tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1797875972831999598.post9127741119549525719..comments2023-11-22T04:27:07.521-06:00Comments on glen brown: I'm On Your Side by Diane Ravitchgbrownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13435049339082622611noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1797875972831999598.post-28925427717454716012014-07-22T10:40:30.081-05:002014-07-22T10:40:30.081-05:00Those that chose teaching exhibit the antithesis o...Those that chose teaching exhibit the antithesis of the attitude of today's public about everything. "If it doesn't touch me or mine I don't give a shit!"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1797875972831999598.post-17792650378780090992014-07-22T08:57:52.319-05:002014-07-22T08:57:52.319-05:00Diane Ravitch has been courageous outspoken critic...Diane Ravitch has been courageous outspoken critic of corporate school reform for nearly a decade. Her contributions and her accolades are well-earned. <br /><br />As local union president, I bought a copy of “The Death and Life of the American School System” for every member of our board. <br /><br />Ravitch says, "I am on the side of teachers because most cannot defend themselves and speak out against for fear of losing their job. I speak because they can’t." <br /><br />I respectfully disagree with her. Teachers acting collectively can and do speak out and defend themselves and their students. <br /><br />Teachers have demonstrated have taken control of their unions in Massachusetts, LA and in Chicago. They have joined together to turn their unions into powerful organizations that are prepared to fight the corporate agenda, for our pension rights, for equality, and for social justice.<br /><br />I appreciate all that Diane Ravitch has done. <br /><br />But in the end we must - and do - speak for ourselves.<br /><br /><br />- Fred KlonskyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1797875972831999598.post-80649771668499289412014-07-22T07:31:29.153-05:002014-07-22T07:31:29.153-05:00What do we do best as teachers?
We inspire other...What do we do best as teachers? <br /><br />We inspire others. We influence and move people to action. We take a person’s potentiality and make it an actuality. We offer our help to others because of our compassion and our empathy, because of our humility and our dignity. We communicate truths because of our integrity. We never give up because of our moral responsibility towards one another and the importance of trust among individuals. We fight against all injustices. We understand; we discuss; we mediate, and we act. We do what is right and model our behavior for others. We hold ourselves accountable for what we do and what we believe is true. We set the example. <br /><br />What are we as teachers? We are leaders, consultants, diagnosticians and evaluators; we are life-long learners; we are architects for the experiences of others. We are what we want to see in others: our idealism, our indomitable spirit, our commitment to human rights and to the creation of a better society. We are responsible, intrepid and just. We are one of last bastions of hope for a society driven by amoral envy and indifferent greed. <br /><br />And we are appalled by hypocrisy and lies, by incompetence, irresponsibility and cronyism. We are appalled by intentional faulty logic and the unethical scapegoating of others, by arrogance and self-interest, by prejudice and the injustices done to others. We are appalled by indifference because “indifference is not a response”; therefore, we unite and fight the injustice being perpetrated against ourselves and others because we are not fearful!<br /><br />Glen Brown<br />gbrownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13435049339082622611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1797875972831999598.post-9248959708486764572012-08-03T16:01:08.884-05:002012-08-03T16:01:08.884-05:00Thank you for these words. I've been teaching ...Thank you for these words. I've been teaching for 5 years and STILL don't think I have quite the experiences that make me a veteran. I gave up another career for this - without regret. I fight everyday for my Special Ed students and their futures.Sara Annehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09707992638426907665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1797875972831999598.post-88446089311543580692012-08-01T19:21:53.345-05:002012-08-01T19:21:53.345-05:00Thank Diane. I am almost going to be a first year ...Thank Diane. I am almost going to be a first year teacher (two more years in college!) and I could not agree MORE with your statement about first year teachers! There is a HUGE difference between me and someone who has been in the classroom for 10+ years. I need those teachers because they will help us new-comers into this wonderful profession. Thank you Diane for everything you stand for in education!!!Jeremiahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14051456001071189980noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1797875972831999598.post-27698697658150667552012-08-01T15:02:20.675-05:002012-08-01T15:02:20.675-05:00As a teacher I am glad to see that you have finall...As a teacher I am glad to see that you have finally come to your senses. What took you so long? You piled on for quite <br />awhile and the damage that you did contributed to the disrespect of a noble profession. Good to have you back in the foldAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12558829181400947670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1797875972831999598.post-58131563088440614192012-08-01T12:34:03.731-05:002012-08-01T12:34:03.731-05:00I look forward to that day Ms. Ravitch.I look forward to that day Ms. Ravitch.JackShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13907117701959971489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1797875972831999598.post-11209571016780786372012-08-01T12:08:11.209-05:002012-08-01T12:08:11.209-05:00"I am astonished that federal policy now dema..."I am astonished that federal policy now demands that teachers be evaluated by the test scores of their students."<br /><br />Well, considering that using a standardized test score for anything other than it's intended use is UNETHICAL I'm surprised we all aren't "astonished".<br /><br />Not to mention the fact that educational standards, standardized testing, grading, VAM etc. . . are as Noel Wilson puts it invalid and the resulting conclusions "vain and illusory". Wilson's complete destruction of those concepts can be found in “Educational Standards and the Problem of Error” found at: http://epaa.asu.edu/ojs/article/view/577 and “A Little Less than Valid: An Essay Review” found at: http://www.edrev.info/essays/v10n5index.html<br /><br />All educators should read and understand these two studies for which no rebuttal has been proffered.OYEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06253914027883911058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1797875972831999598.post-89578405406687521482012-08-01T11:55:43.668-05:002012-08-01T11:55:43.668-05:00Thank you, Diane and Glen.Thank you, Diane and Glen.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15007179425956615310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1797875972831999598.post-62137447881484156132012-07-22T23:46:26.394-05:002012-07-22T23:46:26.394-05:00Diane--I can't thank you enough for this post....Diane--I can't thank you enough for this post. I've forwarded it to everyone on my e-mail list who knows a teacher or owes a teacher...so, virtually, everyone. You can't possibly know how much your words mean to us. Thank you thank you thank you!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12706844581870599386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1797875972831999598.post-81388426201475417412012-07-22T22:49:10.583-05:002012-07-22T22:49:10.583-05:00You described our reality with clarity and compass...You described our reality with clarity and compassion. Thank you, Ms. Ravitch.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1797875972831999598.post-66794831067622592012012-07-22T14:36:05.522-05:002012-07-22T14:36:05.522-05:00Thank you, Diane.
Thank you, Glen.
Thank you, Illi...Thank you, Diane.<br />Thank you, Glen.<br />Thank you, Illinois teacher advocates - active and retired.<br />Let's keep fighting the dark-side forces of Avarice who have singled us out as the major battle in its War Against the Middle Class.<br />Ken PrevitiTeachershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11122053178544975314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1797875972831999598.post-43356908881455471182012-07-22T08:23:47.150-05:002012-07-22T08:23:47.150-05:00Thank you for 'getting it' and validating ...Thank you for 'getting it' and validating our truth. Thank you for speaking up and continuing to speak up until the nation 'gets it' and allows teachers to TEACH in all the wonderful creative ways they know how to do!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com