TeacherX: Arne is going to talk with actual teachers!

December 05, 2006

Arne is going to talk with actual teachers!

Hey Everyone, guess what Dear Leader Arne wants to actually talk with teachers! Not only that, he's going to pay you your HOURLY WAGE! Will is be pensionable? (just kidding)

Anyway, has anyone heard about this at their school, or are we all learning about this in the paper?

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Public Schools system will spend about $2 million between January and February on a series of Saturday meetings that will gather thousands of city teachers downtown to talk about district-wide improvements.

This is the first time the district has attempted to summon all 25,000 teachers to meetings with schools Chief Arne Duncan and other central administrators. Duncan announced the plan Monday during his annual State of the City Schools speech at a City Club luncheon. Duncan outlined the district's accomplishments, challenges and future initiatives in his address to civic and business leaders

Just one question - WHAT IMPROVEMENTS ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? Closing down schools and giving them away is an improvement? Overcrowded high schools is an improvement. Someone please enlighten me.

I dont' know about anyone else, but I'm going for the show - also of course the money. Can I go to more than one?

Posted at 09:49 PM | Permalink

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Test scores are at an all-time high. That would count as a success. HS drop-out rate is at an all-time high. That would count. If you listen to his recurring intros to speeches, Arne clearly outlines successes. A LOT more "success" is needed-- and soon-- but to ignore the recent test scores is burying your head in Stewart's sand.

Posted by: Give him more credit | December 09, 2006 at 08:57 PM

I too will show up (mostly for the money--I really NEED it). Part of me wants to hear him. I also want to know what other teachers across the city are going through. I feel so isolated with my 32 low scoring, behavior-challenged, 100% african-amer., 2 years behind, struggling south/east side classroom (with no internet, working computer, classroom aide, essential supplies, etc). I give all the details because I feel like I'm the ONLY teacher with these challenges. I do know better. I've only worked in the bottom ten percent CPS schools (west and south). Its too hard to get a North side school gig! And I don't have a car!

I think Duncan is smarter than he's given credit for being. He'll sway alot of teachers to his side (esp. North side schools w/o the problems of west and south side "ghetto" schools ). Just the money will lend him credibility with the easily seduced among us. The $50 teacher's supply card was a good example
of Duncan's "bad faith". The "powers that be" are well aware of the economic vise many teachers are in. My winter gas bills alone(like most working folks') kick my budget to the curb!

With the contract up soon, the CTU factioned off into near paralysis, and the economy burdening teachers like never before, we are left vulnerable (and sadly, gullible).

Instead of with Duncan, the meeting or "forum" ought to be with Union leaders (Lynch, Stewart, etc.) (I don't know if they could pay us though). Daley will steamroll us (again) in the next contract (election) and then berate us for using our "sick days"!

Posted by: A. LowperformingSouthSide Elem. Teacher | December 25, 2006 at 08:09 PM

I attended the "pep rally" Sat. and it was nice to be paid for listening to the B.S. that Duncan and Watkins touted this time rather than reading about it and worrying how I'll pay my internet bill for the month.

Duncan said that "education" was the social justice issue of our time. I squirmed when I heard this, coming from a privileged U of C "faculty brat" who knows what sounds appealing. He obviously didn't take any courses with Archie Epps at Harvard! Racism and classism are the "social justice" issues which have dominated and continue to obstruct and construct in this society. Just because it's not "Jim Crow" explicit, doesn't make it anyless potent. When housing determines school attendance and housing patterns are designed and practiced (de jure and de facto) using race and class as their chief agents, education becomes merely a product.

How many Blacks of working class backgrounds are in Martin's Civic Club (no Clarence Thomas types please)? Since when has Martin said anything about his "education reform" being meant for "social justice"? But it sure sounds good, don't it...helping (like the missionaries did ) those poor darkies who can't even read...

The sad truth is the many young zealots like A.D. "teach" in low schools for a few years. But the effects of poverty wear them down and they leave--even the best intentioned among them. It's not just poor "skill sets". The zealots leave after a while and "get married", or "apply to law school", or "go to a magnet school or the suburbs". I thinks its more honorable to just walk away. Don't throw your class privilege (and often race too) in their face as you walk away.

Duncan and Watkins "talk a good game" of wanting success for all CPS schools. But that just ain't the case as I see it. If you want the "ghetto schools" to change, you play "Robin Hood Mgmt": longer hours, smaller classes, innovative curriculum and most talented, highest quality teacher go to the weakest performing schools. Re-distribute the wealth to compensate for what it took generations to create. Stop blaming victims of "social in-justice"--the poor, the dispossessed, etc (anybody remember Hurricane Katrina's 'refugees')?

Posted by: A. LowperformingSouthSide Elem. Teacher | January 21, 2007 at 01:32 PM