In case you missed it, Indianapolis Star columnist Matt Tully wrote a column today praising Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett for his aggressive efforts to reform education.
Dr. Bennett acknowledges that he hasn’t done enough to reach out and make it clear that the department supports teachers, but renews his commitment to pull no punches when it comes to dealing with teachers unions and those in the business of education who defend the status quo.
I’ve heard many complaints about state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett during months of conversations with teachers and school administrators. In fact, the easiest way to guarantee an eye roll from a public school educator is to simply mention Bennett’s name.
He hates teachers, some insist. He’s arrogant and too blunt, others argue. He’s the governor’s puppet, many believe. Or, critics say, his reform plans just don’t make sense.
AdvertisementAs much as I like teachers as a group, and as much as I respect the difficult challenges they face, I could hardly disagree more.
Dear Mike:
I have been an educator for 19 years from Pre-school through 8th grades. I have taught in various settings,such as wealthy Christian private schools, suburban township and community public and the poorest of the urban public schools. There are things that are not being considered that I truly believe are solutions. I have traveled to foreign countries and have done an in depth comparison on the results/data from our educational system compared to others. Our elementaries are above international averages, we’re equivalent at middle school and at the highschool level we occasionally lag in some areas-and hear me out, because this is not an excuse-it is an explanation-America educates ALL students for college prepatory purposes and other nations do not. Places that we are compared to such as India only educate less than 10% of their wealthiest students, European countries and Eastern countries only allow students who pass a standardized test in middle school to go to college preparatory schools. Now foreign countries are reconsidering how they have left out special needs. I am glad that America includs special needs students, but I am not proud of how we force them to take standardized tests that penalize schools with labels, becuase it has caused the American public to think numerous public schools are failing because a school can be marked as failing if special needs students, etc. do not make adequate yearly progress on a standardized test when they are mentally impaired. Indiana is above the national average and continuously improves upon itself. It has been improving for over a decade…there is nothing status quo about that, yet to read some of the things that are published in the media you would think the opposite is true. Some of the changes that are being proposed are harmful. I do not roll my eyes when I hear his name, instead I pray for him to make wise decisions and not shut a deaf ear such as when there are public hearings and he doesn’t bother to show up. If you want to meet me I will happily show you the research I have gathered. I hope that Dr. Benett and Mr. Tully could see it, too.
Upon proofing my paper…includs should be includes and becuase should be because.
This is good feedback, thanks. I think Dr. Bennett would agree, as he indicated in the Tully column, that communication between his office and educators could be improved. In such a politicized environment his message is often either lost or interpreted to fit the agenda of his opponents.
That said, in working with the DOE, I know Dr. Bennett has always stressed an open door policy. If you’re willing to work them, they’re willing to work with you. It has to be part of a good faith effort to achieve shared objectives.
Thanks for your feedback, and I hope you share this with the DOE and Dr. Bennett.
Mike