Thursday, November 10, 2011

Why Are We So Sensitive About Teachers?

Rick Scott just signed a "Teacher Merit" bill into law. It basically requires new teachers (and old ones who opt into the new system) to be evaluated annually with threat of being fired. No more tenure. Teachers are outraged. Name another job that has tenure. Why would you ever make a policy that you cannot fire a teacher? Bad teachers need to go. Let's chop at least the bottom 10% every year.

Admittedly, I don't think that standardized tests should be weighted too heavily in teacher assessment. Peer and student feedback along with maybe video analysis and demonstration of student work should all play in.  We need to bust up some teachers unions and not let them get away with silly demands.

1 comment:

Jess said...

Oh Austin, you just opened a huge can of worms, friend. Ironically this new bill actually protects the older, "dead weight" teachers and keeps new teachers (like myself) from being able to have creative license in the classroom. Oh, and it totally eliminates the ability for us to speak out against administrative demands that do nothing to assist in student success. So, yes, let's just keep attacking the teachers who are underpaid, and blocked at every effort our unions make to try and "get away with our silly demands" like getting a cost of living raise each year. (um, which my district has issued in the last 3 years, fyi) Oh, and let's not forget that we the teachers get reprimanded and held responsible for the failures of the parents. But don't worry, I'll try to keep my "silly demands" to a minimum for your sake, ok?