This blog has been created to encourage teachers in the New York City public school system to speak out against the fact that they/we are so unfairly blamed in the mass media for the terrible failures of the Department of Education. Its aim is to foster honest, professional and mature public discussion of what actually happens in New York City public school classrooms, as opposed to what the DOE says happens, and what the media so happily want to believe - i.e. that if students fail, it is the fault of the teachers.
This blog is based on the premise that the reason so many of our city's most vulnerable students do not pass has very little to do with teachers (who in the most part are highly qualified and dedicated). So many students fail or drop out because the DOE from the earliest years imposes a shallow curriculum that does not help students develop intellectually. It does not give them the tools to develop the skills, knowledge or work habits that they need. Not only is there no intellectually nourishing or challenging curriculum, there is no way to impose good citizenship. By the time students get to high school (often through "social promotion") they understand that there are no effective sanctions against unacceptable behavior; and therefore - naturally - unacceptable behavior is rampant. Teachers have no legal power to control behavior in their classes. The laws we work under make it impossible to maintain a safe, calm learning environment.
Poor curriculum and ineffectual disciplinary procedures are the real reasons our most vulnerable students are not succeeding. Only profound REFORM OF THE SYSTEM ITSELF will solve the problems we face. All NYC public school teachers who have the interests of our students at heart and who want "to make a difference" are invited to join the discussion.
