Re: [ARN-state] Re: [arn2-strategy] Fwd: A New Future for American Education

[Ken <kpoppers@sbcglobal.net>]

Earlier I posted the following (I'll put it in quotes - is it proper to put your words in quotes like this?) on another list, one for middle school level teachers.

"The standards in California are generally written by groups that are comprised of K-12 teachers, academic consultants, college professors and state department of education 'crats.  What usually takes place at these is the college professor, who knows more than anyone needs to about esoterica, complains about the ignorance of his undergrad students, a consultant from an organization such as the Hoover Institution, who has a (hidden) agenda agrees, and the two of them beat up intellectually on the teachers.  At that point, if a teacher attempts to reel them back in, the teacher is accused of "watering down the curriculum," or "having low expectations."  This strategy effectively cuts off any pragmatism and the teachers in the room clam up, for fear of being similarly attacked.

Voila, unattainable expectations and the "failure" of the public schools."

Although in the case of this esteemed group of folks, I say that the teacher in this group has earned his stripes, but he is the only K-12 classroom teacher in the group.  College is not 7th grade, administrating is not teaching.  Peter is 8.33% representation a fair number?

Let me rephrase Susan's question.  Is there a teacher in the house?  The answer is one (of twelve)

On Aug 26, 2005, at 11:55 AM, Peter Campbell wrote:

> On Aug 25, 2005, at 6:28 PM, Susan Ohanian wrote:
>
> > They advocate "A Quality, Rigorous Education." As I mention in Why Is Corporate America Bashing Our Public Schools, try looking up the meaning of rigorous. 
> >
> >  I've looked seriously at the documents spewing forth from The Institute for America's Future and the Center for American Progress, and my first question is Is there an educator in the house? I couldn't find any
>
> Susan - FYI: of the 12 people on the task force, there's 1 K-12 teacher, 1 principal, 1 university professor, and 1 university president
>
> Renewing Our Schools, Securing Our Future:  A National Task Force on Public Education  The Honorable Janet Napolitano – Co-Chair Governor, State of Arizona Philip D. Murphy – Co-Chair Senior Director, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. Roger Wilkins – Co-Chair Professor, History and American Culture George Mason University John H. Buchanan Former Member of Congress Louis Caldera President, University of New Mexico Charita L. Crockrom  Principal, John F. Kennedy High School Cleveland, Ohio Judith A. McHale President and Chief Executive Offi cer, Discovery Communications, Inc. Margaret A. McKenna President, Lesley University Delia Pompa Director, The Achievement Alliance James L. Pughsley Consultant, Stupski Foundation, and Former Superintendent, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Public Schools,  Charlotte, North Carolina Wendy D. Puriefoy President, Public Education Network Chauncey Veatch 2002 National Teacher of the Year, Coachella Valley High School Thermal, California