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Teacher bill – next comes the vote
Written by Todd Engdahl on Apr 22nd, 2010. | Copyright © EdNewsColorado.org
Pena got it right – “Let’s seize this historic opportunity,” not let’s do what’s right for students, public education and its dedicated professionals.
At least two elephants in the room-
1. what about the 40-50% of secondary teachers who are teaching in subject areas not covered by CSAP or any consistent forms of student achievement data. How do you evaluate a History, AP Art History, Band, PE, Health, Civics, 11th and 12 th grade teachers or other non-CSAP subject area when no student achievement data is available? Why do we even have these teachers if they are so irrelevant? I guess we could just fire them and hire English Math and Science teachers and call it good. It appears we don’t value these other areas any more.
2. Secondly, who in their right mind believes middle school and high school students are taking these tests seriously? We have tested our kids to death and we all know of kids you conspire to scribble nonsense on these test- they will have more motivation now to screw up their tests if they know- and they will know- it would effect a teacher they might not like. I believe we could count on the validity of 3rd grade tests but not 8th 9th and 10th graders. I would hate to have my job rely on the whims of an anxiety ridden, disenfranchised youth who has no personal motivation or consequences for the results of the test. Maybe look at the ACT but kids don’t care about CSAP- just remember your experience in high school!
Wake up!!