Non-Educators Making Decisions About Education

Here’s an article posted in the Washington Post Blog “The Answer Sheet” hosted by Valerie Strauss.  We’ve all seen a decline in the basic scholarship and abilities of our incoming students; and it’s all too easy to place the blame on teachers in the K-12 ranks.  Here’s a plea from Kenneth Bernstein, a newly retired member of those ranks and an analysis of what is profoundly wrong in our education systems rendering them ill-suited for preparing students for college.
A warning to college profs from a high school teacher by Kenneth Bernstein
“You are a college professor.
I have just retired as a high school teacher.
I have some bad news for you. In case you do not already see what is happening, I want to warn you of what to expect from the students who will be arriving in your classroom, even if you teach in a highly selective institution.
No Child Left Behind went into effect for the 2002–03 academic year, which means that America’s public schools have been operating under the pressures and constrictions imposed by that law for a decade. Since the testing requirements were imposed beginning in third grade, the students arriving in your institution have been subject to the full extent of the law’s requirements. While it is true that the U.S. Department of Education is now issuing waivers on some of the provisions of the law to certain states, those states must agree to other provisions that will have as deleterious an effect on real student learning as did No Child Left Behind—we have already seen that in public schools, most notably in high schools.”
Read the entire article HERE on the Washington Post’s website.
In Mr. Bernstein’s plea he makes reference to statements made by Mr. Anthony Mullen, the 2009 National Teacher of The Year.  Mr. Mullen has posted his observations on non-educators creating woefully inadequate, ineffective and damaging policies on education.  His comments are in a blog post titled “Teachers Should be Seen And Not Heard.”  Read it.  Now.  See if his comments don’t apply to the decisions and demands being issued from Buchtel Hall.
“Where do I begin? I spent the last thirty minutes listening to a group of arrogant and condescending noneducators disrespect my colleagues and profession. I listened to a group of disingenuous people whose own self-interests guide their policies rather than the interests of children. I listened to a cabal of people who sit on national education committees that will have a profound impact on classroom teaching practices. And I heard nothing of value.:
Read the entire post HERE on The Education Week website.