Comments on: Voucher kids ask for help http://www.joannejacobs.com/2009/03/voucher-kids-ask-for-help/ Thinking and Linking by Joanne Jacobs Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:51:22 +0000 hourly 1 By: Lightly Seasoned http://www.joannejacobs.com/2009/03/voucher-kids-ask-for-help/#comment-44686 Lightly Seasoned Mon, 09 Mar 2009 15:15:28 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/?p=7963#comment-44686 This is off topic and petty, but I really wish allen would learn the difference between "then" and "than." This is off topic and petty, but I really wish allen would learn the difference between “then” and “than.”

]]> By: allen http://www.joannejacobs.com/2009/03/voucher-kids-ask-for-help/#comment-44685 allen Mon, 09 Mar 2009 12:40:49 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/?p=7963#comment-44685 Coming from someone whose idea of "improving" education consists first, and only, of quintupling teacher's pay the views of the "reform" crowd have the virtue of not being nakedly mercenary. And whether Rhee's a clown or not, your opinions, and the opinions of teachers in general, don't matter. That's not a flaw in the system, that's how the system is built. If you want teachers to matter, to have a voice in the direction of public education, it won't happen under the current, district structure. But you know that which is why you carefully avoid the issue. Your tap-dancing around the issue indicates you wouldn't change a thing about public education except where it impinges on your paycheck, comfort and fear. Coming from someone whose idea of “improving” education consists first, and only, of quintupling teacher’s pay the views of the “reform” crowd have the virtue of not being nakedly mercenary.

And whether Rhee’s a clown or not, your opinions, and the opinions of teachers in general, don’t matter. That’s not a flaw in the system, that’s how the system is built.

If you want teachers to matter, to have a voice in the direction of public education, it won’t happen under the current, district structure. But you know that which is why you carefully avoid the issue. Your tap-dancing around the issue indicates you wouldn’t change a thing about public education except where it impinges on your paycheck, comfort and fear.

]]> By: Mike in Texas http://www.joannejacobs.com/2009/03/voucher-kids-ask-for-help/#comment-44684 Mike in Texas Mon, 09 Mar 2009 00:13:47 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/?p=7963#comment-44684 The only excitement around Rhee is from the "reform' crowd, not anyone actually involved in educating the children of DC. Notice how little excitement from teachers there has been for her merit play scheme to get rid of the experience, expensive teachers. I'm not angry or whining, just pointing out the flaws in reasoning from clowns who think they know how to improve schools, when in actuality they don't know jack. The only excitement around Rhee is from the “reform’ crowd, not anyone actually involved in educating the children of DC. Notice how little excitement from teachers there has been for her merit play scheme to get rid of the experience, expensive teachers.

I’m not angry or whining, just pointing out the flaws in reasoning from clowns who think they know how to improve schools, when in actuality they don’t know jack.

]]> By: allen http://www.joannejacobs.com/2009/03/voucher-kids-ask-for-help/#comment-44683 allen Sun, 08 Mar 2009 21:04:47 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/?p=7963#comment-44683 No Mike, those people aren't the ones who created the mess. The mess is built into the system and it's only an uncommon set of circumstances that results in anything other then dreary mediocrity. That's why there's a flurry of excitement about Rhee. She's obviously smart, obviously tough and obviously capable. Maybe she can do something with a hugely over-funded school district that no one, for a very long time, has been able to do anything with. And please, don't try to pass off your back-seat-driver whining as anger. You're not going to run a public school any time soon and I doubt you'd do it if the opportunity presented itself. Since you're safe from the scary possibility of ever having to walk the walk why not run your mouth? It's better then coming to terms with the situation in which you find yourself, right? No Mike, those people aren’t the ones who created the mess. The mess is built into the system and it’s only an uncommon set of circumstances that results in anything other then dreary mediocrity.

That’s why there’s a flurry of excitement about Rhee. She’s obviously smart, obviously tough and obviously capable. Maybe she can do something with a hugely over-funded school district that no one, for a very long time, has been able to do anything with.

And please, don’t try to pass off your back-seat-driver whining as anger.

You’re not going to run a public school any time soon and I doubt you’d do it if the opportunity presented itself. Since you’re safe from the scary possibility of ever having to walk the walk why not run your mouth? It’s better then coming to terms with the situation in which you find yourself, right?

]]> By: Mike in Texas http://www.joannejacobs.com/2009/03/voucher-kids-ask-for-help/#comment-44682 Mike in Texas Sun, 08 Mar 2009 14:39:40 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/?p=7963#comment-44682 Allen, The people on the organization chart are some of the very ones who created the mess. Handing over the whole kaboodle to someone with a very minimun of teaching experience, and no management experience, overseen by a politician, is a recipe for disaster on an even grander scale. As for throwing a temper tantrum, I think maybe you have confused opinions with anger. Allen,

The people on the organization chart are some of the very ones who created the mess. Handing over the whole kaboodle to someone with a very minimun of teaching experience, and no management experience, overseen by a politician, is a recipe for disaster on an even grander scale.

As for throwing a temper tantrum, I think maybe you have confused opinions with anger.

]]> By: allen http://www.joannejacobs.com/2009/03/voucher-kids-ask-for-help/#comment-44681 allen Sun, 08 Mar 2009 02:20:33 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/?p=7963#comment-44681 Har! The people who don't agree with her are responsible for a school district that has a per student budget that exceeds that of many tony private schools yet can't keep the rain out of the buildings let alone educate the kids. As for your fever-dream of district superintendents listening to "real" teachers, what do you propose to do? Wave a magic wand? District superintendents don't listen to teachers, teachers listen to district superintendents. Maybe if you decided to grow up a little you'd be able to appreciate an organization chart instead of balling up your little fists and throwing a temper tantrum. Teachers are treated as if they're not important because they're not important. Teachers are at the bottom of the hierarchy and there they will stay until the structure of public education changes. Har! The people who don’t agree with her are responsible for a school district that has a per student budget that exceeds that of many tony private schools yet can’t keep the rain out of the buildings let alone educate the kids.

As for your fever-dream of district superintendents listening to “real” teachers, what do you propose to do? Wave a magic wand?

District superintendents don’t listen to teachers, teachers listen to district superintendents. Maybe if you decided to grow up a little you’d be able to appreciate an organization chart instead of balling up your little fists and throwing a temper tantrum.

Teachers are treated as if they’re not important because they’re not important. Teachers are at the bottom of the hierarchy and there they will stay until the structure of public education changes.

]]> By: Mike in Texas http://www.joannejacobs.com/2009/03/voucher-kids-ask-for-help/#comment-44680 Mike in Texas Sat, 07 Mar 2009 02:42:30 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/?p=7963#comment-44680 That's nearly 2 years, Joanne. Rhee hasn't accomplished much outside of pushing for "reforms", pissing alot of people off, and ignoring the advice of real educators. And no, I don't count her 2 years of TFA experience for real teaching, she dabbled and she totally lacks the ability and experience to lead a school district. Worse, she's so convinced she's right she refuses to listen to anyone who doesn't agree with her. That’s nearly 2 years, Joanne. Rhee hasn’t accomplished much outside of pushing for “reforms”, pissing alot of people off, and ignoring the advice of real educators. And no, I don’t count her 2 years of TFA experience for real teaching, she dabbled and she totally lacks the ability and experience to lead a school district. Worse, she’s so convinced she’s right she refuses to listen to anyone who doesn’t agree with her.

]]> By: Joanne Jacobs http://www.joannejacobs.com/2009/03/voucher-kids-ask-for-help/#comment-44679 Joanne Jacobs Sat, 07 Mar 2009 01:59:27 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/?p=7963#comment-44679 Mike, the D.C. schools have been dreadful for a long, long time. Adrian Fenty took over the system in April, 2007. Michelle Rhee was confirmed as D.C. schools chancellor on July 11, 2007. Mike, the D.C. schools have been dreadful for a long, long time.
Adrian Fenty took over the system in April, 2007. Michelle Rhee was confirmed as D.C. schools chancellor on July 11, 2007.

]]> By: Charles R. Williams http://www.joannejacobs.com/2009/03/voucher-kids-ask-for-help/#comment-44678 Charles R. Williams Sat, 07 Mar 2009 01:48:22 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/?p=7963#comment-44678 Prediction: Obama will throw them under the bus. Prediction: Obama will throw them under the bus.

]]> By: Mike in Texas http://www.joannejacobs.com/2009/03/voucher-kids-ask-for-help/#comment-44677 Mike in Texas Sat, 07 Mar 2009 00:01:59 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/?p=7963#comment-44677 What a fine job Rhee and the DC mayor have done running the DC public schools. This is what you get when you put amateurs in charge. What a fine job Rhee and the DC mayor have done running the DC public schools.

This is what you get when you put amateurs in charge.

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