Here is a comment from a first-year teacher who knows more than the “reformers” who wrote the laws in Florida.
| I can go one better — in my district here in southwestern Florida 50% of my final evaluation for the year will be based upon the test scores of children in grades 4 and 5. I taught 2nd grade this year. This is my first year at this school.So, in effect, half of my ‘effectiveness’ as a teacher is to be determined by test scores from students I’ve NEVER taught and most of whom I’ve NEVER even met.How anyone could keep a straight face and maintain any moral integrity while telling me that this is a ‘fair system’ is beyond my understanding yet this is the program that my betters in the district office produced, the state of Florida approved, and the U.S. Dept. of Education accepted as meeting the requirements of Race to the Top.How could I have added ‘value’ or subtracted ‘value’ to students I’ve never even spoken to or been with in a classroom? Osmosis?He later sent me this correction:Diane, I’m flattered that you chose to highlight my comment. Thanks! Just a slight correction — I’m not a first year teacher, just new to this school. I’ve actually been teaching for 15 years, always in Title I schools.I’m National Board Certified, hold 2 MA’s (one from NYU) and was named Social Studies Teacher of the Year for my district last year.
I fully expect my final rating to be “Needs Improvement” or “Ineffective” though, when the test scores are added in to my ‘value’, since the state saw fit to raise the bar so high for passing and they made the FCAT test far more difficult this year. My principal actually rated me ‘highly effective’ based upon her numerous formal and informal observations and review of my teaching portfolio but that only counts for half so . . . .
Looks like the writing is on the wall and it’s time to start looking for employment outside the school system. That makes me very sad and sick at heart but I don’t see anything changing for the better any time soon. After 2 years of low ratings in Florida now you lose your professional teaching certificate and can be fired at will. Everyone who can is retiring or has retired. Those of us in the middle or just starting out are just stuck.
Where are our professional organizations and unions? Why aren’t they fighting hard to help us? Inquiring minds would like to know. |
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Diane Ravitch's blog 
I feel for this teacher. I am in the same boat, as are many of my teacher coworkers. In my situation, I teach writing. But, I am evaluated on reading scores. Go figure. Even worse, look at a 12th grade AP Calculus teacher in FL. They are evaluated on 10th grade reading scores – scores of students that they have never even met. It is just craziness. No one can figure out this VAM and the tests are flawed (as proven by the recent FL FCAT Fiasco). How can Arne, Jeb, or anyone think this feeling of helplessness among America’s teachers can possibly be healthy for kids?
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I am an art teacher–I wonder where my value will come from? I refuse to trash fellow teachers to get a raise, so I suppose I will never have another dime.
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It’s not just about raises, Linda. These new VAM configurations will affect our overall status. If your score is low for whatever reason, you can be fired or put on a plan to improve YOUR teaching. This is EVEN if your evaluation is based on the scores of children you did not teach or kids who never had a chance of passing a test on their grade-level. The whole thing makes no sense – except to non-educators. And honestly, I can’t imagine how they justify this crazy mess.
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The education system has been massively corrupted by a serious epidemic of corporate greed being fueled by Obama, Duncan, Jeb Bush, Bill Gates, the Walmart foundation, Pearson and many other lesser players.
Rick Scott is woeful as a Governor. Florida’s Republican legislature is replete with corruption from top to bottom.
It’s all about money. Education is a trillion dollar business. Bush and his cronies want to privatize so they can line their pockets at taxpayer expense.
Unfortunately too many Floridians are apathetic and ignorant and have allowed these charlatans to perpetrate their illicit schemes.
When will the voters wake up and throw these bums out?
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This is truly the problem. Both parties have chosen the same stupid path for education. They are essentially not restructuring public education but dismantling it. After watching “The Hatfields and the McCoys” I would never want our schools to go back to a time when only the “elite” are educated!
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Diane, I’m flattered that you chose to highlight my comment. Thanks! Just a slight correction — I’m not a first year teacher, just new to this school. I’ve actually been teaching for 15 years, always in Title I schools.
I’m National Board Certified, hold 2 MA’s (one from NYU) and was named Social Studies Teacher of the Year for my district last year.
I fully expect my final rating to be “Needs Improvement” or “Ineffective” though, when the test scores are added in to my ‘value’, since the state saw fit to raise the bar so high for passing and they made the FCAT test far more difficult this year. My principal actually rated me ‘highly effective’ based upon her numerous formal and informal observations and review of my teaching portfolio but that only counts for half so . . . .
Looks like the writing is on the wall and it’s time to start looking for employment outside the school system. That makes me very sad and sick at heart but I don’t see anything changing for the better any time soon. After 2 years of low ratings in Florida now you lose your professional teaching certificate and can be fired at will. Everyone who can is retiring or has retired. Those of us in the middle or just starting out are just stuck.
Where are our professional organizations and unions? Why aren’t they fighting hard to help us? Inquiring minds would like to know.
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Hello, Brian,
I am writing a book on “School Reform” and I would like to include your experience. Could you please get in touch with me?
John Owens
acibooks@gmail.com
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My heart goes out to you. I taught for many years beginning in 1970. There were many difficult days but it was a calling. I would not, however, go into teaching today for love nor money. “We will teach all of the children of all of the people.” Horace Mann ~ That commitment brought light to the world and public schools, properly managed and funded, are arguably America’s greatest strength.
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Reblogged this on Continuing Change and commented:
This is our story – will they listen? So thankful that Diane Ravitch does…
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Reblogged this on School Refresh and commented:
Fair?
What a joke.
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You know, since they just want some sort of number, maybe it’s time to break out the 20-sided dice. It would cost less.
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[…] Calling Jeb Bush! Calling Arne Duncan! Talk to this teacher! (dianeravitch.net) […]
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