Lewiston teacher opens up about video describing challenges

TEACHER’S VIDEO STRIKES A CORD. IT’S BEEN SHARED WIDELY ON SOCIAL MEDIA – AND RACKED UP THOUSANDS OF VIEWS. LONGTIME ENGLISH TEACHER MIKE BERNIER RECORDED THIS VIDEO ORIGINALLY JUST TO SHARE WITH MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE. HERE’S WHAT BERNIER IS DESCRIBING. HE WANTS DISTRICT LEADERS TO REEVALUATE STANDARDS BASED LEARNING. THAT’S WHEN ASSESSMENTS ARE TIED TO SPECIFIC SKILLS – AS OPPOSED TO A TRADITIONAL LETTER GRADE. HE’S ALSO RAISING ISSUES WITH THE DISTRICT’S ATTENDANCE POLICY – WHICH HE CLAIMS – ALLOWS STUDENTS TO MAKE-UP CREDITS WHILE INVESTING A FRACTION OF THE TIME AS THEY WOULD HAVE THROUGH TRADITIONAL CLASSROOM LEARNING. BERNIER ALSO FEELS THE DISTRICT IS TOO LENIENT WHEN IT COMES TO DISCIPLINE AND CLAIMS STUDENTS HAVE THREATENED HIM. AND, FINALLY, HE WANTS A TOTAL BAN ON CELLPHONES IN SCHOOL. YOU SAY IN …