tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776587.post403021539926646709..comments2023-11-03T04:00:24.785-04:00Comments on Kentucky School News and Commentary: Holliday to Common Core Opponents: Put up or Shut upRichard Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586435007687942849noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776587.post-54971792218577265132014-09-30T18:01:35.092-04:002014-09-30T18:01:35.092-04:00As an educator of about two decades I have a reall...As an educator of about two decades I have a really hard time with leaders who throws out the "Its all about the Kids" blanket to cover the justification of any of their initiatives or to put down practical concerns from those who are working with those kids everyday (and are equally aware of the changes going on in the large scope).<br /><br />I look at those kids everyday and I do work hard. I don't need my professional and personal effort challenged because I voice practical concerns about policy implementation or external priorities.<br /><br />He can say what he wants about needing to make "decisions in best interest of the children, not the adults in the system" but it is the adults who are the system not some school building, an assessment report or an online program. Schools do not fulfill their mission or serve students without adult educators. Educators are the ones who have carried these changes on their backs these last five years. Are we now going to not only question these teachers' effort but even simple expectations to be treated like a professional, to be compensated adequately, to be provided the concrete tools, staffing and financial support to accomplish the expectations placed before them? Seems like when teachers leave the prescribed cowpath, their motive and effort are questioned but when legislators and educational leaders do it, they are innovators and champions of children.<br /><br />As I speak to colleagues, I find most of them counseling their own children not to go into education and I suspect if they hear their parents speaking candidly outside the school about their declining working conditions they can see it is not on occupation with promise. It is sad because like many others, I come from a family of educators who modeled the ideals of what being a teacher meant (intellect, sacrifice, industriousness, commitment, caring). A college of education online course or an EPSB certificate isn't going to cultivate that. Makes me worry what kind of teacher my grand kids will have who know more about CIITS, PGES, PD360, Flipped Classrooms, Apple apps, EOC, program reviews and IC than they do about their students - thought that was what it was all about.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776587.post-35658282056920833792014-09-30T17:34:23.668-04:002014-09-30T17:34:23.668-04:00I am not so sure that some of the reform we are im...I am not so sure that some of the reform we are implementing haven't themselves been based upon the "opinion" of a few deep pocketed folks based upon "evidence" which really wasn't reliable, practical or even supported by valid data.<br /><br />I say have it though, we need to do everything the Commish and all other political and educational leaders tell us to do, like obedient servants. I am sure we will reach educational eutopia that they promise by compliance.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776587.post-83095419939052744622014-09-29T13:52:09.313-04:002014-09-29T13:52:09.313-04:00I here there may be a rumble in down by the creek ...I here there may be a rumble in down by the creek after school between Commish posse and naysayer thugs.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776587.post-39544461085278364762014-09-29T09:21:12.605-04:002014-09-29T09:21:12.605-04:00Way to ignore all of the substance and zoom in on ...Way to ignore all of the substance and zoom in on the one thing that allows you to B/M/W. No state in the union has created such a platform to engage critics in a reasoned discussion of the standards. Put up or shut up is toned down IMO. Everyone wants to complain but very few have a rational alternative. So, it is easy to blast the KCAS in a tweet or in a 30 second sound bite, but the arguments lack substance. I am glad TH has the wherewithal to one, not avoid the criticism and two, call it like he sees it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776587.post-33287498754756325032014-09-28T22:10:15.804-04:002014-09-28T22:10:15.804-04:00What a sad day when the spokesperson and head of y...What a sad day when the spokesperson and head of your state's education department articulates himself with "put up or shut up". What has happened to the professional expectations of our craft when leaders communicate in such a punky, adversarial fashion. Only leads me to believe he will not be in KY much longer and is obliged "put up" as he pleases.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com