A teacher faces the state’s new evaluation with anxiety, uncertainty, fear, and confusion. She has a great idea about how to game this invalid, meaningless, absurd and punitive system:
It’s not just in LA that teachers are afraid. VA is implementing new eval requirements that must include student progress worth 40% of a teacher’s overal eval. The plan at my former school (might be at the new school I will be working for in the fall as well) was to develop pre and post tests to show growth over the year for non-tested subjects (and first year of a subject wouldn’t count, since obviously students would be starting at zero. I wasn’t really sure about the logic there). Yet, I was unable to ever get clear answers on how they would be implented for teachers of multiple levels/preps. One idea was that only one level would count. After I pointed out that this would incentivize focusing on only the level that counted to the detriment of the non-counted levels, I was met with silence. When I asked who was picking, I was also met with confusion. Moreover, it also occurred to me how easy it would be for some teachers to game the system. I teach Latin, which is something that most people have little familiarity with. So, I could create an insanely difficult pre-test and a cake post test so that I showed awesome growth, and really who would know, except me, and maybe the kids (certainly those of my bosses who have no familiarity with the subject would not be able to figure it out). Moreover, they wouldn’t be able to break down how students do on partiular sections and what that means, nor figure out what sections represented higher level thinking and which represented rote memorization. Finally, I began to question how one evaluated the ability to translate Latin to English by only using a multiple choice test. I wondered why the ability to translate Latin to English wasn’t measured by actually having students translate Latin to English. For the first time, I felt the fear and the pressure that teachers of the core had been feeling for years. I dread these new eval requirements with a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach that never quite goes away.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
I am also a Latin teacher. My fear is that a “superfluous” subject like ours will simply be dumped, along with art, music, and others that can’t be exploited as profitably. Look at what the College Board did to the Latin AP exams just a short time ago.
Like the horses of Rhesus, the students are being dragged away without imbibing the Xanthus, while we are slaughtered in our tents.
LikeLike
Well, if you get to make up your pre-test and post-test, your supervisor won’t have a clue about what is on either one. That’s one big advantage. But I take your point. If you can’t prove your economic value these days, you are disposable.
LikeLike
An apt historical analogy for what is happening. Thank you, Alan.
LikeLike
Yes, teachers need to game the system and I’m betting they will. It’s not that difficult for a teacher to “prove” student progress with a portfolio of work and tests from September to May. She should also cultivate the parents, make certain they recognize the progress of their children and ask them to put it in writing. Then when the teacher is deemed “ineffective” she’ll have something to take to court.
LikeLike
Those of us in Louisiana who were lucky enough to participate in a six month pilot of the new evaluation system brought up similar concerns and questions during the pilot which were met with similar reactions. It was clear that those who created the process did not really understand how schools function. They always underestimate educators. Thankfully, our strong reaction did produce some changes and our support person always listened to and respected our concerns. It is an overly cumbersome and extremely time consuming process that will add another burden on both teachers and administrators. Next month it will roll out across the state, even though all the kinks haven’t been worked out after only a six month pilot. This is typical of superintendant White to figure things out after it is implemented. Since he only has a couple of years experience as a TFA teacher, and the state board decided to waive the requirement for his credentials, it is no wonder we are heading down this path of destruction. As an administrator, I will work with my teachers and not against them. My job is to help improve our school, not to destroy teachers. I respect them and their hard work. As long as we all work together for the students, we will continue to make slow, steady progress. Hope I am not being too naive. 🙂
LikeLike
You have a great attitude. Shelter and protect your team against the storms of political agendas. That’s real leadership!
LikeLike
Thank you for doing all you could to tweak and fix everything you could during the pilot testing. Was this published somewhere? I would love to see the comments made and the changes that were identified during the pilot period.
LikeLike
My principal started her evaluation with how “shocked and appauled” she was at what she saw in my classroom.
What she saw was middle school kids sitting in groups of four reading books, using literacy circles roles. The walls were covered with original cartoons illustrated by my students.
She wanted to see more teaching, more activity.
I had my Livescribe pen with me and recrded the whole humiliating tirade.
LikeLike
Frenchbroadkints,
I know the frustration you are feeling. I had my 9th graders building rube goldberg machines for their simple machines and newtons laws activity. They did a wonderful job. I was told that they shouldn’t be playing and to keep their noses in work sheets. I was also told that this was not an academic activity so don’t do it again! Hang in there. Good job recording it.
LikeLike
In Tennessee, they actually took the averages of the Math and Reading scores in each school and assigned that number to every teacher, no matter what subject s/he taught.
LikeLike
will TN officials continue to do that or are they planning tests for everything that is taught in every grade? Arts, PE, history, civics, etc.
LikeLike
Delaware’s education union worked hard to help reshape the teacher evaluation program–to move it away from school-wide scores and the use of reading and math tests to reflect the effectiveness of all teachers and certificated employees like librarians, psychologists, nurses, at teachers, French teachers, etc. It took months and pressure from some other friends, but we now have a system that is more aligned with measuring the impact and effectiveness of any educator with the kids with whom he/she actually works. Even for math and reading teachers, the state test results will count for less than 20% of overall evaluation. Ourt goal was to end up with a system that was fair, valid, based in common sensde, and respectful of the professionals. We’ve come a long way, Baby.
LikeLike
“now have a system that is more aligned with measuring the impact and effectiveness of any educator with the kids with whom he/she actually works.”
“measuring the impact and effectiveness”-ha ha! Jokes on you! If you believe you can “measure the impact and effectiveness of any educator” you are sadly mistaken. It is logically impossible to “measure” i.e., quantify, something as nebulous as “impact and effectiveness” of a teacher, i.e., a quality. Sorry can’t be done. Any conclusions drawn from said “measurements” are “vain and illusory” (Wilson). In other words they are worthless. Actually less than worthless because they cause harm to others.
“Our goal was to end up with a system that was fair, valid, based in common sense, and respectful of the professionals.”
You’re playing right into the hands of the educational deformers. That system is neither fair, nor balanced, definitely invalid** and certainly not based on common sense (unless you consider common sense to accept the logical impossibility of quantifying qualities) nor respects the “professionals”-the teachers. Any evaluation scheme that uses student test scores to evaluate teachers is UNETHICAL and is highly insulting to me as a “professional” teacher.
**As shown by Noel Wilson in “Educational Standards and the Problem of Error” found at: http://epaa.asu.edu/ojs/article/view/577
LikeLike
This is educational malpractice. What is to be done?
LikeLike
“This is educational malpractice.” Not only that but UNETHICAL. To use a students score on a standardized test to evaluate a teacher is wrong. The test was supposedly designed to assess a students knowledge. It was not designed to assess the teacher.
I believe that teachers are going to have to file lawsuits in an attempt to prevent themselves from being fired without just cause. The purpose of the suit would be to show the evaluation process is completely invalid and therefore shouldn’t have been used in the first place.
LikeLike
As a result of Florida’s SB 736, dubbed the “Student Success Act,” school districts will be required to create standardized tests for subjects that are not tested using the state’s existing exams. These tests will be used to create VAM scores for non-tested subject area teachers. These teachers are currently receiving their VAMs based on Reading or Math scores.
That is going to be a TON of new tests. I wonder if there will be a consequence on the student side of the test equation. Will the art teacher be able to use students’ results on this test to determine final grades like with the newly created state final exams in Algebra, Geometry, and Biology? I hope so. Otherwise, what’s keeping students from Christmas treeing the test?
LikeLike
No, these VAMs are not fair at all. A teacher doesn’t control who is in the class, or what the students do when they are not in their class, or even if they pay attention during class, etc.. The results change every year anyway…Students have to meet the teachers half way…All of these reforms were done to bust the unions and turn teaching into a very low-paying career. All of this has nothing to do with education reform. The elites have decided that the time is ripe to get rid of public schools (and unions), and there isn’t much to be done. Money controls the elections, etc. Teachers will be churned, and no one will last more than a few years. Schools will bring on TFA types who will also be gone after a few years. No one will ever reach tenure, and taxes will not have to be raised. If you blame everything on the teacher, then you don’t have to rise taxes or keep classes small, or pay larger salaries for veteran teachers like myself. The elites were able to turn the dying middle class against the last part of the middle class who still had unions. It is not too hard to sway the masses here in America- we aren’t very intellectual anymore. Ultimately, teachers will get “churned”, schools will be closed, and the charter schools games will begin. By then, teachers will be very low paid and have few benefits. They will keep firing the bottom group, (10%) etc. There will always be millions out of work, anxious to take the places of those who are fired. Presto! You have an education system that is cheap and taxes, especially on the elites, remain low. Teaching will not longer be a career path, but a temporary few years…That is the truth of all of this. Also, the elites don’t want an educated populace anyway. A critical-thinking populace could turn on the elites. This is not in their best interest. George Carlin saw this awhile ago.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dpcd0woY2KY
I am not happy to say this, and I know Diane Ravitch is more optimistic than I am in the long term. I have seen this coming the last few years, and no one would listen to me.
LikeLike
I understand your anger. I share it. But I’m not ready to give up without a fight. Our job is to alert the American people. Tell them that the 1% want to give away their schools to entrepreneurs so they have to win a lottery to get in to the school across the street. This is wrong. We must speak up, lose our fear, build alliances with parents and other allies. It won’t be easy or fast. But we will win. Because we are many, they are few. They have money, we have people. We will prevail.
LikeLike
Amen, Brother Alec!! (and I’m not religious)
“. . . no one would listen to me.” Unfortunately, they been listening to me, to the tune of many disciplinary letters for challenging the powers that be. Other than that, you’re right, they really “don’t listen” because they “know” they are right (actually “mighty” because they have the “power” to destroy your career).
LikeLike
I hope you are right Diane, but everything Alec writes is true and everything George Carlin says is true.
LikeLike
Not “true,” not false. Neither right nor wrong. A matter of opinion. If I thought George Carlin was right, I’d give up. As I said, I am not giving up. When it’s over, I’ll know. It’s not over.
Diane
LikeLike
“Not “true,” not false. Neither right nor wrong. A matter of opinion.”
How then do we “know” whether something is true/false, right/wrong and not just an opinion?
Seems to me that that question has been around for a long time.
(For once I’m not trying to be facetious/sarcastic, just a question)
LikeLike
Well, I hope I am wrong, but this is my “gut” feeling from what I have observed so far. I am a public teacher too, so obviously I don’t want us all to go down. Dr. Ravitch knows a lot more about education (high level) than I do. If she says that it is still possible, then we should believe her. Can teachers be fired for test scores in other subjects? It sounds like a law suit in any state. Let’s see how this all plays out in the coming year, and hopefully, most of us will survive. I just don’t know. Dr. Ravitch also knows the big players, and she will be able to sense what is happening (macro) much better than we can. Also, we do need to go down fighting for this worthy cause! All teachers owe Dr. Ravitch a big thanks for all of her tireless campaigning on our behalf. She is the best friend we have! Good luck to everyone in all states! (I am in Illinois- suburbs)
LikeLike
Alec,
This is what I know. I study history. Nothing goes in a straight line forever. Bad things end. Hitler called his regime the “1000-year Reich,” and it was gone in 12 miserable, murderous years. Communism was the wave of the future, and it lasted from 1917-1989/1990. What is happening now in education is mindless; it is insane; it is anti-educational; it is child abuse. We have to believe it. We have to say it. We have to be people who no longer have blinders on. We will prevail because the people who are ruining public education are dilettantes. When they keep failing again and again, they will get bored and move on. Those who are in for the money will be harder to shake. But imagine a change in the political climate; it happened during the Depression. It can happen again. Imagine states passing laws that ban for-profit schools. Why not? Imagine the candidate who stands up and says ‘hands off our public schools.” If we become a mighty and fearless force, it will happen.No one will do it for us. We must be vigilant; we must find our allies and work with them; we must not quarrel among ourselves. We must be focused and strong.
Diane
LikeLike
You’re right – no one will do it for us. I teach U.S history and my favorite units are the Progressive Era and the Civil Rights Era. What do I want my students to learn? The history of this country is complicated and does no always live up to its ideals of freedom, democracy and justice for all. Ordinary people have to fight for justice. To quote Margaret Mead – “A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
LikeLike
“Imagine states passing laws that ban for-profit schools. Why not?”
Maybe not banning for-profit schools but banning public moneys from going to for-profit schools.
Thank you for that idea. I’m thinking that here in Missouri we might be able to get that on the ballot, either as an addendum to the constitution or as a law. I’m going to have to look into this.
LikeLike
State constitutions sometimes have a provision saying no public money to religios schools. Add to it, no public money to schools run for profit. If you add to it a cap on compensation to no greater than salary of local school superintendent, you will see a loss of interest from private sector.
Diane
LikeLike