Word: yorking
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...stinker in Greenberg is the title character, Roger Greenberg (Ben Stiller), a misanthropic, depressed carpenter who returns to his native Los Angeles after many years in New York. He's just gotten out of a mental institution and his intention is to spend at least six weeks dogsitting for his wealthy brother but otherwise doing exactly "nothing" - on purpose. "That's brave, at our age," observes his ex-girlfriend Beth (Jennifer Jason-Leigh, Baumbach's wife and story collaborator, here looking justifiably distracted). (See Ben Stiller as a Na'vi and other memorable Oscar moments...
...become closely associated. The President wants to link billions of federal dollars to initiatives like ending the achievement gap between white and nonwhite students, evaluating teachers and awarding performance bonuses to principals and teachers who've earned them. On the basis of what we know has worked in New York City with our 1.1 million schoolkids, we'd give Obama's plan a solid B - a great start, but it could use a little improvement. Here's what we think works and what could be even stronger. (See pictures of the evolution of the college dorm...
...much improvement students make from grade to grade, no matter where they started, as opposed to the current system, in which schools are judged on students' absolute performance, not their progress. Obama's model is similar to the one we pioneered three years ago here in New York City, where we give schools an A-to-F grade based on how well they're helping their students acquire skills. The grades help focus schools on a clear set of expectations and are one way we hold them accountable. Principals and teachers in schools with high grades are eligible for performance...
...President must go even further. Our schools still offer teachers lifetime job protection, predominantly lockstep pay systems and seniority rules that reward longevity, not excellence. Our budget hole in New York is so big that we'll probably have to lay off teachers later this year. You know who will be the first to go? Thousands of energetic new teachers - simply because they were the last people hired. Sure, experience matters. But so do skill and energy. We must be able to make staffing decisions based on performance, not just time served. This President has shown an unprecedented willingness...
...which began in 2009, gives states incentives to close schools after all other strategies to improve achievement have failed, Obama's new proposal is more ambiguous. It will permit states to shy away from making these tough choices - even though replacing failing schools can transform entire districts. In New York City, we've phased out more than 90 schools during the past seven years; these decisions haven't been politically popular, but the schools that replaced them have dramatically higher graduation rates than their predecessors...