Michelle Rhee is a vacant-skulled dummy.

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Michelle Rhee is a vacant-skulled dummy.

by Mike

Jan 5, 2009

I'm a NYC public school teacher who's been following your chancellor Ms. Rhee (a product of our own tyrant, Joel Klein) and I can't keep my outrage inside anymore. Apologies in advance for the rant.

Ms Rhee is the latest of the holier-than-thou "education reformers" in the mold of our own Millionaire Klein. Elitest intellectuals who decide to enter the school system on a lark and try to fix all of its ills. A wonderful, noble endeavor.

Do they do this by tackling the greater social problems of awful, neglectful parenting in low income areas? The environments that so many under-performing students are direct products of?

Hahaha, of course not. That would be far too complicated and way too unpopular. These low-income kids exist as props to be used in the media's heart-warming tales. If the tale is pleasing, it will be retold; those who challenge it get typecast as evil union hacks, villians out of a Dickens' novel.

Instead, these "education reformers"...See MoreI'm a NYC public school teacher who's been following your chancellor Ms. Rhee (a product of our own tyrant, Joel Klein) and I can't keep my outrage inside anymore. Apologies in advance for the rant.

Ms Rhee is the latest of the holier-than-thou "education reformers" in the mold of our own Millionaire Klein. Elitest intellectuals who decide to enter the school system on a lark and try to fix all of its ills. A wonderful, noble endeavor.

Do they do this by tackling the greater social problems of awful, neglectful parenting in low income areas? The environments that so many under-performing students are direct products of?

Hahaha, of course not. That would be far too complicated and way too unpopular. These low-income kids exist as props to be used in the media's heart-warming tales. If the tale is pleasing, it will be retold; those who challenge it get typecast as evil union hacks, villians out of a Dickens' novel.

Instead, these "education reformers" go about their holy quest the easy, convenient way: by attacking teacher unions and smearing teachers. Tenure!! That's the root of sociey's problems! Teacher pensions and summers off, that's making students not study!! Damn you, teacher unions! Big, bad, teacher unions!! Who doesn't love attacking a faceless entity that happens to have perks many Americans (especially in bleak economic times) can only dream of.

There. Doesn't that feel better than tackling the original problem? Of course it does.

The problem, as you likely know, is not the teachers. To blame under-performing students on them is pure laziness, and more than anything, it's that small-minded arrogance expressed by people outside the system that does the most to drive away qualified candidates.

Holy crusaders like Klein and Rhee are a dime a dozen...they saunter into teaching ready to change the world one kid at a time, get overwhelmed or bored within 2-3 years, then head off to more lucrative pastures having done their good deed. Most have no intention of making teaching a career. It's a hobby.

Most teachers are in it for the long haul. They know they won't get rich. They know they'll be forced to spend 20-30k on a masters degree in order to keep their jobs. They know they'll be kicked around often by students and administrators alike. And now this...people like Klein and Rhee and Bloomberg doing all they can to make life unpleasant for teachers, for their own media image and long term financial benefit.

What can we do? Vote King Bloomberg out of office this November. And if you're in DC? Vote against Rhee's awful proposal.

Fin.

Comment

(3)

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what results has Rhee produced I see that Rhee and the DC mayor have been making their changes at "100 miles per hour" and I am wondering what results they have produced. Their theory is that bad teachers and bad central office staff are the cause of the poor education results for the DC schools. So they have made bold changes by firing many people. Since this was the problem an...See MoreI see that Rhee and the DC mayor have been making their changes at "100 miles per hour" and I am wondering what results they have produced. Their theory is that bad teachers and bad central office staff are the cause of the poor education results for the DC schools. So they have made bold changes by firing many people. Since this was the problem and the problem was eliminated, it seems we should be seeing positive results. So are the kids' test scores going through the roof?

If they aren't, then perhaps the cause of the problem was misdiagnosed, non?

On 1/05/09, Mike wrote: > I'm a NYC public school teacher who's been following your > chancellor Ms. Rhee (a product of our own tyrant, Joel > Klein) and I can't keep my outrage inside anymore. Apologies > in advance for the rant. > > Ms Rhee is the latest of the holier-than-thou "education > reformers" in the mold of our own Millionaire Klein. Elitest > intellectuals who decide to enter the school system on a > lark and try to fix all of its ills. A wonderful, noble > endeavor. > > Do they do this by tackling the greater social problems of > awful, neglectful parenting in low income areas? The > environments that so many under-performing students are > direct products of? > > Hahaha, of course not. That would be far too complicated and > way too unpopular. These low-income kids exist as props to > be used in the media's heart-warming tales. If the tale is > pleasing, it will be retold; those who challenge it get > typecast as evil union hacks, villians out of a Dickens' novel. > > Instead, these "education reformers" go about their holy > quest the easy, convenient way: by attacking teacher unions > and smearing teachers. Tenure!! That's the root of sociey's > problems! Teacher pensions and summers off, that's making > students not study!! Damn you, teacher unions! Big, bad, > teacher unions!! Who doesn't love attacking a faceless > entity that happens to have perks many Americans (especially > in bleak economic times) can only dream of. > > There. Doesn't that feel better than tackling the original > problem? Of course it does. > > The problem, as you likely know, is not the teachers. To > blame under-performing students on them is pure laziness, > and more than anything, it's that small-minded arrogance > expressed by people outside the system that does the most to > drive away qualified candidates. > > Holy crusaders like Klein and Rhee are a dime a dozen...they > saunter into teaching ready to change the world one kid at a > time, get overwhelmed or bored within 2-3 years, then head > off to more lucrative pastures having done their good deed. > Most have no intention of making teaching a career. It's a > hobby. > > Most teachers are in it for the long haul. They know they > won't get rich. They know they'll be forced to spend 20-30k > on a masters degree in order to keep their jobs. They know > they'll be kicked around often by students and > administrators alike. And now this...people like Klein and > Rhee and Bloomberg doing all they can to make life > unpleasant for teachers, for their own media image and long > term financial benefit. > > What can we do? Vote King Bloomberg out of office this > November. And if you're in DC? Vote against Rhee's awful > proposal. > > Fin.

Jan 6, 2009

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I hear you I don't teach in DC right now, but I did in the past. I see this ridiculous scenario in so many public school systems: new person comes in to mend all wounds, is given carte blanche to destroy what is there, then they get a better offer for more money elsewhere and bail on the system they were called in to fix.

I really don't trust people ...See MoreI don't teach in DC right now, but I did in the past. I see this ridiculous scenario in so many public school systems: new person comes in to mend all wounds, is given carte blanche to destroy what is there, then they get a better offer for more money elsewhere and bail on the system they were called in to fix.

I really don't trust people who say they can solve all the problems of a school system when they only have three years or less in the classroom. Where are the miracles she produced in her classrooms? Why aren't they being replicated? Why isn't she teaching other teachers how to be as effective as she was?

It's all about business, money and politics. Until these stupid Boards of Education stop buying into the notion that the root of all evil is the teachers and that the poor pitiful parents/children and top-heavy central offices have nothing to do with it, the problems will never be solved.

On 1/05/09, Mike wrote: > I'm a NYC public school teacher who's been following your > chancellor Ms. Rhee (a product of our own tyrant, Joel > Klein) and I can't keep my outrage inside anymore. Apologies > in advance for the rant. > > Ms Rhee is the latest of the holier-than-thou "education > reformers" in the mold of our own Millionaire Klein. Elitest > intellectuals who decide to enter the school system on a > lark and try to fix all of its ills. A wonderful, noble > endeavor. > > Do they do this by tackling the greater social problems of > awful, neglectful parenting in low income areas? The > environments that so many under-performing students are > direct products of? > > Hahaha, of course not. That would be far too complicated and > way too unpopular. These low-income kids exist as props to > be used in the media's heart-warming tales. If the tale is > pleasing, it will be retold; those who challenge it get > typecast as evil union hacks, villians out of a Dickens' novel. > > Instead, these "education reformers" go about their holy > quest the easy, convenient way: by attacking teacher unions > and smearing teachers. Tenure!! That's the root of sociey's > problems! Teacher pensions and summers off, that's making > students not study!! Damn you, teacher unions! Big, bad, > teacher unions!! Who doesn't love attacking a faceless > entity that happens to have perks many Americans (especially > in bleak economic times) can only dream of. > > There. Doesn't that feel better than tackling the original > problem? Of course it does. > > The problem, as you likely know, is not the teachers. To > blame under-performing students on them is pure laziness, > and more than anything, it's that small-minded arrogance > expressed by people outside the system that does the most to > drive away qualified candidates. > > Holy crusaders like Klein and Rhee are a dime a dozen...they > saunter into teaching ready to change the world one kid at a > time, get overwhelmed or bored within 2-3 years, then head > off to more lucrative pastures having done their good deed. > Most have no intention of making teaching a career. It's a > hobby. > > Most teachers are in it for the long haul. They know they > won't get rich. They know they'll be forced to spend 20-30k > on a masters degree in order to keep their jobs. They know > they'll be kicked around often by students and > administrators alike. And now this...people like Klein and > Rhee and Bloomberg doing all they can to make life > unpleasant for teachers, for their own media image and long > term financial benefit. > > What can we do? Vote King Bloomberg out of office this > November. And if you're in DC? Vote against Rhee's awful > proposal. > > Fin.

Jan 9, 2009

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and a mannerless boor as well On 1/09/09, I hear you wrote: > I don't teach in DC right now, but I did in the past. I see > this ridiculous scenario in so many public school systems: > new person comes in to mend all wounds, is given carte > blanche to destroy what is there, then they get a better > offer for more money elsewhere and bail on the system they > ...See MoreOn 1/09/09, I hear you wrote: > I don't teach in DC right now, but I did in the past. I see > this ridiculous scenario in so many public school systems: > new person comes in to mend all wounds, is given carte > blanche to destroy what is there, then they get a better > offer for more money elsewhere and bail on the system they > were called in to fix. > > I really don't trust people who say they can solve all the > problems of a school system when they only have three years > or less in the classroom. Where are the miracles she > produced in her classrooms? Why aren't they being > replicated? Why isn't she teaching other teachers how to be > as effective as she was? > > It's all about business, money and politics. Until these > stupid Boards of Education stop buying into the notion that > the root of all evil is the teachers and that the poor > pitiful parents/children and top-heavy central offices have > nothing to do with it, the problems will never be solved. > > She texts while someone is speaking to her, she walks out on meetings, and her favorite tactic is to mock teachers she doesn't like (about 95% of us) in a whiny, singsong voice. She's a great role model for both teachers and students. > On 1/05/09, Mike wrote: >> I'm a NYC public school teacher who's been following your >> chancellor Ms. Rhee (a product of our own tyrant, Joel >> Klein) and I can't keep my outrage inside anymore. > Apologies >> in advance for the rant. >> >> Ms Rhee is the latest of the holier-than-thou "education >> reformers" in the mold of our own Millionaire Klein. > Elitest >> intellectuals who decide to enter the school system on a >> lark and try to fix all of its ills. A wonderful, noble >> endeavor. >> >> Do they do this by tackling the greater social problems of >> awful, neglectful parenting in low income areas? The >> environments that so many under-performing students are >> direct products of? >> >> Hahaha, of course not. That would be far too complicated > and >> way too unpopular. These low-income kids exist as props to >> be used in the media's heart-warming tales. If the tale is >> pleasing, it will be retold; those who challenge it get >> typecast as evil union hacks, villians out of a Dickens' > novel. >> >> Instead, these "education reformers" go about their holy >> quest the easy, convenient way: by attacking teacher unions >> and smearing teachers. Tenure!! That's the root of sociey's >> problems! Teacher pensions and summers off, that's making >> students not study!! Damn you, teacher unions! Big, bad, >> teacher unions!! Who doesn't love attacking a faceless >> entity that happens to have perks many Americans > (especially >> in bleak economic times) can only dream of. >> >> There. Doesn't that feel better than tackling the original >> problem? Of course it does. >> >> The problem, as you likely know, is not the teachers. To >> blame under-performing students on them is pure laziness, >> and more than anything, it's that small-minded arrogance >> expressed by people outside the system that does the most > to >> drive away qualified candidates. >> >> Holy crusaders like Klein and Rhee are a dime a > dozen...they >> saunter into teaching ready to change the world one kid at > a >> time, get overwhelmed or bored within 2-3 years, then head >> off to more lucrative pastures having done their good deed. >> Most have no intention of making teaching a career. It's a >> hobby. >> >> Most teachers are in it for the long haul. They know they >> won't get rich. They know they'll be forced to spend 20-30k >> on a masters degree in order to keep their jobs. They know >> they'll be kicked around often by students and >> administrators alike. And now this...people like Klein and >> Rhee and Bloomberg doing all they can to make life >> unpleasant for teachers, for their own media image and long >> term financial benefit. >> >> What can we do? Vote King Bloomberg out of office this >> November. And if you're in DC? Vote against Rhee's awful >> proposal. >> >> Fin.

Jan 12, 2009

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