Comments on: How NCLB empowered an award-winning teacher http://www.garyfeng.com/wordpress/2007/09/21/how-nclb-empowered-an-award-winning-teacher/ 如 影 随 行 Mon, 15 Mar 2010 02:28:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.1.2 by: gary http://www.garyfeng.com/wordpress/2007/09/21/how-nclb-empowered-an-award-winning-teacher/#comment-92682 Wed, 26 Sep 2007 18:30:33 +0000 http://www.garyfeng.com/wordpress/2007/09/21/how-nclb-empowered-an-award-winning-teacher/#comment-92682 Kevin -- I believe what you said about Mrs. Anderton as a teacher and as a person. I know Mrs. Anderton only through her article defending NCLB. I was disappointed at the way she described how she taught before NCLB. Obviously she wasn't the careless and thoughtless teacher she said she was. And I also do not think the good changes she attributed to NCLB are direct consequences of the laws. For one, I doubt the No Child laws can change someone's moral judgment about responsibilities as a teacher. My guess is she has always been a extremely caring and effective teacher, with or without NCLB. The other effect of NCLB she mentioned -- the dissemination of scientific knowledge about education -- does reflect a larger concern in the American education system, namely professional development of teachers. NCLB does include some measures to ensure teacher's credentials and quality, but apparently that is not where she learned the knowledge. She sought information on her own, something that I suspect she would do anyways. The Mrs. Anderton you and I know are different persons (and I didn't even know whether she really existed). I had no intention to attack her as a person. It's her argumentation that I am bothered with. She is giving too much credit to NCLB and too little to herself. Thanks for your comments and best wishes, -- gary Kevin — I believe what you said about Mrs. Anderton as a teacher and as a person.

I know Mrs. Anderton only through her article defending NCLB. I was disappointed at the way she described how she taught before NCLB. Obviously she wasn’t the careless and thoughtless teacher she said she was. And I also do not think the good changes she attributed to NCLB are direct consequences of the laws. For one, I doubt the No Child laws can change someone’s moral judgment about responsibilities as a teacher. My guess is she has always been a extremely caring and effective teacher, with or without NCLB.

The other effect of NCLB she mentioned — the dissemination of scientific knowledge about education — does reflect a larger concern in the American education system, namely professional development of teachers. NCLB does include some measures to ensure teacher’s credentials and quality, but apparently that is not where she learned the knowledge. She sought information on her own, something that I suspect she would do anyways.

The Mrs. Anderton you and I know are different persons (and I didn’t even know whether she really existed). I had no intention to attack her as a person. It’s her argumentation that I am bothered with. She is giving too much credit to NCLB and too little to herself.

Thanks for your comments and best wishes,

– gary

]]> by: Kevin Schmalzried http://www.garyfeng.com/wordpress/2007/09/21/how-nclb-empowered-an-award-winning-teacher/#comment-92676 Wed, 26 Sep 2007 17:41:27 +0000 http://www.garyfeng.com/wordpress/2007/09/21/how-nclb-empowered-an-award-winning-teacher/#comment-92676 Although I am not an award winning teacher, although I may be a simple student, not taken seriously because kids opinions apparently have no merit, I have a opinion on this matter, and quite a potent one at that. I now happen to be a senior at Saegertown high school and have had the privilege of being one of Mrs. Anderton's pupils several times, once in my freshman year for English, and twice in my junior year for English and Journalism. I know I speak especially for myself and probably for everyone else who has been through her class when I say that she is the BEST possible teacher available. Not only does she love her job, she loves each and every one of the children that goes through her training. Her passion has inspired countless amounts of students disheartened as the weight of the world falls unfairly on their shoulders, and words cannot even begin to describe how she has inspired me. Still to this day, her room remains a sanctuary of good memories. I still find myself retreating to its tantalizing depths during every available period to learn more from her great mind. My entire point of posting this comment is simple, although I am proud to have restrained from typing the mounds of profanity that sprang into my head, I still feel my blood boil at the thought of this page. Do not EVER criticize Mrs. Anderton about teaching, she happens to be the best. Although I am sure in your infinite wisdom you think you know what you are talking about, you have no idea, and I know for a fact that if you had the honor of having her as your teacher your opinion would be the same as mine. Although I am not an award winning teacher, although I may be a simple student, not taken seriously because kids opinions apparently have no merit, I have a opinion on this matter, and quite a potent one at that. I now happen to be a senior at Saegertown high school and have had the privilege of being one of Mrs. Anderton’s pupils several times, once in my freshman year for English, and twice in my junior year for English and Journalism. I know I speak especially for myself and probably for everyone else who has been through her class when I say that she is the BEST possible teacher available. Not only does she love her job, she loves each and every one of the children that goes through her training. Her passion has inspired countless amounts of students disheartened as the weight of the world falls unfairly on their shoulders, and words cannot even begin to describe how she has inspired me. Still to this day, her room remains a sanctuary of good memories. I still find myself retreating to its tantalizing depths during every available period to learn more from her great mind. My entire point of posting this comment is simple, although I am proud to have restrained from typing the mounds of profanity that sprang into my head, I still feel my blood boil at the thought of this page. Do not EVER criticize Mrs. Anderton about teaching, she happens to be the best. Although I am sure in your infinite wisdom you think you know what you are talking about, you have no idea, and I know for a fact that if you had the honor of having her as your teacher your opinion would be the same as mine.

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