Posted on 01/01/2007 4:17:06 AM PST by joeystoy
Teachers’ Union Chief Falters in a Pop Quiz on Fractions Sign In to E-Mail or Save This Print Reprints Share DiggFacebookNewsvinePermalink
By DAVID M. HERSZENHORN Published: December 28, 2006 In contract negotiations, Randi Weingarten, the president of the New York City teachers’ union, typically does math in percentages, not fractions — as in 7.1 percent pay raises over two years in a deal that she brokered last month. And with teachers receiving large raises in the last three contracts, many teachers would say they like the way she counts.
But Ms. Weingarten, the standard bearer for more than 80,0000 teachers, was left flummoxed by a question about fractions yesterday when she was on “The Brian Lehrer Show” on WNYC radio, to discuss a recent report calling for a reinvention of American public schools. “What is 1/3 plus ¼?” the guest host, Mike Pesca, asked.
“What is 1/3 and ¼?” Ms. Weingarten stalled. “I would actually have to do it on paper.”
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Yes.
There are competent and incompetent in every profession.
Personal experiences could lead someone to draw similar
generalizations about any field. That is a very narrow
minded opinion, in my opinion.
Is it narrow minded to report that 40% of incoming NYC elementary school teachers could not pass a rudimentary certification exam?
I'll repeat: Until the Public Education Establishment acknowledges that most top college graduates, male and female, don't even consider a career in education, the downward spiral will continue.
Law school graduates that fail the bar exam ARE NOT LAWYERS!
Engineering majors that fail their certification test ARE NOT ENGINEERS!
That's right, they are not. Teachers who do not pass their
certification requirements are not teachers, either.
"I am HORRIBLE in math."
I don't wish to hijack the thread.
I am just curious why people will readily admit to being poor at math when they would never admit to being a poor reader, lover, or can't write?
You obviously do not live in NYC. When the national proficiency exam was administered several years ago to newly-hired teachers, more than half failed. They remained on the job and remain on the job today.
News accounts at the time reported that a large percentage of NYC teachers (some estimated up to 40%) were not only uncertified, but uncertifiable.
Today, if you admininstered the 1960 NYC teacher certification test to working public school teachers, how many would remain on the job? At that time a NYC certification was recognized in every public school system in America.
And today...???
bttt
You are correct: Leda most certainly does NOT live in NYC.
Studies have shown that 5 out 4 American teachers have difficulty with fractions.
Try this one on for size: Question asked:
1. Answer
2. Answer
3. Answer
4. Answer
Here are your choices
A. If 1, 2 and 3 are correct
B. If 1 and 3 are correct
C. If 2 and 4 are correct
D. If 4 only is correct
E. If none of the above are correct
These are called K question, and they suck large rocks.
"1/3 + 1/4 = 4/12 + 3/12 = 7/12."
Thank you, I have forgotten how to add fractions or subtract them for that matter!
This looks bad on the union gal in a way but most people don't deal with fractions everyday.
Nope, I do not live in NYC, never have and never will
live anywhere in the state of NY.
My point is this, my "typical" colleague is, and has been,
highly qualified. Using your logic, the entire teaching
profession is highly qualified.
Ironic that Lehrer is German for "teacher"...
My point is this, my "typical" colleague is, and has been, highly qualified. Using your logic, the entire teaching profession is highly qualified.
I was born and raised in NYC -- (born in the late '40s, raised in in the 1950s). I have traveled around the country, and have had the opportunity to visit and live in a variety of communities, from "way upscale", to "da pits."
It is my observation that upscale suburban schools have much better teachers than inner city urban areas and "outstate" rural areas.
I am married to a teacher, who works in a very rural area. Her IQ is in the mid-one-thirties. She is no fool.
She is, however, based on my observation, surrounded by morons. (I include both teachers and administration in that broad sweeping judgement.)
We will be homeschooling our children.
January 2, every year (unless 1/2 falls on Fri, sat, or sun).
It is my observation that upscale suburban schools have much better teachers than inner city urban areas and "outstate" rural areas.
It's like any other profession. The best teachers go where they are paid the most -- unless they have some emotional attachment to the place.
So, you see the error in generalizing to an entire
profession based on isolated experiences and
opinons. Your wife, it seems, is not "typical" in
her current work environment.
That's exactly my point.
exactly!
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