Okay, I apologize for leaving some of your questions out, but we agreed to ten and to the ten o'clock deadline. I'm putting the most recent comment at the end of the ten, hoping that Dr. Sherman will take a flier and answer it, too! Please forgive me if I don't post your question.
I have already contacted several newspapers and, so far, one has agreed to pose questions that they select and that go unanswered. Dr. Sherman will, apparently address the ten questions on his personal blog site:
http://www.acpsk12.org/superintendent/
We also welcome Dr. Sherman to submit his answers directly in a comment to this site and, as promised we will copy them (unedited) to an original post.
Thanks, to all who participated and continue to spread the word.
"Think for yourself and let others enjoy the privilege of doing so too."
— Voltaire
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Dr. Sherman...Coming to the Underground
The Underground staff has reached an agreement whereby ACPS Superintendent Morton Sherman will be given the exclusive right to tomorrow's post. The Underground agrees to publish, in full and unedited, Dr. Sherman's submission, regardless of length. In exchange, Dr. Sherman will answer ten questions (no two parters) selected by The Underground. If you wish to submit a question to Dr. Sherman, please do so by tonight at 10 p.m. tonight (we'll be selecting them over beers at the usual place). No profanity, no insults. If you wish to have your questions viewed with serious consideration, please be respectful. We hope to have this be a regular feature.
As one of the commenters recently noted, noone from ACPS has refuted a single one of the points made on this blog. Here is the opportunity to do so.
"Love truth, but pardon error."
— Voltaire
As one of the commenters recently noted, noone from ACPS has refuted a single one of the points made on this blog. Here is the opportunity to do so.
"Love truth, but pardon error."
— Voltaire
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Money for Nothing and the Checks for Free! We do like the fresh fruit and veggies!
Love or hate the Sherman plan to extend the school day and year, you have to see the details of the waiver application to appreciate them. Case in point, among the questions that applicants are required to answer is the following:
Impact on Resources: The impact on resources is not expected to be significant.
That's all folks. Where other applicants provide a detailed, in-depth explanation of the monies needed to put an 'innovative' program into place, a one sentence answer ten (10) words in length (three of which are taken from the application itself) is the best that ACPS could do.
Okay, Voltaire, but all that proves is that the best Sherman and crew could do was throw down a skeletal answer to a very important request. Sure, the taxpayers will want to know more than "not expected to be significant" when it comes to their money and school system, but what exactly are you implying? Hey, wait a minute you aren't going down the consultant path again are you, Voltaire? DON'T EVEN TELL US...that would be pure insanity. There's no way that this is just another way to pay a fortune to the Educational Industrial Complex, again? Besides, Voltaire, if you are going to make such allegations, you'll need to back them up. Maybe Paige Cunningham's three part series http://virginia.watchdog.org/1562/alexandria-superintendent-pays-thousands-to-long-time-friend/exposed Sherman's earlier enriching of his pals, but he'd never venture into that jungle again...or would he? Lifted directly from the waiver application, heeeeeeerrrreeeeee they are...
Changing Education Through the Arts (CETA), a cooperative program with the Kennedy Center, which incorporates the fine arts into academic instruction Habits of Mind, which help to develop a student's thinking skills, with emphasis on metacognitive processes.
MindUp which emphasizes the Optimistic Classroom and the development of confidence and calm (curriculum to be published by Scholastic this fall)
Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Program
International Baccalaureate Programme
Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID)
Core Knowledge Curriculum (in cooperation with the University of Virginia)
Well, Voltaire, it could be worse. At least we're not continuing with Lucy Caulkins, Lucy "The Millionairess" West, and a high paid stable of academics, right?
Sorry, here's the next part, lifted directly from the application...
Establishing partnerships with several organizations and experts in their fields, including:
The insanity continues, with the spending on consultants driving it. Please DOE, show due diligence and smite this application! End the nightmare that our system has become.
We, here, at the Underground will be taking a continuing look at the First Review of a Request for Approval of an Innovative Program Opening Prior to Labor Day from Alexandria City Public Schools throughout the week. We'll look at it from the standpoint of its quality as a stand alone document as well as what it says about the macrostrategy of this administration. Hold on to your pants Undergrounders, this promises to be a bumpy ride.
Okay, Voltaire, but all that proves is that the best Sherman and crew could do was throw down a skeletal answer to a very important request. Sure, the taxpayers will want to know more than "not expected to be significant" when it comes to their money and school system, but what exactly are you implying? Hey, wait a minute you aren't going down the consultant path again are you, Voltaire? DON'T EVEN TELL US...that would be pure insanity. There's no way that this is just another way to pay a fortune to the Educational Industrial Complex, again? Besides, Voltaire, if you are going to make such allegations, you'll need to back them up. Maybe Paige Cunningham's three part series http://virginia.watchdog.org/1562/alexandria-superintendent-pays-thousands-to-long-time-friend/exposed Sherman's earlier enriching of his pals, but he'd never venture into that jungle again...or would he? Lifted directly from the waiver application, heeeeeeerrrreeeeee they are...
Changing Education Through the Arts (CETA), a cooperative program with the Kennedy Center, which incorporates the fine arts into academic instruction Habits of Mind, which help to develop a student's thinking skills, with emphasis on metacognitive processes.
MindUp which emphasizes the Optimistic Classroom and the development of confidence and calm (curriculum to be published by Scholastic this fall)
Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Program
International Baccalaureate Programme
Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID)
Core Knowledge Curriculum (in cooperation with the University of Virginia)
Well, Voltaire, it could be worse. At least we're not continuing with Lucy Caulkins, Lucy "The Millionairess" West, and a high paid stable of academics, right?
Sorry, here's the next part, lifted directly from the application...
Establishing partnerships with several organizations and experts in their fields, including:
- Writer's Project of Columbia Teachers College
- Dr. Lucy West (coaching)
- Conspiracy to Succeed and the Tripod Model: led by Dr. Ron Ferguson, Harvard University
- The National Center for Restructuring Education, Schools, and Teaching (NCREST - Staff from Stanford and Columbia Universities
- Dr. Jon Saphier, Research for Better Teaching
The insanity continues, with the spending on consultants driving it. Please DOE, show due diligence and smite this application! End the nightmare that our system has become.
We, here, at the Underground will be taking a continuing look at the First Review of a Request for Approval of an Innovative Program Opening Prior to Labor Day from Alexandria City Public Schools throughout the week. We'll look at it from the standpoint of its quality as a stand alone document as well as what it says about the macrostrategy of this administration. Hold on to your pants Undergrounders, this promises to be a bumpy ride.
"No snowflake in an avalanche ever feels responsible."
— Voltaire
— Voltaire
Once again...your comment of the week!
Hey Voltaire, why does the comment of the week come out on a different day every week, appearing twice some weeks and on others not at all?
Dunno, but here's this week's...
In my mind and sometimes aloud, the 'name-calling' does feel good. Sometimes, it is the only way to release the stress brought on by the seemingly illogical and insensitive. I am actually insulted by the 'cookie-cutter' approach to staff development and teacher professional development. I have multiple degrees, read professional journals, attend conference, confer with colleagues, etc., and yet I constantly made to feel unworthy in terms of my education, training, and experience by the powers that be in ACPS. Why is it always the assumption that there is a problem with the teachers?
Dunno, but here's this week's...
In my mind and sometimes aloud, the 'name-calling' does feel good. Sometimes, it is the only way to release the stress brought on by the seemingly illogical and insensitive. I am actually insulted by the 'cookie-cutter' approach to staff development and teacher professional development. I have multiple degrees, read professional journals, attend conference, confer with colleagues, etc., and yet I constantly made to feel unworthy in terms of my education, training, and experience by the powers that be in ACPS. Why is it always the assumption that there is a problem with the teachers?
Monday, March 21, 2011
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Hatred for Mort?
I am loathe to respond to comments that are drafted simply to prompt a response...it only serves to encourage shallow, flatulent writing by certain commenters. However, this time I'll take the bait. Neither Voltaire, nor The Underground hates Morton Sherman. For all we know, he may be a fine human being, a caring grandfather and a loyal, loving husband. This is why every criticism about Sherman, has related to his role as ACPS Superintendent. This is also why the many comments that are loaded with personal attacks, threats and abusive language have been deleted. Again, we have no idea what sort of person Mort is.
However, he is a horrible superintendent. His actions as the head of our city schools constitute nothing short of educational negligence. Not a day passes that I do not see the institutionalized insanity, wrought by Sherman initiatives. Not a class period goes by that I do not see students suffering from teaching/scheduling models that Sherman endorses.
Never once have we underestimated Mort's ability to put his 'vision' into practice. He has a plan that is as comprehensive as it is secretive and self-perpetuating. If his plan were one that was open to scrutiny and debate, if it took stakeholder opinions into account, if it were based on best practices, then a dialogue with Sherman might be possible. This is not how this superintendent rolls, though!
At a recent meeting with an elementary staff, Sherman stood up to pitch his latest scheme...the extended school day/year. He touted the increased hires that his budget made possible. One brave teacher stood up and queried Sherman, asking "How can you boast about adding staff when you've placed nineteen paraprofessionals positions on the chopping block?" Sherman immediately denied that the woman was correct. When she cited a document that his office he commented that she had the particulars wrong. Only after producing the paper from Sherman's office did Sherman admit that, indeed, he had proposed eliminating the positions in question.
If anyone believes that Sherman's tour of schools is an open and honest dialogue intended to gauge teacher support, or if anyone thinks for a moment that the longer school day is an opportunity for teachers to prepare for instruction in ways that they believe are most effective...think again. The plan for the twenty-one hours is already in place. Call Mort's North Carolina consultant Brenda and ask her how the added time will be used...PLP is the answer, you'll hear. The dreaded and completely bogus Professional Learning Plans will now be a quarterly exercise in futility. The twenty-one hours will be consumed with PLP meetings and implementation. Nary a minute of the extra hours will be directed toward teacher centered planning. The real kicker is that the whole PLP expansion has been in the works for months and was the impetus for hiring Brenda many months ago, and long before Sherman's 'dialogue' on even adding the extra time was ever unveiled.
So, should Morton Sherman be hated? No, not personally. But we who know better have every right to revile, despise and, yes, even hate what he has done and continues to do to our schools. And we should certainly hate the way he goes about it!
"A witty saying proves nothing."
— Voltaire
However, he is a horrible superintendent. His actions as the head of our city schools constitute nothing short of educational negligence. Not a day passes that I do not see the institutionalized insanity, wrought by Sherman initiatives. Not a class period goes by that I do not see students suffering from teaching/scheduling models that Sherman endorses.
Never once have we underestimated Mort's ability to put his 'vision' into practice. He has a plan that is as comprehensive as it is secretive and self-perpetuating. If his plan were one that was open to scrutiny and debate, if it took stakeholder opinions into account, if it were based on best practices, then a dialogue with Sherman might be possible. This is not how this superintendent rolls, though!
At a recent meeting with an elementary staff, Sherman stood up to pitch his latest scheme...the extended school day/year. He touted the increased hires that his budget made possible. One brave teacher stood up and queried Sherman, asking "How can you boast about adding staff when you've placed nineteen paraprofessionals positions on the chopping block?" Sherman immediately denied that the woman was correct. When she cited a document that his office he commented that she had the particulars wrong. Only after producing the paper from Sherman's office did Sherman admit that, indeed, he had proposed eliminating the positions in question.
If anyone believes that Sherman's tour of schools is an open and honest dialogue intended to gauge teacher support, or if anyone thinks for a moment that the longer school day is an opportunity for teachers to prepare for instruction in ways that they believe are most effective...think again. The plan for the twenty-one hours is already in place. Call Mort's North Carolina consultant Brenda and ask her how the added time will be used...PLP is the answer, you'll hear. The dreaded and completely bogus Professional Learning Plans will now be a quarterly exercise in futility. The twenty-one hours will be consumed with PLP meetings and implementation. Nary a minute of the extra hours will be directed toward teacher centered planning. The real kicker is that the whole PLP expansion has been in the works for months and was the impetus for hiring Brenda many months ago, and long before Sherman's 'dialogue' on even adding the extra time was ever unveiled.
So, should Morton Sherman be hated? No, not personally. But we who know better have every right to revile, despise and, yes, even hate what he has done and continues to do to our schools. And we should certainly hate the way he goes about it!
"A witty saying proves nothing."
— Voltaire
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