New state ed commissioner talks “common sense”
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In today’s Daily News, new State Commissioner of Education, David Steiner, says our schools just need some common sense. He thinks our system is fraught with poor practices that defy logic - ranging from placing novice teachers in the most challenging classrooms to failing to reward the most accomplished teachers.
Steiner says we need a carefully mapped-out curriculum (with input from parents!) to ensure that students move successfully from our schools into college and the workplace. He thinks teachers should be better prepared before they fly solo, and that we need improved supports for those already in the classroom. For Steiner, school administrators and school districts should provide the feedback and training tailored to teachers’ needs.
And as for our state tests, which have attracted continued criticism, Steiner says that that logic dictates that we need to be sure they assess important knowledge and skills - fairly, accurately, and reliably. Steiner knows it’s going to be an uphill battle to make changes, “but doing so is good, common sense: our children’s future depends on it.”
What do you think Steiner’s top priority should be? Teacher quality? Better curriculum? Improved exams? Let us know below!
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Steiner’s top priority should be teacher quality. The quality of a child’s education is most dependent on the teacher teaching it. Students can always pick out the teachers who’ve had the most impact on their lives, and the same can’t usually be said regarding a curriculum or an exam.
With that said, the curriculum is also important for the student, but what use is an improved/better curriculum with a teacher that’s not fully effective at teaching it?
Now does that mean more effective teachers should be rewarded with higher pay? In an ideal world, yes, they should be. However, adding this additional layer of screening to an already bureacractic DOE system will only add additional headaches, not to mention financial resources.
Comment by Uncle Joe — September 1, 2009 @ 3:56 pm
Teachers are already rewarded. Top teachers earn $80,000 to $100,000 and they already have more than 4 weeks off during the school year and two full months during the summer, not to mention all those individual days. they also have lots of free time during the day when they are allowed to prep. We should be hiring teachers who actually want to teach, not take lots of time off. The problem that I see is that the concentration is on just passing the test, nothing more. Whole goups of kids who could really excel are left bored and hating school while they are ignored. Test prep has taken over instead of real teaching. I would love for money to be spent on real textbooks in the elementary school, not just test prep workbooks. I would like to see a schedule of complete subjects like when I went to school, reading, history, civics, geography, science, math every day. Not 4 hours of read on your own. I would like to see tracking or something similar in each school with movement allowed from tier to tier as the kids prove themselves or not. That way kids would get a well rounded education and gifted and talented could be dumped.
Comment by parent — September 1, 2009 @ 5:46 pm