With tens of thousands of students still dropping out of school each year and far too many children failing to meet basic standards, Duncan said he and President Obama hope to collaborate with the NEA and its members on innovative solutions – including new ways to compensate teachers that depart from traditional seniority-based salary scales.
“Excellence matters. Excellence matters and we must honor it – fairly, transparently, and on terms teachers can embrace,” Duncan said. “The President and I have both said repeatedly that we are not going to impose reform but rather work with teachers, principals, and unions to find what works.”
( Photo/ Scott Iskowitz/ RA TODAY)
Student test scores are likely to be part of the pay-for-performance system that Duncan would prefer – although pay shouldn’t be based solely on scores, he said.
“I understand that tests are far from perfect and that it is unfair to reduce the complex, nuanced work of teaching to a simple multiple-choice exam. Test scores alone should never drive evaluation, compensation or tenure decisions. That would never make sense,” Duncan said, to rousing applause. “But to remove student achievement entirely from evaluation is illogical and indefensible.”
Duncan also called for reforms to the teacher tenure system, saying in some places it protects “jobs – not children – and that’s not a good thing.”
Secretary Duncan floated around the position of privatization, increased militarization (note he promoted this as CEO of CPS), and market-based answers to the education deficit. The NEA should be up in arms about charter schools- in Chicago, under Duncan, the charter schools were allowed to hire a minimum of 50% certified teachers and were NOT allowed to join the local union. How does a background like his enable such, what can only be, rhetoric to be put forth to an assembly like the NEA? Yes, he is talking to local education and national education folk, but time will tell if his listening tour has permeated his big business approach.
ReplyDeleteDon't take crumbs, take back your schools!
Don't take crumbs, take back your schools!
Don't take crumbs, take back your schools!
Don't take crumbs, take back your schools!
Don't take crumbs, take back your schools!
Don't take crumbs, take back your schools!
Don't take crumbs, take back your schools!
Don't take crumbs, take back your schools!
The following is quoted from a Substance News article:
ReplyDeleteThe core idea Duncan peddled was, “we are all in this together for the nation, the economy, and the children.” NEA’s elected leaders accepted that idea without question, forgetting altogether the fact that the reason 3.5 million educators pay dues to a $350 million a year union operation is because employees and their bosses have contradictory interests. More, given thousands of teacher layoffs, massive cuts in social programs, IOU’s issued in California today because of the budget collapse, connected to Obama’s expanded wars in Afghanistan and Iraq (and likely the coup in Honduras), multiplied by the $12.9 Trillion printed for the banks while 6 million people lost jobs since September 2008 and GM and Chrysler are bankrupt — forget about foreclosures — and you get a sum of a social context that is summed up as class war, the rich vs poor and working people — and nothing else.
Rahm Emanuel, top President Obama's Chief of Staff, speaking on Cspan was much clearer about one core question that Duncan sought to avoid: Why have school? Emanuel said, “...it’s a conveyor belt for the US economy...Arne is promoting charters, national standards, pay for performance, assessments...the states will compete for (stimulus) money on the basis of lining up with those reforms.”
There were no other signs of protest. Duncan headed that off with, “you can boo but don’t throw a shoe.”
Nobody did.
One California delegate who I have known for nine years approached me: “This is madness, you know. Just madness. He says he respects us and most of us seem to believe him. He told them he is using carrots and sticks, and he is. When do we meet the Bad Arne? Soon, I bet.”
Another California delegate, Theresa Montaro, raised a comment and a question from a microphone: “There is no test that measures students overcoming adversity. There is no research showing charters are better, indeed a recent Stanford study indicates they may be worse. There is no research saying merit pay improves the quality of teaching. When ESEA is re-authorized, how much of our input will be in it?” Standing ovation. Duncan responded:...We need a common high bar and common assessments. The pursuit of federal standards involves many, many players. “Dennis is a great help.”