Comments on: Irony…Or, How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love Some Freedom Of Action http://www.eduwonk.com/2007/11/ironyor-how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-some-freedom-of-action.html Education News, Analysis, and Commentary Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:56:47 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 By: Anonymous http://www.eduwonk.com/2007/11/ironyor-how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-some-freedom-of-action.html/comment-page-1#comment-177 Anonymous Thu, 29 Nov 2007 02:13:00 +0000 http://www.eduwonk.com/wordpress/2007/11/ironyor-how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-some-freedom-of-action.html#comment-177 The school system I am with now is trying out a Saturday school system which will eliminate zero grades for students at the middle and high school level. The administrator are the ones who came up with the idea. And I feel that it will work given the fact that it puts pressure on the parents and the students to keep up with things. Which will equal achievement! Yes, it will mean more work for the admin and teachers but if the principals are willing to put in the time, so am I! Your admin is your support staff, trust them. To the teacher in New York, don't fear change! Who knows the new blood can offer fresh ideas without the bitterness of being in the classroom for 10-20 already. Trust them, they are your backbone! The school system I am with now is trying out a Saturday school system which will eliminate zero grades for students at the middle and high school level. The administrator are the ones who came up with the idea. And I feel that it will work given the fact that it puts pressure on the parents and the students to keep up with things. Which will equal achievement! Yes, it will mean more work for the admin and teachers but if the principals are willing to put in the time, so am I! Your admin is your support staff, trust them. To the teacher in New York, don’t fear change! Who knows the new blood can offer fresh ideas without the bitterness of being in the classroom for 10-20 already. Trust them, they are your backbone!

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.eduwonk.com/2007/11/ironyor-how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-some-freedom-of-action.html/comment-page-1#comment-176 Anonymous Wed, 28 Nov 2007 23:15:00 +0000 http://www.eduwonk.com/wordpress/2007/11/ironyor-how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-some-freedom-of-action.html#comment-176 I teach in a school in New York that has recently been flooded with new administrators, two of whom (superintendent and director of curriculum and instruction) have less than five years teaching experience. They have been talking about increasing student achievement and getting students more involved, which I find odd seeing as they have been in the district for less than a year and already have a master plan for how they are going to "fix the mediocre teachers." It seems to me that they may actually want to give the teachers more freedom, allow them to use new technologies and attend more conferences, rather than have them submit daily lesson plans. I am curious to see how this all works out, if I had to guess, it will work, because after all, who knows the students better, the principle, or the teacher? I teach in a school in New York that has recently been flooded with new administrators, two of whom (superintendent and director of curriculum and instruction) have less than five years teaching experience. They have been talking about increasing student achievement and getting students more involved, which I find odd seeing as they have been in the district for less than a year and already have a master plan for how they are going to “fix the mediocre teachers.” It seems to me that they may actually want to give the teachers more freedom, allow them to use new technologies and attend more conferences, rather than have them submit daily lesson plans. I am curious to see how this all works out, if I had to guess, it will work, because after all, who knows the students better, the principle, or the teacher?

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.eduwonk.com/2007/11/ironyor-how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-some-freedom-of-action.html/comment-page-1#comment-172 Anonymous Wed, 28 Nov 2007 02:52:00 +0000 http://www.eduwonk.com/wordpress/2007/11/ironyor-how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-some-freedom-of-action.html#comment-172 I would like to know more about Ms. Lawrence's rationale that includes the connection between student learning and eliminating the principal. <br/><br/>I can't quote a source, but I've heard that teachers are one of the greatest factors determining a student's success. Every principal I have had as a teacher has been a support person (so I can successfully do my job), has held high standards for me, and has supported me in my professional pursuit. I'm wondering, besides considering budgetary needs, why a school would want to eliminate this support system in a "boss". I would like to know more about Ms. Lawrence’s rationale that includes the connection between student learning and eliminating the principal.

I can’t quote a source, but I’ve heard that teachers are one of the greatest factors determining a student’s success. Every principal I have had as a teacher has been a support person (so I can successfully do my job), has held high standards for me, and has supported me in my professional pursuit. I’m wondering, besides considering budgetary needs, why a school would want to eliminate this support system in a “boss”.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.eduwonk.com/2007/11/ironyor-how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-some-freedom-of-action.html/comment-page-1#comment-170 Anonymous Tue, 27 Nov 2007 21:42:00 +0000 http://www.eduwonk.com/wordpress/2007/11/ironyor-how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-some-freedom-of-action.html#comment-170 I'm on board too. <br/><br/>John Thompson I’m on board too.

John Thompson

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