In 2010 Bronx the school led by principal Donna Connelly was listed as 27th worst in all of New York City for learning environment. In common parlance, that's an "F." Donna's claim to fame was based largely on her refusal of two year music appreciation grant for her school that she turned down because "there was educational value to it." It seems Donna, who holds a doctorate in psychology, is out to make more environmental modifications to "motivate" her teachers. Seems she has dumped all teacher desks on the curb, along with all their filing cabinets. Is it time for Donna's straightjacket to be laced up? Think so.
A Bronx principal ordered her teachers to give up their desks last week, and had the furniture dumped at the curb — telling staff she doesn’t want them sitting in class.
Donna Connelly, principal of PS 24, the Spuyten Duyvil School in Riverdale, also told teachers to empty their filing cabinets, which she then discarded.With class in session, teachers were told to push their desks and cabinets into the hallway. Custodians then hauled them outside and piled them like trash on the blacktop of a school across the street.
“It’s the 21st century — you don’t need desks,” Connelly said, sources told The Post.
The diktat demoralized staff at the K-5 school, where diverse students perform well above the city average on state exams.
Modal TriggerFiling cabinets and desks were hauled outside by custodians.
Connelly told teachers she “does not want them sitting,” an insider said, although though no chairs were tossed.
“Figure it out,” she snapped when staffers asked where to store their supplies, a source said. . . .
Happy holidays to all. The spring testing season is just around the corner. The Commissioner and Chancellor have already warned us that the 3-8 tests will be more difficult, and fewer students will reach proficiency. We know what that means-more frustrated and upset students, more confused parents who will fear that their child is not on the road to "college readiness" and more anger directed at schools and teachers in the press. If a decade ago there was a good reason for NCLB testing, that reason is long gone.
Please sign the link to a petition that I began to end high stakes testing in New York State. You can see and sign the petition by clicking here
Pass along this email, or send this link http://wp.me/p1W339-5h to colleagues and friends who are parents.
Superintendents of national stature are joining together to demand the same moratorium on high stakes testing. Read the article here
And of course the "reformers" are attacking them for their courageous stand, you can read about the attack on Maryland's Josh Starr and my defense of his stand here
Finally, you may know a new principal or teacher or a friend who did not sign the principals letter against APPR. Please send them to www.newyorkprincipals.orgso that they can sign on. This is the direct link to sign the letter.
Exciting things are beginning to happen. Parents realize that their children's test scores should not be used for reasons other than guiding learning. They also realize that because of other purposes, like APPR, their sons and daughters are sitting for more tests which are becoming longer and longer. The costs are enormous at a time of shrinking budgets, and student data is being collected at very detailed levels. Tax dollars and learning time are being wasted. I wrote about what is going on here:
Would you take the time to forward the link to the above article to friends? Ask them to hit 'favorite' at the end so that it appears on their Facebook page and their friends can read about it too. Some courageous PTAs up north are working on a resolution. More to come! Together we can make a difference and move our schools to emotionally safe places that put learning in the forefront.
Please be sure to ask others to sign onto the principals' letter in opposition to the evaluation of teachers by test scores. http://www.newyorkprincipals.org/support-the-paper When they do, we are able to reach out to more New Yorkers with our updates. Thank you for taking the time to read this.
