAVE SOMETHING WITH WHICH TO BARGAIN LATER. SHE CAN ALWAYS "GIVE BACK" ONE OF HER GOOFY DEMANDS IN EXCHANGE FOR CONCESSIONS FROM THE UNION. OK, I WON'T FORCE TRANSFERS THIS TIME, BUT YOU HAVE TO GIVE UP A PERCENTAGE OF YOUR WAGE DEMANDS. WHEN ACKERMAN RAN THE SCHOOLS IN SAN FRANCISCO, BY THE WAY, SHE DECONSTRUCTED 35 SCHOOLS AND LAID OFF EVERYONE, INCLUDING AIDES. THEY ALL HAD TO REAPPLY FOR THEIR JOBS. SHE IS GETTING READY TO DO THE SAME HERE TO 30 "LOW PERFORMING" SCHOOLS. THIS LADY IS A TOUGH COOKIE AND SHE IS RETIRING AFTER THIS, SO SHE DOES NOT CARE WHAT YOU THINK. ”
5. Igor Walker said... on Jul 3, 2009 at 02:09PM
“As usual, Dr. Ackerman is skirting issues and putting down teachers in this district. Shame on her. I once heard her speak and the only thing she could speak on was her lack of high heels.... mentioned it 4 times in a 10 min speech. I was appalled. She needs to hold herself up to her own standards. GO and TEach in the worst schools YOU make scores raise.. then maybe we'll listen!”