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Sunday, March 22, 2015

When a Teacher’s Job Depends on a Child’s Test

If it’s March, it must be test-prep season: next month, New York students in grades three through eight will take the state’s standardized English Language Arts and Mathematics tests: three days of exams devoted to both subjects, lasting for upward of seventy minutes a day. These are often referred to as high-stakes tests because of the impact that the results can have on student promotion, teacher evaluation, and school funding—and the stakes of the tests in New York this year may be pushed higher still. In his State of the State address, delivered at the end of January, Governor Andrew Cuomo pledged to make education reform a centerpiece of his agenda. “Everyone will tell you, nationwide, the key to education reform is a teacher evaluation system,” the governor said. He noted that while only thirty-eight per cent of New York State high-school students are deemed to be “college ready,” according to their scores on standardized tests, 98.7 per cent of teachers in New York’s schools are rated “effective.” “How can that be?” Cuomo asked. “Who are we kidding, my friends? The problem is clear and the solution is clear. We need real, accurate, fair teacher evaluations.”
That teachers should be evaluated is an assertion with which no reasonable person involved with education—from a policy-maker to a parent—is likely to disagree. But how teachers might best be evaluated remains a contested science. In New York City, a system that incorporates a range of metrics, called Advance, was adopted in 2013. Students’ results in state tests account for twenty per cent of a teacher’s rating, but the teacher’s curriculum materials are also evaluated, as is his or her classroom practice, which is observed on multiple visits throughout the year by the school principal or another observer.

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16 comments:

Anonymous said...

I can see the evaluation based on the schools overall performance - but unless you have more control over the life of the child (NOT ADVOCATING THIS) there's no way to pump stuff in to their heads and make sure it stays in!

Anonymous said...

Some liberals had the idea that all students should have average achievement or higher even if their ability is far below average. Politically correct but a total lie without a grain of proof. So no ability, no interest, no self discipline, no support from home, no intention of ever working but it's the teacher's fault if the kid scores below average. Ditto if the kid is so disruptive no other kids can learn because it would be a sin if he got suspended. Do not become a teacher.

Anonymous said...

You teachers never had problems thirty years ago. I guarantee if a teachers job depends on the students grades from a test then they will somehow find a way to reach those kids. I think this motivation is needed here!

Anonymous said...

Teachers can not be held 100% accountable for students. And NO, I am not a teacher!
Parents are responsible for the needs of their children; to seek help when needed in academic studies, just like they seek medical attention when they are ill.
Parents need to be teaching their children responsibility for their actions, for completing a task to completion when assigned. Respect for others, those older then them, respect for their peers, respect for themselves. There has been a very deep moral decay in this country.
NO, it is not someone else's fault when you get a poor grade. Did you study? Did you ask for extra help? If you answer no to those questions, you received the grade you earned!

Paladin said...

Dear Readers,

I can assure you that given the state of affairs locally with regard to the dynamics of the local socioeconomics there is no reasonable way local teachers can indelibly imprint among the local youth the prescribed curricula of studies (flawed as it is with Common Core/PARCC)- given the fact that in over 25 years in this system I have repeatedly seen the same pattern of malcontent with regard for schooling by many of the populace we served. In industry, there is significant control over the production and distribution of product, but alas, no such measures are afforded the education of youth as we have no control over their upbringing prior to school age instruction. The deterioration of the home unit has been directly attributable for an unattainable situation for teachers.

Respectfully,
Paladin

Anonymous said...

This is about testing and grades. NUFF said.

Anonymous said...

the teachers were no better 30 years ago. I would suggest the PARENTS were better 30 years ago. They were more involved with their children and took some responsibility for their kids actions and inactions.

What some teachers did back then would get them locked up nowadays. And rightfully so for some of them.

MHS

Anonymous said...

I beg to differ. Times have changed. As said above , this wasn't ever an issue in the past. Who knows who is to blame for the kids behaviors nowadays. I know this much, a teacher has to capture the students minds. Not one is the same. There is more to teaching then curriculum. A passionate teacher would've never gave up on their students back in the day. I feel time has shown where teachers hearts and love of their jobs really stem from. Easy money!

Anonymous said...

Mardela high school? Where 60% of your schools population is gay or lesbian? You teach conformity in your school. Teach kids not to question just accept. That quiet little towns school needs to be on the radar. However thugs are are only concern.

Anonymous said...

Back in the day, people understood that a child's ability and motivation, as well as his behavior, was part of the learning equation. Now teachers are expected to make all students at least average when some could not have less ability or interest. If a carpenter couldn't be expected to make a dining room table and chairs out of four popsicle sticks, don't blame a teacher if an average student can't be made out of every child.

Anonymous said...

If that carpenter can do that and they are usable then why can't a teacher find a way to make something out of their students? Your adage is not a good point.

Anonymous said...


Paladin's observations are accurate.

Anonymous said...

8:37 I think you simply failed to grasp the point.

There's an old saying, that might be clearer.

"You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear". Or, "you can't gloss a turd".

Anonymous said...

"Who knows whose to blame for the kids behaviors nowadays."

Their parents, or lack thereof.

Anonymous said...

If a teacher's job depends on the test results, they will teach the test. Years ago teachers were free to teach and success was the responsibility of the student. You didn't make the grade, you were a dropout. We can't have dropouts anymore, God forbid, so you have these ridiculous requirements that are impossible to meet 100%. Not every student can make the grade. A good teacher will help them find SOME measure of success, even if not on "the test."

Anonymous said...

8:05 Spot on.