tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133521035538248322.post3596658790231720888..comments2023-12-24T05:39:44.753-06:00Comments on Mike Klonsky's Blog: Teachers not teaching in subject areas? Why not?Mike Klonskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02017021676773731024noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133521035538248322.post-70308442921973393782014-08-08T22:31:24.467-05:002014-08-08T22:31:24.467-05:00You'll probably be the only one to read this, ...You'll probably be the only one to read this, Mike (late response), but I've commented to people before that teaching is the ONLY profession where administrators would (w/o consequence to them) move teachers into positions for which either--1. They are actually neither qualified nor certified to teach or 2. They did NOT want to move into, & is not, actually, their greatest age/field of expertise. A law firm, for example, would not tell a lawyer who is in real estate law to become a criminal defense attorney. A hospital/medical practice would not put a pediatrician into a retiring dermatologist's position. However, in the education field, I have witnessed (& been a part of!) principals/education directors changing teachers' assignments--a sixth grade Social Studies teacher moved into a general ed. 2nd Grade class; an Early Childhood sped. teacher sent to be a middle school resource teacher; an Art Teacher for 15 years who taught Grades 6-8 and stayed after school almost EVERY day (Art Club, Play Set Crew, make-up work days), was extremely beloved by the students, &, furthermore knew just how to talk to kids that age to keep them from extreme mischief (which ALWAYS occurred w/a sub--thrown clay, attempted scissors attacks, etc.)--was transferred to the primary grades with no Art room, & had to teach "Art on a Cart,"<br />simply because the school she'd taught in had not made AYP (Average Yearly Progress) on the IL State Achievement Tests for several years (due to the sped. subgroup some years, & the ELL subgroup other years). That school was put into "turnaround," & all of the teachers had to re-apply for their jobs--some were switched w/teachers at other schools (who were none-too-happy themselves--the new Art teacher from--you guessed it--the PRIMARY grades--was pretty stunned by the 6-8 graders &, of course, did NOT do very well w/them).<br /> As one student tearfully asked the 15-year veteran middle school Art Teacher who was to leave, "Mrs. X, what does Art have to do with these tests? There's no Art tests on them!" Indeed--out of the mouths of babes.<br />BTW--even after the turnaround, the school STILL has yet to make AYP (again, subgroups--ELL &/or sped don't make the cut)!<br />And the kids lost some outstanding teachers.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133521035538248322.post-31036844392373524422014-08-08T21:46:26.847-05:002014-08-08T21:46:26.847-05:00Actually, that's a very funny picture of Arne ...Actually, that's a very funny picture of Arne you have up there--looks like he's kissing (up to someone/thing)--Pear$on executives? Buddies from the Broad Institute? Wait, wait--don't tell me! That person would be...Bill Gates, he-who-dictates-to-Arne-&-the-U.S.D.o.Ed.-what-America's-schools-should-test-&-teach-&-test-&-teach-&-test ~Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com