…Lawrence, where they have taken standardization to a whole new level. Now it appears that some teachers are being directed by coaches talking in their ear about what exactly to say, what tone of voice to use, and even how to stand. Even the kids aren’t buying it and are begging the teachers to ignore these voices. Memo to self – don’t apply to teach in Lawrence.
(Technical note: Yesterday and today BMG has been very slow to load on two different browsers, even timing out in some cases. It also took me a couple of tries to write this post.) [Hopefully, this problem has been fixed. -ed.]
Please share widely!
sabutai says
What about Florida, which is leaning toward giving some teachers bonuses based on a test they took during the Carter Administration, if not before?
Mark L. Bail says
happens when the state takes over a school: they hire a private contractor that does this kind of crap.
Several years ago, Holyoke hired America’s Choice, which came in and inflicted strange protocols on the teachers. Lights must always be left on. Certain colors of chalk must be used. They were a clownish outfit, but they made money, and more importantly, the superintendent could say he was trying this strategy. And when it didn’t work, he could blame the company.
Trickle up says
Its not what happened during the Chelsea receivership, for instance.
marcus-graly says
Or just the municipal government?
Christopher says
AFAIK the schools are completely part of the municipal government rather than a separate jurisdiction like a regional system would be.
Trickle up says
for at least another 3 years.
marcus-graly says
Were their schools also in receivership, or just their city government?
Al says
but the school system was given over to control by Boston University, privatization of a public school system. The schools did improve, but I don’t recall any specifics.
sabutai says
…there was a positive blip in the scores. The students being tested had a history of doing well on tests, so BU declared victory and left. Then a return to what had been….treading water.
Private contractors can’t keep struggling families from struggling. They can’t magically make students working in English as a Second Language fluent in the language of Shakespeare. They can massage the numbers, have their friends in the Department give them a contract, and walk away laughing with students’ futures and our money in the pocket.
Christopher says
Is there the slightest bit of evidence, not to mention good sense, to indicate that such procedures help kids do better?
Mark L. Bail says
http://www.newteachercenter.org/impact/counting-data
Don’t know what Andy Hargreaves is doing on this stuff.
Christopher says
…which from what I gather many teachers appreciate, but is still a far cry from micromanaging every syllable that comes out of your mouth and how much weight you put on each foot while standing in front of a class.
progressivemax says
The Town is Paying for these coaches? Time to take a page out of the republican playbook and decry this fiscal irresponsibility and increased bureaucracy.
joeltpatterson says
basically create cubicals for elementary-age kids to click, click, click at right answers on ed software.
That was from Nashville’s Tennesseean. But a more insightful look at the “personalized learning” of Rocketship can be found at Dan Meyer’s blog on Math Education.