Our Old Guestbook Entries
(1/03 through 5/03)


Date: Sat May 31 19:15:54 2003
Name: Cynthia Rucker
E-mail: crucker@laca.org
Organization: Maysville 6-12
Location: Mount Perry, OH
Comments: Interesting site. Today, a student in my English 10 class asked me the difference between a private school education and a public school one--we are in a public one--and...I told him they spend much less time worrying about state tests!

 



Date: Fri May 30 06:35:23 2003
Name: Edward Sparks
E-mail: esparks@csnewfrontiers.qc.ca
Organization: New Frontiers School Board
Location: Ormstown, Quebec, Canada

Name: David Airey
E-mail: david.airey@millville.org
Organization: Millville Board of Education
Location: New Jersey
Comments: The text of the article made reference to your website and I felt compelled to find and bookmark it for future use. In New Jersey testing and state requirements for completing forms, surveys, and a host of other nonsensical "stuff" make my job as an educator absolutely frustrating.


Name: John Perry
E-mail: mentelibre@att.net
Organization: Florida Coalition for Assessment Reform
Location: Tampa, FL
How the site
was found:
May 29, 2003 Philadelphia Enquirer article by Connie Langland

Date: Thu May 29 16:45:41 2003
Name: Ellen Blue
E-mail: ellen_blue@scs.k12.nc.us
Organization: Stanly County Schools
Location: Albemarle, NC
How the site
was found:
Google search
Comments: I am writing a research paper for my masters program. Honestly, I had never heard of Alfie Kohn until this assignment. I can't believe it! I agree with everything I have read on this site. Actually, I can believe it. I am certain that the powers-that-be in our state don't want us to read to much of this stuff. It seems our entire school program state-wide is based on end-of-grade standardized testing!! Thanks for being the voice of reason. I hope I do you justice in my paper!


Date: Thu May 29 14:37:32 2003
Name: JAMES F. O'NEILL
E-mail: joneill@chatham-nj.org
Organization: School District of the Chathams
Location: Chatham, NJ 07928
How the site
was found:
noted in article about speech on testing in Lr. Merion, PA
Comments: Thanks for your efforts to derail this foolish and simplistic answer to insuring quality education. God forbid we all strive to have schools as good as they are in Texas.


Date: Thu May 29 12:15:44 2003
Name: Lisa Lavoie
E-mail: llavoie@txcc.commnet.edu
Organization: Tunxis Community College
Location: Farmington, CT 06032
How the site
was found:
via an article from the Philadelphia Inquirer
Comments: I would love to have Mr. Kohn come to Connecticut and de-program the school administrators who have lost sight of the purpose of education and the beauty of learning. My daughter's teachers spend weeks teaching to the tests and most of the children are so frightened "they won't pass." The horror truly comes when the towns are rated in the local newspaper and real estate values are assigned accordingly. What a world, what a world. Please keep your trumpets blaring! Our children are not numbers.

Date: Thu May 29 12:03:45 2003
Name: Kathryn M. Benson
E-mail: kmb@sprhill.net
Organization:  
Location: Springhill, LA
Comments: Surely more and more effort will be made by concerned educators, students, and parents to loosen the stranglehold of standardized testing.

Date: Thu May 29 09:54:29 2003
Name: Dawn M. Burke
E-mail: dawnmarieburke@hotmail.com
Organization: Pa Homeschooling
Location: Franconia, PA
Comments: Alfie, your philosophy of education is exactly why I left a public school teaching position and took my 3 sons out to homeschool them. Most children in traditional school settings are deprived of the fine arts of music, artwork, literature, and critical thinking. While the state of Pennsylvania requires standardized testing in 3rd, 5th and 8th grades for homeschooled students, I don't put a big emphasis on the "day of all days" (the testing date), but present it to my sons as an opportunity to check out there general knowledge, and encourage them to do the best that they can. Having an academically gifted son, an average son, and a learning-disabled son, I can see how the emphasis on standardized testing is an unhealthy balance of achieving a complete education. Standardized tests do not evaluate critical thinking skills, and cultural knowledge and appreciation. Thanks for your determination to rally for true education for students in our country!


Date: Wed May 28 05:43:57 2003
Name: daniela iizuka
E-mail: iizuka@erols.com
Organization: Committee for Special Ed. of Lower Merion School District
Location: Pennsylvania
How the site
was found:
heard from Alfie Kohn
Comments: Please convey to Mr. Kohn how much I enjoyed his presentation to teachers, parents, and administrators last night in Lower Merion School District. I agree with his message 100% and am now inspired to be more pro-active toward eliminating most if not all standardized tests! Thank you very much. sincerely, Danny Iizuka


Date: Wed May 28 05:15:36 2003
Name: Chantelle Lloyd
E-mail: clloyd3@pobox.une.edu.au
Organization: University student
Location: Armidale, Australia
How the site
was found:
Google search engine
Comments: Your website was very helpful in filling me in on your theory and backgroud. You are a theorist we are looking at, at the moment, so this website was very helpful.Thanks


Date: Sun May 25 07:51:45 2003
Name: Guy Moores
E-mail: novascotia@hushmail.com
Organization: a school board in N.S.
Location: Nova Scotia, Canada
How the site
was found:
regular visitor
Comments: Dear Alfie: I want to thank you for your web site. I come here often for a taste of sanity in this bizarre world of educational testing. In Nova Scotia a grade 12 provincial mathematics exam will be introduced in January 2004. The teachers in this province are being told that teaching to the test is exactly what the Provincial Department of Education wants us to do with respect to the upcoming provincial math exam. In this way, Department of Education officials say we will be covering all of the learning outcomes. At the present time there are so many outcomes it is impossible to cover all of them. The stress level among teachers and students is high now because there are too many learning outcomes. Next year the situation will be much worse as the emphasis switches to achieving success on a standarized exam. I fear for our average or marginal students. Mathematics is so important for these students who will be facing a pace of learning that will be so hard and fast that they will not be able to keep up. The failure rates surely will rise. To make all of this even more confusing, the largest school board in Nova Scotia (Halifax Regional School Board) embarked on a process several years ago to treat students as individuals, to recognize that each student is uniquely different in how he or she learns. At the school board level the emphasis has been on learning styles and on a wide variety of assessment strategies. Formal testing has been de-emphasized. I think the school board got it right. So now we have two conflicting philosophies in the same province. We are being asked to teach mathematics using a constructivist approach and, at the same time we are being told to teach to the test with an impossible number of learning outcomes. This is insanity and this is why I am so grateful for your web site.

Date: Fri May 23 23:16:56 2003
Name: Vishnu Kant
E-mail: vishnukant@vsnl.net
Organization: The Teacher Foundation
Location: India
How the site
was found:
through a friends
Comments: Wonderful work, Dr. Cohn! Could I request you to post me about your activities, and how can I benefit from them here in India.


Date: Fri May 23 16:09:46 2003
Name: Charlene Bain
E-mail: craeb@msn.com
Organization: Heritage Institure, Antioch University
Location: Washington state
How the site
was found:
A class syllabus
Comments: I'm interested in learning more about Alfie's philosopy. I attended two of his lectures on May 16 and 17, 2003. I found them thought provoking and contrary to practices I'm familiar with.

Date: Wed May 21 07:22:35 2003
Name: Dr. Dan
E-mail: drdanarch@aol.com
Organization:  
Location: Nebraska
Comments: Some states have found another way to to turn an ordinary event into a competition: selection of license plates in Nebraska (Indiana and Nevada as well, I believe) is done through a design contest. In Nebraska, the contest is open to all residents--including professional artists. I wonder if a child (or average-Jo/Joe adult, for that matter) with a clever idea but just a box of crayons really has a prayer against a professional armed with QuarkXpress or Adobe Photoshop. "Losers" in contests often feel resentment toward the "winners," as Mr. Kohn points out in "No Contest: The Case Against Competition." This contest is no exception. It's a license plate, for Pete's sake. What a basis for turning people against one another.


recommended

Date: Sun May 18 20:43:22 2003
Name: Jahi Omari
E-mail: healinghands9@aol.com
Organization: Enrichment Education Svc. Inc
Location: Atlanta,GA
How the site
was found:
"High Stakes" article
Comments: I thoroughly enjoyed reading your article. You spoke with a voice and concern that is very real for me. Continue to sound the trumpet.


Date: Fri May 16 23:03:13 2003
Name: Dena Ramm
E-mail: rammlyon@cedarcomm.com
Organization:  
Location: Stanwood
How the site
was found:
 
Comments: Thank you for your inspiring words tonight. We will be better teachers and parents. Looking forward to reading about "choices". Great website. My son and students also thank you.


Date: Tue May 13 02:14:15 2003
Name: Heather Young
E-mail: heathfieldyoung@xtra.co.nz
Organization: none
Location: New Zealand
How the site
was found:
doing some research for unschooling workshop
Comments: I had always intended to homeschool my son, and the state of the local school only served to reinforce that decision. I soon found that 'traditional' homeschooling did not suit us either. For years I actually thought no one else in the world was 'slacking off' the way we did until I happened on to some Growing Without Schooling issues. At times I found unschooling my one son to be frightening. It went very much against the local culture, and I was, again for years, unsure if it was the right way to raise my child to his best advantage. I could only go on the feeling that it seemed to be the best way for us as a family. He is 14 now and I am much more confident in what we have done as a family. We left The US 10 years ago, as my husband is a kiwi (what NZer,s call themselves), and on finally purchasing a computer and finding this and other websites (through the computer talents of my self taught son-sorry, proud mother getting carried away) my overwhelming emotion is 'whew!' well we made it this far, lets keep going! It is pretty inspirational to see the number of people who care about young people and are willing to challenge seemingly insurmountable odds in their cause. My thoughts are with you all.


Date: Mon May 12 00:37:36 2003
Name: Cathy Wilton
E-mail: mailto:lokikane%20@yahoo.com.au
Organization: Australsian Association for Progressive and alternative education
Location: Sydney, Australia
Comments: The Australasin Association for progressive and alternative education (AAPAE) are constantly challenging the Australian government's push for compulsory standardised testing and implementation of set curriculum documents. We challenge the the idea that there can only be one way to teach and learn. We'd love any likeminded people to shrae our ideas at ausschools@yahoogroups.com.au

 

Comments: Our school is going through STAR testing. We have not made our API goals for the last two years. I don't care but everyone else does. So I turn to your site ever morning for a daily dose of wisdom. Thank you.

 


Date: Sun May 4 10:42:27 2003
Name: Loren Floto
E-mail: lrfloto@aol.com
Organization: Maria Montessori Magnet School
Location: Rockford, IL
How the site
was found:
Listened to your taped keynote address, 2002
Comments: Thanks for providing continual inspiration to avoid the pitfalls of creeping competition and criticism, which seem to afflict me. We are waging a losing battle against the growth of standardized testing and regimentation in Illinois public schools. Teachers are not organized to resist, but find it easier to 'go along,' Kind of like the whole nation is 'going along' with the Bush agenda.

Date: Sat May 3 07:48:28 2003
Name: Angela C. Davis
E-mail: davisa72@aol.com
Organization:  
Location: New York, NY
How the site
was found:
From your books
Comments: Hello Alfie: I recently attended your presentation at Pace University. I have read "The Schools Our Children Deserve" and "Beyond Discipline," however, it was even better to listen to you reiterate your key points in person. I was one of the participants who stayed after to speak with you and I thank you for your suggestions about alternatives to grades. During the conversation after your presentation, you mentioned Wiggins and not quite agreeing with some of his work. I recently read "Understanding by Design," and found it very insightful in terms of curriculum design and unit planning. I would love to get your thoughts about Wiggins and of course, any critiques of his work. Thanks again for your work. It is truly inspirational.

Name: Stephen E. Brown
E-mail: sbrown@parkland.edu
Organization: Parkland College
Location: Champaign, Illinois
How the site
was found:
from a link
Comments: I attended your telecourse "Why Incentives Don't Work" many years ago, and still find the concepts learned there to be valid and valuable. Please put me on your mailing list. Thank You. Steve

Date: Tue Apr 29 12:02:25 2003
Name: Linda Frame
E-mail: framel@jsd.k12.ak.us
Organization: Juneau School District
Location: Juneau, Alaska
How the site
was found:
google search
Comments: Thank you!!! I needed good substantiation for a paper on politics of education. Testing is so infuriating that I can not pass it up! Keep up the great work! We need your words of wisdom. from one more stubborn teacher who believes in creativity and kids!

Name: Karen Attanasio
E-mail: attanaka@collier.k12.fl.us
Organization:  
Location:  
How the site
was found:
Lecture at FGCU
Comments: Wow! I have a new mission as a parent and future educator - Spay the FCAT.
E-mail:

Depew, Oklahoma
Search engine

Date: Sat Apr 19 11:31:32 2003
Name: Mike Kell
E-mail: mdkell1027@hotmail.com
Organization: Sachool District Springfield Township
Location: Erdenheim, PA
How the site
was found:
Education Week article giving me your website
Comments: IAm in a progressive school, public. We are in the throws of standardized movement. I and my principal (Iam the assistant) are focusing on teaching and learning and project based academicas for lowerer achievers and remediation education to increase student performances. We view opportunities to learn as a priority. We have a increaseingly diverse population. Our transfer-in students are ever increasing and we are focusing on educating the lowest quitile. We factor in many assessments! Keep writing the articles- I'm in agreement! Thanks, Mike Kell


Date: Fri Apr 18 15:27:20 2003
Name: Elizabeth Silverthorne
E-mail: emealing@ucla.edu
Organization: Student, UCLA
Location: Los Angeles
How the site
was found:
google search
Comments: I am perhaps a bit young to have discovered Alfie Kohn, but when I read The Schools Our Children Deserve it was like seeing a beautifully articulated compilation of all my most passionate feelings regarding our education system. I just graduated from high school last year and I still don't know how I managed to stick with it all. As a gifted student throughout my school career, I was continually confronted by the absolute ineffectiveness of our education system. Luckily, I had a supportive group of friends and a few incredible teachers who encouraged me in developing my criticisms and ideals regarding the way children ought to be educated. I must say that Kohn is absolutely on track with everything I have ever felt as a young student. To all parents and students who have been robbed by a system which does little to develop the immense potential of all learners, even in the face of the bulk of educational research which calls for change, must we sit back and let things continue to worsen? I am a Psychology student with an Education Studies minor who is blessed to be able to intern at the University Elementary School, a laboratory school that collaborates with UCLA's graduate school of education. Many of Kohn's theories are implemented at this school (it is non-graded, etc), and the difference is incredible! Students are genuinely exicted about coming to school each day. I have always known I would dedicate my life to finding a way to change the system, and for the sake of the many people whose views are represented here, and especially for my own future children, I will not sit back and allow things to continue to worsen. I hope to continue on to graduate school, and use my experience to become active politically, the only means I can see to make real changes. What is being done right now, on local and national levels, to effect change? I respect the opinions of those who have also seen this site, and would love to know what you all are doing.


Date: Fri Apr 18 10:08:37 2003
Name: Lynn Helde
E-mail: lynnhelde@yahoo.com
Organization: Pittsfield, MA Public Schools
Location: Pittsfield, MA
How the site
was found:
Reference
Comments: I'm currently reading Building Classroom Discipline by CM Charles. I've just read the chapter on Beyond Discipline...some of your philosophies and ideas on structuring a class. It sounds so similar to many of the things I've been learning about the responsive classroom. I've been an adult teacher/trainer focused on managment skills, etc for years now... I've been trying to share the sames message... people don't need tangible rewards... let students "attribute" their successes and failures to themselves and their efforts, not because of other people and things! Thanks for being so thought provoking! I'm enjoying doing the research on you and your theories. I'm actually doing my final class project on you and your principal teachings! I can't wait! Good Luck! Lynn Ashburn Helde!


Date: Thu Apr 17 22:19:03 2003
Name: Lauren Silver
E-mail: cartini@telkom.net
Organization:  
Location: Indonesia
How the site
was found:
search engine
Comments: Dear Mr. Kohn, I have just read your book, "Punished by Rewards." At first it made me feel very nervous, as I began to recognize the real effects of manipulative control techniques promoted as ways to "motivate." But my stomach calmed down a bit as I reached the latter parts of the book which point to sound alternatives that, insha'Allah, will eventually change the way people relate to one another. Although I realize your intention is to improve the lot of children, students and workers, it seems the proponents of behaviorist methods may actually be more entrenched now as a result of your arguments. Therefore, a change of approach might be in order, and I would like to offer the following modest suggestion regarding strategy.

a friend recommended it

Date: Fri Apr 11 18:25:54 2003
Name: Sara Ellis
E-mail: pigtree@fa2.so-net.ne.jp
Organization: Tokyo Cow
Location: Tokyo, Japan
How the site
was found:
npr
Comments: Dear Mr. Kohn, just listened to an old interview with you on npr. As a teacher in Japan I cannot agree with you enough about standardized testing. I have worked for years within a system that bases the entire futures of Japan's young people on the results of entrance examinations. It is, I believe, the worst education system in the world. The students are so driven into binary thinking that they cannot formulate simple sentences or take part in casual conversation. The common analogy here is "dutiful robot." There is no encouragement of critical thinking or creativity, there is only one right answer for everything. Literature is taught to them in chunks, for example, the only thing they have to know from Hamlet is "To be or not to be." Even Japanese classics are taught in this fashion, disjointed quotes, and the names of writers and the dates they were born. I have English language teachers who instead of being able to enjoy teaching the beauty of the language come up and haggle me with questions like "Which word is better, morose, melancholic, or depressed?" They must choose one for the test without regard for the nuance of each word. Even worse! Grammatic rules are simply made up by certain "scholars" for testing where there are actually none in English. In the meantime , the kids studying all of this drivel cannot even form a sentence either verbally or on paper. Everything is ground down to a binary code, art, English, music, math, history. There is no room for creativity at all. The teachers who want to teach in creative ways are unable to and eventually run down by the system(run by Japan's bureau of thought police, the Ministry of Education) which forces them to always be on a tight schedule, teaching a certain amount of material by a specific date, year after year after year. Anyway, you already know all of this I presume but here's the real secret, because of the crazed emphasis on standardized testing, kids in Japan have become the worst behaved students in the developed world. The kids who don't do well on these tests are so nihilistic about their futures that they have no intellectual curiousity whatsoever. Everything these kids learn on their tests is forgotten weeks later, it's the training of short-term memory only. I howled with laughter when the U.N. recently gave Japan the number two spot for education in the world. It's the number one spot for automaton training. I am sickened whenever I hear calls for standardized testing in the United States. No matter how "crappy" some of my teachers may have been, they were never frantic babysitters working only to spoon feed me information.


E-mail: ckjdat@hotmail.com
Organization:  
Location:  
How the site
was found:
google search
Comments: I enjoyed your lecture last evening at Pace. I was the big white guy down front in the red sweater who asked about the dollar cost of standardized testing. Please do some checking and find what it costs per kid per year. I think that it in and of itself is a compelling aurguement against standardized testing. We could do such better thing with the money. A group from my grad class in classroom management at Queens College is presenting Beyond Discipline to our classmates. We have the entire 1 1/2 hour class. In your experience, what would be the best way to approach this? We want to start by getting our peers (who will not have read the material) to be open to your ideas. We also want to model your ideas as much as possible. Thank you in advance for your responses.



E-mail: noreenetc@earthlink.net
Organization: Renaissance School
Location: Parker Colorado
How the site
was found:
Attended a lecture
Comments: looking for other non-graded, multi-age schools.


Date: Wed Apr 9 07:56:50 2003
Name: Jack Hartsfield
E-mail: jackgail@charter.net
Organization: public schools
Location: Fort Worth, TX
How the site
was found:
I did a search for Alfie Kohn
Comments: I have been in public education for 26 years -- the last 18 as a principal. At this time, I am leaving the principalship and the district I am working for and attempting to go back into the classroom. I just looked up this web site in order to get some moral support -- to know that there are people out there who don't believe that standerized testing is the answer to society's woes or that bribing kids is a healthy concept. Thanks for the opportunity to vent a little.


Date: Wed Apr 9 06:21:41 2003
Name: irfan
E-mail: onay
Organization: turkish society for quality
Location: istanbul
How the site
was found:
amazon.com
Comments: Ive read no contest long time ago then red your articles. I fully agree with you on fatal consequences of extrinsic "motivators". I only want to add my observation that for many people(if not all) incentive programs is even humiliating since it has the message that"you people can only deliver your best with some form of bribe" thx again alfie for destroying myths with scientific approach


Date: Tue Apr 8 22:12:24 2003
Name: Eric Warren Severson
E-mail: ewsev2@conncoll.edu
Organization: The Human Race
Location: Planet Earth
How the site
was found:
I looked for it on yahoo.com after reading one of Mr. Kohn's books
Comments: The most profound statement in your book, I feel, was the page where you state that one should drive down the highway and try to imagine a real human being in the driver's seat of each oncoming car, and look into people's eyes and truly try to reach a state of empathy and understanding. If we could all learn to do this, everything from professional boxing to spousal abuse to war and terrorism could be replaced by a more humane order. Keep up the good fight, -Eric


Date: Mon Apr 7 17:43:16 2003
Name: Amanda Conrad
E-mail: lamsc@choice.net
Organization:  
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
How the site
was found:
Friend
Comments: Great Stuff!


Date: Sun Apr 6 14:02:19 2003
Name: Nicky Campbell-Allen
E-mail: mailto:redsquare%20@inspire.net.nz
Organization:  
Location: New Zealand
How the site
was found:
via the author details at the back of a book
Comments: Hi there, I am in the process of reading your book titled "Punished by Rewards" and am finding it highly intriguing. At present I am completing a Masters Degree and came accross this book during a literature search. My thesis is on best practices in reward and recognition and your comments have certainly given me a lot of food for thought. I am interested in any other articles (yours or others)that you may be able to send. One thing I do note is that (I guess as your book eludes to) that the mamority of the comments below are from teachers and educationalists as opposed to managers and leaders in business.


Date: Sat Apr 5 08:53:55 2003
Name: Phillip Stockard
E-mail: philmarii@aol.com
Organization: student
Location: Augusta, GA
How the site
was found:
Internet sites from a Reality Therapy article
Comments: please schedule a visit to Georgia, soon!


Date: Sat Apr 5 08:53:11 2003
Name: Phillip Stockard
E-mail: philmarii@aol.com
Organization: student
Location: Augusta, GA
How the site
was found:
Internet sites from a Reality Therapy article
Comments: please schedule a visit to Georgia, soon!


Date: Fri Apr 4 22:11:22 2003
Name: Dana Sherman
E-mail: Dlynnshman@aol.com
Organization:  
Location:  
How the site
was found:
Lecture at MJC in Modesto, Ca.
Comments: Great Lecture, helpful website, intriguing concept. Thanks for taking the time to travel to Modesto, to lecture.


Date: Fri Apr 4 21:21:56 2003
Name: Johanna Green
E-mail: travel@safeplace.net
Organization:  
Location: Philadelphia
How the site
was found:
listed in journal article
Comments: If I were a doctor with a terminally ill patient who wanted to pursue assisted suicide, I would not send him to Dr. Kavorkian, I would give him your article, "Beyond Discipline," and then send him to teach in an inner-city school. I taught public school in one of the worst neighborhoods of Philadelphia for three years and the only reason that I have lived to tell about it is because of the direction of my mentor to implement Lee Cantor's Assertive Discipline. I fought him tooth and nail, he shoved it down my throat, in the end I only tried it to prove him wrong, and darn it, it worked!! My students had been under my old system from September to March, I had written my first year of teaching off thinking I would try again with a new batch of kids in the fall, but the assertive discipline model actually enabled me to teach instead of dodge spitballs and the kids actually learned something. The following year the principal sent new teachers to observe my classes as a positive model for classroom management and when I moved to the suburbs a few years later I became a mentor teacher. And yes, as a mentor teacher, I have seen assertive discipline turn the most unruly classrooms(which, contrary to popular belief, do exist in wealthy, affluent suburban school districts when no or a touchy-feely system of discipline is in effect) into centers of learning.


Date: Fri Apr 4 11:07:37 2003
Name: Donne Copenhaver
E-mail: docopenh@ashland-city.k12.oh.us
Organization: Ashland Alternative School
Location: Ashland, OH
How the site
was found:
Colleague Referal
Comments: PLEASE SCHEDULE A LECTURE IN OHIO, AND E-MAIL ME ASAP WHEN YOU HAVE DONE SO!!!


Date: Fri Apr 4 10:58:07 2003
Name: Donne Copenhaver
E-mail: docopenh@ashland-city.k12.oh.us
Organization: Ashland Alternative School
Location: Ashland, OH
How the site
was found:
Colleague Referal
Comments: This site is remarkable. It's a great resource and educational tool for myself and the rest of the teachers with whom I work. I plan on sharing the site with them and all the wonderful insights found within the site. Thanks for making it available.


Date: Thu Apr 3 16:53:48 2003
Name: andreas horaites
E-mail: andreas_horaites
Organization: southern oregon education service district
Location: 101 N Grape St. Medford, OR 97501
How the site
was found:
I read Jerry Becker's piece online
Comments: I wish to extend my warmest professional's hug to Alfie Kohn. I would love to know when he will be speaking next in Oregon. His message is so very right on topic.


Date: Thu Apr 3 16:47:09 2003
Name: Shelley Mayfield
E-mail: smayfiel@sierranevada.edu
Organization: Sierra Nevada College
Location: Lake Tahoe, Calif.
How the site
was found:
Proffesor
Comments:


Date: Thu Apr 3 11:30:29 2003
Name: sheila ann thompson
E-mail: rsthompson@tc3net.com
Organization: student teacher
Location: adrian mi. head start
How the site
was found:
a teacher
Comments:


Date: Wed Apr 2 13:52:22 2003
Name: M. Stowe
E-mail: mestowe@mail.dps.k12.va.us
Organization:  
Location:  
How the site
was found:
 
Comments: Just came from a child study committee, two names kept coming to mind Kohn and Wong.


Date: Tue Apr 1 18:21:43 2003
Name: Susan Olson
E-mail: catpaws@acadia.net
Organization: MSAD #34
Location: Belfast, Maine 04915
How the site
was found:
Graduate class article
Comments: Read your article "But Not Quite" which was published in the ASCD leadership journal. I am a kindergarten teacher and want to do it right. Your article told me all the things I am doing wrong, but offered no alternatives. What is the right language to use with children? What should I be doing in my classroom? Please help - I have been teaching for 29 years, and would like to get it "right" before I retire!


Date: Tue Apr 1 13:45:06 2003
Name: Jonathan Erwin
E-mail: jerwin1@stny.rr.com
Organization: Choice Consulting
Location: Corning, NY
How the site
was found:
Searched
Comments: I would be interested in any additional information or research further supporting Dr. Kohn's work re: The Schools Our Children Deserve and Punished by Rewards. Keep up the great work!!! Jon E


Date: Mon Mar 31 15:22:14 2003
Name: joette Weber
E-mail: weberj@ohiou.edu
Organization: OU
Location: athens, ohio
How the site
was found:
on the back of one of Kohn's books
Comments: So, Mr.Kohn, I am sitting here the night before I begin teaching the reading assessment course to undergrades. Of course I will include your lecture on tape from C-Span, the Fair Test Examiner and the latest publications from Hein. by Coles and Flippo, the Ohanian site... What am I forgetting or not aware of? ps. I am more comfortable in my Reading Recovery position all morning at my local elem. school of 90% free/reduce lunch qualifiers than these preservice educators that badly need inspiration! Anyone out there teach at the college level with some words of wisdom? Joette


Date: Mon Mar 31 06:11:08 2003
Name: richemonde domond-badaud
E-mail: abadaua@aol.com
Organization: MDCS
Location: Florida
How the site
was found:
wilson website
Comments:


Date: Sun Mar 30 14:11:07 2003
Name: Joy Bartlett
E-mail: jobart@bigvalley.net
Organization: Modesto City Schools
Location: Modesto, CA
How the site
was found:
Lecture on 3/29/03
Comments: Thank you for coming to Modesto. I enjoyed your lecture and will be trying to empliment more of your "working with kids" ideas.


Date: Sun Mar 30 00:05:15 2003
Name: Camille Howe
E-mail: chowe@lcisd.org
Organization: Lamar CISD
Location: Beasley, TX
How the site
was found:
Foreword to Ohanian's book
Comments: Mr. Kohn, I am an education major, and mother of 3. I work for the local school district in an accounting capacity for now. I have been active with PTO, Gifted and Talented programs, Volunteers in Public Schools, Boy Scouts and local volunteer efforts in education. My research paper is based on the premise of Ohanian's book, that the over-emphasis on standardized testing is detrimental to the education of our children. In better terms, it is a lack of a well-rounded education. TAAS/TAKS scores have increased in Texas over the past few years, but college entrance exam scores have gone down. The move of reading levels downward from one grade to the next is insane. I just want to thank you for your efforts, as I can see by your enthusiastic and numerous articles and books. I am hoping to use some of your work to support my thesis and possibly take my written research to my local school board. Unfortunately, in Texas, we started several years ago what Bush is now passing on at a Federal level. Thank you for your time and effort in this very important struggle we face as parents, educators and citizens. Sincerly, Camille Howe


Date: Sat Mar 29 18:54:25 2003
Name: Mary Zilko
E-mail: MZilko@optonline.net
Organization: H.S. Counselor
Location: Long Island, NY
How the site
was found:
Professor in Ed. Administration
Comments: Alfie Kohn is able to articulate everything I've ever known intrinsically. As a H.S. Counselor, I've watched my students become increasing frustrated, lose their self-esteem, and frequently in serious consideration of dropping out. GED's are becoming their only alternative. As a parent of a junior and freshman in H.S., I've watched my boys lose their interest in learning. They are tired of being tested to death, and view school as a punishment, with the exception of the social and athletic activities. They shouldn't have to dread school. If Department of Education and schools in general would ony listen to the teachings of Alfie Kohn, we would have a great education system. I only wish the educators of yesterday had taken a stand against the whole testing movement. Now it is up to those of us who understand the concept of Alfie Kohn to turn things around. Having read his newest book, "The Truth About Testing" I am empowered to spread the word about the myths of standardized tests. It provides hands-on strategies to implement a movement against testing. It IS possible to make a change in our education system, so that children develop a "love of learning"... Until that time, the drop-out rates will continue, violence will grow, and our children will continue to have social problems, and poor self-esteem. They shoud be taught to think on their feet and feel good about themselves. It can be done. Thank you, Alfie.


Date: Sat Mar 29 15:06:34 2003
Name: troylana manson
E-mail: troylanam@msn.com
Organization: life long learners inc.!
Location: modesto california for now...?
How the site
was found:
prior knowledge
Comments: i saw alfie today....its been a year since he last disturbed me ...i like being in that state...helps propell me in a direction to define my values and understand the global community .....!!!???


Date: Sat Mar 29 14:23:40 2003
Name: Marsha Kidd
E-mail:
Organization:  
Location: Modesto, California
How the site
was found:
Heard Dr. Kohn speak today
Comments: Thrilled, inspired to be a loving grandmother. Thank you.


Date: Fri Mar 28 12:47:00 2003
Name: Nader El Badry
E-mail: Naderelbadry@Hotmail.com
Organization: Agriculture Research Centre
Location: Egypt, Giza
How the site
was found:
By searching
Comments: The latest updated materials for Principales in Chemistry. Thanks...


Date: Thu Mar 27 19:26:32 2003
Name: Elizabeth Willoughby
E-mail: missusliz@yahoo.com
Organization: None
Location: Clinton Township, MI
How the site
was found:
sought it out
Comments: I am interested in spearheading a campaign in my school district to oppose the current use of standardized testing. My children are not yet of the age to attend school, but I am looking toward the future. I am also working towards a master's in teaching. After researching the topic of standardized testing, I am in "shock and awe" (borrowing this, lol). I have only some substitute teaching experience, so the day-to-day goings on in the educational environment are as foreign to me as a parent of a student. Why am I being taught constructivism, theories on Dewey's democratic education, and inquiry-based learning techniques when, it seems to me, I will forced by an 'aligned curriculum' to revert back to traditional techniques? How abhorrently dissapointing. I believe the general public is unaware of the consequences of standards-based testing. They need to be informed, how to do it?


Date: Tue Mar 25 12:17:45 2003
Name: Thomas P.Powers
E-mail: tompowers@worldnet.att.net
Organization: attorney,representing public school administrators'unions
Location: Maryland
How the site
was found:
newspaper article
Comments: I am interested in articles or any publications that examine the harm being done administrators and teachers by the santions and potential sanctions for perceived violations of stadardized test procedures or protocols.If you know of any please advise--thanks.


Date: Tue Mar 25 05:54:49 2003
Name: bill necoechea
E-mail: billnec@yahoo.com
Organization:  
Location:  
How the site
was found:
 
Comments: This message will probably not have much of an impact on either you or your readers, but I will say it anyway. I am not writing to object to your educational philosophy, but to what seems to be your undelying political philosophy, and (even more so) to how it is presented. I am responding, in particular, to your tendency to make hyperbolic statements, usually of an anti-U.S. character. Usually this would not merit much attention (it is fairly common among the radical left, who are certainly well-represented in educational phiolosophy), but the U.S. is currently at war, and I think it needs an active defense. You have a tendency to exaggerate in general, but the three worst (and most offensive) examples are: (i) in your essay on September 11, (ii) in your book "The Schools our Children Deserve," and in one of your articles criticizing standardized testing. In (i), you spend a great deal of time cataloguing the "evils" of the U.S., but you fail to mention the fact that the U.S. was largely responsible for defeating fascism, rebuilding large parts of Western Europe and Japan after World War II, and, in general, tends to provide (on average, and by world standards) a high standard of living and personal freedom for its citizens (including Alfie Kohn). These facts would certainly add to your analysis. In (ii), you refer to the flag salute (in one of your early chapters) as a "salute to the fatherland". This sounds like a comparison of the U.S. to the militarized Germany of the 1930's and 1940's. If this is supposed to be funny, it is not. If it represents your sincere political beliefs, well, that is more frightening. In (iii), you refer to standardized testing as a type of "educational ethnic cleansing." Certainly, one can have a rational debate on the pros and cons of testing, but "educational ethnic cleansing." Once again, I seem to see a very flawed analogy: do you really mean to make a comparison to the mass-killings in the former Yugoslavia during the 1990's? There comes a point at which rhetorical tricks cross the line: this statement has the simultaneous effect of exaggerating an issue which is debatable (standardized testing), and minimizinf a more serious issue (mass klling in Serbia). In you article "In defense of progressive schools", you wax about the value of producing "ethically sophisticated" students, but if these are examples of your ethical sophistication, it is questionable. In conclusion, I will quote a person (Senator Daniel P. Moynihan) who says it better than I do. "Am I embarrassed to speak for a less than perfect democracy? Not one bit. Find me a better one. Do I suppose there are societies that are free of sin? No, I don't. Do I think ours is, on balance, incomparably the most hopeful set of human relations the world has? Yes, I do."


Date: Mon Mar 24 19:36:26 2003
Name: debbie fraser
E-mail: debbie_fraser63@hotmail.com
Organization: Tertiary Student
Location: Dunedin, New Zealand
How the site
was found:
By enquiring about Alfie Kohn on the web
Comments:


Date: Mon Mar 24 09:15:11 2003
Name: REBECCA BEYER
E-mail: rebeccabeyer@excite.com
Organization:  
Location: Chicago, IL
How the site
was found:
google
Comments:


Date: Sat Mar 22 17:02:24 2003
Name: Syd Korsunsky
E-mail: skor11@shaw.ca
Organization: Pembina Trails School Division
Location: Winnipeg
How the site
was found:
 
Comments: Mr. Kohn, After reading books and articles, and changing my classroom assessment practices to fit so many of the ideas you espouse, and I support, it was an honour to finally hear you in person. Your message was so inspiring. I had the privilege of presenting, with 8 of my students, later that afternoon, and it was great to see that when my kids spoke, they almost always prefaced their comments with "As Alfie said this morning . . ." (they also had the privilege of hearing you speak, and they were so impressed that so many of the principles you discussed were in place in their classroom last year). The best compliment we received was when one teacher asked us how we were able to align our little presentation so closely to yours. Although the theme of our presentation was "how revision raises the quality of writing", it was really about how much they value authentic response to their writing, and how if I do grade it, which I only do when it comes to report cards, it is never a final mark. And the clincher was when teachers asked them why they would keep revising work, even when they had received a grade of 100%. "Because it matters to us what we write about - the grade has nothing to do with it." And this from a group of students from upper middle class homes that admit that prior to last year, they were "mark addicts." To hear you speak, and then hear them afterwards, reaffirmed for me our commitment to fighting against all those practices that reduce work to a meaningless number on a page. Thank you for that, and for being one of the only voices out there for us. Finally, I want to thank you for your "bird's nest" reference. The speakers who followed you, supposedly with a similar philosophy, seemed to place assessment strategies at the forefront of teaching. I love how you place the learners first, and encourage us to use strategies that truly enhance their learning. Sincerely, Syd Korsunsky


Date: Sat Mar 22 15:21:27 2003
Name: Sharon Canadine
E-mail: canadine@hotmail.com
Organization: Teacher
Location: El Paso, Texas
How the site
was found:
Dr. Cesar Rossatto
Comments: I firmly agree with your website and information. I am an educator and throughout my degrees, multiple intelligence and allowing multiple ways to assess a child has always been supported. Why not with this test!


Date: Sat Mar 22 15:21:14 2003
Name: Sharon Canadine
E-mail: canadine@hotmail.com
Organization: Teacher
Location: El Paso, Texas
How the site
was found:
Dr. Cesar Rossatto
Comments: I firmly agree with your website and information. I am an educator and throughout my degrees, multiple intelligence and allowing multiple ways to assess a child has always be supported. Why not with this test!


Date: Sat Mar 22 09:21:31 2003
Name: eleonora scoppa
E-mail: scoppaele@virgilio.it
Organization: scuola media
Location: napoli
How the site
was found:
meeting about valutation
Comments: should you be so kind to make me know news about valutation and autovalutation in scuola media.many thanks!


Date: Thu Mar 20 07:16:28 2003
Name: Robert Stevens
E-mail: bob.stevens@cesu.k12.vt.us
Organization: Mt. Mansfield Union High School
Location: Jericho, Vermont
How the site
was found:
NASSP-Principal Leadership article
Comments: Dear Mr. Kohn, I am a high school principal at Mt. Mansfield Union High School in Jericho, Vermont. I have been at this school for 20 years and have been an educator for 32 years. I am always looking to challenge myself and those around me. I really enjoyed your article in Principal Leadership. Are you available to speak in our state? I am thinking first about my school/district, but I also believe it might be interesting to make your presentation available to our state. As the NASSP state coordinator and member of our Vermont Principals Executive Council, I can see several potential audiences. First and foremost-are you available and what would your fees be? Thank you. Bob Stevens


Date: Wed Mar 19 10:49:47 2003
Name: Leslie Stallard
E-mail: lstall@btsn.com
Organization: btsn, inc.
Location: Kitchener
How the site
was found:
google search
Comments: Saw Mr. Kohn on Rogers Cable Podium series on TV. What a fascinating concept! As he spoke, I could easily think of examples supporting his viewpoint--i.e., humans are so comparatively fragile, we could not have survived as a species without cooperating with each other. Excellent!


Date: Mon Mar 17 18:22:41 2003
Name: Anne-Marie
E-mail: cchoice@froggy.com.au
Organization:  
Location: Sydney
How the site
was found:
 
Comments: Hi there, I was wondering if you could send me the location for all Steiner Schools in NSW. Thanks Anne-Marie


Date: Mon Mar 17 02:10:51 2003
Name: Alex
E-mail: ec@optimates.us
Organization: http://www.optimates.us/conservative_books.htm
Location:  
How the site
was found:
Web
Comments: Conservatives have always been more educated and cultured than liberals -- and we need to keep it that way. Check out [our] conservative Great-Books reading list. Alex Cambridge, MA


Date: Sun Mar 16 16:27:04 2003
Name: Dr. Howard Sage
E-mail: nnewsgnews@earthlink.com
Organization: Sage Directions
Location: New York, New York
How the site
was found:
P.S. 9 Yahoo group
Comments:


Date: Fri Mar 14 01:53:52 2003
Name: bernie mcdonough
E-mail: bernie_mcdonough@antiochsea.edu
Organization: antioch university seattle
Location: seattle, wa
How the site
was found:
link from seattle school district
Comments: please let me know about upcoming seattle events--can i register?


Date: Thu Mar 13 10:19:48 2003
Name: Sarah Miller
E-mail: sarah_miller@cps.ci.cambridge.ma.us
Organization: Cambridge Public Schools
Location: Cambridge, MA
How the site
was found:
through a search for "alfie kohn"
Comments: Your material is wonderful. I want to be challenged by it and to grow, and yet I am often left with the feeling that I have nothing left to stand on and that is very uncomfortable. But I love your work. Thank you.


Date: Wed Mar 12 10:55:42 2003
Name: Craig Morgan
E-mail: craigm@509j.net
Organization: Jefferson Country School Distict 509J
Location: Madras, Oregon
How the site
was found:
I got the info at a recent conference
Comments: Thanks for the message that you give at a keynote address this past Monday in Portland, Oregon. Even though I have done many of the things that you talked about over the years, I was not able to put it into words. You have enabled me to "codify" my teaching practice and philosophy. I was greatly encouraged by your address. Thanks so much!!


Date: Wed Mar 12 05:03:02 2003
Name: kawaljit singh
E-mail: kawalhot@yahoo.com
Organization: london school of commerce
Location: london
How the site
was found:
in google.com
Comments:


Date: Tue Mar 11 13:09:36 2003
Name: James Bishop
E-mail: gatorjim871@msn.com
Organization: Orange County Public Schools
Location: Orlando, Fl
How the site
was found:
I searched the internet for items relating to Alfie Kohn
Comments:


Date: Fri Mar 7 06:25:44 2003
Name: Lisa Prothero
E-mail: http//www.LisaProthero@msn.com
Organization: 11 grade student @Pontiac central highschool
Location: pontiac
How the site
was found:
Jordan Nash (from WestBloomfield HighSchool)
Comments: School is hard for us all. Oh like test days, we struggle to pass.It's like a nightmare that we want to go away. How can a test not make us worry or be stress out? I have been woundering the same question as you.The MEAP is alot of work they say we will give you 60 minutes for the practice test but really they only give you 35 minutes for the day.So how do we make this not stressful.There are alot of students wanting to read all the material, but doesn't have enought time to complete the questions.So I would like to know what to do.If you have the answer please email me at Http//www.LisaProthero@msn.com


Date: Thu Mar 6 20:10:21 2003
Name: Diane Landis
E-mail: landisdiane@hotmail.com
Organization: none
Location: chula vista california
How the site
was found:
looked in google for Alfie Kohn
Comments: Alfie Kohn, you are 1000% correct in all you say. I've been a teacher for many years, trying to "buck the built-in system" in the schools--so difficult, but I keep trying. It's actually quite fun to see what I can get away with sometimes. Keep writing and speaking, please -- you inspire us. How do you keep your spirits up when it must at times feel like you are banging your head against a brick wall? For our kids' sake, I hope we all live to see things change.


Date: Thu Mar 6 06:00:36 2003
Name: Paola Buisegna
E-mail: bispao@fastwebnet.it
Organization: CGIL Scuola-Proteo Fare Sapere
Location: Rome-Italy
How the site
was found:
Reading The case against...
Comments: I will be reporting about this book and its message to a group of 300 teachers and heads, and I would appreciate a message of support or "hello" from A.Kohn to this National Seminar on Evaluation taking place in Italy Paestum, March 20-21 Thank you very much, I really appreciate what you denounce Paola Bisegna


Date: Wed Mar 5 10:04:27 2003
Name: Jack Hartsfield
E-mail: jackgail@charter.net
Organization: schools
Location: Fort Worth
How the site
was found:
article
Comments:


Date: Wed Mar 5 09:18:40 2003
Name: alan mandell
E-mail: alan.mandell@esc.edu
Organization: State University of New York: Empire State College
Location: New York, New York
How the site
was found:
 
Comments: Good morning. I am not sure how the site works, but I searched for it as a part of my effort to locate materials relevant to a debate at my institution regarding "grades" and adult learners. We are institution that, for many years, has used narrative evaluations. There is a strong move in the direction of shorter narratives and grades. As a faculty member, I feel strongly that such a change will alter our culture and our communication with our students, but I have been unable to locate any research (or systematic thinking) on the topic. Because I am generally familiar with AK's work, I thought he (or someone!) might have an idea of a direction for my searching that would be constructive. If anyone has any ideas about this, I would appreciate them very much. Regards, Alan


Date: Sat Mar 1 23:09:46 2003
Name: Perry Kalynuk
E-mail: pkalynuk@escape.ca
Organization: educator, Fort La Bosse School Division
Location: Virden, Manitoba
How the site
was found:
reference from Dewryn Davies, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Comments: Dear Alfie, In my role as a public school teacher (34 years) in rural Manitoba, I agree whole heartly with the major premises of your writings. As a coach, teacher, parent, summer business owner, and community leader I agree that the best way we can teach good citizenship is by emulating good citizenship ourselves. It was the cynical, right wing, 'blame the public institutions' approach of our last provincial Conservative govn't that got me angry enough to get involved in provincial politics. I look forward to seeing you in Winnipeg on March 20th. Sincerely, Perry Kalynuk, NDP candidate for the next provincial election


Date: Sat Mar 1 19:13:39 2003
Name: Ann Bussee
E-mail: abussee@pe.net
Organization:  
Location: Riverside, CA
How the site
was found:
info from a fellow teacher
Comments: I was energized and inspired by your forward in Ohanian's book, WHAT HAPPENED TO RECESS...


Date: Sat Mar 1 11:56:26 2003
Name: Chris Halpin
E-mail: halpinc@middletownk12.org
Organization: Navesink Elementary School
Location: Middletown, New Jersey
How the site
was found:
Looked for it.
Comments: I hve been an educator for 40+ years and an administrator for 20+. I am a Constructivist through and through. I will not tire of the battle despite the fact that I recognize I am being totally quixotic.


Date: Fri Feb 28 15:28:41 2003
Name: Heather Vanover
E-mail: basketball_princess20@msn.com
Organization:  
Location:  
How the site
was found:
 
Comments: how do u take a test without bein at school?????????????HELP!!!!!!!!!!Please email me if u know hoe


Date: Wed Feb 26 19:58:12 2003
Name: Bev Hall
E-mail: jbhall@gate-way.ca
Organization: none
Location: Cambridge
How the site
was found:
From my daughter Laura
Comments: I would like to read your thoughts on standardized testing in the public schools in Ontario


Date: Wed Feb 26 14:51:55 2003
Name: Renee
E-mail: aliens4us2@yahoo.com
Organization: none
Location: WV
How the site
was found:
other website (nomoretest.com)
Comments: Hello....No More Tests! I'm fired up and ready to make a big move.