Comments on: NEA President Proposes Common Core Course Corrections

By: Meghank

Meghank — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 04:03:55 +0000

Anyway, the point is that there is much more to my dissatisfaction with NEA than their stance on the CCSS. It appears they have completely sold out to corporate interests, as I said before.

By: bluffcityed

bluffcityed — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 04:02:41 +0000

I have to admit I don’t know enough about the Pearson plan. I’ll have to look into it.

By: Meghank

Meghank — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 04:01:11 +0000

This is much worse than the praxis. In the past, a student teacher’s professors and cooperating teacher were in charge of deciding whether a student was qualified to become a teacher. They were in the classroom, observed and worked with them, and determined whether their in-classroom experience was satisfactory. The Pearson test takes the decision-making power out of the professors’ and cooperating teachers’ hands, and puts it into Pearson’s – who, by the way, are not in the classroom, and are only viewing videos that can be easily manipulated ( or poorly made, if the student is unfamiliar with video editing technology).

By: bluffcityed

bluffcityed — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 03:48:59 +0000

How do you feel about the Praxis? It’s essentially the same deal where one testing company gets to decide who is qualified to teach or not.

By: Meghank

Meghank — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 03:45:20 +0000

No, it is not all about the common core. They are also supporting Pearson’s plan of only allowing teachers into the profession who pay Pearson a 400 dollar fee and pass a video and written test approved only by Pearson. It is unconscionable to have one testing company in charge of deciding who is qualified to teach in an entire nation- and that is what the NEA is supporting now. They are also supporting other unsavory groups – I can’t list them now because I threw the newsletter away in disgust.

By: bluffcityed

bluffcityed — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 03:06:51 +0000

All depends on one’s perspective about common core. Personally I’d be happy to pay union dues if I could join NEA given their reasonable and middle of the road position.

By: Meghank

Meghank — Sun, 23 Feb 2014 00:20:57 +0000

The NEA appears, from reading their latest newsletter, to have completely sold out to corporate interests. I’m sorry I ever paid them any union dues.