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CAT Tracks for October 2, 2010
Oooh...Ahhh |
While Diane Ravitch continues to speak from experience and with wisdom...
...United States Stooge of Education Arne Duncan continues of offer proof that he and his boss don't have a clue!
The highest government officials in federal and state government (who never spent a single day in the classroom as a teacher) spent the past week making their media rounds, trashing public schools and public school teachers. I suppose in their warped little brains they consider their effort "inspiring"...a call to a new generation of educators...to give up the luxuries promised in the world of business and Wall Street...to become a new "Education Peace Corps".
Listen...
Can't you hear it?
How soon they forget...
President John F. Kennedy didn't reach out to a new generation by trashing the previous generation.
Note to Obama, Duncan, et al...
The "best and the brightest" by definition "ain't stupid". They understand that by devoting the next 4, 5, 6 years to education and teacher preparation (or an even shorter path if we do away with the "worthless teacher-training mills"), they will simply become the next targets of abuse as a new "silver bullet" is discovered to solve "the problem" of public education in the United States...a problem that is NOT public education and public school teachers...a problem that is poverty and the instant-gratification, without-effort culture of the United States.
Sign me up!!!
From eClassroom News...
Feds launch new teacher recruitment web site
Site of the Week.
Education Secretary Arne Duncan on Sept. 27 launched a national teacher recruitment campaign that features a new web site, www.teach.gov, with information for students and prospective teachers—including a new interactive “pathway to teaching” tool designed to help individuals chart their course to becoming a teacher.
“With more than a million teachers expected to retire in the coming years, we have a historic opportunity to transform public education in America by calling on a new generation to join those already in the classroom,” Duncan said. “We are working with the broader education community to strengthen and elevate the entire teaching profession so that every teacher has the support and training they need to succeed.”
The campaign aims to boost the number, quality, and diversity of people seeking to become teachers, particularly in high-need schools and subject areas in greatest demand, such as science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), English-language learners, and special education. To do this, it will help connect aspiring teachers with information about the pathways to teaching, including preparation, certification, training, and mentoring, and it also will celebrate and honor the teaching profession.
In addition, the Education Department will be working with Facebook to launch an interactive application on the TEACH Facebook page that will connect current teachers with young people. The application is designed to let students engage directly with an experienced teacher and ask questions.
In response to the TEACH campaign, American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten said: “We welcome the U.S. Department of Education’s campaign to recruit, support, and celebrate teachers. Millions of teachers work hard every day to make a difference in their students’ lives, and each year many thousands more are needed to join this important profession.”
She added: “These new teachers—like all teachers—must be supported. As rewarding as teaching is, it is extremely complex, difficult work. Research shows that students benefit from having teachers with three to five years of experience, but many teachers lack the support to make it to that point. Mentoring, coaching, time to collaborate with colleagues, and feedback on classroom performance all can help new and struggling teachers thrive in their profession.”
"Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country..."
