Romney Kicks the Can
From the Sentinel & Enterprise
At a recent Statehouse hearing on a proposed education reform bill, Mitt Romney (R-Fantasy Land) faced off with Sen. Robert Antonioni (D-Leominster) about the bill's particulars. Namely, the bill would propose a shorter timeline for the state to intervene in struggling schools, and greater power for school administrators to hire and fire teachers.
Sen. Antonioni is having none of that:
Romney also wants to create a program that would offer bonuses to teachers who instruct advanced placement courses in math and science, as well as more pay for teachers whose instruction leads to higher test scores.
Look, I know that test scores are important, but they don't tell the whole story. I'm not an education expert, but from a grassroots level, based on my experience with my son what I hear from other parents with kids in public schools, we are not impressed with the current standards and only giving us more of the same isn't going to cut it either.
We need standards that are about more than just fitting a kid into a one-sized fits all box. We need to teach our kids to THINK not just memorize facts for standardized tests.
Deval Patrick is really on to something when it comes to education. In his plan the focus in on innovation, not just tossing money to teachers. I also appreciate his support of charter schools. I support public non-profit charter schools too, and not just because my son happens to attend one in Fitchburg.
Leominster High School has recently adopted some principles of the charter school movement: Student as worker. Small class sizes. School as community.
Leominster High School has partnered with Parker Charter Essential School, one of the first charter schools in Massachusetts. Together they are changing the dynamics of public education. The focus is on innovation, not just kicking the can down the line.
At a recent Statehouse hearing on a proposed education reform bill, Mitt Romney (R-Fantasy Land) faced off with Sen. Robert Antonioni (D-Leominster) about the bill's particulars. Namely, the bill would propose a shorter timeline for the state to intervene in struggling schools, and greater power for school administrators to hire and fire teachers.
Sen. Antonioni is having none of that:
"So much of the tone of the bill seems to be making it easier to get rid of personnel, and (incorporate) performance pay," said Antonioni, a Leominster Democrat, whose sister is a teacher at Leominster High School. "I'm concerned about that. There's a feeling it's more about blaming the individuals who are there than improving resources."
Romney also wants to create a program that would offer bonuses to teachers who instruct advanced placement courses in math and science, as well as more pay for teachers whose instruction leads to higher test scores.
Look, I know that test scores are important, but they don't tell the whole story. I'm not an education expert, but from a grassroots level, based on my experience with my son what I hear from other parents with kids in public schools, we are not impressed with the current standards and only giving us more of the same isn't going to cut it either.
We need standards that are about more than just fitting a kid into a one-sized fits all box. We need to teach our kids to THINK not just memorize facts for standardized tests.
Deval Patrick is really on to something when it comes to education. In his plan the focus in on innovation, not just tossing money to teachers. I also appreciate his support of charter schools. I support public non-profit charter schools too, and not just because my son happens to attend one in Fitchburg.
Leominster High School has recently adopted some principles of the charter school movement: Student as worker. Small class sizes. School as community.
Leominster High School has partnered with Parker Charter Essential School, one of the first charter schools in Massachusetts. Together they are changing the dynamics of public education. The focus is on innovation, not just kicking the can down the line.
posted by susan at 10:00 AM
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