Last day of Teacher Appreciation Week; how did our leaders express themselves?

This is the last day of Teacher Appreciation Week.  Chancellor Walcott sent his appreciation in a backhanded fashion in the Principals Weekly:

I believe the best way I can show my appreciation is to support you actively in our critical work, and that’s why I’m pleased to share the 2012-13 citywide instructional expectations with you. Our multi-year plan to implement the Common Core standards is closely tied to our goal of preparing all students to graduate from high school ready for college and careers…. Implementing our citywide instructional work is a complex undertaking that represents a significant change for many educators. I appreciate your courage in taking on this challenge…

As though teachers had a choice.

State Education Commissioner King sent his appreciation in a letter to teachers in a message that was mostly about the new controversial teacher evaluation system based on test scores, and the need for teachers to check their rosters. See NYC Educator’s wonderful spoof of King’s message here, I Sure Do Feel Appreciated :  

I'm thinking of getting a different Mother's Day card for my mom, for example.  "Thank you for everything you did as my mother.  In the next few months, I'm going to roll out an evaluation system that will allow me to compare you with other moms across the state on a variety of metrics, including post-college income and marital happiness, among the similar daughters of similar mothers.

President Obama, on the other hand, didn’t even send a message of appreciation but instead proclaimed this week the National Charter Schools Week:

Whether created by parents and teachers or community and civic leaders, charter schools serve as incubators of innovation in neighborhoods across our country.  These institutions give educators the freedom to cultivate new teaching models and develop creative methods to meet students' needs. 

Yes, like pushing out Kindergarten students who don’t fit the mold, and making students stand in the hallways for hours with their arms outstretched for sneezing in class.  No need either to point out that most charter schools are not unionized and teacher attrition is sky high because of the lousy working conditions.

Check out the letter from a Syracuse teacher, Corinne Driscoll, who said this to our leaders on teacher appreciation week:

… stop blaming the teachers and setting up roadblocks to keep us from doing what needs to be done. And keep your empty words to yourself. Your actions have already shown us what you really think.