Teachers, Arne's listening. What do you think about standards?

[YvonneCa]

Be nice... :7

http://www.edgovblogs.org/duncan/2009/05/secretary-arne-duncan-takes-listening-tour-online-invites-comments-on-raising-standards/


Cross-posted to GD.

[earthside]

1. Don't Reauthorize NCLB!

Here is what I posted to Arne's "Listening Tour Online":

The people closest to their own children know best what is best for … their own children.

International, national and state standards should be abandoned — all that really matters is the quality of education demanded by parents through their LOCAL school boards.

Adoption of more educratically defined standards and the move towards a national curriculum will, in fact, further degrade the actual education of our children … and will further turn real teachers into bureaucratic robots.

NCLB should absolutely NOT be reauthorized and a discussion on real education reform should be started — not yet another fake discussion that merely devolves back to pleas for more money and more centralized power over schools.

[YvonneCa]

2. That's wonderful! I'm glad you...

...posted. If you read the comments, you might notice that you are in good company. :)

[LWolf]

3. Done.

My comments are "awaiting moderation."

[YvonneCa]

4. Thank you. I know some here...

...may have already known about this, but I didn't. I am VERY glad he is seeking teachers' opinions. Did you read some of the comments...they are VERY interesting. ;)


Edited to add: My comment is also still awaiting moderation, and I posted it yesterday. :(

[LWolf]

7. Mine is finally there.

It was marked # 76 when I posted it, but in the 120s when it was finally added.

I read through all 150 or so this afternoon. There are some incredible responses, and an overwhelmingly consistent call for NOT continuing down the road we've been on.

This is all positive, if by "listening" he means that what we say will make a difference in what politicians do. I'm skeptical about that, given his record, but time will tell.

[Nevernose]

5. It's ironic that so many want to move towards an international model

When European and Asian countries spend so much time and energy trying to emulate our system of education. The higher education and the top 10% of K-12 education is, hands-down, the best in the world.

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. I have often wondered why, if our schools are so bad. so many foreign students come here

Another thing that is puzzling, is why our universities are so reluctant to accept credits from foreign schools. Many refugees have to go back to school before being allowed to practice their profession here. If our schools are so much worse than theirs, then those credits should be accepted.