Hundreds of teachers rally against Cuomo's education plans
Source: NCPR
by Karen DeWitt, in Albany, NY
Hundreds of teachers rallied at the New York State Capitol late Monday. They said they are calling out Cuomo for what they said is his anti-public school agenda.
The teachers, including New York State United Teachers Union Vice President Andy Pallotta, said Governor Cuomo declared a “war” on students, parents, and teachers. They said Cuomo is advancing a “test and punish” agenda. “He has no respect for public education,” Pallotta shouted as the crowd cheered.
Cuomo wants to change the way teacher evaluations are measured. He would like to see at least half of a teacher’s grade based on standardized tests associated with the Common Core curriculum. He complained that although only one-third of students pass the new tests connected to Common Core, 95 percent of teachers, under a two year old evaluation system, are rated as effective or highly effective. “It’s not real,” said Cuomo recently. “You have an evaluation system in name. And you have to go back to the table.”
In an interview before the rally, NYSUT President Karen Magee said Cuomo initially endorsed the new teacher ratings system. She said the numbers are accurate and New York’s extensive teacher training programs weed out poorly performing teachers early. “The system proved that New York has good teachers,” Magee said. “What happened is that the results did not meet what the governor wanted.”
FULL story at link.
Audio story here: http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/listennow.php?segment_guid=http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/27666/20150303/hundreds-of-teachers-rally-against-cuomo-s-education-plans&width=325&height=350&segment_program_title=NCPR+News&segment_title=Hundreds+of+teachers+rally+against+Cuomo%26apos%3Bs+education+plans&segment_audio_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.northcountrypublicradio.org%2Fnews%2Faudio%2F3315kdschools.mp3&segment_display_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.northcountrypublicradio.org%2Fnews%2Fstory%2F27666%2F20150303%2Fhundreds-of-teachers-rally-against-cuomo-s-education-plans
New York State United Teachers President Karen Magee speaks to hundreds of teachers rallying at the State Capitol against Governor Cuomo's education plans. Photo: Karen DeWitt
Read more: http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/27666/20150303/hundreds-of-teachers-rally-against-cuomo-s-education-plans
Cuomo also wants to add 100 new charter schools in the state.
What is it with these damn charter schools and conservatives?
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