Bloomberg and NYC Schools Fail Again!

New York 4th graders were the only ones in the country to get lower scores than on the previous year's test!!! Boy, teaching to the test has done a lot of good. This is what happens when you have non-educators running a school system. As I have asked before, "When are Bloomberg's feet going to be held to the fire?" He demanded total control of the school system, received it, and it has been nothing short of a disaster since. Clearly he doesn't have a clue. Times, Post, News I ask again: why have you not weighed in on this subject? Why have you given him a pass on this issue when it is abundantly clear that not only has there been no improvement in the school system during his tenure but it has gotten progressively worse?

Accusations of Cheating by Educators Under Bloomberg

The New York Times of Aug. 23, 2011 reports that test-tampering and grade-changing has more than tripled since Mayor-Dictator Bloomberg took control of NYC's school system. Gee, what a surprise! Anyone who has taught in the system, as I have, can tell you this has been going on for years and years. The special commissioner, Richard Conlon, attributed the rise both to the expansion of the school system(nonsense) and to the higher stakes attached to standardized tests(duh!). The schools chancellor, another Bloomberg lackey, denies this. He was supported by Shael Polakow-Suransky, his lackey. Keep burying your heads in the sand, gentlemen. No erasure analysis necessary for NYC. Oh sure! As long as everything is based on test results this cheating will continue. Isn't it time to spend classroom hours on learning subject matter rather than on teaching to the test? By the way, what on earth does Stephen Brill know about education? Another non-educator sticking his two cents in where it doesn't belong!

The Stupid Get More Stupid: Bloomberg Does It Again

A dozen new standardized tests? Let's throw away any pretense of educating students. How much more of the day is going to be spent "teaching to the test"? This is insane. And by the way, the purpose of all these new tests-to grade teachers. What an intelligent use of time and money. So, no more science, history, art, music,et al. No time for such mundane subjects. Doesn't anyone see how Bloomberg, Klein, Black and now Polakow-Suransky are brutalizing the NYC school system? Let's be honest. Since Bloomberg received complete control of the school system it has been a disaster. The Times, News, Post-no honest reporting? Instead of this crusade against the teachers and their union how about using their knowledge to make a better system. Who would know better than the people doing the actual work?  Certainly not a business man sitting on his high horse.

Obama Criticizes "High Stakes" Testing

Is he finally seeing the light? Time to rid himself of Duncan and other proponents of  massive testing and charter schools. Can teachers go back to teaching? It would be nice to see something other than Math and English being taught. How much badly needed money is being spent on testing? Hopefully, this is a step in the right direction for Pres. Obama.

Bloomberg's Continues All-out War Against Teachers

The DOE under the direction of the mayor directed its employees to involve students and parents in signing a petition calling for changing the law governing layoff rules. UFT President Michael Mulgrew stated, " the same DOE, which on the pretext of sheltering students has forbidden teachers even from wearing buttons indicating support for candidates, has now embraced using students and parents in a clearly partisan legislative initiative." This is what the city is spending money on while the mayor claims there is none!

Dictator Bloomberg Abuses Power Once Again

The Office Of Family Engagement and Advocacy set up by the Dept of Education to address complaints that parents were not being listened to by the mayor when he took control of the school system was used by said mayor to have a petition circulated with the intention of persuading the Legislature to change the layoff formula for teachers. An investigation is being called for by unions representing parent coordinators and unions charging that the Education Dept used public money and civil servants to advance a political cause. Is this mayor really much different then the Middle East rulers we have been hearing so much about lately? Are we going to see a push for a 4th term in office?

This Must Be Read Truly Incredible!

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/07/education/07winerip.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&sq=new%20york%20education&st=cse&scp=4