tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2586988941850907367.post8752170488343541844..comments2024-03-24T11:39:28.574-04:00Comments on NYC Public School Parents: What Frank McCourt could teach Joel Klein or Arne DuncanPatrick Sullivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10631038958645725010noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2586988941850907367.post-51923879534516079382009-07-23T22:24:58.793-04:002009-07-23T22:24:58.793-04:00"Independent non-profit" LEARN-NY websit..."Independent non-profit" LEARN-NY website posts an article slamming Thompson... whose bidding are they doing, exactly???Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2586988941850907367.post-72777303595169607152009-07-23T01:38:21.338-04:002009-07-23T01:38:21.338-04:00I am deeply grateful for any posting about Mr. McC...I am deeply grateful for any posting about Mr. McCourt as a teacher-- if he had never written his books, he would still be cherished by generations of students. I want to shout from the rooftops (and have posted to a few blogs) the great irony of the praise given Frank by Mayor Bloomberg. Bloomberg's tightly micromanaged, test-obsessed classrooms would never have allowed Frank to thrive as a teacher, and have had the unique effect that he had on the thinking of countless students.Theresa Muirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14857850533462398807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2586988941850907367.post-45125094589203193522009-07-21T17:36:01.667-04:002009-07-21T17:36:01.667-04:00I didn't twist his words; you did. He himself...I didn't twist his words; you did. He himself described NYC "class sizes" as monstrous; do you think he didn't understand the meaning of these words and got them wrong by mistake? <br /><br />Moreover, McCourt was the honorary chair of NYers for Smaller Classes, our coalition's campaign to set mandatory smaller classes in schools throughout the city. And I could cite lots of other interviews in which he mentioned the importance of class size.<br /><br />Of course, class size largely determines student load in our system; and both are important and interrelated. Class size determines how much attention a teacher can give individual students in class; student load determines how much attention a teacher can give their students on homework and after school. And as you mention, they are the same in elementary school.<br /><br />Do you really insist that only student load is important; and not class size? If so, you are arguing that the interactions and instruction that occurs during class time don't matter.Leonie Haimsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17317355552298136811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2586988941850907367.post-37029631062360393422009-07-21T16:47:45.787-04:002009-07-21T16:47:45.787-04:00Leonie,
McCourt was taking about student load, n...Leonie, <br /><br />McCourt was taking about student load, not class size. <br /><br />No one has a class of 175. The number of papers teachers have to grade are simply a function of class size. Whereas class size and student load are virtually the same thing at the elementary level, they are quite different at the middle and high school levels. <br /><br />McCourt was talking about a problem that secondary school teachers must deal with, and twisting his intentions to support your crusade is inappropriate. <br /><br />When you confuse these two issues, you lose potential supporters. If i felt you were truly a thoughtful advocate of reducing student load, I would back you. But it is far from clear that you even understand the issue.Ceolafnoreply@blogger.com