Losing HOPE...

Thinking back almost a year and a half ago it seemed like there was "hope" on the horizon. Phone calls, text messages, tweets and facebook posts were being made about how things were going to change. Sitting here, a year and a half later, what has changed for us in education? We are continually hearing the same rhetoric about "accountability, rigor, and relevance." The promise was a focus on listening to teachers and their ideas for accountability, now we have the divisive Race to the Top (RTTT).

This idea is pitting States in competition for creating the most innovative plans. Let it be noted that this is Round Two of RTTT. The focus of RTTT innovative means include accountability, charter schools, increasing beginning teachers and accepting the common core standards.

Accountability is not a terrible idea. We all need to be held accountable for our actions and the product we produce. In this case, the product being the students; but here is the kicker linking student performance to teacher and principal evaluation? No, absolutely not as the end all be all! The teachers and the principals cannot be held accountable for how a student achieves on a standardized tests. These methods have been the standard for over ten years and teachers are merely teaching test taking skills and how to pass these tests for fear of their jobs due to "accountability".

Before November 2008 and on that election night, educators were promised reform in schools. Educators were promised formative assessments that challenged the student on many levels. What are we getting? More of the same. Not only more of the same, but teachers are starting to truly fear for their jobs due to the possibility of getting fired based on these assessments much like the school in Rhode Island, and here in Guilford County the same has happened.

RTTT is dividing and divisive. It is excluding the ability to collaborate with each other and pitting us against each other for how much money? $250 million dollars. That is it! There is more money in the Education Jobs bill to save jobs than there is in RTTT. More over, the stipulations are not as stringent. The bill wants to keep educators in the schools. RTTT is dividing our schools across the nation.

For more information about RTTT and a small break down link to the article in the Baltimore Sun by Jeff Passe.

North Carolina is once again a finalist in RTTT round two. Are we happy? Well, I'll say this: it is fun to win. Maybe that is what life is supposed to be about?