The Opinion page of the Sunday
(2/2/14) Herald carried a column written by Chris Powell of the Journal
Inquirer in Manchester. Powell’s article discussed the now abandoned proposal
to reform teacher evaluation practices in Connecticut along with standardized
testing of students. Standardized test results of students were to become an
integral part of the State’s standards for teacher evaluations.
Whew! I’m glad that idea was
stalled. As usual, Powell was right on point with his assertions. He used as
beautiful examples of being glad that the process was stalled, two letters that
had been written by Connecticut public school teachers, one from “tony” West
Hartford and the other from “gritty” Bridgeport. Powell’s major point was that
decline in effectiveness of public school education is not that the caliber of
teachers has declined but rather, the caliber of students; put another way ,the
“tony” West Hartford students are not necessarily smarter than the “gritty“
Bridgeport students, just better prepared, perhaps.
In my opinion, teacher evaluation
reform should concentrate on the improvement of instruction and not tie in as a
major factor standardized test results of students as an indicator of teacher
quality. The students in a teacher’s classes are as varied as snow- flakes as
will be the effectiveness of that teacher with each student. Teachers must be
skilled in identifying the strengths of their students and also, ways to
capitalize on those strengths. Teacher evaluators must be equally skilled in
identifying the strengths of all teachers. Evaluators must be able -prepared-
to offer suggestions for improvement in areas of instruction as well as
praising the strengths of a teacher.
All people learn differently,
including teachers.. It’s harmful to judge them on basis of standardized test
scores.
Lou Salvio
Nothing is going to change as long as Democrats and unions can sacrifice the children for the sake of the union members and their huge salaries. Thanks to the unions, teachers are the most overpaid and under worked people in America. Most of us would dream of a job that pays 90K to start with totally free health insurance for working just 9 months out of the year while being paid as if you worked year round and then being entitled to overtime if they do actually make you work the other 3 months. Then once you get your tenure, you are guaranteed your job for the rest of your life even if you refuse to do your job, then can retire on a pension of about 90 grand a year for the rest of your life. Sounds like a dream come true! Maybe Connecticut should be renamed Fantasyland, at least as it relates for these fat cat teachers!
ReplyDeleteYou tell'em Landslide Louie!
ReplyDeleteAnonymous # 2
ReplyDeletePlease elaborate. !
didn't Louie win his last election by an enormous landslide?
ReplyDelete