The state Board of Education has five year terms. Word is that our lame-duck tourist governor is going to try to pack the board with at least 3 new right-wing zealots. My guess is we will need 6 to 9 months to get the legislature to reconstitute the board.
goldsteingonewildsays
I’d disagree. I believe he was a very good commissioner.
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Look, let’s stipulate that a fair number of BMGers DISAGREE WITH DEVAL who is clearly pro-standard, pro-MCAS graduation requirement. You should vote for Grace Ross or Christy Mihos.
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You long for a return to the standard-free days of the past, where illiterate kids got a smile, a diploma, a pat on the back before getting tossed into the workplace to wake the F up to the fact that they had no skills.
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Fine. In your book, any pro-standards (and pro-charter public school) commissioner is bad, b/c you oppose the fundamental idea of meaningful accountability. Fine.
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But for those readers who believe that standards and accountabilty are tools of progress, tools that prevent the business-as-usual brushing failing kids “under the carpet”, which is basically 75% to 80% of the population, which includes everyone from Ted Kennedy to John Kerry to the Clintons to Obama, then Driscoll should be judged by 2 questions:
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1. How good are the MA standards as compared to all the other states? DD’s job was to guide the process where teachers designed those standards.
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2. How good are the MCAS – the test to measure the extent to which kids have mastered the standards – compared to all the other states? DD’s job was to lead the process where teachers designed the MCAS.
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On both counts, MA is perceived to be among the best in the nation. Perfect no? Better than what other commissioners have pulled off? Clearly.
So was Driscoll. Because James Peyser told him to jump in the tank.
goldsteingonewildsays
I just don’t understand why you have such seething disrespect for everyone with whom you disagree. Driscoll didn’t support charter public schools b/c someone told him to; he did it b/c he honestly believes in them.
The problem with the commissioner is that he has utter disdain for anyone who disagrees with him. If you are against MCAS as a graduation requirement, you are against MCAS and against standards and against kids.
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The problem with the commissioner’s attitude is that his position changes with Peyser’s. I was at a meeting with the commissioner, the talking points had just changed, and the commissioner was tripping over the new lines.
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Also, the commissioner has a problem with geography. A couple of years ago, he had a meeting with Berkshire County superintendents – in Marlborough.
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Driscoll is not a good listener. He doesn’t build bridges with other education professionals. He has a very poor track record, and a complete overhaul of the state Board of Education and the leadership at the DOE is in order.
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By the way, this is not a Democratic or Republican issue. Some of the very best education leaders come out of states with Republican governors. Think Connecticut.
Good news for people who value education in this state.
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Mind you, I’d prefer to see him fired this January.
Is Driscoll trying to stay on long enough to max out his pension? In any case, he won’t be missed.
The state Board of Education has five year terms. Word is that our lame-duck tourist governor is going to try to pack the board with at least 3 new right-wing zealots. My guess is we will need 6 to 9 months to get the legislature to reconstitute the board.
I’d disagree. I believe he was a very good commissioner.
<
p>
Look, let’s stipulate that a fair number of BMGers DISAGREE WITH DEVAL who is clearly pro-standard, pro-MCAS graduation requirement. You should vote for Grace Ross or Christy Mihos.
<
p>
You long for a return to the standard-free days of the past, where illiterate kids got a smile, a diploma, a pat on the back before getting tossed into the workplace to wake the F up to the fact that they had no skills.
<
p>
Fine. In your book, any pro-standards (and pro-charter public school) commissioner is bad, b/c you oppose the fundamental idea of meaningful accountability. Fine.
<
p>
But for those readers who believe that standards and accountabilty are tools of progress, tools that prevent the business-as-usual brushing failing kids “under the carpet”, which is basically 75% to 80% of the population, which includes everyone from Ted Kennedy to John Kerry to the Clintons to Obama, then Driscoll should be judged by 2 questions:
<
p>
1. How good are the MA standards as compared to all the other states? DD’s job was to guide the process where teachers designed those standards.
<
p>
2. How good are the MCAS – the test to measure the extent to which kids have mastered the standards – compared to all the other states? DD’s job was to lead the process where teachers designed the MCAS.
<
p>
On both counts, MA is perceived to be among the best in the nation. Perfect no? Better than what other commissioners have pulled off? Clearly.
Goldstein wrote:
So was Driscoll. Because James Peyser told him to jump in the tank.
I just don’t understand why you have such seething disrespect for everyone with whom you disagree. Driscoll didn’t support charter public schools b/c someone told him to; he did it b/c he honestly believes in them.
The problem with the commissioner is that he has utter disdain for anyone who disagrees with him. If you are against MCAS as a graduation requirement, you are against MCAS and against standards and against kids.
<
p>
The problem with the commissioner’s attitude is that his position changes with Peyser’s. I was at a meeting with the commissioner, the talking points had just changed, and the commissioner was tripping over the new lines.
<
p>
Also, the commissioner has a problem with geography. A couple of years ago, he had a meeting with Berkshire County superintendents – in Marlborough.
<
p>
Driscoll is not a good listener. He doesn’t build bridges with other education professionals. He has a very poor track record, and a complete overhaul of the state Board of Education and the leadership at the DOE is in order.
<
p>
By the way, this is not a Democratic or Republican issue. Some of the very best education leaders come out of states with Republican governors. Think Connecticut.