‘You are so smart…why did you become a teacher?’

[proud2BlibKansan]

This was written by Carol Corbett Burris, principal of South Side High School in New York. She was named the 2010 New York State Outstanding Educator by the School Administrators Association of New York State. She is one of the co-authors of the principals’ letter against evaluating teachers by student test scores, which has been signed by nearly 1,400 New York principals.


By Carol Corbett Burris

The best part of my day is before the first bell rings. I get to spend time in the halls and cafeteria with our students. I have spent over two decades of my professional life among teenagers, and I must confess each year I enjoy them more. They have a perspective that is insightful and clear, and they are always on the watch for what is fair and what is not, especially when it comes to rules.

This past week, I read “the evaluation deal” between NYSUT (the New York teachers union) and the State Education Department. I was surprised, and I was angry. I was particularly struck by the lack of logic and fairness in the rules of the deal. And so to gain some perspective (and to lower my blood pressure) I went to the cafeteria at lunchtime and sat with some kids.

I bought some bags of chips and put them on the table and told them I wanted input on grading, a subject near and dear to their hearts. The first scenario I gave them was this….

more . . . http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/you-are-so-smartwhy-did-you-become-a-teacher/2012/02/19/gIQA2vBNNR_blog.html#pagebreak

[elleng]

1. South Side was MY high school!!!

Attending X0 graduation anniversary in September, visiting classmates this summer.
Those were the days and that was the place, FINE public education!

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. She sounds like a great principal.

Must be a good school.

[elleng]

5. Was a great school,

and continues to receive 'outstanding' evaluations.
Our principal was pretty good, and teachers excellent. Fortunately they didn't have to go through the stuff of today.

[msanthrope]

2. But the teacher's unions hammered this out

and support it. I am surprised you are quoting an administrator's union representative to critique a teacher's union settlement. From the new york times link in your OP the largest teacher's union in the state supported this.

I think that giving principals 4 options of competency levels is better than giving them merely 2. Granted, the principals may have to do more work. But I think that work is to the benefit of the students.

[elleng]

3. An 'administrator's union representative???'

Didn't read the article, eh?

[msanthrope]

7. I did. This is a principal, right?

In NYC/NYS the principals and other administrators have a different union from the teachers.

If she isn't a union rep then why is her opinion on a union-brokered deal relevant?

On edit--granted,this is more work for this principal, but isn't that a good thing?

[elleng]

8. 'The lack of logic and fairness in the rules of the deal' not good enough for you?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/putting-new-yorks-testing-program-on-trial/2012/01/08/gIQAZGEHkP_blog.html

'I am describing the future — one in which children lose great teachers. The reason the above “band” system is so flawed is because of the obsession of Albany with test scores.

Our state’s rule-makers wanted to design a system in which the teachers whose students’ scores are in the lowest ten percent could under no circumstances be anything other than ineffective. It created a ludicrous system where teachers who are effective across the board can be rated ineffective overall.

This was recognized by the August 2011 decision of Justice Michael Lynch, who wisely noted that the scoring ranges for the four categories were invalid, because the ranges did not allow the 60-point category to have meaningful impact in the final score. He noted also that these ranges would rate a teacher “ineffective” solely on the basis of student achievement. The judge understood what NYSUT and the State Education Department cannot — test scores should never trump all. Yet in the agreement, NYSUT caved, condemning our schools to become joyless, test-prep factories.'

'This principal' does plenty of work, it appears.

[msanthrope]

9. Your link does not lead to any of your quotes.

I've no doubt this principal is a good worker..just trying to understand what
in hell is wrong with better standards supported by the teacher's union?








.

[elleng]

11. The 'standards' are not better at least

because they are not properly measured.

Link is provided in the OP article, by Principal Burris: 'by the lack of logic'

Lengthy quote is from Principal Burris' article, and describes why the agreement is bad. Among other things, 'Our state’s rule-makers wanted to design a system in which the teachers whose students’ scores are in the lowest ten percent could under no circumstances be anything other than ineffective. It created a ludicrous system where teachers who are effective across the board can be rated ineffective overall.'

I have no idea why the teachers' union supported it.

[ashling]

6. ‘You are so smart…why did you become a teacher?’

Taylor Mali on "What Teachers Make"

[Gabi Hayes]

10. thanks! here:

&feature=related

[proud2BlibKansan]

12. I met him at SOS!

And found out he went to college in KANSAS.

Really funny in person.