In the early aughts,* we rented a house in South Chatham, MA, for 3 or 4 consecutive years. It was a simple Cape with a super comfortable vibe and, once I rolled up and stashed all of the potentially treacherous throw rugs which were scattered about, the perfect place to relax with young children. There … Continue reading The Graduate
Category: Education
Glory Days – Greenwood Lake Middle School’s Class of 1980
It probably wasn't coincidence that I heard that Springsteen song not once, but twice, on my way to the 35th reunion of my 8th grade class, right? There probably isn't a song more appropriate for getting together with classmates and reminiscing about shared childhoods than that nugget that made its debut the same year I … Continue reading Glory Days – Greenwood Lake Middle School’s Class of 1980
Pay attention
On more than one occasion, I’ve listened to people complain about how much money teachers get paid. Maybe you’ve been part of such a conversation – it usually involves noting the short work day teachers enjoy, the health insurance and other benefits they’re given, and the excellent calendar which allows me them to have summers … Continue reading Pay attention
April Fool me
If I had known 25 years ago that choosing a career as a public school teacher would mean fighting for survival against a megalomaniac governor, I might have elected to simply stay full-time in the hospitality industry. During my college days, I imagined my biggest challenge would be landing a job in what is a … Continue reading April Fool me
Testing boundaries
Last week I attended a meeting sponsored by the NYS Alliance for Public Education. The forum discussed current controversies and issues in public education including the Common Core Learning Standards, teacher evaluations, Governor Cuomo's 2015 Education Budget and the NYS assessments given to elementary students in grades 3-8. My interest in attending the meeting was … Continue reading Testing boundaries
Feeling testy about NYS assessments
How much do you know the mandated state exams administered to elementary school students in New York State? What do you know about these tests and their significance? Have you heard about Assemblymember Jim Tedisco's bill proposal to allow parents to "opt out" of the required tests? If these three questions were on a test … Continue reading Feeling testy about NYS assessments
Cuomo: failing to understand the problem
Governor Cuomo has released a report which concludes that many of New York State's public schools are failing. As I skimmed the lengthy document online, I noticed a consistency which, to me, was critical in understanding why these schools are struggling. With only two exceptions (Amsterdam and Buffalo's South Park), the schools which have been deemed failing are attempting … Continue reading Cuomo: failing to understand the problem
DelSo 