I removed the short 13 minute video and am replacing it with the full video - a 2 parter. I may still have to edit part 2 tonight so look for a new URL for part 2 by tomorrow.
High Stakes Testing 101
Part 1: http://vimeo.com/38901880
Part 2: http://vimeo.com/38919400
Sean Feeney was very impressive, as was Elijah Hawkes, the founding principal of James Baldwin HS who has left to move to Vermont. A nice contingent of teachers were there to support him. A friend who worked at Tweed and has met him and was very fond of him called me earlier in the day to make sure I said hello. Elijah's gentle manner came off so well. It was a pleasure to meet him.There were some criticisms today that the debate and Q & A were too teacher centric and didn't deal enough with the impact of HS Testing on kids.
In prepping for the debate, Julie Cavanagh and I started discussion of a new GEM film based on HST and even though I did not fulfill my assignment to get interviews last might, the project will move ahead even with Julie about to reach the last 3 months of her pregnancy. We expect the rest of the Real Reform Studio crew to be part of the project, along with some new faces.
I had fun tweeting last night, pointing out that Shael's nose was growing every time he lied or distorted the truth -- which IS lying --- up until the Q and A when I had to manage the camera (and not too well as you will notice). I know there are actually Shael fans out there because he comes off as reasonable --- if you heard him last night you would think the gang at Tweed were real reformers. I don't buy it and though everyone seems to despise Mark Sternberg, I don't separate them. A Tweedie is a Tweedie.
See below the fold --- as usual with tweets in reverse order.
Gotham Schools report: City’s accountability czar fields criticism at forum about testing
Tweets below:
Norm Scott
#HST#BklynNewSchl Shael: could affect adm to some middle schls. Check w them.
Norm Scott
#HST#BklynNewSchl -parent w 4th grader asks opt out question- what r stakes for him, schl, tchr -bingo
#HST#BklynNewSchl- Sean- even affluent white schls affected - daughter's schl started Kaplan in Oct
#HST#BklynNewSchl now Black tchr echoes her. Mered-does test prep look diff based on weight? Elij- de-emph grade. Shael-build str lead/tchrs
#HST#BklynNewSchl - basically says doe policy racist. Shael almost speechless. Wait till u see tape.
#HST#BklynNewSchl Amazing state of tchr/parent: contrasts her white child ed w Latino kids she tchs in Brownsville - test prep- schl Agrd
#HST#BklynNewSchl Q: y not put res into schls Shael-most resources r in schls. Crowd disag. Tchr: feel u go to war on us
#HST#BklynNewSchl- Elij offers real solutn. Parent Q- y tests used polit-attck tchrs, schls. Shael disagrees. Loud guffaws fr aud.
#HST#BklynNewSchl - Elij: when will report cards be phased out? Shael doesn't know ans. Rep cds only 1 feature looked at. Nose at 1st row
#HST#BklynNewSchl- Shael poo poos cost of testing rel to rest of budget. Elijah:y princ have no trips? Shame. Diminshes stature.
#HST#BklynNewSchl- Sean: resp to parent Q about costs- good time to buy stock in Pearson and other testing companies
#HST#BklynNewSchl: Shael says not true. He did point that out. Sean: lose control of data once released. Applause.
#HST#BklynNewSchl-Mered to Shael- R U reversing Klein policy of tchng to tests? Y didn't DOE take stronger stand when flawed TDRs released?
#HST#BklynNewSchl: Elij: close account gap bet people fund schls and schls. Meredith to Shael-r u saying entire syst shld move to perf based
#HST#BklynNewSchl-current simplistic system would make sense. But in our world no sense -we need to connect to community.
#HST#BklynNewSchl- Elij: y gravitate towards these meas- if nomadic tribe funded NYC schools- have right to know-read while taking down tent
#HST#BklynNewSchl- Sean: no consensus we know how to meas stud growth. Too many variables. Has read nothing that says we do.
This video is really amazing.discussion is the best option way of conclusion
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