Confessions from the Couch » Jobs are on the line, pt 2

Jobs are on the line, pt 2

Our state just passed legislation that a significant portion, (can’t say how much b/c it’ll reveal my location,) of teacher evaluation scores will now come from the students test scores. Teachers are all riled up here b/c they don’t feel it takes into account the special circumstances–poverty, low literacy levels, school readiness–of our city. Also, it means we will be teaching to the test, not students.

At this point, I don’t know how I feel about this b/c my area isn’t tested, yet. However, I feel REALLY sorry for the teachers who are tested. Let me provide you with an example: Mr. Math teaches a Pre-algebra/Algebra I class (its blended starts off the 1st quarter as pre-algebra) that tests Algebra I skills at the end of the school year. Meanwhile, the district has purchased an online intervention program to increase math skills. They have mandated that ALL of these students take the intervention. Students are supposed to do the intervention during their study hall or on their own time. It is not happening, for whatever reason students are not completing the intervention. Therefore, Principal has told Mr. Math, to cancel certain class periods and put all of the kids in front of a computer for intervention-so much so, Mr. Math was walking up and down the hallways asking “How many computers are available in your classroom? Can I send a child to use it?”

This intervention does NOT reinforce the skills Mr. Math has been teaching in his classroom–it is something all together different. Now, Mr. Math is losing teaching time for this intervention. His evaluation (and job) are on the line b/c students will now fail the Great Test at the end of the year. Principal’s job is on the line regarding the intervention program. What is Mr. Math to do? What is Principal to do? All I can say is: We are failing our children.

The Teaching Profession, random school comments | Miss Teacha | January 24, 2010 12:21 pm

12 Comments

By theboyzmomma, January 24, 2010 @ 1:31 pm

I have never agreed with this philosophy. Let me start by saying that thanks and glory to God, my student scores have been good, but there are extenuating circumstances. That list is longer than you have listed.

Sometimes the circumstances are administrative decisions, out of the school, that lead to more onus on the teacher and student, for instance misplacement of students in the wrong classes or misinformation of policies and responsibilities. I have experienced both, and these mistakes are understandable because we are all human, but administrative or supervisory mistakes will not be a postscript included on a teacher’s evaluation.

Each day I enter my classroom ,I remind myself that I work and am evaluated by God. If he smiles at the end of my work day, then all is better than well.
theboyzmomma´s last blog ..I Surrender
By BETSY, January 24, 2010 @ 2:03 pm

This just makes me angry.
By Midwest Teacher, January 24, 2010 @ 2:54 pm

This is RIDICULOUS! So many things are wrong with this picture including: so few computers in your school, canceling class to have kids do computer intervention, expecting kids will do this on their own time (c’mon, really), expecting that this will ensure good test scores, AND holding teacher and principal accountable when this is the method of choice. Holy crap.
Midwest Teacher´s last blog ..Conundrum: Books
By cupcake, January 24, 2010 @ 7:04 pm

It’s things like this that make me hate people. And, yes, it could be argued that given that predisposition, teaching is not the best career for me. But sometimes, I really do hate people.

What on earth are the children getting from this? Nothing. And aren’t they the ones we’re supposed to serve?

You know I share your frustration. Boy, do I ever.
By TeacherMom, January 25, 2010 @ 9:22 am

So, what will special ed or even inclusion teachers do? The test scores in their rooms are bound to be lower. Will they get fired? I am all for accountability in schools (and I think that the kids’ efforts should be a big part of that), but this is a crazy way to achieve it! Some kids just do not perform well on standardized tests (I was one of them when I was in HS) but that does not mean that they are failing to learn.
By Kary, January 25, 2010 @ 10:29 am

I hate when districts do that,or when they think that it is okay to pull the kids out during any Social Studies class for things like pictures, fitness grams,pick classes for next year in the 1st semester or assemblies etc. because our scores are the highest so SS does not matter. Take the SS computer lab and let the counselor’s or the math department or English dept use it instead, SS does not need it for anything.
Kary´s last blog ..
By Mr. W, January 26, 2010 @ 12:42 pm

Our district hasn’t touched this yet. Of course, CA just passed this as well so if we want any sort of Race to the Top funds we would have to do it. But from we have been told, we aren’t going to apply for it. So for now it looks safe.

It is a constant discussion around here and our school does extremely well on tests, but what about special ed, what about teachers that just teach seniors, what about PE? There are so many variables before we even look at how is it fair to us teachers to judge us on one test. Or how is it fair when we see a student 55 minutes a day our of 24 hours and we have ZERO control for the rest of that time?
By Magical Mystical Teacher, January 28, 2010 @ 6:51 am

I’m a special ed teacher and there is no hope at all that my students–all of whom are at least three (and in some cases, four or five) years below grade level–will ever pass a grade-level standardized test. When the day comes that my salary depends on my students’ test scores, it’ll time for me to do something else.
Magical Mystical Teacher´s last blog ..Haiku Wednesday: Great Changes
By Margaret, January 30, 2010 @ 5:23 pm

This is most certainly coming our way, and it scares me to death. It will create all kinds of divisiveness about who teaches what. Who wants the lower performing students if we’re going to lose our jobs over their performance?
Margaret´s last blog ..Everything?
By Margaret, January 30, 2010 @ 5:25 pm

This is coming our way and it scares me to death. What happens to lower performing groups? No one will want to teach them if their jobs are on the line.
Margaret´s last blog ..Everything?
By Margaret, January 30, 2010 @ 5:28 pm

By the way, I lost all my e-mails and your password was in one of those files. Could you e-mail it to me?
Margaret´s last blog ..Everything?
By IllinoisTeacher, March 13, 2010 @ 7:03 am

I also feel uncomfortable with the evaluation additions in Illinois. It’s odd when Social Studies teachers don’t even have anything to tie into their evaluations. I wonder what will happen.