Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Psst! What's the answer?

Something I read in the New York Times editorial…

“It is absurd to bar school administrators from considering student test scores when determining whether a teacher deserves to get tenure.”

Well, no. And yes. One, tenure should not exist. Ever. But, at the same time, teacher’s need protection from administrators driven by politics. Heck, we all need that kind of protection! But tenure is patently unfair and no one knows that better than good teachers. Two, so called ‘standardized tests’ do a poor job of indicating student progress or lack thereof. Student’s are individuals and are unique. They cannot be tested in the same way, one size fits all manner, that administrators love. What’s the solution? I think it’s peer review for hiring, promotion and for dismissal of teachers. And the standardized tests? That’s a problem still looking for a solution. And No Child Left Behind is not the answer.

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