Well, it almost time to give children their annual summer vacation from learning. Summer vacation from learning? What a ridiculous concept. How are we going to impress upon the inheritors of society that life is constantly evolving and changing and that we are all in a continuous learning process if we force them to take […]
teachers
Posted inOp-Eds
Emily Talmage: Assessment tests won’t improve quality of education
As a teacher of 20 vibrant, curious and, yes, often challenging fourth graders at Montello Elementary School in Lewiston, I constantly search for ways to improve my students’ learning experiences and to understand what will best help them succeed. So, like many teachers around the state, as I began hearing about the new Smarter Balanced […]
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Posted inLewiston-Auburn
New diploma for freshmen slammed, praised
LEWISTON — Lewiston High School student Parker Brownrigg, 15, said he’s frustrated with how he and other freshmen are being graded. “It’s ruining our freshman year,” he said. He and some parents of freshmen want the School Committee to put the new proficiency-based diploma on hold. But it has support from educators and some parents, […]
Posted inLetters
R. Sabine: Failing the students
In my guest column, “Time to get tough with educators” (Feb. 15), I explained that the SAT, a standardized test employed to reveal student learning, revealed that more than half of our high school juniors were not proficient in math, reading or writing. I placed blame on state legislators, teachers and other educators in general, […]
Posted inLetters
E. Talmage: A deeper issue at stake
Recent responses to Richard Sabine’s column (Feb. 15) have been a welcome defense to educators. Most, however, have fallen short of addressing the deeper issue at stake. Unfortunately, Sabine is far from alone in his belief that teachers and school systems are failing the students. Instead, that misguided belief continues to dominate the national discussion […]
Posted inLetters
C. Dufresne: Producing successful students
I write in response to Richard Sabine’s guest column (Feb. 15). He may think he knows what he is talking about, but he has no clue what is causing public schools to “fail” students, and no idea how to fix it. He cites no research to validate any of his arguments. Here is what research […]
Posted inLetters
In rebuttal, A. Woody: Educators need more support
This is in response to a guest column by Richard Sabine, “Time to get tough with educators” (Feb. 15). He should be aware that social promotion is not up to the teachers’ discretion. Research shows that students who are retained are much more likely to drop out of high school than students who are socially […]
Posted inLetters
R. Brooks: Offered no real solutions
As a citizen and public school teacher, I feel compelled to respond to Richard Sabine’s recent guest column, “Time to get tough with educators” (Feb. 15). I wonder, would he dare to spout the same vitriol toward our union brothers and sisters in other lines of work? How about the 3,500 individuals who labor at […]
Posted inLetters
In rebuttal, M. Kearney: Is he tough enough?
I write in response to Richard Sabine’s guest column (Feb. 15). As a teacher in Lewiston, I am deeply insulted. Sabine stated that “we” have failed to prepare our children. Did he include himself in that “we” he wrote about? He was quick to blame everyone with a hand in education, but what about himself? […]
Posted inLetters
In rebuttal, J. Michaelis: Educator has different perspective
This is in response to Richard Sabine’s guest column (Feb. 15). I teach mathematics at Lewiston High School and I invite Sabine to come shadow me. I find his letter ignorant at best, offensive at worst, and I hope that experiencing time in my shoes would help him to understand what a teacher really does. […]