I have been teaching for over 30 years. Hate to sound like a stereotypical old-fogey, but I have seen the downward spiral for the past 20. In an effort to mandate accountability, the government (local, state and federal) has taken more and more control out of the hands of good educators and parents, and put all of the control in the hands of Pearson and the other test-makers. The mighty test dictates everything. The only pass you get is if you are an established, competent, well-known and well-regarded teacher who is confident enough to know that you can teach what you are passionate about effectively enough that the kids will still pass the test with flying colors. The administration leaves me alone, because my kids perform well. But any newer teachers (and by "newer", I mean anyone who got into the game in the last 20 years) simply teach like robots, because they have to- their evaluations (often being conducted by early 30-somethings who never taught a day before becoming a principal) depend on them teaching what they are told and how they are told. Creativity is all but dead. The days of creating a course or unit that derives from interest or passion are gone. I close the door and do what I want, because I know I am good at it, and the test scores stay high. The minute they drop, I will have to become a robot too, and at that point, I would just get out.
The idea of these clowns putting their "effort" and "energy" into fixing the problem they created is laughable. The problem is so far gone, I am not sure it is fixable, and I sincerely mean that.
Watch you mouth, a$$wipe. So, what you are saying is lets create another public school system that is not corrupt at all like the existing public school system. So, now my tax dollars are further being used for more public schools.
I am voting YES on all 4 questions Melrose!!!
Vote whichever way you think is right. The most important thing is that you do vote. There is NO excuse for not doing so. Remember Florida Bush v. Gore? Remember Dolan's one vote win in his first election?
No, no, yes, yes.
I voted today. No, yes, yes, no. I almost went yes on 4 but I would like to see the colorado experiment results in another year or so.
The question on pot? I will do the same and wait to see the results. The results in Melrose schools is vote yes on question 2. Teachers and staff will not help a child that is behind so that student suffers.
I voted yesterday and voted YES on question #2 and NO on question #4. Thanks to all the posters who provided information and their insight on these issues. You all made some great points on both sides of those issues. By the way - there was a short line to vote early in the Alderman chamber at city hall - seems like people are taking advantage of this opportunity.
...like a Hillary supporter
According to all the most recent articles, the first year the State is only reimbursing at 63% because it doesn't have enough $$$$. Expected to get much worse. The article is linked on this thread on page 2 or 3.
I am so glad I did'nt do early voting. I was never going to vote for crooked Hillary
anyways, but I know people are mad they voted early. They would like to change their votes
at this time. The new evidence mounting up on Hillary, I would want to vote again. The way
teachers are such bullies to the staff, what are they like to the students? Voting yes,
yes, yes, and yes.
Big mistake here not voting for the charter schools.