(Bumped. - promoted by Thomas)
The Superintendent of Education in the state of Indiana, Tony Bennett, along with Governor Mitch Daniels, want to de-professionalize the teaching profession in the name of U.S. Secretary of Education Arnie Duncan's Race to the Top funding plan.
Bennett, through his proposed Rules for Educator Preparation and Accountability (REPA), wants to tie teacher evaluation, retention, and licensing to student test scores. No longer would teachers be required to meet professional standards, no longer would they be required to continue professional development, and one person, one school principal who may or may not have an educational background, will decide whether or not a teacher gets to keep a state license.
This is WRONG. Bennett must be stopped.
Bennett had this to say about today's release of the final application procedures for Race to the Top funds:
"In Indiana, we are eager to compete for the historic funding available under the Race to the Top. This competition catches us mid-stride in bold education-reform efforts that align well with the grant's criteria. Our application will be aggressive and comprehensive, designed in collaboration with schools, communities and leaders around the state.
"Our reform efforts already under way closely mirror the pillars of Race to the Top, because they have been crafted with the goals of increasing accountability, freedom and competition in our schools to increase students' academic achievement. Securing funding for our state will only increase the scope and speed of change for Hoosier students.
"For this reason, I am disappointed in the USDOE's choice to set target amounts for specific states, capping the funding for states regardless of their approach and commitment to reform. It's my belief that America's students would benefit more from Race to the Top if the quality, aggressiveness, and comprehensiveness of states' reform plans determine the funding amount.
"For Indiana, Race to the Top isn't about securing more funds; it's about accelerating reform. I am committed to ensuring Indiana's application secures our position as a national leader in education reforms that will help us reach our common goal - outstanding achievement for all Indiana's students."
Bennett is spewing a bunch of baloney.
First of all, this plan was conceived and drafted by Bennett and his conservative ilk and does not have the widespread support of professional educators across Indiana.
Secondly, Bennett's claim that his proposals "mirror" Race to the Top ideals is just plain garbage. They go far beyond funding requirements and are a blatant attempt to take away collective bargaining rights from Indiana teachers: in fact, there are going to be coordinated efforts in the Indiana state house to pass just such legislation, to break teachers' unions in Indiana.
Lastly, Bennett's disappointment is merely his veiled conservativism showing through, and when he speaks of "reform" he is really talking about taking away local control of schools and continuing Mitch Daniels' legacy of union-busting. The application and disbursement rules announced today insist that state teachers' unions be on-board with the states' applications; at present, this is NOT the case, though Bennett plans to push his "reform" down local schools' throats, changing rules in committee as much as possible without legislative changes to Indiana Code.
Bennett attempted to push his plans through last summer, when most teachers are out of the classroom. After an outcry, public comment period was delayed until school was in session; still, Bennett is scheduling sessions during the week when teachers are in the classroom and not able to express in numbers their opposition to his plans.
The Indiana State Teachers Association had this to say about Bennett's proposed rule changes:
November 3, 2009
Dear ISTA Member,
Thanks for the activism on the part of those of you who submitted comments online or attended and testified at one of the recent REPA hearings. By our count, more than 600 members took time off from school to attend one of the 10 a.m. hearings. We know that thousands of you also took the time to email your comments to Dr. Bennett and members of the Division of Professional Standards Advisory Board. We hope that the volume and quality of the testimony and comments alter the thinking and decision making of Dr. Bennett and the Board regarding teacher relicensure.
I also wanted to let you know that this morning I attended the Indiana Education Roundtable meeting co-chaired by Gov. Daniels and Dr. Bennett. Topics of discussion at today's meeting included:
* Elimination of tenure and seniority, meaning that every teacher would only be issued a one-year license;
* Evaluation of teachers by student test scores;
* Pay based on those evaluations;
* School choice;
* Teacher licensure retention tied to passing a test;
* Allowing multiple and non-traditional paths to become a licensed educator;
* Elimination of collective bargaining in Indiana.
When given the opportunity, I spoke to the Roundtable on behalf of all of Indiana's dedicated public educators.
After sitting through today's Roundtable meeting, I believe the groundwork is being laid for legislative efforts in the upcoming session of the General Assembly that will advance the same agenda that was shared at today's meeting. Once the legislative session starts in early January, I will be calling on you and other supporters of public education to help me as ISTA works to prevent the passage of legislation that will severely undermine the basic tenets of the public education system in our state.
Rest assured that ISTA will continue to monitor all education issues and advocate on behalf of public education, Indiana's students, and you.
Sincerely,
Nate Schnellenberger
The ISTA had posted a statement on August 31st saying that they were trying to work with Bennett on ensuring the continuation of tenure programs and fair teacher licensure, but their language and concern is obviously elevated now as Bennett was openly opposing the union's concerns at the Indiana Educators Roundtable.
With the NEA, they have an action alert page set up to alert your state legislators of concerns regarding Bennett's plans. Please take the time to contact your legislators and let them know that school reform, particularly regarding teaching licensure and professional standards, should not be rushed through, and that Tony Bennett's plans are NOT good for the state of Indiana. |
