A number of teachers from the Bad Ass Teachers Association drove to Albany to witness the trial of Néw York’s teacher evaluation system. Here are excerpts from some of their reports.
BAT 1:
“In responding to the Lederman’s suit, the state representatives Ira Schwartz, Assistant Commissioner of Accountability and (?) Sherman, a “Quality Control” official did not provide affidavits from independent experts, rather they asserted that the Lederman’s misunderstood the meaning of “growth”, providing language from promotional brochures.
“But the response also conceded that the policy was derived in pursuit of federal Race to the Top funding (another case of “Thanks Obama?”)
The judge teased this out of the state’s lawyer by asking so the students can perform well and the teacher be deemed ineffective? The Lawyer eventually answered “yes!” but tried to remind the court that the formula is only used as part of the overall evaluation. This caused the judge to ask aloud why “discordant” and “inappropriate” results would be used in any percentage.”
BAT 2:
“In comparison to Lederman’s pointed and constructed argument, the assistant attorney general did a minimal response to argument, defending the definition and use of the growth model. The judge asked over and over how a teacher could go from a 14 one year to a 1 the following year. No answer was really given except for a poor attempt to explain the model’s comparison to other students.
“Quote of the day – from Lederman – went something like this: Are we living in a science fiction world where Hal the Computer gets to make decisions and there is no opportunity for human input or appeal?…
“I am in awe of the Lederman’s, true heroes for all of the downtrodden teachers being judged by a flawed and unfair system of measurement. If they win, all teachers and all students win.”
BAT 3:
“Another thing that stood out was just how deeply flawed the system is. When a teacher like Sheri goes from 14 points to 1, yet her students are doing very well and meeting proficiency, it’s easy to see that something is deeply wrong. I believe everyone in the courtroom saw that today. The argument that it’s just a portion of an overall score doesn’t matter to me. If any part of it is flawed, the whole thing should not be used. Let’s hope the judge agrees.
“Lastly what stood out was how much Bruce shined, and the state faltered. Prepared and eloquent, Bruce laid out the arguments point by point and handled challenging questions with thorough and thoughtful explanations. The same could not be said about the state’s representation and it was wonderfully obvious.”
BAT 4:
“It was exciting for me to witness this hearing, and I feel that the outcome of this case could be very historic in our fight to save public education.”
BAT 5:
“The state continued to argue the rating computer system was valid. NYSED admitted that you can have a teacher whose kids are successful yet the teacher will still get a low rating. Overall, they seemed okay with that reality. The state explained the evaluation system will let them get rid of ‘outliers’.
“After the proceedings I was moved to tears when The Lederman’s shared their motivation. Mrs. Lederman’s evaluation had her distraught, she was ready to quit and leave the profession that she loves. After many late night discussions, she and her husband decided, to challenge this unjust system. They certainly know they have a world of educators and parents on their side.”
BAT 6:
“* It was encouraging to have the public see for themselves that even the state could not explain the impact of test scores on teachers.
* The common sense scenarios as presented by the judge made it clear to everyone in the courtroom just how ridiculous VAM is.”
BAT 7:
“I am biased, for sure, but I have to say Bruce and Sheri Lederman have done an amazing job laying out the faults of this system. They have lined up the best in the field to validate their claims. My overall feeling was, that as gruff as this judge seemed to be, he got it. He understood that this system is not transparent, is not valid, and should not be used to judge teachers. We hope that his findings, which will be rendered in about 6 weeks, will state just that.”
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Sorry kids, sorry teachers, this has all been just a “misunderstanding”.
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no names? are these real people?
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Joseph, the names are inside the link.
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Yes, very real
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To Joseph:
Please be honest to answer my DEAD END question, regardless of name or real people.
Here is my question:
Where would VAM intend to achieve?
Between
a) to force teachers and principle to CHEAT the students’ scores to be higher and then to be put in jail as in Washington case, and to force Washington Chancellor Michelle Rhee to FLEE away from justice; and
b) To force exemplary Teacher Rafe Esquith in LAUSD to be in teacher jail and to assess the exemplary Teacher Sheri Lederman from highly effective to be ineffective?
Where does VAM intend to achieve?
Would VAM intend to do from 1) to 5) points below?
1) To destroy an excellent Public Education for all?
2) To eliminate next generation to choose teaching profession as their calling career?
3) To transform next American generation to become submissive robots?
4) To genocide American DEMOCRACY?
5) To enhance fascists, communists, and terrorists to spread like cancer in America, because these LACK-OF-CONSCIENCE, money-minded, and short-sighted business tycoons intentionally co-operate with fascists, communists, and terrorists to bully the intellectual population = teachers + professors + scientists + students who were forced to be rated by VAM as being FAILED, or INEFFECTIVE, or CUT OFF PUBLIC educational fund?
Thank you for being conscientious human being who can be proud to be called a civilized and cultivated person in this American democratic society. Back2basic
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Reading this lubricated my eyes and that’s good because my peepers are often too dry these days. :o)
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Thank you to the Ledermans for taking this incredibly flawed evaluation process to court. You have given teachers throughout the state a reason to be hopeful as we prepare for school to begin. THANK YOU!!
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If VAM goes down here, it should crumble across the country. State law says the measure must be reliable and valid. We know it is neither. Please keep us posted.
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My question is simple: why did it take an individual teacher her lawyer to challenge this absurd evaluation in court? Why wasn’t it taken up by NYSUT long ago?
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We just got back from a vacation trip to China and our guide pointed out that in the time of Genghis Khan, the class scale (with 10 being the bottom), prostitiutes were #8, teachers and scholars were #9, and beggars were #10. Most intellectuals had to flee to the mountains. Treating teachers with such disrespect does have history.
When we went to Russia a few years ago our guide said the strong were paid well, doctors and teachers were not, because “anybody” can do that.
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“I shudder to think of who would be attracted to teach in our public schools without unions.”
People desperate for a job away from fast food and Walmart who would foolishly think teaching would be a better choice even under those circumstances. And after the unions have been gone for a generation, younger workers would have no comparison. Being abused and used in the workplace working for poverty wages with no job protection or benefits would be considered average and normal because all the workers would be suffering the same.
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