Great post.
I think similar findings were made about balanced literacy at the upper elementary/middle school- that kids who live in homes where reading is promoted do much better with it than kids who don't. I truly believe that I was a better teacher before Bloomberg- when I had an actual textbook that provided a concrete structure, instead of the way I try to pull things out of my ass now.
Our schools have certainly not improved since Bloomberg took over the schools- in fact, they are steadily declined.
I had my kids attempt to read a textbook for information on Monday- asking them to find specific pieces of information and telling me what page they found in on. The majority of the class couldn't do it.
4 more years of mayoral control and my bet is that NONE of them will be able to do it.
Truthfully- I'm scared.
KEEP TERM LIMITS!!
whoops- that should have said our "scores" not "schools"- I guess I need more coffee.
Also the SAT scores have declined under Kleinberg. The influx of poorly-trained newbie teachers at the expense of experienced teachers, and overcrowding of the large high schools is also affecting the student scores.
Under Kleinberg "children last" continues.
The SAT score declines and the amount of students hitting the city colleges who need remedial classes. There is no improvement under Bloom-Klein.
If term limits are overturned, it will be a showdown of the working class of New York City, (all boroughs) vs. the power elite. I hope, and foresee, the blogging community playing an important role in this battle, being that most of the media seem to be all for Bloomberg seeking a third term.
Let me add something, and I preface this by saying I was no fan of Giuliani. But, having said that- after 9/11, when he requested that he be permitted to stay in office for 3 additional MONTHS- not a full term- to see to it that the city was kept on an even keel, Sir Bloomberg stated, "give me a break". Now he dares to claim that he wants to guide the city through the fiscal crisis? He's contributed to it by padding the DOE's budget, among other things.
I will never forget Saint Rudy claiming he needed to stay on to boost the morale of firefighters and cops, all of whom he'd been denying a contract for years by that time. The cops, who'd adored him, had begun organizing demonstrations against him.
Bloomberg seems to have the same agenda as Saint Rudy, but doesn't come across as foam-at-the-mouth insane. Consequently, he's been able to achieve a lot more.
I wonder whether this will inspire the clueless UFT leadership to finally take a principled stand against the debacle of mayoral control. I'm not holding my breath, though.
A big giant failure... the Emperor's new clothes... small schools, big schools, themes, no themes... restructuring, ATRs, ageism, propaganda to subvert the UFT contract...kids getting caught in the quagmire of lies and utter falsehoods, being treated as widgets and stats not as people.
While success in NYC is being touted by Bloomberg and Klein, we the teachers know the truth. The statistics don’t add up. Do the math. Compare the full enrollment of the original “big” schools that had real departments and programs, to the 6 small themed schools in the same building squabbling over space, and resources, and trapping their students in their narrowly defined curriculum. 1000 freshmen in, 500 seniors graduate -50% the BIG school. 100 freshmen in 50 seniors graduate – 50% in the small schools. 6 small schools in the building. 6x50= 300. All six schools performing at the same graduation rate is 200 kids less than what the BIG schools were able to do. And the BIG schools had full athletic, career, elective, foreign language, ESL, special education, art and music programs, which the small schools do not.
Damn, la quijota, that was nice.
Have no fear, which ever method is worst, Israel will adopt it.
Commenting by HaloScan
