The name of this place elicits loud laughter, if not confusion, amongst those not in the know. The rubber rooms are places where the NYC Department of Education (NYCDOE) sends teachers who have been accused of misconduct in the classroom. The rubber room is where these teachers go to while away their days waiting for [...]
I watched a recent Q&A webcast Arne Duncan gave with Organizing for America. Despite my criticism of where education reform is headed in our country, I am impressed by the many facets of education he needs to address as Secretary. Due in part to this webcast, but mostly by conversations I’ve had recently with others [...]
December 16, 2009 Thank you for your letter to Secretary Arne Duncan sharing your thoughts on the methods used to evaluate teachers. Your letter was referred to the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education for review and I am pleased to respond. The Department understands the critical role that high quality teachers play when it [...]
November 18, 2009 U.S. Department of Education 400 Maryland Avenue, SW (LBJ Education Building, 7W311) Washington, D.C. 20202 Dear Secretary Arne Duncan – What defines a good teacher? The designation of “good” is a moving target and an obscure term, though it may be possible to observe “good” behaviors: preparing every night for class the [...]
There have been many developments in the world of education recently, particularly in New York City. However, there is one issue that is very personal and most pressing for me, as decisions which will affect the life of one child will be made tomorrow. Several months ago, in November, one student was brought up as [...]
After reading an interview in U.S. News, I am cautiously excited about Arne Duncan. I had hoped that President Obama would nominate someone in higher education to become the Education Secretary rather than a current school superintendent or chancellor. I worried and still do worry that the new Education Secretary would attempt to issue one [...]
I just read an article about Proposition 8, where 52% of the voters decided to ban gay-marriage. The Mormons worked really hard to raise money and send people door-to-door in California to pass this measure. The leader of this campaign said that he was doing this to protect God’s intent of marriage. First of all… [...]
One of my colleagues told me about a Howard Stern segment about the lack of knowledge Obama’s supporters had when they voted for him. She referenced this interview and mentioned that when the black people voted for Obama, they didn’t even know what his policies were; they just voted for him because he is black. [...]
I have so much work to do, but I feel that this is worth addressing. Several issues at school today really trouble me; they make me nauseous. IGNORANCE, BIGOTRY It disturbs me to great ends when a teacher is a racist, a bigot, or an ignorant person. I find ignorance to be unacceptable when we [...]
Fordham University has recently come under fire from the good Catholics of the world, and specifically Cardinal Egan for honoring Justice Breyer with an award from the school. The reason cited by the Cardinal, who is the leader of pedophiles and sex-addicts, is that Justice Breyer voted to overturn a Nebraska ban on late-term abortions [...]