* Rushing the Roses

School reform still evolving in New Haven
By Esther Zuckerman
Staff Reporter
The Yale Daily News
Published Wednesday, January 27, 2010



The phrase “It takes a city” is all over New Haven — on buttons with red-and-white lettering handed out at press events, on bumper stickers displayed in the offices of New Haven Public Schools employees, even hanging above the Cooperative Arts and Humanities High School on College Street.
It is the catchphrase of the city’s new comprehensive school reform initiative, an ambitious undertaking by Mayor John DeStefano Jr. that made national headlines after the teachers’ union and city agreed on a ground-breaking four-year contract in October.
Hailed by national leaders from...

#1 By As any mother knows you cannot ruah a rose. 5:15a.m. on January 27, 2010

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN TEACHING IS THE RAPPORT --THE RELATIONSHIP --THE TEACHER ESTABLISHES WITH STUDENTS.

Anxious, unhappy, frazzled, over-evaluated teachers will result in anxious, unhappy, frazzled, over-evaluated kids. Happy, fulfilled, passionate teachers have a chance to inspire students to happiness, fulfillment and passion.

Remember, we are dealing with a precious, easily molded prize here: children.

God help the children when know-it-all outsiders start evaluating the classroom with the fantasy that children are a recipe whose ingredients can be modified and baked under finely tuned conditions.

Such thinking approaches hubris .

Children are sacred. Handle with care and awe.

As any mother knows, you cannot rush a rose (no matter how many evaluation systems Obama's Race to the Top puts in place).

PK
M.Div.'80
htpp://theantiyale.blogspot.com


#2 By Nancy 8:24a.m. on January 27, 2010

James Comer (Yale) and the Comer School Development Program - perfect model. Also, NHPS needs to truly put 'Kids First'.

#3 By Jas.McH. 4:15p.m. on January 27, 2010

One of the more well-researched & thoughtfully written tomes on this subject matter to date...JMcH.

Note: Good incorporation of meaningful/relevant data as well.

P.S. The extended educational community would do well to never underestimate the near & long term value/importance of Reflective Practices.