While everyone in Washington debates NCLB changes, back in the real world teachers and principals and districts are trying to figure out what to do to make things better. Check out Stephanie Banchero's three-part account in the Chicago Tribune of what happened at one Chicago school where they brought in new teachers rather than closing the school or converting it to a charter. Part 1:
They needed a lifeline and found a teacher. Part 2:
Teacher, kids connect, but pressure takes toll. Part 3:
Sweating out final days. Some folks will like it for the storytelling, which includes vivid characters and lots of ups and downs. Others will like what it says about NCLB and school restructuring. The school does better on the annual tests than ever before, and some kids thrive, but the pressure on the teachers is tremendous, the out of school issues are never-ending, and by year's end nearly a third of the newly-arrived teachers leave.
Comments
This story demonstrates why it is so hard to keep good teachers in Chicago.
If there were no residency rule, teachers could earn 80-90k staying in the classroom, and cope with 20 instead of 34 in the room, perhaps this teacher would still be here instead of in Waukegan.
Posted by: judy cleveland | September 4, 2007 5:28 PM