Comments on: Teachers for sale http://trueslant.com/pattihartigan/2009/05/14/teachers-for-sale/ The perplexities of parenting and public education in the age of standardized tests Mon, 21 Feb 2011 19:17:03 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Graham Kates http://trueslant.com/pattihartigan/2009/05/14/teachers-for-sale/comment-page-1/#comment-81 Graham Kates Fri, 15 May 2009 10:29:36 +0000 http://trueslant.com/pattihartigan/?p=358#comment-81 Alas, I wanted to, but since I had just graduate from college that money belonged to the United State government. Alas, I wanted to, but since I had just graduate from college that money belonged to the United State government.

]]> By: Patti Hartigan http://trueslant.com/pattihartigan/2009/05/14/teachers-for-sale/comment-page-1/#comment-80 Patti Hartigan Fri, 15 May 2009 02:48:31 +0000 http://trueslant.com/pattihartigan/?p=358#comment-80 But defining the term "conflict of interest" won't fit in the strict curriculum guidelines required for standardized tests. And if teachers deviate from the scripted curriculum, kids might not do well on the tests, the school won't get federal funds, and the whole point of the auction was to raise money in the first place. Catch 22, anyone? But defining the term “conflict of interest” won’t fit in the strict curriculum guidelines required for standardized tests. And if teachers deviate from the scripted curriculum, kids might not do well on the tests, the school won’t get federal funds, and the whole point of the auction was to raise money in the first place.

Catch 22, anyone?

]]> By: Patti Hartigan http://trueslant.com/pattihartigan/2009/05/14/teachers-for-sale/comment-page-1/#comment-79 Patti Hartigan Fri, 15 May 2009 02:30:10 +0000 http://trueslant.com/pattihartigan/?p=358#comment-79 Yes, Karen, it's been the way of the world since time immemorial. Not much we can do about the private sector. But it shouldn't take place in public schools. That's just unethical and wrong. Why are parents so afraid to complain about this? It kills me. Yes, Karen, it’s been the way of the world since time immemorial. Not much we can do about the private sector. But it shouldn’t take place in public schools. That’s just unethical and wrong. Why are parents so afraid to complain about this? It kills me.

]]> By: Patti Hartigan http://trueslant.com/pattihartigan/2009/05/14/teachers-for-sale/comment-page-1/#comment-78 Patti Hartigan Fri, 15 May 2009 02:26:44 +0000 http://trueslant.com/pattihartigan/?p=358#comment-78 You mean you didn't sweeten the pot with a check for ten grand tucked inside your application? What were you thinking? :-) You mean you didn’t sweeten the pot with a check for ten grand tucked inside your application? What were you thinking? :-)

]]> By: Graham Kates http://trueslant.com/pattihartigan/2009/05/14/teachers-for-sale/comment-page-1/#comment-77 Graham Kates Thu, 14 May 2009 23:50:34 +0000 http://trueslant.com/pattihartigan/?p=358#comment-77 That explains why the Huffington Post never replied to the internship application I submitted just after I graduated from college! That explains why the Huffington Post never replied to the internship application I submitted just after I graduated from college!

]]> By: Karen Dukess http://trueslant.com/pattihartigan/2009/05/14/teachers-for-sale/comment-page-1/#comment-76 Karen Dukess Thu, 14 May 2009 21:49:38 +0000 http://trueslant.com/pattihartigan/?p=358#comment-76 Patti, I completely agree with your take on this, but it's not really anything new, just more blatant. When I was in college, I was lucky enough to have a somewhat distant relative working at the New York Times connect me with an internship as a "copy girl." People used to look at the copy kids hanging out and say it was like "celebrity bowling" because so many were the sons and daughters of top editors and writers. Connections have always gotten kids internships, auctions or not. And no, it's not fair! Patti, I completely agree with your take on this, but it’s not really anything new, just more blatant. When I was in college, I was lucky enough to have a somewhat distant relative working at the New York Times connect me with an internship as a “copy girl.” People used to look at the copy kids hanging out and say it was like “celebrity bowling” because so many were the sons and daughters of top editors and writers. Connections have always gotten kids internships, auctions or not. And no, it’s not fair!

]]> By: Laura Collins-Hughes http://trueslant.com/pattihartigan/2009/05/14/teachers-for-sale/comment-page-1/#comment-75 Laura Collins-Hughes Thu, 14 May 2009 15:53:13 +0000 http://trueslant.com/pattihartigan/?p=358#comment-75 Whether teachers — in public or private schools — are playing favorites or merely seem to be doing so, their students will certainly believe that kids whose parents pony up for special access get the edge with them. Is that really a lesson teachers want their classes to learn? If they do, they might want to begin by defining the phrase "conflict of interest" for the kids. Whether teachers — in public or private schools — are playing favorites or merely seem to be doing so, their students will certainly believe that kids whose parents pony up for special access get the edge with them. Is that really a lesson teachers want their classes to learn? If they do, they might want to begin by defining the phrase “conflict of interest” for the kids.

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