uring a recent meeting of the National Education Association in New Orleans, NEA President Dennis Van Roekel stated, “In states like Louisiana, Colorado and Florida, policymakers disrespect educators and trample employee rights and call it education reform.”
Van Roekel goes on to say, “While we applaud the administration for its commitment to fund education, our members are frustrated by the disconnect between what they need each day to support their students and the federal policies that hold up struggling students as 'products to be tested.”
Van Roekel noted that a newly formed Commission on Effective Teachers and Teaching is working on a report discussing how teachers can “gain more authority over their jobs and the quality of teaching in public schools.”
Targeting the Race to the Top Program, the NEA feels that it has supported too few schools, that there have been too many losers and not nearly enough winners.
Where do you stand on the Race to the Top program? How has it – or has it – affected your local schools? What do you feel could be changed?
Educators – how have you been affected by the policy changes in your school district? Do you agree with the NEA that that disrespect for teachers’ rights is supported by current education reform goals?
No matter your stance, the open debate on these points can only result in a better education system for our kids and our country. Differences are bound to be felt, and need to be aired and dealt with to truly make a change in our education system.
Posted By: Paul Adams
Wednesday, July 21st 2010 at 11:36AM
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