Ah, the truth comes out! Hear the footsteps of the young guns, do ya, EdHarris?

Don’t hate, appreciate:

http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/3530822107858495241/

1) Linda had never actually responded to the example you’re giving. All of her unfounded claims were directed at Eduwonk for outside blog posts that didn’t jive with her own perspective.

2) For the last time, one can disagree with teachers and not have to be disdainful of teachers! Why is this so hard to understand? AGAIN, he is opining on the dumb decisions that were made by the union and voted on by its teachers, which held certain priorities (3 minutes in a day) over others (actual reform that would help students succeed). Why does that mean to you that he is showing disdain for all teachers, or even THOSE teachers, by disagreeing with the actions taken there?

3) You’re *REALLY* going to go down the road of semantics, and defend her because she didn’t say he hates teachers, but that he holds contempt for teachers? Really?? Because “to dislike intensely” is critically different than showing “open dislike” for something? Even though the difference doesn’t matter one iota and the claim is still just as disingenuous, still just as invalid, and meant to attack Eduwonk’s character instead of to respond to his arguments?

“Yet its teachers, who seek to be respected as professionals, are concerned about a couple of minutes in the workday?”

It seems to me Linda is making the nuanced point that the language in which one uses to frame an issue matters. Eduwonk presents things, as you’ve noted for me, with what Linda calls an “anti-teacher bias to them.” This comment does not refer to direct statements – rather the manner (what’s covered and not covered on this blog) and the language used to present issues. The bias is apparent if you want to see it, otherwise you can deny it all the same for not being literal enough. Needless to say, it is effective in framing the issue of “reform”.

Lastly, Chris, “contempt” and “hate” are not the same thing. Sorry to “redefine”, but in framing issues – words, definitions matter!

“Contempt” – lack of respect or reverence for something; disdain

“Hate” – to dislike intensely or passionately; feel extreme aversion for or extreme hostility toward; detest

If you want to define further – what’s the definition of “reform”?

Mrs. Rhee’s “success” story is NOT told to the TFA trainees.
Why not?

And the comments concerned Miss Rhee and her truthfulness.
Just last week she gave us another example of her truthfulness:

“I got rid of teachers who had hit children, who had had sex with children, who had missed 78 days of school. Why wouldn’t we take those things into consideration?”

When pressed, she admitted that there was only one teacher who was “accused” of having sex.

Linda said: “If you read this blog regularly, you will get a feel for the contempt that many “reformers” have for our teachers.”

I said: “It seems in poor form to continually castigate Eduwonk for something (”contempt for teachers”) you honestly must know isn’t true.”

Linda replied: “I honestly DO believe it’s true and I want others to know about it. That’s why I comment. I believe a negative attitude towards teachers hurts education more than any other factor”

Are we now going to redefine ‘contempt’?

Other claims made by Linda include:

“I suspect ( that is, it is my opinion) that his eyes are on the money and not the kids.”

“Many times his comments have an anti-teacher bias to them. ”

“As to actually helping children achieve, he couldn’t possibly have a positive impact because of his consistently negative views about teachers.”

Again, all of these claims/opinions are unfounded. The example you raised, Steve, is NOT an example of negative views toward teachers. It is a negative view toward the contract itself. Rotherham has not shown any disdain for teachers by strongly disagreeing with contracts formed with a subset of teacher’s consent. Disagreement doesn’t imply negativity toward an opponent. Certainly disagreement doesn’t imply that he has contempt for teachers, or that he doesn’t care about the kids as much as the money.