Gov. Dannel P. Malloy has been , and most of the reaction has centered on his proposed changes to the long-standing teacher tenure system in Connecticut.
Under Malloy's plan, teacher tenure would be tied to evaluations and student performance, and would have to be re-earned on a regular basis.
"This is the evaluation system that the teachers' unions negotiated through a two-year process," Malloy said earlier this month at a forum in West Hartford. Connecticut, according to the governor, will rely on standardized tests as a measure to a much lesser degree than many other states do. "Should we just maintain the status quo?" he asked.
Teachers have reacted strongly to the plan, saying their job security shouldn't be tied to student test performance, which can be affected by poverty or other factors outside their control.
What do you think? Take our Patch poll and add your thoughts to the comments.
Teachers, in my opinion, are for the most part doing with significant competency the job they're paid to do. I challenge all of us to think about whether that job is the right one. We need proficiency in doing what really matters when we think about the totality of the quality of life...not the narrowed scope of a job or test score.
I BELIEVE ...... This is a terrific idea and should be done as a group of area towns or individual towns! I believe there would be a huge attendance. We don't often get to hear directly from the teachers, the ones working directly with our children.
Approximately 80% of the prison population is functionally illiterate. We could do the math here very easily. The trouble starts when ability does not match performance. Better to spend on education than the judicial and penal system. And on and on....
Contact your reps by email or phone and let them know how you feel about the Governor's attempt to discredit all teachers, not just the few bad ones, and bust their union so he can advance his political career. And if you are one who buys Malloy's pitch, by all means contact your reps and insist they punish teachers by stripping them of their dignity and livelihoods. While you are at it, maybe you can contact your Senators and Congressmen and demand they cut salary, benefits and programs for those good for nothing soldiers in Afghanistan who aren't mopping up the Taliban fast enough.
I was simply implying that Malloy is misguided in attacking the foot soldiers in the education wars. Jay, as a retired teacher I can assure you that teachers would never harm a student as retribution for comments made by a parent in a public forum. Teachers go into the profession to help kids, not harm them. We get our joy from smiles, not tears. That's all SB24 does...
You must realize that heterogeneous grouping and mainstreaming is a cost cutting measure used to save money. Homogeneous grouping will concentrate the low and require additional teachers in the classroom, thus more salaries and more benefits. Also, mainstreaming means low paid 'tutors' can be hired to shadow and assist low students, and this is far less expensive than having these students in dedicated classrooms with highly trained, and expensive, SPED teachers. Savvy administrators, like ours in Groton, have figured out that "the least restrictive environment" is the way to save money, regardless if it is what is in the child's best interest. So, yes, heterogeneous grouping is part of the problem.
I have personal experience of just such retailiation.
I have to agree with Richard. There are petty people in every profession. I have seen plenty of petty teachers; I have seen retribution AND reward based on the personal opinions of teachers toward students (based on things far "pettier" than a parent's public comment).
Pity you are still living by the stereotypes you formed as a child "many centuries" ago.
First the parents, too many single mother homes. Second the things that are considered important, like providing child care for students. I mean really how about you stop telling them sex at 14 is ok and just a lifestyle choice. Number two can help with number one, and yes teen pregnancy is going back up AGAIN! Third what are we teaching? Do we need a month for this group another for some other group. Teach everyone we are all valued and valuable and let it go. How much Citizenship,Reading, Writing and Math time is wasted on BS. How much money do we waste on special curriculum for this crap? Finally get rid of Tenure and put the unions back where they belong, OUT of the education process. One system worked for decades till President Jimmy Carter decided to kill the system with the Federal Department of Education.
You are spot on about the personal responsibility regarding our own children, however I think you miss the mark on "...engage in the system and VALUE education." How can we "take personal responsibility" AND continue to allow an education system (that clearly does NOT work) to drain our resources?
Just a suggestion as you seem to be a person of common sense refer to it as Spec Ed as SPED has been used as a derogatory term for years.