I really don’t have anything against Jane Bowman, who took the time to compose a letter to the Times-Union about teachers, or education, or something. But I can’t help myself. Weathersbee and Gancarski were too boring to concentrate on, and I just dealt with Ron, so here we go:
I taught school for 31 years.
Get ready for an argument from authority. Always questionable, occasionally entertaining.
I have some strong opinions about education issues.
Testify, sister. If you do, in fact, have some strong opinions, that will be a welcome change from the usual pap that passes for opinion journalism in these parts.
Almost daily we hear about the plight of public education in the United States and how low our ranking is compared to other countries. Now we hear the dismal news that Duval County public schools have a low ranking compared to other school districts in the United States.
It might be a long wait for those strong opinions. And while we’re waiting, it looks like we won’t be diverted by anything like news.
Much of the conversation about education often is about funding.
Sooner rather than later an academic will out herself with vague and boring language and a retreat to platitudes. ‘Much of the conversation’ sucks; bringing up funding is the platitudiest of platitudes.
Most people can agree that it takes money to have schools, but it takes more than money to manage them effectively.
Jane’s prose and her argument are starting to circle the drain. Schools need money, yes, and something else. More money, or competent administration? Which will she favor?
It is disturbing that government fails to see the damage done by high-stakes testing. Particularly egregious and misleading is to give schools grades based on Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test scores.
The teacher rant against testing. No doubt testing unmotivated brats, unsupervised by feckless parents, translates into crappy test scores. But not testing gives a pass to bad teachers and administrators who shuttle kids through the system. The public doesn’t want that any longer. That’s your lot as a teacher. Deal with it.
If testing is to be used, it should be used in grades K-3 to identify children who need to be tutored in reading, writing and math. Children lacking some basic skills need to be helped early,
We could start with the proper use of commas and periods, goddammit.
Provide them with a good foundation for further education.
I have given considerable thought to how to improve the situation in our Duval County public schools.
I’m waiting with bated breath. (Notice how I didn’t write ‘baited’ breath? Yeah, I didn’t go to high school in Duval County.)
Quit wasting money.
You, ma’am, are entirely too radical for modern-day America. Quit wasting money? What’s next?
For example, use the academic, reading and math coaches to tutor children, not teachers. How can teachers be effective when they are constantly being trained or in meetings?
Dear Jane: (Can I call you Jane? I feel like we’ve forged a connection that transcends the impersonal nature of the Internet and my obnoxious criticism of your letter.) I’m with you, girl. I don’t know what the answer is to improving teachers, but I’m certain that it doesn’t involve sitting in a conference room and being droned at by some pompous asshole reading a power point presentation.
Furthermore, do our School Board members and superintendent really need a travel budget?
No they fucking don’t. Go Jane!
Try respecting teachers.
OK. Um, I think we do. I know my imaginary friends who have kids respect and like their kids’ teachers.
They work hard. It should be a concern that our county has a teacher retention problem. Treat teachers fairly. Teacher evaluations are less about good teaching and more about getting along and going along.
Shit. I thought we were making progress, Jane. ‘Getting along and going along?’ What the fuck does that mean? I thought I might be reading a teachers’ perspective I hadn’t seen before.
Do away with the district policy of "recovery."
You should explain what recovery is, rather than putting it in scare quotes and assuming we all now what it means. (I know what it means, Jane -- do we sill have a chance? I’ll be at the Sun Dog at 9 on Sunday, the sad fat guy with the bleached out Braves cap.)
This is most detrimental to student learning as it allows students to ignore their teacher and class assignments and then do some computer work (recovery work) at a later date.
Why should it matter if students learn in class or from some anti-teacher’s-union robot? The goal is for them to learn the material, no?
Coupled with the fact that teachers in the middle grades are pressured to give all As, Bs and Cs, this could explain why many students are not graduating from high school.
What? I think the magic is gone, Jane. I was with you there for a moment, when you were manning the ramparts against useless meetings and power point. But how does grade inflation in middle school lead to failing in high school? Unless there’s no grade inflation in high school, which I doubt.
Restore discipline. Teachers must give the students so many chances, the system is not taken seriously by the students.
Restore discipline, by all means, but give me some specific suggestions. Unless you have a magic wand you can wave that will do the trick. Do you-- no, I didn’t think so. Also, that last sentence is slip-and-fall awkward.
Change district policies that are not working, value and support teachers and provide them with a safe and fair work environment.
Jane, Jane, Jane. You got my hopes up early, you little minx, only to collapse into bland education-speak: ‘value and support teachers,’ ‘safe and fair work environment.’ And again, calling for change in policies that aren’t working couldn’t be more vague and unhelpful.
Our children will then be the beneficiaries.
Oh, well if the children will be the beneficiaries, then all of your points are air-tight.
I taught school for 31 years.
Get ready for an argument from authority. Always questionable, occasionally entertaining.
I have some strong opinions about education issues.
Testify, sister. If you do, in fact, have some strong opinions, that will be a welcome change from the usual pap that passes for opinion journalism in these parts.
Almost daily we hear about the plight of public education in the United States and how low our ranking is compared to other countries. Now we hear the dismal news that Duval County public schools have a low ranking compared to other school districts in the United States.
It might be a long wait for those strong opinions. And while we’re waiting, it looks like we won’t be diverted by anything like news.
Much of the conversation about education often is about funding.
Sooner rather than later an academic will out herself with vague and boring language and a retreat to platitudes. ‘Much of the conversation’ sucks; bringing up funding is the platitudiest of platitudes.
Most people can agree that it takes money to have schools, but it takes more than money to manage them effectively.
Jane’s prose and her argument are starting to circle the drain. Schools need money, yes, and something else. More money, or competent administration? Which will she favor?
It is disturbing that government fails to see the damage done by high-stakes testing. Particularly egregious and misleading is to give schools grades based on Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test scores.
The teacher rant against testing. No doubt testing unmotivated brats, unsupervised by feckless parents, translates into crappy test scores. But not testing gives a pass to bad teachers and administrators who shuttle kids through the system. The public doesn’t want that any longer. That’s your lot as a teacher. Deal with it.
If testing is to be used, it should be used in grades K-3 to identify children who need to be tutored in reading, writing and math. Children lacking some basic skills need to be helped early,
We could start with the proper use of commas and periods, goddammit.
Provide them with a good foundation for further education.
I have given considerable thought to how to improve the situation in our Duval County public schools.
I’m waiting with bated breath. (Notice how I didn’t write ‘baited’ breath? Yeah, I didn’t go to high school in Duval County.)
Quit wasting money.
You, ma’am, are entirely too radical for modern-day America. Quit wasting money? What’s next?
For example, use the academic, reading and math coaches to tutor children, not teachers. How can teachers be effective when they are constantly being trained or in meetings?
Dear Jane: (Can I call you Jane? I feel like we’ve forged a connection that transcends the impersonal nature of the Internet and my obnoxious criticism of your letter.) I’m with you, girl. I don’t know what the answer is to improving teachers, but I’m certain that it doesn’t involve sitting in a conference room and being droned at by some pompous asshole reading a power point presentation.
Furthermore, do our School Board members and superintendent really need a travel budget?
No they fucking don’t. Go Jane!
Try respecting teachers.
OK. Um, I think we do. I know my imaginary friends who have kids respect and like their kids’ teachers.
They work hard. It should be a concern that our county has a teacher retention problem. Treat teachers fairly. Teacher evaluations are less about good teaching and more about getting along and going along.
Shit. I thought we were making progress, Jane. ‘Getting along and going along?’ What the fuck does that mean? I thought I might be reading a teachers’ perspective I hadn’t seen before.
Do away with the district policy of "recovery."
You should explain what recovery is, rather than putting it in scare quotes and assuming we all now what it means. (I know what it means, Jane -- do we sill have a chance? I’ll be at the Sun Dog at 9 on Sunday, the sad fat guy with the bleached out Braves cap.)
This is most detrimental to student learning as it allows students to ignore their teacher and class assignments and then do some computer work (recovery work) at a later date.
Why should it matter if students learn in class or from some anti-teacher’s-union robot? The goal is for them to learn the material, no?
Coupled with the fact that teachers in the middle grades are pressured to give all As, Bs and Cs, this could explain why many students are not graduating from high school.
What? I think the magic is gone, Jane. I was with you there for a moment, when you were manning the ramparts against useless meetings and power point. But how does grade inflation in middle school lead to failing in high school? Unless there’s no grade inflation in high school, which I doubt.
Restore discipline. Teachers must give the students so many chances, the system is not taken seriously by the students.
Restore discipline, by all means, but give me some specific suggestions. Unless you have a magic wand you can wave that will do the trick. Do you-- no, I didn’t think so. Also, that last sentence is slip-and-fall awkward.
Change district policies that are not working, value and support teachers and provide them with a safe and fair work environment.
Jane, Jane, Jane. You got my hopes up early, you little minx, only to collapse into bland education-speak: ‘value and support teachers,’ ‘safe and fair work environment.’ And again, calling for change in policies that aren’t working couldn’t be more vague and unhelpful.
Our children will then be the beneficiaries.
Oh, well if the children will be the beneficiaries, then all of your points are air-tight.
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