Post by southsidesignmaker on Oct 18, 2010 7:04:07 GMT -6
Local educators respond to documentary on failing public schools
By Josh Larsen jlarsen@stmedianetwork.com Oct 17, 2010 11:06PM
napervillesun.suntimes.com/1989879-417/education-superman-waiting-canada-central.html
“Waiting for Superman,” the rare documentary that has caught on at suburban multiplexes, paints a dire picture of public schools in America. For some local educators, however, that picture isn’t entirely fair.
Directed by Davis Guggenheim, the man behind the Oscar-winning “An Inconvenient Truth,” “Waiting for Superman” follows a handful of students looking to escape from their current public schools. Most of these schools are in inner-city settings and are struggling to meet basic academic standards.
While many education reformers are praising the documentary, others who have seen it have been critical. Among the latter are representatives from Naperville’s public schools, who were asked by The Sun to watch the film and share their thoughts afterward.
Not a picture of Naperville
Mark A. Bailey, president of Naperville Unit Education Association, didn’t entirely agree with the movie’s message.
“An accurate depiction of public education in America would have to reflect the fact that millions of public school children are getting a world-class education,” said Bailey, whose union represents teachers employed by Naperville Community Unit School District 203. “By focusing solely on traditional public schools that are struggling sends a skewed message.”
Bailey did agree with the film’s assumption that a primary factor in improving student achievement is the presence of a good teacher. Locally, he said, Naperville schools have been proactive in ensuring that.
“In both districts 203 and 204 we have negotiated language that provides for staff development for teachers,” Bailey said.
He also noted that both districts have implemented teacher evaluation plans based on the Charlotte Danielson framework, “which is acknowledged nationally as the cutting edge of teacher evaluation methods.”
“With better training of evaluators, problems with a teacher can be addressed early and with mentoring and staff development corrected,” Bailey said.
‘Truthful, gripping’
Brenda Grahn teaches fifth-graders at Graham Elementary School in Indian Prairie School District 204. She thought that “Waiting for Superman” was “truthful, gripping and showed a sad state of education for some of our country’s children.”
Did Grahn feel the film was fair to teachers?
“The teaching profession is as difficult and rewarding as any job a person could ever have,” she said. “The film showed that there are struggles and successes always. It showed that some teachers have success because they work really hard. Others fall into a bad reputation because the job has become too much for them.”
Staff members from District 203 were invited to take part in this story, but schedules did not allow anyone to participate by deadline, according to Superintendent Mark Mitrovich.
“I am looking forward to seeing it as are many up here,” said Mitrovich via e-mail. “It has simply been an issue of having the time to go and see it.”
Taking on tenure
Bad teachers are a focal point of the film, which bothered Val Dranias, president of the Indian Prairie Education Association representing teachers in District 204.
“Among the most misleading parts of the film is the claim that unions keep bad teachers in classrooms,” said Dranias. “This is among the issues covered in the (Illinois Education Association)’s Priority One document, which calls for evaluation systems that can improve teaching and help identify teachers who either need assistance or who need to leave.”
Dranias also thought that the issue of tenure was mischaracterized in the documentary.
“In Illinois, tenure is not granted until a teacher has taught four consecutive full-time years in a district and has received positive evaluations,” she said.
Despite such debates surrounding “Waiting for Superman,” fifth-grade teacher Grahn said it is a must-see for her colleagues.
“Teachers everywhere need to see this film,” she said. “They need to know that they are responsible every day for each child’s successes, no matter where that child comes from or what they have brought with them to school that day.”
Personally, Grahn left “Waiting for Superman” energized to teach.
“After the movie, I was left feeling hopeful that I have chosen a path to assist students,” she said, “and I will try my best to do that.”
By Josh Larsen jlarsen@stmedianetwork.com Oct 17, 2010 11:06PM
napervillesun.suntimes.com/1989879-417/education-superman-waiting-canada-central.html
“Waiting for Superman,” the rare documentary that has caught on at suburban multiplexes, paints a dire picture of public schools in America. For some local educators, however, that picture isn’t entirely fair.
Directed by Davis Guggenheim, the man behind the Oscar-winning “An Inconvenient Truth,” “Waiting for Superman” follows a handful of students looking to escape from their current public schools. Most of these schools are in inner-city settings and are struggling to meet basic academic standards.
While many education reformers are praising the documentary, others who have seen it have been critical. Among the latter are representatives from Naperville’s public schools, who were asked by The Sun to watch the film and share their thoughts afterward.
Not a picture of Naperville
Mark A. Bailey, president of Naperville Unit Education Association, didn’t entirely agree with the movie’s message.
“An accurate depiction of public education in America would have to reflect the fact that millions of public school children are getting a world-class education,” said Bailey, whose union represents teachers employed by Naperville Community Unit School District 203. “By focusing solely on traditional public schools that are struggling sends a skewed message.”
Bailey did agree with the film’s assumption that a primary factor in improving student achievement is the presence of a good teacher. Locally, he said, Naperville schools have been proactive in ensuring that.
“In both districts 203 and 204 we have negotiated language that provides for staff development for teachers,” Bailey said.
He also noted that both districts have implemented teacher evaluation plans based on the Charlotte Danielson framework, “which is acknowledged nationally as the cutting edge of teacher evaluation methods.”
“With better training of evaluators, problems with a teacher can be addressed early and with mentoring and staff development corrected,” Bailey said.
‘Truthful, gripping’
Brenda Grahn teaches fifth-graders at Graham Elementary School in Indian Prairie School District 204. She thought that “Waiting for Superman” was “truthful, gripping and showed a sad state of education for some of our country’s children.”
Did Grahn feel the film was fair to teachers?
“The teaching profession is as difficult and rewarding as any job a person could ever have,” she said. “The film showed that there are struggles and successes always. It showed that some teachers have success because they work really hard. Others fall into a bad reputation because the job has become too much for them.”
Staff members from District 203 were invited to take part in this story, but schedules did not allow anyone to participate by deadline, according to Superintendent Mark Mitrovich.
“I am looking forward to seeing it as are many up here,” said Mitrovich via e-mail. “It has simply been an issue of having the time to go and see it.”
Taking on tenure
Bad teachers are a focal point of the film, which bothered Val Dranias, president of the Indian Prairie Education Association representing teachers in District 204.
“Among the most misleading parts of the film is the claim that unions keep bad teachers in classrooms,” said Dranias. “This is among the issues covered in the (Illinois Education Association)’s Priority One document, which calls for evaluation systems that can improve teaching and help identify teachers who either need assistance or who need to leave.”
Dranias also thought that the issue of tenure was mischaracterized in the documentary.
“In Illinois, tenure is not granted until a teacher has taught four consecutive full-time years in a district and has received positive evaluations,” she said.
Despite such debates surrounding “Waiting for Superman,” fifth-grade teacher Grahn said it is a must-see for her colleagues.
“Teachers everywhere need to see this film,” she said. “They need to know that they are responsible every day for each child’s successes, no matter where that child comes from or what they have brought with them to school that day.”
Personally, Grahn left “Waiting for Superman” energized to teach.
“After the movie, I was left feeling hopeful that I have chosen a path to assist students,” she said, “and I will try my best to do that.”
