http://www.epi.org/publications/entry/ib286
Here is an article on how to fix schools. Do you agree with this article? I believe we need to have teachers that truely care. What do you think is the main problem on why schools are not succeeding? Here is just some of what was said in the article.
Joel Klein, chancellor of the New York City public school system, and Michelle Rhee, who resigned October 13 as Washington, D.C. chancellor, published a “manifesto” in the Washington Post claiming that the difficulty of removing incompetent teachers “has left our school districts impotent and, worse, has robbed millions of children of a real future.” The solution, they say, is to end the “glacial process for removing an incompetent teacher” and give superintendents like themselves the authority to pay higher salaries to teachers whose students do well academically. Otherwise, children will remain “stuck in failing schools” across the country.{i}
Klein, Rhee, and the 14 other school superintendents who co-signed their statement base this call on a claim that, “as President Obama has emphasized, the single most important factor determining whether students succeed in school is not the color of their skin or their ZIP code or even their parents’ income — it is the quality of their teacher.”
Danielle,
ReplyDeleteGreat post, and definitely a subject that is hard to "fix." Rewarding teachers who have students that do well can be tough. Honors Classes you most likely have students that have good grades and do well, but that doesn't mean that the teacher is great...just that they have an honors class. Also, a teacher may be doing their best in a class that just doesn't do well...the students may not have the drive, lack parental support, or many other problems we see with high levels of attainment. This teach may be working with these students because they want to make a difference, but this is not always the easiest. Maybe they have reached a few kids in the class and were able to see them succeed...is this enough? But, then you also have a problem with teachers that pick a select few and focus efforts on them. I do not envy those (and those of you ) with the task to make policy. There is usually an issue of educating a few or educating all, either way some students will be lost.
There are many teachers that should be removed, and either lost their passion to teach over the years, or just never had it to begin with. I do think that as the times have changed the demographics of teachers have changed. Moving from Normal schools and eras where teachers were women, and professions were limited…to an era where women and other underrepresented groups are encouraged to seek other careers and doors are more open, hopefully we will see a shift of people going into teaching for the passion of the field, not for the access of the profession (or lack of access to others).
I do agree with the article, the quality of the teach has the greatest impact. I can look back on my childhood and see how I may have succeeded in a certain subject because of a teacher, and equally, may have lost interest in a subject because of a teacher. Hopefully Principals and school leaders have the time and knowledge to be able to work with the teachers and see how they impact the children. Many times the broken link in the system is at the top.
The article brings up many good points, thank you for posting!