tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2586988941850907367.post365395416085908439..comments2024-03-09T08:29:55.636-05:00Comments on NYC Public School Parents: Last In, First Out by Matt BrommePatrick Sullivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10631038958645725010noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2586988941850907367.post-4527329296799533432011-03-07T11:34:40.137-05:002011-03-07T11:34:40.137-05:00I (fortunately) retired in 2009 from an incredible...I (fortunately) retired in 2009 from an incredible school in Manhattan, the New York City Lab School where I came on board one year after its inception.I had previously taught at the United Nations International School. My principal tried to fire me after the first year. My strong union leader helped me contest her totally bogus rating. I went on to win one of the biggest awards in New York State, the Christa McAuliffe Award in mathematics in 1996 New York City Impact 2 award in 1993 and then the new Blackboard Award in 2007. I was a presenter at the NCTM in hands-on mathematics. I taught middle school and high school and sent a large percentage of students to Stuyvesant High School and Bronx Science every year that I taught. Two of my former students (one of whom was my student teacher) went on to become excellent math teachers in my school. <br />Bloomberg's attempts to crash the ego of the New York City teacher is undermining and totally unconstructive. His unacademic and corporate strategies belittle teachers, students and parents by unilaterally redefining education using a business model. My students were much more than statistical numbers; they had names and were contributors to their class and school community. Mr. Bloomberg does not understand how true education occurs and is attempting to use a system, LIFO to match the Wisconsin attempts to bust the unions and restore order in the Wild West. Our education system needs overhauling; we are 19 or 20th in world standings, but this is madness to think he can single handedly solve this dilemma. He NEEDS US!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2586988941850907367.post-57554372558665717262011-03-07T08:53:14.812-05:002011-03-07T08:53:14.812-05:00At long last, a voice of reason, from someone who ...At long last, a voice of reason, from someone who has seen it from all sides. The politicians who need a scape goat for their failed educational policies and the media who are looking for a story have CONNED the public into thinking that experienced dedicated teachers are the enemy of their children? If anything these teachers are the last hope that many of our children have for a brighter successful future.Lauded disgusted retired HS teachernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2586988941850907367.post-63574969667808086442011-03-06T09:52:09.828-05:002011-03-06T09:52:09.828-05:00A few questions for Mr. Bromme and the other dedic...A few questions for Mr. Bromme and the other dedicated, sincere, and disheartened teachers:<br /><br />What will it take to expose the corruption, waste and stupidity at DOE? Does the public even care? Is the depth and seriousness of the corruption and fraud not understood? <br /><br />I do not think the young people at Tweed realize how much damage they are causing. They are just following orders. Yes, they are responsible and will eventually have to answer for their role in Bloomberg's DOE fraud and corruption but Bloomberg and Company are the ones ultimately responsible for the millions of students who are and will be ill-prepared academically to be successful and prosper. I think Bloomberg's morality meter broke a long time ago, if he ever had one. <br /><br />Has this been Bloomberg's goal all along? Uneducated people are a lot easier to manipulate than educated<br />people. <br /><br />The entire situation is just so disheartening.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2586988941850907367.post-16735863104731565032011-03-05T11:13:32.577-05:002011-03-05T11:13:32.577-05:00No system of lay-offs or excessing is a panacea. ...No system of lay-offs or excessing is a panacea. However, good teachers and supervisors need their seniority rights protected. Furthermore, nepotisim and other incompetencies on the part of managers or any 'boss' will never be eliminated in education or in a corporation. As Mr. Bromme stated, it is the job of the supervisor to fire ineffective employees. Tenure is not a panacea and there are problems with it. Most often, good teachers and administrators become better with experience. Furthermore, academic freedom is crucial in any educational system. I believe Matt Bromme made all of these points and more in his commentary. As a parent, I believe education in New York city was better before Mayoral control. As an educator, I think people who have spent years in a classroom know much more than those who have not.Roz Fitzgeraldnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2586988941850907367.post-49378786304282903452011-03-05T08:42:35.321-05:002011-03-05T08:42:35.321-05:00As a career changer in the classroom, the subtle d...As a career changer in the classroom, the subtle differences between the corporate industry and education have been fascinating. However, the argument of LIFO is being addressed with simple black & white solutions when it's not that simple. We all know there are senior teachers who are master teachers, who are invested in their students' success, and who treat every child as if they are their own. However, we also know there are many senior teachers who hate the population of children they serve, don't really "teach", and manage children out of their classes with verbal abuse. Likewise, there are new teachers who never should be given a class but are pushed through the system by use of nepotism or any number of failures or incompetencies on the part of administrators. We must get out of the habit of evaluating teachers based upon test scores, and assess the quality of pedagogy in the classroom, not just classroom management.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2586988941850907367.post-88728747471303725152011-03-04T18:30:54.405-05:002011-03-04T18:30:54.405-05:00I really enjoyed and agreed with Mr. Bromme's ...I really enjoyed and agreed with Mr. Bromme's comments. <br /><br />Roz FitzgeraldAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2586988941850907367.post-2731619927835328992011-03-04T18:30:48.433-05:002011-03-04T18:30:48.433-05:00I really enjoyed and agreed with Mr. Bromme's ...I really enjoyed and agreed with Mr. Bromme's comments. <br /><br />Roz FitzgeraldAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2586988941850907367.post-68217424819153369382011-03-03T19:00:58.926-05:002011-03-03T19:00:58.926-05:00Matt- Finally, a smile after reading your article....Matt- Finally, a smile after reading your article.I am so happy to hear from true educators and not wanna be business people. I have been an educator for 18 years. Today I am NOT the teacher I was even eight years ago. Practice makes perfect and so does experience. I can honestly say, I felt confident in my practice after a solid 7-8 years. The first few years as an educator, I was trying to keep my head above water. After on 3 plus years, I learned enough to keep my head above water. THEN, 7/8 years into my career I was able to sit comfortably in the boat as the captain and start to steer in the right direction on my own with confidence. Now, 18 years in, I feel like the cruise director. Keeping it fresh and fun for my students, using what works best to keep them engaged at all times. So, if LIFO would take place... The Titanic would be crashing all over. Don't do this to our innocent children who deserve the best.After all ...they are our future!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2586988941850907367.post-20483067012119372502011-03-03T12:11:50.563-05:002011-03-03T12:11:50.563-05:00Seniority "rights?" No one has "sen...Seniority "rights?" No one has "seniority rights." Unless you mean union protection. And yes, industry more than understand objective performance critera -- there is a rich literature on this. BTW, it is the assessment against measurable standards.<br />No, we shouldn't can teachers because of sevice, or retain only new teachers, but we should have a meritocracy and promote those who perform -- and train or move out those who don't.<br />Teachers as Preachers?" Please, just teach the curriculum -- that would be a big step forward.<br />Tenure & due process for teachers that "speak out for their students?" Gee, those of us in industry don't get that. Must be nice. The firing rate among teacher is nearly zero -- are they ALL that good? So why the miserable performance stats?<br />Certainly the "LIFO crisis" was caused by unions. It's the only place it exists.<br />We do need accountability, on five levels: students, parents, teachers, administration, and school boards/legislators (funding). Teachers have major influences upon student performance, but without the other players in support it's a hopeless battle. <br />How long can we just push students through, failing all the way? We need major structural reform. Most parents don't understand the school system, and all too many just don't care. Maybe if their kids started failing grades, or did summer school, or more hours, then they'd pay attention? Hey, you're the experts, but all I see is low skill jobs leaving the country, and fewer skilled workers enteringing the workforce. And prisons filling up. When will this explode?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2586988941850907367.post-90252789746708384402011-03-03T01:49:33.015-05:002011-03-03T01:49:33.015-05:00This is a man who has worked the ENTIRE system, an...This is a man who has worked the ENTIRE system, and knows exactly what he's talking about. If you put him and Ms. Bloomberg(I mean Ms. Black) in the same room she would be in a daze.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2586988941850907367.post-22113777489209008422011-03-02T23:42:28.855-05:002011-03-02T23:42:28.855-05:00Amen!
After 11 years at my current school, I hav...Amen! <br />After 11 years at my current school, I have parents asking for their kids to be in my English class because they know they can trust me to prepare their children for what comes next in their academic careers. They don't trust the rookies yet.Reneehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10993738829375403690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2586988941850907367.post-84471589623413904242011-03-02T23:26:11.372-05:002011-03-02T23:26:11.372-05:00This is honesty and we need more like hime to spea...This is honesty and we need more like hime to speak up.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2586988941850907367.post-60241538173228370682011-03-02T22:09:08.310-05:002011-03-02T22:09:08.310-05:00My god an administrator who talks from the heart a...My god an administrator who talks from the heart and not one who makes excuses.I am proud that the system produced someone who has the experience and walks the walk. You put your time in and it shows.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2586988941850907367.post-30601644122434073542011-03-02T19:06:46.013-05:002011-03-02T19:06:46.013-05:00It bothers me that so many people think that newer...It bothers me that so many people think that newer teachers are better because they are coming in with 'fresher methodologies'. <br />First of all, its a load of crap. Most of these methodologies have been around for decades (John Dewey-My Pedagogic Creed, Jean Piaget, Lev Vygotsky, Reggio Emilia) but it is what people choose to believe. Second, the newer methodologies that seem to be a myth for better and fresher with newer teachers is already showing to be ineffective for students education. For example, the elementary math program TERC does not help students comprehend and scaffold on their math skills. It just focuses on higher level inquiry and totally misses the notion that lower level knowledge comes first (hence, Bloom's Taxonomy which is something that all teachers, new or more experience should know). <br /><br /><br />If newer teachers are NOT learning Bloom's Taxonomy and the skill of building onto higher level knowledge, then we are all in trouble.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2586988941850907367.post-63699408081876053722011-03-02T18:05:35.438-05:002011-03-02T18:05:35.438-05:00It is so good to read a reasonable and intelligent...It is so good to read a reasonable and intelligent discussion of the madness that is taking place right now. I worked as a banking executive for 32 years before becoming a teacher three years ago. From my point of view, if Bloomberg spent the last eight years focusing on management practices, specifically HR resource management as well as performance management of administrators, we would not be in the mess we are in right now. Managers should be well trained in influence skills and not in passive agressive tactics because they feel powerless and blame the union. Thank you for a wonderful and thoughtful articleAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com