Comments on: Frank McCourt, Teacher and Unionist http://www.edwize.org/frank-mccourt-teacher-and-unionist Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:46:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Phyllis C. Murray http://www.edwize.org/frank-mccourt-teacher-and-unionist/comment-page-1#comment-66577 Phyllis C. Murray Mon, 03 Aug 2009 22:28:02 +0000 http://www.edwize.org/?p=4922#comment-66577 Thank you, John for your timely response. It was right on target. Dr. King who reminded us that” we are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” Collaboration is the key in all successful negotiations. But that collaboration must embody mutual trust and mutual respect. And I hope the day will come when the contributions of educators are welcomed, when a respect for educators is heralded, and when total mayoral control of the NYCDOE is ended. Phyllis C. Murray Thank you, John for your timely response. It was right on target.
Dr. King who reminded us that” we are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” Collaboration is the key in all successful negotiations. But that collaboration must embody mutual trust and mutual respect. And I hope the day will come when the contributions of educators are welcomed, when a respect for educators is heralded, and when total mayoral control of the NYCDOE is ended.

Phyllis C. Murray

]]> By: John Powers http://www.edwize.org/frank-mccourt-teacher-and-unionist/comment-page-1#comment-66563 John Powers Tue, 21 Jul 2009 17:51:58 +0000 http://www.edwize.org/?p=4922#comment-66563 Dear Phyllis, You are absolutely correct. I would add that their language is rooted in their unique experiences in life. Their ability to use language and reflect on it will not only "empower them as writers" but as human beings better equipped to negotiate the complexities of the world. This, in part, makes a strong case against the data frenzy tsunami of high stakes testing and regimentation of learning. We need to move toward a constructivist approach to teaching where best practices are learned and shared and used to better our educational system. In other words, our standards should evolve from our development of practices. This is almost impossible to implement under the corporate hijacking of K-12 education, whose mission it is to stifle creativity and ingenuity in order to help mold a a submissive populace that will find it difficult to fight against the contraction of our economy and the increasing erosion of our country's democratic principles. Fraternally, John P.S. I know of no other profession where the "experts" have no prior field experience. I for one plan to keep Mr. McCourt's life as a teacher, writer and unionist in mind as my union brothers and sisters and I struggle to do what's right for our students and our union. Dear Phyllis,

You are absolutely correct.

I would add that their language is rooted in their unique experiences in life. Their ability to use language and reflect on it will not only “empower them as writers” but as human beings better equipped to negotiate the complexities of the world.

This, in part, makes a strong case against the data frenzy tsunami of high stakes testing and regimentation of learning. We need to move toward a constructivist approach to teaching where best practices are learned and shared and used to better our educational system. In other words, our standards should evolve from our development of practices.

This is almost impossible to implement under the corporate hijacking of K-12 education, whose mission it is to stifle creativity and ingenuity in order to help mold a a submissive populace that will find it difficult to fight against the contraction of our economy and the increasing erosion of our country’s democratic principles.

Fraternally,
John

P.S. I know of no other profession where the “experts” have no prior field experience. I for one plan to keep Mr. McCourt’s life as a teacher, writer and unionist in mind as my union brothers and sisters and I struggle to do what’s right for our students and our union.

]]> By: Phyllis C. Murray http://www.edwize.org/frank-mccourt-teacher-and-unionist/comment-page-1#comment-66562 Phyllis C. Murray Tue, 21 Jul 2009 02:19:46 +0000 http://www.edwize.org/?p=4922#comment-66562 Our regional accents or dialects are often reflected as we speak. This is the language we must capture as we write. It is our voice. Our students must learn to use their language to their advantage as they create their unique voice. And like Frank McCourt and Sandra Cisneros, our students will be able to write stories like no other individual will be able to write. These are the new stories which will empower them as writers. Our regional accents or dialects are often reflected as we speak. This is the language we must capture as we write. It is our voice. Our students must learn to use their language to their advantage as they create their unique voice. And like Frank McCourt and Sandra Cisneros, our students will be able to write stories like no other individual will be able to write. These are the new stories which will empower them as writers.

]]> By: Remainders: Everyone stakes a claim to McCourt’s legacy | GothamSchools http://www.edwize.org/frank-mccourt-teacher-and-unionist/comment-page-1#comment-66560 Remainders: Everyone stakes a claim to McCourt’s legacy | GothamSchools Tue, 21 Jul 2009 00:45:58 +0000 http://www.edwize.org/?p=4922#comment-66560 [...] McCourt wrote that Klein, Bloomberg and Moskowitz don’t know “what the hell they’re talking about.” [...] [...] McCourt wrote that Klein, Bloomberg and Moskowitz don’t know “what the hell they’re talking about.” [...]

]]> By: John Powers http://www.edwize.org/frank-mccourt-teacher-and-unionist/comment-page-1#comment-66559 John Powers Mon, 20 Jul 2009 20:25:48 +0000 http://www.edwize.org/?p=4922#comment-66559 McCourt's epiphany and student centered, instructional response would probably be deemed unsatisfactory today by any one of the many young, inexperienced,"wanna be corporate execs" who pose as administrators in our public schools. What a shame! Rest in Peace Mr. McCourt. McCourt’s epiphany and student centered, instructional response would probably be deemed unsatisfactory today by any one of the many young, inexperienced,”wanna be corporate execs” who pose as administrators in our public schools.

What a shame!

Rest in Peace Mr. McCourt.

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