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Saturday, October 24, 2015

FL high stakes & the resignation of teacher Wendy Bradshaw, Ph.D. | The Edvocate Blog

FL high stakes & the resignation of teacher Wendy Bradshaw, Ph.D. | The Edvocate Blog:

FL high stakes & the resignation of teacher Wendy Bradshaw, Ph.D.





Privatizing public education is a cruel and dishonest process. Despite 17 years of Florida “education reform,” teachers continue to stand on the front line to be there for our children.  They know hearts have been breaking for years in Florida classrooms. Far too many children are losing hope wondering if they’ll ever measure up to the state’s arbitrary and final high-stakes yardstick of success.
All of this wears on the heart and conscience of teachers who feel a moral obligation to their students.  It’s incredibly painful for teachers to watch the Florida A-F Accountability scheme destroy their profession. Politicians claim to prize “effective teachers,” but their disrespectful reforms drive the best teachers away in frightening numbers.
Florida lost one of those teachers this week. Wendy Bradshaw, Ph.D., tendered her resignation to the Polk County School Board. Her poignant, wise words say everything about the failure of high stakes school “reform.” Florida legislators, Governor Scott, the Board of Education, school “reform” lobbyists and foundations preside over a shameful mess today. The loss of teachers like Dr. Bradshaw is on them.  The removal of these people from office is on us.
Please read and share. Our public school children cannot afford a loss like this.
To: The School Board of Polk County, Florida
I love teaching. I love seeing my students’ eyes light up when they grasp a new concept and their bodies straighten with pride and satisfaction when they persevere and accomplish a personal goal. I love watching them practice being good citizens by working with their peers to puzzle out problems, FL high stakes & the resignation of teacher Wendy Bradshaw, Ph.D. | The Edvocate Blog: