A couple of words about my credentials
I don't consider myself to be the world's "foremost authority" - on anything!
On the other hand, however, I'm not just the guy on the street claiming to offer a common sense solution to the country's problems in education. There have already been too many of those guys shouting things like, "Back to basics," over the last 20 years or so. I am just a guy who is finishing a 38-year career in the field doing the following things at one time or another:
Teacher: Both in public and private schools - mostly social studies, but some English - mostly middle school, but some high school and some short stays in elementary education and college teaching.
Administrator: Social Studies Department Chairman for high school and middle school (1972-early '90s); Chairman of Steering Committee for school evaluation on high school and middle school level; Activities Director; District Director of Public Relations for a couple of years; Coordinator of special performance based assessment program in high school; assistant principal of a middle school for a year; Founding Director and Principal of a charter school for children-at-risk (middle school level) in Hartford, Ct; assistant principal in a junior high school for 3 1/2 years; Interim Principal for a middle school in Fairfield County, Ct. for six months
Coach: Girls middle school softball; Boys high school basketball
Army: Instructor of Effective Communication for Officer Candidates
That just names a few of my jobs. In American education, you get to do quite a few things in 38 years. In some ways, that's part of the problem; but, in other ways, it certainly does make for great variety. As noted, you don't get to be an expert, but you do get to measure the length and width of the path along the terrain. My one contention here is that it allows me to give you a long and experienced look from the inside. I want to start to look at specific issues, reflecting both the good and bad in American education, in the next few blogs. I hope that I can get some return opinions.
On the other hand, however, I'm not just the guy on the street claiming to offer a common sense solution to the country's problems in education. There have already been too many of those guys shouting things like, "Back to basics," over the last 20 years or so. I am just a guy who is finishing a 38-year career in the field doing the following things at one time or another:
Teacher: Both in public and private schools - mostly social studies, but some English - mostly middle school, but some high school and some short stays in elementary education and college teaching.
Administrator: Social Studies Department Chairman for high school and middle school (1972-early '90s); Chairman of Steering Committee for school evaluation on high school and middle school level; Activities Director; District Director of Public Relations for a couple of years; Coordinator of special performance based assessment program in high school; assistant principal of a middle school for a year; Founding Director and Principal of a charter school for children-at-risk (middle school level) in Hartford, Ct; assistant principal in a junior high school for 3 1/2 years; Interim Principal for a middle school in Fairfield County, Ct. for six months
Coach: Girls middle school softball; Boys high school basketball
Army: Instructor of Effective Communication for Officer Candidates
That just names a few of my jobs. In American education, you get to do quite a few things in 38 years. In some ways, that's part of the problem; but, in other ways, it certainly does make for great variety. As noted, you don't get to be an expert, but you do get to measure the length and width of the path along the terrain. My one contention here is that it allows me to give you a long and experienced look from the inside. I want to start to look at specific issues, reflecting both the good and bad in American education, in the next few blogs. I hope that I can get some return opinions.
posted by Friar4 at 2:42 PM
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