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Our Old Guestbook Entries
(1/02 through 7/02)

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


Date: Wed Jul 31 20:01:42 2002
Name: GLORIA PERALES
E-mail: mabemp@yahoo.com
Organization:
Location:
How the site
was found:
friend
Comments: HI,just started to us your site becuase a friend told me about you guys and so far i have found it very intersting.I'm a teacher's aide.So we are going to use some of your ideas.thank you so much for this site.



Date: Wed Jul 31 11:48:15 2002
Name: Rebecca Deepchandani
E-mail: rebeccadeep@attbi.com
Organization:
Location: Pittsburg, CA
How the site
was found:
by looking at the back cover of a book.
Comments: Thank you for the valid and rational observations.



Date: Wed Jul 31 08:16:50 2002
Name: Brian Boyd
E-mail: bjboyd21@yahoo
Organization:
Location:
How the site
was found:
Comments:



Date: Wed Jul 31 08:16:44 2002
Name: Brian Boyd
E-mail: bjboyd21@yahoo
Organization:
Location:
How the site
was found:
Comments:



Date: Tue Jul 30 21:00:54 2002
Name: Colin Offord
E-mail: Principal@levin.school.nz
Organization: Levin School
Location: New Zealand
How the site
was found:
Referenced in Education Week
Comments: Just here for a look. Especially interested in standardised testing, re research for my masters.



Date: Mon Jul 29 05:30:46 2002
Name: Mary Culver
E-mail: maculver@crocker.com
Organization: Planet Earth
Location: Deerfield, Massachusetts
How the site
was found:
Alphie gave it to me
Comments: I'm actually here to browse, not to leave a message. However, it may happen later. Thanks.



Date: Sat Jul 27 19:10:16 2002
Name: Ruth Lazarus
E-mail: mikelaz@avenew.com
Organization: Village Day School
Location: Oak Park, IL
How the site
was found:
Comments: I co-run a small, therapeutic school, and need ideas for how to advocate with other school administrators for why we don't give "good attendance awards". I know the reasons, but is compromise possible when we are told this is a must?



Name: Susan Davis
E-mail: Zkingsue@aol.com
Organization: St. James Middle School
Location: Myrtle Beach, SC
How the site
was found:
Book...The Schools....Deserve
Comments:



Date: Tue Jul 23 09:42:24 2002
Name: Thomas J. Neuville
E-mail: tneuville@millersville.org
Organization: Millersville Univ.
Location: Millersville, PA
How the site
was found:
I have talked to, listened to and read Alfie
Comments: What we do to typical children is scary...what we do to children with disabilities is criminal. keep up the good work.



Date: Tue Jul 23 08:19:54 2002
Name: geula zamist
E-mail: zamistg@ramaz.org
Organization: ramaz early childhood center
Location: New York
How the site
was found:
Harvard
Comments: the absolute HERO of my ten days at the HARVARD Principals Center its still shocking to think that so many people are willing to reduce whole wonderful children to little pencil marks on paper thank you for being a voice of reason in an insane world!



Date: Mon Jul 22 06:06:53 2002
Name: Kellie J. Thayer
E-mail: kelliejo1960@aol.com
Organization: Gifted Teacher
Location: Logan-Rogersville, Rogersville, MO
How the site
was found:
search for positive discipline and Alfie Kohn
Comments: I like what I read -- want to read more about it!



Date: Thu Jul 18 16:00:41 2002
Name: roosevelt a. farmer
E-mail: georgia1939@cs.com
Organization: retired
Location: 701 N. king charles rd. raleigh, nc 27610
How the site
was found:
looking for a book by kohn
Comments: I enjoy reading your books,essays, etc. You are a seminal researcher for this time. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts with us. Your thoughts encourage me to "step up to the plate" and do what I can to help save our children. Again, thanks!



Date: Thu Jul 18 13:25:19 2002
Name: Pam Abreu
E-mail: abreupam@hotmail.com
Organization: las vegas city schools
Location: Las Vegas, NM
How the site
was found:
my professor
Comments: I dislike high stakes testing!



Date: Tue Jul 16 15:34:57 2002
Name: cynthia.boudreau
E-mail:
Organization:
Location:
How the site
was found:
Comments:



Date: Tue Jul 16 14:09:02 2002
Name: Kas Smiley
E-mail: ksmiley@dlrgroup.com
Organization: DLR Group
Location: Portland, Oregon
How the site
was found:
Kingston School Web Page - Bend Oregon
Comments: Great information - Thanks!



Date: Tue Jul 16 12:42:15 2002
Name: Genevieve Hill
E-mail: petunia35@earthlink.net
Organization:
Location:
How the site
was found:
on a link from a differentiated instruction site
Comments:



Date: Sun Jul 14 13:01:45 2002
Name: George Morrison
E-mail: morrisg1@staff.ednet.ns.ca
Organization: Halifax Regional School Board
Location: Lower Sackville Nova Scotia
How the site
was found:
Educational Leadership/June99
Comments: We recently had our Minister of Education call for a back to basics curriculum and we all ready have standardized tests that have proven to be both expensive and frustrating.Teachers are very concerned. I am doing a summer institute and exploring the usefulness of standardized tests.Hope you don,t mind if I quote you - thanks.



Date: Thu Jul 11 20:28:52 2002
Name: Dave Welch
E-mail: darwel@swbell.net
Organization: DARWEL Group
Location: Dallas
How the site
was found:
Saw book in store
Comments:



Date: Thu Jul 11 20:07:41 2002
Name: Raewyn Allen
E-mail: r.a.allen@massey.ac.nz
Organization: Massey University
Location: Palmerston North New Zealand
How the site
was found:
Surfing the Web via Teachers Web.com
Comments: This is a very informative and helpful website, Thankyou!



Date: Thu Jul 11 14:33:27 2002
Name: Skip Kutz
E-mail: kutzs1@sasktel.net
Organization: Saskatchewan Urban Native Teacher Education Program
Location: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
How the site
was found:
Lycos search
Comments: Thanks for the keen insights and sensitivity. This site provides some hope in the face of our sometimes cynical and hateful world. Let's teach our kids to be better people than we are.



Date: Wed Jul 10 09:41:18 2002
Name: Erin Forman
E-mail: erin_forman@email.com
Organization: grad student @ Spalding University & middle school teacher
Location: Louisville KY
How the site
was found:
professor recommended
Comments: I completed my first year of teaching last year, and found the focus on standardized testing and test preparation a frustrating waste of time. The test questions I was privy to during "practice" test sessions had very little to do with anything the students could connect with. The scores that we (students and teachers) are being judged by do not accurately reflect the students' abilities. After reading a few questions, most kids quickly conclude that the test does not merit a genuine effort, and teachers begging them to do their best makes it seem even sillier to them. A 7th grade science open response "practice" question asked that the students come up with "2 ways to conserve energy at your school". One of my students responded that she would "stop going up and down the stairs so much". Enough said. Thanks for providing me with hope and new ideas for next year.



Date: Mon Jul 8 19:58:50 2002
Name: Shawn Rutt
E-mail: srutt123@worldnet.att.net
Organization: Reading School District
Location: Reading, Pa
How the site
was found:
Read book
Comments: You have made a convert. I loved what you had to say on so many different topics. Hope to implement many of your ideas this year. Hope all goes well



Date: Mon Jul 8 18:32:35 2002
Name: Roxanne Collins
E-mail: thor@thevision.net
Organization: n/a
Location: California
How the site
was found:
Search engine, while looking for John Taylor Gatto
Comments: I can't tell you how pleased I am to finally see new perspectives proposed and discussed with respect to problems in public education. It is clear that the time is long past due for real school reform, this time based on new ways of thinking and a new set of attitudes about both education and children. I know I'll be coming back to this site time and again. Thanks. Roxanne



Date: Mon Jul 8 17:26:25 2002
Name: Elizabeth Klutho
E-mail: EKlutho@yahoo.com
Organization: School Sisters of Notre Dame
Location: ST. LOUIS
How the site
was found:
Internet
Comments: I am interested in middle schools available in Nurnberg.



Date: Mon Jul 8 11:13:57 2002
Name: Ramón Martínez
E-mail: rmmart1@yahoo.com
Organization:
Location: Minneapolis, MN
How the site
was found:
link from Rethinking Schools
Comments: Thank you for your words and discussion regarding the attacks of Sept 11. It is unfortunate that not enough people exercise their public voice about this event. Thank you for doing so!!



Date: Sat Jul 6 12:24:54 2002
Name: AliNekuye fard
E-mail: ali_tantan@hotmail.com
Organization: Home
Location: 46 no; Ansar ST;esteghlal Blvd
How the site
was found:
Comments: Thanks



Date: Fri Jul 5 07:55:51 2002
Name: tina turner
E-mail: tturner@niagararc.com
Organization:
Location:
How the site
was found:
honors spec. chem course at queen's
Comments:



Date: Thu Jul 4 18:12:42 2002
Name: Tom O'Kelley
E-mail: tjok@attbi.com
Organization: Tacoma Public Schools
Location: Tacoma, Washington
How the site
was found:
In the back of *Punished by Rewards*
Comments: Mr. Kohn, I have been reading *Punished by Rewards* this week, and have been realizing why I hated school, despite being able to learn MUCH faster than any of my classmates, and why *my* middle school students behave and produce so much better for me than for any of their other teachers. I now have some great defenses for my stands on how to work with kids, and have realized that in my 20 years of middle school teaching I haven't gone far enough away from the rewards side of the scale. I am going to work very hard to get the rest of my team's teachers to read the book, as well as our school's administrators. Maybe then we can properly assist our kids in getting the education they need and deserve to get. Also, when are you going to do a lecture in Washington state that I mught be able to attend. I seriously doubt I'd be able to present myself as an Oregon State Board member. (Though I may try!) Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! --Tom O'Kelley__ PS: On the first day of the first psych course I took in college, I verbally challenged the instructor to show any proof that torturing and starving rats and dogs would give the slightest clue as to how people think. He got very upset with me. Turns out that he, Dr. Thorndike (sp?), was a grandson or something of Dr. Thorndike. Tee hee. I dropped the course and took it in a later year from a different professor. :)



Date: Tue Jul 2 09:17:15 2002
Name: Julia A. Hill
E-mail: jhill14@wi.rr.com
Organization:
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
How the site
was found:
Web source: Rethinking School
Comments: Thank you for your sincere thoughts and dedication to making a change in education.



Date: Tue Jul 2 06:48:22 2002
Name: Karen Magruder
E-mail: gregkarenmag@gru.net
Organization:
Location: Gainesville, Florida
How the site
was found:
Interested in a job in education
Comments: One summer I attended "Project Zero" at Harvard University - Teaching for Understanding. However, in Florida, as well as many other states, state testing is more important than teaching for understanding. I agree with Mr. Kohn's ideas on state testing and what it does to our kids!



Date: Sun Jun 30 11:04:51 2002
Name: Lori Johnson
E-mail: deneen2002@hotmail.com
Organization: Salvation Army Headstart / Student at St. Xavier Univ.
Location: 20 s. Campbell, Chicago, IL
How the site
was found:
Saw an interview Oprah
Comments: I really enjoy your work. I like your views on rewards and punishment and being an educator of young children, I try to find a more positive solution that will work. It gets hard sometimes, but I keep on striving and searching for ways to do whats best for them. They are looking to me for amswers and help, and I have to be there for them. The area that I work in is a poor area with a lot of gun violence and domestic abuse, so you know that I have my work cut out for me. I am very dedicated to my babies, I have been working in this area for nine years now among the violence. Yes, I get scared sometimes, but my children are depending on me to be there, so I have to be. If you have any answers or information for me, I would really appreciate it. Thank You



Date: Sat Jun 29 06:25:05 2002
Name: moira kelly
E-mail: moirakelly7@aol.com
Organization:
Location: Test-Crazy state of Florida
How the site
was found:
teacher friend
Comments: I just completed reading A Look At Getting Back To Basics: First Lesson: Unlearn What we Learn by Alphie Kohn. Thank you...thank you...thank you... I am a former fourth grade teacher in this politically test-crazy state of Florida. I have recently moved to the less (for the moment) test anxious atmosphere of second grade. I am afraid that this is only a temporary movement and that my next one is out of the classroom...out of the field of education; which is unfourtunate for the future children I might have had as well as for myself. I have the sick "pit in my stomach" feeling of watching a beloved house burn down as I reflect on what is happening to the field of education in my state. I want to pick up a garden hose, stay with it, help...but the horridness of it and the monstrosity of it creates this awful paralizing feeling inside and makes me feel as if my only way of surviving is to turn and run. Thank you, your article has helped me feel justified in my feelings and has enabled me to pick up the hose and, at least for the moment, do something...what I can do...create a loving curious, open, consistant envirnment for my students.



Date: Fri Jun 28 04:44:56 2002
Name: David Nuss
E-mail: dnuss@attbi.com
Organization: Gervais School District
Location: Oregon
How the site
was found:
Attended COSA Confernence
Comments: I heard you at the COSA conference in Seaside in June, 2002. You made some very good points on testing that should be shared with parents and taxpayers, who have been brain wasted on the standards focus, currently demanding so much of our time these days.



Date: Tue Jun 25 11:58:19 2002
Name: Jolynne Roper
E-mail: mailto:jolynne222@hotmail.com
Organization:
Location: New Mexico
How the site
was found:
Comments: I am trying to ger started on homeschooling and have know idea where to look first so if any knows where or how please let me know!!!!!!!!!!!!



Date: Tue Jun 25 10:47:53 2002
Name: Jaime Rosso
E-mail: jaime@garlic.com
Organization: Gilroy Unified School District
Location: Gilroy, CA
How the site
was found:
Gilroy High teacher
Comments:



Date: Tue Jun 25 06:34:07 2002
Name: V Graham
E-mail: sakinah3@yahoo.com
Organization:
Location:
How the site
was found:
Teachnet Article
Comments: Your article in the Teachnet Gazette was intersting but I have a difficult time with your philosophy. One of the strategies you suggested was saying nothing when a child shows positive behavior and having a discussion when they show negative behavior. That would mean the child only gets you attention for negative behavior. My husband did this unconciously as he was raising a daughter by himself. She is now 12 and really awful because bad behavior gets her an audience with him. Also, the comment that states what was done without judgement would have the same affect as a positive statement because the mere fact that you noticed is positive feedback.



Date: Sun Jun 23 13:39:05 2002
Name: Barb Olson
E-mail: olsonb@web.sheridan2.k12.wy.us
Organization: Sheridan County School District #2
Location: Sheridan Wyoming
How the site
was found:
C span
Comments:



Date: Sun Jun 23 11:33:59 2002
Name: Rene Hill
E-mail: love2knit2@yahoo.com
Organization: University of Phoenix
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
How the site
was found:
class assignment
Comments: I could not access the assigned site as it is no longer there



Date: Sat Jun 22 16:11:06 2002
Name: Melinda Butler
E-mail: mebutler@iusb.edu
Organization: Indiana University South Bend
Location: Northern Indiana
How the site
was found:
typed in "alphie kohn" in google!!
Comments: I am currently working on my doctorate and am extremely interested in issues regarding standardized tests... teaching toward the test, and actual achievement of students. Having taught in the school system for a number of years I have seen what happend when people teach to test.. as well as the stress that "the test" puts on the educational environment. I have seen what has happened to wonderful schools/teachers when their "success" was measured only by the state mandated numbers. I better get off my soapbox... I would have lots to say!!



Date: Mon Jun 17 10:16:02 2002
Name: Dana Sukey
E-mail: anad25@hotmail.com
Organization: Student Teacher @ Queen's University
Location: Kingston, ON
How the site
was found:
discussed in one of my education classes/heard Alfie Kohn speak as well
Comments: I just wanted to say, that I am thankful to find that there are people out there like Alfie Kohn, who are not only intelligable, but also personal and who are brave enough to get their opinions out there. Alifie Kohn has the ability to get his ideas across in a manner that transcends all levels of education. He has a way of making even the dullest facts and figures come to life, a way that makes people second guess previous biases. We need to be thankful for innovators and pioneers in education like Aflie Kohn...We need to learn from him and become more like him!



Date: Fri Jun 14 11:49:33 2002
Name: Monica Chesla
E-mail: andyscoot@msn.com
Organization: Hiram Elementary school
Location: Hiram OH
How the site
was found:
yahoo
Comments: I am a big fan of yours! I hope some day you will be coming to Cleveland. I would love to hear you lecture!



Date: Fri Jun 14 11:47:49 2002
Name: Monica Chesla
E-mail: andyscoot@msn.com
Organization: Hiram Elementary school
Location: Hiram OH
How the site
was found:
yahoo
Comments: I am a big fan of yours! I hope some day you will be coming to Cleveland. I would love to hear you lecture!



Date: Fri Jun 14 11:43:26 2002
Name: Monica Chesla
E-mail:
Organization:
Location:
How the site
was found:
Comments:



Date: Thu Jun 13 10:19:35 2002
Name: David Steele
E-mail: davids1994@aol.com
Organization: Santa Monica Alternate School House
Location: Santa Monica, CA
How the site
was found:
Comments: We have a public progressive school, K-8 with multi grade classes, no grades and a strong focus on the school as a learning community. The parents pulled so many of the students from the CA S9 standard tests that they cannot compile a score for the school. For any of you who have questions about this kind of education, IT WORKS!



Date: Thu Jun 13 05:11:27 2002
Name: Matthew Heusser
E-mail: Heusserm@student.gvsu.edu
Organization: Civil Air Patrol
Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan
How the site
was found:
Web Search
Comments: I read "The problem with A's, Praise ..." at my school's bookstore abotu a year ago. I also volenter as a Captain in Civil Air Patrol, where I teach youth (12-20 yrs) leadership principles. It's interesting that most of my Cadets would be totally opposed to your message because it's too "communist." For the past two years, we've had a drill team, and tried to "motivate" them with the idea that "if we win at XX level, we'll have a pizza party or go to an adventure park, or ski trip, etc." I tried to apply some of the concepts in Kohn's work, and I noticed something. When the competition was over, the cadets had completely forgotten about the reward. They didn't CARE - because the very act of being a drill team became it's own reward. I can't say I competely agree with all of Kohn's ideas - like the case against competition - but in a leadership dimension, there is certainly something there to what he writes. I've also recently become a journal article writer for www.cadetstuff.org, and managed to shoe-horn some of Kohn's ideas into my articles: http://www.cadetstuff.org/features/200112/200112_huesser_styles_4.htm Note that the sarcastic style is for two reasons: (1) I do think Kohn needs to be taken with both eyes open, and (2) To reach the intended audience. Thanks for the insight - I like to learn, and think you do as well, or you probably wouldn't be reading this.



Date: Thu Jun 13 05:04:11 2002
Name: Matthew Heusser
E-mail: Matthew_Heusser@McGraw-Hill.com
Organization: Civil Air Patrol
Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan
How the site
was found:
Web Search
Comments:



Date: Wed Jun 12 00:20:59 2002
Name: Al Teal
E-mail: al@alteal.com
Organization: none
Location: Hinesville
How the site
was found:
Fox News Channel
Comments: In the free world, competition is required. Humans are programmed by nature to compete. You will have to have dictatorial rule over people to keep them from competing. You are apparently someone who lacks the desire or the ability to compete on your own. I have a theory: You cannot achieve excellence yourself so you would like to see excellence outlawed. Your ideas, if implemented, would add the US to the list of totalitarian nations.



Date: Tue Jun 11 19:00:17 2002
Name: Matthew Foldenauer
E-mail: mfoldenauer@comcast.net
Organization:
Location: Arlington, VA
How the site
was found:
google search for name
Comments: I saw your appearance on Hannity and Colmes. Did you get beat up a lot as a child? I'm glad that the great military leaders of American history weren't tought using your philosophies.



Date: Tue Jun 11 12:30:35 2002
Name: ken horton
E-mail: khorton@mysaterynet.mb.ca
Organization: Mystery lake School division
Location: thompson, manitoba
How the site
was found:
Browsing
Comments:



Date: Mon Jun 10 17:13:24 2002
Name: Jamie Rhodes
E-mail: jamielrhodes@hotmail.com
Organization: Graduate Student at LaGrange College, GA
Location: Newnan, GA
How the site
was found:
Referenced your book, The Schools Our Children Deserve
Comments: This was required reading for my graduate MAT program and such an unbelievable and refreshing eye-opener! If only every parent and teacher would read this book... and realize that our children's intelligence is being undermined on a daily basis, surely a grass roots movement would arise in protest. I hope to get this book in the hands of every parent, teacher and headmaster that I know. Thank you for the insight... most parents have no idea that other methods exist!



Date: Mon Jun 10 16:04:29 2002
Name: Kelly Kent Johnson
E-mail: boatersx4@aol.com
Organization: public school teacher
Location: Newport News, VA
How the site
was found:
through Disney's Learning Partnership website
Comments: I couldn't agree more with Alfie Kohn's sentiments. I have tried to be an advocate for these beliefs in my 21 years of teaching! Cheers to you!



Date: Mon Jun 10 12:34:48 2002
Name: melinda andolina
E-mail: mma65@msn.com
Organization:
Location:
How the site
was found:
Canisius College
Comments:



Date: Sun Jun 9 05:36:19 2002
Name: Patrick Beilby
E-mail: pbeilby@ksc.th.com
Organization: Femina Lace
Location: Bangkok
How the site
was found:
The back of 'Punished by rewards'
Comments: The best advice for any parent or manager(I am both) is to be found in your book 'punished by rewards'. A new and better way to explain and understand our society and for me and my children a chance of finding real happiness and at the same time achieving excellence. The best book that I have picked up in a long time, Alfie Kohn, thank you so much.



Date: Sat Jun 8 20:21:34 2002
Name: Karen Boltwood
E-mail: Bennafernoa@aol.com
Organization:
Location: Rochester, NY
How the site
was found:
on the back of Mr. Kohn's book
Comments: As a parent of a first-grader who is struggling with learning disabilities, I am totally against standardized testing! We have been fighting with the teachers and principal since January to get help for our child, but they seem to prefer the "cookie-cutter" approach to teaching the future of our country! Thank you, Mr. Kohn, for your wonderful books!



Date: Thu Jun 6 19:02:50 2002
Name: Kris Fujita
E-mail: Kris_Fujita@notes.k12.hi.us
Organization: Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School
Location: Hawaii
How the site
was found:
The forward to Susan Ohanian's book "What Happened to Recess...?"
Comments: I am a huge fan of Susan Ohanian and have heard a great deal about "Punished by Rewards." I leaped for joy when I read you words in the forward to her latest book -- "Knock out the artificial supports propping up 'Success For All,'Open Court,''Reading Mastery,' and other prefabricated exercises in drilling kids to produce right answers (ofetn without any understanding), and these programs will then collapse of their own dead weight." YES! YES! YES! This will prove to be so true but only after too many children have paid the price... These programs are the current "flavors of the month" here in Hawaii and it's a real struggle to keep this kind of thinking out of our public middle school. Thank you, Alfie Kohn, for providing us with more ammunition to keep up the good fight.



Date: Wed Jun 5 12:09:17 2002
Name: Joseph Milnes
E-mail: jhmilnes@yahoo.com
Organization: Springfield School District
Location: Springfield (Delco), P! 19064
How the site
was found:
from an article
Comments: I'm fascinated with Kohn's work and am preparing an analysis of his Educational Theory for a doctoral level class that I am taking at Widener University. I have 8 guiding principles to get through the analysis. I have read three of his books; The Schools Our Children Deserve, Punished by Rewards, and The Case Against Standardized Testing, as well as, several articles that he has written. When I came across this website I was hoping that he actually looks at this site and could lend some assistance. Aftre all who would better know the answers then "St. Alfie" (professor's reference)himself. Here are the guiding principles: Theory of Value: What knowledge and skills are worthwhile learning? What are the goals of educaiton? Theory of Knowledge: What is knowledge? How is it different from belief? What is a mistake? A lie? Theory of Human Nature: What is a human being? How does it differ from other species? What are the limits of human potential? Theory of Learning: What is learning? How are skills and knowledge acquired? Theory of Transmission: Who is to teach? By what methods? What will the curriculum be? Theory of Society: What is society? What institutions are involved in the educational process? Theory of Opportunity: Who is to be educated? Who is to be schooled? Theory of Consensus: Why do people disagree? How is consensus achieved? Whose opinion takes precedence?



Date: Sat Jun 1 20:47:33 2002
Name: Cameron
E-mail: acameron@uni.edu
Organization: Graduate Student
Location: Iowa
How the site
was found:
Back of book
Comments: I am interested in hearing you speak. Will there be any lectures in Texas in the upcoming year?



Date: Sat Jun 1 12:26:29 2002
Name: Georgia Hedrick
E-mail: saraw1@msn.com
Organization: Roaring Lion Ebook Writing
Location: Reno, NV
How the site
was found:
Heard about it from Literacy for all
Comments: I have wanted to get to this site for a long, long time. I'll be back. I am of the thought that 'real teachers don't test' because they don't have to. They know. With enough teaching experience, they most certain scoff at standardized tests. I would like every single administrator to take a standardized test and publish their scores--they also would be forbidden to take elementary level tests. No fair. In WCSD, the testing department has increased 3-fold. In WCSD, some schools have no library money in the budget. Nothing. gh



Date: Sat Jun 1 07:05:55 2002
Name: Suzanne Gerczak
E-mail: sgerczak@aol.com
Organization: Alief Independent School District
Location: Houston, TX
How the site
was found:
On the back of one of Mr. Kohn's books
Comments: I love Mr. Kohn's work! His books always offer new insight into the many issues in public education.



Date: Fri May 31 09:32:12 2002
Name: aubrey chanecka
E-mail: chanec87@cortland.edu
Organization: Student at SUNY Cortland
Location: Cortland NY 13045
How the site
was found:
from a proffesor
Comments: Dear Mr.Kohn, I was wondering if there were some more information on grading how and why? Just like the article on the teaching part of your homepage. I need info for a class and I need to make a website about it and I love the topic! Great articles!



Date: Thu May 30 07:58:53 2002
Name: Ann Spielmaker
E-mail: annieS@lee.k12.fl.us
Organization: FGCU
Location:
How the site
was found:
Friend
Comments: Greetings



Date: Tue May 28 07:02:23 2002
Name: Gary W. Senyo
E-mail: gsenyo@ucasd.iu5.org
Organization: PSEA Committee For The Preservation Of Public Education
Location: Pennsylvania
How the site
was found:
by Alfie
Comments: I recommend this site 4 or 5 times a year in my reports to educators. It is for enlightened thinkers looking for a better way and who are tired of the anti-teacher rhetoric of the Bush - Ridge era.



Date: Mon May 27 16:35:49 2002
Name: joanne felix
E-mail: joski14250@aol
Organization: uft
Location: NY
How the site
was found:
googlre.com
Comments:



Date: Sun May 26 15:32:16 2002
Name: Karen Villacres
E-mail: davidv49@hal-pc.org
Organization: mother
Location: 3618 Valley Haven
How the site
was found:
Kingwood, Tx. 77339
Comments: I have a soon to be third grder who has so much anxiety over performence that she requires therapy. Any information that you could send me would be helpful. I am planning to order some of your tapes and books. She is in the public school system currently. I have been advised to seek "cognitive behavioral therapy" for her. She has been diagnosed with general anxiety disorder. As her mother I know that her anxiety is mostly related to performance.



Date: Sun May 26 09:37:47 2002
Name: Judith Van Tyne
E-mail: vantynje@aol.com
Organization: School Board of Alachua County-Head Start
Location: Gainesville, FL
How the site
was found:
a 2001 article in Young Children magazine
Comments: I am a training and resource specialist for Head Start and have conducted many workshops on disabilities, early childhood development and behavior. In each of these I try to find the time to discourage the use of praise and give teachers an alternative - by noticing and acknowledging or "You did it!" I am always looking for support for this approach so I thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing your deep understanding of the negative effects of praise, etc.



Date: Sat May 25 22:00:41 2002
Name: Robin Hoare
E-mail: robinsnest@paradise.net.nz
Organization: --
Location: New Zealand
How the site
was found:
Read "No Contest" first
Comments: I believe Alfie's ideas should be studied closely if we want to cure our sick society



Date: Fri May 24 10:37:38 2002
Name: Don Perl
E-mail: myexcel.com
Organization: Perl against CSAP
Location: Greeley Colorado
How the site
was found:
Substance
Comments: Dear Alfie Kohn, We spoke on the phone last year, and you were kind enough to send me your book, The Case Against Standardized Testing. I had boycotted the CSAP test. I couldn't bring myself to continue in this district, and so I resigned at the end of the 2001 school year. This year I am planning some political action by renting an educational booth at Greeley's "Fiesta Days." I'll let you know how things go. In the meantime, if there is any advice you could send me, or literature I could access, I would be grateful. In solidarity, Don Perl



Date: Wed May 22 07:03:59 2002
Name: Cathie Rollings
E-mail: Rollings43@cs.com
Organization: Randlolph County Partnership for Children
Location: Ashboro, North Carolina
How the site
was found:
link through ooeygooey.com
Comments: please email me if you are speaking anywhere in N.C. region and article updates.



Date: Tue May 21 14:45:43 2002
Name: Jim Bellis
E-mail: jbellis@together.net
Organization: Self
Location: South Burlington, Vermont
How the site
was found:
Software Success News Letter
Comments: Your thoughts are an inspiration for those of us who are in the work-world and must deal with the conventional wisdom of work incentives. You definitely got it right. The major issue now, as I see it, is how do you get your ideas to be accepted as mainstream thinking?



Date: Tue May 21 08:04:24 2002
Name: Dennis Baker
E-mail: baker@glattnet.ch
Organization:
Location:
How the site
was found:
Comments: Dear Mr. Kohn: Having just read your editorial in USA Today, you thoroughly lose me. You cite research that "overwhelmingly" shows that lagging students are stigmatized by retention. I agree, but I fear you are suggesting promotion even when the child is far behind the grade level. Will promoting the child to a more advanced grade help or hurt the child? Will the child get more behind, frustrated and lacking in self-confidence and self-esteem? Would you concede that the Marva Collins approach is so much better? Is the solution to believe in children and stick with them and refuse to give up? All children are capable of learning. We as Americans and teachers must accept the basic premise that ALL children can learn. They only need adults who believe in them, i.e., teachers, who should endeavor to help those children who fall behind, for whatever reason. As a backup, summer school (and I can speak from personal experience) at least gives a child another chance, perhaps with less pressure than during the regular school year. Best regards, Dennis Baker



Date: Mon May 20 18:47:21 2002
Name: sarah kerry
E-mail: tskerry@msn.com
Organization:
Location:
How the site
was found:
textbook citation
Comments: I am taking a classroom management course and your beliefs make so much sense to me. I love how you say it like it is and should be. Thanks.



Date: Fri May 17 22:30:27 2002
Name: Mary Ellen Ramplin
E-mail: meramplin@netscape.net
Organization:
Location:
How the site
was found:
Citation in textbook
Comments: Thank you for having the necesary information ready for download.



Date: Fri May 17 22:29:38 2002
Name: Mary Ellen Ramplin
E-mail: meramplin@netscape.net
Organization:
Location:
How the site
was found:
Citation in textbook
Comments: Tank you for having the necesary information ready for download.



Date: Fri May 17 13:14:10 2002
Name: Clotilde Isabel Silva Waddington
E-mail: katy@tropical.co.mz
Organization: None - Cnosultant on teacher training and child learning
Location: Maputo, Mozambique
How the site
was found:
In the book punished by Rewards
Comments: Just to say that it´s wonderfull to see our must deep feelings, intuitions and beliefs so well articulated. Thank you.



Date: Fri May 17 13:09:16 2002
Name: Howard Weiner
E-mail: howard619@msn.com
Organization: Adelphi university
Location:
How the site
was found:
Mentioned in book on standardized testing
Comments: Dear Dr. Kohn, I agree with your characterization of high stakes testing as well as the problems with the use of rewards and punishments resulting from comparing these test results to impact on the culture of the school and classroom. I'm currently using the "Good Work" model to examine socially responsible teaching and view the problems and conflicts teachers have to confront stemming to a large degree from the impact of the factors you address. I'd love to discuss my research with you should you be interested. Howard Weiner, Ph.D 718/417-2697



Date: Wed May 15 15:38:48 2002
Name: Todd Bannon
E-mail: tabannon.geo@yahoo.com
Organization: Climax-Scotts Jr./Sr. High
Location: Climax, Michigan
How the site
was found:
Western Michigan University education class
Comments: We're reading Beyond Discipline in our class and it is creating some lively debate, to say the least. For such a young group of students, I am surprised by the conservative attitudes towards classroom management. I am enjoying your book and your ideas. I am currently plotting ways to convince my administration to allow me use your techniques. As a probationary teacher, I have a difficult time convincing my principal that my "casual" tactics actually have good results.



Date: Mon May 13 08:48:57 2002
Name: Stephen Verdon
E-mail: bobbijn@aol,com
Organization: none
Location: Los Angeles, CA
How the site
was found:
Inserted kohn into google
Comments: None, I am researching educators. I am a student in a classroom management class, and my instructor thought Alfie's methods were akin to my ideas.



Date: Sat May 11 11:03:05 2002
Name: John Stowell
E-mail: jmstow@ev1.net
Organization:
Location: Katy TX
How the site
was found:
Gerald Bracey's 11th. report
Comments: Well Done! You're a brave man with integrity.



Date: Fri May 10 07:33:54 2002
Name: Jamie Emerson
E-mail: jemerson@auracom.com
Organization: Peterborough Youth Services
Location: Peterborough, Ontario
How the site
was found:
attended a seminar in Belleville, Ontario
Comments: At a time in Ontario when there are so many deeply concerning social policies, school refrom is the most sinister. As the director of a Children's Mental Health Service, we see it's impact every day. "Zero tolerance" has become the operational philosophy of the school system. Thanks to school reform, it has been extended far beyond certain kinds of behavior to include zero tolerance for any kid struggling with social or emotional problems, any kid living in a home that is under resourced, any kid with learning problems and even any kid whose learning style is not compatible with standardized testing. We are not "raising the bar" in terms of improving the quality of education, we are raising the bar to exclude more and more kids from success in our educational system and by extension, positive participation in our society. How deep a thinker do you have to be to realize that the inevitable consequence of this will be more people who are unemployable or in low paying jobs that don't pay the bills, greater rates of all kinds of social problems, streets that are increasingly unsafe and more of our tax dollars going to fund prisons instead of education or health care. If you think I exaggerate, just look south of the border.



Date: Thu May 9 15:17:12 2002
Name: rtrwv g
E-mail: fdsg
Organization:
Location: bvbf
How the site
was found:
Comments: ddfhdfhvcn



Date: Mon May 6 21:44:50 2002
Name: Helen Dombrowski
E-mail: davnhel@eagleslair.net
Organization: Early Childhood Special Education
Location: Bend, Oregon
How the site
was found:
I guessed.
Comments: I heard Alfie speak in Portland,Oregon last year and I was thinking about all the innovative ideas he presented. In my OSU class on Behavior in Children, we are using Beyond Behaviorism, Changing the Classroom Management Paradigm, H. Jerome Freiberg, Editor, and Alfie's theories on democratic practices are sited. Just want to thank you Alfie, for all your hard work! Helen Dombrowski



Date: Mon May 6 14:14:15 2002
Name: lekaysia
E-mail: essence@cconnect.net
Organization: help
Location: newbern nc southgate
How the site
was found:
just searching the web
Comments: i need a program called ccc please try to find somthing like it atleast



Date: Mon May 6 08:40:44 2002
Name: Thomas Roche
E-mail: tom.roche@enterpriseinns.plc.uk
Organization: Enterprise Inns
Location: West Midlands, United Kingdom
How the site
was found:
Google search on Alfie Kohn
Comments: I read No Contest and Punished by Rewards. Both struck a chord. I work in a call centre environment where Pavlovian concepts of reward and punishment reign supreme. Unfortunately, most people around me believe my thinking belongs on another planet. Kohn's work has helped me see everything differently, from education to politics.



Date: Sun May 5 19:50:31 2002
Name: Dorothy Whitley
E-mail: dwhitley1@pdq.net
Organization:
Location: Houston, TX
How the site
was found:
From late night TV
Comments: I'd like a schedule of your TV appearances or the programs you will appear on regularly. For my own benefit and to pass this information along, I'd like your schedule. Thanks. dwhitley1



Date: Sun May 5 08:28:06 2002
Name: L. H. Blackwell
E-mail:
Organization:
Location:
How the site
was found:
message board post
Comments: I never thought I would see the day that learning information, having the ability to recall it and to score well on a test would be considered a bad thing. Shame on you. You get a D. It would have been an F but I think you are trying; just looking in the wrong direction.



Date: Fri May 3 17:41:54 2002
Name: elizabeth villegas
E-mail: shavelav6@sbcglobalnet.com
Organization: home
Location: home
How the site
was found:
internet
Comments: help me ,please my son is slowly sinking into this stage of little self worth and i dont know how to help him.......



Date: Thu May 2 08:59:38 2002
Name: Michelle Mapel
E-mail: mkmapel@hotmail.com
Organization: Student
Location: Simpson College, Indianola, IA 50125
How the site
was found:
I attened Alfie's Lecture in Des Moines and he mentioned it!
Comments: I was very energized when I left the lecture! It was great to listen to someone who shares my enthusiasm for teaching.



Date: Thu May 2 08:02:33 2002
Name: lindsay Strachan-baker
E-mail: lbaker@csnewfrontiers.qc.ca
Organization: New Frontiers School Board
Location: chateauguay, Quebec
How the site
was found:
I attended the schools that learn conference in Toronto
Comments: I was in total agreement with your philosopy on standardized testing and I presented all the info. last night at my school Governing Board. I really enjoyed the conference and was very impressed with your presentation. thank you so much. Lindsay Baker



Date: Tue Apr 30 14:22:04 2002
Name: Del Nelson
E-mail: delnelsonatARC@aol.com
Organization: American River College
Location: Sacramento, CA
How the site
was found:
One of my class student teams, studying the teachings of Dr. Deming, referred me
Comments: As always, Alfie is doing what Dr. Deming espoused, "Chip, chip, chipping away!" In addition to testing I would like to see a refernce or two to the nonsense of appraisals. Del



Date: Tue Apr 30 14:21:01 2002
Name: Del Nelson
E-mail: delnelsonatARC@aol.com
Organization: American River College
Location: Sacramento, CA
How the site
was found:
One of my class student teams, studying the teachinhs of Dr. Deming referred me
Comments: As always, Alfie is doing what Dr. Deming espoused, "Chip, chip, chipping away!" In addition to testing I would like to see a refernce or two to the nonsense of appraisals. Del



Date: Tue Apr 30 01:23:54 2002
Name: Matze
E-mail:
Organization:
Location:
How the site
was found:
Comments:



Date: Mon Apr 29 15:37:33 2002
Name: Timothy Woods
E-mail: timothywoods@attbi.com
Organization: Dracut Public Schools
Location: Dracut MA 01826
How the site
was found:
Conference
Comments: Your lecture at the Toronto conference 4/18 was outstanding! Your material is referenced often in the C.A.G.S. courses I am taking so it was a pleasure to see you in person. Anytime you will be in the New england area please let us know.



Date: Mon Apr 29 14:14:48 2002
Name: karen zoppa
E-mail: k.zoppa@uwinnipeg.ca
Organization: MACRO - Meaningful Assessment and Curricular Reform Organiztion
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada
How the site
was found:
google
Comments: I am looking for national or provincial organizations that share our desire to eliminate "outcomes" and "standards" in the our schools and educational policies. If anyone can help, please e-mail me. Thanks.



Date: Sat Apr 27 18:54:47 2002
Name: Quinn Morris
E-mail: quinn_morris2000@yahoo.com
Organization:
Location: North Carolina
How the site
was found:
Comments: I have am in the middle of Punishment by Rewards and i just wanted to express gratitude for Mr. Kohn because everything he says i experience everyday at my school. I'm glad he finally brought it out in the open.



Date: Sat Apr 27 18:53:50 2002
Name: Quinn Morris
E-mail: quinn_morris2000@yahoo.com
Organization:
Location: North Carolina
How the site
was found:
Comments: I have am in the middle of Punishment by Rewards and i just wanted to express gratitude for Mr. Kohn because everything he says i experience everyday at my school. I'm glad he finally brought it out in the open.



Date: Thu Apr 18 11:45:16 2002
Name: Dr. Marla K. Banks
E-mail: banksm@mcmurryadm.edu
Organization: McMurry University
Location: Abilene, TX 79697
How the site
was found:
web listed in text
Comments:



Date: Wed Apr 17 22:19:36 2002
Name: Bruce Foden
E-mail: bfoden@post.kosone.com
Organization: ON-YOUR-MARK Training & Technical Services
Location: Wellington, Ontario K0K 3L0
How the site
was found:
You gave it out
Comments: I attended your lecture at Queen's U this evening. Thanks for the refreshing critique of the 'accountability' mess. Interestingly, the newscast just an hour before your talk carried word from the new minister that the teacher testing requirement will be 'reviewed', a clear signal that that policy, and possibly most of the impetus for the Ontario approach to education reform, was driven by the lately departed Premier!



Date: Wed Apr 17 07:54:29 2002
Name: Michael Mirigian
E-mail: mikemirigian@clovisusd.k12.ca.us
Organization: Clovis West High School
Location: Fresno, CA
How the site
was found:
On the back cover of "The Case Against Standardized Testing."
Comments:



Date: Tue Apr 16 10:00:50 2002
Name: Margaret Delligatti
E-mail: mdelligatti@d112.lake.k12.il.us
Organization: Wayne Thomas Elem./ NLU graduate student
Location: Highland Park, Il
How the site
was found:
Lecture at NLU on 4-15-02
Comments: After attending the lecture at NLU I realized how underappreciated good teachers really are. My concerns were affirmed at this event. A recent article in "Chicago" magazine posted the test scores for hundereds of schools in the Chicagoland area. Upon paying for the material, which I now use for entertainment purposes only, the teenage boy at the register was bragging about how his private school was ranked at the top of the list. The only school, "above his" was a noted instiution on the North Shore. I hate to tell this poor young man that this really means his tuiton is being wasted on bad education! Maybe someone should give this information to his parents so they could save their money for his college experience!



Date: Tue Apr 16 09:28:33 2002
Name: Dr. Jan R. Bartlett
E-mail: jbartlet@iastate.edu
Organization: Iowa State University
Location: Ames, Iowa
How the site
was found:
referred to by Alfie Kohn
Comments: Alfie spoke yesterday at the Alternative Education Conference in Des Moines and I took 6 of my graduate students who are preparing to be counselors & consultants. We are using his book: The schools our children deserve in the practicum course. He was clearly passionate and provided the group with valuable information and an excellent reframing of the context for learning. Thanks for your dedication to this topic. My colleague and I approach our teaching here at the university in much the same way. Learning is learning, no matter the age, the context, or content. We are discussing not using grades and seeking to make our new curriculum much more student centered and "working with" rather than "doing to."



Date: Tue Apr 16 09:27:31 2002
Name: Dr. Jan R. Bartlett
E-mail: jbartlet@iastate.edu
Organization: Iowa State University
Location: Ames, Iowa
How the site
was found:
referred to by Alfie Kohn
Comments: Alfie spoke yesterday at the Alternative Education Conference in Des Moines and I took 6 of my graduate students who are preparing to be counselors & consultants. We are using his book: The schools our children deserve in the practicum course. He was clearly passionate and provided the group with valuable information and an excellent reframing of the context for learning. Thanks for your dedication to this topic. My colleague and I approach our teaching here at the university in much the same way. Learning is learning, no matter the age, the context, or content. We are discussing not using grades and seeking to make our new curriculum much more student centered and "working with" rather than "doing to."



Date: Mon Apr 15 13:25:04 2002
Name: Kellie Dixon
E-mail: kaggy@earthlink.net
Organization: University of Texas / Graduate student/ Ed Psy
Location: Austin, Texas
How the site
was found:
Research for curriculum class
Comments: Mr. Kohn, I fascinated by your veiw point. I was unable to attend your lecture when you were in San Antonio, but I hope I will have another oppurtunity. My worry is not changing how students react to "no grades", but their parents, universities, the business world. We are a competitive society and base all selection on some form of competition. Thank you for your message. As a new teacher, it gives me hope for our educational system.



Date: Fri Apr 12 22:17:21 2002
Name: Lauriekay Meacham
E-mail: wildsky@earthlink.net
Organization: Wild Sky Art Studios
Location: Pacific, WA
How the site
was found:
internet search
Comments:



Date: Fri Apr 12 12:57:08 2002
Name: Brent Reid
E-mail: dumbledore@shaw.ca
Organization:
Location: Vancouver Island, BC, Canada
How the site
was found:
Your publisher
Comments: Our province is the latest to throw out the wisdom and expertise of experienced teachers and replace it with dubious data gathered on invalid standardized tests. Dr. Kohn presents us with sound counter-arguments, alternative strategies, and hope. The pendulum will swing back. Until then, our job is to minimize the damage caused to children by this harmful, politially expedient foolishness.



Date: Fri Apr 12 05:40:32 2002
Name: DeAnn Webb
E-mail: dwebb2@towson.edu
Organization: Student-Education Major
Location: Towson, MD
How the site
was found:
www.enc.org
Comments:



Date: Wed Apr 10 11:36:05 2002
Name: William Stierle
E-mail: touchdwn83@aol.com
Organization: Corporate Culture Development
Location: Santa Monica, CA 90404
How the site
was found:
book
Comments: Thank you for your insight and research. I refer people to read your book at every workshop I present. I am interested in more business applications and workplace applications.



Date: Tue Apr 9 21:31:54 2002
Name: Jane Stimmel
E-mail: jcam@tfb.com
Organization: Sage Meadow Elementary School
Location: Fallbrook, CA
How the site
was found:
Book jacket
Comments: We will be opening our doors for the first time in the Fall 2002, and we plan to use the constructivist approach through and through. It seems that finding the right teachers might be the hard part. Any advice?



Date: Tue Apr 9 19:25:35 2002
Name: Margarita G. Lizarra
E-mail: margaliz@bestnetpc.com
Organization:
Location:
How the site
was found:
Through the Star Channel
Comments: Beloved Mr. Kohn; I hope that every single teacher of this planet becomes aware of your educational platform about behavior and humane development. As an educator I not only apply your principles but I am trying every single day to become that wonderfull person that others can emulate .My behavior can promote ethical behaviors that ultimately will round off a caring and extraordinary humane being. Dr. Kohn ,keep it up. I just want you to know that I am working with you. I thank you from my heart and ask God to bless yoy and those who are pro better citizen . Remember, that I am with you in this campaing. Respectfully, Margarita



Date: Tue Apr 9 19:25:29 2002
Name: Margarita G. Lizarra
E-mail: margaliz@bestnetpc.com
Organization:
Location:
How the site
was found:
Through the Star Channel
Comments: Beloved Mr. Kohn; I hope that every single teacher of this planet becomes aware of your educational platform about behavior and humane development. As an educator I not only apply your principles but I am trying every single day to become that wonderfull person that others can emulate .My behavior can promote ethical behaviors that ultimately will round off a caring and extraordinary humane being. Dr. Kohn ,keep it up. I just want you to know that I am working with you. I thank you from my heart and ask God to bless yoy and those who are pro better citizen . Remember, that I am with you in this campaing. Respectfully, Margarita



Date: Tue Apr 9 19:24:33 2002
Name: Margarita G. Lizarra
E-mail: margaliz@bestnetpc.com
Organization:
Location:
How the site
was found:
Through the Star Channel
Comments: Beloved Mr. Kohn; I hope that every single teacher of this planet becomes aware of your educational platform about behavior and humane development. As an educator I not only apply your principles but I am trying every single day to become that wonderfull person that others can emulate .My behavior can promote ethical behaviors that ultimately will round off a caring and extraordinary humane being. Dr. Kohn ,keep it up. I just want you to know that I am working with you. I thank you from my heart and ask God to bless yoy and those who are pro better citizen . Remember, that I am with you in this campaing. Respectfully, Margarita



Date: Tue Apr 9 10:47:24 2002
Name: Fay Becks
E-mail:
Organization: Parent
Location: Ontario
How the site
was found:
Radio
Comments:



Date: Tue Apr 9 10:35:07 2002
Name: Lillian Lance-Dinelle
E-mail: ldinelle99@rogers.com
Organization: School Council Chairperson(Ottawa, On/Canada)
Location: Ottawa
How the site
was found:
Heard Alfie speak in Ottawa
Comments: Keep talking!



Date: Tue Apr 9 09:43:48 2002
Name: Philip Way
E-mail: phil.way@sympatico.ca
Organization: Progammer/Analyst at Govt.
Location: Ottawa
How the site
was found:
On handout at presentation given by Alfie
Comments: The purpose of education is to prepare the cognitive elite for positions of power in a meritocracy (i.e. USA). Your theories apply coginitive abuse to those who are the best and brightest. We aren't equal. Get over it. http://www.magnolia.net/~leonf/common/equality.html



Date: Mon Apr 8 18:22:11 2002
Name: Kristi
E-mail: kristimb20@aol.com
Organization: PHM Schools - student teacher
Location: Mishawaka, Indiana
How the site
was found:
searching for a comparable philosophy of education
Comments: I would like to personally thank you for having the strength to voice your opinions about the current status of education. I found your September 11th article particularly wonderful and it felt good to see many of the thoughts I've had (thoughts that people have told me to keep to myself so as to not offend anyone) put down on paper. Finally a TEACHER that gives our kids some credit. Thank you for helping solidify my current view of where education is and where I want to take it in my classroom.



Date: Sun Apr 7 21:52:31 2002
Name: Vicki Rashbaum
E-mail: vmamacita@aol.com
Organization: Barnard School
Location: New Rochelle, NY
How the site
was found:
heard Alfie Kohn at Lesley College, June 2001
Comments: everyone who works in a school and cares about children's minds should hear and really listen to what Alfie Kohn has to say. We all need to wake up and feel uncomfortable...and look for new ways to stimulate children's thinking and decision making.



Date: Sat Apr 6 22:27:55 2002
Name: Leonard Rifas
E-mail: rifas@qwest.net
Organization: EduComics
Location: Seattle, Washington, USA
How the site
was found:
[See below]
Comments: Found your site through doing a websearch on "the issue is not" (for an assignment on how ideologies are formed by making and breaking connections between ideas.) This brought me to "Grading: The Issue is Not How but Why." I love your wonderful book on competition, _No Contest_, which I read some years ago.



Date: Thu Apr 4 20:21:11 2002
Name: Jerome Rogauskas
E-mail: rogauskas@yahoo.com
Organization:
Location:
How the site
was found:
google
Comments: just started reading your book. Its an affirmation of my gut instincts.



Date: Thu Apr 4 06:32:56 2002
Name: Grace Gibbons
E-mail: nygrace@aol.com
Organization: Parent, elem. ed student
Location: Northern Dutchess County, New York
How the site
was found:
Books
Comments: I sputter, stutter, get angry and cry. Then I read Alfie Kohn (and some others) and find the words. I am hoping to find others in the area who are like minded. Not only am I often feeling alone in my thinking, but I'd like to do something for my own kids and others'. Where can I turn?



Date: Wed Apr 3 18:40:21 2002
Name: Laura Holson
E-mail: LHOLSON@aol.com
Organization: North East ISD
Location: San Antonio, TX
How the site
was found:
a colleague's recommendation
Comments:



Date: Wed Apr 3 12:18:02 2002
Name: Sue Skahill
E-mail: SueMaeg@aol.com
Organization: Governors State Univ.
Location: University Park, IL
How the site
was found:
professor
Comments: I am looking for a biography or info. on the author. I am doing a research paper and I need to include info. about Mr. Kohn



Date: Wed Apr 3 11:19:17 2002
Name: LuAnn Masella
E-mail: luannmas@netscape.net
Organization:
Location:
How the site
was found:
from starnet
Comments: After reading an article about rewards and punishments by Mr. Kohn I was very intriqued. After seeing Mr. Kohn on t.v. I am actually thinking about going back into the education field because of his beautiful, wonderful and positive influence. I hope he will influence more to see what is so clearly the right direction for our educational system. Thank you Mr. Kohn for giving hope to those who may have had difficulty in seeing it before.



Date: Wed Apr 3 07:34:00 2002
Name: Yvette Paredes-Gonzales
E-mail: ydpg7@netscape.net
Organization: San Antonio ISD
Location: San Antonio, TX
How the site
was found:
Mentioned in lecture
Comments: I enjoyed your lecture at Trinity University. You make some really strong points about the abuse of rewards and how kids respond to them. I ,for one, will try to make those "baby steps" to giving kids more choices in the classroom.



Date: Tue Apr 2 07:31:12 2002
Name: Kris Donohue
E-mail: katwoman11@msn.com
Organization: lehman college student
Location: Bronx NY
How the site
was found:
Education Digest article
Comments: I am doing a research project and I chose Standardized testing. I had only heard about students in upscale schools protesting and thought, What brats. Now I really understand their frustration. Wow, I never had to take any test like the ones I have read about. Who can I write to in order to give an opinion? Please If you have the time would you get back to me.



Date: Mon Apr 1 20:46:00 2002
Name: Susan Bee
E-mail: sbee@gorge.net
Organization: Goldendale Middle School
Location: Goldendale, WA
How the site
was found:
Classroom Connection e-ail
Comments: I am working to have my students intrinsicaly motivated rather than extrinsically. And am interested in reading Mr. Kohn's books



Date: Mon Apr 1 13:45:14 2002
Name: Rita D. LUNA
E-mail: rugged@2by2.net
Organization: n/a
Location: Texas
How the site
was found:
from a flyer
Comments: I whole heartedly agree with your opinion of our schools being more focused on being number one in the state >My son who is in the fourth grade is already burned out with school and he hates math> Schools are more focused on getting these children to excel on the TAAS tests and the children are tiring out so quickly. Please help our children to be normal children.



Date: Mon Apr 1 13:44:34 2002
Name: Rita D. LUNA
E-mail: rugged@2by2.net
Organization: n/a
Location: Texas
How the site
was found:
from a flyer
Comments: I whole heartedly agree with your opinion of our schools being more focused on being number one in the state >My son who is in the fourth grade is already burned out with school and he hates math> Schools are more focused on getting these children to excel on the TAAS tests and the children are tiring out so quickly. Please help our children to be normal children.



Date: Mon Apr 1 06:38:30 2002
Name: Joanna Lewton
E-mail:
Organization: Capital City Public Charter School
Location: Washington DC
How the site
was found:
browsing the internet
Comments: As an aducator and a parent I have been struggling to put into words the frustrations and strong feelings I have always had about (against) standardized testing-- Ms. Kohn's articles have helped me with this and I am grateful!



Date: Fri Mar 29 21:41:46 2002
Name: Alicia Ornelas
E-mail: aodd9@aol.com
Organization: I'm a student in major of English Language at Universidad autónoma de Chihuahua
Location: México
How the site
was found:
I was looking for information about Teaching English Techniques, to a research paper
Comments: Excellent!



Date: Thu Mar 28 11:25:11 2002
Name: Ntokozo
E-mail: mntokozo@
Organization: Everest Consulting
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
How the site
was found:
From my Ph D thesis supervisor, Prof Tom Ryan of the University of Cape Town.
Comments: I would like toget more papers by Mr Kohn on the question of intrinsic motivation. What influence did Mr Kohn have on Deming's System of Profound Knowledge - the fourth attribute: Psychology. I am looking for additional material to understand Deming on this point. Please kindly pass it on on other scholars of Mr Kohn and Deming.



Date: Mon Mar 25 16:24:07 2002
Name: elizabeth peckham
E-mail: mommapek@aol.com
Organization: island park school district
Location: island park ny
How the site
was found:
web search
Comments: I am looking for help in the classroom



Date: Mon Mar 25 10:15:36 2002
Name: Vera Mae Haines
E-mail: vmhaines@sky.lakeheadu.ca
Organization: Lakehead University Faculty of Education
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario
How the site
was found:
A fellow colleague mentioned it.
Comments: I am interested in possibly having you come and speak to our 4th year/one year B.Ed. students. Several educators have been suggesting you. Thanks!



Date: Sat Mar 23 21:12:49 2002
Name: Mary VanCoons
E-mail: marwil@earthlink.net
Organization: homeschooling mom
Location: Los Angeles
How the site
was found:
Plugged " Alfie Kohn" into server
Comments: To Alfie and Rich Gibson: Thanks for reminding me to have the courage of my convictions through your works and writings! We have "opted out" of the "corporate warehousing" of our children (public schools)and have never been happier!! Look forward to attending your next seminar in our area! Gratefully, Mary



Date: Wed Mar 20 11:55:19 2002
Name: Jo Alexopoulos
E-mail: jalexopoulos@moheganmail.com
Organization: Mohegan Tribe of Indians
Location: Uncasville,CT
How the site
was found:
Google Search Engine
Comments: Alfie always makes me think and then think again about how to put the thoughts into actions. Thinking is good, but if it stays only in one's head, it's power is reduced - sort of like hiding the light under the basket.



Date: Tue Mar 19 02:16:51 2002
Name: Michelle Burtnyk
E-mail: mburtnyk@sfu.ca
Organization: education student
Location: BC, Canada
How the site
was found:
an EBSCO link
Comments: great articles - really made me stop and think about some basic assumptions i had made about standardized testing(particularly gr.12 provincial exams here in BC)



Date: Mon Mar 18 19:17:49 2002
Name: Ashley M. Parks
E-mail: 3parks@swva.net
Organization: Rooftop of Va Head Start
Location: Galax, Va
How the site
was found:
link from Creative Curriculum
Comments:



Date: Mon Mar 18 13:43:21 2002
Name: Barbara Lewis
E-mail: blewis63@hotmail.com
Organization: Mohawk School System
Location: Sycamore, Ohio
How the site
was found:
Heard about books written by Alfie Kohn
Comments: I am trying to spread the word as best I can. I print and put things in the teachers mail boxes all the time, but our administrators are the worst. They have bought the whole standardized test mania hook, line and sinker and of course the state of Ohio dangles money in front of their noses. It is awful. How do we get the money part out of the picture?



Date: Mon Mar 18 11:03:38 2002
Name: CHRISTINE OCONNOR
E-mail: KRAVITZC@YAHOO.COM
Organization: CHILD & YOUTH SERVICES
Location: NURENBURG, GERMANY
How the site
was found:
SURFING THE INTERNET
Comments: I AM AN EDUCATOR FOR THE US MILITARY HERE IN GERMANY. ALFIE YOU INSPIRE ME! THANKS FOR ALL YOUR GOOD WORKS.



Date: Mon Mar 18 10:27:22 2002
Name: Arzie Galvez
E-mail: agalvez@lausd.k12.ca.us
Organization: Los Angeles Unified School District
Location: Los Angeles, California
How the site
was found:
colleague
Comments: Please add me to your email list



Date: Sun Mar 17 11:23:29 2002
Name: David Newman
E-mail: dnewman@neagri.com
Organization: Northeast Agri Systems, work - S. June Smith - volunteer
Location: Lititz, PA and Lancaster County, PA
How the site
was found:
Recommended at Board Retreat
Comments: This is the other side of the story we just aren't readind, seeing or hearing in the general media. Everyone needs to hear thes message, not just the educators. It really sits you down and makes you thing about what is going on.



Date: Thu Mar 14 11:26:53 2002
Name: Anne-Marie Stone
E-mail: stoner@gisco.net
Organization: SUNY Potsdam
Location: Norwood, N.Y.
How the site
was found:
Comments: Hey Alfie, Had the opportunity to see your lecture in Ottawa. Your work is so important...and you do it so well. A quote I am sure your familiar with..."Where anything is growing one former is worth a thousand re-formers":Horace Mann...Thank you for being a former!!!AMS



Date: Wed Mar 13 17:14:43 2002
Name: troylana
E-mail: troylanam@hotmail.com
Organization: sd 73 kamoops/thompson
Location: kamloops, bc canada
How the site
was found:
primary teachers conference, richmond,bc
Comments: damnit....youve made me think again!!



Date: Wed Mar 13 12:24:11 2002
Name: doreen wheeler
E-mail: millermouse1221@yahoo.com
Organization: education student
Location: spring arbor, mich
How the site
was found:
back of book
Comments: great material! Enjoy reading your stuff!



Date: Mon Mar 11 10:07:41 2002
Name: mary legris
E-mail: marylegris@hotmail.com
Organization:
Location: Minneapolis
How the site
was found:
from a lecture
Comments:



Date: Sun Mar 10 12:12:47 2002
Name: John Holmes
E-mail: john-holmes-is@bigfoot.com
Organization:
Location: Winnipeg, Canada
How the site
was found:
CBC radio _ Competition interview
Comments: Thank you. Your site very Proficiently Reveals many of the reasons why we Home School our children. By the time these issues get turned around or even addressed, most of the children in schools now will have been trained in this institutional way of thinking. I don't beleive it is in the best interest of our governing forces to allow the freedoms that you are speaking of. It is not controllable and therefore not profitable. I do think that we must keep these things out in the open, though. It is too important to stop what you are doing. John



Date: Sat Mar 9 10:16:15 2002
Name: Lucinda Barrington
E-mail: LuciBarr@aol.com
Organization: California State University Fullerton
Location: Fullerton, CA
How the site
was found:
Professor suggested
Comments:



Date: Thu Mar 7 18:44:22 2002
Name: R Hamel
E-mail: eggpl2@aol.com
Organization: Vocational School Board Member
Location: Charlton, MA
How the site
was found:
ACLU
Comments: I have been looking for someone like you who can argue successfully against the MCAS. At our Voc school we will be fortunate to award 50 diplomas to our graduating of 2003.



Date: Thu Mar 7 14:02:51 2002
Name: Steven Greenstein
E-mail: blue42@mindspring.com
Organization:
Location:
How the site
was found:
Comments:



Date: Wed Mar 6 23:18:28 2002
Name: marc and andrea bergeron
E-mail: mrbergeron@hotmail.com
Organization: UCDSB
Location: Ontario
How the site
was found:
attended Ottawa conference
Comments: Wonderful lecture, and we enjoyed the book. Thanks.



Date: Wed Mar 6 18:57:33 2002
Name: Fernando Cogley
E-mail: fcogley@prtc.net
Organization: Cambridge College
Location: San Juan, Puerto Rico
How the site
was found:
Book Reference
Comments: Very impressed with the ideas of Alfie Kohn on how to reform education. The Nation and Puerto Rico needs a real change in public policy towards education. In this concepts a new beggining can be found. Lets start...



Date: Wed Mar 6 13:50:52 2002
Name: Colin Charles
E-mail: rakuon@msn.com
Organization: Columbus Public Schools
Location: Columbus, Ohio
How the site
was found:
nbci.com
Comments: I am interested in stopping mandated standardized testing.



Date: Sun Mar 3 14:45:53 2002
Name: Terri Hall
E-mail: thall@idir.net
Organization: parent & secretary of PTA,employee of usd353
Location:
How the site
was found:
Comments: I would like to thank the teachers with everything they do they make the time to keep us busy parents inform. Thank you.



Date: Wed Feb 27 21:11:19 2002
Name: Jamie Bell
E-mail: Jamie_Bell@ocdsb.edu.on.ca
Organization: Ottawa-Carleton District Board of Education
Location: Richmond Ontario
How the site
was found:
Your Ottawa Lecture, Feb 21
Comments: I thoroughly enjoyed your visit here. Your talk was inspiring...a little sanity goes a long way these days.



Date: Wed Feb 27 14:16:43 2002
Name: Frank Monahan
E-mail: frankmon22@hotmail.com
Organization: just a guy
Location: Seattle WA
How the site
was found:
Searching after I read an article on MSN.com
Comments: This is truly inspiring. I just read a short article about Mr. Kohn, and I must say HOORAY! this inspired some e-mailing around my circle of friends and some wonderfull insights. IT CAN BE DONE!



Date: Wed Feb 27 12:28:26 2002
Name: Jean Dummer
E-mail: jfdummer@stkate.edu
Organization: College of St. Catherine
Location: St. Paul, MN
How the site
was found:
Inquired after reading books
Comments:



Date: Wed Feb 27 09:05:59 2002
Name: John Kajander
E-mail: kajanj@tirr.tmc.edu
Organization: TIRR Systems
Location: Houston, Texas
How the site
was found:
Google Search Engine
Comments: Just sent Mr. Kohn an e-mail message at comments@.... on some research on motivation. I would be grateful if we can receive a response. thank you



Date: Tue Feb 26 23:37:39 2002
Name: Adelard Gendron
E-mail: agendron@ilos.net
Organization: Management
Location: Winnipeg
How the site
was found:
listening to information radio
Comments: I agree that their is to much emphasize on competition in our schools THis usually has a more negative effect on children when their minds and personalites are developing.



Date: Tue Feb 26 22:11:11 2002
Name: Eric J. Nichols
E-mail: jovaneric@aol.com
Organization: AR Dept of Education
Location: Pine Bluff, AR
How the site
was found:
From the textbook "Building Classroom Discipline."
Comments: This is just for research purposes.



Date: Tue Feb 26 22:10:44 2002
Name: Eric J. Nichols
E-mail: jovaneric@aol.com
Organization: AR Dept of Education
Location: Pine Bluff, AR
How the site
was found:
From the textbook "Building Classroom Discipline."
Comments: This just for research purposes.



Date: Tue Feb 26 21:51:43 2002
Name: Gord Kidder`
E-mail: ggordd@mb.sympatico.ca
Organization: Retired
Location: Winnipeg, MB
How the site
was found:
CBC web sight
Comments: I agree with your views on chilhood competition.



Date: Mon Feb 25 20:16:21 2002
Name: Jeannie Smith
E-mail: gsmith2877@rogers.com
Organization: Ottawa-Carleton District School Board Teacher
Location: Ottawa Ontario Canada
How the site
was found:
Feb. 21, Ottawa Congress Centre speech
Comments: Thanks for reaffirming my beliefs. Your message must get out to all administrators who can support us as teachers to effect a change in primary classrooms.



Date: Sun Feb 24 17:42:41 2002
Name: Peggy Kauzlarich
E-mail: pegjokauzlarich@hotmail.com
Organization: Graceland student
Location: Lamoni Iowa
How the site
was found:
Comments:



Date: Sat Feb 23 21:08:47 2002
Name: BETTY R. GRAHAM
E-mail: gmra@sympatico.ca
Organization: teacher
Location: PINECREST SCHOOL (OCDSB)
How the site
was found:
MENTIONED AT THE CONGRESS CENTRE
Comments: YOUR MESSAGE AT THE CONVENTION WAS GREAT AND ON THE MARK.



Date: Sat Feb 23 12:09:34 2002
Name: Ruth
E-mail: lajunta@kingston.net
Organization:
Location: Kingston,Ont.
How the site
was found:
Comments: Thank you for coming to Ottawa. Ontario needs this information. It was real morale booster being there! Now it's time to get back to the work of fighting these tests. I hope to be in Belleville with some parents who aren't yet convinced these tests are such a bad thing. I believe that once parents know how children are being ranked and sorted they will put a stop to this nonsense.



Date: Sat Feb 23 09:55:52 2002
Name: Saasha M. Huston
E-mail: smhus@sunflower.com
Organization: Raintree Montessori School
Location: Lawrence, KS
How the site
was found:
Raintree friends, your books and tapes
Comments:



Date: Sat Feb 23 09:49:05 2002
Name: Rob Kirk
E-mail: RobandHelen@tesco.net
Organization: Part Time Student, Full time Process Technician
Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, UK (80 miles from London)
How the site
was found:
From Punished by Rewards book
Comments: Currently reading the Punished by Rewards book. Final year project of an Engineering Management degree is to research and recommend an incentive scheme to be fitted in to my current workplace. Many books give a lot about the supposed good sides, but little about the dangers. This book is opening my eyes to the fact that there are deep concerns with these schemes, even if the set up and structure of a company is spot on. Will continue the book, as it is helping well. I shall pass on to my sister after I have finished. She is a teacher and I saw her with some gold stars the other day. Think she should have a read. Thanks Alfie. Rob.



Date: Fri Feb 22 20:04:44 2002
Name: Roma Esterly
E-mail: Roma93107@hotmail.com
Organization:
Location: Santa Barbara, CA
How the site
was found:
John Marciano
Comments:



Date: Fri Feb 22 13:27:16 2002
Name: j douglass hume
E-mail: dhume035@uottawa.ca
Organization: university student
Location: ottawa
How the site
was found:
you told me about it last night
Comments: I really enjoyed your presentation last night and your concerns about stadardized testing and more importantly the whole notion of accountability in education. What concerns me as a student in the education faculty is now I have to write a standardized test to become a teacher in the Province. This is presented by the government as a way of accountability. I simply suggest that the one size fits all mentality dominant in the system with concerns to students has spread to teaching as well. there is one valuable type of teacher seems by the actions of the government their suggestion. I think this is scary!!



Date: Thu Feb 21 22:42:15 2002
Name: Kathy Marsden
E-mail: kathymarsden@shaw.ca
Organization:
Location: near Vancouver, Canada
How the site
was found:
email from a friend
Comments: Thank you so much for your excellent essay "Teaching about September 11." I only wish more people were willing to open their hearts and minds to these concepts.



Date: Thu Feb 21 20:32:32 2002
Name: Mary Horsley
E-mail: mphorsley@earthlink.net
Organization: Accomack Co. Public Schools
Location: Accomac, Va.
How the site
was found:
Reggio Listserv
Comments: I am teaching first grade but because I don't fit in with this structured system have been force to resign as of June. I am going on to a Reggio inspired Child Dev. Center in NH. But I worry about my friends who are so frustrated with testing yet so close to retirement. Who is going to help them?



Date: Thu Feb 21 17:01:20 2002
Name: Tracy Carter
E-mail: tcarter@vvm.com
Organization: The Learning Zone
Location: 2207 Florence Rd., Killeen, TX 76542
How the site
was found:
Read The Schools Our Children Deserve
Comments: WOW!! I just completed your book The Schools Our Children Deserve. It was my style in a nutshell. Fortunately, I am the owner, administrator and educator of a growing non-secular, private school in Killeen, TX., who can practice our philosophies on a daily basis. Guess what America?? It works!! I wish all schools could share our views. Presently, our school educates children in grades Kindergarten through 2nd grade with plans to expand to fourth grade for the 2002-2003 school year and a grade or so each year until 12th. Just this week, my husband and I pulled our oldest daughter out of her public third grade class and placed her with us. She is a very bright child who was in the "TAG Cluster Class" at one of our elementary schools. Unfortunately, our bright, happy and curious child turned into a nervous, stressed-out mess! Due to this wonderful TAAS, that so much emphasis is placed on, she is convinced that she will not be able to pass the test and advance to fourth grade. After months of frustration, crying, sickness and stress, we decided that our child's self-esteem and health was much more precious than a d... test. It is such a shame that our educational system has come down to this. Where is the excitement for learning that our children so deserve and desire? Thank you Mr. Kohn for a superior book. You reassured me that not only am I doing what is best for my own four children, but for the children in this community as well. Bless You!



Date: Thu Feb 21 06:32:38 2002
Name: Gordon Lucas
E-mail: gordonin2adventure@powerup.com.au
Organization: Student Teacher
Location: Brisbane Australia
How the site
was found:
Building Classroom Discipline (C. M. Charles)
Comments: I very much agree and like what your philosophy of teaching is about. I would like to read more...



Date: Wed Feb 20 22:15:13 2002
Name: Fatima Grabowski
E-mail: grabber.5@netzero.net
Organization:
Location:
How the site
was found:
CBC radio
Comments: I didn't catch the whole radio program but I agreed with so much of what you said. I seriously considered withdrawing my children from the Grade 3 testing but I bowed to pressure from the school that it would adversely effect their results and that it really wasn't such a big deal to worry about. Now I will have to decide what to do when they get to Gr. 6. I do hope that your message of how inaccurate standardized tests are gets out to lots of people.



Date: Wed Feb 20 17:31:50 2002
Name: John Hart
E-mail: jhart@lazergraphics.com
Organization: Lazer Graphics
Location: Peterborough
How the site
was found:
CBC Radio
Comments: Impressed with your accurate assessement of "standardization". Was it George Bernard Shaw who said that we must pay attention to the person who did fit the "norm" or we would make no progress? Will try to make your lecture in Belleville.



Date: Tue Feb 19 15:44:39 2002
Name: Renee Telling
E-mail: rtelling@sierranevada.edu
Organization:
Location: Lake Tahoe CA
How the site
was found:
searching the net via dogpile.com
Comments: I am a senior at a private college in Lake Tahoe and I have recently read several of oyur books. I am now focusing my senior thesis on child motivation in the classroom. I am quite fascinated by your work and want to thank you for your research!! What an awesome wealth of knowledge! I plan to be a teacher and incorporate your mehtods into my classroom.



Date: Tue Feb 19 01:59:58 2002
Name: John Glansbeek
E-mail: jwglans@msn.com
Organization:
Location: Seattle
How the site
was found:
Link from Michael 1P
Comments: good article posted by Michael



Date: Sun Feb 17 21:16:42 2002
Name: Dana Rawls
E-mail: jimndana@mindspring.com
Organization: parent
Location: Atlanta
How the site
was found:
website provided in The Schools Our Children Deserve
Comments:



Date: Sat Feb 16 21:32:32 2002
Name: Laurie Tandy
E-mail: landrt12@aol.com
Organization: Old Adobe School
Location: Petaluma, California
How the site
was found:
Been reading Alfie for years!
Comments: I just visited the site for the first time in about a year. It was very inspiring - as a beleaguered California (test-frenzied state) teacher, it was just the medicine I needed to keep focused on teaching for learning, not testing. In our state teachers and schools receive monetary rewards for doing well on standardized tests. It makes my stomach turn. I heard Alfie speak last year in San Francisco, and as a result, two colleagues and I wrote "essays" to the state on the afadavits we were required to sign before administering the STAR Test. (essays which explained how we felt about being coerced into secrecy regarding test contents- Our administrator suggested we make copies in case there were any repercussions!) We actually thought of refusing to give the test or sign the afadavit and were told we could be fired! So - once again testing time looms before us like a two headed monster, ready to devour critical thinking, exploring and investigating,and joyful learning. Thank you, Alfie, for keeping the anti-testing and extrinsic rewarding fires burning.



Date: Sat Feb 16 16:30:06 2002
Name: Ruth Freeborn
E-mail: lajunta@kingston.net
Organization:
Location: Kingston
How the site
was found:
from a flyer
Comments: Thank You for coming to Ontario.We really need to get parents and teachers in this province to speak up on the issue of standardized testing. In our board our kids are tested in every grade now except 11 and 12.My child did not write the provincial grade 6 tests and now I find that the board has a test for grade 7. We will not have our child participate in this escalating testing. Thank You Alfie for helping to get the message about these tests out to the people of Ontario.



Date: Sat Feb 16 10:27:04 2002
Name: Lorna Barth
E-mail: lbarth@u.washington.edu
Organization: University of Washington, Bothell Education Dept.
Location: Bothell, Washington
How the site
was found:
ran a search
Comments: Your view of education is wonderfully refreshing and I like your sense of humor.



Date: Sat Feb 16 05:32:00 2002
Name: nowzet jameel saleem
E-mail:
Organization:
Location:
How the site
was found:
Comments:



Date: Thu Feb 14 18:14:53 2002
Name: Michelle Picarello
E-mail: meshell88@aol.com
Organization:
Location: New York
How the site
was found:
Comments:



Date: Thu Feb 14 16:39:23 2002
Name: Val Askew
E-mail: valaskew@yahoo.com
Organization: Ann Arbor K-8 Open School
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
How the site
was found:
from learned friends!
Comments: Feb. 2002: Our K-8 OPEN school is looking for a new principal. I would be delighted to hear from any qualified Alfie Kohn proponents. I can fill you in on the details of this unique (in our town, anyway) position. I am doing this as a concerned parent, not an official representative of the school.



Date: Tue Feb 12 23:04:26 2002
Name: Leslie Hawley
E-mail: lhawley@sunflower.com
Organization:
Location: Lawrence, KS
How the site
was found:
Raintree Montessori
Comments: Thanks for the great work! You have articulated what I have been trying to communicate for years. We need to get your message out to the masses.



Date: Tue Feb 12 19:28:33 2002
Name: Susan Goodpaster
E-mail: sdgoodpaster@yahoo.com
Organization: Peace River Hurricane Island Outward Bound
Location: Arcadia, FL
How the site
was found:
my professor - NLU - Marie Nelson
Comments: Thank you for broadening my horizon and helping me to see another educated, well researched side to educating our youth.



Date: Tue Feb 12 17:36:37 2002
Name: carter rose
E-mail: caro97497@yahoo.com
Organization: ecoeducators
Location: pob 152, wolf creek, oregon 97497
How the site
was found:
by perserverence
Comments: in all my 60 years on this planet i've always felt competition to be self defeating. i have certianly felt defeated every time i've participated in competitions. thankyou for no contest.



Date: Tue Feb 12 10:36:04 2002
Name: Hank Darke@cmcss.net
E-mail: hank.darke@cmcss.net
Organization:
Location:
How the site
was found:
Comments:



Date: Mon Feb 11 23:45:40 2002
Name: Arron Eisen
E-mail: aeisen@interlog.com
Organization: AY Jackson SS
Location: Toronto
How the site
was found:
address by Alfie Kohn
Comments: excellent and inspiring speech at Coliseum in Toronto



Date: Mon Feb 11 20:44:33 2002
Name: John R. Brown
E-mail: john_robert_brown@yahoo.com
Organization: Toronto DSB and OISE/UT
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
How the site
was found:
Alfie plugged it in his keynote address last year!
Comments: Just keep up the good work!



Date: Mon Feb 11 20:30:07 2002
Name: Nancy T. Hedden
E-mail: hedden@epix.net
Organization: Wyoming Seminary Lower School
Location: 1560 Wyoming Ave. Forty Fort PA 18704
How the site
was found:
ASCD Education Update
Comments: I was revived from the depths by reading your book The Schools Our Children Deserve. Can you provide me with research possibilities for literature vs basal reading instruction.We are threatened with basals because of low comprehension scores. We are currently literature based. HELP!



Date: Mon Feb 11 15:57:15 2002
Name: Elli Cooper
E-mail: elzplace@prodigy.net
Organization:
Location: Vacaville CA
How the site
was found:
My mom sent it to me!
Comments: I have a son with Central Auditory Processing Disorder and the school pushes to have him take the STAR TEST etc...! I refuse to have him take them because he can't handle them and I don't believe that he should have to take them. They say that it will affect his education.



Date: Sun Feb 10 23:31:30 2002
Name: Annie
E-mail: sixpence2@earthlink.net
Organization: Concerned Recently Retired Teacher
Location: TEXAS
How the site
was found:
Watched lecture on STAR TV program
Comments: As much as I agree with you on most points, I am baffled as to how you got through the "American Educational System"(if you were educated by American public school system) and "learned" so much !!! How can we break the current trends whenever children come to school/headstart/and other educational programs with negative social and learning skills already programmed into their young minds? I want to know how to help accomplish this. With so much knowledge of "how we learn" why is it that Politicians just don't "get it"? Get rid of NEA, and other socialistic and political groups and then tell Colleges to help future teachers learn "HOW" to develop better curriculum and activities so that they might be better prepared. Hold Parents accountable for their child's disrupting of other's learning and maybe we can have happier teachers and students working together to discover new things! Looking forward to reading your books



Date: Sun Feb 10 19:35:10 2002
Name: Mario Gonzales
E-mail: mariog84@aol.com
Organization: Social Security Administration,Adv Ldrshp Prog
Location: Baltimore, MD
How the site
was found:
web search
Comments: As a participant in SSA's Advance Leadership Program certain readings are required. The Manager's Bookshelf includes a review of Punishment by Rewards. My interest was to learn more about the author. I information about what effects rewards have on people was of interest to me. Thanks.



Date: Sun Feb 10 00:08:30 2002
Name: rochelle kuchar
E-mail: rokuchar@rogers.com
Organization:
Location:
How the site
was found:
Comments:



Date: Sat Feb 9 23:29:38 2002
Name: Tonya Bonifay
E-mail: alanbonifay1@attbi.com
Organization: Hangtown Trade School
Location: El Dorado, California
How the site
was found:
Web-search (via your name in a journal article)
Comments: Mr. Kohn, I am currently in my first year of teaching, and also working on my teaching credential. I teach 7-12 grade Language Arts at a small public charter school. Our school has a strong sense of community and purpose; it is peopled with wonderful, caring staff and students I wouldn't trade for any other group of kids, and I love my job. However, my credential classes leave me feeling depressed over so many things about American education; we seem to be so wrong-headed about most of it. Discovering a sane, articulate person to confirm my gut beliefs about what learning ought to be, has been like a gift to my soul. Keep up the good work!



Date: Sat Feb 9 16:22:25 2002
Name: Julia Arnold
E-mail: julia.arnold@tdsb.on.ca
Organization: Toronto District School Board
Location: Toronto
How the site
was found:
I attended your presnetation in Toronto, 8 Feb.2002
Comments: I was intrigued and excited by your presentation. I was thrilled and motivated and also began to reflect on my own work in dealing with the Provincial standardized test. Lots to reflect on. Thank you!



Date: Fri Feb 8 21:09:51 2002
Name: Susan Hudson
E-mail: shudson8892@yahoo.com
Organization: Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation
Location: Toronto, Canada
How the site
was found:
got it from one of Alfie's talks
Comments:



Date: Fri Feb 8 18:10:09 2002
Name: J. Brookins
E-mail: jenna4r@hotmail.com
Organization:
Location: Texas
How the site
was found:
watched lecture on 9406 (STAR)
Comments: Having just graduated high school five years ago, I have to admit that Alfie Kohn makes more sense than my entire grade school education. The downfall of the "rewards" system in our education program is evident my life and in my struggle to rid myself of "G/T syndrome." I feel fortunate to have retained most of my intrinsic desire to learn, and even more fortunate to have stumbled upon this program during my channel surfing. Thanks for a very informative lecture. Someone pat me on the head, please. (j/k)



Date: Fri Feb 8 17:48:42 2002
Name: J C Lam
E-mail: writers_craft@hotmail.com
Organization:
Location: Toronto
How the site
was found:
mentioned in your lecture today
Comments: Your address to District 12's membership blew me away. I was expecting yet another dry speech, given by someone who was mildly enthusiastic about his subject matter. Boy, was I wrong. I won't forget your message about civil disobedience and defending our students' right to authentic learning.



Date: Thu Feb 7 18:06:25 2002
Name: Oliver Heuler
E-mail: info@golf-forum.org
Organization: Golf-Forum
Location: Germany
How the site
was found:
Marshall Rosenberg (author of "nonviolent communication") gave me this address.
Comments: I read all the books and I am 100 percent convinced that your messages are really useful. The PISA-Study proves that you are right. The schools in Finnland do almost exactely what you preach and they are far ahead of all the rest. Please also read the books of Ken Wilber. This will put your work in a broader perspective.



Date: Thu Feb 7 11:47:51 2002
Name: Alphonse Buccino
E-mail: abuccino@earthlink.net
Organization:
Location:
How the site
was found:
Comments: A former academic and present policy wonk who admires your work. AB



Date: Thu Feb 7 11:00:00 2002
Name: Toney Jordan
E-mail: toneyjordan@cs.com
Organization: Savannah-Chatham Board of Public Education,
Location: Savannah, Georgia
How the site
was found:
Comments: Saw you last summer(July 2001) in Scottsdale, AZ at the Nova Southeastern summer institute. Keep up the good work!!!!!



Date: Thu Feb 7 10:29:53 2002
Name: susan dabney
E-mail: srdabney@earthlink.net
Organization: Campbellsville University/student
Location: Campbellsville, Ky
How the site
was found:
Google
Comments:



Date: Thu Feb 7 10:08:08 2002
Name: chad Wise
E-mail: cwise@nobleknights.com
Organization: Medina City Schools
Location: Medina, Ohio
How the site
was found:
Book jacket
Comments: I just finished taking my Praxis examination to become a principl here in Ohio. The test was 2 hours long, had 120 questions, and was all multiple choice. I passed, but didn't get any feedback on the questions I "missed." This reminds me of how our children feel when we "do" this to them. How can an aspiring principal who is opposed to traditional classrooms and testing survive in education today? I am considering going back into the classroom where I can really be an agent for change!



Date: Wed Feb 6 00:05:10 2002
Name: Mary Davidson
E-mail: marehr@aol.com
Organization: Hood River County School District Early Intervention
Location: Hood River, Or
How the site
was found:
typed in Alfie Kohn and voila!
Comments: I have read Alfie's books, heard several tapes and hope to get to a lecture one of these days. I really appreciate the ideas and suggetions for altering my teaching styles. Using conflict resolution with peschoolers has been inspiring and fun to hear their solutions. Keep up your inspirational work Alfie.



Date: Tue Feb 5 22:29:42 2002
Name: Russ Knopp
E-mail: rknopp@waitsburgsd.wednet.edu
Organization: Waitsburg School District
Location: Waitsburg, WA 99361
How the site
was found:
from a book
Comments: Thank you for thoughtfully writing about education and what is best for students.



Date: Mon Feb 4 02:11:36 2002
Name: Shaun Kerry, M.D.
E-mail: office@world-prosperity.org
Organization: World Prosperity, Ltd.
Location: worldwide
How the site
was found:
In "The Case Against Standardized Testing"
Comments: Please visit my web site at www.world-prosperity.org. It contains many references and praises of Alfie Kohn. I am a social psychiatrist and activist and am in the process of making a feature length dramatic film depicting the root causes of social dysfunction. I would like the opportunity to speak with you regarding stories and other material that could be used in the screenplay. I believe that a popular film would be the most powerful form of activism that I could immagine.



Date: Sun Feb 3 15:39:51 2002
Name: Jose A.Bañez
E-mail: joebanez@juno.com
Organization:
Location:
How the site
was found:
Comments:



Date: Sun Feb 3 12:20:00 2002
Name: Mario H. de la Plata
E-mail: delaplat@ix.netcom.com
Organization: Dimensión Cuatro Internacional
Location: Kissimmee, Florida
How the site
was found:
Watched on TV
Comments: How can I obtain the text of Kohn's lecture shown on DishTV Channel 9406 [STAR] regarding test scores, etc.? This lecture should be distributed all over America.



Date: Sat Feb 2 14:02:29 2002
Name: Tim and Linda Hampton
E-mail: ourpast@plumasnet.com
Organization: Interested grandparents and former instructor
Location: Greennville, Ca / Plumas Unified Schools
How the site
was found:
Lecture of 2/2/02 on Starnet
Comments: We really enjoyed your view of what education is doing today and agree completely. We have a grandchild who has Central Auditory Processing Disorder who suffers from standardization of test scores because he has a hard time processing what information is given to him. Learning is an individual thing with each student and, certainly, teaching to learning rather to test scores is the answer to improving our children's outcome.



Date: Fri Feb 1 11:09:51 2002
Name: Cynde Hujarski
E-mail: hujarski@adelphia.net
Organization: parent interested in education
Location: cleveland, OH
How the site
was found:
Alfie Kohn name used by our school's curriculum director, laura purnell
Comments: I am becoming an enlightened parent anxious to learn more about the best way to work with our schools for better educational practices.



Date: Thu Jan 31 19:00:00 2002
Name: Edmund D. Daszewski
E-mail: DASZLER@YAHOO.COM
Organization:
Location:
How the site
was found:
key word search
Comments: I believe the "intrinsic motivation" you have written about is nothing less than Divine grace. I have raised six children. The extent of their success has been directly proportional to their inner desire and the ability (facilitation?) given them by their Creator to accomplish that which they desire to do or be; I had nothing to do with it save maybe being, along with my wife, a principal influencer. The process of learning and applying and "succeeding" is so etherial. What more can be said?



Date: Wed Jan 30 23:58:25 2002
Name: Timothy Allen
E-mail:
Organization:
Location:
How the site
was found:
Logical rigor
Comments: This is some of the most ridiculous, absurd, comical, farcical, ludicrous, risible and preposterous rubbish I have seen. Want to get schools back to respectable levels? Eliminate tenure, the leftist bias and the mind-warping political correctness. In a nutshell... chase out the NEA! But then again, to see all that you would need an open mind... something modern educators lack.



Date: Wed Jan 30 23:00:52 2002
Name: George Hunter
E-mail: ghunter@rev.net
Organization: Roanoke City Schools (retired)
Location: Roanoke, Virginia
How the site
was found:
Comments: Alfie, Thanks for your article on the aftermath of September 11. I have shared it with all the courageous honest people I know. (I wish I knew more.)It may get you blacklisted by chauvinistic cowards and deceivers, but your integrity is of far greater importance. I am glad you value the lives of children everywhere. George Hunter



Date: Wed Jan 30 18:43:06 2002
Name: Christine Ryder
E-mail: SCLC75@aol.com
Organization: NEA
Location: Southington, CT
How the site
was found:
on your biography
Comments: I had the pleasure of hearing you speak at the NEA Northeast Regional Conference in Newport last weekend. SO much of what you said about testing hit home. But the part that touched me most was your comments about "rigor". My middle school went through an evaluation last year and we were greatly panned for lacking rigor. I would like to include your remarks in my committees follow-up report. Thank you for giving me pause to think.



Date: Tue Jan 29 22:49:19 2002
Name: Doris B. Armstrong
E-mail: wdarmstrong@att.net
Organization: retired h.s. English teacher
Location: 286 North Maple Ave., Ridgewood, NJ 07450
How the site
was found:
A USA Today article you wrote, which was linked to NCTE's website.
Comments: I've read your books, I'm on your side in educational philosophy, and I'm glad I am no longer trying to teach in a public school with competition its watchword. I attained an Ed.D. after I retired, but have had no interest in teaching future teachers, as I am qualified to do. Now, it's been too long to reconsider; I'm 77 and have many other interests. Just the same, what can I do to help the cause?



Date: Tue Jan 29 16:36:10 2002
Name: Richard H. Crampton
E-mail: cramptr@elmo.nmc.edu
Organization: Traverse City Area Public Schools--President
Location: Traverse City, Michigan
How the site
was found:
PEN Weekly NewsBlast
Comments: I met you in Grand Rapids, MI (MASB Conference). Since then, I have read your book: THE CASE AGAINST STANDARDIZED TESTING: Raising the Scores, Ruining the Schools. I like your ideas; I agree, but we are being stopped by the test pushers. Thank goodness that John Engler will soon be gone. Standard & Poors rates Traverse City Schools very high; however, the information they use is outdated. Keep up your good work. rhc



Date: Tue Jan 29 13:12:25 2002
Name: Aaron Carr
E-mail: atcarr06@hotmail.com
Organization: Orange County Schools
Location: North Carolina
How the site
was found:
search
Comments: I am a first year teacher who resigned from Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools in mid year because I was required to go along with almost everything I felt strongly against (high emphasis on testing, coercion, Open Court literacy/phonics program). I believe strongly in Kohn's work and hope it spreads.



Date: Mon Jan 28 17:35:25 2002
Name: Brenda Lewis
E-mail: bhlewis@cc.usu.edu
Organization: Utah State University
Location: Utah
How the site
was found:
assigned to visit for class
Comments:



Date: Mon Jan 28 11:57:02 2002
Name: Gary w. Senyo
E-mail: gsenyo@ucasd.iu5.org
Organization: PSEA - Committee For the Preservation of Public Education
Location: Pennsylvania
How the site
was found:
Alfie spoke to the NEA NE conference
Comments: Great speech - I have seen him quoted many times as he is right on. Our committee studies anti-public education incidents, trends and issues. We concluded long ago there is only 1 need behind these tests such as our PSSA, and that is to shut down public schools and turn them over to for profit - private entities so they may make a quick buck and leave. Once down - they will have eliminated the one thing that created and maintains the middle class - free and equal public education...



Date: Thu Jan 24 23:19:05 2002
Name: Andrew Weltchek
E-mail: weltchek@marcusattorneys.com
Organization:
Location: South Orange, NJ
How the site
was found:
vivisimo search
Comments: As John Holt argued in "Instead of Education" (Penguin Books 1976), is it not the unavoidable and unchangeable message of cumpulsory schooling that the student cannot be trusted to and is not capable of learning without the school? And thus, as Mr. Kohn's work so clearly suggests, is not the student then necessarily alienated from himself and society. If the medium is the message, then the message of cumpulsory schooling is stupidity. And this message cannot be changed in cumpulsory schools. As Holt put it: "As long the S-chools [sic] have these powers this part of the curriculum [i.e. the curriculum of stupidity] cannot be changed, and all who work in such schools help to teach this curriculum whether they want to or not, and even when they think they are teaching the very opposite." Thanks for your work. Please keep it up.



Date: Wed Jan 23 16:25:27 2002
Name: Jim Carvalho
E-mail: JCarvalho@sanjuan.edu
Organization: San Juan Unified School District
Location: Orangevale Open K-8 School
How the site
was found:
CSTA, Ed Week
Comments: Grading in all its forms (report cards and grade levels) is more appropriate for lumber and dairy products than for children and learning. Many of us need your constant prodding and reminders.



Date: Wed Jan 23 15:37:51 2002
Name: H. P. Wansley
E-mail: dixie31@statesville.net
Organization: myself
Location: 247 Grant Road, Statesville, N. C. 28625
How the site
was found:
USA TODAY
Comments: Agree with your article in USA TODAY. Totally. Have you also considered addressing the problem of the National Teachers Exam and all its "specialist test". ETS is running a monopoly - with no competition. Who is the person or persons formulating these tests? Also you are not allowed a copy of the test(s) to see your correct and incorrect answers. Wow - what a deal they have. I would like your comments on this. Thanks.



Date: Wed Jan 23 14:15:14 2002
Name: Judy Bates
E-mail: judyb@jvil.com
Organization: Regional Safe Schools Program
Location: 107 E. 1st North, Carlinville, IL 62626
How the site
was found:
Jim Broadway
Comments: I am interested in purchasing some copies of your book which addresses the case against standardized testing.(Jim Broadway mentioned them in his Illinois School News Service publication several months ago.) Also, as some other email writers have requested, I would like a transcript of the Lehrer interview, too. I have been an educator for over 30 years and have personally railed against standardized testing for years -- like a voice crying in the wilderness. Surely, if we all begin to focus on the same thing and come together, we can make a difference! Thanks for what you do.



Date: Wed Jan 23 13:10:29 2002
Name: Dr. Betty Nielsen Green
E-mail: bngreen@volusia.k12.fl.us
Organization: Volusia County School Board
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
How the site
was found:
From Stephen Krashen's message to a listserver
Comments: Thank you for an informative and thought provoking article in USAToday Editorial Response -- January 22, 2002. In Florida we also have to conform to the Sunshine State Standards, and it is heartbreaking to see teachers teaching to the standards only in order to document that they have followed orders from LEA and SEA agencies. This ofcourse, is done in the name of accountability



Date: Tue Jan 22 19:53:47 2002
Name: William R. Cary
E-mail: wrcary@msn.com
Organization: Retired high school science teacher
Location: Terre Haute, IN
How the site
was found:
USA Today
Comments: I have followed your ideas for a number of years. Why can't you (us) get more people to understand? I retired as a constructivist and firmly believe that student learning icreases and teacher burnout decreases with the empowerment of student.



Date: Tue Jan 22 15:16:04 2002
Name: Angela Baxter
E-mail: abaxter@mpls.k12.mn.us
Organization: Minneapolis Publis Schools
Location: Minneapolis, MN
How the site
was found:
Went to a lecture
Comments:



Date: Tue Jan 22 12:34:03 2002
Name: Robert Skoglund
E-mail: humblefarmer@midcoast.com
Organization: The humble Farmer
Location: HC 61 Box 249, St. George, Maine 04857
How the site
was found:
USA Today
Comments: I am reading your January 22, 2002 USA Today comments on my Public Radio program. Keep telling it like it is. Schools can't be rated like laundry detergents. Measurable outcomes are certainly the least significant results of learning. I have written many newspaper columns saying this and I blab it on my Public Radio program every chance I get. Tell me what else we can do to help point out that testing is not going to raise the IQ. What, bad word? Raise everyone's score and you are still going to have the same bell curve. Let anyone who doesn't believe it teach for 25 years. I once taught a kid to wipe his nose on his sleeve. My friends were horrified to hear it until I explained that it was an improvement over licking it off his upper lip with his tongue. Thank you. The humble Farmer, Maine Public Radio http://www.TheHumbleFarmer.com



Date: Mon Jan 21 14:08:00 2002
Name: Kirby Chittenden
E-mail: kirby@lifeback.com
Organization: Grand Haven Area Public Schools
Location: Grand Haven, Michigan
How the site
was found:
Comments: I appreciated your presentation on the Lehrer Newshour (PBS)recently. How could I obtain a transcript? Our district and state have gone overboard with the entire idea of standards-based assessment. Your comments about the sacrifice of quality learning are so true.



Date: Thu Jan 17 15:13:04 2002
Name: Karin Grice
E-mail: karing@emeraldheights.com
Organization: Emerald Heights
Location: Redmond, WA
How the site
was found:
Read "Punished by Rewards"
Comments: I see that most of the messages posted here are from educators or those who are interested in the application of these views to the school setting. As a human resources professional my focus is on employees, their performance and their pay and in helping our organization shift its thinking away from linking pay to performance. After reading "Punished by Rewards" I came to the realization that traditional pay-for-performance programs do not work, and I have now taken leadership in helping our management staff arrive at this same conclusion and agree to develop a program that departs from the traditional rewards system most companies have. Shifting each manager's thinking to what we've dubbed "the road less traveled" has been and continues to be a huge challenge, but I can see some progress already as key people have begun to discuss a new and different way of thinking about rewards. There is much work to be done as we develop a program that moves away from giving a raise at the end of the performance appraisal, i.e., a program that does not link pay to performance. There are many details to work out. Sometimes I think it would have been easier if I had never been exposed to these radical ideas and found them so appealing and sensible. But, no, I decided to follow this less traveled road because I couldn't in good conscience do anything else. In our discussions every step toward this new philosophy is an accomplishment since one concern or question leads to another and another for resolution. Once completed, though, I believe we will have a very fine program, one that will increase employee and management satisfaction to a great degree. I would be interested in hearing from others directly who have been down this road. Any advice, cautions, success stories would be greated appreciated.



Date: Mon Jan 14 22:47:27 2002
Name: Judith Rutkowski
E-mail: JudyLou2@msn.com
Organization: Northwood Elementary PTA
Location: Royal Oak MI
How the site
was found:
Friend
Comments: How exciting to find someone who is articulate on a viewpoint with which I completely concur but often find difficult to express well in the "Standards" climate in which we find ourselves. I'll come back often!



Date: Sun Jan 13 20:16:48 2002
Name: Julie Page Ales
E-mail: pageales@pacbell.net
Organization: Teacher, PVUSD
Location: Santa Cruz County, CA
How the site
was found:
from reading your books!
Comments: Dear Mr. Kohn, I would like to organize with other teachers who would like to speak out against testing -- both High Stakes Tests and the SAT9. Anyone know of a website organization geared to this? Thanks! Julie



Date: Sun Jan 13 14:11:09 2002
Name: Duane Brown
E-mail: dbrown@bfree.on.ca
Organization: Apps Mill Nature Centre
Location: Paris Ontario, Canada
How the site
was found:
reading things
Comments: What you have been writing about " standardized tests" is now happening in our schools in Ontario, Canada. It alarmed mw so much that I take my children out of school for the week ( 5 wasted days) they do the test. I work as an outdoor education teacher at a Nature Centre, and I try to observe some of the things that you and others talk about with regards to how children think, and reason, and explore. It is interesting. keep up the interesting writing.



Date: Sat Jan 12 02:56:35 2002
Name: Ms. Sterdivant
E-mail: avenue7@hotmail.com
Organization: Project PASS
Location: North Carolina
How the site
was found:
Search Engine
Comments: Please confirm if your organization has a forum available in North Carolina, where concerned parents may protest the state assessment tests and get the state policy and processes changed or eliminated regarding requirements for graduation.



Date: Thu Jan 10 13:51:14 2002
Name: Allen Hillen
E-mail: ahillen@usd353.com
Organization: Unified Sc hool District #353
Location: Wellington, Kansas
How the site
was found:
From my colleague, Dean Johnston
Comments: I agree with most of what you say about "tests" and I plan to spread our thoughts to anyone who will listen! I enjoyed hearing your points of view on President Bush's new "education plan aka testing plan."



Date: Thu Jan 10 02:24:35 2002
Name: Rebecca Wolfe, Ph.D.
E-mail: rr.wolfe@verizon.net
Organization: Monroe Public Schools
Location: Monroe, Washington
How the site
was found:
typed in "alfiekohn.org"
Comments: Thank you for your presentation on the Lehrer Newshour (on PBS) recently. Do you know how I can obtain a copy of it? Either a transcript or a video would be great. I'd like to quote you in an article that I'm writing, so the transcript would be adequate. I would like to find studies or research on the effect of standardized tests on second-language students, particularly children. I feel that my students (75 ELL kids) should be exempt from these tests in their early years, but our state requires that only those who have very low scores on the LAS test (Language Assessment Scale) AND who have been enrolled in school less than one year can be exempt. Any advice or info. related to this problem?



Date: Thu Jan 10 00:49:20 2002
Name: barbara shulgold
E-mail: shulgold@yahoo.com
Organization:
Location: Oakland, CA
How the site
was found:
through a friend
Comments: My friend suggested you might enjoy and be able to make use of the following TRUE story. I have a very good friend who lives in an extremely wealthy suburb of Dallas. Two of her children, both severely dyslexic, go to the local K-5 public school. At the day which was the end of the last grading period she drove up to the school to pick them up and found both in tears. It seems that the administration in its wisdom had decided to give each child in the school a ribbon to wear for the day, its color announcing to everyone what that child's grade point average was ( red ribbons for A, green for B, etc.) Well, of course her children received the "lowest" ribbon and they were understandably devestated. My friend wasted no time in going in a rage to the principal's office and asking what on earth had given the school such an idea. "Oh, you don't understand," the principal replied,"This is a motivational tool. The children will see that some kids have "A" ribbons, and that will encourage them to try to get one next semester." My friend was way too apoplectic with rage to even respond and marched out to take care of her broken-hearted children. That night as she lay in bed she kept going over and over in her mind what she should, could have said to the principal. It wasn't until three a.m. that she came up with the solution. She jumped out of bed and ran to the file cabinet, pulling out their W2 form for last year. She highlighted the six figure "bottom line," laminated the form, punched a hole at the top, tied a string through it, and returned to bed to finally get some sleep. The next morning she put her handiwork around her neck and headed off to school again. She again walked into the principal's office and proceeded to make small talk until she was quite sure the principal had noticed and read what was hanging from her neck. "Why are you wearing that ?" she asked. "Oh, this thing?" said my friend. " I am wearing it as a motivational tool. I thought if you saw it, it would inspire you to work harder at teaching, so maybe someday you can make as much money as we do." To the principal's credit she responded,"Touche." There will be no ribbons at report card time in the future. This is an absolutely true story. You are welcome to use it, share it, comment on it. And, for Heaven's sake, TEACH from it. Best wishes, Barbara Shulgold



Date: Tue Jan 8 16:20:03 2002
Name: Joe Shaver
E-mail: timberjoe1@aol.com
Organization:
Location: Albany, NY
How the site
was found:
Saw you in Syracuse last year
Comments: Mr. Kohn, I wanted to know your feelings about Bush's education plan, specifically about his speech today (1/8/02). I just graduated college in December and I have wanted to be a teacher since I've been in fourth grade. For some reason, I keep thinking that it is going to be impossible to teach the way that I want to teach with all of our state mandates and now national mandates. Are our politicians driving all teachers out of the profession due to lack of respect? If we are going to be in such need of new teachers in the coming years, how are we going to find them when we have to "prove" our ability and accountability through standardized tests? I don't know, I'm just feeling confused as I enter this great and wonderful trade. Thanks for all you do in education...



Date: Sat Jan 5 11:00:12 2002
Name: Laurie Messner
E-mail: lmessner@telusplanet.net
Organization: Equine Assisted Growth & Learning
Location: Nanton, Alberta Canada
How the site
was found:
EAGALA Newsletter
Comments: I enjoyed your article in the last EAGALA newsletter. I look forward to hearing you at the upcoming EAGALA conference.



Date: Wed Jan 2 14:39:13 2002
Name: Charla Duncan
E-mail: cduncan407@msn.com
Organization:
Location:
How the site
was found:
Comments:



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