tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post5471794488301648192..comments2023-10-23T09:23:22.051-04:00Comments on Your Schools: Grading LA's teachers -- and Charlotte'sUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-36257236599989312172010-08-23T13:32:47.877-04:002010-08-23T13:32:47.877-04:00So Ann,
Is the Observer going to try to get CMS&#...So Ann,<br /><br />Is the Observer going to try to get CMS's teacher value added data?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-54467444128380792952010-08-19T12:37:06.180-04:002010-08-19T12:37:06.180-04:00That's an idea, Gorman. Require/reward teache...That's an idea, Gorman. Require/reward teacher's who maintain high standards and re-direct teachers who don't maintain high standards. My husband is a teacher who continually gets criticized by parents and his co-teachers. The complaint - you expect too much of these kids. That basic complaint comes if he penalizes a student for late work, if he expects them to write coherent sentences or if he asks them to be prepared for class by doing the assigned reading. I don't know how teachers tolerate their job, and I don't know what I am going to do when my kids are old enough for school. I do know that too many teachers take the easy route of low expectations which is a huge part of the problem in our schools today.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-82415064545329829952010-08-18T15:49:29.058-04:002010-08-18T15:49:29.058-04:00Not true that teacher surveys are never publicized...Not true that teacher surveys are never publicized; I've written extensively about the ones CMS does. It's been a little harder to get that data this year.<br /><br />The statewide working-conditions surveys used to get such lousy participation that they didn't give good data on a lot of schools, but I think they're a lot stronger now. And you're right on that; I haven't had time to delve into this year's results: http://ncteachingconditions.org/Ann Doss Helmshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03511764376105157616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-55498746261056362892010-08-17T23:31:48.161-04:002010-08-17T23:31:48.161-04:00The surveys teachers fill out about the district a...The surveys teachers fill out about the district are never publicized.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-8281541783180423812010-08-17T21:16:12.143-04:002010-08-17T21:16:12.143-04:00Interesting that we have never seen one evaluation...Interesting that we have never seen one evaluation for Pete Gorman. His grades should be posted right along with the teachers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-57103296408911748392010-08-17T20:02:14.385-04:002010-08-17T20:02:14.385-04:00Sounds like Gorman is tickled pink about these &qu...Sounds like Gorman is tickled pink about these "value added ratings". Some teachers don't even know that they exist! Some principals are not sharing this information with their teachers. <br /><br />It's been known by some for years that the district is ranking teachers, but we've yet to see that list. <br /><br />I would like to know where I stand. I do not think it should be the Oberserver's place to share this with the public, but the district should at least share it with its teachers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-20602544395834553572010-08-17T14:14:48.900-04:002010-08-17T14:14:48.900-04:00This reminds me of a recent project in Louisiana t...This reminds me of a recent project in Louisiana that tracked student achievement and traced it all back to where the teachers were educated. <br /><br /> http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122224872Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-68743378606850742552010-08-17T12:20:27.096-04:002010-08-17T12:20:27.096-04:00The flaw isn't in the numbers, it's in tho...The flaw isn't in the numbers, it's in those who twist them to make whatever point it is they're trying to make.<br /><br />How many taxpayer dollars are we going to spend to determine that Teacher A has a 3.25 score while Teacher B has a 2.9. Also, some kids respond better in strict environments while others don't perform well in those situations. <br /><br />As for boycotting the LA Times. I think it's a great idea. I read a dozen or more papers a day (online) but wouldn't waste a penny on any of them. I say go for it. <br /><br />The quality of reporting in newspapers, on television and on the radio is far, far worse than the quality of our public education system.<br /><br />An aside to the story: When I was in school, nearly 20 years ago, the worst teachers were the most popular ones. The best were the most demanding. My guess is that hasn't changed much.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-1388846346480453652010-08-17T10:52:10.230-04:002010-08-17T10:52:10.230-04:00Much ado about zero.Much ado about zero.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-34692095784121682152010-08-17T10:49:50.410-04:002010-08-17T10:49:50.410-04:00One big problem here. A very small percent of cou...One big problem here. A very small percent of courses have a EOC to measure. Therefore you won't have data to grade the teachers. Also, CMS and the state is currently paying no bonus money, whose to say the economy will improve enough to pay for all of this?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-28636427886791381222010-08-17T10:38:13.767-04:002010-08-17T10:38:13.767-04:00Let us not forget that some teachers are successfu...Let us not forget that some teachers are successful, if test scores are indeed a measure of success, because they are the principal's pals and their students are hand picked, because the principal has the power to set up class rosters and assign the best students to favorite teachers. I'm sure such political realities are not factored in to these "expert" studies. <br />If "strict" means having high standards and expectations, then such teachers are more likely to be successful because they are preparing students for the reality of the work world, not due to "good" test scores. Yes, where a boss has high expectations and standards, too, or you are out the door. Certainly, "late", "Sloppy", "incomplete" have no place in the competitive workplace. Hats off to all teachers who remain dedicated to "strict". You are truly helping children.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-27926846882915847372010-08-17T09:30:34.903-04:002010-08-17T09:30:34.903-04:00The Times school coverage was right on. That's...The Times school coverage was right on. That's why the teachers union came out so strong against it. With a notoriously thin skin, the LA union will do anything to protect the rank and file that also include under performing teachers. As a parent who had 2 kids go through the public school system, it's obvious poor teachers are out there. And when a union is involved, your best bet is to hope your kid does not get in a class with the low end of the teaching pool.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-54546235457173495722010-08-17T08:53:23.417-04:002010-08-17T08:53:23.417-04:00Good Morning Ann,
Someone sent your blog post to ...Good Morning Ann,<br /><br />Someone sent your blog post to me this morning over Twitter, and it resonated in relation to the blog post I wrote last night on the same topic: http://digigogy.blogspot.com<br /><br />I am amazed that administrative folks (and the public at large) would invest any further thought in this type of ridiculousness, but everybody likes numbers and values perception over reality.<br /><br />-Michael Fisher<br />Digigogy.com<br />Digigogy.blogspot.comMikeFisher821https://www.blogger.com/profile/09410966680338512226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-19143545948466775232010-08-17T08:42:11.409-04:002010-08-17T08:42:11.409-04:00VALUE ADDED; WHEN?
One teacher being better rated...VALUE ADDED; WHEN?<br /><br />One teacher being better rated than another isn't new. <br /><br />What would be important to me is to know what to expect from teachers as they progress from novices to the best they will ever be. Even better would be to know how and when all that metamorphous occurs.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-22528263347353187162010-08-17T08:41:06.567-04:002010-08-17T08:41:06.567-04:00I would have to sgree 7:59 that "strict"...I would have to sgree 7:59 that "strict" teachers show that they care by being strict. It is true love for the child to be strict, set rules and boundaries, etc. Too many parent(s) just want to be a friend to their child.Mikenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-6848286537505504952010-08-17T08:38:18.563-04:002010-08-17T08:38:18.563-04:00Last year, one of my children received a "C&q...Last year, one of my children received a "C" in an AP class led by a teacher who had no tolerance for late, partially completed or missing assignments with unrelenting quizzes and tests. My child almost quit the class several times but, with the teacher's encouragement, he/she continued. My child scored a 4 (out of 5) on their national AP exam in this subject area which many colleges accept for credit. Guess which teacher my child requested to have again this year?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020455191286536580.post-7243592252281123642010-08-17T07:59:18.318-04:002010-08-17T07:59:18.318-04:00After a big NC research study was completed, the O...After a big NC research study was completed, the Observer seemed very reluctant to publish which NC universities are supposedly producing the most "highly effective" teachers.<br /><br />Not surprisingly, the LA teacher's union is pushing for a boycott of the Times if they release research information about teacher quality. Is the Observer prepared to face similar reaction from local teachers? Are you sure?<br /><br />Also, why am I not surprised that "effective" teachers have a tendency to be strict. Over the years, my children have occasionally complained about certain teachers being "mean". I've always been quick to try and differentiate the difference between being "mean" and being "strict". More often than not, my children have conceded that certain teachers are just more strict. Based on my own unscientific observations, strict teachers tend to produce higher results. This doesn't indicated strict teachers are less caring. In fact, I believe the opposite is true. Running a tight ship with high expectations and standards is hard work. I'm really not interested if my kids would prefer to "Friend" certain teachers over others on Facebook. <br /><br />* Yes, I know NC doesn't have a teacher's union.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com