Great Teachers

I just read an article in the NYT that is really worth reading and thinking about. It is about Ms. Deborah Kenny who has created three successful charter schools in Harlem and is in the process of creating more.

Here are some important quotes:

• "There is an overemphasis on "the program elements" she said, "things like curriculum and class size and school size and the longer day".... none of these program elements were nearly as important as the quality of teaching in the schools."
• "What is ironic is that teachers are doing everything but teaching to the test."
• 5 core goals for the students: wholesome in character, compassionate and see life as responsibility to give something to the world, sophisticated intellect, avid readers, independent thinkers leading reflective, meaningful lives.
• "Merely passing a standardized test was hardly something to aspire to."

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/23/opinion/23herbert.html?ref=opinion

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