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Schools

Malloy's Ed Reform Bill — From a Student's Perspective

A New Canaan High student voices concerns against proposed changes in Gov. Malloy's education reform package—and encourages others to get involved.

Teachers across Connecticut have united to voice their concerns against Gov. Dannel Malloy’s Senate Bill 24, an education reform package that includes major changes to teacher tenure, compensation and evaluations. Locally, they have found an ally in their students.

“It’s hard when you hear concerns from teachers you admire and appreciate,” Michael deMattia, an 18-year-old senior at New Canaan High School, said. Although he is leaving the K-12 public education arena in June, deMattia has apprehensions about the potential changes this bill could mean for his younger sibling and classmates.

The 163-page bill is aimed at , which is the highest in the nation. In doing so, Malloy proposes revamping many aspects of the teaching profession, including overhauling teacher tenure and tying standardized test scores to teacher effectiveness. Also included in would be assessments made by the administration, including principals.

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“My concern is human emotion or outside factors can even subconsciously play into a review of a teacher,” said deMattia. Continuing education after five years is eliminated in the bill, as well, deMattia said. “It’s a horrible message to be sending to teachers. Any good teacher will say they’re always learning. Classrooms are changing so they need to be changing too.”

deMattia was able to vote in the previous November elections and says that was when his interest first peaked in the proposed legislation. He admits he wasn’t very involved, particularly in education reform, but began hearing the bill spoken about at school by teachers and on the news and learned more. He also says he hasn’t heard as many students discussing the issue as he had hoped.

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“When you’re 17, you feel as though your hands are tied and you’re not involved in the whole process,” deMattia said. “When I started getting information on the bill, I spent five minutes with my mom, and then I had a parent that cared about the issue and felt it wasn’t right. Do your research and form an opinion.”

Malloy is currently holding town hall meetings around the state for teachers, parents, advocacy groups, and community members to voice their opinions on the proposed legislation, with Monday evening.

“It has strong intentions, but it’s not a one size fits all solution,” deMattia said. “The bill is trying to fix things, which is many places aren’t broken.”

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