Comments on: Teaching: By Any Means Necessary

By: Angelica Johnson

Angelica Johnson — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 05:21:35 +0000

Wow, word up!

By: Mister Teacher

Mister Teacher — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 23:19:41 +0000

Thanks for posting this. Yes, there are a lot of ways that our districts seem to want to tie our hands (and feet) behind our backs. But we've just got to fight through it and do what's best for the kids. Though teachers CAN get fired for drinking on the job -- happened down here in TX a couple of months ago. Though falsifying social security numbers and under budgeting don't seem to merit as much punishment... Mister Teachers last blog post..Carnival of Symmetrical Democracy

By: Carnival of Education, Transition Team Edition at The Core Knowledge Blog

Carnival of Education, Transition Team Edition at The Core Knowledge Blog — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 20:31:23 +0000

[...] of Education? Jose Vilson is ready for his confirmation hearing. See Teaching: By Any Means Necessary posted at The Jose Vilson: The Blog. Rumor has it that Jose will bring on as undersecretaries [...]

By: pre_k

pre_k — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 03:46:23 +0000

all i am going to say that this is the most honest reflection of teachers and the education system i have seen in a good minute. personally i get tired of whoa is me teachers who are not hacking it. i get tired of teachers talking about how they love their students but yet i have never seen them walk out over content and curriculum but i have seen them strike over percentage points on annual raises. lets be real about it. a lot of people become teachers not because they love it or even care about the kids but because it is one of the most secure jobs in this country, period. while there is a lot more to be said about education policy and things of the sort i will say that your level of reflecti0n on these issues is definitely a starting point. piece and blessings.

By: Tracy Rosen

Tracy Rosen — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 10:30:45 +0000

I agree Hugh, we need to lead - for ourselves, our students, our colleagues, and even our administration at times. Because if we don't, who will. "If I am not for myself, who will be for me? But if I am only for myself, who am I? If not now, when?" Rabbi Hillel By any means necessary? No. By any means human. Tracy Rosens last blog post..How is this normal?

By: Jose

Jose — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 22:56:38 +0000

Thanks for the compliment Hugh. As teacher leaders, it does become incumbent on us to take some tasks by the horns and make it happen. P.S. – I must say, you’ve definitely become comfortable with uniting your off- and on-line personalities. Great to see.

By: Hugh O'Donnell

Hugh O'Donnell — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 04:13:27 +0000

“When do we, as educators, change our thinking from being a victim to being a survivor in this professional realm? We don’t have the luxury of always finding excuses as to why things cannot get accomplished. Our task is to teach ‘by any means necessary.’ ”

Luz, I’m with you, but I’d go farther, and ask teachers to lead, not just survive.

You and Jose are two great examples of education leadership. Keep spreading the word and the encouragement.

If the pace of change is proportionate to the size of your bureaucracy, NYC Schools, you have a really big job ahead. But, and forgive my use of jargon, if you continue to build the buzz, you will reach critical mass, and change WILL happen, however gradually.

BTW, my paternal grandmother, Agnes O’Donnell, taught sixth grade for 41 years at PS 199 in Brooklyn. My Dad taught at St. John’s Prep, then Levittown, NY, then Hillsboro, Oregon for 32 years. I started teaching at age 30 in 1975, and retired in 2003, going to the Hillsboro board of ed with the some of the goals you are looking to achieve.

I’ve made progress. We are on the threshold of engaging the last frontier of education reform…standards-based grading and risk-free, collegial professional development.

Excelsior.

Hugh O’Donnells last blog post..What To Do When the Press Doesn’t Do Their Job