Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forums‘The good teachers are starting to leave’
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2015/02/27/the-good-teachers-are-starting-to-leave/Susan Barber has been teaching for the last seven years at Northgate High School in Coweta County, Georgia. In the following compelling open letter to new Georgia state School Superintendent Richard Woods, Barber lays out how standardized testing has affected teachers and students in her school, and asks that he find ways to give teachers more instructional time and reduce pressure to teach to a test. Her first paragraph refers to a letter that Woods wrote to Education Secretary Arne Duncan, which is published in the post below this one. Barbers open letter to Woods, which I am publishing with her permission, appeared on her blog, Teach With Class.
Dear Superintendent Woods,
Welcome to your new job. I cannot imagine being in this position at this time, but you have stepped up to take the lead in Georgias education system. I was highly encouraged to read your letter to Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education, explaining your concerns with todays standardized testing crisis.
While you have studied and spoken with multiple teachers and administrators, I would like to share how standardized testing affects my students, my school, and me.
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
6 replies, 1039 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (13)
ReplyReply to this post
6 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
‘The good teachers are starting to leave’ (Original Post)
mfcorey1
Apr 2015
OP
kelly1mm
(4,734 posts)1. My wife retired from teaching after 22 year at age 46 because of increased testing, lack of
administration backing on discipline issues, and lack of any control/input into curriculum in 2014. I believe she was one of the good teachers.
bvar22
(39,909 posts)2. K&R for the Teachers,
....and a Thank You for all they did for me!
(well, except for that one asshole in high school).
SusanCalvin
(6,592 posts)3. And when they have all been chased off
The corporatists will *really* scream about how bad public schools are.
BrotherIvan
(9,126 posts)4. But they will have achieved their goal: funneling all the money out
and paying teachers minimum wage. That's the plan.
SusanCalvin
(6,592 posts)6. Yep.
With the nice side effect of raising a generation that can't think - easier to control.
appalachiablue
(41,177 posts)5. +10