Carol Burris demolishes myths about teacher evaluation that were contained in a recent opinion piece in Phi Delta Kappan.
Frankly, it is pretty shocking to see that the editor of this journal for educators believes that standardized testing should have any role in evaluating teachers. We are already seeing a renewed emphasis on teaching to the test and more narrowing of the curriculum as teachers’ careers hinge on student scores.
It’s also shocking to see this editor agree that teachers should have no due process rights. When that happens, we can bid farewell to academic freedom and expect to see many districts where evolution is no longer taught.
The editorial criticized here just parrots the uninformed claims of the corporate reformers. Nothing proposed here will improve education. It’s guaranteed however to demoralize teachers.
Burris once again demonstrates the candor, intelligence and integrity that placed her on the honor roll as a hero of public education.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
I’m not surprised. My union has left me high and dry. Why shouldn’t PDK my professional association do the same? Yikes! Are they infected with the ‘disease’ also? At least my wife, mom, siblings, relatives and friends support me. Thank You!
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From the article: “The magazine’s editor concludes by asserting that “every classroom should have excellent teaching every hour of every day.””
Burris seems to concur that that would be nice, but it’s no more realistic than having excellent parents who serve excellent food, etc. I’m not so sure I agree it would be nice even if it were practical. My best friend from high school is a teacher and according to her the pressure is on wall-to-wall teaching. Every minute of every class is supposed to be used to cover the objectives, which are listed on the board. But some of my fondest moments – and the times I remember the most from school – were those few minutes at the end of class, or those days near the holidays, when teachers would let us have time to finish up assignments, read quietly or sometimes just talk. Those moments were often the moments when the teachers would be most unguarded and candid and often the times when we had the most productive, mutually respectful conversations – times when we actually experienced our teachers as human. I think it’s tragic if today’s kids are missing those moments.
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One of my fondest memories of any teacher I’ve ever had involved a teacher in high school who, in the middle of a chemistry lecture, realized how tired so many of us in class were, and ended the lesson early so we could simply rest with the lights off for a few minutes before lunch. Ten years later, I still remember her for that.
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This is an excellent article. Adding to the above, though, I agree that the moments that seem to be less “teaching” can be the most vital. The teachers I see in action every day are focused on the whole child. Whether this is taking a moment to emphasize independence or kindness with kindergarteners or talking to fifth graders about decision-making or inclusion or a multitude of other things that come up on the playground – this is really important stuff! It cannot be scheduled in on the lesson plans, but so many good teachers identify the moments where these life lessons are important. I am so thankful for that and I so hope we do not make this impossible.
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Burris hits it out of park. If only my superintendent would read this, stop being a “test man,” and start being a realist. The principals in my district get a form of merit pay–they are given bonuses upwards of $600 for meeting building objectives. Well, if they are creating the objectives, how could the buildings in their charge not meet them? I wish that more higher-ups in education would speak up about all the nonsense “dog and pony” shows they are implementing instead of buying into it all like the good little soldiers they are expected to be. We need more people like Carol Burris in charge of our schools. Can we petition for her to replace Duncan in Obama’s cabinet?
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A great article! I’m sending it out to all my teacher friends!
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