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Our Old Guestbook Entries
(2/01 through 6/01)

Thank you for viewing our guest book. Entries are organized in reverse chronological order.

Date:	Fri Jun 29 14:47:37 2001
Name:	Lillie Clay
E-mail:	lillie.clay@arpstl.army.mil
Organization:	Webster University
Location:	Webster Groves, Mo
How the site was found:	Class Instructor
Comments:	I am looking for a biography or information on the author. I am doing a presentation and must include background information on the author Alfie Kohn. Thank You!

Date:	Thu Jun 28 20:02:45 2001
Name:	Michael O. Cannon
E-mail:	obaiye@yahoo.com
Organization:	Best Practice H.S.
Location:	Chicago, Ill.
How the site was found:	Walloon Institute
Comments:	I'm looking for specific information on the value or detriment of having honors classes offered in high school. Thank you.

Date:	Thu Jun 28 09:53:44 2001
Name:	Laura Bauman
E-mail:	wcc@stans.com
Organization:
Location:
How the site was found:	Your book, "Punished by Rewards"
Comments:	My homeschooled family is a "before" and "after" commercial for your ideas. Even you might be surprised at how happy, well-adjusted and curious kids who don't get labeled or graded can be.........You commented that the major faiths operate on a "Do this and you'll get that" mentality, but many devout Christians consider that kind of faith immature and superstitious. Regarding testing, I wonder if you're familiar with 2 Corinthians 10:12: "We do not dare to classify ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise." So you can add the Apostle Paul among those who agree with you on that.

Date:	Thu Jun 28 08:45:43 2001
Name:	robert heffernan
E-mail:	rheffer992@aol.com
Organization:	Shorewood Special Education Group Inc
Location:	Shorewwwod, WI
How the site was found:
Comments:

Date:	Thu Jun 28 08:43:24 2001
Name:	robert heffernan
E-mail:
Organization:
Location:
How the site was found:
Comments:

Date:	Mon Jun 25 21:59:51 2001
Name:	Dr. Kay Smith
E-mail:	nosluffin@aol.com
Organization:	Payson High School
Location:	Payson, Utah
How the site was found:	search
Comments:	I would like to read again Alfie Kohn's opinion of character education programs that are "Themes by the Month," and their relationship to the Newtonian model of "fixing the machine or kid."

Date:	Sat Jun 23 10:42:17 2001
Name:	Libby Armentrout
E-mail:	armentr@attglobal.net
Organization:	Middletown City Schools, Miami Univ
Location:	Middletown, Ohio
How the site was found:	given to us at Walloon
Comments:	Thank you for making crystal clear myintuitive, fuzzy thinking on standardized tests. I'll spread the word--not as well, but maybe just as persistently. Wallooners benefited--and there were 400 of us.

Date:	Fri Jun 22 20:50:19 2001
Name:	Francesca Blueher
E-mail:	bluewaft@aol.com
Organization:	Albuquerque Public School teacher
Location:
How the site was found:	back of the Children Deserve book
Comments:	I am a fairly new teacher....I am totally engrossed in the above mentioned book...wonderful true points about the public school education. Has Mr. Kohn written anything since the passing of Bush's education bill? Would love to know of his reaction.

Date:	Thu Jun 21 21:42:20 2001
Name:	JEFF HERR
E-mail:	cherr@esc11.net
Organization:
Location:
How the site was found:
Comments:	UNDERMINE PASSIVE SCHOOL OPPRESSION;BOYCOTT THE TAAS! SETTLE ONLY FOR THE EDUCATION OF SOCIAL CHANGE!

Date:	Wed Jun 20 09:34:54 2001
Name:	Anne Nelson
E-mail:	nelson@unite.com.au
Organization:	Spensley Street PS
Location:	Clifton Hill, Victoria, Aust
How the site was found:	friend
Comments:

Date:	Mon Jun 18 19:43:02 2001
Name:	sue dutton
E-mail:	SUE_DUTTON@HOTMAIL.COM
Organization:	MCADORY ELEM.
Location:	ALABAMA
How the site was found:	OTHER TEACHERS
Comments:	I hope that this web site will help me find information on standards and teacher leadership.

Date:	Sun Jun 17 23:16:21 2001
Name:	Meryl Danziger
E-mail:	mdanzig@javanet.com
Organization:	The Little Red School House
Location:	NYC
How the site was found:	looked for it on Internet
Comments:	I would like to meet Mr. Kohn. I think we'd have a lot to talk about.

Date:	Sat Jun 16 19:37:42 2001
Name:	Patrick D. Page
E-mail:	ppage@g2a.net
Organization:	Just Retired after 36 years in the classroom
Location:	Central Wisconsin
How the site was found:	Entered Alfie Kohn's name
Comments:	I feel Alfie's message is one that must be heard by all educators both young and old.Please continue to do your part to aid in doing that.

Date:	Sat Jun 16 10:32:19 2001
Name:	Mary Strezewski
E-mail:	strezew@ix.netcom.com
Organization:	Midwest Montessori Teacher Training Center
Location:	Evanston, IL
How the site was found:	Given out at your lecture in April, 2001
Comments:	Thank you for your wonderful message at the AMS conference. You give voice to many of my own theories regarding how some of us deceive ourselves about the methods we use. When they fail, we are too short sighted to understand why. I always tell my adult students that if what they doing isn't working, it certainly isn't the fault of the children...they haven't read the books. We need to continue to search for common sense answers. You have certainly aided in that search.

Date:	Fri Jun 15 00:18:50 2001
Name:	Jaqui O'Shaughnessy
E-mail:
Organization:
Location:
How the site was found:
Comments:

Date:	Thu Jun 14 15:32:07 2001
Name:	Karen faiai
E-mail:	kfaiai@aol.com
Organization:	Mother
Location:	North Carolina
How the site was found:	cnn talkback live
Comments:	I want to know more about these tests.

Date:	Wed Jun 13 10:25:01 2001
Name:	Jacob R. Roe
E-mail:	jroe39@hotmail.com
Organization:	future teacher
Location:	Whitney Point, NY
How the site was found:	Timothy Slekar showed it to me.
Comments:	I just finished reading "The School our Children Deserve" and it has forced me to re-evaluate schooling, and testing. I whole-heartedly agree with the entire book. I think every educator or person who wants to dictate and mandate standards to teachers should read some of your books. You will be hearing from me. I plan on dedicating the rest of my life as a teacher to ending standardized tests, and raising standards.

Date:	Tue Jun 12 17:18:56 2001
Name:	Chuck Ohm
E-mail:	cohm@triton.k12.mn.us
Organization:	Triton Public Schools
Location:	Dodge Center, MN
How the site was found:	Ed. Specialist Program through Winona State
Comments:	I have a question that I could use some help on. It is, " Discuss the concept of 'covenant of shared values' and its importance to curriculum development. Discuss 'democracy' as a basis for such a covenant" I have picked this topic to research on and write my final paper for our curriculum development class and could use some valuable information or opinions to get started. Thanks, Chuck

Date:	Sun Jun 10 10:09:13 2001
Name:	Michael Swickard
E-mail:	michael@swickard.com
Organization:	The Michael Swickard Talk Radio Show
Location:	Las Cruces, New Mexico
How the site was found:	Referenced in Punished By Rewards
Comments:	It is difficult to hold contradictory thoughts to "common sense" whatever that means to each of us. I started investigating the concept of rewards for learning with the thought, "What an idiot Alfie Kohn is to write this book." Very quickly I realized, "What an idiot I have been." No gold stars for me, just the truth I found in this book. Thanks.

Date:	Wed Jun 6 21:26:21 2001
Name:	Jessica
E-mail:
Organization:
Location:
How the site was found:
Comments:

Date:	Wed Jun 6 10:50:20 2001
Name:	Bill Sacco
E-mail:	sacco@sharpthinkers.com
Organization:	SharpThinkers, Inc.
Location:	Bel Air MD.
How the site was found:	Read your "Schools" book and searched for you on the net
Comments:	Share your views. Can I join your parade?

Date:	Tue Jun 5 22:42:14 2001
Name:	John S. Aird
E-mail:	jsaird@erols.com
Organization:	Unaffiliated retiree.
Location:	Silver Spring, MD
How the site was found:	Listing in an article in the Washington Post.
Comments:	My wife and I are in our tenth yerar of volunteering two days a week as classroom teacher aides in an elementary school with a high minority enrollment. We are concerned about student motivation, teaching methods, and progress measurement. But educational methods seem to change in cycles, as though they were based on whims, fashions, or unfounded ideologies, not on empirical research and substantial evidence. Some of Mr. Kohn's ideas seem to echo convictions that were popular in U. S. education in the late 1960s, some of which appeared to have a destructive effect on teaching and learning in the public schools at that time. Some of his statements reflect great certainty that he is rioght, and his opponents are wrong. On what is this sense of certainty based? I have serious doubts as to whether his philosophy is appropriate to the needs and problems of the students with whom I have been working over the past ten years.

Date:	Mon Jun 4 18:53:08 2001
Name:	Anita Wolpman
E-mail:	anita_wolpman@sccoe.org
Organization:	Teacher
Location:	San Jose, California
How the site was found:	Attended Urban conference/Oakland
Comments:	I am so grateful to have heard your views, Alfie Kohn!! I have, for many years shared your concerns regarding Behavioristic Psychology and the "competitive "model used in our educational system, and in our society at large. Thank you for presenting your thoughts with passion and clarity. Anita Wolpman

Date:	Mon Jun 4 10:45:18 2001
Name:	Casey
E-mail:	vunguyen728b@aol.com
Organization:
Location:
How the site was found:	from the book
Comments:	I'm not finished with The Schools Our Children Deserve, but I'm thankful to have a book that says so much of what I experienced as a teacher. I worked in a low income, Hispanic school in Texas teaching 4th grade. My first year I could teach and be creative. I loved it. The kids learned. My second year more kids were required to take the state tests, so we did testing drills from September to April. We were told by principals to only focus on students who could learn and skip science and social studies. They were not on the test. I didn't like it. The kids didn't like it. I'm sorry all these good kids are missing an education just because some people think testing is a judge of quality. I'm not teaching now and wonder if I'll ever go back.

Date:	Sun Jun 3 16:30:46 2001
Name:	Bryll Anthony SCHULTZ
E-mail:	bschultz@sprynet.com
Organization:	Teacher in the Los Angeles Unified School District
Location:	Noth Hollywood, California
How the site was found:	Read a book picked up in a book store
Comments:	As one who has been chastised for not being a "Team Player", it is refreshing to find one who is playing on the same team as I!

Date:	Sat Jun 2 17:10:57 2001
Name:	Dorothy Wolden
E-mail:	dwolden@aol.com
Organization:
Location:
How the site was found:	search
Comments:	Thank goodness for Alfie Kohn and his voice of compassion and reason! I feel so much saner after reading his work. I keep giving the books to my daughter's elementary school teachers and administrators but they don't "get it." Next year we begin homeschooling.

Date:	Sat Jun 2 14:36:40 2001
Name:	jim black
E-mail:	jim@grasslands.ab.ca
Organization:	grasslands public schools
Location:	brooks alberta canada
How the site was found:	attended alfie's presentation in calgary ab
Comments:	enjoyed the presentation!have been thinking about those tests in that way for some time.I stopped item writing and marking 4 years ago.thanks for the website.

Date:	Fri Jun 1 15:25:06 2001
Name:	Craig Bishop
E-mail:	bishop.c@home.com
Organization:	Calgary Seperate School District
Location:	Calgary, AB
How the site was found:	Attended Kohn's Lecture
Comments:	Last night I saw Kohn speak in Calgary against standardized tests. I think the commerce side of life is making social systems like education fall into a model of the "Bottom Line" ideal. I don't think business has any place in school because competition is at the root of business success. Competition is inevitably failure. Students should experience successes, not failures! Thanks for a wonderful, insightful and inspirational talk around this topic.

Date:	Fri Jun 1 09:21:59 2001
Name:	Kevin Mader
E-mail:	kevin.mader@thuleus.com
Organization:	THULE
Location:	Seymour, CT
How the site was found:	Browsed
Comments:	Mr. Kohn's books are insightful! He has opened my eyes.

Date:	Thu May 31 13:29:39 2001
Name:	David J schneider II
E-mail:	Schndj13@uwgb.edu
Organization:	student
Location:	Green Bay,WI
How the site was found:	carefully
Comments:	I am currently a student at the University of Wisconsin at Green Bay. I am very interested in teaching but am finding that it is very difficult for me to do so because I feel our educational enterprise here in the US is a joke. I have read all of Kohn's books and agree with everything he has published. When I read the books, it is as if Kohn was reading my mind. I have been studying Roussaueu, John Goodlad, Montessouri, and William Glasser as well. I am about to enter into the teacher cirtification program at the university I currently attend, but I am reluctant to do so because I feel they will fail to teach me anything usefull. I don't want to be trained by the state of Wisconsin to teach "their" way because as I've said I believe, as Kohn believes, we can do better! So I have found myself stuck between a rock and a hard place. Are their any other options? I want to learn more about constuctivist or progressive education so that I too can help to promote my educational theories; theories that are revolutionary and demand an overthrowing of the current system. I believe that if educators continue to fail to recognize the importance of students' atittudes on learning, then children will continue to destroy the school's stength by acting out against it; just look at the increase of bomb threats and school shootings that have permiated every inner city, suburban, and rural school across the country. I fear that we have not even begun to see the end, and surely if schools do not cange, a disater beyond our imagination will occure. Something must be done now before it's too late!! We need to reasses every single belief that governs our schools. I have enouph faith in the American public that there are enouph creative people to come up with an endless list of ressolutions to make our schools more need satisfying; for instance, look at what Disney is doing. If our schoolchildren are to experience any reprieve then a total restucturing of the current curricular and pedigogical lines must occure. In the words of Kohn, "The bad news is that we have paid the price for so long, the good news is that we can do better. We can get kids hooked on learning--if that is what we really intend to do." Our schools could be so much more if children were allowed to direct their own learning, to learn that wich appeals to each individual, and above all, helping to develope a love of truths. But, unforetunetly when I think of all the external causes that spoil the wisest of plans I begin to wonder if betterment is even possible.

Date:	Thu May 31 06:27:43 2001
Name:	Lynne Oreck-Wener
E-mail:	tehwener@home.com
Organization:	Alternative Schools Advisory Committee
Location:	Ottawa, Ontario-Canada
How the site was found:
Comments:	I have viewed your videos and read your books- your passion, commitment and messages are enlightening. Thank you Please put me on your mailing list

Date:	Wed May 30 21:51:33 2001
Name:	Valerie Moon
E-mail:	starrmoon@hotmail.com
Organization:	member National Home Education Network
Location:	Missouri
How the site was found:	typed 'Alfie Kohn' into mamma.com search engine
Comments:	I read _Punished by Rewards_ years ago while homeschooling my kids and have since recommended it to new homeschoolers and people inquiring into homeschooling. I was pleased to find the web site. Now I can send out the url along with my Christmas cards. My idea of 'Alfie for President' is simplistic but heartfelt. Would that the change in the American education system were that easy.

Date:	Wed May 30 21:23:32 2001
Name:	Blake Bordisso
E-mail:	BigBbord@hotmail.com
Organization:	highschool student
Location:	kelseyville, CA
How the site was found:	doing a reserch paper
Comments:	I thank you for the enlightment on this topic. Your information was very helpful in writing my reserch paper. I'm sure my teacher will give me a very high score. I will never think about a standardized test the same again.

Date:	Tue May 29 17:04:27 2001
Name:	Stephanie M. Turner
E-mail:	smtmesh245@aol.com
Organization:	student
Location:	Newark, DE
How the site was found:	it was given in a book
Comments:	Hi I have read a couple articals in school and after that I bought two of your books. I'm an early education major and was woundering if there is a book out there that tells about non tradional schools where they are ect. a guide so to speak. I want to teach at a school like this and when I have kids I want them to have tha oppertunity to be excited about learning.

Date:	Fri May 25 21:57:39 2001
Name:	Rachel Madu
E-mail:	rachelmadu@hotmail.com
Organization:	Family Education and Support Worker
Location:	Vancouver, BC
How the site was found:	Punished By Rewards
Comments:	I just started reading Punished by Rewards, am thoroughly enjoying it and am now thirsty for anything written by Alfie Kohn.

Date:	Thu May 24 14:24:04 2001
Name:	Michele Sakaguchi
E-mail:	houserm@cc.wwu.edu
Organization:	Western WA University Pre-Service Teacher
Location:	Bellingham, WA
How the site was found:	Read "Beyond Discipline"
Comments:	Please put me on your mailing list!

Date:	Thu May 24 11:00:09 2001
Name:	Bill Bright
E-mail:	brightideas98@hotmail.com
Organization:	School Board Member
Location:	Galup, NM
How the site was found:	Read "The Scjhools Our Children Deserve"
Comments:	Put me on your mailing list.

Date:	Wed May 23 14:21:16 2001
Name:	Sharon Ingold
E-mail:	sri@pfeiffer.edu
Organization:	education major- college senior
Location:	Oakboro, North Carolina
How the site was found:	while researching a college paper
Comments:	Your articles give me hope for positive changes to our education system. As an adult who is changing careers and returning to college, I know that the "traditional" teaching methods that were used when I was in school didn't work!! I plan to teach hands-on, minds-on lessons that encourage my students to learn through inquiry and action! I know teachers who are using the "new" methods we are now learning in college that are frustrated due to being at odds with other teachers and administrators because they don't teach by giving worksheets and tons of tests!! I needed to hear that there are others who believe that standardized tests are ineffective and that we need to teach children how to learn and how to understand concepts rather than trying to make them regurgitate meaningless facts!! Keep up the great work and keep encouraging teachers and future teachers like myself.

Date:	Tue May 22 20:08:55 2001
Name:	Art Pelletier
E-mail:	ajpell@email.com
Organization:	NH House of Representatives
Location:	(H)Dover, NH (W) Concord, NH
How the site was found:	FairTest web site
Comments:	Alfie, I was dismayed to learn (through a Boston Globe columnist) of your "disinvitation" to a recent conference in Mass. due to Dept. of Ed. interference. You know you're striking a nerve when such tactics begin to appear. Give 'em hell, Harry -- er, Alfie!!

Date:	Tue May 22 18:00:06 2001
Name:	Candy Burnett
E-mail:	ckburnett@yahoo.com
Organization:	Middletown Pre-K
Location:	Middletown,NY
How the site was found:	NYSAEYC Conference pamphlet
Comments:	I was unable to attend the conference. I am very interested in your ideas of reward/punishment. Which of your books would be most helpful. I teach Pre-K (4-5 year olds.) Thank you.

Date:	Tue May 22 17:54:46 2001
Name:	Candy Burnett
E-mail:
Organization:
Location:
How the site was found:
Comments:

Date:	Mon May 21 23:10:00 2001
Name:	Andy Zaugg
E-mail:	zauggandy@hotmail.com
Organization:
Location:
How the site was found:	from What to Look for in a Classroom
Comments:	I am about to become a secondary schol teacher, and am appalled at the undemocractic, authoritarian atmosphere in the schools in my area. At no time have my studies included anything regarding the fact that children need to be participants in the decision-making regarding their education. Nor have my education classes been other than traditional fare. Where can I see humane education? I have been inspered by A.K.'s writings, and would like to create at least a small haven of dignity and respect in my own classroom, but I don't think it's allowed.

Date:	Mon May 21 14:20:43 2001
Name:	Alien
E-mail:
Organization:
Location:
How the site was found:
Comments:	keep up the good work

Date:	Sun May 20 16:22:27 2001
Name:	Krusty Van der Squeal
E-mail:
Organization:
Location:
How the site was found:
Comments:	Bravo! Keep up the good work!

Date:	Sun May 20 12:55:14 2001
Name:	Kevin McCormack
E-mail:	kevmac71@aol.com
Organization:	Xaverian HS
Location:	Bklyn NY
How the site was found:	I was looking for it.
Comments:	I was either dean & AP of discipline in my building for about 5 years. I was effective in the short run but feared I was losing my soul. I could make the toughest teenage boy "break" in a matter of no time. But when I did it I knew something was terribly wrong. My educational role models had become TV cops! I have been out of "discipline" for 2 yeas now and have been working in my school to "subvert the pervasive paridigm" of discipline. Last week I discovered "Beyond Discipline" and have not been able to put it down!!! Your book has offered me a way to rethink and challenge age old assumptions that defy validity; especially in a school and a system dedicated to the life & teachings of Jesus. Thank You

Date:	Sun May 20 09:37:37 2001
Name:	wanwisa wongchalard
E-mail:	wwisa@another.com
Organization:
Location:	Thailand
How the site was found:	websearch
Comments:	Thanks you for your ideas.

Date:	Sun May 20 07:51:23 2001
Name:	Irene Bass
E-mail:	bean5181@aol.com
Organization:	none
Location:	Puerto Rico
How the site was found:	Excite
Comments:

Date:	Sun May 20 01:49:57 2001
Name:	Kathy Whitney
E-mail:	joehul@bellsouth.net
Organization:
Location:
How the site was found:	from disney site
Comments:	Love your books. I'm a pre-service teacher ready to begin this fall. Can I interview successfully spouting your wonderful ideas? Can I implement your ideas in a classroom?

Date:	Sat May 19 23:08:09 2001
Name:	Marilyn Hoffman
E-mail:	Elitistmar@aol.com
Organization:	Great Neck Public School Teacher, pre-kindergarten
Location:	great Neck, NY
How the site was found:	Ask Jeeves
Comments:	A friend of mine who is in early childhood suggested that I read the text of a speech that Alphie Kohn made regarding standards. The speech was given in Syracuse, NY, quite recently. Can I obtain the text of what Mr. Kohn discussed. I am very disheartened by what is happening in the educational system and feel profoundly angry that the standards are so off kilter. Children need to be children and play is there work. The new rage in directed and imposed curriculum clearly goes against all that I believe to be developmentally sound in Early Childhood Education

Date:	Fri May 18 15:57:48 2001
Name:	Christina
E-mail:
Organization:
Location:	BC, Canada
How the site was found:	Through a psyc health newsletter from my area
Comments:	This is a greatly refreshing site. I found it very useful in retrieving information that I was in need of. Congratulations to Alfie for finally speaking out about what so many of us have had on our minds for so long, speaking out for those who are often not listened to, speaking out for our students.

Date:	Fri May 18 10:20:35 2001
Name:	lynn herschlein
E-mail:	lynnhersch
Organization:	locust valley central school district
Location:	bayville, new york
How the site was found:	kohn's writing
Comments:	i need to get my hands on a ny times op-ed piece by howard gardiner where he cautioned against test prep; equated high test scores through intense prep with "mimicry", asserted that high scores should be result of strong general preparation and good teaching, etc. any chance someone clipped it as i did (but managed to hang on to it)? :)

Date:	Fri May 18 00:14:01 2001
Name:	David Bly
E-mail:	david.bly@nfld.k12.mn.us
Organization:	Minnesota Association of Alternative Programs
Location:	Minnesota
How the site was found:
Comments:	I am writing to request your views on the following Wellstone proposal that may be added to the K-12 education bill currently being considered on the floor of the U.S. Senate. Proposed Wellstone amendment. Sen. Wellstone is concerned that the federal government is moving ahead too quickly with mandating annual testing in grades 3 through 8 without making the necessary investment in our schools. He may propose an amendment on May 22 to the Senate bill that includes President Bush's annual testing proposal. The Wellstone amendment would say that states would NOT be required to implement the "new Bush tests" unless the federal Title I program is fully funded for the year in which the tests go into effect. Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) authorizes aid to local school districts for the education of disadvantaged children. Title I grants are used to provide supplementary educational and related services to low-achieving children attending schools with relatively high concentrations of pupils from low-income families. Sen. Wellstone believes that if you want to "leave no child behind" annual testing is not enough. It must be accompanied by efforts to ensure that all children have opportunities to learn. Sen. Wellstone values your advice and direction. I would appreciate getting your written comments on the proposed Wellstone amendment by Monday, May 21. We are particularly interested in hearing from classroom teachers and parents. Please direct your views and any stories from the classroom to: Josh Syrjamaki, Policy Liaison U.S. Sen. Paul Wellstone 2550 University Avenue, #100 St. Paul, MN 55114 Phone: 651-645-0383 Fax: 651-645-0704 josh_syrjamaki@wellstone.senate.gov You can find more information about President Bush's education proposal and the corresponding bills in the House and Senate at these two website: President Bush's Proposal U.S. Department of Education http://www.ed.gov/inits/nclb/index.html Comparison of House and Senate Education Bills Congressional Research Service "ESEA Reauthorization Proposals: Comparison of Major Features of S.1, H.1, and Comprehensive Alternative Bills, May 14, 2001" Product Number RL30921 http://www.crs.gov/ Thank you in advance for your assistance. I look forward to hearing from you. All my best. Josh Syrjamaki

Date:	Thu May 17 01:55:17 2001
Name:	Shelley Wagner
E-mail:	trshmi@mindspring.com
Organization:
Location:	Chicago
How the site was found:	educated guess
Comments:	Fantastic! I expect to graduate from college next year with a degree in psychology. Are there any graduate programs in Chicago in which there are faculty members studying the detrimental effects of standardized testing? My son is 4 years old. I didn't use punishments or rewards before I read any of Mr. Kohn's books, but they affirmed my own personal philosophy. I have not encountered any difficulties by excluding rewards or punishments. Everyone should read these books, not just parents, everybody!

Date:	Wed May 16 22:09:03 2001
Name:	William Mark Stierle
E-mail:	touchdwn83@aol.com
Organization:	Corporate Culture Development
Location:	Santa Monica
How the site was found:	Punished by Rewards book cover
Comments:	Punished by Rewards was transformation for me and my applications to understanding the function of behavior.

Date:	Wed May 16 11:58:42 2001
Name:	amy jones
E-mail:	jonesie04@hotmail.com
Organization:	Bountiful High School
Location:	Bountiful, Utah
How the site was found:	Read Mr. Kohn's books!!!
Comments:	You are my hero!! At last, someone with professional credibility who believes as I do about education, classroom management and parenting. With my principal's permission and support this year, I took away grades and extrinsic motivation from my classes, specifically my AP classes. Some of the students absolutely hyperventilated, at first, and then recognized the possibilities and changed their thinking. Some of them didn't hyperventilate but intellectually dropped out. The rest rejoiced and did very well. It will be interesting to see how they did on their AP test. They gave up their evenings and Saturday (no requirement either for this or actually taking the AP test) to meet with me and and prepare themselves. It was a great year!! Thank you!! Thank you!! Thank you!! Amy Jones

Date:	Wed May 16 08:02:49 2001
Name:	Jyothsna
E-mail:
Organization:
Location:
How the site was found:	Browser
Comments:	Loved Ur book Compliance to Community - did u know that it made a teacher far away in India (me)sit up and think?

Date:	Wed May 16 07:25:39 2001
Name:	angelie delos santos
E-mail:	angeliedelossantos@yahoo.com.uk
Organization:
Location:
How the site was found:
Comments:	I am currently writing my term paper about the effects of rewards in the teaching and learning process. I was fascinated by the articles of Mr. Alfie Kohn about rewards.His ideas could bring reform in the field of education.

Date:	Mon May 14 12:34:54 2001
Name:	Kelly Barrett
E-mail:	labatblu48@yahoo.com
Organization:	Binghamton University Student
Location:	Binghamton, ny
How the site was found:	in The Case Agiainst Standardized Testing
Comments:	Changes need to be made in the education of our children! This is a great place to start...Alfie's ideas are essential for reform.

Date:	Mon May 14 01:41:50 2001
Name:	cathy wilton
E-mail:	c.wilton@lycos
Organization:	Pine Community School
Location:	Brisbane,Australia
How the site was found:	word of mouth
Comments:	TRhankyou! As a teacher in an alternative setting and as a parent, I have so much to learn and voices and opinions like those expressed here, are not nearly loud enough. I really feel I have benefited from your work. Thanks, again

Date:	Sun May 13 23:14:35 2001
Name:	stephen Lim
E-mail:	stephenlimts@yahoo.com
Organization:	none
Location:	Kuala Lumpur
How the site was found:	search engine
Comments:

Date:	Sun May 13 23:11:53 2001
Name:	Curt Hayes, Professor (ret.)
E-mail:	chayes@bainbridge.net
Organization:	The University of Texas at San Antonio
Location:	BCBL, San Antonio, TX 78216
How the site was found:	Through an article of testing
Comments:	Old New England proverb: "You don't raise hogs by weighing them"

Date:	Fri May 11 16:38:47 2001
Name:	Beth Julian
E-mail:	bjulian@neo.rr.com
Organization:	Canton Montessori School, parent of 3
Location:	Ohio, USA
How the site was found:	from cassette of lecture at AMS Chicago
Comments:	I am thrilled to find such an articulate voice for the "common sense" approach of treating children with respect. I hope to share his message with the Parochial school educators that treat my two older children as if they were Pavlov's dogs! Candy if you're quiet, no recess if you talk when you're not "supposed" to! AARGH!

Date:	Fri May 11 16:34:54 2001
Name:	Beth Julian
E-mail:	bjulian@neo.rr.com
Organization:	Canton Montessori School, parent of 3
Location:	Ohio, USA
How the site was found:	from cassette of lecture at AMS Chicago
Comments:

Date:	Thu May 10 13:46:38 2001
Name:	Sara Dotty
E-mail:	sdotty@qwest.net
Organization:	Minneapolis Public Schools
Location:
How the site was found:	by chance
Comments:	I am a relatively new teacher (5 years) and would like to broaden my knowledge base. I am asking for suggestions on new/current topics to read about. Any book or article suggestions would be helpful. Thank you.

Date:	Thu May 10 13:44:23 2001
Name:	Sara Dotty
E-mail:	sdotty@qwest.net
Organization:	Minneapolis Public Schools
Location:
How the site was found:	by chance
Comments:	I am a relatively new teacher (5 years) and would like to broaden my knowledge base. I am asking for suggestions on new/current topics to read about. Any book or article suggestions would be helpful. Thank you.

Date:	Thu May 10 13:41:53 2001
Name:	Trudi Richards
E-mail:	wingedlion@aol.com
Organization:	Winged Lion Project for Relevant Education
Location:	SF Bay Area, California
How the site was found:	articles, books & word of mouth
Comments:	THANK YOU for so clearly articulating, demonstrating and documenting what so many of us KNOW but have been less able to express. A TWIST ON "TOUGHER STANDARDS" AND TESTING: Don't you think it's time that WE THE PEOPLE enforced Tougher Standards on our "leaders"? Please join us in GRADING THE STATE on how well "they" are doing: Is our public education system providing a RELEVANT AND MEANINGFUL EDUCATION FOR ALL PEOPLE? Constact us at wingedlion@aol.com for a copy of the THE R.E.A.L. TEST (Relevant Educ. at All Levels) currently being launched in California.

Date:	Thu May 10 10:52:24 2001
Name:	Jennifer birckmayer
E-mail:	jmb25@cornell.edu
Organization:	Cornell University
Location:	Ithaca NY
How the site was found:	through netscape
Comments:	interested in your ideas as a result of the NYSAEYC conference - great presentation!

Date:	Wed May 9 01:55:59 2001
Name:	Brian Comnes
E-mail:	bcomnes@yahoo.com
Organization:
Location:	Marin County, CA USA
How the site was found:	google search
Comments:	34% of Drake High students in Marin County opted out of the STAR tests last week in protest, District wide it was 24% even the middle school went over 10% opt out...find out more...write me at bcomnes@yahoo.com

Date:	Tue May 8 19:27:56 2001
Name:	Carol Taylor
E-mail:	cjst@ix.netcom.com
Organization:	Civic Organizing Foundation/National Citizenship School
Location:
How the site was found:
Comments:

Date:	Tue May 8 11:48:23 2001
Name:	Dr. Rebecca Shore
E-mail:	DrRebeccaSHore@cs.com
Organization:	NurseryMinds
Location:	NOrth Carolina
How the site was found:	Heard Alfie speak last weekend at NYAEYC
Comments:	Alfie,I think I forgot to give you my website. I had an 8th grader put it together for me. www.NurseryMinds.com. Sincerely, Rebecca Shore, UNCG

Date:	Mon May 7 21:42:15 2001
Name:	Jules Ohrin-Greipp
E-mail:	wiscman@global101.com
Organization:	Palo Verde Unified School District
Location:	Blythe, California
How the site was found:	I was looking for info on Alfie Kohn
Comments:	I am a school psychologist in Blythe, California. I will be using Alfie's books in a college course I am teaching. I also heard of Scarsdale's (New York)successful (I think) boycott of the standardized tests. I hope this will spread. I am doing my part to encourage the discontinued use of these tests. Any info on how a boycott can be initiated would be appreciated.

Date:	Mon May 7 13:41:08 2001
Name:	Kenneth McGrath
E-mail:	mcgrathke@wrps.org
Organization:	Lincoln High School
Location:	Wisconsin Rapids WI
How the site was found:	Rogue Forum
Comments:	enjoy your books-how much real hope is there? Milwaukee Journal- Sentinel just criticized CA dropping SATs for admission. Called SATs only true measurement. The SATs are not culturally biased or Asian kids would do poorly also. Got any data?

Date:	Mon May 7 12:35:57 2001
Name:	Jennifer Weiss
E-mail:	jennifer@daycarecouncil.org
Organization:	Day Care & Child Dev't Council of Tompkins Co.
Location:	Ithaca, NY
How the site was found:	NYSAEYC pamphlet
Comments:	I saw Alfie speak at the conference. He was fantastic! I'm interested in trying to bring him to Ithaca.

Date:	Sun May 6 23:43:08 2001
Name:	Leslie Zarnowski
E-mail:	BsnChick@aol.com
Organization:	Henderson County Public Schools
Location:	Hendersonville, North Carolina
How the site was found:	Dr. Gayle Moller - WCU
Comments:

Date:	Sat May 5 17:20:18 2001
Name:	Cindy Whitman-Bradley
E-mail:	buph@igc.org
Organization:	Parent, Tamalpais Union School District
Location:	Marin Coutny, California
How the site was found:	From Kohn's books
Comments:	I've been on this site and given messages before, but I wanted to give an update about the student boycott of the STAR ( California required standardized tests for all students grades 2-11) test at the Tamalpais district high schools. This was parent supported and 600 students got parent waivers not to take the test. Three of the five high schools got more than 10% of kids not taking tests which means they are no longer eligible for state funding. This has hit the local papers big time. The students also formed a group called Marin Students for Liberating Education and they have spoken at school board meetings and are looking for ways to create an ongoing organization that will demand more power over their education and their treatment in schools. My son is part of this group and it is wonderful to see how articulate and well informed these students are. They have their facts and they are level headed and do not resort to demonizing as they address their opponents. My son is finishing his junior year of high school and has decided to skip senior year and enroll directly in the local community college because he is sick of being treated so poorly at high school and wants to pursue his interests in biology more seriously. When he took his High School Proficiency Exam last weekend the first test site was over-booked so they had to go to a second test site. That tells you something about what kids think of their high school education in Marin County. Spread the word about our success in the boycott; the kids are thinking of the next steps in stopping the California STAR; hopefully they will also go after the newly created Exit Exams as well. The power of the students is awesome!

Date:	Sat May 5 13:10:59 2001
Name:	Michelle Slusher
E-mail:	buddhacb@aol.com
Organization:	NSSD - Woodlake Elementary School
Location:	North Sacramento, CA
How the site was found:	search....standardized testing also my professor & fellow colleagues spoke highly of Alfie Kohn
Comments:	Thought provoking, interesting, & motivating! It's unfortunate that my district bases students ability solely on their acheivement test scores. I see students who are permanently scarred from such tests and the pressure put on them is horrendous. I pray we educators can make the difference....

Date:	Fri May 4 18:46:05 2001
Name:	Julie Gabrielse
E-mail:	jgabrielse1@yahoo.com
Organization:	The Montessori Academy at Edison Lakes - teacher
Location:	Mishawaka, IN
How the site was found:	AMS Conference
Comments:

Date:	Fri May 4 12:55:52 2001
Name:	Kate Strefeler
E-mail:	kstrefeler@neo.rr.com
Organization:
Location:	Ohio
How the site was found:	was looking for background info on pros and cons of standized testing; thru findarticles com
Comments:

Date:	Thu May 3 21:28:05 2001
Name:	tieing the knot at the end of the rope
E-mail:	nexttimee54@hotmail.com
Organization:	family
Location:	USA
How the site was found:	heard of it
Comments:	Per my son message below...please use this address to contact me...nexttime54@hotmail.com as the otherone will not reach me. "tieing the knot at the end of the rope" is as in--casting a lifeline out there--tieing a knot at the end of the rope and hanging on for life.... Thanxs.

Date:	Thu May 3 21:07:13 2001
Name:	tieing the knot at the end of the rope
E-mail:	next time
Organization:	family
Location:	usa
How the site was found:	heard of it
Comments:	Hi, My 9th grade son thinks his is failing everything, in school his grades are all less than 50%. He has a.d.d. and numerous things have been tried within a systemically ill school over these last 2 years. With 15 or so school days left, everyone has more or less call 'things' a wash...only effort s come to my mind is to request a battery of tests to identify his best learning styles. Circumstances in the past have prohibitied me from home-schooling but am thinking about that. However, don't think I can handle homeschooling. Any suggestions for types of test to requests from school to do? Other suggestions?

Date:	Thu May 3 15:44:51 2001
Name:	Debbie Hessert
E-mail:	debhessert@yahoo.com
Organization:	National Louis University
Location:	Wheaton, Illinois
How the site was found:	a search on Google.com
Comments:	I look forward to reading more of your work. I have heard good things about you!

Date:	Thu May 3 11:32:48 2001
Name:	Tony Brown
E-mail:	tony.f.brown@baesystems.com
Organization:	BAE Systems Ltd
Location:	Waterlooville, Hants, UK
How the site was found:	via curious cat
Comments:

Date:	Thu May 3 11:11:41 2001
Name:	Tony Brown
E-mail:	tony.f.brown@baesystems.com
Organization:	BAE Systems Ltd
Location:	Waterlooville, Hants, UK
How the site was found:	via curious cat
Comments:

Date:	Wed May 2 18:06:07 2001
Name:	Dean Vogel
E-mail:	devchino1@aol.com
Organization:	California Teachers Association
Location:	Davis, CA
How the site was found:	Alfie gave it to me
Comments:	Alfie, Thank you for the excellent presentation at the CTA Urban Issues Conference in Oakland, CA. You gave us much to think about, and very good examples of meaningful, relevant actions that educators might take locally to begin resisting the testing madness.

Date:	Wed May 2 15:31:06 2001
Name:	Kay Skonieczny
E-mail:	kskonieczny@awsna.org
Organization:	Association of Waldorf Schools of North America
Location:	Sacramento, CA
How the site was found:	referral
Comments:	I work for the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America and want to support and validate your research showing that children who learn because teachers stimulate their natural curiosity tend to retain and understand (and develop a love for life long learning I might add) more than those who learn to get good grades or high test scores. The Waldorf schools of which there are over 150 in North America assess student progress in other ways than standardized tests. High school students do take the PSAT and the SAT but teachers do no teach to these tests. Waldorf students SAT scores range from average to above average to national merit finalists. Waldorf students have also been accepted to and graduated from most of the major private and public universities in this country. This increased emphasis on testing is harmful to true learning and to student health.

Date:	Tue May 1 22:50:49 2001
Name:	KC Walsh
E-mail:	kcwalsh@mindspring.com
Organization:	Oak Grove School District
Location:	San Jose
How the site was found:	attended CTA's workshop on 4/28
Comments:	Dear Alfie: Thanks for such an inspirational session on Saturday. I went in on Monday and told my Superintendent I was ready to start a revolution! Have you noticed that when your awareness gets heightened all kinds of information seems to converge? For example, on Sunday night's episode of "60 Minutes" there was a segment on Sudbury School. I watched it wondering what you thought of their program; thinking you most likely approved wholeheartedly. Then, last night on "Boston Public", an African-American student refused to take the state mandated tests. It sounded like you were talking! Once again, thank you for the enlightenment! Sincerely, KC Walsh

Date:	Tue May 1 21:33:08 2001
Name:	Mimi Moorehead
E-mail:	awmoorehead@pdq.net
Organization:	We are unschoolers
Location:	Houston, Texas
How the site was found:	I looked for it
Comments:	You're wonderful. When are you coming to Houston, Texas?

Date:	Tue May 1 13:11:45 2001
Name:	Harry Brooks (reporter)
E-mail:	hbrooks@nctimes.com
Organization:	North County Times (newspaper)
Location:	San Diego
How the site was found:	Referred by Salisbury College
Comments:	I'm a reporter that is putting together a story on SAT-9 testing in California. Story will also include the state's move to tie all kinds of clout and rewards to a standard test. I was told that Alfie Kohn could provide me with strong insight into this topic. The North County Times is a 90,000 circulation daily newspaper in north San Diego County, covering an area north from Del Mar into Oceanside and east from Pacific Coast through Escondido. I would appreciate getting into contact with Dr. Kohn as soon as is convenient. My phone number in Vista, Ca. is (760) 631-6621 My pager (call anytime and get immediate response) is (760) 781-6472. Thanks for your consideration, Harry Brooks

Date:	Mon Apr 30 22:14:55 2001
Name:	Barbra Puckett
E-mail:	bpuckett@jeffco.k12.co.us
Organization:	El. teacher-Jefferson Cty. Public Schools
Location:	Littleton, CO
How the site was found:	I read your new book
Comments:	We are experiencing many of the things you stated in your book. Morale is low and our CSAP scores come in soon. We will probably receive a "C"grade.

Date:	Mon Apr 30 20:39:49 2001
Name:	Julia Ingram
E-mail:	ianchia@aol.com
Organization:
Location:	Tucson, AZ
How the site was found:	Sherlock
Comments:	Some members of The Partnership Way group believe Mr. Kohn is due in Tucson soon. Any chance it's true? "No Contest" changed my thinking about education, business and relationships. Thank you!

Date:	Mon Apr 30 20:39:21 2001
Name:	Julia Ingram
E-mail:	ianchia@aol.com
Organization:
Location:	Tucson, AZ
How the site was found:	Sherlock
Comments:	Some members of The Partnership Way group believe Mr. Kohn is due in Tucson soon. Any chance it's true? "No Contest" changed my thinking about education, business and relationships. Thank you!

Date:	Mon Apr 30 13:35:47 2001
Name:	Amber Newell
E-mail:	amber.michael@virgin.net
Organization:
Location:	England
How the site was found:	link from Silencing the Bell-De-Schooling
Comments:	Looking forward to reading your articles about self-esteem and 'correct' behaviour. Was on a websearch to give myself courage and comfort as sometimes others cause me to doubt (temporarily) our decision that we would educate together at home. Finding so many like minds out there is very boosting at a tough time.

Date:	Mon Apr 30 01:39:25 2001
Name:	Cassandra Chadwick
E-mail:	nutty4quilts@aol.com
Organization:	Tucson Unified School District
Location:	John B. Wright Elementary
How the site was found:	I'm reading Kohn's work
Comments:	I'm looking for information about students opting out of testing.

Date:	Sun Apr 29 16:55:53 2001
Name:	Jennifer Chanos
E-mail:	Jlinn777@aol.com
Organization:	CCSD /Art Specialist Frank Lamping E. S.
Location:	Henderson, Nevada
How the site was found:	Looking for your article on Rewards/Punishment Debate
Comments:

Date:	Sun Apr 29 06:51:40 2001
Name:	Gabie Gedlaman
E-mail:	mailto:www.azstandards.org
Organization:	AZ Standards
Location:	Arizona
How the site was found:	Alfie Kohn Lecture
Comments:	I've found the articles archived on the website most useful as I've been trying to lobby my local and national lawmakers to vote against 'high stakes' testing. Hope you'll all use these articles as invitations for discussions

Date:	Fri Apr 27 01:36:01 2001
Name:	Anonymity Requested
E-mail:	uitlander188@aol.com
Organization:	N/A
Location:	N/A
How the site was found:	Recently learned about Rockland Comm. College presentation, as well as your books
Comments:	Mr. Kohn, how do you account for Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, Canada, and Europe? I've met some of these people, and they clearly know what they're talking about. Don't tell me theri reported higher academic performances and skills are some sort of mass hallucination on the part of the media? Please, if within your convenience, reply within 3 days. Thank you. Anonymity Requested

Date:	Wed Apr 25 20:04:15 2001
Name:	Stella Marrs
E-mail:	Marrs7@opentech.net
Organization:	Martin Luther King Multi-Purpose Center,Inc.
Location:	110 Bethune Boulevard, Spring Valley, New York 10977-4250
How the site was found:	Your visit to Rockland Community College on April 25, 2001
Comments:	This is my third attempt to send you a message. Your message is a joy to hear. Working with children who are falling through the cracks is painful. I want to share your message with our families and school system. We have a Superintendent who is willing to make change. The support our families can give him will have promise for change. Thank you for your courage, tenacity, and know I truly enjoyed the way you fed us this most vital information. I would appreciate being part of your mailing list, should you have one. Anyway you now have my E-mail address and I look forward to any information you share on a regular basis. I purchased five of your books that will keep me really busy, and will share what I heard and learned freely. Thank you for the Bright Moments. Stella Marrs

Date:	Wed Apr 25 19:33:25 2001
Name:	susa appel schneider
E-mail:	wasuje@aol.com
Organization:	true educator, parent, taxpayer, believer
Location:	56 burda avenue new city, new york 10956
How the site was found:	I was present at the 4/25 presentation
Comments:	THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU I feel so validated and am only sorry that my children could not hear you speak. Please e-mail/send me a copy of Richard Mills statement of approximately 10 years ago,and a copy of the letter written by the parents from Scarsdale to their politicans. I would like to pass this on to other EDUCATORS and hope we can expand the direction many groups are headed. I am so sorry that more people did not attend because they need to feel validated and empowered. Thank You once again for all your energy Susan Schneider

Date:	Wed Apr 25 19:04:56 2001
Name:	Valerie L. Mathews
E-mail:	vmat210@optonline.net
Organization:	Nyack Teachers Association
Location:	Nyack, New York
How the site was found:	Went to a presentation
Comments:	Was very energized by Alfie's presentation at RCC this afternoon. Am interested in chatting with other test weary middle school teachers who are swimming upstream in their opposition to the ridiculous amount of testing in NYS

Date:	Wed Apr 25 09:59:11 2001
Name:	Mary Lou Schultz
E-mail:	SchltzFmly@home.com
Organization:	Encinitas School District
Location:	Encinitas, CA
How the site was found:	read your books
Comments:	My district is pushing a "standards-based" report card. Where can I find help in stopping this nonsense? Thanks!

Date:	Tue Apr 24 20:59:48 2001
Name:	Kathryn Boles
E-mail:	arck5@yahoo.com
Organization:
Location:	Minnesota
How the site was found:	Web search "Alfie Kohn"
Comments:	As a mother, homeschooler, and human being, I fine your books facinating! We try to strike a balance and try to encourage without going overboard. I am curious what your views of homeschooing/unschooling are? So many homeschoolers I know or read about are either "radical" unschoolers or school-at-homers. It is difficult to find people who have these same kind of concerns. Thanks, Kathryn

Date:	Tue Apr 24 11:52:39 2001
Name:	Terrance Brennan
E-mail:	Terrance.Brennan@PLPS.org
Organization:	Pompton Lakes Public Schools
Location:	Pompton Lakes, New Jersey
How the site was found:	Brian Chinni
Comments:	I support your message against standarized testing. What are you involved with currently, where are you located, and do you do presentations. Thank-you.

Date:	Tue Apr 24 11:49:38 2001
Name:	Terrance Brennan
E-mail:	Terrance.Brennan@PLPS.org
Organization:	Pompton Lakes Public Schools
Location:	Pomton Lakes, New Jersey
How the site was found:
Comments:

Date:	Tue Apr 24 08:48:26 2001
Name:	Susan Godsland
E-mail:	orchid@eurobell.co.uk
Organization:	Home Education Advisory Service
Location:	www.heas.org.uk
How the site was found:
Comments:	just like to say that I've put details of Alfie's book 'Punished by Rewards' into our publication 'The Big Book of Resource Ideas' along with the comment, 'Required reading for everybody involved in education.'

Date:	Mon Apr 23 22:02:45 2001
Name:	Dick Stokes
E-mail:	dick_stokes@beavton.k12.or.us
Organization:	Beaverton Schools
Location:	Beaverton, Oregon
How the site was found:	Tikkun Magazine March/April 2001
Comments:	"Out beyond right and wrong doing there is a field,I'll meet you there." Rumi

Date:	Mon Apr 23 11:23:40 2001
Name:	Cathleen Haskins
E-mail:	cathhas@elknet.net
Organization:	Montessori Program
Location:	Burlington Area Schools, WI
How the site was found:	Friends
Comments:	Alfie Kohn-You have my respect and admiration. I was in Chicago at the AMS conference and applaud your stand on the issues involved in working with and having relationships with children. Your work and advocacy on behalf of children inspires me and provides me with information and ideas to further and better my own work with children. Thank you for your work!

Date:	Sun Apr 22 14:38:02 2001
Name:	Becky Stahlman
E-mail:	becky_stahlman@hotmail.com
Organization:	Scottsdale Unified Schools - teacher
Location:	Scottsdale, AZ
How the site was found:	Knew from Alfie's speech in Vancouver, Oct. 2000
Comments:	Ples let me know what you think about Nebraska's project STARS. I am increasingly frustrated by state and district assessments and wonder if Nebraska's ambitious project is all that it appears to be - a more appropriate means of assessing students while giving teachers the knowledge and power to create assessments.

Date:	Sat Apr 21 23:38:36 2001
Name:	Sheryl King
E-mail:	sking25@bellsouth.net
Organization:	Passport School
Location:	Orlando FL
How the site was found:	article in edweek
Comments:	Thank you for so clearly articulating my exact thoughts and feelings about high-stakes testing and its impact on students, teachers, education, and society.

Date:	Fri Apr 20 06:33:18 2001
Name:	Debbie Walters
E-mail:
Organization:
Location:
How the site was found:
Comments:

Date:	Wed Apr 18 01:16:51 2001
Name:	Philip Gammage
E-mail:	gammage.Philip@saugov.sa.gov.au
Organization:	De Lissa Chair/ DETE (emeritus chair University of Nottingham)
Location:	South Australia
How the site was found:	In Listerv message
Comments:	Corporate managerialism seems to have been a major trend in the western world for a decade or two. The results (as I see it) are beginning to be seen as very destructive in education and care, often unhelpfully limitimg, especially in relation to professional optimism, reflectivity and the retention of appropriate staff. Devolution to community and local control has in reality (and certainly in UK and Australia) often accompanied ever tighter centralisation of curricula and accountablity

Date:	Tue Apr 17 10:39:12 2001
Name:	Ron Klemp
E-mail:	Rklemp@aol.com
Organization:	Los Angeles Unified Sd, Cal State Nridge
Location:	Los Angeles, CA
How the site was found:	Alfie told me about it
Comments:	Hi Alfie. I am working on bringing you to LA to talk with new administratos in our Academy...we have a distinguished speakers program....really enjoyed seeing you again in San Fran on March 29, or 30th...have read all your books! Thank you for being our voice of reason!

Date:	Mon Apr 16 22:40:44 2001
Name:	Ronette Youmans
E-mail:	rdyoumans@aol.com
Organization:	San Dieguito Academy High School
Location:	Encinitas, Calif
How the site was found:	from CATE lecture
Comments:	I'm interested in contacting other teachers in California who are planning to donate their API $ to an unrewarded but deserving school. A symbolic rejection of the whole API program.

Date:	Sun Apr 15 20:28:22 2001
Name:	eris
E-mail:
Organization:	J L Stanford Middle School
Location:	Palo Alto, CA
How the site was found:	Via Mr. Kohn's recent lecture in San Fransisco
Comments:	I must say that the ideas presented here have helped my learning as a student. I now understand that my teachers are probably not teaching in the best ways possible. Therefore I have shifted my focus from the grades and tests to the subject matter itself. School is now more intiresting although my grades have gone down a little. I have also decided to spred the word about most of these ideas among the student and administrative bodies at my school.

Date:	Sun Apr 15 20:26:15 2001
Name:	eris
E-mail:
Organization:	J L Stanford Middle School
Location:	Palo Alto, CA
How the site was found:	Via Mr. Kohn's recent lecture in San Fransisco
Comments:	I must say that the ideas presented here have helped my learning as a student. I now understand that my teachers are probably not teaching in the best ways possible. Therefore I have shifted my focus from the grades and tests to the subject matter itself. School is now more intiresting although my grades have gone down a little. I have also decided to spred the word about most of these ideas among the student and administrative bodies at my school.

Date:	Sat Apr 14 07:58:31 2001
Name:	Matt Bova
E-mail:	mattbovaeudora@yahoo.com
Organization:	None
Location:	Lawrence, Kansas
How the site was found:	internet search
Comments:	Just curious if there are some secondary teachers from Kansas who share concerns about the increasing importance attached to standardized, state-mandated testing.

Date:	Fri Apr 13 14:29:38 2001
Name:	BJ Strauch
E-mail:	BJStrauch@aol.com
Organization:	Educational Leadership Graduate Student
Location:	Florida
How the site was found:	web search
Comments:	As a graduate student AND a grandparent, I found the new information on praise to be outstanding. Thank you BJ

Date:	Fri Apr 13 08:47:45 2001
Name:	Sandra Edelman
E-mail:	O2KOOLMOM@aol.com
Organization:
Location:
How the site was found:	Debbie Rapaport
Comments:

Date:	Thu Apr 12 22:49:23 2001
Name:	Ann O'Brien
E-mail:	annob13@optonline.net
Organization:
Location:	Seaford, NY
How the site was found:	Research for my midterm project
Comments:

Date:	Thu Apr 12 16:24:02 2001
Name:	Trudi Hagen
E-mail:	TNHagen@aol.com
Organization:	Community Day Care
Location:	1611 Westminster Place
How the site was found:	internet search
Comments:	Mr Kohn's work is amazing. I hope more people hear him and read his books so we can change education in America.

Date:	Thu Apr 12 09:17:11 2001
Name:	Nezzie DeFrank
E-mail:	ndefrank@aol.com
Organization:	Programs for Parents, Inc.
Location:	484 Bloomfield Avenue Ste. 26 Montclair, NJ 07042
How the site was found:	Young Children Magazine, March 2001
Comments:	I would like to know if our state has an "opt-out" clause that allows parents to exempt their children from testing.

Date:	Thu Apr 12 09:01:37 2001
Name:	Jennifer Pellow
E-mail:	jpellow@austin.rr.com
Organization:	just a Mom who's working for what's RIGHT
Location:	Austin, Texas
How the site was found:	I just typed in Alfie Kohn's name in hopes of finding something about him or his books or articles.
Comments:	Alfie Kohn is one of the great minds of our time in terms of impacting the schools that our children go to. Just about every time that I have had an issue with our public elementary school, I have been able to find support for (and research! to back up) my opinion in one of Kohn's books. When I have just "not liked" a method being used at our school, he has helped me to understand and unravel the underlying reasons and problems with a method. From stoping bribes, to giving my 1st grader choices in her class, to fighting for appropriate Kindergarden expectations, he has helped me in so many ways to try to influence a school district that is trying for force my square-pegged children into their round holes. He even helps me to understand the reason for possible opposition to ideas that seem simply perfect to me. (I'll stop complimenting him now, because I don't want to undermine his internal motivation!) All I can say is, "YOU DID IT, ALFIE!"

Date:	Wed Apr 11 12:27:25 2001
Name:	Torsten Friedag
E-mail:	tfriedag@efdot.com
Organization:	education futures
Location:	Sudbury, Suffolk, UK
How the site was found:	after hearing about one of Alfie's books I looked for it
Comments:	I am really impressed by Alfie Kohn's body of work and believe that the parallels in the UK education system are equally worrying. Especially in reforming challenging inner city schools we find that the limitations of our constantly demanding assessment-based approach does not allow schools time to develop appropriate strategies for their learners. We need to focus on pedagogy that (re-)establishes in the individual a love for learning. Creating real and enabling learning environments that are learner friendly and supportive must be our aim. ------------------------------------- I would be very interested in establishing a deeper discussion of these issues and widening the knowledge of Alfie's work in the UK and Europe.

Date:	Wed Apr 11 09:33:36 2001
Name:	Martha A. Seehorn
E-mail:	aseehorn@sprynet.com
Organization:
Location:	Piney Flats, TN
How the site was found:	Read Alfie Kohn's article in Educational Leadership
Comments:	We need more courageous people like Alfie Kohn to take a stand against the movement toward more standardized testing!

Date:	Tue Apr 10 21:34:13 2001
Name:	Jennifer Williams
E-mail:	mailto:caz_cheer_jenn@hotmail.com;%20willjenl@cazcollege.edu
Organization:	Cazenovia College
Location:	Cazenovia, NY
How the site was found:	direct access
Comments:	I just wanted to say that I am currently writing my senior paper on topic of Bush's education reform plan as it pertains to standardized testing and accountability, and I have found all of your articles and books extremely helpful. The paper is coming along well, and I have cited a number of your statements to help make the case against standardized testing clear and understandable. The extensive list of references you provide in your books is great and I have used it to help build my case. Thanks for having so much out there for me to access!! Hopefully my presentation and defense will be dynamic after all of the research I have conducted. I plan to incorporate a number of video clips from Bush's address to Congress, as well as some political cartoons, into my PowerPoint presentation. It should be great!

Date:	Mon Apr 9 14:13:14 2001
Name:	Ayesha Livingston
E-mail:	Ayeshaliv@aol.com
Organization:	Family School
Location:	3000 Adams N.E., Albuquerque, NM 87110
How the site was found:	I read it in the book: Beyond Discipline
Comments:	I'm very interested in transforming my classroom. This is my second year teaching and my gut instinct is to give the students choice but when I do it seems to slide out-of-control somehow. We have class meetings weekly but there is much to "fix" in my opinion, especially with students who have a difficult time controlling their own behavior. I teach in an alternative type school within the public school system in Albuquerque, so my curriculum is integrated and the classroom is multi-age (grades 6-8). I am in the inquiry of continuous improvement both for myself, my students, and our environment. Thanks Alfie for a book that made me realize that I'm not crazy! I'm still a long way from where I want to be, but I can see the path I must travel down to reach where I'd like to be, but it's a start (albeit small). ~Ayesha

Date:	Sun Apr 8 23:26:05 2001
Name:	James E. Holleran
E-mail:	jmklcholleran
Organization:	Teacher
Location:	Rochester (N.Y.) City School District
How the site was found:	Reding about Kohn in Classroom Management books
Comments:	I like the direction of some of Kohn's ideas about what are we really asking children to do in our classrooms, and what might we accomplish by sharing power with students.

Date:	Sun Apr 8 22:02:03 2001
Name:	Pam
E-mail:	deepthinker50@hotmail.com
Organization:
Location:	Maine
How the site was found:	friend
Comments:	What as awesome amount of quality articles, They are great for a research paper and students studying to become teachers.

Date:	Sun Apr 8 19:50:48 2001
Name:	Regina McHenry
E-mail:	ginota@hotmail.com
Organization:
Location:
How the site was found:	word of mouth
Comments:	I am a bilingual teacher and these days that means a frustrated human being. I find encouragement and animation in Alfie Kohn's writings.

Date:	Sun Apr 8 17:23:43 2001
Name:	Jerry A. Rice
E-mail:	jrice3@stny.rr.com
Organization:	SUNY Cortland College
Location:	Cortland NY
How the site was found:	Article in Syracuse Paper
Comments:	I am proud to have been called an "Alfie Kohn" by a State Education Dept. bureaucrat, when I decried his call for "zapping the gap" in student achievement, but never once spoke of children, learning, or meaningful education.

Date:	Sat Apr 7 14:25:52 2001
Name:	Elsa
E-mail:	ecruiz@surfus.net
Organization:	High School Teacher of Mathematics
Location:	Laredo, TX
How the site was found:	While searching for articles for a paper on student motivation and achievement for a graduate levelc
Comments:	I've enjoyed readingKohn's articles. Thanks, ER

Date:	Fri Apr 6 12:13:27 2001
Name:	Debbie Rapaport
E-mail:	DSRapa@aol.com
Organization:	STOP (state tests opposed by parents)
Location:	Scarsdale
How the site was found:	saw alfie at Scarsdale High School
Comments:	Oppose standardized tests as one size fits all measures. Organizing a boycott of 8th grade tests in Scarsdale. Would like any assistance from other areas and districts.

Date:	Fri Apr 6 09:49:34 2001
Name:	Frank Short
E-mail:	fhshort@earthlink.net
Organization:	unnamed middle school
Location:	ny
How the site was found:	Westchester Lecture
Comments:	What groups in Weschester are organizing to stop the standards testing madness? How can I help?

Date:	Thu Apr 5 07:31:05 2001
Name:	Elaine Parker
E-mail:	eparker@isbasel.ch
Organization:	International School of Basel
Location:	Switzerland
How the site was found:	At an IBO regional workshop in Sweden
Comments:	I,m currently junior School Principal of the above school. We have a total enrolment of 590, Preschool-grade 12, with 330 students in the Junior section (Preschool- grade 5)Our main parent majority are UK/US although over 40 nationalities are represented. We follow the Primary Years Programme of the International Baccalaureate, we do not grade or test in the junior school and flourish on child centred assessment and evaluation through portfolio conferencing and rubrics. However we are constantly under pressure from a minority of US parents who need to compare their children and insist "we want grading". I have held information evenings to explain the position, they know what to expect when they enrol their children. How can I stop this small group from politicking and influencing those who are already on board? The Swiss Group International Schools,an association with 34 member schools holds an annual conference. Next year this will be held in Geneva 1st,2nd, 3rd March.Would you, Mr Kohn , be interested in presenting in some way? We would be very interested to hear of your programme and fees. The S.G.I.S. is linked to the ECIS.website. No doubt this organisation would be interested in your subject too. Your message would then be conveyed worldwide. sincerely, Elaine Parker

Date:	Wed Apr 4 16:17:55 2001
Name:	Nancy Sherrer
E-mail:
Organization:	2nd Gr. teacher
Location:	Geneva, Alabama
How the site was found:	info from magazine article
Comments:	Oh my, what you are saying is so true and it makes my heart break when I think of the total unfairness of what we are doing in the schools today to these little ones. Why don't we look at the anger and frustration school children are showing us by their violent actions-----could we be part of the problem, instead part of the solution? Please keep sending your message, for it is truly ours too.

Date:	Tue Apr 3 21:44:02 2001
Name:	Michael Turner
E-mail:	LThiker1@adelphia.net
Organization:	Mt. Mansfield Union High School
Location:	Jericho, Vermont
How the site was found:	from an article
Comments:

Date:	Tue Apr 3 11:19:23 2001
Name:	Ella M. Woodbury
E-mail:	woodbue@mail.doe.state.fl.us
Organization:	Florida Department of Education
Location:	Tallahassee, Florida
How the site was found:	Article forwarded by colleague
Comments:	After reading the article I visited your site. I found it interesting. Your bibliographies are excellent and cover timely educational concerns.

Date:	Tue Apr 3 06:40:41 2001
Name:	Cecelia-Rose L. Camarillo
E-mail:	cecelia_camarillo@hotmail.com
Organization:	college student
Location:	Honolulu, Hawaii
How the site was found:	research project
Comments:	You have opened my eyes even wider to my children's education and the need to educate them with "high quality teaching". Mahalo!

Date:	Mon Apr 2 21:33:04 2001
Name:	Cindy A. Miller
E-mail:	cmiller@cvs.k12.mi.us
Organization:	Dakota High School
Location:	Macomb, MI
How the site was found:	from book and conference
Comments:	Keep up the good fight....

Date:	Mon Apr 2 18:38:38 2001
Name:	Thomas A. Smith
E-mail:	tmit57@attglobal.net
Organization:	Mocal
Location:	Lake Orion
How the site was found:	Visited the abolishapprasials site
Comments:	Alfie, I was glad to see your comments on Tom Coens and Mary Jenkins new book. I'm still hacking away at the behavior based safety people. It seems like we're making some real progress thanks to your great research and writings. I see that you will be in Detroit in December. I am going to try to attend. It's great to see you are keeping things going and helping people think critically about conventional wisdom/psychology. I re-read your books and tell everyone about your works. I hope your family is well (Two children now, that's wonderful!) Sincerely, Tom Smith

Date:	Mon Apr 2 17:15:08 2001
Name:	Karen D. Stewart
E-mail:	rtckkids@cland.net
Organization:	Kidsville
Location:	Springfield, Missouri 65807
How the site was found:	Luck, Luck and More Luck
Comments:	Thanks for all the information, it will be used in a "Masters" class I am now enrolled in at the local university.

Date:	Mon Apr 2 11:22:51 2001
Name:	Susan
E-mail:	max@ezy.net
Organization:	newspaper
Location:	Salisbury, Maryland
How the site was found:	attended lecture, listened to tape, am reading book
Comments:	Maryland's legislature is poised to pass mandatory gun safety classes in kindergarten through 12th grade. I think this is an outrage when we have removed the far more relevant and important driver education from the schools because we "can't afford it." Everyone must drive, but everyone is not required to handle guns in order to function. What does Alfie Kohn think about this?? And what do others reading the guest book think of this?? I think it's a waste of resources and everyone's time and effort. I would advocate strongly that we return by mandate to teaching 10th-graders to drive safely, to provide equal access to everyone to driver education instead of the expensive, intensive and logistically difficult practice of requiring students to attend classes outside school before being able to become a licensed driver. Driving kills many more people than guns, at least in this area of Maryland (the deaths are just not as dramatic or newsworthy, for whatever reason).

Date:	Sun Apr 1 23:40:08 2001
Name:	Daphne Brown
E-mail:	daphnebr@hotmail.com
Organization:	WMS
Location:	N.C.
How the site was found:	Reference from my master's class.
Comments:	I am pumped up for reform in North Carolina! Thanks for these articles and I look forward to more.

Date:	Sun Apr 1 21:59:37 2001
Name:	Michelle Cox
E-mail:	mcox@bethel.k12.or.us
Organization:	Shasta Middle School
Location:	Eugene, Oregon
How the site was found:	PBL conference 2001
Comments:	As I listened to Alfie speak at the Project-Based Learning conference in San Francisco, I was both inspired and alarmed to have my growing suspicion confirmed - the emperor really has no clothes! Sometimes it's nice to be reminded that you're not insane... :)

Date:	Sun Apr 1 04:13:28 2001
Name:	Junaidah Abdul Jamil
E-mail:	junjamil@hotmail.com
Organization:	Ministry of Education
Location:	Malaysia
How the site was found:	Peter Senge's book "Schools That Learn"
Comments:	I am glad I found your website. I have read some of your articles and I am looking forward to more. As an educator, I find your views very insightful. Thank you!

Date:	Sat Mar 31 22:22:25 2001
Name:	Carolyn Carpenter
E-mail:	carolync@mcn.org
Organization:	Laytonville High School
Location:	Laytonville, California
How the site was found:	KWKD PBL conference
Comments:	Thanks for the inspiration at the Project-Based Learning conference. Our staff would love to hear you and Gov. Davis discuss education!

Date:	Fri Mar 30 21:11:52 2001
Name:	Susan Burrill
E-mail:	burrill@together.net
Organization:	Peoples Academy Middle Level
Location:	Morrisville, Vermont
How the site was found:	Alfie told me
Comments:

Date:	Fri Mar 30 15:27:16 2001
Name:	Alice Levine
E-mail:	cooterlevine@yahoo.com
Organization:	personal
Location:	Oakland, CA
How the site was found:	SEARCHed for it
Comments:	I heard you March 29 at Oakland. It occurred to me; there has been talk of cloning organs for transplanting. The widespread standardising testing may be an attempt to clone brains. Enjoyed your presentataion. Alice Levine

Date:	Fri Mar 30 04:31:21 2001
Name:	theresa Butler
E-mail:	TBerrybutler@aol.com
Organization:
Location:
How the site was found:
Comments:

Date:	Thu Mar 29 12:35:40 2001
Name:	Diane Everett
E-mail:	everettd@wilton.k12.ct.us
Organization:	Middlebrook Middle School
Location:	Wilton, Ct. 06897
How the site was found:	I attended workshop given by Dr.Kohn.
Comments:	Dr. Kohn's workshop has made me rethink much of my teaching philosophy and has encouraged me to do some research regarding his theories.

Date:	Wed Mar 28 17:00:25 2001
Name:	Stephen H. Kellert
E-mail:	skellert@gw.hamline.edu
Organization:	Hamline University
Location:	St. Paul, MN
How the site was found:	Tikkun Magazine
Comments:	I was taught debate by an Alfie Kohn at summer camp some 25 years ago, and I still remember the experience with fondness. I don't know if this is the same Alfie Kohn, but I appreciate his insight and verve.

Date:	Wed Mar 28 13:25:07 2001
Name:	Doris Ann Hayes
E-mail:	mailto:dor@tds.net%20%20or%20hayesdor@salem.k12.wi.us
Organization:	Salem Grade School
Location:
How the site was found:
Comments:

Date:	Tue Mar 27 19:59:15 2001
Name:	Jennifer Williams
E-mail:
Organization:	none, I am a student
Location:	St. Michaels, MD
How the site was found:	A friend that attended your lecture at Salsbury State
Comments:	I would love to keep in contact with your organizaton!As a student who plans to become a public school teacher I am thrilled to find so many that share my ideas. My address is 341 N. Aurora St. Apt.E Easton, MD 21601

Date:	Tue Mar 27 17:26:23 2001
Name:	Albert Jones
E-mail:	ajones4@calstatela.edu
Organization:	California State University, Los Angeles
Location:	Los Angeles, CA
How the site was found:	google.com
Comments:	I am interested in forming organization of classroom management instructors in schools and colleges of education. The ideas and input of Alfie Kohn are needed to argue for a change in the management approaches of many classroom teachers. The behaviorist approach coinciding with an anti-progressive teaching strategies in our schools is doing great harm to our students and teachers. I would appreciate Dr. Kohn's attention to this situation and his assistance to alter this trend in our schools.

Date:	Mon Mar 26 21:31:32 2001
Name:	michael allen
E-mail:	me_allen@hotmail.com
Organization:	berkeley unified school district
Location:	berkeley, ca
How the site was found:	e-mail from instructor
Comments:

Date:	Mon Mar 26 13:14:31 2001
Name:	Zach Mather
E-mail:	zmather@uncbears.com
Organization:	University of Northern Colorado
Location:	Greeley, Colorado
How the site was found:	in one of your books
Comments:	Just wanted to say hi and that I think what you have said and have to say are very important to the people and that I thank you for doing it.

Date:	Mon Mar 26 11:19:54 2001
Name:	elaine huttenlocker
E-mail:	echutten@aol.com
Organization:	Kenmore Teachers, RT/CT certifed
Location:	Buffalo area NY
How the site was found:	internet
Comments:	I have recently taught a staff development course on intrinsic motivation. Punished by Rewards was part of our lively discussion... Lively because people are still trying to figure it all out.

Date:	Mon Mar 26 10:25:29 2001
Name:	Geetha R Ratnakara
E-mail:	d_geetha@hotmail.com
Organization:	parent
Location:	1120,Olde Hickory Road
How the site was found:	by reading the book, "The schools our children deserve"
Comments:	Do you expect the mathematics teacher to teach Science? Ofcourse education should make a person loving and caring apart from being competent.Ofcourse a person is not full without being loving and caring. But is it not why there arefamily and church? Just because the family and church are not strong as they used to be does not mean we should overburden the schools. Should we not focus on strengthening on families? Ofcourse if I were a teacher I would be kind and try, whenver I can, to add compassion to my academics. Ofcourse I liked the book, "the schools our children deserve" immensely because it brought a thought in my mind that I should change my attitude towards my precocious children. Thank you.

Date:	Mon Mar 26 00:30:02 2001
Name:	Heather
E-mail:	h_miller99@yahoo.com
Organization:	SSU Student
Location:	Salisbury, MD
How the site was found:	Alfie Kohn lecture
Comments:	Your lecture at our school was great!! Thanks for coming.

Date:	Sun Mar 25 20:36:25 2001
Name:	Lysa Tabachnick
E-mail:	lysat@schoolvoices.org
Organization:	School Voices
Location:	Santa Cruz, CA
How the site was found:
Comments:	Hi, I come to your site all the time to get info and check out whats new. I am the Northen CA coordinator for Fair Test. However I have beeen focusing on local action recently with the group School Voices. We would like to put you on our mailing list so we could share with you what we are doing in terms of fliers, info sheets and the newsletter we have created. I don't know what street address to direct these things too. If you are to busy and don't want more mail I understand. Many members of our group will be coming to Oakland to see you speak on 3/29. We are looking ofrward to it. Thank you for your leadership and all your hard work for children. Lysa Tabachnick lysat@cruzio.com

Date:	Sun Mar 25 09:26:17 2001
Name:	Peyton Rutledge
E-mail:	peytonrut@home.com
Organization:
Location:
How the site was found:	attended CEA symposium 3/24/01
Comments:	Thank you for coming. Teachers need reminders to support and encourage change among their peers.

Date:	Sun Mar 25 01:34:08 2001
Name:	Brad Hatch
E-mail:	bradhatch3@earthlink.net
Organization:
Location:	Nederland, Co
How the site was found:	From book cover
Comments:	I'm signing in agian after changing my email address. I've read most of Alfies books because his underlying philosophy about human nature is so much like my own. Theonly difference is that he knows how to articulate it his views much better than I can. He also backs his opinions up with solid research. I would like to be more active in governmnent policy regarding education in the Colorado. I've already done two panel discussions in highschools on the topics of the future of education and standardized testing. Alfies books were a wonderful resource. If there are other people in Colorado interested in activism to fight standardized testing and promote a progressive views in education, I'd appreciate it if they would contact me.

Date:	Sat Mar 24 23:18:14 2001
Name:	Carlos A. Yibirin
E-mail:	cyibirin@msn.com
Organization:	CAY Group International, Inc.
Location:	507 Jeanwood ct., Bowie, Maryland 20721
How the site was found:	Mr. John Dutrow of Freestate Sport-4-All
Comments:	My wife and I like to get involve in our kids activities and education. I am a strong believer in collaboration and team work rather than competition. My 6-year old has been attending Montessory school since she was 3 years old. My wife and I just started our own business in January of this year and we would like to attend one of your seminars/conferences. Please let us know when you will be in our area.

Date:	Sat Mar 24 00:21:15 2001
Name:	MARGARET CHATFIELD
E-mail:	margaret_chatfield@clear.net.nz
Organization:	Resource Teacher Special Needs
Location:	New Zealand
How the site was found:	Colleague passed it on
Comments:	Great site for my study into Curriculum, Learning and Assessment. Thankyou.

Date:	Fri Mar 23 13:44:56 2001
Name:	Kevin Turner
E-mail:	wikat02@hotmail.com
Organization:	none
Location:	Clawson, MI
How the site was found:	searched altavista for "alfie Kohn"
Comments:	I'm relocating to another state and was hoping you might know of a publication that can prepare me to find the "right" public school district and elementary school. I've read several of Alfie's books and agree with what he has to say. Do you have any suggestions.

Date:	Fri Mar 23 13:15:00 2001
Name:	Luis O. Reyes, Ph.D.
E-mail:	luisoreyes@aol.com
Organization:	Brooklyn College, CUNY, Schl. of Ed.
Location:	2900 Bedford Ave., Bklyn, NY 11210
How the site was found:	BAYCARE internet notice re event
Comments:	I'm presenting to The NY State Puerto Rican/Hispanic Legislative Task Force on the issue of high stakes testing and its impact on English language learners (ELLs) on April 19th. Any help or data is appreciated. Thanks!

Date:	Wed Mar 21 22:34:09 2001
Name:	ron newman
E-mail:	newmanruns2@hotmail.com
Organization:	Wayne fingerlake boces
Location:	midlakes middle school.clifton Springs ny
How the site was found:	from tape on why standardized tests suck
Comments:	Schools need to be about teaching, learning, thinking, and growing. I hate when politicians jump into something they know little about and use educators a whipping boys. Regan did it and now his clone can call himself the "Education President" which matches his current efforts in protecting the environment. What happened to teaching to multiple intelligences, cooperative learning, teaching thinking skills rather than rote regurgitation learning.

Date:	Wed Mar 21 16:27:05 2001
Name:	linda Anderson
E-mail:	landerson@hotmail.com
Organization:	Utica College of Syracuse University , student
Location:	Utica, New York
How the site was found:	Dr. Vespo
Comments:

Date:	Tue Mar 20 22:22:50 2001
Name:	Cheryl Stoner
E-mail:	cstone@dover.k12.pa.us
Organization:	Dover Area School District
Location:	Pennsylvania
How the site was found:	Link from a bookstore site
Comments:	I've been interested in what Alfie has to say for the past 4 years. I am especially happy to see that he is addressing the push being put on students and teachers. I would love to have Govenor Ridge of PA sit down and listen to what Alfie has to say!!! Maybe even President Bush could learn a thing or two.

Date:	Tue Mar 20 13:33:26 2001
Name:	Carol A. Osborn
E-mail:	carolos@flash.net
Organization:	Teacher-Detroit Public Schools
Location:
How the site was found:	Michigan Reading Association Conference
Comments:	Dear Alfie, It was a PLEASURE to hear you speak at the MRA Conference in Grand Rapids, MI. Finally, somesome who espouses the same beliefs that I, as well as, other teaching friends have. Since the conference, I have shared your vision with other teachers. Onc day, I hope that we can abolish these useless tests, and get down to the real business of teaching. Please continue to be the voice of classroom teachers.

Date:	Mon Mar 19 12:31:49 2001
Name:	Bridgette McMahon
E-mail:	BBKDelmar@aol.com
Organization:	Student
Location:	Salisbury State University
How the site was found:	Lecture
Comments:	Your lecture at SSU was great to hear, my biggest fear about becoming a new teacher is that I will be held accountable for poor performance by my students and then quickly out of a job. I hope that in the future things will change and there will be less emphasis on these tests and we can get back to the real reason we are in school to learn about ourselves, our community, and the world. Thanks

Date:	Mon Mar 19 00:18:55 2001
Name:	Sue Bennett
E-mail:	sbennett@buncombe.main.nc.us
Organization:	none
Location:	Asheville, NC
How the site was found:	Yahoo
Comments:	I am interesting in finding information to learn how parents can counteract the state required testing in the schools.

Date:	Sun Mar 18 18:36:51 2001
Name:	Sue Wickham
E-mail:	Susan.Wickham@state.mn.us
Organization:	State of Minnesota Department of Administration
Location:	St. Paul, MN
How the site was found:	Search of your name
Comments:	Very interested in the application of your ideas in organizational settings.

Date:	Sat Mar 17 20:12:26 2001
Name:	Rep. Art Pelletier
E-mail:	ajpell@email.com
Organization:	NH House of Representatives
Location:	Dover, NH
How the site was found:	FairTest site link
Comments:	I really enjoy reading the guest book messages by folks from all over the country (and, at times, the world). Occasionally, I send an email to one of them whose message was especially interesting. Although the messages are wonderful, I can't help but think there needs to be a way to link everyone together to fight this testing frenzy and the dumbing down of the schools. One or even several teachers in a school or district will not only be ineffective but would risk their job if they refused to cooperate. I'm disappointed that the teacher organizations seem to have capitulated to the testing juggernaut. The challenge is to get the entire membership of a school or district to act together to refuse to administer the tests. With the current and promising-to-get-worse teacher shortage, what recourse would the tyrants-at-the-top have? but such a move would need support and helpl of the teacher unions. Perhaps electing new leadership would need to be the first step. Else, I fear we're looking at years before things turn around. Meanwhile, as some guests are doing, encourage others to read Alfie's books and attend his appearances; even try to lure the staff-development folks of your respective districts to have him give a "workshop"; would certainly be a HUGE improvement on what usually passes for "staff development" as organized by administration. Good luck to all of us who've seen the light thanks to Alfie.

Date:	Sat Mar 17 16:15:42 2001
Name:	sue karschnick
E-mail:	kcritters@voyger.net
Organization:	southwest elementary school
Location:	howell michigan
How the site was found:	i watched his presentation on star net
Comments:	Mr. Kohn, I watched the tape of you discussion on state testing and felt you gave a powerful message. I will copy your outling for my prinipal and give her the info on watching the tape of your discussion. I agree with what you said. I teach 2nd graders and the pressure to teach to the style and topics that are on the test is discussed with us often. Sue K.

Date:	Thu Mar 15 04:45:49 2001
Name:	Shyamasree Sen
E-mail:	monalokhi@hotmail.com
Organization:	KOÇ School
Location:	Istanbul Turkey
How the site was found:	sent by a friend
Comments:	nothing till I can read the articles

Date:	Wed Mar 14 22:16:22 2001
Name:	Michael Lile
E-mail:	lile@indy.net
Organization:	high school art teacher
Location:	indianapolis
How the site was found:	recommended by colleague
Comments:	I am consistently amazed at your ability to undermine wrong-minded assumptions about learning and assessment and have been empowered by your thoughts to make significants leaps as a "learning advisor" (my new term for teacher) and learner. My fear, however, is that after we (educators) strip away the bad practices, we will be left with few options because we have not been educated (or empowered) for creative thinking. I'd like to recommend that you spend a more energy helping the creatively disadvantaged to envision a better way by offering more insights into what replaces our current model. I thank you for your vision & courage!

Date:	Wed Mar 14 13:09:43 2001
Name:	Janet Sichau
E-mail:	sichzam@aol.com
Organization:
Location:	Berlin,MD
How the site was found:	Last nights lecture at Salisbury State
Comments:	THANK YOU for the inspiring talk. I taught in the elem. school for 16 years and am now enjoying being a mom and voluteering in the schools. Your message last evening was terrific and exciting. It gave some really good reasons to homeschool. I especially liked the "civil disobedience" suggestion for the standardized test time. This morning I was in the school early and had a chance to speak with some of the teacher who also attended last evening. All were excited and alive with your comments and thinking from their standpoint just how to organize and "disobey" THANK YOU

Date:	Wed Mar 14 10:43:03 2001
Name:	Stephanie
E-mail:	spankyfish206@yahoo.com
Organization:	Student at Salisbury State University
Location:	Maryland
How the site was found:	lecture at SSU
Comments:	I attended Alfie Kohn's lecture last night and I think he is a brilliant man. I was very pleased with what he had to say about standardized testing. I recommend that anyone with an opportunity to attend one of Alfie Kohn's lectures should take advantage of that.

Date:	Wed Mar 14 10:39:06 2001
Name:	Linda MURRAY
E-mail:	lmurray@trschools.org
Organization:	Three Rivers Michigan Community Schoolw
Location:
How the site was found:
Comments:

Date:	Wed Mar 14 09:51:06 2001
Name:	Jeff Havens
E-mail:	jphavens@yahoo.com
Organization:	(formerly with)Guilford High School
Location:	Rockford, IL.
How the site was found:	search engine
Comments:	My testimony concerning standardized tests: I taught chemistry at Guilford High School last year and did so by emphasizing the simple concept of photon exchanges between valence electrons of atoms. It sounds imposing but is really quite simple. It easily lends itself to graphic illustration that students seem to enjoy. This emphasis also serves as a springboard for us to discusss very philosophical questions that nearly all humans are interested in answering. When did the universe begin and when will it end? Where did atoms come from? What is a blackhole? Is time travel possible? Why does measuring something assure uncertainty? etc. I even showed how the movie, "It's A Wonderful Life" is similar to quantum mechanics but on a bigger scale through the properties of electrons! I covered all the necessary material that would be expected of any beginning chemistry course but approached it from a different direction. My Principal was supportive but the head science administrator did not understand particle or quantum physics to any extent and called a meeting in which, I and five other administrators, was to attend. In the meeting, it was revealed that one parent's concern catalyzed this process. The parent's concern was that some of the material I was discussing would not be covered on the ACT exam. The science administrator also expressed "concern" that the topics weren't relevant because that wasn't the way she taught chemistry, in the past and that I needed to teach in a manner so students could succeed on the new district wide standardized tests. The meeting ended with me inviting the science administrator to observe any of my classes at any time. She took me up on my offer and the class went well but I she still didn't understand how the supplementary topics we were covering were going to help students succeed on the standardized tests. At that point, I informed her anyone else may come into my class to observe except for her. The most memorable experience of that year was when I was explaining "Schrodinger's Cat." It was at the end of our unit on properties of electrons. I had tried to make it quite theatrical by building suspense. I think I achieved that goal with just two illustrations of a live and dead cat and asking, "What does it mean?" After I explained its possible meanings, most students seemed impressed and a few were in awe. Stuff like this is not covered on standardized tests. Standardized tests really limit a teacher's creativity.

Date:	Tue Mar 13 20:44:12 2001
Name:	Jacob Stultz
E-mail:	jstultz@twcny.rr.com
Organization:	Manlius Pebble Hill School Student
Location:	Syracuse, NY
How the site was found:	Referred by a friend
Comments:	Alfie, though I agree with you that schooling should not be based around standardized testing, I do believe that there is good reason to have the testing. First and foremost is the subject of college admissions. For larger universities, the admissions departments of those schools need some form of standardized testing scores, be they accurate or not, for the purposes of sifting through the vast numbers of applying students. Student essays are definitely a much better indicator of scholastic aptitude; however, many colleges simply don't have the resources or time to read every applying student's essay. Also, there needs to be another form of mandatory standardized testing, for public schools at least, for the purposes of at least making sure that the classes at the schools are at par with each other, at the very least. There also has to be some way to make sure that the core courses in each school have approximately the same curriculum, for the purposes of preparing for college. Certainly schools should not be based around improving standardized test scores, but the standardized tests still need to be there as a general gauge of a school's performance. On the subject of homework: The efficiency of homework in teaching is purely based on how it is assigned. For homework assigned as a review of work done in class, your points about homework are valid. However, some higher level courses have homework assigned for the purpose of preparing the student for the next class; in these cases, there is a valid reason for assigning the homework. Another possible problem with eliminating testing, is that class sizes would have to be much smaller than they are at present, to allow the teacher to know his or her students well enough to judge their progress in the course. This will require schools to hire more teachers, which many of them quite simply don't have the money for. It would certainly be great to be able to reduce class sizes, but in many cases it's just not feasible. Not only that, but as much as we'd all like to wish that all teachers were motivated and truly inspired, some just don't care about their jobs. This new method of schooling would depend even more on not only more teachers, but also more skilled, talented, and motivated teachers. It would be fantastic if this could be done, but in reality, it would be immensely difficult to find that many good faculty. Many of your ideas are great concepts, though some of them, like many great ideas, in all likelihood would not function as intended in the real world.

Date:	Tue Mar 13 15:12:24 2001
Name:	Stephanie Wist
E-mail:	wistst@earlham.edu
Organization:	Earlham College
Location:	Richmond, IN
How the site was found:	Reading The Case Against Standardized Testing in Sociology of Education
Comments:	Alfie, I am working on a group project that is focusing on the role of Standardized Tests in OHIO. We are comparing this topic to how it relates to the Supreme Court ruling that state funding is unconstitutional. We are soliciting your help in directing us to good sources. We are trying to research KEY interest groups (i.e gov't, legislature, teahcers, test corporations) We would like to know how tests scores affect funding? How much is spent on test annually in districts or state wide. Any information you could provide would be a great help to us! Even if it is not that relevant..it is something! Thank you for your time and your amazing books! Stephanie Wist Earlham College Class 2002

Date:	Tue Mar 13 09:35:39 2001
Name:	Robyn Carter
E-mail:	jaroca@surfnetusa.com
Organization:
Location:	Felton,CA
How the site was found:	Punished by Rewards
Comments:	Alfie Kohn is on the cutting edge of societal change. This theory is very much like re-evaluation counseling.

Date:	Mon Mar 12 11:05:55 2001
Name:	Kirstin Reynolds
E-mail:	kkreynol@syr.edu
Organization:	Syracuse University
Location:	Syracuse, NY
How the site was found:	I heard Kohn speak last week.
Comments:	Thank you for speaking in Syracuse last Thursday. I was a teacher at a small, public middle school in New York City and now I am finishing up two master's degrees at S.U. I will be looking for a teaching position in the fall, and I want to work at a school with a progressive administration and staff. I'm looking for a school where standardized tests are scoffed at or at least minimalized. Any suggestions? I'd also like to do anything I can to help. I'm completely opposed to the rhetoric that many of our leaders are pushing about testing and standards. I want justice, but I feel like my hands are tied or not tied to the right organizations.

Date:	Mon Mar 12 08:27:12 2001
Name:	Cal Roberts
E-mail:	crobe86209@aol.com
Organization:
Location:	Vancouver, Wa. 98684
How the site was found:	Listed in WEA article
Comments:	Thanks for all your work to enlighten us in alternative ways to live and learn with eachother.

Date:	Sun Mar 11 18:22:20 2001
Name:	Ben Olsen
E-mail:	bto3805195@hotmail.com
Organization:
Location:	Gresham, OR
How the site was found:	My professor told me the web address
Comments:	Thank you so much for your website. I look forward to reading your book!

Date:	Sat Mar 10 22:54:42 2001
Name:	gwyneth harner
E-mail:	gharner@bellsouth.net
Organization:	working on starting one
Location:	ft. lauderdale, florida
How the site was found:	read the book The Case Against Standardized Testing
Comments:	I've been a high school guidance counselor for 29 years. I loved your book; it really gave me hope. Certainly, in education, things have to change but not in the direction they are changing! As things continue to deteriorate, in our schools, where are the guidance counselors???? Overwhelmed with (in my case) some 700 counselees, frequently with cafeteria duty and NOW testing!!!! With Florida's infamous FCAT's coming up this next week, our entire staff of 7 counselors has been blocked out, and unalbe to see any students, for 2 weeks as we count, sort, grid and stack tests, making sure the security numbers are all in order. Next week we will be proctoring, collecting,labeling sorting and shipping.....(our school has almost 4000 students, so you can imagine the logistics of this testing plague.....) Who knows what else will be going on in our schools while we are otherwise involved! And to what end???? At any rate, I have some rather simle ideas I'm going to pursue this summer, when school is over for the year. Keep up the good work! It is, indeed, a sorry mess and I want to revolt!

Date:	Sat Mar 10 17:42:58 2001
Name:	Tucker Estron
E-mail:	OtherWise@omplace.com
Organization:	http://greenzine.homestead.com/welcome.html
Location:
How the site was found:	Yahoo search
Comments:	I've been a longtime fan of Alfie's work, and I'm glad he's getting more attention. For the man himself: What do you think can be done to counter the current popular superstition that genetics is destiny? I just saw a piece on 60 Minutes that claimed that "criminal behavior" is somehow passed along in the genetic code. The media's all over any research pro-genetic determinism but seems to ignore the researchers who dissent.

Date:	Fri Mar 9 14:04:43 2001
Name:	Rochelle Haas
E-mail:	rockyradio@aol.com
Organization:
Location:	North Canton, OH
How the site was found:	internet search
Comments:	I am a school psychologist who has been practicing for almost 12 years and who is ready to throw in the towel because of the intense testing pressures that are being brought to bear on our students. I find myself being loaded with referrals for multifactored evals. because teachers, principals, and parents are concerned as to how their kids will perform on high stakes testing and they are looking for IEPs so that modifications and exemptions can be put in place. I feel that this is out of control. The kids who really suffer are the low average/at risk kids who typically don't perform well on tests but who are not disabled. Whatever has happened to common sense? It is as if these standards have been put in place to make their creators look good. It is disingenuous and harmful and eventually we will see what it reaps: more student apathy, drop-outs, emotional problems, school violence, etc. I think that we are already seeing it. I heard an analogy once that I've never forgotten: If a farmer wants to fatten his calves, what does he do? Weigh them? Or feed them? Same applies to our students. Although it seems at this point we're overzealously testing rather than teaching. I say, stop the madness and lets began to employ research-based instructional and assessment methods that support all kids.

Date:	Fri Mar 9 10:10:17 2001
Name:	Cap Lee
E-mail:	Caplee@wi.rr.com
Organization:
Location:	Milwaukee WI
How the site was found:
Comments:	Congratulations to U of California president Richard Atkinson in his attempt to scrap SAT's. Now let's get at all the other "word games and riddles", the standardized tests. Let children demonstrate learning through exhibitions and portfolio assessment and others build into the daily routine of education and designed to give feedback to teachers and students alike. And then we have to quit lying to children with letter grades that also say nothing Stay the course Cap

Date:	Fri Mar 9 09:43:11 2001
Name:	jeremy duncan
E-mail:	jdunca@wboro.org
Organization:	whitesboro central school district
Location:	whitesboro, ny
How the site was found:	listening to alfie
Comments:	great talk.....time to mobilize!

Date:	Thu Mar 8 14:32:01 2001
Name:	James B. Bostick
E-mail:	jbbostick@hotmail.com
Organization:	NYSUT member
Location:	Syracuse, New York
How the site was found:	from mph.or
Comments:	As a math teacher, I have noted the dramatic differences in talent of math students. To me it seems obvious we are doing neither end of the spectrum a favor by teaching to a meaningless standardize test. The results of the test yield no information to the individuals expected to work so hard to pass them. At least tests such as the SAT are voluntary and give some indication of relative ability and or achievement.

Date:	Thu Mar 8 10:18:58 2001
Name:	Brent Hoffos
E-mail:	bhoffos@cap.estevan.sk.ca
Organization:	School Principal
Location:	Estevan, Saskatchewan
How the site was found:	Heard Alfie speak in Bismark
Comments:	Enjoyed the workshops at Bismark High. I have been practicing the class meetings and I have had some success. However, I sometimes regress to tradition methods as a survial technique. Keep writing and we will keep reading and practicing. Thanx!

Date:	Thu Mar 8 10:18:46 2001
Name:	Brent Hoffos
E-mail:	bhoffos@cap.estevan.sk.ca
Organization:	School Principal
Location:	Estevan, Saskatchewan
How the site was found:	Heard Alfie speak in Bismark
Comments:	Enjoyed the workshops at Bismark High. I have been practicing the class meetings and I have had some success. However, I sometimes regress to tradition methods as a survial technique. Keep writing and we will keep reading and practicing. Thanx!

Date:	Wed Mar 7 20:44:44 2001
Name:	Robert Kloppel
E-mail:	bckloppel@seneca24.net
Organization:	Seneca Falls Middle School
Location:	Seneca Falls, NY
How the site was found:	the Syracuse Post Standard
Comments:	Thank you, Mr. Kohn, for taking on the important task of letting people know how the so-called "standards" are robbing education of its life. The pressure to "teach to the test" is yet another assault on the creativity which is crucial to real learning. It is like letting blood to help a patient who is dying due to blood loss.

Date:	Wed Mar 7 19:55:36 2001
Name:	Jean MacLeod-O'Leary
E-mail:	pnjoleary
Organization:	music teacher
Location:	Syracuse, NY
How the site was found:	You are speaking here tomorrow night, March 8, and I read about you in the newspaper
Comments:	I just heard about you and read a few of your articles. What do you have to say about the arts in education. I fear that as our schools frantically push to excel on these tests, the arts may be replaced with more study time, more academics. What do you think?

Date:	Wed Mar 7 14:42:45 2001
Name:	Molly Schneider
E-mail:	rschneid@oswego.EDU
Organization:	None-write letters to politicians
Location:	Oswego, NY
How the site was found:	You gave it to me on NPR's Talk of the Region 3/7/01 on WRVO. egion
Comments:	Thank you for all the resources, I need to write politicians about teaching instead of "Teaching for Testing". I will hope they will educate themselves a bit before voting blindly.

Date:	Wed Mar 7 14:37:56 2001
Name:	Molly Schneider
E-mail:	rschneid@oswego.EDU
Organization:	None-write letters to politicians
Location:	Oswego, NY
How the site was found:	You gave it to me on NPR's Talk of the Region 3/7/01 on WRVO. egion
Comments:	Thank you for all the resources, I need to write politicians about teaching instead of "Teaching for Testing". I will hope they will educate themselves a bit before voting blindly.

Date:	Tue Mar 6 19:19:25 2001
Name:	Tommy Miles
E-mail:	tmiles@pcoe.k12.ca.us
Organization:	Feather River Middle School
Location:	Portola, CA, USA
How the site was found:	byline in Ed. Week
Comments:	The current issue of the NASSP Bulletin deals with "Preparing Students to Pass SOL (Standards of Learning)Tests." I was amused by the use of the acronym "SOL." -- Shit out of luck?

Date:	Tue Mar 6 11:31:55 2001
Name:	Bill Crist
E-mail:	wcrist@oswego.org
Organization:	Oswego City School District
Location:	Oswego, New York
How the site was found:	from Newspaper Article
Comments:	Unable to attend the gathering in Syracuse on March 8th but checked out the site for further information - very informative and provoking! I've read "No Contest" and parts of "Rewards..." and look forward to getting new book, "The Schools Children Deserve". Keep up the fight for quality education. You are a Champion (aren't we all...) of better schools!

Date:	Mon Mar 5 11:35:03 2001
Name:	David Bly
E-mail:	david.bly@nfld.k12.mn.us
Organization:	Alternative Learning Center
Location:	Northfield, Minnesota
How the site was found:
Comments:	I am working with Senator Wellstone in his effort to debate the efficacy of high stakes tests as a single measure of accountability. As the one member of congress who seems to understand the isssue, he needs the help of others across the country to help him demonstrate the harm that this kind of measure can do to students and learning. If you have stories tesamonials or other information you can pass on to him send them to: Sen. Paul Wellstone 136 Hart Senate office building Washington, DC 20510

Date:	Mon Mar 5 06:21:48 2001
Name:	Mary Ann
E-mail:	n/a
Organization:	parent of 2 unschoolers and 1 schooling child
Location:	new york
How the site was found:	from your lecture
Comments:	I was empowered after hearing you speak in Scarsdale. The best part was hearing what other people are doing across the country to protest the use of high-stakes testing. It made me feel much less alone in my opposition to these tests

Date:	Sun Mar 4 16:19:00 2001
Name:	Gina D'Adamo
E-mail:	GDMusic58@aol.com
Organization:	Parent
Location:	Millburn, NJ
How the site was found:	The Schools our Children Deserve
Comments:	The only Problem with reading this book is that it confirms my instincts. I hope your books message gets into the mainstream. I wish there was something I could do for my daughter, besides partial home schooling, being that we don't have the finances for private. Thank you for standing up for our children.

Date:	Sun Mar 4 16:12:00 2001
Name:	Gina D'Adamo
E-mail:	GDMusic58@aol.com
Organization:	Millburn, NJ
Location:
How the site was found:
Comments:

Date:	Sat Mar 3 22:41:26 2001
Name:	Dennis H. Heins
E-mail:	heinsd@erols.com
Organization:	SunRise Consulting
Location:	Centreville, VA
How the site was found:	Back cover of Punished by Rewards
Comments:	As a Human Resource professional for over 30 years, I find your management ideas very much in agreement with my experiences. Managers focus too much on the use of money as an incentive and too little on working with the employee to make the job intrinsically valuable.

Date:	Sat Mar 3 10:00:40 2001
Name:	Pat 001
E-mail:	llhs20200631@sina.com
Organization:	beihua university
Location:	jilin china
How the site was found:	via michigan search engine
Comments:	I am a teacher searving as and English teacher in Beihua University in China.

Date:	Fri Mar 2 13:28:27 2001
Name:	Stephen N. Butler
E-mail:	Stephenb@Earlham.edu
Organization:	Earlham College
Location:	Richmond, Indiana
How the site was found:	The Case Against Standardized Testing
Comments:	Am using book in my course....sociology of education. Indications are students will love it!

Date:	Fri Mar 2 13:01:49 2001
Name:	Joe Pattaphongse
E-mail:	jpattaphongse@essentialschools.org
Organization:	The Coalition of Essential Schools
Location:	Oakland, CA
How the site was found:
Comments:	I just wanted to make sure that as many people as possible were aware that there is a recent article in Newsweek about the UC President's proposal to drop the SAT as an admissions requirement. Kaplan, the test prep service, is a subsidiary of Newsweek, which also own's Score! a test prep service for elementary-aged youth. Although I'm sure Newsweek has some well thought out editorial policy, I can not help but believe that their vested interest in the test prep industry influenced the tone of their article. Additionally, I believe that the other major "news magazines" also own subsidiary test prep companies. I'm almost postive the US News & World Report owns the Princeton Review. This is very discouraging, and should remind us that education encompasses more than schooling. The mass media is arguably a major player in the education of the US citizenry and is decidedly undemocratic. If only John Dewey had known about the future and the mass media back in 1912, maybe he might have included it in his formulation for Democracy and Education.

Date:	Fri Mar 2 12:45:02 2001
Name:	Mary Huane
E-mail:	mhuane@aol.co.uk
Organization:	MA student at Central School of Speech and Drama, also teacher
Location:	London, UK
How the site was found:	Brought a book whilst in New York, feel it will address issues I'm studying
Comments:	Doing a thesis on making the learner a creative and critical thinker making use of drama pedagogy across the curriculum, found this book and felt it discusses issues I have been exploring

Date:	Fri Mar 2 11:18:42 2001
Name:	Pauline Romero
E-mail:	romerop@setmms.tusd.k12.az.us
Organization:	Pueblo High School
Location:	South
How the site was found:	TEA Newsletter dated 2/26/01
Comments:	I teach vocational elective classes and feel this "plague". Faculty had to vote on a 7-period schedule next year which fortunately passed. Otherwise there would be no periods available to offer electives because our students will need to improve on math skills with remedial math classes next year as well as regular math classes. It bothers me to see the concern on some of my colleagues faces who also teach electives before the vote was tallied if the majority hadn't approved a 7-period schedule.

Date:	Fri Mar 2 11:11:57 2001
Name:	Steve Peters
E-mail:	steve-vscavo@nova.novanet.com
Organization:	Scavo H.S. & Treasurer of IAAE
Location:	Des Moines, IA
How the site was found:	From the book: "The Schools Our Childern Deserve"
Comments:	You are my new hero. You have put these ideas into a language that lets me better communicate them others. We have two conferences here in Des Moines, hopefully we can get you to one next year.

Date:	Thu Mar 1 17:10:21 2001
Name:	Lisa F. Wood
E-mail:	lwood@ups.edu
Organization:	University of Puget Sound
Location:	1500 North Warner
How the site was found:	Have Read your book "Punished by Rewards" and use it in my classes
Comments:	I've had great success with students in my theories of personality class and introductory psychology course using the issues raised in your book "Punished by Rewards". The debates have been intense and lively and have helped students to recognize when rewards are useful and when they undermine motivation.

Date:	Thu Mar 1 10:12:23 2001
Name:	Sarah Feldman
E-mail:	sfeldman18@hotmail.com
Organization:	Columbus Elementary
Location:	New Rochelle
How the site was found:	Google.com
Comments:	I am a teacher in New Rochelle and I am currently working towards my masters degree. I am researching classroom management and I was wondering if you know of any other authors/professors who share the same belief on classroom management. Thanks, Sarah

Date:	Wed Feb 28 21:40:41 2001
Name:	John B. Gosek
E-mail:	goseek13@hotmail.com
Organization:	National Education Assoc. - Student Program
Location:	Western New Mexico University, Silver City, NM
How the site was found:	a friend
Comments:	I heard Mr. Kohn was supposed to be speaking in Tucson, AZ and I was wondering if he has already been there.If not I was trying to find out where and when. If he has already been there does anyone know of any other Southwestern speaking engagements he might have coming up besides Scottsdale, AZ in late July?

Date:	Wed Feb 28 11:27:39 2001
Name:	Sue Briss
E-mail:	pabriss@mindspring.com
Organization:	Fernbank El. PTA
Location:	Atlanta, GA
How the site was found:
Comments:	Do private schools (any kind: religious, single-sex, rigorous traditional academics, alternative, etc) obsess about taking standardized tests as much as public schools? Folks I know whose children attend these schools in our area of the country say "no."

Date:	Wed Feb 28 08:41:44 2001
Name:	Sue Briss
E-mail:	pabriss@mindspring.com
Organization:	Fernbank El. PTA
Location:	Atlanta, GA
How the site was found:	Through an address given by Mr. Kohn
Comments:	We were able to stop our county from giving 2 norm-referenced tests back-to-back to three grade levels! But our current governor has just recommended a "gateway" test for several grades. I thought even the test makers said you should not make decisions such as whether or not to promote a child based soley on one test!

Date:	Tue Feb 27 23:01:17 2001
Name:	Stephen Holz
E-mail:	northolz@boreal.org
Organization:	Teacher
Location:	North-Eastern Minnesota
How the site was found:	Search for "Alfie Kohn"
Comments:	I am in a Masters of Education Program, and getting my teaching credential in Math/Science/Industrial Arts (Its a long story). I am doing my Master's thesis on the standards movement and whether it is compatible with the Progressive education movement that has waned and flourished in fits and starts all of the last century. I am wondering whether Mr. Kohn has not confused the standards movement with the high stakes testing that has unfortunately grown out of it. I am familiar with the Vermont Framework of Standards and Learning Opportunities, the NCTM Standards, and those of the NSF. All of these seems to have great merit, as does the Progressive movement of Dewey, Rogers, Sizer, and so many others. Doesn't the muck up happen when these ideas get interpreted by people who are not thinking of the best interests of the kids? High Stakes testing seems to have "America's" best interest in mind, with fear of reduced power and influence as an incentive and yardstick, with with the beat the children over the heads. I am just beginning to study this topic, and have not yet read Mr. Kohn's book. But if you have any input on this topic that might steer me toward a more complete picture of your stand on standards, and not just on high stakes testing, I would sincerely appreciate it. Sincerely, Stephen Holz

Date:	Mon Feb 26 17:55:48 2001
Name:	Lisa Wilkin
E-mail:	lwilkin@gateway.net
Organization:	Child Development Consortium of Los Angeles
Location:	Los Angeles, CA
How the site was found:	on the back of "The Case Against Standardized Testing"
Comments:	I live in California...need I say more? My second grader takes multiple choice spelling tests! I am trying to find other people in my area who also believe in the dangers of standardized testing so we can help get things changed here.

Date:	Mon Feb 26 14:28:32 2001
Name:	Terry Rudd
E-mail:	TCJPENNY@AOL
Organization:	PARENT
Location:	CHICAGO
How the site was found:	ARTICLE
Comments:	I enjoyed the article attacking the "Standars Movement". In Chicago Mayor Daley ,and CEO Vallas are now introducing a choice of 5 reading programs (voyager being one of them)in 200 of the lowest performing elementary schools in Chicago (Black and Latin). Have you any information about these private reading programs and their effectiveness for our children. Thank you

Date:	Mon Feb 26 13:54:14 2001
Name:	Dr. Kathleen Foster
E-mail:	kfoster@po-box.esu.edu
Organization:	East Stroudsburg University
Location:	East Stroudsburg, PA
How the site was found:	from a graduate student who heard you speak at Bucknell University
Comments:	Would Mr. Kohn be available to speak to 100-150 public school administrators and graduate students in school administration on Tuesday, April 10th, 2001 at East Stroudsburg University? The University is located approx. 3.5 hours south of Boston in northeast Pennsylvania. Possible topic: an elaboration on his book The Schools Children Deserve for an administration based audience. Thank you, Dr. Kathleen Foster, Graduate Coordinator - Professional and Secondary Education, East Stroudsburg University kfoster@po-box.esu.edu

Date:	Sun Feb 25 22:58:01 2001
Name:	Frank Wright
E-mail:	fkwright@telusplanet.net
Organization:	Alberta Teachers' Association
Location:	Grande Prairie Alberta Canada
How the site was found:	ATA News
Comments:	I am heartened to see that the whole world has not fallen blindly in love with standardized testing up the yingyang.

Date:	Sun Feb 25 21:56:41 2001
Name:	Judy
E-mail:	history30@yahoo.com
Organization:
Location:	California
How the site was found:	PENCIL
Comments:	Great website. Why is it when politicians, district administrators and local school boards exalt high stakes testing, they never consult with intelligent educators and academics who offer alternative perspectives to school reform. Thank you Mr. Kohn....I hope to refer your website to my school principal.

Date:	Fri Feb 23 15:44:06 2001
Name:	Mugenyi Cleophus
E-mail:	cleophusma@yahoo.com
Organization:	Kibaale District Local Government
Location:	Uganda.
How the site was found:
Comments:	I read the recent copy of Phi Delta Kappan of January 2001. There is an article by Alfa Kohn. I have liked the information on this website and will make best use of it. It is not easy to access the internet in my local district which is located near the shores of Lake Albert. So i travel to Kampala, which is 140 miles to access this service.

Date:	Fri Feb 23 11:41:32 2001
Name:	Wendy Gao
E-mail:	wgao69@netscape.com
Organization:
Location:
How the site was found:	web search
Comments:	I would like to find some private boarding high schools that accept international students

Date:	Thu Feb 22 21:53:41 2001
Name:	valerie karczewski
E-mail:	valerie_karczewski@ceo.cudenver.edu
Organization:	Adams 12 Schools
Location:	Federal Heights, Colorado
How the site was found:	university connections
Comments:

Date:	Thu Feb 22 10:12:16 2001
Name:	Mary Edwards, Partners Training Coordinator
E-mail:	medwards@healthyarkansas.com
Organization:	Arkansas Governor's Developmental Disabilities Council
Location:	5800 West 10th, Suite 805; Little Rock, AR 72204
How the site was found:	participant in a list serve
Comments:

Date:	Thu Feb 22 01:46:14 2001
Name:	Diann Hampton
E-mail:	diann@tpg.com.au
Organization:	retired but occasional high school teacher
Location:	Australia
How the site was found:	In the book, Punished by Rewards
Comments:	I've sent you an email seperately hope you get time to read it. The book confirms all that I've thought and argued for years. Thank you Alfie. I loved your jokes. Also one thought, the job of teaching well is so demanding that there is no reward big enough to pay for all that teachers do. It is true, pay teachers a fair wage and then we can forget it and concentrate on working out what to do to enable the spark (of remembering their own natural curiousity) to come for each child.

Date:	Wed Feb 21 18:29:06 2001
Name:	bertha campbell
E-mail:	bdcampbell@peoplepc.com
Organization:	Head Start
Location:
How the site was found:
Comments:

Date:	Sat Feb 17 17:17:52 2001
Name:	Marnie Brady
E-mail:	mbrady@consejo.org
Organization:	Council of Latino Agencies' applied research project
Location:	Washington,DC
How the site was found:	DC VOICE
Comments:	We are looking for information about the effect of high stakes testing on limited English speakers, who are often exempted from taking the standards- or whose scores are not reported. Any resources and articles to send our way?

Date:	Sat Feb 17 04:47:59 2001
Name:	Bob Arons
E-mail:	bobarons@links2wireless.com
Organization:	Links2wireless.com
Location:	Rockville,Md.
How the site was found:	Washington Post Article / Jan 9, 2001
Comments:	Alfie, I applaud your enterprising efforts to offer refreshing guidence on our countrys most important activity... finding the best ways to educate and lead.

Date:	Fri Feb 16 15:20:33 2001
Name:	Thomas J.Smith
E-mail:	mailto:Home(SMITHDUGAN@centurytel.net)%20School%20(slainte@mail.spartan.org.
Organization:	Sparta Area Independent Learning School (S.A.I.L.S.)
Location:	111 S.Water.St. Sparta, WI. 54656
How the site was found:	Had the great pleasure to listen and learn last summer in the Twin Cities at the Alternative Ed.Conf
Comments:	Read two of your books,,, man-ole'-man sure wish you were near by to provide our school with some most viable do's and don'ts. We are the district's school for 6th-12th, and presently have 27 students for two teachers and one aide. Man I love/hate it on a daily basis. YOU--THE--MAN with me!! Slainte, Thomas J.Smith

Date:	Fri Feb 16 14:05:57 2001
Name:	Kathleen Kahn
E-mail:	kkahn@chusd.k12.ca.us
Organization:	Coalinga-Huron Unified School District
Location:	Coalinga, CA
How the site was found:	ASCD
Comments:	I saw you on the "News Hour" last night on PBS with the gentleman from FairTest. You did a wonderful job of articulating your point of view (and I believe the correct one). It is too bad that you could not have been on for the entire hour.Thank you so much for the work you do. It is encouraging.

Date:	Fri Feb 16 13:01:11 2001
Name:	Julie Brown
E-mail:	jbrown@lsswis.org
Organization:	Lutheran Social Services
Location:	Milwaukee, WI
How the site was found:
Comments:	I'm interested in whether you know of any studies published after your 1998 piece ("Challenging Behaviorist dogma...") that examine the effects of incentive pay on long-term work quality. I'm not aware of any but want to be sure before I make the case to higher-ups! Please feel free to email your response. Thanks and bravo on your first-rate thinking!

Date:	Thu Feb 15 14:16:47 2001
Name:	Teresa Valenzuela
E-mail:	tcv359@aol.com
Organization:	New Mexico State University
Location:	Las Cruces, NM
How the site was found:	"The Schools Our Children Deserve"
Comments:	I was just introduced to your work last semester. I am a doctoral student and teach literacy method classes and secondary field experience seminars. I am using you book this semester as a required book for the secon.fld.exp. It is refreshing to hear from a new voice the things that I have felt in my heart over the ten years that I taught elementary school. I am looking forward to using your articles and other publications in the classes that I teach and that I am enrolled in.... Muchas Gracias, Teresa Valenzuela

Date:	Wed Feb 14 14:00:19 2001
Name:	Dan Seidman
E-mail:	daniel.e.seidman@sbcusd.k12.ca.us
Organization:	San Bernardino City Schools
Location:	San Bernardino, CA
How the site was found:
Comments:

Date:	Mon Feb 12 12:25:30 2001
Name:	robert simon
E-mail:	robert.simon@west.boeing.com
Organization:	boeing aircraft
Location:	palmdale,calif
How the site was found:	I attended your seminar in Ontario 2-9-01
Comments:

Date:	Sun Feb 11 23:12:49 2001
Name:	Kate B.
E-mail:	kj@compusmart.ab.ca
Organization:
Location:	Canada
How the site was found:	from a speaking engagement
Comments:	In regards to your book "Punished by Rewards" I wanted to pass on this story about one of my foster children who was always "bad" especially in school. One Christmas when he was 17 we were picking up food donations from one of the schools for the Salvation Army. This school was in a "better" class of neighbourhood than where we come from. This jr high school was very generous and there were many boxes of canned goods. One of the teachers asked two of her students to help us and in return for helping us they would get extra credit for something. I thought it very sad that you couldn't just ask someone to help because it was the right thing to do. My "bad" boy had worked all night at his menial job and was helping me pick up the food so people would have food for Christmas. That was the only "credit" he was going to get. Thanks for your ideas and keep them coming.

Date:	Sun Feb 11 21:23:08 2001
Name:	Jennifer Poole
E-mail:	jennwordgirl@aol.com
Organization:	Chaminade College Preparatory High School
Location:	West Hills, CA
How the site was found:	from Alfie Kohn's keynote presentation at CATE
Comments:	Thank you so much for your sane and sensible voice! It was invigorating to listen to you at the CATE conference. Your words cut through the inanity of nearly everything that is spoken about education by people who have no business speaking on the matter because they simply DON'T KNOW what they are talking about. Your ideas cut through the inherent elitism of politicians who consistently fail to understand that learning is a process rather than a product. Your vigilance on behalf of marginalized students, and on behalf of the teachers who endeavor to engage them in a process of learning DESPITE the grievous inequities in the resources available for those students, is inspiring. Thank you for your tenacious appeal to logic and your unrelenting criticism of those for whom logic is lost in rhetoric and a lack of firsthand experience. Thank you for being our voice while we are in the classroom, trying to help our students discover and use theirs.

Date:	Sun Feb 11 18:42:10 2001
Name:	Robert Kostuck
E-mail:	rjk5@dana.ucc.nau.edu
Organization:	Northern Arizona University (student)
Location:	Prescott, Arizona
How the site was found:	Dogpile search engine
Comments:	I'm a teacher education and special education student at an extension site of Northern Arizona University. A Special Education teacher at the NAU campus I have never met recommended Alfie Kohn as one of the authors who gave her "inspiration." So over the winter break, I read The Schools Our Children Deserve, and I became disillusioned. Mr. Kohn is passionate and persuasive, and I found myself wondering why I wanted to be a teacher, when there existed such a pervasive administrative/political hegemony that controlled what transpired in the classroom. Now, I'm back in the semester and the methods classes, and I also find myself inspired and energized by the work of Mr. Kohn and other writers with a similar outlook on American education. But why should part of the challange of teaching be a perpetual battle between teacher autonomy and administrative control? Why should teachers fight for the right to participate in the decision-making processes that have such a lasting effect on the students and the teachers themselves? I'm studying the professional/public aspects of teaching at the moment, and I wonder if the general public mistrust against teacher wisdom and participation is somehow connected to the fact that the salaries of public school teachers in America are paid for (ostensibly) by the taxpayers? I'm looking down the long tunnels of undergraduate and graduate school, trying to imagine what the state of public education will be like in two or four years. It looks like it is all uphill from here; which is not bad in itself. What's bad is that it looks really steep, with a few cliffs along the way.

Date:	Sun Feb 11 17:53:25 2001
Name:	Diane Sullens
E-mail:	diane@inland.net
Organization:	Lake Elsinore Unified School District
Location:	Lake Elsinore, CA
How the site was found:	Fairtest.org
Comments:	I was able to hear your keynote address at the conference in Ontario this past Friday. I was very encouraged by your enthusiasm. I was also very encouraged by the amount positive remarks I heard from other teachers regarding becoming "active" concerning what is happening in our classrooms because of the "testing frenzy." Our staff meeting is this Tuesday, and I am to report on what I have heard. Needless to say, you have given me plenty to report about!

Date:	Sun Feb 11 16:04:40 2001
Name:	Reed Jackson
E-mail:	rmcjack@mindspring.com
Organization:	Nash/Rocky Mount Schools
Location:	Rocky Mount, NC
How the site was found:	from information in The Schools Our Children Deserve
Comments:	I live and work in a state where the emphasis on high stakes, multiple choice testing is alive and well, unfortunately. Our students are tested more and more each year, and although the state officials brag about "rising test scores" on the state mandated end-of-grade and end-of-course tests, somehow I am not confident that our kids are graduating from high school any smarter, only more test savvy! I am currently in a doctoral program in educational leadership and I am using your research, Mr. Kohn, a great deal as I begin my dissertation. I commend your work and would like to challenge all educators, parents, business leaders, school boards, etc. to look more carefully at what this emphasis on multiple choice testing is doing to our children in the name of accountability. It is a shame!

Date:	Sun Feb 11 10:44:17 2001
Name:	Martine Imon
E-mail:	nhimon@email.msn.com
Organization:
Location:	Southwestern New Hampshire
How the site was found:	Newspaper article, Education maverick rails against tougher standards
Comments:

Date:	Sun Feb 11 05:09:53 2001
Name:	Jacek Strzemieczny
E-mail:	jacek@ceo.org.pl
Organization:	Center for Citizenship Education
Location:	Warsaw
How the site was found:	by lookong at Education update
Comments:	I am impressed by Alfie sharp thinking and speaking. In Poland we are starting to straggle with this same issue Myth of improving education by testing children and judging schools. I am thankful by early warning. My organization is going to fight this stupidity in Poland. Sincerely Jacek Jacek Strzemieczny Centrum Edukacji Obywatelskiej (Center for Citizenship Education) 00-790 Warszawa ul. Willowa 9/3 www.ceo.org.pl tel/fax +48 (22) 646 20 25 mobile: +48 601 21 80 32 jacek@ceo.org.pl

Date:	Sat Feb 10 18:38:00 2001
Name:	Teri Thomas
E-mail:
Organization:	Rio Linda Union School District
Location:	Hillsdale Elementary
How the site was found:	ASDC
Comments:

Date:	Sat Feb 10 15:34:53 2001
Name:	April Smock
E-mail:	April_Smock@athenian.org
Organization:	The Athenian School
Location:	Danville, CA.
How the site was found:	Washington Post article
Comments:	Your work (along with my mom's--"The Constructivist Leader") is the inspiration behind my 15 years of teaching. Please keep up this important work, particularly in today's educational climate. Thanks for offering us all hope.

Date:	Fri Feb 9 19:47:56 2001
Name:	Nita Duhart
E-mail:	Duhart@lightspeed.net
Organization:	student
Location:	Cal State Bakersfield
How the site was found:	searching education
Comments:	I am a liberal studies major at CSUB, and am interested in bettering the school system for the children that I will ultimately be teaching. Specificly I would like to know if your protgram has any music ie: vocal/instramental programs availible. I believe this is a benifit for the children. Could I get some feedback reguarding the programs avialable please?

Date:	Fri Feb 9 17:06:12 2001
Name:	Manjeet Chauhan
E-mail:	manjc@home.com
Organization:
Location:
How the site was found:	Instructor at BCIT Dawne Bringeland
Comments:

Date:	Fri Feb 9 15:34:15 2001
Name:	jim borgschatz
E-mail:	jborgsch@plainview.k12.mn.us
Organization:	teacher grade 5.
Location:	Minnesota
How the site was found:
Comments:	Your presentation at Winona State is terific. I have purchased the tape and will being using it with my fellow teachers. I am feeling horrible pressure that my students must do well on the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment test. I would like to see standardized tests out of public education in Minnesota

Date:	Thu Feb 8 23:16:52 2001
Name:	Warren Williams
E-mail:	warren.williams@suhsd.k12.ca.us
Organization:	Hilltop High School - Sweetwater District
Location:	Chula Vista, California
How the site was found:	Article in L.A.Times
Comments:	I'm driving up to listen to and meet you tomorrow in Ontario at CATE. I believe in your message and want to begin seriously stirring the waters of educational reform in San Diego County.

Date:	Thu Feb 8 19:03:05 2001
Name:	Fred Shreenan
E-mail:	fshreena@epsb.edmonton.ab.ca
Organization:	Edmonton Public Schools
Location:	Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
How the site was found:	attended presentation in Edmonton
Comments:	I found your insights into the nature of standardized testing to be thought- provoking, inspiring and a 'call to action' for all stakeholders in the education of our youth. I was also pleasantly surprised to hear an American educator speak knowledgably about our national and provincial education programs instead of framing all references in a 'USA' context. Thankyou. Please come again!

Date:	Thu Feb 8 03:08:01 2001
Name:	Dennis Berg
E-mail:	dberg@nsd.org
Organization:	Northshore School District
Location:	Bothell Washington
How the site was found:	Just thought Alfie had a site and there it was!!!
Comments:	I am kindergarten teacher in the Northshore School district in Bothell Washington. I have taught this grade level for 24. I am also a adjunct professor for Seattle Pacific University in Seattle Washington. As an Adjunct professor I create and provide staff develop classes for K-12 educators in school districts around Western Washington. One of the courses I have created revolves around Alfie's video set and book From Compliance To Community. I have also been applying Alfie's beliefs about rewards, punishments, compliance, and community for the past 6 years in my kindergarten classroom. This started 6 years ago when a parent gave me a copy of Alfie's book Punishment by Rewards. Thank you Kit Vargus, as this was the best gift a parent has ever given me and my students. Kit did this because a group of parents were unhappy with my discipline approach in my classroom. Punishment by Rewards was the hardest book I have ever read. This was because 90% of what it said was inappropriate, I was doing in my classroom. But most important, the research was there to back up Alfie's claim! Rather than beat myself up over this, I said "O.K. you were doing the best you could with the information you had at the time, but now it was time to move forward with new information" and I did. This was a difficult 6 year because old habits are hard to break. Some days it was one step forward and 5 steps back. But now, 6 years later I truly believe that discipline means to mentor and teach children how make better choices in the future and not punishment. The best part of the research Alfie has compiled is that it gives parents and educators a different choice from the behaviorist approach of rewards and punishment. Thank You Alfie, as I love teaching again and 6 years ago I was thinking about leaving the profession!!!!!!! Dennis Berg dberg@nsd.org

Date:	Wed Feb 7 13:42:25 2001
Name:	Mary VanCoons
E-mail:
Organization:
Location:
How the site was found:
Comments:

Date:	Wed Feb 7 09:41:15 2001
Name:	Piyaporn S.
E-mail:	angeljeab@hotmail.com
Organization:
Location:
How the site was found:
Comments:

Date:	Tue Feb 6 16:27:02 2001
Name:	Carol Higgins
E-mail:	chiggins@remc11.k12.mi.us
Organization:	Middle School Teacher
Location:	Marcellus, Michigan
How the site was found:	ASCD Conference
Comments:	This is the 12th year that I have administered the MEAP test and the pressure is worse every year. Every educator that I talk to locally feels negatively about it. Unfortunately, the state keeps raising the bar and attaching more strings. I need to connect with more teachers who are willing to take action, not just complain that, "There's nothing we can do."

Date:	Tue Feb 6 12:41:32 2001
Name:	Harriet Brown
E-mail:	hnbrown@gdinet.com
Organization:
Location:	Madison, WI
How the site was found:	friend
Comments:	I'm an advocacy writer and parent who is passionately concerned about education. Right now I'm writing a magazine piece on "accountability," and I have found this web site to be very helpful.

Date:	Mon Feb 5 16:48:11 2001
Name:	Barbar J. Filar
E-mail:	bjfilar@bellatlantic.net
Organization:	Relay Middle Schol
Location:	Relay. MD.21227
How the site was found:	friend
Comments:	I teach a multi grade class of middle schoolers. This is my second year here although I have been teaching forever (it seems). I am more accustomed to younger students. This group is a challenge for me. I feel as if I am falling into the rotten teacher syndrome - the horror of everyone!- I am anxious to read your books. I not only want to be a better teacher for these kids but I do strive - note I am trying!- to help them to be critical thinkers, to care about learning and not about grades. I feel so overwhelmed! Your books sound like the tonic I need to forge ahead! I see also that you will be in Salisbury in March. I live 2 hours away - not sure I can make this lecture but I will keep an eye out for something closer to Baltimore in the future. Thanking you in advance! Barbara Filar

Date:	Mon Feb 5 00:13:09 2001
Name:	Donna Melvin
E-mail:	Dmelvin@hpsd48.ab.ca
Organization:	E.G.Wahlstrom Elementary School
Location:	Slave Lake, Alberta. Canada
How the site was found:	Via Mr. Kohn's recent lecture in Edmonton, AB
Comments:	Dear Mr. Kohn: Having recently had the privelage of hearing you speak in Edmonton, Alberta, I wish to take this opportunity to THANK YOU for the wonderful, inspirational message you delivered regarding the education of our children. I especially appreciated your statement regarding: "Should you pass a classroom where there is silence, open the door and ask why there is no learning occurring here?" As a new adminstrator in a very large elementary school, I am challenged with new teachers who are very progressive in their thoughts about education, and mature teachers who wish to stay with a traditional model of delivery. Again, thank you for words which have helped to clarify that we are going in the right direction! Donna Melvin

Date:	Sun Feb 4 19:13:20 2001
Name:	Amei Cheng
E-mail:	acheng@pac.bluecross.ca
Organization:
Location:
How the site was found:	Referred from Instructore
Comments:

Date:	Sun Feb 4 16:25:19 2001
Name:	Maris Bentley
E-mail:	mbentley@esu10.org
Organization:	Sumner-Eddyville-Miller Public School
Location:	Sumner, Nebraska
How the site was found:	Through Nebr. Dept. of Education
Comments:	I do a lot of reading about education. Your books have always been illuminating and inspiring. Hope I have the chance to hear you speak someday.

Date:	Sun Feb 4 11:54:48 2001
Name:	Karen Larimore
E-mail:	Klarim@aol.com
Organization:	teacher 4th and 5th grade
Location:	Louisville, Ky.
How the site was found:	ASCD Education Update
Comments:	All I am allowed to do by my principal is to teach the test. I am heart broken by what I am forced to do to children. There are no "teachable moments" and I am not instilling a love of learning. The pressure on teachers and students is horrible. What can I do to help stop this insanity?

Date:	Sun Feb 4 11:31:45 2001
Name:	gaynne leachman
E-mail:	leachmandg@aol
Organization:	san juan unified schools
Location:
How the site was found:	ascd newsletter (1/ 200l)
Comments:	tho' i'm not "politically inclined" i'm certainly going to spread the word via your articles.

Date:	Sun Feb 4 10:33:17 2001
Name:	Nora Juarros
E-mail:	juarros@dakotacom.net
Organization:	Tucson Unified School District
Location:	Tucson, AZ
How the site was found:	from presentation
Comments:	Was present at the talk you gave at the Westin La Paloma. Totally inspired and reinforced about my beliefs regarding testing especially with young children. Will we ever win the battle?

Date:	Sat Feb 3 13:34:40 2001
Name:	Joan Cunningham
E-mail:	CunninghamJ@ecs.edmonton.ab.ca
Organization:	Edmonton Catholic Schools
Location:	Edmonton, AB
How the site was found:	attended your lecture, Fri, Feb.2/01
Comments:	Wonderful presentation - thank you! I had my own grade 12 year ruined by provincial exams in the 50's in BC. While my friends in the advanced literature course were having great fun performing Shakespeare's plays and those of other great writers, we in the Catholic Schools enjoyed no recognition from the govt. of BC, and so had to sit all the exams. We had a steady diet of rewriting old exams and memorizing soliloquies complete with punctuation marks. I've only recently overcome my aversion to Shakespeare. Now that's a tragedy!

Date:	Thu Feb 1 21:39:40 2001
Name:	ben
E-mail:	ben@hotmail.com
Organization:	peta
Location:	newport
How the site was found:	yahoo
Comments:	hello

Date:	Thu Feb 1 17:13:35 2001
Name:	Gerald Brown
E-mail:	gbrown@educationminnesota.org
Organization:	Education Minnesota
Location:	Duluth,Minnesota
How the site was found:
Comments:	I enjoyed the message,at the bargaining conference in reference to alternative compensation for teachers. "Pay them well" and free them up to do what they are paid to do, Teach.

Date:	Thu Feb 1 15:40:37 2001
Name:	William J. Haring
E-mail:	bharing@educationminnesota.org
Organization:	Education Minnesota
Location:	St. Paul, MN
How the site was found:	Colleague recommendation
Comments:	Mr. Kohn, Thanks for your two presentations at our bargaining conference last weekend. I found your insights to be provocative, as well as motivating. I especially admire the passion you bring to the issues you espouse. Thanks. I am looking to follow other work by you.

Date:	Thu Feb 1 11:59:43 2001
Name:	Liana Clarkson
E-mail:	lclarso@mpsaz.org
Organization:	Mesa Public Schools
Location:	Mesa, Arizona
How the site was found:	Article in ASCD magazine
Comments:	I read the article "Education in a Dark Time". A voice of reason in the midst of this clamor for "raising the bar" Olympic style. What can I do? Liana Clarkson, teacher and parent

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